Not Giving Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine Is Violation Of Article 21 : Karnataka High Court

Not Giving Second Dose Of COVID Vaccine Is Violation Of Article 21 : Karnataka High Court: The Karnataka High Court on Thursday observed that not giving second dose of COVID-19 vaccine wil

NEET 2021: Postponed ad infinitum? Silence from NTA leaves students anxious

NEET 2021: Postponed ad infinitum? Silence from NTA leaves students anxious

Education

Kanika Khurana

Updated May 13, 2021 | 10:18 IST

https://www.timesnownews.com/education/article/neet-2021-postponed-ad-infinitum-silence-from-nta-leaves-students-anxious/756462#:~:text=NTA%20is%20yet%20to%20release,2021%20registration%20and%20application%20process.&text=Silence%20from%20NTA%20added%20to,for%20the%20examination%20was%20announced.

NTA is yet to release notification regarding NEET 2021 registration and application process. While there is no update on postponement of August 1 exam, many students dread the same is inevitable.

NEET 2021 News & Updates | Photo Credit: iStock Images

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET 2021 for undergraduate admissions to medical and dental courses is scheduled to be conducted on August 1, 2021. However, with the current situation, many students are now worried for the exam to be postponed again as the application forms have not been released yet. Silence from NTA added to the anxiety of lakhs of students across the country.

National Testing Agency, NTA had last issued a notification on March 12, when the date for the examination was announced. After the same, students were expecting the application window to open. However, NTA has remained silent on this for over two months since, causing aspirants to wonder at the future of the exam.

With the country still struggling to contain the second wave, the uncertainty of the future is troubling students across the nation. Barring two, all the Class 12 board examinations have been postponed. The same is the case for all competitive examinations including JEE Mains 2021 April and May sessions. With this, the possibility of postponement of NEET 2021 is very real as well.

Students, however, would want some word from the authorities. “We have been preparing for over a year now. Some of my friends have been preparing for more than 2 years…and we know nothing. Would the exam be conducted on August 1? Would it be postponed? What about applications? When do we fill the form?” says Ridhima.

Another aspirant, Vineet is all bundled about the exam as well. “We know nothing, we can’t study because we know nothing. Every morning I visit the website but there is no notice, no update. Any word, even about when the form would be released would help. Till there is no word, we just keep waiting!” he says.

Lakhs of students across the country resonate the sentiments as the wait gets longer. While many have accepted the possibility of the exam getting postponed, the anxiety is regarding the utter silence from the authorities.

As per the last notification released in March, the examination is to be conducted in offline pen and paper mode. The notification had also stated that the information bulletin for the exam would be made available ‘shortly on the website’. Since then, there has been no notice regarding the exam.

ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் அதிகரிப்பால் போலீசார் சோதனை தீவிரம்

ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் அதிகரிப்பால் போலீசார் சோதனை தீவிரம்

Added : மே 14, 2021 02:02

சென்னை:ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவை மீறி வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுபவர்கள் அதிகரித்து வருவதால் மாநிலம் முழுதும் போலீசார் வாகன சோதனையை தீவிரப்படுத்தியுள்ளனர்.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவலைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த வரும் 24ம் தேதி வரை முழு ஊரடங்கு அமலில் உள்ளது. 'பொது மக்களிடம் கனிவுடன் நடந்து கொள்ள வேண்டும். வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுபவர்களின் வாகனங்கள் மீது வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யலாம். வாகனங்களை பறிமுதல் செய்யக்கூடாது. அப்படி பறிமுதல் செய்ய நேரிட்டால் சில மணி நேரங்களில் விடுவித்து விட வேண்டும்' என சுற்றறிக்கை வாயிலாக போலீஸ் அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் போலீசாருக்கு டி.ஜி.பி. திரிபாதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

இதனால் போலீசாரின் கைகள் கட்டப்பட்டு வெட்டியாய் ஊர் சுற்றுவோர் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்து வருவதால் மாநிலம் முழுதும் வாகன சோதனையை நேற்று மாலையில் இருந்து போலீசார் தீவிரப்படுத்தி உள்ளனர். சென்னையில் 200 இடங்களில் சட்டம் -- ஒழுங்கு போலீசாரும் 118 இடங்களில் போக்குவரத்து போலீசாரும் வாகன சோதனையில் ஈடுபட்டு உள்ளனர்.

மாநிலம் முழுதும் 'ட்ரோன்' வாயிலாகவும் கண்காணிப்பு நடக்கிறது.போலீஸ் அதிகாரிகள் கூறுகையில் 'கொரோனா தொற்று பரவல் அசுர வேகத்தில் இருப்பதை பொதுமக்கள் உணரும் வகையில் வாகன சோதனை உள்ளிட்ட நடவடிக்கைகளை தீவிரப்படுத்தி உள்ளோம்' என்றனர்.

Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Other apps collect more data: WhatsApp

WhatsApp In Affidavit Mentions That Tech Giants Like Zoom & Google Have Similar Privacy Policies

Anam.Ajmal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.05.2021 

Days before the rollout of its new privacy policy on Saturday (May 15), WhatsApp has said that many internet-based applications and websites have similar policies and some collect even more data.

In an affidavit filed in the Delhi HC on May 5, the Facebook-owned instant messaging app said that Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, and Zomato as well as the government’s contact tracing app Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does. The affidavit also mentions that American giants like Zoom and Google have similar privacy policies.

This affidavit was filed in response to a petition filed by advocate Harsha Gupta, who had argued that WhatsApp’s new policy violates a user’s right to privacy.

On Thursday, WhatsApp told TOI in a statement sent over email that users will not lose functionality if they do not accept its new terms on May15. “WhatsApp continues to provide an important way for friends and family to stay in touch during this difficult time. While the majority of users have already approved our update, no one will lose functionality on May 15 if they haven’t yet and we’ll be sure to provide reminders at a later time. We want everyone to know that this update does not impact the privacy of personal messages. We’re providing information about new options we are building to communicate with businesses that people may choose to use in the future. We’re grateful for the important role WhatsApp plays in people’s lives and we’ll take every opportunity to explain how we protect people’s personal messages and private information.”

On Wednesday, too, WhatsApp had reassured users that their accounts would not be deleted. “No one will have their accounts deleted or lose functionality of WhatsApp on May 15th because of this update.” The reassurance, however, came with a caveat. The giant has said that after “persistent reminders” to users they will “encounter limited functionality on WhatsApp until you accept the updates”.

“After a few weeks of limited functionality, you won’t be able to receive incoming calls or notifications and WhatsApp will stop sending messages and calls to your phone,” the announcement added.

The impending WhatsApp privacy policy, announced in January, had led to concerns among rights experts and activists, who had said it would dilute the privacy provided by the platform by maximising data collection. The company had refuted these claims, and assured users that the new terms would impact only business accounts.

Initially, the company had planned to implement the policy by February 8, which was postponed after public outrage, and a movement to other platforms, including Signal and Telegram. Activists had termed WhatsApp’s move as giving users no options, and “coercing their consent”, since the technology giant had announced that users’ accounts would get deleted if they did not accept the new terms.

The Facebook-owned app says Big Basket, Koo, Ola, Truecaller, Zomato and the government’s Aarogya Setu collects similar data that WhatsApp does

When lockdown is wide open

When lockdown is wide open

FOUR DAYS AFTER TAMIL NADU SHUTS UP COMPLETELY, VIOLATIONS RAMPANT

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

14.05.2021 

Tamil Nadu is officially under a lockdown from May 10 to 24, but people are yet to treat it as such. Every day, especially the period till noon, is like a normal day busy roads full of traffic, people either shopping, haggling or talking in groups, with or without masks.

With neither voluntary adherence nor stern enforcement, the lockdown is failing miserably even as the daily Covid-19 caseload cross the 30,000 mark. Across the state, more than 91 lakh cases have been registered for various lockdown violations In Chennai, the usual shopping hubs recorded no dip in vehicular and pedestrian movements in the days following the lockdown announcement. Barring a few surprise vehicle checks in some spots, there have been no concerted efforts by law enforcers to prevent non-essential activities on the roads, around neighbourhoods and in markets. Places such as Flower Bazaar, Broadway and Purasawalkam continue to be packed with a large number of vehicles and autorickshaws plying without a semblance of protocol enforcement. Though private cabs and autorickshaws are not allowed to operate, they are the biggest violators, as they carry more number of passengers than permitted.

In districts such as Coimbatore, police are coming across illegal activities as well. On Wednesday, a team of personnel in khakhi swooped down on a farm at Kalikkanaickenpalayam near Thondamuthur and arrested 10 people who were holding rooster fights. Violations of a different kind were spotted in the city. Sree Kumaran Thanga Maligai, a leading jewellery outlet, was sealed for allowing customers on Thursday. A Amalraj, Coimbatore police commissioner and west zone inspector general (IG) said that initially they were just warning motorists, but from Friday violators would be photographed and penalty would be levied. Cases would be slapped on repeat violators, he said.

Among the more active law enforcers, the Madurai Corporation collected more than 1 crore in fines over the past four days for not wearing masks and not adhering to physical distancing. As a result, many people are now wearing masks to avoid being fined in public places. But the scene changes in residential localities, where masks are forgotten, youngsters hang out in groups and play games and people throng the neighbourhood grocery stores. On Thursday, a number of traders gathered at Villapuram Housing Board area for the weekly market. Officials from the Madurai corporation and police had to intervene and stop them from setting up shop.

