Unending queues at suburban rly stns as many counters shut

Unending queues at suburban rly stns as many counters shut

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

Suburban commuters suffer long queues to buy tickets as most of the counters are still closed, although the railways have allowed people to travel by trains. Railways have also not made additional counters for people to avoid crowding while buying suburban tickets.

People have to wait for close to15 minutes at Tambaram to buy tickets during non-peak hours on weekdays. There is also a delay because railways accept only cash and are yet to offer digital options like in metro trains. This is forcing people to crowd ignoring Covid protocols. The situation is the same on the three suburban routes.

Karthik N, a commuter, said "Only a few counters are open, and no Covid protocols are being followed. All the ticketing counters are not open, although there is a crowd even in non-peak hours. The counters accept only cash. This is also making it slow."

He said, "It took me15 minutes to buy tickets at 10.30am on Wednesday and had to stand in a jampacked crowd and that too in a wellequipped station like Tambaram."

Similar is the situation at major stations where crowding has increased. T Sadagopan, a consumer activist, said, "Halt stations continue to have non-computerised counters where return tickets are not issued. The railways could have computerised these counters at these stations on the Tiruvallur route. There used to be separate counters for season tickets and for regular tickets. These are now issued from the same counters." The UTI app is not efficient all the time as there are restrictions to book tickets on it, he added.

K Baskar, a frequent commuter, said, "In Tiruvallur, the counter at south side of the station is not operated during morning peak hours. It is open from 9am to 2pm. A large number of people come into the station from this entry. It has to be open from 6am."

Villagers around Tambaram upset with new order

Villagers around Tambaram upset with new order

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

The state government’s decision formally announcing the formation of Tambaram corporation by merging five municipalities and an equal number of town panchayats has found many takers.

However, several residents from15 village panchayats in the area are a disappointed lot as the government has not formally included their villages in the new corporation limits. The government order mentions that their inclusion would be done at a later stage.

Residents in these village panchayats said the decision to postpone their inclusion is a needless delay. This is so because despite being just a few kilometres from corporation limits, facilities in these village panchayats are several years behind those in the city. A Sathik of Medavakkam village panchayat said that the decision was a setback, as they had been waiting for 10 years for the new corporation.

J Shankar of Kovilambakkam village panchayat said there are some indications that the merger of village panchayats will be announced later. “But if elections are held to the village panchayats, then it is as good as postponing the merger by another five years,” he said.

A Varadhan of Moovarasampet village panchayat said they live just near the airport, but have only one official to handle their grievances and issues, which is not enough.

According to the new order, Tambaram, Pallavaram, Pammal, Sembakkam and Anakaputhur are the municipalites to be merged in the new corporation, while Chitalapakkam, Madambakkam, Perungalathur, Peerkankarai and Tiruneermalai are the town panchayats which will be merged.

The government order states that the revenue potential is increasing from these areas are increasing, while facilities like schools and colleges have also come up, which has necessitated the formation of a new corporation.

The projected population of the new corporation will be 9.6 lakh, up from 7.2 lakh in 2011

Gym owner, 47, writes NEET to coach daughter

Gym owner, 47, writes NEET to coach daughter

A Ragu Raman & A Prathap TNN

Chennai:13.09.2021

Parents choose different methods to help their children crack competitive exams, but K Mohan went a step ahead on Sunday. The 47-year-old gym owner from Vadapalani appeared for NEET at an Anna Nagar centre not because he wants to become a doctor, but because he wants to help his daughter turn one.

When he entered the examination centre, the police personnel and invigilation staff thought he was a parent, but allowed him in after double checking the hall ticket. “I was nervous thinking whether familiar questions would appear. When I entered, young students looked at me differently. But, I was focused on the exam," he told TOI.

Mohan, who is also customs consultant for those in the export-import business, has an MA and a law degree, but doesn’t practise. He completed his Class XII three decades ago and wanted to join medicine but couldn’t. “I got the interest when I was helping my sister’s daughter prepare last year. After learning that there is no age limit for professional courses, I decided to give it a try to help my daughter’s preparation and slogged for six months,” he said.

The physics questions were tough, but those in chemistry and biology were relatively easy, he said. “I am expecting more than 550 out of 720. As of now, I am not planning to join the medicine course.”

