Class 12 boards aren’t worth the public health risks. Focus instead on college admissions

Examination Hazard

Class 12 boards aren’t worth the public health risks. Focus instead on college admissions

31.05.2021

The ball is in the Centre’s court with a decision on conducting CBSE Class 12 examinations keenly awaited following deliberations with state governments. Union education ministry must firmly decide against scheduling these exams. In the best of times, the utility of obsessing over Class 12 marks has faced vigorous scrutiny amid college admission cutoffs overshooting all credible limits. Now, when public safety has forced the costly shutting down of workplaces, factories, schools, markets and non-essential services, conducting exams without commensurate benefits is mindless.

Exposing unvaccinated students to the virus in indoor settings over a prolonged period risks setting off too many disease clusters. Over 1.2 crore students are enrolled nationally in Class 12 every year: A scattered congregation of this big number is enough to recall the damage done by political and religious gatherings this summer. States demanding inclusion of 17-year-olds in the vaccination drive lack enough doses even for the 18-plus age group in the foreseeable future. Class 12 students have grappled with the uncertainties since January, by when exam schedules are usually announced. The indecision isn’t helping preparations or in easing their turmoil.

CBSE is also considering prior inter nal evaluations to grade students. Obviously, this can skew the field if grading yardsticks differ greatly between schools, or if schools pass on inflated marklists to CBSE. Using these results to evaluate higher education prospects of students would be unfair. Public universities like DU must move fast to replicate the rigorous assessments like online admission tests and interviews devised by private universities. Kicking the can down the road on such capacity expansion could lead to a situation akin to the current vaccine impasse where demand is high and supply is riddled with shortages and confusion.

Students have struggled in pre-pandemic times with preferred colleges making late admission decisions forcing them to weigh the inferior options. The situation could be aggravated manifold this year unless admission procedures are streamlined in advance. Alternatively, students unprepared for higher education this year deserve the flexibility to take board exams next year. Centre’s decision will have a ripple effect on the ISC and state boards. All these students deserve a level playing field. Entering the portals of higher education is a testing phase for students. Centre and state governments are on test too: Can they ensure a just, safe, glitch-free promotion of students to college education?

Doc treats Covid patients in home isolation for ₹10

A SHOT OF HOPE

Doc treats Covid patients in home isolation for ₹10

IN THESE GLOOMY TIMES, STORIES THAT GIVE US A SHOT OF HOPE

Mungara.Sunil@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:31.05.2021 

A 65-year-old woman, Kamalamma, a resident of Boduppal, who recovered from Covid-19 in home isolation, is all praise for Dr Victor Emmanuel. Many recognise the doctor as a lifesaver for Covid-19 patients when several hospitals are struggling due to shortage of beds and oxygen cylinders.

“To me, doctor saab is like a God and my wife recovered from Covid-19 within a week with his medication. I have had to spend only 40,000, which is quite affordable for the treatment,” Kamalamma’s husband K Yadagari told TOI.

An employee of Centre for Good Governance (CGG), P Janaki Ram, whose seven family members recuperated after testing positive for Covid-19, spent only10,000 for the treatment. All the seven members were treated in home isolation under the doctor’s supervision. “If I had admitted my seven family members to a private hospital, the bill would have crossed 25 lakh,” said Janaki Ram.

Hundreds of families have recovered from the disease during the first wave and current wave under the doctor’s guidance. Dr Emmanuel, a general physician, runs Prajwala Clinics at Boduppal. His clinic is always packed with Covid-19 patients as the consultation fee is just

10. “I treated nearly 20,000 to 25,000 people having Covid-19 symptoms at an affordable rate. Another 500 patients were treated in the Covid-19 Isolation Centre. An old Medipally police station was converted into a 30-bed isolation centre,” said Dr Emmanuel.

