Third wave: 2,900 doctors hired, 2,000 more to join

EYE ON THE NEXT WAVE

Third wave: 2,900 doctors hired, 2,000 more to join

TAKING NO CHANCES Govt Adds Medical Staff and Ramps Up Infra To Tackle Next Outbreak

Downward Trend In Infections Continues

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:26.09.2021

In line with experts’ recommendations and the overall strategy to face a possible third wave of Covid-19, the state government has been hiring doctors and installing critical medical infrastructure.

According to the department of health and family welfare, nearly 3,000 doctors, including specialists, have been roped in to manage the third wave and another 2,000 are expected to join the service in the coming weeks. The additional personnel are being onboarded through both direct recruitment and compulsory ruralservice deputations.

“Direct recruitment of 850 GDMOs [general duty medical officers] was completed by the department two months ago, while another 800 have joined as part of the mandatory rural service. Aside from this, around 950 doctors have come in through the medical education department for the rural service,” health commissioner Dr KV Trilok Chandra told STOI.

Apart from these 2,550 doctors, the health department has also completed the direct recruitment of 350 specialist doctors. “Another 2,000 specialists will join under the rural service programme soon,” Chandra added.

With this, the total number of new recruitments will touch 4,900. The health department, however, did not immediately share details of what the total number of doctors in the state would be with these additions.

Medical infra & supply

In terms of medical infrastructure, the government has set up 500 paediatric HDU/ICU beds across districts, which takes the total number of such beds to 800.

“...As on date, we have enhanced the number to 800 from 300 earlier. Work is underway to add another 1,200 such beds, which will be available in the coming weeks. This will take the total number of such beds to 2,000,” he said.

The government has 5 lakh vials of Remdesivir in stock and adequate quantities of other essential supplies needed for treatment, according to the health commissioner. Also, 8,000 oxygen concentrators have been distributed to supplement the HDU/ICU beds in the districts.

“Hopefully, we will never need to use all of these. But we are not compromising on preparations,” Chandra said, adding the government would also enhance the number of liquid medical oxygen tanks.

As reported by STOI earlier, the government had completed special health screening of 35 lakh children and teenagers by mid-September. Only 0.3 per cent of them had Covid-19.

Separate data from the Covid-19 war room shows that there have been more than 3.2 lakh cases, including 158 deaths, in the 0-19 age group. Overall, Karnataka has recorded nearly 29.7 lakh cases so far. The highest number of infections — over 6.8 lakh — have occurred in the 30-39 age group. The second-most affected group is 40-49 with 5.2 lakh cases.

The highest number of Covid-19 deaths — 10,798 — has been reported in the 60-69 age category, followed by more than 8,000 fatalities in the 50-59 group.

TN plans to take schools to students of Classes I to VIII

TN plans to take schools to students of Classes I to VIII

No Call Yet On Reopening, New Plan Will Allay Learning Loss

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.09.2021

The uncertainty over reopening schools for younger classes remains and the government plans to take schools to places near students and involve local volunteers to ensure everyone has foundational numeracy and literacy skills.

Schools reopened for Classes IX to XII on September 1, but no decision has been taken on reopening for Classes I to VIII.

To address concern among parents, the school education department plans a statewide campaign to mitigate the learning loss and to ensure basic literacy among children of Classes I to VIII, sources said.

Teachers and educational volunteers will go to areas where students live and engage them in activities and conduct classes for one to two hours a day till schools reopen. It will be modelled on the ‘Veethi Vagupparai’ (Classes on the Streets) method followed by a NGO.

The campaign is likely to be linked with the government’s ‘Ennum Ezhuthum’ mission to ensure children are able to comprehend and possess basic arithmetic skills by the time they are eight years old.

The school education department on Saturday held the second meeting with 10 non-governmental organisations including Tamil Nadu Science Forum (TNSF), Palli Kalvi Pathukappu Iyakkam, Forum for Child Friendly Schools and Aid India. “The department plans to standardize resource material used by various NGOs. It is studying the pros and cons of taking classes to nearby hamlets till the reopening of schools,” one participant said.

Aruna Rathnam, a former education specialist with Unicef, said it was good the government was aware of parents’ anxiety about learning loss and wants to address it. Involving volunteers would help as teachers may not be able cover the multiple hamlets, she addded.

