TNeGA to launch e-Office for paperless governance

TNeGA to launch e-Office for paperless governance

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

17.11.2021

During the lockdown, private firms allowed their employees to work from home (WFH). But the state government was unable to do so. Now, the Tamil Nadu egovernance agency (TNeGA) has a solution for this if any need arises in the future.

TNeGA has designed a tool named 'e-Office', which will help employees to access their office files from homes.

Using their username and password employees can login to e-Office, scan hardcopies of office files, work on the uploaded documents, prepare notes, and transfer it to their colleagues for reference, said a senior TNeGA official.

"We will get to know from where and for how long a file has remained pending. Also, there is no way a file can go missing. Even if there was a fire accident etc, they can be retrieved," the official added.

The agency is planning to launch 'e-Office' at all departments and district collectorates and has created 50,000 email points for this purpose. In the first phase, the tool is to be made available for 3,500 employees at the state secretariat. Archives in offices over there will be digitised before the launch in January.

M Anbarasu, president of Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association, said that it was practically impossible to implement 100% paperless governance from a remote location. Some government welfare schemes involve physical inspections, and such field inputs can be recorded digitally. Only matters related to finance can be dealt with using such tools, he said.

MG Devasagayam, retired IAS official, said that they tried it way back in 2007 when the Madras high court directed the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA) to act on building violations. But there was literally no support from the staff. So, the initiative was dropped.

"Also, it is important to see what is digitised. Are projects and violations worth thousands of crores going to be digitised? Dealing with daily routine alone will provide us convenience but not transparency," he said.

Singapore to limit quarantine-free entry

Singapore to limit quarantine-free entry

The benefit may not be available for Vande Bharat passengers as of now, says statement by city-state

17/11/2021

Long wait: Passengers waiting to get tested for COVID-19 at the international airport in Chennai. B. Velankanni Raj VELANKANNI RAJ B

JAGRITI CHANDRA SUHASINI HAIDAR NEW DELHI

A day after including India on its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) programme, Singaporean officials say quarantine-free entry may not be allowed for Indians taking Air India’s Vande Bharat flights, unless talks on a special bilateral arrangement result in an agreement.

In a detailed document on frequently asked questions on VTL, Singapore said only commercial scheduled passenger flights were eligible to be designated as VTL flights and since the Vande Bharat Mission flights were Government charter relief flights, they were not eligible. India has thus far not reopened regular international travel and has restricted flights to only those from 28 countries that have negotiated an “air travel bubble” system with the Government, that do not include Singapore.

“As Vande Bharat Mission flights are chartered repatriation flights, they are not eligible to be designated as VTL flights,” the statement released said, adding that negotiations with the Ministry of Civil Aviation was under way to work out a compromise that would allow a “partial” restoration of international flights for Singapore as a “temporary” measure.

In a statement on Tuesday, Singapore International Airlines on Tuesday asked passengers to be “patient” while talks were on.

Singaporean media had reported a surge in bookings for SIA flights after the announcement of the VTL programme, and at a press meet, Transport Minister S. Iswaran said Singapore aimed two flights a day each from Chennai, Delhi and Mumbai by November 29. Travel agents in India said they were eager for the return of regular flights.

Govt. allows meals on all domestic flights

Govt. allows meals on all domestic flights

17/11/2021

The Ministry of Civil Aviation on Tuesday allowed airlines to serve meals on board all domestic flights. The service was banned on flights shorter than two hours during the second wave of COVID-19.

“The airlines operating flights on domestic sectors may provide meal services on board, without restriction on duration of the flight,” an order said on Tuesday.

Moderate rush of pilgrims at Sabarimala on Day 1

Moderate rush of pilgrims at Sabarimala on Day 1

17/11/2021

Offering prayers: Devotees waiting for darshan at the Sabarimala Ayyappa temple on Tuesday. Leju Kamal

STAFF REPORTER PATHANAMTHITTA

Braving inclement weather conditions, devotees began trekking the Sabarimala hillock to offer prayers at the Lord Ayyappa temple on Tuesday.

In view of a regulation on the entry of devotees due to heavy rain, the day witnessed only a moderate rush of pilgrims. Only those who have booked slots in the virtual queue system are being permitted to the temple from the base camp at Pampa-Triveni.

Devaswom Minister K. Radhakrishnan held a review of the arrangements in place at Pampa and the Sannidhanam along with Travancore Devaswom Board president K. Ananthagopan.

According to the Minister, over 13 lakh people have already booked slots for darshan through the virtual queue system and the pilgrim footfall is expected to improve as the weather conditions stabilise.

