Violations galore in Annamalai Univ recruitment: Arappor

Violations galore in Annamalai Univ recruitment: Arappor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 01.02.2025

Chennai : About 180 nonteaching staff recruited as programmers by the department of computer and information science at Annamalai University were redesignated as teaching staff. It is a violation of the rules, said anti-corruption NGO Arappor Iyakkam in its complaint to the chief minister M K Stalin and higher education minister Govi Chezhiaan on Friday. “Of the 180 staff members, only 50 of them completed PhDs. However, the redesignated staff members are now guiding 125 PhD scholars, of whom 44 already completed their PhDs. It raises questions about the quality of PhDs, and students may get affected if the PhDs are cancelled,” Arappor Iyakkam said in the complaint.

Due to the financial crisis and irregularities in appointments, the state govt took over Annamalai University and appointed a special officer in 2014. “When the university was facing a financial crisis due to excess staff, these non-teaching staff were redesignated as teaching staff through a resolution by the university’s syndicate on Nov 1, 2016,” said M Radhakrishnan of Arappor Iyakkam. Of the 154 programmers at the university, 27 of them were employed in the districts, and 30 were employed in different universities and affiliated colleges. “Redesignating the non-teaching staff as teaching staff is against the law.

According to the act, Annamalai University should have advertised the posts, and appointments should have been done by the selection committees as prescribed by the UGC rules,” the complaint said. The complaint also asked the govt to get explanations from the former vicechancellors S Manian and V Murugesan and former special officer of Annamalai University Shiv Das Meena. “The govt should conduct a thorough audit in other universities to find out whether such irregularities were committed in other universities and ensure the quality of education,” Radhakrishnan said in the complaint. Sources in the higher education department said the department would look into the complaint

Four college students among five held for harassing, chasing women on ECR

Four college students among five held for harassing, chasing women on ECR 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  01.02.2025

Chennai : The Kanathur police on Friday arrested five people including four college students for harassing and chasing a car carrying women on East Coast Road (ECR) last week. Police also seized two cars and said one of them sported a DMK flag. Police suspect the accused may have chased the vehicle believing it brushed against their car and caused damage, but said they were still investigating the motive. 

On Wednesday, a video surfaced showing several youths in an SUV, with DMK flag fluttering on the bonnet, chasing a car carrying three women, a baby and a man. Following the incident, a woman from Kanathur filed a complaint with the jurusdic tional police on Jan 26. She said she had gone to Muttukadu with her family for a long drive and was returning when she was chased by the men at 3 am. Police registered a case of obstruction, obscene language, causing damage to public property, intimidation, and violations under the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Atrocities on Women Act. Police gathered all CCTV camera footage from the area and five special teams l were formed to track the vehicle.

On Thursday, a man named Chandru, 25, was apprehended and based on his information, Santhosh, 28, Tamilkumaran, 21, Ashwin, 21, and Visves, 21, were arrested. Police are searching for three more suspects. On Friday, Pallikaranai deputy commissioner of police Karthikeyan told reporters four suspects were college students but clarified they were not affiliated to any political party. The DMK flag, he said, was used by the suspects to avoid detection by police and toll booths. The car used in the incident is owned by Chandru, who has pending criminal cases at two police stations.

Aadhav Arjuna and Nirmal Kumar get key posts in TVK

 Aadhav Arjuna and Nirmal Kumar get key posts in TVK

The Hindu Bureau

 

CHENNAI 01.02.2025

Former VCK deputy general secretary Aadhav Arjuna and AIADMK IT Wing joint secretary C.T.R. Nirmal Kumar joined the Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) in the presence of party president Vijay at its headquarters at Panaiyur near Chennai on Friday.

In a statement, Mr. Vijay said, “Mr. Arjuna, who has been appointed as the party’s election campaign management general secretary, will function along with my political strategist John Arockiyasamy in organising election campaigns.” He appointed Mr. Kumar as the deputy general secretary (IT and social media unit), P. Jegadeesh as the joint treasurer (headquarters), A. Rajmohan as the propaganda secretary, and S. Veeravigneshwaran as spokesperson.

Last December, Mr. Vijay launched a book, Ellorukkumaana Thalaivar Ambedkar (Ambedkar: A leader for all), authored by Mr. Arjuna. At the book launch, Mr. Arjuna said: “In Tamil Nadu, only monarchy exists. In 2026, the monarchy should come to an end. Chief Ministers should not be chosen on the basis of birth. We need ideologically committed leaders to rule Tamil Nadu. A common man, a Dalit, should become the Chief Minister.”

