Chennai: 72-yr-old dies after fall from train’s top berth

Chennai: 72-yr-old dies after fall from train’s top berth

TNN | Dec 14, 2021, 03.45 AM IST

CHENNAI: A 72-year-old-man died after slipping and falling in his sleep from the upper berth of an express train to Chennai on Sunday night. A Government Railway Police (GRP) team, which examined the body at Tambaram station, found his spectacles broken and blood around the left ear.

The deceased, Narayanan of Karaikudi, was part of a 20-member group which was on a pilgrimage to a temple in Vadakara in Kerala and planned to start from a temple in Chennai’s Mannady (Parry’s). The group boarded S2 coach in Silambu Express (Sengottai to Chennai Egmore) on Saturday. After dinner, Narayanan took the upper berth. He is believed to have slipped and fallen to the floor of the coach at Maraimalai Nagar, but the others in the group failed to notice it immediately. After 10 minutes, some people found him lying on the floor bleeding from the ear. His co-passengers tried to help him, as he was unconscious. The authorities were alerted. At Tambaram station, the railway health staff who reached the compartment declared Narayanan dead. The Tambaram GRP registered a case and sent the body to the Chromepet GH for postmortem. Doctors there told police they found blood around the left ear and that a piece from the broken spectacles may have pierced him. He had removed his spectacles and placed them in the pocket on the left side of his shirt, police said.

Police said he was allotted berth 57 (lower), but slept on berth 60 (upper). “We suspect he could have swapped seats with someone and slept on the upper berth from where he slipped while he was asleep,” said an investigating officer.

Fake degrees scams busted in Rajkot

Fake degrees scams busted in Rajkot

TNN | Dec 13, 2021, 04.10 AM IST

RAJKOT: Two rackets of making and selling fake educational degree certificates and markets were busted in Rajkot with the police arresting three persons including a woman.

The degree certificates were made for students who were aspiring to go to Canada for further studies or immigrate.

The special operations group (SOG) sources said that over a dozen bogus MBA certificates were seized from the accused during the raid that was conducted by the cops a fortnight ago. The cops said that further investigations may lead to more arrests in the case.

The SOG sleuths had nabbed Paras Khajuria near his house on Vidyanagar Road after they received a tip-off that he was selling bogus degree certificates. When his two-wheeler was checked, the investigators found 11 degree certificates of MBA and marksheets. The degrees were from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra and Allahabad University.

“We sent the degrees to the respective universities to ascertain if they were genuine. On Saturday, we got the reply from the universities that the degree certificates were fake following which we arrested Khajuria,” said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Manoharsinh Jadeja. Khajuria is a visa agent and helps aspiring students to immigrate to Canada.

Apart from providing service to genuine clients, Khajuria used to look for the aspirants who wanted to immigrate but didn’t have an MBA degree that helps in getting more points for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. He was engaged in the racket of making bogus degrees for the last six years. When asked how he managed to get fake degrees, Khajuria said that Darshan Kotak, a resident of Ahmedabad, used to send him the degrees,” Jadeja added.

Khajuria used to charge anywhere between Rs 70,000 to Rs one lakh per degree from the aspirants. He used to keep half the money and send the rest to Kotak who too has been booked by the police for fraud.

Police also booked Vaibhav Patadia, Apurva Patel and Viral Goradia in whose names the seized certificates were issued. Khajuria has been sent to one day of police custody by the court. Vaibhav, who was looking to get more points in PR, too has been arrested.

In a separate case of bogus certificates, a 35-year-old woman too has been arrested from the city. Dharmishta Makadia, a resident of Sadhu Vasvani Road, was making fake MBA degrees for the last one year. Police seized five bogus degrees and seven photocopies from her. “The fake degrees were in the name of William Carey University based in Meghalaya. She used to charge Rs 70,000 per degree certificate,” Jadeja said.

Police said was earlier booked in Maharashtra too for the similar crime.

Makadia told the investigators that a Delhi-based man Prakash Yadav, who was her Facebook friend, used to send her fake degrees. She claimed that Yadav gave her the idea of how to execute the racket. Police also booked Malti Trivedi and Maulik Jasani, in whose names the bogus certificates seized from Makadia, were issued. She has been remanded to one day of police custody by the court.

Absence of juniors mounts pressure on Tamil Nadu’s medicos

Absence of juniors mounts pressure on Tamil Nadu’s medicos

Seniors working longer hours as PG NEET counselling delayed

Published: 13th December 2021 03:33 AM 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: There has been no respite for Dr Sangeetha* from her tiring work schedule for more than a year now. The 26-year-old is among the many second year post-graduate students in the State’s government medical college hospitals, who have lost their sleep as they still don’t have any juniors to share their burden. The delay in the counselling for PG NEET 2021 has meant that these students, who are obliged to work in hospitals as part of the course, have a hectic life at the start of their careers.

