Govt orders 10cr more doses of Covishield

Govt orders 10cr more doses of Covishield

New Delhi:  17.03.2021 

The Centre has placed a new purchase order with the Serum Institute of India (SII) for the supply of 10 crore doses of the Oxford-AstraZeneca Covid-19 vaccine, Covishield, each costing ₹157.50, including GST, according to official sources.

The HLL Lifecare Limited, a public sector undertaking, has issued the supply order on behalf of the Union health ministry on March 12 in the name of Prakash Kumar Singh, director, government and regulatory affairs at the Pune-based SII.

The cost of the 10 crore doses would be borne by the health ministry under the budgetary allocation for the purpose.The expenditure for the earlier orders of the vaccines was funded through the PM Cares fund. PTI

NEET scam: HC asks CBI if it occurred in more states

NEET scam: HC asks CBI if it occurred in more states

Madurai:17.03.2021 

The Madras high court has sought a response from the CBI as to whether NEET impersonations were reported in other states, after taking into account that a large-scale conspiracy was hatched among several people from other states.

The court was hearing the bail petition filed by Rasheed, a middleman who was arrested in connection with a NEET impersonation case by the Theni CBCID police. The CB-CID deputy superintendent of police who appeared before court submitted that they have collected various documents and also sent instructions to the colleges to find out the impersonators. He further submitted that they had also sent a letter to UIDAI seeking for comparison of the photos and also the fingerprint.

Justice M Nirmal Kumar observed that the court finds that other than Tamil Nadu, such malpractices were not reported in any other states. The apprehension is that the same modus operandi was adopted in other states, but have not been reported. TNN

Sleep disorders more common after lockdown

WORLD SLEEP DAY

Sleep disorders more common after lockdown

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:17.03.2021 

There is a considerable increase in the number of people facing sleep disorders after the lockdown, psychologists said on the World Sleep Day. They said the lockdown and the work from home routine have disturbed people’s sleep routines and body rhythms. “People are taking daytime naps, spending too much time in front of gadgets or working late into the night. Sleep hygiene has gained more importance this year than ever before,” said one of the psychologists. Psychologists said they were seeing an increase in new patients with anxiety, panic, or depression, many of which first manifest as or cause by sleep issues.

Monika Jasmine, a psychologist with Mounam counselling centre, said, “We have people with depression or anxiety issues, despite having less work. More than 90% describe sleep disorders as one of the symptoms. In more than 80% of depression, anxiety and panic cases, inadequate sleep is one of the main causes.” She was speaking at a function that was organized by the Indian Medical Association at Ganga Nursing College Auditorium on Tuesday.

One of the unhealthy sleep patterns they have noticed was people and children sitting in front of gadgets through the day for work, studies and entertainment. Another psychologist, Lakshmi Priya, said, “We think the resulting blue light and late working hours are affecting people’s sleep. Many people don’t get the required seven to nine of hours of sleep, which includes non-rapid eye movement and rapid eye movement sleep. Both are required for our physiological and psychological functions, repair of muscles and growth of tissues, in addition to process information. We also find people taking long nap because of boredom and that affects their night sleep.”

DMK files plea against ministers

DMK files plea against ministers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.03.2021 

The DMK has filed petitions to the state chief electoral officer (CEO) against state health minister C Vijayabaskar and former minister Natham R Viswanathan for violating the model code of conduct and demanded strict action against them.

DMK’s organising secretary R S Bharathi stated that the health minister has been continuously posting his election campaigns and field visits in the official website - http:/stopcorona.tn.gov.in that was maintained by the Tamil Nadu government. In another petition, he stated that former minister Viswanathan and his supporters were trying to bribe the voters and also attached the photographs to support their claims.

He also urged the CEO to take appropriate action against a website - http:/mutturpullifordmk.com/for spreading untruthful contents against the party and their party chief M K Stalin.

He said it was in violation of the MCC and requested the CEO to remove the untruthful contents from the website and prohibit it.

In Salem, Stalin mixes with one and all

In Salem, Stalin mixes with one and all

V.Senthil Kumaran@timesgroup.com

17.03.2021 

DMK president M K Stalin surprised people of of Salem city on Tuesday as he stepped out of his campaign vehicle and went door to door seeking support.

Stalin, who was to address campaign meetings in Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami’s home district, not only surprised the people on the busy streets of Shevapet but also his own cadres as the walk was unscheduled.

Party men said that the DMK leader, who was driving down from a hotel, suddenly asked to stop the vehicle at Paul Market in Shevapet. The convoy came to grinding halt and Stalin stepped out of the car. The next moment, scores of men and women gathered around him even as his own cadres elbowed for space to get close to their leader.

Stalin sprung more surprises, as he patiently posed for selfies with everyone, and also asked all those jostling to get near him to come closer for better selfies. “We were pleasantly shocked after Stalin Aiya invited us to come closer take selfies,” said Radha, a transgender.