“As more devotees begin to arrive, the traditional Sabarimala path via Neelimala-Appachimedu may be opened to devotees. The departments concerned have been directed to set up two health centres along this route,” said the Minister.

Univs told to hold all exams in offline mode

Univs told to hold all exams in offline mode

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:

17.11.2021

Citing the decline in Covid-19 cases in the state, the Tamil Nadu higher education department on Tuesday directed all state universities to conduct all exams only in offline mode.

A section of students in Madurai and engineering college managements asked the department to continue with unsupervised online exams for upcoming exams.

"The offline examinations may be held by following the standard operating procedures and guidelines issued by the government. It applies to all polytechnic, arts and science, engineering, colleges of education and university departments," higher education secretary D Karthikeyan said in a circular to all universities.

Professors from Anna University said the quality of graduates will improve only if exams are held offline. The university also decided to postpone the semester exams by two weeks to give time for colleges to prepare students for offline mode exams.

"The exams were originally scheduled to start from December 13. Now, the university decided to start the semester exams for students studying in third, fifth and seventh semesters from December 27," an official from Anna University said.

Madras University is also planning to conduct physical mode exams from the last week of December.

Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy, said the state government's decision to conduct physical mode exams is a welcome move.

"The state government should not yield to the pressure from students and college management. In the interest of quality of education, the government should stick to their decision as the unsupervised online exams led to copying and other malpractices," he said.

Caught in quota tussle, MBBS, BDS admissions delayed

Caught in quota tussle, MBBS, BDS admissions delayed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:

17.11.2021

Even two weeks after the declaration of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) results, the Tamil Nadu government is yet to call for applications for MBBS and BDS admissions, increasing anxiety and stress among medical aspirants. The delay also would affect students who may not get a medical seat as admissions would be closed to other professional courses by the time medical counselling ends.

Officials said the state has decided to wait for clarity over cases related to special quota for vanniyars and economically weaker sections (EWS) which are pending before the Supreme Court.

Dharani, a medical aspirant who has scored above 450 marks in NEET, said, the anxiety increases everyday as there was no information about admissions. "It has been two weeks since the NEET results were declared. The government is yet to call for applications. I want to know which college I would get admission to for my score," she said.

Another aspirant from the city who has scored 500, said she was stressed over the delay in admissions. "This year, the conduct of the NEET and declaration of results were delayed. There is no update about all-India quota admissions and state quota admissions so far. My friends who have selected engineering and other courses have started going to colleges. Even if the selection committee starts admission now, we will be able to go to medical college only in January 2022," she said.

After the 10.5% special quota for vanniyars was struck down by the Madras high court, the state government filed an appeal against the HC's order. A decision also expected in a few days on the petitions challenging the centre's decision to implement a 27% quota to OBCs and 10% reservation to EWS within all-India quota (AIQ) seats.

“We normally don’t start counselling here until at least one round of counselling is completed by the Medical Counselling Committee under the directorate general of health services,” said a senior official from the directorate of medical education. “This will give toppers an opportunity to choose seats from AIQ. Once they pay their fees and join a college, they are not allowed for counselling here. If we hold counselling before them there will be unnecessary movements,” the official said.

Meanwhile, health minister Ma Subramanian said the state would start counselling only after two rounds of counselling for all-India quota seats.

Mistaking for ex-wife, man hacks 32-year-old inside bank

Mistaking for ex-wife, man hacks 32-year-old inside bank

According to a police officer, the man attacked the woman mistaking her for his former wife, Susmitha, who is also an employee at the same bank.

Published: 16th November 2021 06:33 AM 

By Express News Service

KOZHIKODE: In a case of mistaken identity, a man hacked a 32-year-old woman inside a bank thinking her to be his former wife. Sreeshma suffered injuries when a drunk Biju, 47, attacked her inside the Cooperative Rural Bank in Nanmanda at 2pm. Police said the Nanmanda native is under treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital and her condition is stable.

According to a police officer, the man attacked the woman mistaking her for his former wife, Susmitha, who is also an employee at the same bank. “Biju came to the bank to confront his ex-wife. He entered the cashier’s cabin where Sreeshma was sitting and hacked her from behind with a knife. She managed to escape from attack with minor injuries on hand. Other bank staff, who rushed to her rescue, soon caught him and handed over him to the police,” said the officer.

Susmitha, who is the regular cashier at the bank was on leave on Monday and Sreeshma was in her seat. Biju did not know that his former wife was on leave. Since Sreeshma was wearing a mask, the man may not have identified her, the officer said. Biju and Susmitha had divorced recently. However, exact motive behind the attack could be ascertained only after a detailed interrogation, the police said. The accused was charged under Section 324 (for stabbing) and 307 (attempt to murder) of IPC.