7-day home quarantine, test on 8th day must for all int’l arrivals Revised Norms To Take Effect On January 11

 

7-day home quarantine, test on 8th day must for all int’l arrivals

Revised Norms To Take Effect On January 11

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

08.01.2022

New Delhi: All international travellers flying into India will have to undergo a mandatory seven-day home quarantine and an RT-PCR test on the eighth day.

Travellers from countries specified as ‘at risk’ will have to submit a sample for Covid testing post-arrival and wait for the results at the airport before leaving or taking a connecting flight. If tested negative, they have to be in home quarantine for seven days and get tested on the eighth day. In the wake of rising Covid-19 cases globally, the Centre on Friday revised guidelines for international travellers, which will come into force from January 11 and remain effective till further orders.

“Travellers shall also be required to upload results of RT-PCR test for Covid-19 done on the eighth day on Air Suvidha portal (to be monitored by respective states and UTs),” the health ministry said.

From among those who arrive from non-at risk countries, 2% will be selected for random testing on arrival. 

Int’l travellers arriving via seaports to undergo same protocols as flyers

If negative, those who have undergone sampling will home quarantine and self-monitor their health for seven days. And if positive, their samples will be further sent for genomic testing at INSACOG laboratory network.

The health ministry on Friday also updated the list of at-risk countries which now includes — countries in Europe including UK, South Africa, Brazil, Botswana, China, Ghana, Mauritius, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Hong Kong, Israel, Congo, Ethiopia, Kazakhstan, Kenya, Nigeria, Tunisia and Zambia. The list is updated and based on the “prevalent epidemiological situation of Covid-19 in these countries including circulation of variants of concern,” the ministry said.

Under the new guidelines, India has implemented stricter arrival norms for those arriving even from non at-risk countries and expanded the list of “at risk” nations due to the spread of Omicron. Other rules remain the same in terms of pre-departure information and requirement to download Aarogya Setu App. Laboratories shall prioritise the testing of samples from travellers selected for random testing.

International travellers arriving through seaports or land ports will also have to undergo the same protocols as above, except that facility for online registration is not available currently.

 

SC ruling a historic victory for DMK’s struggle for social justice, says Stalin

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TIMES NEWS NETWORK

08.01.2022

Madurai: The Supreme Court order allowing 27% reservation in NEET PG admission to other backward classes (OBC) is a historic victory for DMK in its fight for social justice and the people of Tamil Nadu, chief minister M K Stalin has said. The Congress, PMK and left parties too claimed credit for the decision and recalled their campaigns in this regard.

Stalin said the order was a result of the DMK’s legal and political battles over the years despite efforts by the Union government and oppressive forces to continue fighting against it. He said DMK fought for it in Parliament, before the people’s court and before the high court and Supreme Court where it impleaded in the case.

"It is worrying that the Union government failed to realise the justice in our demand. They argued against the reservation before Madras high court and refused to implement the HC’s direction even after it was confirmed by the Supreme Court," he said, adding that DMK then moved a contempt of court plea against the Union government’s inaction. "Had the Union government shown interest, it (the reservation) would have been implemented two years ago, benefiting thousands of OBC students," he said. DMK’s legal battle against the 10% reservation for economically weaker sec- tions and for ensuring 100% allotment of medical seats to students of the home state will continue, he added.

Stalin said that medical colleges have been opened across states, making it possible for students of those states to pursue MBBS and specialised postgraduate courses such as MD and MS there. The state will continue its battle to put an end to All India Quota to enable 100% filling up of seats by the respective states.

Welcoming the verdict, TN Congress Committee president K S Alagiri recalled the role of the Congress in implementing 27% reservation for OBC category in central government institutions in 2006 during the UPA-I government. At this juncture, he stated the governor should forward the bill against NEET that was passed in the assembly to the governor or else face the consequences.

Former Union health minister and PMK youth wing leader Anbumani Ramadoss in a statement claimed that the verdict was a victory of his party and other organisations and recalled his role in initiating the case. The journey for social justice is too long, he said and added that many legal and political battles have to be fought in the state and national level for social justice to emerge victorious. CPM state secretary K Balakrishnan said the party takes pride in being a part of the battle that brought victory before the SC and appreciated the DMK and others which played their role before the apex court.

