Student tests Covid positive at city airport

Student tests Covid positive at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

A college student who came to Chennai airport to board a flight to Andaman was admitted at the Government Hospital in Chengalpet after being tested positive for Covid-19.

Swamy, 21, studying at a college in the suburbs, came to board a flight to Andaman scheduled at 8.15am. When officials tested the passengers for Covid-19 Swamy’s report came positive.

The officials immediately alerted the authorities concerned who cancelled Swamy’s flight.

The flight left the airport without the student for Port Blair. Later, the student was handed over to the Chennai Airport police. They admitted him at the corona ward set up in the Government Hospital in Chengalpet.

Currently, all passengers flying to Port Blair are made to undergo test for coronavirus at all domestic airports.

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

State chief electoral officer Satyabrata on Friday said a report had been sent to the Election Commission of India based on the reports of presiding officer, returning officer and Chennai district election officer on the ‘procedural lapse’ in handling EVMs at a Velachery booth. The ECI will decide on repolling in the booth, Sahoo said.

Two men from a zonal party handling EVMs had taken the ballot units and a control unit, kept in reserve, besides the VVPAT, which had developed a technical snag after 50 minutes of polling, on a twowheeler when they were caught by residents, he said. They were later handed over to police.

Sahoo said: “Transporting the machines on a two-wheeler, also without security guards, is a mistake, It is also against the SOP. The commission has been informed of the lapses.”

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Makes Masks Mandatory, Scanners Up At Stations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  10.04.2021

Amid increasing cases, Southern Railway has stepped up Covid-19 precautions that include making masks mandatory, setting up thermal scanner cameras and implementing contactless ticket checking at stations.

To screen passengers faster at stations, thermal scanner cameras and contactless ticket checking system have been set up at major stations.

Egmore and Arakonam have one thermal scanner camera each while at Central station, where it was first tried out during the lockdown, now have three cameras. Similarly, contactless ticket checking by which tickets of passengers are scanned using a handheld device or a mobile phone is in force at Central, Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpet, Arakonam, Katpadi and Jolarpet. Such a checking is available at two entry points in Central.

The thermal cameras read temperature of passengers as they walk through a doorframe at the stations. The sensor will display the temperature using a colour code on a computer screen and the RPF staff manning the kiosk will be able to detect the passenger and stop inspite of a crowd. This is being used in addition to temperature check done manually.

Southern Railway general manager John Thomas told reporters that more thermal cameras would be installed after need is assessed.

He also urged passengers to take precautions while traveling as there have been reports that people are not wearing masks at stations and on trains. "Use of masks would be mandatory and "we have told railway staff and TTE to ensure that passengers wore masks at the railway stations," he added.

The precautions are being tightened as the number of passengers using trains are increasing. Central railway station handles 82,000 passengers on average and Egmore handles 64,000 per day.

Southern Railway will deploy more RPF personnel to implement Covid-19 precautions.

STRINGENT CURBS: A thermal scanner at Egmore station

Wear your masks or cops will get you

Wear your masks or cops will get you

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

10.04.2021

The city police will swing into action from Saturday to ensure pedestrians and other road users wear face masks and follow the pandemic protocol.

City police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has asked all officers to conduct awareness programmes in their jurisdiction. Police patrols have been to insist that pedestrians wear masks properly even while walking on the road. There are about 250 four-wheelers and around 400 two-wheelers patrolling the city.

A police officer said, “We will insist residents and road users wear face masks and maintain social distancing. Will not slap cases in the first few days.”

Managements of malls and marriage halls have been told to ensure social distancing according to government norms. In Royapettah, police personnel interacted with welfare associations and merchants to spread the message that the government’s guidelines should be followed.

In Arumbakkam, police gave out 5,000 face masks to pedestrians who failed to wear them. A police team led by inspector Saravanan went on a rally from Anna Nagar arch to Arumbakkam accompanied by youth club members of Aminjikarai. In Thiruvottiyur, deputy commissioner of police G Subbulakshmi gave out pamphlets and spread awareness using a public address system.

NEED OF THE HOUR: A police officer and his team ask vendors to mask up at a fish market in the city on Friday

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

10.04.2021

Universities in the state are yet to evolve a foolproof system to properly monitor online exams due to lack of infrastructure and connectivity. Given the second surge in Covid-19 cases, the coming semester exams, partly online, are set to begin in the first week of May.

Question papers will be mailed to students who will write them on paper and post answer scripts to colleges. There is no monitoring. In some cases, students are allowed to send answer scripts a day later.

Earlier, lack of monitoring and easy question papers inflated pass percentage to above 95% in most universities.

Professors say many write exams in groups and form WhatsApp groups to share answers. “Universities and colleges lack infrastructure to conduct online exams. It needs investment to develop software,” a city college principal said.

Another principal said around 60% of the college’s students were from rural areas. “It is not possible to monitor them through mobile phone cameras as connections are poor. We have asked them to mail answer scripts after writing in pen and paper mode.”

Anna University is the only institution to conduct an online test with invigilators and artificial intelligence tools monitoring students. Last semester, the proctored test was successfully taken by more than 90% of students.

University of Madras also tried to develop a software and platform for online exams, but many students complained they didn’t internet connectivity. “So, we had to relax the rules,” said vice-chancellor S Gowri.

Loyola College is conducting exams through virtual platforms with three layers of monitoring. “There will be an invigilator for every 25 students and a supervisor for every five invigilators,” said principal Thomas Amirtham.

Trichy-based Bharathidasan University is discussing ways to improve monitoring mechanism. “We have learned from from conducting online semester exams last time. We are discussing making minor changes and a decision would be taken in another few days,” said M Selvam, VC.

Some senior academicians propose holding online tests at colleges near students’ residences to avoid malpractices.

(with inputs from K Sambath Kumar in Trichy)

CLOSE WATCH : Professors said many students form WhatsApp groups and share answer for test questions

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.