ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

திருச்சி  09.04.2021

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி வருவாய்த் துறையினர் ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர் என்று, தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

தமிழ்நாடு சட்டப்பேரவைக்கு திருச்சி மாவட்டத்தில் மணப்பாறை, ஸ்ரீரங்கம், திருச்சி மேற்கு, திருச்சி கிழக்கு, திருவெறும்பூர், லால்குடி, மண்ணச்சநல்லூர், முசிறி, துறையூர் (தனி) ஆகிய 9 தொகுதிகள் உள்ளன.

இந்த 9 தொகுதிகளிலும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்களிக்க வசதியாக மொத்தம் 1,147 வாக்குப்பதிவு மையங்களில் 3,292 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன. கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்பு வழிமுறைகளை முழுமையாக பின்பற்றி தேர்தலை நடத்த தேர்தல் ஆணையம் உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

இதன்படி, வாக்களிக்க வரும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளுக்குள் நுழைவதற்கு முன்னதாக கிருமிநாசினி அளித்து கைகளை சுத்தம் செய்ய வைத்து, வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பாலித்தீன் கையுறை, முகக்கவசம் இல்லாமல் வருவோருக்கு முகக்கவசம் அளிக்க அனைத்து வாக்குச்சாவடிகளிலும் ஒரு நாள் கூலி அடிப்படையில் ஆட்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இந்தநிலையில், ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாக பணியில் ஈடுபடுத்திவிட்டு, தற்போது ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தர முடியும் என்று ஏமாற்றுவதாக இந்தப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறினர்.

இது தொடர்பாக, திருவெறும்பூர் தொகுதிக்குட்பட்ட பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் கரோனா தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் 20 பேர், இன்று (ஏப். 08) மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் புகார் அளித்தனர். பின்னர், அவர்கள் 'இந்து தமிழ் திசை' நாளிதழிடம் கூறுகையில், "தேர்தல் நாளில் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட ஆட்கள் தேவைப்படுவதாகவும், தலா ரூ.1,000 வீதம் ஊதியம் தரப்படும் என்றும் பூத் ஸ்லிப் விநியோகித்தவர்கள் மூலம் தெரிய வந்தது.

தொடர்ந்து, தேர்தல் நாளன்று பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் 28 பேர் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டோம். எங்களுக்கு யாரும் உணவு தராததால், அதற்கும் செலவழித்தோம். தேர்தல் முடிந்த பிறகு வாக்குச்சாவடி அலுவலர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் அளித்த வருவாய்த் துறையினர், எங்களுக்குத் தரவில்லை.

இது குறித்து, கேட்டபோது ஒருவருக்கு தலா ரூ.250 வீதம் ஒரு வாரத்துக்குள் தரப்படும் என்றனர். ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டு, உணவுக்கும் செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தரப்படும் என்பது எங்களை ஏமாற்றும் செயல். கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஆட்களைப் பிடிக்க செய்யப்பட்ட உத்தி. எனவே, மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் புகார் அளிக்க வந்தோம்" என்றார்.

இதனிடையே, இன்று பிற்பகலில் இளைஞர்களைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசிய ஒருவர், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250 வீதம் ஊதியத்தைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுமாறு கூறியுள்ளார். இதனால், கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் அதிருப்தி அடைந்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து அவர்கள் மேலும் கூறும்போது, "தேர்தல் நாளன்று உணவுக்கு செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250-ஐ பெற்றுக் கொள்ளச் சொல்வது எந்த வகையிலும் நியாயமில்லை" என்றனர்.

Parents of baby boy born mid-air run pillar to post for birth certificate

Parents of baby boy born mid-air run pillar to post for birth certificate

The baby was born on March 17 with the help of the Indigo flight crew and Dr. Subahana Nazir, who was travelling on the same flight, 6E 469.

Published: 08th April 2021 07:44 PM 

The mother and the child with Indigo flight crew. (Photo | EPS)

By Rajesh Asnani

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Parents of a baby boy, born on a flight from Bengaluru to Jaipur in March, are now struggling to get a birth certificate.

The baby was born on March 17 with the help of the Indigo flight crew and Dr Subahana Nazir, who was travelling on the same flight, 6E 469.

According to government rules, the birth certificate is to be issued within 21 days of a baby being born.

When the baby was born in the flight at a height of 33,000, the family of Bhairon Singh, the father of the baby, had suddenly hit the headlines across the country. Despite the publicity they garnered due to this unique mid-air adventure, their difficulties on the ground did not in any way lessen. Nearly three weeks after that exceptional birth, the baby’s father who is an auto-driver in Bengaluru is running from pillar to post to get the child’s birth certificate issued.

Soon after the aircraft had landed at Jaipur airport on the morning of March 17, the mother and the child were rushed to a private hospital for examination. The doctors found them to be perfectly healthy. But Bhairon Singh, the father, found the hospital too expensive and took his wife and the baby to his village near Beawar town in Ajmer district.

A few days after reaching the village, Bhairon Singh said he started the process of getting the birth certificate. But as he is not well-educated, the government machinery is giving him quite a run-around and is forcing him to make multiple trips to different offices.