For the next two hours when Stalin was there, walking on the narrow streets of Shevapet, Stalin interacted with everyone he met.

Later addressing a meeting at Gajjalnaickenpatty on the outskirts of the city, Stalin said the DMK was going to win the elections. “We are going to win all the 234 constituencies,’’ he said. Lashing out at EPS, he called upon the public to put an end to the AIADMK government.

“This election should be the last election to Palaniswami,” he said, Recalling EPS’ allegations that late chief minister.

FIELD WORK: DMK leader M K Stalin addresses his supporters during a rally in Salem on Tuesday

For seniors, nothing succeeds like success

For seniors, nothing succeeds like success

Electorate Stands By Leaders Who Nurture Constituencies

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

17.03.2021 

Winning successive elections from a constituency for six to eight times is no mean feat. Tamil Nadu assembly has a few veterans like DMK general secretary S Durai Murugan, who has won seven times from Katpadi and twice from Ranipet assembly segments, school education minister K A Sengottaiyan, who has won seven times from Gobichettipalayam, and fisheries minister D Jayakumar, who has won five times from Royapuram. These leaders, except in elections influenced by unprecedented waves – Rajiv assassination in 1991 and anti-AIADMK sentiments in 1996 – have retained their segments by maintaining close relationship cultivated over decades with their electorate.

A young Durai Murugan had to travel 30kms to Gudiyatham to attend school and had seen women drawing water from rail wagons due to drought and high salinity of groundwater. When elected in 1971, he convinced CM M Karunanidhi to sanction a drinking water scheme for Katpadi, which was completed in two years. Later, as PWD minister, he got a university, law college, combined courts, several schools and a host of government departments for Katpadi, leaving Vellore, the district headquarters, in envy. “I love my constituency more than my wife and children,” the 82-yearold leader told TOI. When MGR floated a party and posed a big challenge in Ranipet, Karunanidhi shifted his lieutenant Durai Murugan to Ranipet segment. He won from Ranipet in 1977 and 1980 and went back to Katpadi in the next election. Since then, he has won six times from Katpadi.

Erode strongman K A Sengottaiyan, considered as one of the best organisers among politicians in Tamil Nadu, entered the fray and won from Sathyamangalam in 1977. He later shifted to Gobichettipalayam and won the seat seven times. Jayalalithaa sacked him from the cabinet in 2012 after his staff got arrested on charges of criminal intimidation. Still, he won the same seat in 2016.

His colleague, minister D Jayakumar has won from Royapuram five times. He has developed a close bond with his electorate, which he claims, is growing stronger with every passing day.

There are veterans like KKSSR Ramachandran, who represented Sattur six times as AIADMK, Thayaka Marumalarchi Kazhagam and DMK MLA since 1977. The MGR acolyte also won Aruppukottai seat after the 2011 delimitation, when much of the erstwhile Sattur was annexed with Aruppukottai.

Speaker P Dhanapal is a five-time MLA, who has represented Sankari, Rasipuram and Avanashi seats. DMK leader K Ponmudi won four times from Villupuram before moving to Tirukoilur in 2016, while his colleague E V Velu won from Thandarambattu thrice and later from Tiruvannamalai twice. Velu, who represented the AIADMK and the DMK, says, one should be “service-minded and remain genuine” to win the confidence of the people.

Penalise those flouting Covid protocols, CS tells officials

Penalise those flouting Covid protocols, CS tells officials

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

17.03.2021 

Tamil Nadu chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan on Tuesday directed local bodies, health and revenue departments and police to ensure people wore masks and institutions adhered to standard operating procedures. He asked them to impose fine on violators under the Public Health Act.

The chief secretary held a review meeting with district administrators and the heads of departments via video conferencing following a spike in Covid-19 cases in recent days.

“Permission should be granted for election rallies, cultural, religious and other events where the public gather in huge numbers with a condition that wearing masks is mandatory. The departments concerned should have to ensure that,” Ranjan said. District collectors should focus on Covid-19 preventive activities, an important part of election work, and take all measures to reduce transmission.

The state has recorded a positivity rate of 1.2% in the last 10 days. Positivity rate is more than 2% in Chennai and Coimbatore. Tiruvallur, Tirupur, Kancheepuram, Thanjavur and Nagapattinam districts have seen more than 1%.

Ranjan gave directions to administrators to take appropriate disease control measures by deploying personnel in Covid-19 cluster areas. “Fever camps must be increased, identify the cases and offer treatment,” the chief secretary said.

Close contacts of the infected people must be isolated and tested and infected should be given treatment without any delay, Ranjan said. Efforts should be taken to vaccinate the eligible people and special attention should be paid to areas where cases are high.