Dr Emmanuel said that so far, all his patients have recovered from Covid-19. “The Almighty has given me an opportunity to serve the needy. Most of them are struggling financially due to the lockdown. My consultation fee has been fixed at 10 for a few families and is free for many poor families,” he said. On an average, 70 to 100 people visit the clinic every day.

Dr Victor Emmanuel

UAE extends India travel curbs till June

UAE extends India travel curbs till June

New Delhi:31.05.2021 

The UAE has further extended restriction on travellers from India till June 30, for now.

The most popular international destination for Indian travellers, the UAE imposed restrictions on flyers from India from April 25 due to the unfolding Covid catastrophe here and has extended the curbs, from time to time, ever since.

To be sure, all the over 20 countries which have imposed resections on travel from India starting mid-April when Covid situation was beginning to get out of hand here will lift the same only when the pandemic is under control here.

“Emirates has suspended passenger flights from India… until June 30, 2021. Furthermore, passengers who have transited through India in the last14 days will not be accepted for travel from any other point to United Arab Emirates. UAE nationals, holders of UAE golden visas, and members of diplomatic missions who comply with the revised published Covid-19 protocols will be exempt for travel,” Dubai-based mega carrier Emirates said on its website on Sunday. TNN

7 yrs of immeasurable pain, says Congress, lists govt’s ‘7 blunders’

7 yrs of immeasurable pain, says Congress, lists govt’s ‘7 blunders’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:31.05.2021 

The Modi government had caused immeasurable pain and suffering to Indians and betrayed their trust, Congress said Sunday as the NDA government completed seven years in office.

Listing out seven “blunders” by the government, from a failing economy to mishandling of the Covid pandemic, paucity of oxygen, rising unemployment and government’s inability to rein in foreign incursions on Indian soil, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said the seven years accounted for “immeasurable pain, insurmountable devastation and unfathomable agony and anguish for a nation of 140 crore people”.

“Time has come to ask who is responsible for insurmountable devastation, agony and anguish and unfathomable pain that has been inflicted on the people of India,” he added.

Congress also released a seven-point chargesheet accusing the Modi government of abdicating its responsibility to people. MP Rahul Gandhi slammed the government for its alleged “misgovernance”. Rahul said the government needed to have the right intention, policy and determination to fight the pandemic, not just “monthly Mann ki Baat”.

Congress also defended its poor performance in elections and said its priority was to save the nation from the “Modi-made disaster”.

Sena slams Centre, calls for introspection

Shiv Sena MP Sanjay Raut on Sunday said India is surviving as a nation due to the good deeds of previous governments since the time of Nehru, and the present Modi government needs to introspect if it has been able to fulfil basic needs of people. “The country is surviving on the good deeds of previous governments since the time of Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru to Manmohan Singh... When you get majority, it means people have handed you power with faith and trust. The people's needs and demands are veryfew. They need livelihood. Roti, kapda makan (food, clothing and shelter) are important along with health and education facilities,” he said, adding the Centre should “introspect” if this has been achieved. PTI

Attention: The key to success

Attention: The key to success

The ability to manage attention holds the key to change one’s growth trajectory. Numerous learning applications thus now focus on improving attention power

Bijin.Jose@timesgroup.com

31.05.2021 

Learning is a lifelong pursuit. It expands the horizons of one's imagination and the scope of one's potentials. From a nascent stage, education systems around the world have been emphasising the significance of learning and acquiring knowledge. And, when it comes to learning, attention is the first step in this direction.

Attention is essentially one's ability to actively engage and process specific information or task. It is limited in its capacity and duration, making it vital to have measures to effectively manage it.

According to Encyclopedia Britannica, "Attention, in psychology, the concentration of awareness on some phenomenon to the exclusion of other stimuli." It has more to do with the immediate experience of the individual or their current state of awareness.

AN ESSENTIAL SKILL

Everyone is adequately equipped with attention skills. However, unable to pay attention both among children and adults is fairly commonplace. When it comes to education, students are required to focus on the lessons and instructions imparted by the teacher, or for adults, it's important to pay attention to the traffic signal.