The other family members did not welcome the idea, but his daughter and son were supportive and helped in the preparations, said Mohan, adding that he used his niece’s coaching material.

According to the National Testing Agency’s information bulletin for NEET 2021, the upper age is 25 years as on the date of examination with a relaxation of five years for those in to the SC/ST/OBC-NC category and PwBD candidates.

However, the Supreme Court, hearing petitions challenging the age limit, provisionally allowed candidates who are above 25 years in its interim order and said it is subject to the final outcome of the case. So, the NTA provisionally allowed candidates above 25 years to appear.

AGE NO BAR: K Mohan at the entrance of his test centre on Sunday

Moderately tough NEET could push cut-off down

Moderately tough NEET could push cut-off down

Experts: Many Students Fail To Complete Questions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

Expecting an easy question paper like last year in view of the Covid-19 pandemic, medical aspirants from the state said they were surprised by the tough physics questions in National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) 2021 conducted on Sunday. Candidates said biology was easier and chemistry moderately difficult. Experts predict a slight dip in scores compared to the previous year.

Around one lakh candidates from 18 cities in the state took the test at 224 centres that adhered to strict Covid-19 protocols.

In Chennai, of 17,992 registered students, 800 were absent (attendance 96%). Likewise, Salem (96.1%), Trichy (96%) and Coimbatore

(98.7%) recorded good attendance while Madurai city had 88%.

J S Dharani from Chennai said the physics paper was the toughest so far in NEET. "NTA has not considered the pandemic situation. Out of 45 questions in physics, 35 were tough as they were based on calculations. The choices were also very close and tough," she said.

Kushal Seervi from Chennai, who is writing the exam for the second time, said he left a few questions in physics fearing negative marks. "It will be very difficult to score full marks," he said.

B K Lokesh said the additional options were tricky and so students needed more time.

Students said the biology section was easier as the options were vastly different and students can identify correct answers easily.

M Jayashree, from a government school in the city, said biology questions were easier as they were direct. "Physics questions were largely based on calculations and choices were similar. Fearing negative marks, I skipped some questions," she said.

N Prasanth from Madurai said the arrangements for the exam were smooth. “Covid-19 safety was a bit of a concern for my family but the safety measures in place were reassuring. The exam also went on without any disruptions and instructions were clearly explained. Wearing masks for hours was a bit tough but still it was manageable and I was able to concentrate,” he added.

B Pavan Kumar, deputy director of FIITJEE, Chennai, said the question paper was lengthy and many students could not answer all the questions. "Due to the tough paper, students can expect better rank compared to last year. For example, a student with 650 marks out of 720 in NEET got a rank around 2,000 last year. This year students will get 1,600 rank for the same mark," he said.

P Prameela, academics director, Narayana Educational Institutions, said the paper was not like the NEET 2020 paper, which was easier. "It was a concept-based paper and lengthier. We are not expecting full marks this year and a score above 650 may get below 100 rank this year," she said.

NEET politics simmers after TN youth kills self

NEET politics simmers after TN youth kills self

Senthil.Kumaran@timesgroup.com

Salem:13.09.2021

Under pressure to seek NEET exemption for Tamil Nadu, the state government faced harsh criticism from the opposition after a 20-year-old ended his life by hanging, hours before he was to take the National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test. Police said S Dhanush of Koolaiyur village in Salem district took the extreme step, “apprehensive about taking NEET” held on Sunday afternoon across the country.

Chief minister M K Stalin, while condoling the youth’s death, said, “Our legal battle against NEET begins now.” He assured that a bill would be passed in the state assembly on Monday, the last day of the budget session, to get “permanent exemption” from NEET.

Stalin said he would write a letter to all the state CMs to get their support for NEET exemption, which was “a national issue". He said some students like Dhanush ended their lives due to fear of facing the exam.

Police said Dhanush had been preparing for NEET for the past two years. He had taken the examination twice earlier and failed in both attempts. According to preliminary inquiries, Dhanush told his parents that he would fail this examination too.

Physics questions tough: Candidates

About one lakh candidates took NEET at 224 centres in TN amid strict Covid protocols. Chennai recorded an attendance rate of 96%. Students, who expected an easy paper like last year, had to face tough physics questions. They said biology was easier and chemistry moderately difficult. P2

Now, screening facility for newborns at AIIMS

Now, screening facility for newborns at AIIMS

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:12.09.2021

A facility for screening hemoglobinopathies in newborns was inaugurated at AIIMS Bhopal here on Saturday. It is to be noted that Madhya Pradesh has a high prevelance of sickle cell disorders, thalasemias and other hemoglobinopathies.