In Trichy city, police registered around 1,600 cases since May 10 for violations ranging from roaming on the streets after noon citing unnecessary reasons to not wearing masks. At grocery stores and medical shops, no one bothers to queue up or practise physical distancing. Similar scenes are seen at the special counter set up for buying Covid-19 drugs by the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation at the Government Physiotherapy College in Trichy.

With every passing day, the number of vehicles on the city roads is increasing, apparently emboldened by the absence of strict action by police. After instructions from top brass to not harass people, police seemed to have stepped back even in enforcement as well. They are adopting a milder approach in places. On Thursday, several motorists in Pollachi were stopped by police and made to take a pledge that they will not step out unnecessarily.

In Chennai, the rising number of cases and violations on the ground have made police take notice and warn that from Friday onwards strict action would be taken by deploying personnel across the city.

Corpn to run major vax drive for three days

Corpn to run major vax drive for three days

Jabs Only For 45+; Plans To Clear Vaccine Stock Left

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  14.05.2021 

The city corporation will conduct a “massive vaccination drive” in the next three days beginning on Friday, covering one lakh people aged above 45 years. (The Tamil Nadu government hasn’t opened vaccination for people aged between 18 and 45 years.) “Vaccination will be done at apartment complexes, markets, residential localities and companies. At a marriage hall, traders and associations will be called and administered the vaccine,” said a zonal health officer.

Greater Chennai Corporation, which has a stock of 1.2 lakh doses of Covishield doses and 16,000 of Covaxin, will keep about 20% as reserve for second doses and administer the rest.

“We want to finish the stocks we have and vaccinate the maximum number of people in a short time to cut the rate of transmission. What is the use of the vaccines if we do not use them?” corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi said.

Harminder Singh, principal secretary to municipal administration department, said the government was procuring more vaccines and there won’t be any shortage.

All zonal medical officers and zonal health officers were called for a meeting on Thursday to review vaccine coverage. Many zones in the north such as Thiruvottiyur (42%), Tondiarpet (29%) and Thiru Vi Ka Nagar (31%), which had low coverage of those above 45, will be the major focus, said an official. Some like Adyar (75%), Anna Nagar (70%) and Ambattur (63%) had better coverage.

Of the 16.4 lakh doses administered so far, Covishield accounted for12 lakh (8.7 lakh 1st dose and 3.3 lakh 2nd dose) and Covaxin 4.3 lakh (2.6 lakh 1st dose and1.7 lakh 2nd dose).

In the drive that began in February, about 16.38 lakh have been vaccinated (including both doses). Of the nearly 22 lakh people above 45 years in a population of 80 lakh, about 50% got the first dose.

“We vaccinated about 35,000 a day earlier. Since May, there has been a fall in numbers. To ensure 35,000-40,000 are vaccinated daily, we will vaccinate them all,” said Bedi.

12-16 weeks gap between 2 Covishield jabs okayed

12-16 weeks gap between 2 Covishield jabs okayed

New Delhi:14.05.2021 

The Centre on Thursday approved extending the gap between two doses of Covishield vaccine from 6-8 weeks to 12-16 weeks following the recommendations of a government panel. There is no change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses.

The Covid working group chaired by Dr N K Arora has recommended extension of the gap between the first and second doses of Covishield vaccine to 12-16 weeks. Niti Aayog member and head of the expert group on vaccines Dr V K Paul said the decision has been taken on basis of the experience of the UK where the 12-week gap norm was implemented. TNN

Vax maker ready to share formula

With states urging the Centre to share the formula of Covid vaccines with other manufacturers, Niti Aayog’s V K Paul on Thursday said that Bharat Biotech has welcomed the idea. “We give an open invitation to firms who want to do this.” 

4-6 week interval based on studies: Doc V K Paul

He said the earlier 4-6 week interval was based on studies but now there is data from actual implementation of the more spaced out schedule.

Health minister Harshvardhan said the “decision has been taken based on recommendations given by Covid working group after analysing emerging evidence.” The recommendation of the Covid Working Group was accepted by the National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC). Dr Paul said the technical group that evaluated the evidence was drawn from different quarters and did a thorough job of its recommendations.

In a statement issued by ministry said that “based on the available real-life evidences, particularly from UK, the Covid-19 Working Group agreed for increasing the dosing interval to 12-16 weeks between two doses of Covishield vaccine. No change in interval of Covaxin vaccine doses was recommended”.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan has written to states and UTs to take steps to widely disseminate the information about the dosage gap among programme managers, vaccinators and recipients.

Times View

The government’s constantly shifting stance on the ideal interval between Covishield doses is befuddling. Without speculating on the possible causes, we would like to point out that frequent changes don’t inspire confidence. Winning people’s trust is key in the vaccination battle against coronavirus.