The ability to pay attention is different in each individual. While it's easy to focus on things that capture our interests, it gets cumbersome when trying to pay attention to things that aren't very exciting. According to experts, emotions like feeling sad, depressed or anxious are a deterrent to paying attention.

While a century ago it wasn't possible, in 2021 technology is enabling people to manage their attention.

ATTENTION AND ACADEMICS

Every parent wants their child to excel in academics. Attention plays a strong role in other areas of life as well. However, harnessing the power of attention in the formative years can be beneficial and teachers, parents, and technology play a vital role in this. There is countless research that shows how improving or managing attention can help students enhance their academic performance. Considering the diversity in a classroom, it is unlikely that every child would learn and engage in unison. Individualised attention can be rewarding in this scenario. Today, technology is efficiently filling in the gaps offering highly customised and engaging ways to enhance attention.

Technology is offering solutions like addressing the specific needs of every child and adjusting the pace of their learning. With a host of learning applications, there is scope to impact the acquisition of knowledge.

EMERGING TECHNOLOGIES

At present, the world is vastly divided in its perception of technology. While some believe the collective decrease in attention span is associated with the rise of technology, there are many who strongly vouch for tech that promotes attentions skill to improve productivity and academic performance. It is no longer a distraction, technology is offering numerous learning and education applications that help one focus, cancel distractions, and games to enhance cognitive abilities. These tools also help in mapping times of the day when the attention is the highest or lowest, giving students and teachers to effectively manage their attention and learning schedules.

TRAINING THE BRAIN

The brain needs as much fitness training as the body. Regularly challenging the brain can enhance performance in all kinds of cognitive activities like tasks related to concentration and memory. The modern-day learning apps are fun and engaging as they offer vibrant and interactive content to boost learning.

The key ingredients here are the will to learn and an insatiable curiosity. These applications are replete with information in the form of e-books, infographics, podcasts, and videos that are enabling many in their academic pursuits.

Technology is personalising education and offers engagement by cutting down on distractions. Dynamic content and interactive interfaces are not only offering knowledge, but also an efficient way to manage attention.

CONSUMER CONNECT INITIATIVE

HC asks Centre to consider FCRA relief for Covid-19 aid

HC asks Centre to consider FCRA relief for Covid-19 aid

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:31.05.2021

Delhi High Court has asked the Centre to treat as a representation a PIL seeking to exempt foreign contributions or aid, such as oxygen concentrators and medicines received for Covid-19 management and treatment, from the ambit of Foreign Contribution (Regulations) Act (FCRA) 2010 during the pandemic.

If the representation is made, the government will take a decision in eight weeks, the court said. A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh directed the Centre to take a decision in accordance with the rules and the government policy applicable and as early as possible and practicable.

The court disposed of the plea by charitable organisation Shri Sai Kirpa Society, which manages a medical centre at Sai Akshardham in Greater Noida, with assistance from Sir Ganga Ram Hospital and National Heart Institute. In its petition, filed through advocate Gaurav Gupta, the society said a person of Indian origin in the US had wanted to send oxygen concentrators and life-saving drugs for Covid patients. But accepting it without any relief will violate FCRA, it added.

Meanwhile, a plea to give priority in Covid vaccination to NRIs and students who have to go for studies abroad has been moved in Delhi High Court and may be heard on Monday.

Move to extend doctors’ training not arbitrary: HC

Move to extend doctors’ training not arbitrary: HC

New Delhi:31.05.2021 

Delhi High Court has said that services of resident doctors are imperative for functioning of hospitals in the current Covid-19 pandemic situation and the authorities’ decision to extend their training beyond schedule cannot be ex facie arbitrary or unreasonable.

HC was hearing a plea by several doctors who are in DNB Super Speciality courses, challenging a May 4 notification by which the National Board of Examination had extended their training beyond the scheduled date of its completion.

