NEWS TODAY 25.01.2024

 

DMK Salem meet wins praise for sumptuous biriyani, ‘zero wastage’

DMK Salem meet wins praise for sumptuous biriyani, ‘zero wastage’

Photographs of the meal, which included mutton biriyani, fried chicken and curd rice, are being shared widely on social media with specific compliments on the flavour and packaging.

Food packed in boxes for the conference in Salem on Sunday.Photo | Express

Jose K Joseph

Updated on:

23 Jan 2024, 9:13 am

TIRUCHY: The second state conference of the DMK’s youth wing which was held in Salem on Sunday remains a talking point not just for the political statement it made but also for the lunch that satiated the participants who numbered in lakhs. The quality of the food and the packaging aside, ensuring “zero wastage” has drawn praise from several quarters for conference coordinator and minister KN Nehru, and the Tiruchy-based group which handled the catering.

Photographs of the meal, which included mutton biriyani, fried chicken and curd rice, are being shared widely on social media with specific compliments on the flavour and packaging. Tiruchy-based KMS Hakkim Biriyani Group, which was entrusted with the food preparation and distribution at the conference, made it possible with a 5,000-strong workforce.

KMS group’s director Dr A Hakkim told TNIE, “Our team reached the venue two days ahead of the conference to chalk out a plan for cooking arrangements and food distribution. Every food ingredient used was sourced locally, without compromising on quality. Approximately three lakh combo boxes were ready by 10.15 am on Sunday. After that, we began distributing them at 20 counters.”

The group prepared mutton biriyani using 50 tonnes of meat and served 30 tonnes of Chicken 65, besides bread halwa, curd rice and brinjal curry, sources said. “We are happy that our recipe and arrangements were received well,” Hakkim said.

Nehru, whose managerial skills Chief Minister MK Stalin commended during the conference by commenting “maanadu endraal Nehru, Nehru endraal maanadu” (loosely translating to ‘conference means Nehru and Nehru means conference’), elaborated on the measures. “In order to avoid wastage, we asked the catering group to serve the food in container boxes. We were ready to provide food for about three lakh people. But exceeding our expectations, about six lakh cadre turned up. Our team, going per the alternative plan, arranged for bread packets, snacks and water bottles. I also visited the dining hall multiple times to ensure that food distribution was smooth,” the minister said.

Tiruchy-based DMK worker S Murugavel, who attended the Salem conference, said, “All these demonstrate our party’s ability to handle things in the best manner possible. We’re glad that we did not face a scenario like at our rival party’s conference when large portions of food were thrown away in pits.”

5 lakh cadre participated, says Udhayanidhi Stalin

DMK youth wing secretary Udhayanidhi Stalin said five lakh cadres attended the party’s conference in Salem on Sunday. He said this while felicitating party functionaries who worked for the success of the conference. Sources said Udhayanidhi gifted all functionaries a gold ring. “The date was decided five months ago, but the meet had to be post poned twice due to rain and flood in Chennai and southern districts. The conference was very well organised. I thank all those who made the conference a success,” he said.

NEWS TO DAY 23.01.2024

 

Do away with seat-leaving bond: NMC to states, UTs

Do away with seat-leaving bond: NMC to states, UTs

 DurgeshNandan.Jha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi : The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked states/UTs to do away with the ‘seat-leaving bond’ policy in medical colleges. The policy refers to a contract between the medical college and student that mandates the latter to pay a hefty amount – ranging anywhere between Rs 5 lakh to Rs 40 lakh or more if she or he decides to discontinue the course midway. The practice is prevalent in both government and private-run medical colleges. According to Dr Aruna V Vanikar, president of NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), the Commission has received numerous complaints relating to alarming level of stress, anxiety and depression faced particularly by PG medical students across various institutions. 

“These mental health challenges are primarily due to inability of the individual to acclimatise to a different environment prevailing within their new college/institution as compared to the one in which one has grown up or completed undergraduate education,” says Dr Vanikar in aletter to health secretaries of all states and UTs. She adds that the imposi- tion of a hefty seat-leaving bond acts as an impediment for affected students in seeking relief. “Such exorbitant amounts not only exacerbate the financial strain on the students but also act as a deterrent for seeking necessary mental health support from the family,” said the letter and urged states/UTs to do away with the practice in medical colleges. “An action taken report by your government on this issue will be highly appreciated,” she said. 