His comments on the “dynastic politics of the DMK” sparked a controversy, as the VCK is a constituent of the DMK-led alliance. VCK founder Thol. Thirumavalavan suspended him. Mr. Arjuna quit the party a few days later.

Meets Thirumavalavan

Later in the day, Mr. Arjuna met Mr. Thirumavalavan at the VCK headquarters.

Speaking to reporters along with the VCK leader, Mr. Arjuna said Mr. Thirumavalavan had given him a lot of advice, which he would follow in his new party. Mr. Thirumavalavan said Mr. Arjuna had started a new kind of politics.

Eight patients at govt. hospital develop allergic reactions, one dies

Eight patients at govt. hospital develop allergic reactions, one dies

The Hindu Bureau

Salem 01.02.2025

Eight patients admitted to the Salem Government Mohan Kumaramangalam Medical College Hospital (GMKMCH) developed allergicreactions after they were administered salineto the patients on Thursday night.

While one patient died, hospital authorities denied that the death was caused by the saline.

Doctors injected saline into the patients at around 9 p.m. on Thursday night at the male surgery ward.

By around 11 p.m., eight patients developed allergic reactions and their relatives alerted the doctors.

The hospital’s dean, Dr. J. Devi Meenal, along with a medical team, transferred the affected patients to the Hybrid Intensive Care Unit (ICU) in the super-specialty building for treatment.

The affected patients are Venugopal (40), a resident of Mangalapuram in Namakkal district, Manoj (28), a resident of Nagalur in Dharmapuri district; Manoharan (64), a resident of Erode district, Ramesh (45), a resident of Deevattipatti in Salem district, Rajaram (27), a migrant worker, Anbalagan (40), a resident of Kamalapuram in Salem district, and Murugaesan (54), a resident of Vazhapadi in Salem district.

At midnight, Venugopal died at the hospital.

However, hospital authorities denied that his death was caused by the allergic reaction, stating that he had multiple underlying health conditions.

‘Others stable’

Dr. Devi Meenal assured that the same saline solution had been used on several patients across the hospital and that all other affected individuals remained stable.

Sources at GMKMCH reported that Health Minister Ma. Subramanian inquired about the incident, and doctors were instructed to cease using that specific batch of saline. A pharmacovigilance team will investigate the saline.

‘Exorbitant private college fees deny underprivileged access to medical courses’

‘Exorbitant private college fees deny underprivileged access to medical courses’




The number of candidates aspiring to study MBBS has gone up from 16 lakh in 2019 to 24 lakh in 2024, the Survey says. Getty Images

Maitri Porecha

New Delhi 01.02.2025

Skyrocketing fees for undergraduate medical education remain a considerable challenge that denies the opportunity to make the MBBS degree accessible and affordable for students from less privileged backgrounds, the Economic Survey says.

The number of medical colleges grew from 499 in the financial year 2018-19 to 648 in 2022-23 to 780 in 2024-25, during which MBBS seats increased from 70,012 in 2018-19 to 96,077 in 2022-23 to 1,18,137 in 2024-25 and postgraduate seats from 39,583 in 2018-19 to 64,059 in 2022-23 to 73,157 in 2024-25.

Despite the National Medical Commission issuing guidelines for determination of fees and all other charges in respect of 50% of seats in private medical institutions and deemed-to-be universities, fees remain high ranging from ₹60 lakh to ₹1 crore or even more in the private sector, which holds 48% of the MBBS seats, the Survey notes.

The number of candidates aspiring to study MBBS has increased consistently over the years, from around 16 lakh in 2019 to around 24 lakh in 2024.

The very low pass percentage of foreign medical graduates in the qualifying exam for practising in India (16.65% of 2,02,385 students) indicates sub-par quality of medical education abroad.

“As policy intervention to dissuade medical education abroad is crafted, keeping costs in India within reasonable limits is essential,” the survey points out.

The availability of opportunities for medical education is geographically skewed, apparent from the fact that 51% of undergraduate seats and 49% of postgraduate seats are in the southern States, the Survey says.

Also, the Survey points out that market estimates indicate that remuneration of fresh graduates is around ₹5 lakh a year and senior doctors earn between ₹12.5 lakh and ₹18.4 lakh a year in cities.