The doctors said the DNB course is of three years and a mandatory extension of three months is permissible, which they have already served, and claimed that the authorities are not empowered to extend the course beyond this period.

“Having regard to the circumstances arising out of the pandemic and the need for continuation of residents as mentioned in the NMC advisory dated April 27, 2021, which has not been challenged in the writ petition, I am unable to accede to (advocate Sidharth) Yadav’s request for an interim order,” Justice Prateek Jalan said.

The court agreed with the submission of advocate T Singhdev for the NMC and advocate Kirtiman Singh for the NBE that the availability of resident doctors is imperative for the functioning of hospitals. “In the present situation, the decision of the respondents cannot be said to be ex facie arbitrary or unreasonable,” it said. PTI

Gold jewellery ‘stolen’ from Covid victim’s body

Gold jewellery ‘stolen’ from Covid victim’s body

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:31.05.2021 

Jewellery worth Rs 1.5 lakh went missing from a 55-year-old Covid-19 victim at a private hospital in Bhopal on April 22. A case has been registered at Kolar police station on Saturday after the son of deceased approached CM Helpline.

Sarthak, 25, who is a law student and a resident of Kamla Nagar locality, told TOI that on April 17, he admitted his mother Alpana, 55, to a private hospital in Kolar after she tested Covid positive. “My mother’s condition was stable when he admitted her, but with each passing day, her condition deteriorated. On the day of my birthday on April 22, I was informed that she has succumbed to Covid,” said Sarthak. When he went to the hospital, he was shocked to find that the gold and silver ornaments including, mangalsutra, bangles, earrings and nose ring were missing from her body.

He said that when he enquired about the jewellery from hospital management, they gave him “fake” ornaments wrapped in a plastic bag, adding that without raising any further questions he took her mother’s body for funeral ceremony. Hospital management refused to comment.

“After13 days, when he approached Kolar police station to lodge a complaint, they asked him to wait outside citing Covid protocol. He then, approached CM Helpline and got registered a complaint after 24 days” said Joshi adding that he was regretting his decision to admitting his mother at such a hospital.

Police said that a case of theft has been registered and investigations are underway.

Notably, it was the same private hospital that was in news for black marketing of Remdesivir and hospital staffers were booked by the police for Remdesivir injections and to administer only saline to Covid patients for whom the injection the brought for.

Wait 6 wks for surgery after Covid, says ICMR

Wait 6 wks for surgery after Covid, says ICMR

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

Pune:  31.05.2021 

Recovered Covid patients opting for non-urgent or elective surgeries are being asked by surgeons to go for repeat RT-PCR/antigen tests as part of pre-operative protocols. However, experts from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the national task force for Covid-19 have advised against repeating Covid tests within 102 days of recovery, citing presence of “non-viable dead-virus particles” that stay in the body for a while.

These virus remnants cannot transmit the illness but can cause a false positive test result. The experts said surgeons should consider performing a non-urgent surgery on a Covid-recovered patient only after six weeks of recovery to ensure faster healing and convalescence post-surgery.

Govt offices to function with 100% officers from June 1

Govt offices to function with 100% officers from June 1

Bhopal:31.05.2021 

The Madhya Pradesh government under its plan for graded or phase-wise unlocking of the 'Corona Curfew' restrictions, has announced offices to function with made 100% officers and 50% employees from June1.

After the surge in Covid-19 cases in April, the state had restricted the presence of employees in government offices to 10%. According to state government release the new order will be in force till June 15. All officials and employees must follow the Covid-19 guidelines, the release said on Sunday. “The government offices, except those engaged in essential services, will be opened and operated with all100% officers and 50% (other) employees from June 1,” the order said. TNN

Rise in post-Covid stroke & heart attack cases: Docs

Rise in post-Covid stroke & heart attack cases: Docs

Sumitra.DebRoy@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:31.05.2021 

A mild bout of Covid-19 took a drastic turn for a 36-year-old Kamothe resident who suffered from a brain stroke and is now battling paralysis. Chandrashekar Reddy, father of two and the family’s main breadwinner, is barely able to sit up now after over a month. Doctors say a complete recovery could take more than six months, a second brain surgery and intensive physiotherapy.