Medical counselling in state likely to begin in two weeks

 Medical counselling in state likely to begin in two weeks

Order Brings Relief To Over 40k Aspirants In Tamil Nadu

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Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

08.01.2022

Chennai: The Supreme Court's order on Friday allowing resumption of NEET-PG and NEET-UG counselling for all India quota seats by following 27% quota for other backward class (OBC) and 10% quota for economically weaker sections (EWS) has removed the bottleneck for conducting MBBS/BDS admissions in Tamil Nadu.

The counselling for the medical seats under the state quota is likely to begin in two weeks, according to officials from the directorate of medical education.

The order brings the anxious wait of more than 40,000 medical aspirants for the last two months to an end. "After the publication of first-round counselling results for All India Quota (AIQ) seats by the Medical Counselling Commit-tee (MCC) of Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), we will start MBBS/ BDS counselling in Tamil Nadu. It will take12 to 15 days. We will start our counselling tentatively at the end of the third week or beginning of the fourth week of January," said P Vasanthamani, secretary of the Selection Committee, Directorate of Medical Education.

Citing the pending case regarding EWS quota in PG med- ical admissions in the apex court, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) of Directorate General of Health Services postponed MBBS counselling for AIQ seats as well.

As per the usual practice, TN has been conducting medical admission after the first round of counselling for seats under AIQ is over. "It will give toppers an opportunity to choose seats from AIQ. So, it will give more seats to Tamil Nadu students," officials said.

As many as 40,288 students have applied to the counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions which is 1000 more compared to the previous year. The last date for submitting online applications ended on January 7.

"While 25,511 students applied for government quota seats, 14,777 students have applied for seats under management quota this year," Vasanthamani added.

Last year, 39,223 applications were received for government and management quota seats. This year, 11 new government medical colleges will add 1,450 seats while Government Coimbatore Medical College got permission to add 50 additional seats. Thirty-seven government medical colleges will offer 5,125 seats. There will be 4,356 seats available for state quota counselling after allocating15% of seats for AIQ.

Meanwhile, the apex court, while passing the judgment, stated that the validity of the criteria determined by the committee would prospectively be subject to its final order. The court said it will hear the matter in detail in the third week of March.

PM Modi’s Pongal visit to Madurai called off due to Covid curbs

 PM Modi’s Pongal visit to Madurai called off due to Covid curbs

Addressing reporters at Hotel Tamil Nadu in Madurai on Thursday, Annamalai said the guidelines issued by the State government prohibit political parties from organising gatherings.

Published: 07th January 2022 05:37 AM  |

Prime Minister Narendra Modi

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Citing the new restrictions imposed by the State government in view of the pandemic, BJP State president K Annamalai said Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s scheduled visit to the district on January 12 to take part in Pongal celebrations has been cancelled.

Addressing reporters at Hotel Tamil Nadu in Madurai on Thursday, Annamalai said the guidelines issued by the State government prohibit political parties from organising gatherings. “Since the Pongal function, in which the PM was to take part, is organised by the BJP, we have cancelled it,” he said. When asked whether the PM’s other scheduled programmes were also cancelled, Annamalai said it is for the State to decide.

The State government had earlier said the PM would inaugurate Virudhunagar Medical College on January 12. The itinerary is yet to be finalised. The BJP State unit had said the party would celebrate this Pongal as ‘Modi Pongal’ and was making elaborate arrangements. Sources said 10,000 women were to participate in the programme and an interactive session between the PM and the women was also planned.

Meanwhile, Annamalai condemned the alleged security breach during Modi’s visit to Punjab and said BJP cadre will go on a week-long protest across the State. Following the press meet, BJP cadre led by Annamalai took out a protest rally from Hotel Tamil Nadu on Alagar Koil Road to Madurai Corporation office in Tallakulam. 

Pointing out that India had lost two of its PMs to terror attacks, Annamalai said the breach in security of the PM about 25 km from Pakistan is due to the negligence of the Congress-led government in  Punjab.

 

NEET row: Stalin slams Amit Shah, to hold all-party meet on Saturday

Shah’s refusal to meet people’s representatives goes against the ethos of democracy, the CM said.