N Madhavan, state executive committee member of TNSF, said the learning loss cannot be compensated only by teachers and schools. “The community needs to take part in the process of compensating the loss, and giving emotional, psychological support to the children. The Tamil Nadu government understood it and has initiated discussions,” he said.

TNSF possesses the expertise of successfully running “Arivoli Iyakkam”, a total literacy campaign launched in the early 1990s across the state. “If it is finalized, it can set an example for the rest of the country.”

The representatives of NGOs also suggested that the government make the campaign an agenda for the Grama Sabha meetings scheduled to be held on October 2.

Teachers and volunteers will go to areas where students live and engage them in activities and conduct classes for an hour or two a day till schools reopen

AIIMS PG Online Entrance Exam: Whether Candidate Is Entitled To Inspection Of Answer Sheets And Revaluation In The Absence Of Regulations? SC To Consider

AIIMS PG Online Entrance Exam: Whether Candidate Is Entitled To Inspection Of Answer Sheets And Revaluation In The Absence Of Regulations? SC To Consider

Shruti Kakkar  Live Law 

22 Sep 2021 6:20 PM

The Supreme Court on Monday (September 20, 2021) agreed to consider whether a candidate who has appeared at the online entrance examination for admission to the postgraduate course conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences would be entitled to inspection of the answer sheets, and to revaluation in absence of such provision in the applicable regulations.

The division bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna while issuing notice in the special leave petition filed by The Controller Of Examinations Examination Section, All India Institute Of Medical Science challenging Madras High Court's order dated August 27, 2021 also stayed the operation of the judgement.

"Pending further orders, there shall be a stay of the operation of the impugned order of the Single Judge dated 27 August 2021 and a stay of further proceedings in Writ Petition No 16670 of 2021 and WMP No 17655 of 2021," Court noted in its order.

The Madras High Court bench of Justice N Anand Venkatesh on August 27, 2021, while hearing a writ petition had directed the Controller of Examination, AIIMS to submit a detailed affidavit explaining the process and its stand with regards to the inspection of answer sheets. The affidavit also had to state the effect of the Court seeking for the inspection of answer sheets in the virtual form and the manner in which the same could impact the Controller of Examination's confidentiality.

"These questions are posed only to understand the scope of jurisdiction to be exercised by this Court under Article 226 of the Constitution of India in a changed scenario where everything is done through virtual mode. Under such a changed scenario, if any candidate is not satisfied with the marks awarded to him / her, what will be the remedy that will be left to the candidate," Court had further observed.

Appearing for the Controller of Examination, AIIMS Advocate Dushyant Parashar submitted that in the proceedings before the Madras High Court, Single Judge's attention was drawn to proceedings in which the Supreme Court had stayed the order of Central Information Commission dated July 20th 2015 in which the information watchdog had allowed Sakshi Mathur, a 2013 aspirant, to access the papers and answer keys of 2013 entrance exam.

Upon counsel's submission, the Top Court also directed for tagging the present SLP with SLP (Civil) 7591 of 2019 AIIMS v Sakshi Mathur.

Case Title: The Controller Of Examinations Examination Section, All India Institute Of Medical Sciences V. Lakshmanan Senthil Kumar & Anr

Supreme Court Quashes Madras HC Direction That EWS Reservation In NEET-AIQ Requires SC Constitution Bench Approval

Supreme Court Quashes Madras HC Direction That EWS Reservation In NEET-AIQ Requires SC Constitution Bench Approval

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

24 Sep 2021 4:05 PM

The Supreme Court on Friday set-aside the observations in the Madras High Court's order which said that the reservation for Economically Weaker Sections(EWS) in the NEET-All India Quota can be implemented only with the approval of the Constitution Bench of the Supreme Court that is examining the correctness of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment which provided for economic reservations.

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and BV Nagarathna held that the Madras High Court's observations were unnecessary. The bench said that the Madras High Court was considering a contempt petition seeking implementation of OBC reservation in NEET-AIQ, and hence the observations on 10% EWS quota amounted to a transgression of its jurisdiction.