Reddy’s case, however, is not rare. Doctors have increasingly been seeing cases of stroke and heart attacks in patients who are recuperating or have recovered from Covid. In the second wave, doctors are particularly seeing a delayed presentation of these complications — sometimes up to 2 months after the patient has been discharged from hospital. Worryingly, neurologists say the high incidence of stroke is also seen in patients battling mucormycosis, the invasive fungal disease.

The state Covid taskforce has also asked doctors to focus on post-Covid cerebrovascular complications.

Dr Viswanathan Iyer, a brain and spine surgeon who operated on Reddy, said it was his fourth such surgery since the end of April. In Reddy’s case, he had to perform a decompression surgery since there was a large clot on the right side of the brain. The surgery is done to remove the bone and give space to accommodate brain swelling. “The systemic inflammation sends the body in some kind of hypercoagulable state, where the blood thickens, making the patient prone to suffer from a stroke,” he said.

At KEM Hospital, neurologist Dr Nitin Dange said they have seen over 20 cases of strokes, heart attacks and aggravation of deep vein thrombosis in patients who have recovered from Covid.

In the second wave, doctors are seeing a delayed presentation of complications — sometimes up to 2 months after the patient has been discharged from hospital

Gold recovered from burglar’s stomach

Gold recovered from burglar’s stomach

Mangaluru:31.05.2021 

Dakshina Kannada district police have arrested two burglars and seized 182 grams of gold, including 35 grams of jewellery which was swallowed by one of them.

Tangacha, 50, resident of Kannur district in, Kerala and Shibu, from Thrissur had broken into Mohan Jewellery, in Sullia, on April 1 and decamped with 180 grams of gold valued at Rs 7.5 lakh and Rs 50,000.

The duo was arrested on Saturday and gold worth Rs 6.6 lakh was seized. Tangacha was sent to judicial custody. Hours after the arrest, Shibu complained of abdominal pain. A radiography report revealed jewellery in his intestine. On Sunday morning, 35 grams of gold was recovered from him. Shibu told police that he swallowed the jewellery with ice cream. TNN

BNU will offer Covid quota from next year

IN PG COURSES

BNU will offer Covid quota from next year

For Students Who Lost Breadwinner

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:31.05.2021 

Bengaluru North University (BNU) plans to reserve a seat each in all its postgraduate programmes for students who have lost the breadwinner of their family to Covid-19.

The Covid quota will be introduced from the next academic year in all its 26 PG programmes. The reservation will be open to undergraduate students from its own university. In case, there are no students from BNU-affiliated colleges for a course, candidates from other universities will be considered.

The proposal will be passed in the syndicate meeting next week. The syndicate will also discuss fee concession or scholarships for such students. “We have been discussing ways to help such students. We happened to hear about mutts that are willing to educate children, who have lost their parents. Since we are at the higher education level, we thought we could extend help in the PG programmes,” said BNU vicechancellor, TD Kemparaju.

The university, however, does not have statistics on how many students and their families have been affected by the pandemic.

“Some may not have enough marks to join the general merit list. Some others might not have the financial support. But nobody should lose a chance because of it. Finding a job is tough, even though they might have to start earning for their families. We do not know how many will be ready to pursue PG, but we are ready to support whoever is willing,” he added.

Regular intake varies with each course and ranges between 30-60. The programmes already have quotas for NSS, NCC, transgenders and single girl child, among others.

Long stay in jail not ground for bail in murder case, says court

Long stay in jail not ground for bail in murder case, says court

Bengaluru:31.05.2021

A two-and-a-half-year stay in jail cannot be a ground to grant bail in a murder case, considering the nature/gravity of the offence and its impact on the society, the high court has said.

