Panel: ₹8 lakh limit includes all family income

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03.01.2022

Answering the court’s questions on justification of the ₹8 lakh limit, the committee said, “The annual household income distribution of qualified EWS candidates for NEET-UG and JEE (Mains) for 2020 reveals that a mere 9 % and 8 . % of EWS candidates were found to be in the income bracket ₹5-8 lakhs, respectively. Inother words, most selected candidates who got the benefit of EWS reservation had annual family income lower than ₹5 lakh. That is whythe committee hascome to the conclusion that the existing annual income criteria of ₹8 lakh is not over-inclusive. ”

The government said it has accepted the Ajay Bhushan Pandey committee report, which recommended continuance of ₹8 lakh income limit with riders after a detailed analysis of the criteria. The committee differentiated it from the income criteria adopted to disentitle creamy layer among OBCs for quotas. The committee, comprising former finance secretary Pandey, Prof VKMalhotra of ICSSR and principal economic adviser to the government Sanjeev Sanyal, was set up on November 30 and submitted its report to the government on December 31. The committee said the “EWS may, however exclude, irrespective of income, a person whose family has 5 acres of agricultural land and above (included in the 2019 criteria which was challenged in SC). ”

The change from the 2019 EWS norms would be exclusion of residential assets criteria which was found to be difficult to collate and verify and a compliance burden. The residential asset criteria had drawn serious objections from the SC on the ground that the value of a residential asset varies substantially between urban and r ural areas.

The Centre had set up the committee to revisit 2019 EWS criteria after an SCbench headed by Justices D Y Chandra- chud on October 7 remarked, “Economic backwardness is a realistic thing. There is no doubt about it as people don’t have moneyto purchase books, to even have food. But as far as the EWS is concerned, they are forward class and there is no social or educational backwardness among them. So can you apply the same yardstick of ₹8 lakh limit for the creamy layer to the EWS? 

With regard to the EWS we are not dealing with social, educational backwardness. What was the basis of fixing the limit or have you lifted the criteria for the creamy layer and put it for EWS. ” The committee has pointed out that the ₹8 lakh limit includes all family income, including from agriculture sources making the exercise stricter than in case of OBC q uotas.

Full r eport onwww. toi. in

₹8L cap for EWS may affect OBC ‘creamy layer’

New Delhi:The central government’s strong defence against lowering ₹8 lakh income cap for the EWS eligibility may help it avert a backlash from the upper castes — who are the overwhelming beneficiaries of this quota — but in the process, it has take a stance that is likelyto a dversely affect its moves on crucial dimensions of OBC “ creamy layer”.

Faced with the prospect of making the EWS income cap more rigid, the ministry of social justice has showed the contrast between the ₹8 lakh for EWS and the same limit as OBC creamy layer cap, and arguing that the former is much morestrict. It hasspeltout that the family size for which the income is calculated for EWS is much bigger, and “income” includes “salaries” and “agricultural income”, while in case of OBCs, the “income” does not include “salaries and agri income”, r eports Subodh Ghildiyal

Retain ₹8 lakh EWS cap for admissions, suggests panel

Will Tweak Other Criteria Next Year: Govt To SC

New Delhi: The committee set up to evaluate the ₹8 lakh income limit for economically weaker section candidates in admissions to educational institutions recommended retention of the qualifying mark and the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it accepts the reasoning. This development may set in motion the resumption of the counselling process for the NEET-PG seats that is currently held up.

The Centre on Sunday told the Supreme Court that it would stick to the ₹8 lakh annual income limit criteria that entitles EWS candidates to a 10% reservation in ad- missions to educational institutions, including medical colleges, and government jobs, but promised to tweak other EWS-related criteria a bit from next year.

The committee advised implementation of its recommendations from next year, which would mean the EWS quota admissions for medical admissions for the present academic year, which is yet to be completed, would be on the basis of the 2019 criteria. “The existing system, which is going on since 2019, if disturbed at the end or fag-end of the process would create more complications than expected both for the beneficiaries as well as for the authorities,” the committee said. › Family income,

WB shuts schools; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

 WB shuts schools; restricts flights from Delhi, Mumbai

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Kolkata:

03.01.2022

As Covid cases rose nearly 12-fold in just seven days, the West Bengal government brought back stricter curbs on Sunday shutting all educational institutions from Monday and restricting flights from Delhi and Mumbai besides asking all offices to operate with a half their workforce.