Sources said the decision to write to the states/UTs on this issue was taken in a meeting of NMC’s anti-ragging committee on Jan 9. The committee recommended that instead of imposing a heavy seatleaving bond, states/UTs may consider debarring the student from admission in their state for the next one year. Signing of seat-leaving bond, a common practice for medical students especially at PG level, started with the aim to secure commitment, discourage abrupt resignations, address the issue of seat-blocking and waste of medical seats. But NMC says since number of medical seats has increased substantially, the issue of seats going waste is not of much significance. “Also seat-blocking is valid till counselling is on and after the session has started and last date of admission is over, the negative effect of lower merit candidates being benefitted by leaving of seats does not arise,” it adds. NMC highlighted seven instances where parents bore the financial cost to relieve their children of the stress and anxiety by paying the surety amount as mentioned in the seat-leaving bond. 

Dr Rishiraj Sinha, general secretary of the Federation of All India Medical Association, said: “The elimination of seatleaving bonds is a welcome move to prioritise the well-being of resident doctors leading them to provide optimal patient care, treatment and management. A supportive and stress-free work environment for resident doctors is directly proportional to improved healthcare outcomes and quality patient care.”

MBBS : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Foreign Medical Graduates' Plea Seeking Payment Of Stipend

MBBS : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Foreign Medical Graduates' Plea Seeking Payment Of Stipend

Gyanvi Khanna

23 Jan 2024 2:30 PM

In a writ petition filed by the foreign medical graduates (FMGs) challenging non-payment of stipend to them, the Supreme Court issued notice today (on January 23).

The plea filed by the students, who are currently undergoing internship at Atal Bihari Vajpayee Government Medical College, Vidisha, was placed before Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.

The petition is tagged with Abhishek Yadav & Ors. vs. Army Medical College & Ors. (W.P. (C) No. 730/2022). This case pertains to a plea in which 70 percent of medical colleges do not pay any stipend or are not paying the minimum set stipend to doctors doing MBBS internships. Therein, the Court directed the Army College of Medical Sciences to pay a stipend (of Rs. 25000) to the interns doing their compulsory one-year internship.

Contents Of The Instant Petition

At the outset, the petition has placed its reliance upon circulars dated 4th March 2022 and 19th May 2022 issued by the NMC. The petitioner states that as per this circular, the stipend to the FMGs should be extended equivalent to Indian Medical Graduates

The plea goes on to state that a notice was issued by the Government Medical Education Department, Madhya Pradesh, to the Commissioner of Medical Education, Bhopal, which inter alia provided that a stipend of Rs. 12760/- should be paid to the interns with effect from 01.04.2022.

Pertinently, the internship of the Petitioners commenced on 01.04.2023. The batch comprising 69 students was paid a stipend of only Rs. 12760/-for two months. However, after two months, the students have not been paid a stipend since June 2023.

“The students raised several grievances before different authorities, however, till date the same is not addressed.,” the petitioners added.

It is also contended that the above act of not paying the stipend is unjust, arbitrary, and non-justifiable as, among others, it creates an artificial divide between the students from other colleges who are getting stipends.

“In other States including Assam, the Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) are getting stipend. It is a case of severe harassment if the FMGs are not paid stipend for the duty rendered by them. The same is also violative of the natural justice principles as it severely. sacrifices the basic rights of the FMGs.”

Moving forward, the plea also strengthens from Abhishek Yadav & Ors. vs. Army Medical College & Ors. One may note that, in this matter, the Supreme Court expressed grave concerns regarding the non-payment of stipends to MBBS interns, likening the situation to "bonded labor."

“Since this Hon'ble Court has taken cognizance of the situation in a similar writ petition filed in the case of Abhishek Yadav (supra) and it is recorded in order dated 15.09.2023 that 70% of the other medical colleges are also not paying stipend, the Petitioners are filing the present writ petition to bring to the kind notice of this Hon'ble Court such similar instances. That the Petitioners are, inter alia seeking issuance of a writ of Mandamus, or any appropriate writ, order or direction to the Respondents…,” the plea states

In view of this, inter-alia, a direction is sought against the respondent to provide a regular monthly stipend to the Petitioners and certain other students for the entire period of their internship (which commenced on 01.04.2023).

Advocate-on-Record Charu Mathur and advocate Tanvi Dubey represent the petitioners.

Case Title: SAJITH S L vs. ATAL BIHARI VAJPAYEE GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE, VIDISHA., Diary No.- 53064 - 2023