The facility, which comes under the department of pediatrics, is supported by National Health Mission (NHM). Importance of genetic counselling and screening of high risk population is stressed. Patient information brochure for advocacy and awareness about newborn screening was also released during the event.

Newborn screening (NBS) is a simple test which requires only 2-3 drops of blood to be collected by a heelprick from newborns on day two or three of birth. Such facility will help ease the burden of one similar existing in Bhopal’s Gandhi Medical College.

Dr Seema Kapoor, director professor of genetics at Delhi’s Maulana Azad Medical College, delivered a guest lecture stressing the need for universal newborn screening and increasing awareness about NBS amongst healthcare professionals and the community. Also present on the occasion were representatives from AIIMS Bhopal and NHM.

The facility will help in early diagnosis of these disorders in the newborn period, and early initiation of treatment helps to prevent the long term complications and improve the quality of life of these patients. It will also help to provide opportunities for prenatal diagnosis in subsequent pregnancies, according to a press release.

Dr Bhavna Dhingra, nodal officer of the programme, informed that it is proposed to include screening for metabolic disorders as well in the near future and to scaleup the programme to cover the entire state in a phased manner.

NEED OF THE HOUR

E-tender ‘scam’ probe: EOW in a spot over accused’s proof-copy demand

E-tender ‘scam’ probe: EOW in a spot over accused’s proof-copy demand

P.Naveen@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:12.09.2021

The accused in the alleged Rs 3000-cr e-tender scam in MP have put EOW in a fix by asking for a copy of the electronic evidence.

The agency says it is voluminous 9TB data which cannot be shared with the accused without segregation, and that itself is a Herculean task. On other hand the Bhopal court is trying to conclude the trial at the earliest to meet Supreme Court’s deadline.

The SC had ordered last month that the trial be completed and the verdict pronounced within 12 months. The apex court dismissed a special leave petition for bail filed by one of the accused, who had been in jail for the last two years. Order was issued last month.

A breach in the e-tender process led to the alleged Rs 3,000 crore scam, forcing the government to revoke nine of its major tenders. In 2018, EOW approached CERT-In to pay a visit to MP State Electronics Development Corporation (MPSEDC) to get a mirror image of the data related to the case. CERT-In is yet to share its inputs on the retrieved data. EOW has been sending reminders to the central agency for this so that it can wrap up the investigation Officers also say that it is not feasible to share the entire data with the accused as it may have an adverse impact on pending cases. The trial court has asked EOW to hand over the digital evidence in compliance with the SC ruling to conclude its trial at the earliest.

The SC order goes thus: “We are not inclined to interfere with the impugned judgment passed by the high court. Consequently, the special leave petition is dismissed. However, the trial court is directed to conclude the trial and pronounce the judgment within a year from the date of receipt of the copy of this order.”

E-tendering ‘biggest scam’ EOW has probed

On April 11, 2019, a day after registering an FIR into the Rs 3000-crore e-tendering scam, EOW had rounded up three software professionals and raided a company jointly operated by them for allegedly hacking the government portal and ‘modifying contents’.

IP addresses of the systems used to breach the e-tendering software of Madhya Pradesh state electronic development corporation (MPSEDC) were allegedly traced to the desktop and mobile phones of the company and its directors. Unauthorized accesses were made into the portal using encryption keys via internet connections used by this company, say officials.

In his statement to EOW, the company’s proprietor has denied his role in any of the tenders floated by MPSEDC. According to him, his company, which has a licensed load runner, was contracted to conduct performance testing of the e-tender portal, and the work was cancelled within two days of its award.

E-tendering is said to be the biggest ever ‘scam’ that the agency ever investigated. The probe began in mid-June 2019 on the orders of chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan. The then chief secretary BP Singh asked EOW to begin an investigation based on an interim report submitted by a former director of MPSED after the cancellation of nine tenders. The FIR mentions directors of seven private companies, and unnamed bureaucrats and politicians. TNN

The agency says it is voluminous 9TB data and its segregation itself is a Herculean task