The court made this observation while rejecting a bail petition filed by Syed Shabeer alias Shabbir from DJ Halli, who was arrested for allegedly stabbing Syed Wasim to death. Wasim, who refused to give him money to buy ganja, was killed on 9th Cross Road at 11.30am on November 6, 2019.

Shabbir approached the high court claiming that he’s been in judicial custody for some time and there are no eye-witnesses to the incident. However, Justice PN Desai pointed out the offence under section 302 of IPC is punishable with death or imprisonment for life. “The material indicates there are eye-witnesses and the medical evidence supports the allegation made by the prosecution. The incident took place in broad daylight which definitely had an impact on the society and public at large. The attack was for an illegal gain. The attack with a deadly weapon was on a very vital part of the body i.e., chest. All these acts show the intention to cause death or such bodily injury likely to cause death in all probabilities,” the judge noted. TNN

AICTE norms bind all institutions under its umbrella: HC

AICTE norms bind all institutions under its umbrella: HC

Vasantha.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:31,05.2021 

The regulations of All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), including the prescriptions and standards, bind all those institutions governed by it, the high court has said.

The court made this observation while holding that a professor of a Tumakuru private engineering college is entitled to continue in service till he attains the age of 65 in terms of AICTE norms.

Justice M Nagaprasanna pointed out that in the JP Unnikrishnan Vs State of Andhra Pradesh case, a constitution bench of the Supreme Court has held that recognition/ approval of institutions cannot be unconditional and the top court has reiterated that what applies to the main activity applies equally to supplemental activity as well.

Allowing the petition filed by GR Bharath Sai Kumar, who is working as a professor at Siddaganga Institute of Technology, the judge noted that if uniformity is not adopted by affiliated institutions, arbitrariness will creep in and every institution will impose service conditions at their whim and fancy.

Quashing the December 3, 2019 communication/notice issued by the college management seeking to retire the petitioner at the age of 60, the judge has added he is entitled to all the consequential benefits. Born on December 18,1960, Bharath Sai Kumar was appointed as a lecturer on April 1,1985 in the department of mechanical engineering. At the relevant point of time, he was working as a professor. The institute issued a memo on December 3, 2019 declaring the staff who would retire in 2020. The petitioner was shown to retire on December 31, 2020.

Bharath challenged this memo. He claimed the institute being governed by AICTE and as per its norms, a professor like him is entitled to continue in service till 65 years. He contended that even a VTU professor is continued in service till 62. Bharath continued in service on the strength of an interim order passed by HC on December 30, 2020.

The institute claimed it is an unaided educational institution and the petition is not maintainable. Another contention raised was that determination of age of superannuation is a matter of policy of the institute and there can be no application of any order of the government or the AICTE. The government submitted that the age of retirement of employees of the institute is not being regulated by it. AICTE argued it has been issuing notifications from time to time making it applicable to all degree-level technical institutions and all service conditions including retirement.

Vaccination cert in dead man’s name in Upleta

Vaccination cert in dead man’s name in Upleta

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:31.05.2021 

“Dear Hardas Karangia, you have successfully been vaccinated with your first dose with Covishield on May 29” — an innocuous message on Arvind Karangia’s mobile phone left this resident of Upleta town of Rajkot district and his entire clan shocked. Reason: Nearly three years ago, Hardas Karangia, 55, had died on August 22, 2018.

“When we received this message about vaccination for our late uncle, we were shocked. When we downloaded the certificate of vaccination, it was issued in the name of the late Hardas Karangia. How can this be possible? Something must be wrong and my late uncle’s Aadhaar card may have been misused. Government should investigate this matter thoroughly,” Arvind told media persons on Sunday.

According to Karangia, the particular vaccination was done at Samajwadi Health Centre in Upleta taluka of Rajkot district.