At a press conference on Sunday afternoon, chief secretary H K Dwivedi announced that only essential services will be permitted to operate between 10pm and 5am in the state till January 15 and flights from the Mumbai and New Delhi, which have both reported a large numbers of infections will ply only twice a week in view of the rising number of Covid cases.

West Bengal, which witnessed a sudden spurt in Covid-19 cases with a near 12fold rise in the last seven days, on Sunday reported 6,153 new infections, 1,641 more than the previous day, with Kolkata accounting for 3,194 new cases, a health bulletin released by the state government said.

Dwivedi said starting January 5, flights from the two metropolises will be allowed only on Mondays and Fridays till a decision is taken reviewing the pandemic situation.

The state government had earlier announced that flights from the UK will not be allowed for the time being.

“As part of the restrictions, flights from these two cities will operate only twice a week — Mondays and Fridays,” he said.

PTI

Prepare plan to expand vaccination coverage in poll-bound states: Centre

New Delhi: Amid rising Omicron infected Covid-19 cases in the country, health minister Mansukh Mandaviya asked states to make all possible efforts to scale up health infrastructure so that India can combat the surge. Besides, states were also advised to prepare a weekly plan to expand vaccination coverage, particularly in the five poll-bound states of Punjab, Goa, Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh and Manipur.

In a high-level meeting with states on Sunday to review preparedness of health systems at the state level and progress in vaccination coverage, Mandaviya asked states to leave no stone unturned in ramping up infrastructure to manage a high surge so that India escapes unscathed from this episode of Covid-19, the health ministry said in a statement.

TNN

How GH saved man from jaws of black fungus

 How GH saved man from jaws of black fungus

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Omjasvin.MD@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

03.01.2022

He spent two months in the ICU of the Rajiv Gandhi government general hospital (RGGGH) from August 11. Last month, Bhakyaraj 35, a farmer from the Cauvery delta, returned for a final check-up and to thank the doctors who cured him of rhino-orbital mucormycosis or the post-Covid complication called black fungus.

The treatment cost ₹25 lakh and half of it was borne by the government under Chief Minister’s Health Insurance Scheme and a half of it was sourced through an NGO, by the government.

Bhakyaraj, a diabetic, was shifted from the Thanjavur general hospital to the RGGGH when his condition deteriorated. The specialists at the Chennai hospital had to deal with five life-threat- ening complications.

Interventional radiologist Dr S Kalpana said the main arteries leading to the brain were dilated. “We could not place a normal stent since the ballooning was longer than usual. We had to purchase two flow diverters costing ₹20 lakh. These are thinner stents that ensure smooth supply through the arteries. Aneurysm was treated by placing coils,” she said.

The doctors accessed the blood vessels through a 5mm incision in the patient’s hip. The whole process monitored by digital subtraction Angiography. The intervention was done on October 15 and the patient was discharged on October 26. RGGGH dean Dr E Theranirajan said the patient came back for a check-up on December 6 and he was doing fine. “The person’s life was saved because of the timely management by interventional radiology and other specialists at the RGGGH, along with support by the government,” he said.

Bhakyaraj’s wife, in a video message, said she did not have words to thank the government and doctors, who caured such a life-threatening illness free of cost.

More than 10 specialists, nurses, anaesthetists and health care assistants from various departments were involved in the treatment.

 

Schools plan to call half their students to avoid over-crowding, clusters

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Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

03.01.2022

Amid rising Covid-19 cases, city schools have decided to return to blended classrooms from Monday as they plan to call only half their students for physical classes to ensure Covid-19 protocols inside classrooms.

Due to a spike in cases, the state government has reversed its decision to resume normal classes for Class IX to XII from January 3, apart from barring physical classes for Class I to VIII till January 10.

While asking schools to conduct physical classes for Class IX to XIII, the school education department asked schools to maintain   protocols like 20 students per classroom, face masks and staggeredbreaks.

Due to non-availability of space and teachers, some schools are planning to call studentsin batches while othersare planning to call 50% students to avoid over-crowding.