“My emergency duty started at 7.30 am on Saturday and I finished around 12.30 pm on Sunday. My next shift starts at 6 pm. I am physically and mentally exhausted, and have lost my personal life. I don’t even have time to attend to my mother’s phone calls,” said Sangeetha.

Sangeetha said once during her first year, she started her duty on a Saturday and got relieved only on Tuesday evening. “This is still continuing. Even though I am in the second year, I still do basic works in wards, which are supposed to be done by first year students,” she said. First year PG doctors have to follow-up patients, admit them, take their history, check their blood pressure before surgeries, and get clearance from specialist doctors for the surgery of patients with comorbidities. Post surgery, they have to check on the patient’s condition, Sangeetha said.

Dr Keerthy Varman, a second year PG doctor at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, said, “Our work has only doubled since the pandemic. Now, non-Covid services have also resumed. Then there were the medical camps during floods, and Covid vaccination duty. We have to do all these.” The doctors rued that the busy hours have left them with very little time for their studies. “There is no time for our peripheral postings to other departments such as cardio-thoracic, where we learn their specialities. When will I study my lessons or learn new things when I am still busy doing routine ward works,” asked Dr Keerthy Varman. He added that they were compensating for about 2,000 PG first year students (including diploma) in government medical colleges, who are yet to be let in.

A second year PG student at the Royapettah Government Hospital said, “If juniors are there, they can take care of ward duties on the days we go for peripheral duty. But now if we leave and go for peripheral duty, no one is there to do routine works.” The doctors said they are still uncertain on until when the situation would continue. The PG counselling was temporarily suspended due to a case on the EWS quota seats, which is pending in the Supreme Court.

The doctors association had recently met Health Minister Ma Subramanian and requested the State Government to pressurise the Union Government, and request the Supreme Court to finish the hearing quickly and conduct the counselling. It had demanded contract extension for doctors recruited for mini-clinics, and posting them in hospitals under the Directorate of Medical Education till the first year PG students come. It had also asked for the service of Covid medical officers who were temporarily recruited during the Covid second wave, to compensate the manpower shortage. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has issued a plea to fast track the court hearing.

*Name changed

TTD issues Government Order on use of Tamil, then flouts it

TTD issues Government Order on use of Tamil, then flouts it

They mention several names of officials in English despite the mandate that all the names and initials in the government documents must be only in Tamil.

Published: 13th December 2021 04:13 AM 

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: It was on Thursday that the Tamil Development Department (TDD) issued a Government Order (G.O.) mandating that State government departments use only Tamil names and initials on documents. Going by the DIPR statements issued since then by various departments, it seems the government itself is flouting that order.

Several DIPR statements shows names of ministers PK Sekar Babu, N Kayalvzihi, KN Nehru, MRK Panneerselvam and MPs SR Parthiban, AKP Chinraj and KRN Rajeshkumar with English initials, a stark contrast to the order.

According to the G.O., two earlier orders — one in 1978 and another in 1998 — and a government letter issued in 1997 on the same matter, too, had not been properly implemented. The new G.O. was supposed to be implemented to the letter from the date of its issue.

After the TDD G.O., the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) released press statements mentioning names with English initials. The number of the press releases that had the English initials are 1313, 1314, 1319, 1323 and 1325.

They mention several names of officials in English despite the mandate that all the names and initials in the government documents must be only in Tamil. It must be noted that the DIPR statements are considered to be government officials’ documents as messages are conveyed to the public through these statements.

As per the order, Minister KN Nehru’s name must have the Tamil initials ‘Kaa Na’. But, the press note merely had the Tamil letters pronounced in English letters: ‘KN’. Likewise, most of the ministers, elected representatives and other names mentioned in the DIPR statements are in violation of the TDD order.

Similarly, since Friday, the Greater Chennai Corporation also issued various press releases, of which, the press releases 347, 349 and 350 have names with English initials. This is a blatant violation of the G.O by government departments.

Commenting on the violation of the order by government departments, a retired officer of the department, told TNIE, on condition of anonymity, “There is no accountability in the implementation of the G.O.s to ensure Tamil as an official language. The government didn’t take action against officials for this violation despite repeated complaints raised by the TDD.”

He added, “As per the powers vested with the TDD authorities, we can only inspect government offices for usage of Tamil; whether authorities sign in Tamil and prepare files and send messages in Tamils. But we can’t take any action against the authorities even if we find them guilty.”

He also said, “To take action, we have to write to the district collector and only the collector can initiate action through their department head. Hence, none have been punished so far. Earlier G.O.s on the matter have also been left without implementation.”

‘No action taken despite TDD plaints’

A retired official said, “There is no accountability...to ensure Tamil as an official language. No action was taken against errant officials despite repeated complaints from the TDD.”

Footboard travel of students: Who will take responsibility?

Footboard travel of students: Who will take responsibility?