"Having found that there is no contempt, the High Court has gone into a wider spectrum..there the High Court has really erred. When you are in contempt jurisdiction, you just need to see if the order has been complied or not", Justice Chandrachud remarked.

The Supreme Court was considering a special leave petition filed by the Union Government against the Madras High Court's observations on EWS quota.

Additional Solicitor General KM Nataraj, appearing for the Centre, submitted that the High Court ought not to have made the observations while it was exercising its contempt power.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam(DMK) party - which was the petitioner before the High Court in the contempt petition-submitted that the issue is "complicated", and Centre's SLP could be heard along with the other petitions challenging the EWS/OBC quota in the NEET-AIQ. Sibal pointed out that the validity of the 103rd Constitutional Amendment is being examined by the 5-judge bench. Sibal, along with Senior Advocate P Wilson, both appearing for the DMK, did not however object to the findings of the High Court that there is no contempt committed by the Centre.

The Union was aggrieved with the following observation made by a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice PD Audikesavalu of the High Court in paragraph 66(iii) of its judgment passed on August 25:

"The additional reservation provided for economically weaker sections in the notification of July 29, 2021 cannot be permitted, except with the approval of the Supreme Court in such regard".

The Supreme Court set aside the above observation in the High Court's order. However, the Supreme Court clarified that it is not expressing anything on the merits of the EWS quota in NEET-AIQ, as it is a subject matter of other petition, and that it is setting aside the High Court's order on the sole ground that the High Court transgressed the limits of contempt jurisdiction.

The bench dictated the following order after the hearing :

"We are clearly of the view that the High Court has transgressed into areas which were alien to the issues raised regarding the compliance of the earlier order. Having come to the conclusion that there was no breach of the judgment, rest of the discussion of the High Court in paragraphs commencing from 55 was unnecessary for the purpose of the contempt petition.

We, therefore hold that direction issued in para 66 (3) as alien to the exercise of contempt jurisdiction and shall accordingly stand set-aside.

However, we clarify that the specific direction is set aside not on merits but on sole ground that such direction has transgressed the boundaries of contempt jurisdiction. We are not expressing opinion on the merits of the case since the points will arise in a bunch of petitions pending adjudication".

The Court will hear on October 7 the other petitions challenging the Centre's notification to implement OBC, EWS quota in NEET-AIQ.

Case Title : Union of India v. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and others

Add Pallavaram & Chromepet to GCC, urge locals

BETTER THAN TAMBARAM

Add Pallavaram & Chromepet to GCC, urge locals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

25.09.2021

Residents associations of Pallavaram and Chromepet have raised a flag of rebellion against the government move to merge the municipalities to the proposed Tambaram corporation and have since been holding protests. Seeing the drastic change in conservancy work, road repairs and other upgrades in areas such as Nanganallur after it was merged with Chennai corporation, residents feel that it will be better to join Chennai, which also has experienced officials and better access to funds.

Sources said more than 60 residents associations have sent petitions against the merger with Tambaram. V Govindarajan, a social activist and a resident, said, “Merging these neighbourhoods into the new corporation will not help improve amenities. Pallavaram earns 100 crore annual revenue, which is higher than Tambaram. They will end up using our money but will not bring development to Pallavaram and Chromepet. We do not want that situation.”

“We had sent petitions to the government saying Pallavaram and Chromepet should be merged with GCC. Our MLA too spoke about it in the assembly. We want them to hold a public hearing as a majority of the people are against the proposed move,” he said, adding that residents plan to intensify protests.

The government announcing corporations by adding the areas despite residents’ opposition is undemocratic, said V Santhanam of Chromepet. “Pallavaram and Chrompet are so close to the borders of the Chennai corporation. The areas are far more developed, with commercial complexes, brand outlets, restaurants, bridges and other amenities than Tambaram. It makes more sense to add them to Chennai than to a new corporation,” he added.

However, K P Subramanian, a former CMDA planner, said the upgrade is a good move. “It may not be possible to add all areas to Chennai. But the government should offer a hand-holding in terms of allocating funds and augmenting the staff in all departments such as health, engineering, town planning so that the neighbourhoods can be developed.”