Survey snubs AI impact on workforce, says skilling could put Indians ahead

Survey snubs AI impact on workforce, says skilling could put Indians ahead

Techies working at an IT unit in Visakhapatnam. file photo

The Hindu Bureau

New Delhi

The Economic Survey 2024–25 struck an upbeat tone on the implications that Artificial Intelligence (AI) could have on the workforce. In defiance of the concern that AI could replace some jobs, particularly in the information technology sector, the Survey says that appropriate skilling would allow Indians “to stay one step ahead of technological developments,” and that harnessing AI “would minimise or even eliminate the potential adverse impact on employment and, if possible, turn it into a force for augmenting employment.”

In an entire chapter dedicated to AI and labour, the Survey acknowledges, “With AI research and development currently concentrated in the hands of a few, very large companies that control the resources to erect high entry barriers, AI adoption in place of humans presents the risk of concentrating the benefits of automation.”

Engle’s pause

The report acknowledges that while previous technological advancements had often increased job opportunities, this came at the expense of displaced workers facing “protracted” unemployment, for decades on end, known as Engle’s pause.

Such a lag is not desirable for India’s service-led economy, the report advances. “India would have to create an average of 78.5 lakh jobs annually in the non-farm sector by 2030 to cater to the rising workforce,” the report says.

But the report also casts technological advancements as a net benefit for employment, citing low job losses in India from factory automation, and the potential for “Human-AI teams” in scientific research.

The role of institutional involvement in stewarding AI’s growth in India is key, the report posits. It warns labour markets themselves are “shifting” in anticipation of AI impact. As such, the report says, “The responsibility for course correction will then fall in the hands of the public sector,” calling for vigilance.

‘Hostile work culture, long hours in office affecting mental health’

‘Hostile work culture, long hours in office affecting mental health’

Pull the plug: The Survey said a phone-based childhood is rewiring the very experience of growing up.Getty Images

Given the direct costs to human welfare, putting mental well-being at the centre of economic agenda is prudent, states the Economic Survey, tabled in Parliament; it suggests highest tax rate on ultra-processed foods, regulation of advertisements

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

New Delhi  01.02.2025 

Overexposure to social media, lack of exercise, not spending enough time with one’s family and overwork (hours exceeding 55-60 per week) have all worsened mental well-being among Indians, said the Economic Survey 2024-25, tabled in Parliament on Friday by Union Finance and Corporate Affairs Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Hostile work cultures and excessive hours spent working at the desk can adversely affect mental well-being and ultimately put the brakes on the pace of economic growth, states the Survey while highlighting that lifestyle choices, workplace culture and family situations are critical for productivity.

If India’s economic ambitions are to be met, then immediate attention must be given to lifestyle choices that are often made during childhood/youth. “The increase in mental health issues in children and adolescents is often linked to the overuse of the Internet, specifically social media.The phone-based childhood is rewiring the very experience of growing up,” it stated.

Given the direct costs to human welfare, putting mental well-being at the centre of economic agenda is prudent, states the Survey, besides listing a series of mental health initiatives taken by the Centre. “It is about time to find viable, impactful preventive strategies and interventions. India’s demographic dividend is riding on skills, education, physical health and, above all, mental health of its youth,” it said.

Establishing a link between good mental health and clean eating habits, the Survey noted that individuals who rarely consume ultra-processed or packaged junk food have better mental well-being than those who regularly do so.

It also says that those who rarely exercise, spend their free time on social media or are not close to their families have worse mental well-being.

It emphasised the urgent need for school and family-level interventions to encourage healthy pastimes such as meeting with friends and playing outside,and also said that investing time in building close family bonds would go a long way in keeping children and adolescents away from Internet.

Ultra-processed foods

The Survey suggested that the government look at bringing in a higher tax rate for ultra-processed foods (UPFs) and may also consider a ‘health tax’ measure targeted specifically at brands/products that advertise these foods.

It further suggested that the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare urgently define nutrient thresholds for sugars, salt, and saturated fats to regulate advertising, adopt warning front-of-pack labels (FOPL), and impose stricter marketing restrictions on unhealthy foods, especially targeting children under 18.

Noting that a multi-pronged approach is required to address the concerns emerging from increased inclusion of UPFs in diets, the Survey said that misleading nutrition claims on UPFs need to be tackled and should be brought under the scanner.

The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India could consider bringing UPFs under regulation with a clear definition and standards, including stricter labelling requirements.