The infant’s father first approached the sarpanch who then asked him to go to a government hospital from where he was sent to another hospital. Bhairon Singh says officials seem quite confused since the baby was born mid-air. Although he has been assured that he will get it at the earliest, the birth certificate remains elusive despite numerous trips to various government offices.

“I first approached the post office in the village Surajpura but an employee said that I should go to the Jawaja hospital in our area. Later, I was told that I should go to the Jaipur airport and get a certificate from there. Each office wasted three to four days."

Bhairon Singh says he even tried to ring up the authorities at Jaipur airport but he was not given any clear answer. Even though Indigo Airlines gave him some response and even inquired about his son’s health, they too could not give any concrete help in getting the birth certificate for the baby born on their flight.

The New Indian Express was told that the Jaipur Municipal Corporation can issue the birth certificate as the child was born on a flight that landed in Jaipur. But before that, the child’s parents will need to file a written application with the airport authority in Jaipur to send a letter to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation about the child’s birth mid-air on an Indigo flight.

Social distancing: Carrying capacity of buses to come down by 25%

Social distancing: Carrying capacity of buses to come down by 25%

The carrying capacity of buses are set to come down by 25 per cent from Saturday with the State government imposing restrictions on travelling while standing.

Published: 09th April 2021 04:28 AM |

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The carrying capacity of buses are set to come down by 25 per cent from Saturday with the State government imposing restrictions on travelling while standing. The maximum number of travellers on buses will be regulated according to the seating capacity of the vehicle. The move will empty the aisles in buses and allow commuters to comply with social distancing norms, said official sources.

However, on the flip side, the move is likely to have an adverse impact on transport corporations as well as commuters. The transport department has been reeling under financial crunch with mounting debts of over Rs 15,000 crore for the past few years. Each government bus had been charged from Rs 9,500 to Rs 10,000 at every toll gate on the National Highways for 50 trips. As a result, Villupuram and Salem corporations brought down the number of trips on many routes.

The recent curbs will reduce the carrying capacity of buses from 25 to 30 per cent, thereby further taking a toll on the revenue of corporations. However, operational expenses will remain the same. Even as the government is yet to resume more than 40 per cent of bus services post the Covid-19 lockdown since last year, the new restriction on standing will increase the demand for buses.

However, transport secretary C Samayamoorthy maintained that over 70 per cent of the fleet of eight transport corporations was being operated. “To meet the additional demand, we will increase services after studying the demand,” he said. A large section of daily-wage labourers and office goers depends on public transportation, particularly the Mofussil buses outside Chennai city.

K Baskaran, who works at a biscuit manufacturing company near Tiruvallur, said many workers employed in smaller industries relied on government buses for their daily commute. “If commuters are not allowed to stand and travel, the government should increase the number of buses,” he said. The government said buses will be operated to neighbouring Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.

King Institute’s popularity among Covid patients worries officials

King Institute’s popularity among Covid patients worries officials

Covid patients delay treatment as they wait to get admitted at King Institute Covid hospital

Published: 09th April 2021 04:33 AM 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Covid patients queuing up at the King Institute in Guindy to get admitted while refusing to go to other government hospitals has worried health department officials. Their wait for admission since as early as 5 am could result in a delay in treatment, the officials fear. Some patients are ready to wait for even two days to get admitted at the exclusive Covid hospital at King Institute.

On Thursday, the hospital almost ran out of beds. As per data from the Directorate of Medical Education, of the total 525 beds, 479 had been occupied till evening on the day. A woman, who was waiting to get admitted at the institute, was told that the beds were almost full as many people were already waiting before her. She still managed to get admitted through her contacts.

She refused to go to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), where 1,618 beds were vacant. In another case, a man, whose grandmother had taken a Covid test, wanted to wait for the results as King Institute admitted only confirmed Covid patients. He refused to admit her at the RGGGH, which has a separate ward for suspected patients, thus delaying treatment for the woman.

Dr R Narayana Babu, Director of Medical Education, said, people should make use of other government facilities as well. “We still have plenty of beds. In Chennai alone, there are 10,568 beds in government hospitals. Among them, only 1,943 were filled on Thursday. They should not delay treatment by waiting to get admitted at King Institute,” he said.

Another senior doctor pointed out that when it comes to all critical care management, the RGGGH is the mother of all institutions. “Any patient with comorbid conditions can be treated there as the hospital has all specialties,” he said.

People prefer the King Institute because it is a new building and the premises is clean and well-maintained. Some even prefer Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, which has set up an exclusive Covid-19 hospital, he said. He noted that many other government hospitals have dedicated new buildings for Covid treatment.

3 dead, 39 injured as govt bus, truck collide head-on

3 dead, 39 injured as govt bus, truck collide head-on

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Cuddalore:  09.04.2021

Three people including the driver of a TNSTC bus were killed and 39 others were injured when the bus collided head-on with a truck on Thursday near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district. A case was registered against the truck driver, who was said to be in a critical condition.