Published: 07th January 2022 05:43 AM  |   Last Updated: 07th January 2022 05:43 AM-

Chief Minister MK Stalin addresses the Assembly in Chennai on Thursday | Express

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin on Thursday hit out at Union Home Minister Amit Shah for refusing an audience to a delegation of MPs from TN over the NEET issue, and said representatives of legislative parties in the State Assembly will meet on January 8 to decide the next step to get the State exemption from the exam.

Shah’s refusal to meet people’s representatives goes against the ethos of democracy, the CM said. Making a suo motu statement under Rule 110 in the Assembly, Stalin said the DMK has maintained that NEET would affect students of disadvantaged sections, and admission to colleges should only be based on Class 12 marks.

This was why the government headed by M Karunanidhi scrapped State-level entrance exams in 2007, the CM said, and pointed out, that by introducing NEET, the Centre had snatched the State’s powers to admit students to State-run colleges.

Will join DMK in fight to nix NEET, but prep students for test: AIADMK

Stress ing that the Assembly had unanimously passed a bill scrapping NEET, the CM said the TN Governor has not forwarded it to President Ram Nath Kovind. A delegation of all-party MPs from the State had submitted a memorandum to the President explaining the troubles faced by students due to NEET. The President’s office forwarded the memorandum to the Union Home Minister for further action.

Stalin said the history of Dravidian movements reveal struggles for establishing the rights of the States, and that efforts to scrap NEET should be treated as the next phase of the social justice movement. “We will fight this battle without compromising our stand,” he added.

The AIADMK said it was ready to join hands with the DMK to scrap NEET but questioned the DMK government as to whether it can succeed in getting exemption for TN . Equipping students to face NEET by providing appropriate training is the need of the hour, the principal opposition party said.

Participating in a discussion on motion to thank Governor’s address, senior AIADMK leader R Vaithilingam said, “Former CM Edappadi K Palaniswami took efforts to scrap NEET. Since it did not work, he provided 7.5 per cent reservation for government school students. If you are ready to meet the PM and agitate in this regard, the AIADMK is also ready.

But we have to ponder over whether scrapping of NEET is practically possible. Vaithilingam also recalled the remarks of DMK leaders during Assembly polls about the party having a strategy to scrap NEET . Vaithilingam said the previous AIADMK regime had handled the first wave of the pandemic efficiently and the DMK government has handled the second wave well.

Governor urges doctors to be sympathetic to poor

Governor urges doctors to be sympathetic to poor

As many as 125 medical students were presented with gold and silver medals on the occasion.

Published: 07th January 2022 07:52 AM 

NTRUHS students take oath during 22nd and 23rd convocations | Prasant Madugula

By Express News Service

VIJAYAWADA: Governor and Dr NTR University of Health Sciences Chancellor Biswa Bhusan Harichandan said that the poor and downtrodden people have suffered a lot during the Covid-19 pandemic as they could not afford the high cost of treatment. He urged doctors to be sympathetic to the people. Addressing the 22nd and 23rd Convocations of NTR Health University at Thummalapalli Kala Kshetram in Vijayawada in a virtual mode on Thursday, he said doctors have to extend all possible help to the poor.

Praising the significant work done by the entire medical community and the support staff during the pandemic, he said not only he but the entire country, including the Prime Minister, have praised their work and called them frontline warriors. He said without doctors coming forward and fighting such a war, it would not have been possible to successfully come out of the situation posed by the first wave.

“The pandemic has taught us that change is inevitable and the opportunities created will lead towards better tomorrow. It has worked as a catalyst for the educational institutions to grow and opt for online platforms with digital technologies,” he said.

Vice-chancellor Dr P Syama Prasad delivered the welcome address and read out the annual report of the University and registrar Dr K Sankar proposed the vote of thanks. As many as 125 medical students were presented with gold and silver medals on the occasion.

NEET PG Counselling Verdict to come soon, Supreme Court Reserves Order

NEET PG Counselling Verdict to come soon, Supreme Court Reserves Order: New Delhi: In continuance to the longstanding uncertainty of NEET PG counselling, the Supreme Court has reserved its judgment on the matter of EWS and OBC Quota in connection to NEET and NEET PG...