V Shanthi, headmistress of Vidyodaya Girls Higher Secondary School in T Nagar, said, the school may call 50% students from Class IX to XII for physical classes to maintain the 20 students per classroom nor m.

M SathishKumar, principal of Vana Vani Matriculation Higher Secondary School, (IIT-M campus), said, the school will divide students of Class IX to XII into two batches to maintain social distancing inside classrooms. “Class IX and XIstudents will attend physical classes whenever Class X, XII do not have tests. During the test days, they will attend classes online,” he said.

GRT Mahalakshmi Vidyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary Schoolin Ashok Nagar is planning to work only till 1pm to avoid students having lunch and mixing with other students.

"We have arranged two students in a row and plan to work only till 1pm. Students will not be permitted to have lunch at schools," said Agnes Rita, principal of the school.

Most schools have scheduled online classes for Class I to VIII.

Schools with more students like Everwin Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Kolathur are planning to employ additional teachers and conduct daily classes for Classes I to VIII.

Colleges are preparing students for offline semester exams from January 20. "We have completed syllabus for second and third year students. Still about 20% of syllabus need to be completed for first year students. If Covid-19 cases continue to rise, we can conduct physical mode exams by extending number of exam days. We can conduct semester exams yearwise by following all Covid protocols," said S Santhosh Baboo, principal of DG Vaishnav College.

Professors warned the degrees may not be valued by the recruiters if the state government again go back to online mode of exams.

 

Masks find no takers among visitors to Mamallapuram

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  03.01.2022

There was scant regard for masks at tourist hotspots on ECR and Mamallapuram on Sunday, a day after travellers thronged these attractions during the New Year’s day.

The popular tourist hotspot of Mamallapuram was teeming with travellers largely from Chennai and neighbouring districts even as cases continue to spike across the state.

Scores of visitors who explored the ticketed monuments ignored the mandatory mask rule at public places.

The situation at Kovalam beach was no different. The tourist hotspot was flocked by hundreds of people without masks and social distancing. Footfall at the beach was high on Sunday with cars parked on both sides of the road leading to the promenade. This caused massive traffic snarls. There was poor enforcement of Covid-19 protocols in both these places.

While about 5,000 people visited ticketed monuments of ASI on Friday, the number spiked to around 12,000 on Saturday. The TTDC's houseboat at Muttukadu recorded a footfall of 2,000 visitors on Saturday and Sunday.

Mamallapuram-based tourist guide R Stalin said that nine out of ten visitors to Mamallapuram on Sunday did not wear masks.

Meanwhile, ASI sources said that entry into the monuments was not allowed without masks, and that people remove their masks once the enter the main gate of the monument.

When contacted, Chengalpet district collector A R Rahul Nadh said special teams comprising revenue and police department and the local body have been formed to ensure that Covid protocols are not violated at tourist hotspots.

Third wave has started in Tamil Nadu: Minister

Third wave has started in Tamil Nadu: Minister

03/01/2022

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI  03.01.2022

The third wave of COVID-19 has started in Tamil Nadu, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian said on Sunday.

“The infection is spreading. In the past few days, it has been rising incrementally,” he said, inspecting the 17th mega vaccination camp here. Though Chennai continued to lead the State in vaccination, over five lakh persons had not received even one dose, he said.

 

1,594 fresh Covid cases across state

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

03.01.2022

Chennai:

As Covid-19 continues to spread across Tamil Nadu, the state government has intensified its fight against the disease.

On Sunday, 1,594 people tested positive across the state, slightly higher than Saturday’s figure of 1,489.

Chennai once again reported the maximum number of fresh cases (776). The district's Test Positivity Rate (TPR) jumped to 3. 1% —almost double the state's average TPR of 1. 4%.

There were no new Omicron cases in the state on Sunday. Of the 118 patients found infected by the new variant, only 20 are undergoing treatment while the rest were discharged after testing negative.

Another six people died of Covid-19 on Sunday, pushing up the state’s cumulative death toll to 36,760.

With respect to vaccination, 15. 16 lakh people got inoculated on Sunday. At present, more than 86% of the state's eligible population have got their first doses and 59% are fully vaccinated. The government is set to begin administration of booster doses for frontline workers and those aged above 60 from January10.