Bihar chief secy, judge, 3 lawyers die of Covid-19

Bihar chief secy, judge, 3 lawyers die of Covid-19

Patna:01.05.2021 

Bihar chief secretary Arun Kumar Singh died of Covid-19 at a hospital here Friday, the fourth IAS officer in the state to have fallen to the virus. A 44-year-old additional district judge, who was posted at Sasaram in Rohtas district, three lawyers of the Patna high court and an HC officer also succumbed to Covid in the last 24 hours. Singh’s funeral will take place with full state honours, CM Nitish Kumar said.

While ADJ Piyush Kumar Srivastava died at a Sasaram hospital, former additional advocate general of Bihar Shivaji Nath (75) and high court lawyers Ravindra Griyage and Nirbhay Kumar Singh died in Patna on Friday. TNN

Stipend of Covid duty resident doctors up by 40%

FROM APRIL 1

Stipend of Covid duty resident doctors up by 40%

Came After Surat Doctors Threatened To Boycott Work

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Gandhinagar:01.05.2021 

In a significant decision aimed at ensuring that medical personnel are available without interruption for Covid-19 duties, the Gujarat government on Friday announced a 40% increase in the stipend of resident doctors at Covid hospitals.

The decision was taken after a video conference between deputy CM Nitin Patel and representatives of the Junior Doctor’s Association (JDA) on Friday, even as resident doctors in Surat threatened to boycott work from Saturday. Doctors from across the state extended their support to the Surat doctors.

“We held a video conference with Nitin Patel, who has agreed to our demands to increase the stipend. This should have been done earlier. Now that the stipend has been increased, doctors have withdrawn their decision to boycott work,” said Biswajit Raj, president, JDA.

As many as 6,401 resident doctors — 5,767 at government medical colleges and 634 of GMERS — will benefit from this increase. The government said it will have to bear an additional burden of Rs 100 crore because of the increase.

Although the stipend varies for different years of medical education, on average, the monthly stipend for a resident doctor is about Rs 60,000. There will be a 40% increase to this amount.

Deputy chief minister and state finance minister Nitin Patel, who also holds the health portfolio, ratified the decision from hospital, where he is being treated for Covid-19.

The stipend of resident doctors is revised every three years and Nitin Patel held meetings with representatives of the JDA, which had written to the government, asking for a revision of stipend. Patel said the stipend of doctors of medical, dental, homoeopathy, ayurveda and physiotherapy will increase. The increased stipend will be applicable from April 1.

Covid-orphaned medical student returns to duty

Covid-orphaned medical student returns to duty

20-Year-Old Reports Back At Samras Hostel Despite Losing Parents A Few Weeks Ago

Nimesh.Khakhariya@timesgroup.com

Rajkot:01.05.2021

One day she will graduate as a certified doctor, bound by the oath to treat the sick before considering self. But 20-year-old second-year MBBS student Apeksha Maradiya has already infused herself with the essence of the Hippocratic oath — serving others notwithstanding her own personal twin tragedies.

Life suddenly threw the PDU student of Rajkot into the deep sea when Covid-19 snatched away her parents, one after the other, in a matter of five days only. Her father lost the battle on April 6, while her mother too succumbed to the infection on April 10. Left alone with a 15-year-old brother, the medico didn’t bow to the pressures of the unforeseen, but decided to battle the virus her way. She rejoined her duties in Samras hostel fighting to save the loved ones of others.

There was no pressure on Apeksha to join duty so soon, looking at her unfortunate circumstances, but along with the other medical students she too donned the PPE suit once again on April 27.

“I lost my parents but I decided to do whatever I could do as a medical student to save the lives of loved ones of others that would be the real tribute to my parents,” Maradiya told TOI. She further said that while she is frightened that her younger brother may get infected, there was nothing that she could do to help people by being at home.

“I, therefore, decided to help people. It’s also my duty to help people because I am on the path to becoming a doctor,” the young warrior asserted.