It's going to take more than a name change to make Tambaram a corpn

It's going to take more than a name change to make Tambaram a corpn

Unlike Avadi, Govt Must Set Aside Funds & Expertise To Develop New Corporation Well: Experts

Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com

25.09.2021

Sarvamangala Nagar in Chitlapakkam was a quiet neighbourhood more than 20 years ago, with mostly independent houses overlooking the Sembakkam lake. Now, almost all streets are crammed with four-storey and five-storey buildings. It lacks good roads, an underground sewage system and proper water supply a perfect example of unplanned urbanisation.

While residents are upbeat that the decision to convert Tambaram into a corporation comprising neighbouring local bodies will bring in better amenities, experts caution that the change in status should reflect on the ground. That means the new corporation should get experienced officers, more functions or powers and funds. They also say the Chennai model should be followed so that Tambaram doesn’t go the Avadi-way, where little has changed since the municipality became a corporation.

D S Sivasamy, former additional director in the local administration department, said the government should ensure an experienced bureaucrat is posted as commissioner and more posts created at zonal level.

With the government notifying the forming of the new corporation, Palvaram, Pammal, Anakaputhur, etc., can be divided into separate zones. The revenue earned by local bodies that will now be under Tambaram will be around 300 crore. But that may not be enough. “Funds are needed because the government often takes away a good portion of the revenue generated by a local body in certain taxes. A local body earns money from tax, building tax, licences, surcharges and stamp duty. But, the government gives only a portion of the surcharges to the local body…,” said Sivasamy.

More officials are needed, municipalities do not have enough. “There is hardly anyone to do a ground check if a project is suggested.”

The new corporation will have to take up underground sewerage work, drinking water supply, relay roads, stormwater drains and improving public transport in almost all the neighbourhoods spread over 87.64sqkm.

In Pallavaram, nothing much has changed in the staff strength after it was made into a municipality. That should not be the case, he added.

Ramakrishnan of Sarvamangala Nagar Residents Association hoped amenities will improve when the areas are attached to a corporation. “The change is evident at the next neighbourhood, which is in Pallavaram municipality. They have better facilities.”

Similar is the hope of residents in many neighbourhoods in Tambaram, Sembakkam, Pammal, Anakaputhur, Chitlapakkam, Madambakkam, Thiruneermalai, Peerkankaranai and other areas who have seen the way Nanganallur got good roads and other amenities after it was attached to Greater Chennai Corporation.

Chengalpet collector Rahulnath said a public hearing will be held after the model code of conduct for local body elections is over. “We have informed the government of the feedback from the people. The GO is a preliminary one. The government will take a final call.”

TIME TO PAUSE & PLAN

Tambaram has undergone rapid, unplanned urbanisation, in photo is Tambaram West. (Above) Work to build a subway to replace a level crossing at Radha Nagar in Chromepet, mooted a decade ago, is underway for many years. The proposed upgrading of Tambaram local body into a corporation is expected to speed up many works such as replacing level crossings to make traffic smooth in the suburbs.

CoWIN to add date of birth for those travelling abroad

CoWIN to add date of birth for those travelling abroad

Neha.Madaan@timesgroup.com

Pune:25.09.2021

People fully inoculated against Covid-19 and wanting to travel abroad will have a vaccination certificate with their full date of birth on the CoWIN app. As of now, the certificate refers only to age based on the year of birth. The new feature may go live by next week.

A senior Union government official with the CoWIN management portal said the introduction of the new feature stems from ongoing technical discussions between India and the UK on CoWIN certification. A senior official with the portal told TOI, “We believe that the UK wants the date of birth format in the CoWIN certificate as per WHO standards — in the ddmm-yy format — for international travellers. Hence, the same feature will be introduced in certificates for those going abroad.”

The UK government’s relaxed travel rules come into force from October 4. “You must be able to prove that you have been fully vaccinated (plus14 days) with a document (digital or paper-based) from a national or state-level public health body that includes, as a minimum, forename and surname(s), date of birth, vaccine brand and manufacturer, date of vaccination for every dose, country or territory of vaccination and/or certificate issuer. If your document from a public health body does not include all of these, you must follow the non-vaccinated rules. If not, you may be denied boarding,” the website added.

A senior official from the ministry of health and family welfare told TOI, “No changes are required in the current CoWIN certificates as the format is in sync with WHO standards.”