The deceased people were identified as 38-year-old D Sivakumar of Villupuram district, the bus driver, and passengers A Anbarasan, 36, and R Vairavan, 19, from Nagapattinam district.

Police said the TNSTC bus from Velankanni left for Chennai in the wee hours of Thursday. When the bus crossed Mettupalayam near Chidambaram, it collided head-on with a truck bound for Chidambaram from Cuddalore. Teh front portions of the bus and truck were completely mangled and the bus was flipped to its side in the impact.

While the three were found dead on the spot, 39 others were injured and rushed to government general hospitals in Cuddalore and Chidambaram.

A police team led by DSP (Chidambaram) T A J Lamech reached the accident spot and recovered the bodies.

The condition of the truck driver, identified as Iyyappan, was said to be critical. He was later shifted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry for advanced care and was subsequently referred to a private hospital in Chennai.

The Puduchatram police registered a case against Iyyappan under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and began investigations.

BATTERED: The TNSTC bus was heading from Velankanni to Chennai

Friends beyond faith, only death could part

Friends beyond faith, only death could part

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

Trichy: 09.04.2021

A life-size obituary banner with portraits of two elderly men sprung up on Jubilee road in Jayankondam town in Ariyalur on Wednesday afternoon as many residents gazed in disbelief. K Mahalingam, 70, and P Jailabudeen, 66, thick friends for 40 years, had passed away within a space of 30 minutesjustthepreviousnight.Bothfamilies haderectedthecommon banner astestimony to a friendship that transcended religious and professional barriers.

Mahalingam was priest at the Mariamman temple on Vriddachalam road andhadbeen running a tea stallnear the temple. Jailabudeen was a rice mill owner staying opposite his house on Jubilee Road. Their families recall that the two addressed each other as mama-mapla (used between close friends).

Being a priest, Mahalingam was a staunch believer in Hindu rituals and wasoften seen withholy ashsmearedon hisforeheadwhileJailabudeen followed Islam. “No function or festival in our house happened in the absence of Jailabudeen thatha (grandfather). They used to tellusthatthey wereneighbourseven as young boys and hung out together,” says S Guru, Mahalingam’s grandson. “My family always consulted Mahalingam thatha whilehosting any function.Wish wehada snap of thetwowhilethey were alive, the deaths were sudden,” Abdul Rashith, grandson of Jailabudeen, said.

Family members say Mahalingam who had hypertension complained of uneasiness on Tuesday noon. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital by his family in an autorickshaw. They werenotawarethatJailabudeen wasalready atthehospitalafter healsoshowedsome discomforts. Both were referred to Jayankondam GH and admitted to the same ward.

Jailabudeen had chest pain, according to his grandson, and he fell unconscious and died around 4 pm. When Mahalingam wasinformedaboutthedeath of his friend, the families said he was already slipping away, but tears welled in his eyes. He breathed his last half an hour later. Mahalingam was cremated at the cremation ground in Jayankondam town while Jailabudeen was buried at the Muslim burial ground on the outskirts on Wednesday.

BOND OF LOVE: P Jailabudeen and K Mahalingam (right)

HC asks TN to reserve med seat for RTE student next year

MAKING AN EXCEPTION

HC asks TN to reserve med seat for RTE student next year

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  09.04.2021

Madras high court has directed Tamil Nadu government to ‘reserve’ one medical seat next year for a girl student ‘on priority basis’ under 7.5% quota provided for students who studied from Class VI to Class XII in government schools. She, as an RTE quota student, had studied in a private school till Class VI.

It is, however, not clear whether she would be eligible for a medical seat next year, on the basis of her performance in NEET this year. NEET score is valid for the current year only.

The case relates to a case filed by Sabhana’s father, stating that she had studied in a private school under RTE quota, Noting that she did Class VII to Class XII in a government school, he said she is eligible for admission under 7.5% quota. He, however, said that while filling the application form, she had marked ‘no’ against a column which asked if she had studied in a government school from Class VI to Class XII.

Justice V Parthiban, deciding the case in her favour, said the state ought to have had a separate column for students who studied in private schools under RTE quota.

Due to the absence of any specific column for RTE category students, the valuable right of Sabhana for being consideredunder 7.5%quota hadbeen denied to her, said Justice Parthiban, adding: "No amount of consolation from the state authorities could compensate the loss suffered by the petitioner's daughter at the crucial stage of higher educational pursuits.”

The judge observed that the dream and hope of the student to pursue medical education should not be shattered on account of a fault of the authorities who had not clearly framed or formulated the application form.

Observing that the state government is under moral and legal obligation to consider her admission, Justice Parthiban asked the state to explore the possibilities to accommodate the student in this academic year in any leftover vacancy due to the candidates non-joining the course.

After being informed of the closure of the admission process, the judge directed the state to reserve a seat for the student andprovideher admission next academic year on a priority basis in medical courses in terms of her overall standing in the merit list under 7.5% quota, if she is interested in taking up the course to be offered to her.

It was the state’s case that had the student approached the counselling authority immediately, her name could have been included for extension of 7.5% preferential admission this year.