At Samras hostel, Covid patients needing oxygen support are treated. A 30-year-old female patient became critical and was required to be shifted on a ventilator on April 28. “I took her (the patient) in an ambulance to the civil hospital because here we don’t have ventilator beds. I am happy that I could save her life by timely shifting her to the ventilator,” Apeksha, who treats each patient as her family members, said. “I feel so happy when I do something to save their lives from this deadly virus,” she added.

Charansinh Gohil, deputy collector and head of Samras hospital said, “Apeksha could have been spared from this duty by the administration if she so wished. But she gave priority to her duty and instead of drowning in grief, she stood up to fight and heal other people’s pain.”

Apeksha Maradiya, a 20-year-old second-year MBBS student, lost her parents to the pandemic in a matter of five days only

EC moves Madras HC after judge's 'murder' remark goes viral but court refuses to restrain media

EC moves Madras HC after judge's 'murder' remark goes viral but court refuses to restrain media

"Media should be instructed not to sensationalize anything, it is a difficult task to conduct elections in these times," Rakesh Dwivedi for the Election Commission of India submitted.

Published: 30th April 2021 01:24 PM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Friday refused to restrain the media despite the submissions made by the Election Commission of India to not report on oral observations made by the court.

The first bench comprising Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy during the hearing of the suo motu plea refused to concur with the submissions made by Rakesh Dwivedi for the Election Commission of India.

"Media should be instructed not to sensationalize anything, it is a difficult task to conduct elections in these times," Dwivedi submitted.

However, the bench said, "We will leave it at that."

It may be recalled that the Madras High Court had orally remarked on Monday that "EC officers should be booked on murder charges probably" for allegedly turning a blind eye to poll rallies amid the COVID-19 second wave.

"Some people have proceeded to lodge FIRs against election officials terming them as murderers, some protection may be granted," the ECI counsel further stated in his submission.

However, the bench refusing to concur, observed that "Courts are there and such frivolous matters will be dealt with."

The bench also in its hearing suggested the state conduct exclusive drives to encourage people to take the Covid-19 vaccinations. The court also directed all the political parties to follow the Covid-19 protocol on the counting day and should keep away from bursting crackers as part of their victory celebrations.

In its interim orders, the bench said ".. information should be made available on the internet and any other medium so that there is no panic whether in seeking the drug or obtaining supplies of oxygen or finding out the nearest bed."

The counsel for the Central government ASG R Sankaranarayanan submitted that a clear picture of the availability of the vaccines, drugs and doses will be available by May 3.

The bench adjourned the plea to May 5 for further suggestions by the Centre by observing that it will be available during the first fortnight of the vacation to take up the urgent matters pertaining to the case.

Tiruvannamalai Remdesivir black marketing: More skeletons expected to tumble out of the closet

Tiruvannamalai Remdesivir black marketing: More skeletons expected to tumble out of the closet

Informed sources said that a well-oiled network of staff at the Govt Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital had been part of the racket to smuggle out Remdesivir.

Published: 30th April 2021 09:11 PM 

The Govt Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital (GTMCH).

By R Sivakumar

Express News Service

TIRUVANNAMALAI: With the arrest of a multipurpose health worker in connection with the life-saving Remdesivir drug racket, more skeletons are expected to tumble out of the closet in the Govt Tiruvannamalai Medical College Hospital (GTMCH).

Acting on a tip-off, cops attached to Civil Supplies-CID (CS-CID) secured 26-year-old Vignesh, a multipurpose health worker employed on a contract basis, from GTMCH on Thursday.

According to police, their interrogations revealed that he had stolen the drug from the covid wards to hand over his contacts, who, in turn, are alleged to have passed it on to a doctor based at Tambaram in Chennai. The doctor and a few others too were held by the police. Chennai city police are investigating the matter.

A medical officer with the casualty unit of the hospital had allegedly helped Vignesh sneak out the drug from GTMCH. He was also secured by the police for interrogations.

Informed sources said that a well-oiled network of staff at the GTMCH had been part of the racket to smuggle out Remdesivir. They had cleverly worked in the hospital to steal the drug.

As per the practice, Remdesivir vials are received from the pharmacy, after the concerned doctors of the covid ward provide the intent for the drug, and are taken to the wards where it will be kept safely in storerooms before being used.