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:53 AM 

School students travelling on footboard at Vepery in Chennai | P Jawahar

By Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam

Express News Service

MADURAI: Sample this: There is enough room inside, but most of the youth prefer to put their lives at risk by hanging on to the railings of the footboard, clutching their lives in their hand. Their reason is simple: To impress girls.

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

“Usually the girls sitting inside the bus would turn back and notice the boys travelling on footpath. It gives us courage and confidence to speak to the girls when they come out of the bus,” he said.

G Arun, a college student who travels from Villapuram to Tallakulam daily said: “From class X onwards, I am a ‘footboard traveller’. I prefer to travel on the rear footboard only when the speed of the bus is too much. If the speed is higher, there is always a chance to fall down. We the footboard travellers have two benefits. One, we will be able to see the girls inside the bus and those waiting in each and every stop. On each step, six boys can travel. In total, 18 boys can stand on the footboard freely,” he said.

Chief Educational Officer R Swaminathan said he will send a circular to all the school heads to spread awareness among students about the dangers of footboard travel.

“I will urge the heads to monitor, depute teachers in each and every bus stop to curb this,” he said.

Speaking to TNIE, TNSTC CITU District Secretary, A Kanagasundar, said bus drivers or conductors alone cannot end the footboard travel.

“Though no driver or conductors received notice or fine in the district, penalty of Rs 100 was slapped on bus drivers and conductors in other districts. The penalty is adding to their stress,” he said.

Speaking to TNIE, Joint Transport Commissioner Pon Senthilnathan said, “A Whatsapp group will be created by each RTO with the school heads, TNSTC staff and traffic police personnel in their respective jurisdiction in a bid to put an end to this issue.”

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

In a first, Centre gives nod for PG seats at Omandurar MCH

In a first, Centre gives nod for PG seats at Omandurar MCH

With this, the number of PG medical seats in government medical colleges has increased to 1,992 from 1,964.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:37 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital (GOMCH), which was started in 2015 with 100 MBBS seats, got approval from the Union Health Ministry for starting a Postgraduate medical course with 28 seats, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after inaugurating various facilities announced in the budget session at GOMCH, the Health Minister said the college got approval for PG seats for the first time.

Dr R Jayanthi, Dean, GOMCH told TNIE that the permission was granted for six seats each in MD in General Medicine, MD in Paediatrics, MS in General Surgery, three seats each in MD in Anaesthesia and MS in Orthopaedics, and four seats in MS Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The students will be enrolled from this academic year, the Dean said.

With this, the number of PG medical seats in government medical colleges has increased to 1,992 from 1,964. The minister further said the Union Health Ministry also gave approval for 50 additional MBBS seats at the Coimbatore Government Medical College. With this, the State has received 1,500 additional MBBS seats this year.

‘No Omicron cases yet’

So far, 25 international travellers from ‘at risk’ and ‘non-risk’ countries have tested positive for Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu.

Of samples sent to InStem in Bengaluru for genome sequencing, the four results that came back had Delta variant and not Omicron.

So, there are no Omicron cases in Tamil Nadu yet, said Subramanian. Earlier, the minister inaugurated five facilities at the GOMCH — Cognition Rehabilitation and Day Care Centre, Emergency Care and Rehabilitation Centre, Internet De-addiction Centre, Post Natal Depression Counselling and a Newborn Hearing Special Screening facility.

Chennai book fair from January 6-23 at YMCA Grounds; Stalin to inaugurate event

Chennai book fair from January 6-23 at YMCA Grounds; Stalin to inaugurate event

BAPASI, which organises the fair, said all Covid-19 protocol stipulated by the State government will be followed and the fair will be used as a platform to create awareness on safety.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:40 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate the 45th Chennai book fair at the YMCA Grounds in Nandanam from January 6 to 23. During weekdays, the fair will be open from 3 pm to 8:30 pm and on weekends and government holidays including Pongal, from 11 am to 8:30 pm.

SK Murugan, secretary of BookSellers’ and Publishers’ Association of South India (BAPASI), which organises the fair, said all Covid-19 protocol stipulated by the State government will be followed and the fair will be used as a platform to create awareness on safety.

“We are discussing with officials the possibility of having a vaccination camp within the premises and we will also make sure to intensify awareness campaigns,” Murugan said. Masks and sanitisers will be distributed at the venue.

The programme schedule and details will be available by the first week of January, said Murugan.

In 2021, the fair was conducted in late February which resulted in organisers and publishers losing out on the Pongal holidays that usually brings in a large number of visitors.

In addition, several city residents had moved out of the city to their hometowns due to the work from home option.

When usually an average of 12 lakh people visit the fair, only eight lakh people had turned up and the revenue dropped around Rs 2 crore from the usual average. Political parties’ functionaries, who are usually regular visitors of the fair, had also given it a miss due to election work.