The records will show without doubt the number of vials sought, handed by the pharmacy, and stocked at the storeroom. But where the unscrupulous elements play is at the end-use stage. Without injecting the drug to all needy patients, these elements steal some of the vials and sell them outside, the sources noted.

“The case sheets of critically ill covid patients are not properly maintained, entries are not rightly made. There wouldn’t be any evidence of whether a particular patient was administered the injection or not. And there is no cross-checking mechanism. So these elements easily sneak out the drug,” said a source.

Remdesivir, a drug of limited efficacy that is not considered life-saving, is in short supply across the nation and is allegedly easily available at two hospitals in Tiruvannamalai, run by doctors employed at GTMCH. Patients from even far-off places reportedly source the drug from Tiruvannamalai.

When queried about the issue, top authorities of GTMCH refused to comment saying that the matter is ‘under police investigation’.

Director of Medical Education (DME) Dr. Narayanababu promised to look into the issue and find out how the drug was stolen.

“The police have already been holding investigations. We will definitely hold inquiries and check the records to find out how the drug was taken out of the hospital and initiate appropriate action,” he said.

Perambalur: Govt school teacher hands over Rs 50k as Covid relief

Perambalur: Govt school teacher hands over Rs 50k as Covid relief

A government school teacher in Perambalur district handed over Demand Draft worth Rs 50,000 to District Collector P Sri Venkata Priya to help Covid patients on Friday.

Published: 01st May 2021 04:53 AM 

By P Thiruselvam

Express News Service

PERAMBALUR: A government school teacher in Perambalur district handed over Demand Draft worth Rs 50,000 to District Collector P Sri Venkata Priya to help Covid patients on Friday.

This is not her first sweet gesture. Last year, she spent a lakh from her savings to buy 16 smartphones and sim cards for Class X students, taking their financial background into account. K Bairavi (41) works as a maths teacher in Elambalur Government Higher Secondary School.

Talking to TNIE, she said, “During the last lockdown, I decided to get my students mobile phones to avail lessons. I have been recharging their sim cards till this month and communicating to them daily. I was very happy when the district was free of coronavirus.

But this year, in the second wave, it is saddening to see people suffer. My students told me that we should offer some help. So, I took ‘Demand Draft’ for Rs 50,000 in the name of the Collector and gave it to her.”

She along with her students went to the collectorate on Friday and handed over the demand draft. The Collector praised Bhairavi for her efforts.

Reduced bank hours leads to crowding in Karur

Reduced bank hours leads to crowding in Karur

Radhakrishnan, a resident of Karur, told TNIE, “Earlier, people used to leave the bank in a few minutes after finishing their work.

Published: 01st May 2021 04:59 AM 

By Express News Service

KARUR/THANJAVUR: Cutting down service hours at banks owing to spread of Covid has come as a cause for concern, as more people are seen flocking the banks, defeating the very purpose of the announcement.

Banking hours were made 10 am to 2 pm from April 26. However, the reduced hours have only led to more people crowding the banks to avail themselves of services like cash deposit, withdrawal, transfer and loan inquires.

Radhakrishnan, a resident of Karur, told TNIE, “Earlier, people used to leave the bank in a few minutes after finishing their work. Now, one has to wait outside in a long queue to enter the bank. And, people have been flocking banks owing to reduced working hours. This issue has to be addressed or the banks will turn into Covid hotspots.”

When contacted, a Health Department official said, “The reduced service hours is definitely a reason for the increased crowding. The decision needs to be reversed or banks must take alternative measures to avoid such huge crowds.”

While a review of the banking hours is expected to be made after April 30, sources said the curtailed timing would continue until further notice. Meanwhile, the branch of a private bank in Kumbakonam was closed on Friday, after its staff tested positive.

According to sources, around 20 people work in the branch near Uchchi Pillayarkoil. One of the staff members took ill a few days ago and subsequently tested positive. The municipality held a camp to collect samples from bank staff, in which three more reportedly tested positive. The branch was closed on Friday.