Arvind Karangia with the death certificate of uncle Hardas

Health officer orders probe

On the one hand, people are not getting vaccination slots and are having to stand in long queues for hours together, on the other hand vaccination certificates are being issued in the name of the dead!” Karangia added.

Nilesh Shah, chief district health officer (CDHO), Rajkot district, told TOI, “The matter has come to our notice and we have ordered an inquiry into it. If anyone is found indulging in any malpractices in the vaccination programme, a criminal case will be lodged.”

According to sources, till now 3.12 lakh doses of vaccination have been administered in Rajkot district, of which 2.63 lakh are first doses and over 76 lakh are second doses.

In Coimbatore, 91 kids have lost a parent or both

In Coimbatore, 91 kids have lost a parent or both

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:31.05.2021 

The office of the district child protection officer (DCPO) has identified 91 children aged below 18 years who have lost their parent(s) to Covid-19 as on Sunday. Of them, family members of 53 children have sought monetary assistance from the government for their survival.

On Saturday, chief minister MK Stalin announced that the state government will deposit Rs 5 lakh in the name of the children orphaned by Covid-19 and Rs 3 lakh to those who lost one parent. Children who have lost their parents to COVID-19 and staying with relatives or guardians will be given a monthly allowance of Rs 3,000 till they turn18.

An official from the DPCO office said, “Based on the Covid-19 death record prepared by the health department, we are studying the family details of every deceased to identify whether they were parents of children aged below 18 years. Of the 1,104 Covid-19 deaths recorded, we have completed verifying the details of 850.”

“We have identified 91 children who had lost either one or both of parents and they belong to 61 families. Single parent, relatives or guardians of these children refused to send them to government homes. Family members of 51 children who had lost one of their parents to the virus and two children who lost both their parents have sought monetary support from the government,” he said.

As of now, groceries required for three to four months was provided to 20 such families by the members of the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), he added.

Recently, Viviyan Jayaraj, 15, and his brother Samuel Ebenezer, 8, lost their parents and maternal grandmother to Covid-19. Now, they are under the care of their paternal grandmother Saradha, 69.

Saradha said, “The children are crying and constantly speaking about their parents ever since their demise. For a change, I have brought them to my daughter’s house in Mettupalayam. We can stay at one of my three daughters’ place for a while, but we cannot do that permanently. So, I have decided to rent a house near my daughter’s house and raise the children on my own.”

Paediatric wards across TN gear up to shield kids from third wave

Paediatric wards across TN gear up to shield kids from third wave

Hospitals In Districts Ramp Up Infra

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.05.2021 

Paediatric wards at major Covid-19 care facilities in Tamil Nadu say they are prepared and have enough beds in case more children get infected in the coming months.

In Chennai, the Institute of Child Health (ICH) has 160 Covid beds in two different blocks. Since not many children require hospitalisation, only 15 are admitted and under treatment at present.

Around 100 beds have been handed over to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), which witnessed acute bed shortage last week, to treat adults, said a senior ICH doctor.

"If there is a population shift in the virus and we require more children's beds, we have made plans to convert adult beds to paediatric beds. Treatment and management protocols are ready," said Srinivasan, senior paediatrician and state nodal officer for neonatal care.

Jayanthi Vishwanathan, senior consultant - paediatrics, Gleneagles Global Health City hospital, said that they have an isolated cubicle ready but the challenge would be to allow only one parent with a child. Usually they take turns.

Even in other parts of the state such as Trichy, many hospitals have started adding oxygen-supported beds in paediatric wards anticipating a spike.

"Ideally a paediatric ward can accommodate 40-50 patients at major hospitals such as Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government hospital, Trichy and the capacity is going to double in a few days," said Dr K Senthil Kumar, nodal officer, special newborn care unit, Trichy district. Theintegrated child development services in the district were calling up parents of child below five to check on Covid infection.

In Madurai, the district administration has intensified screening by testing everyone in children's homes as 11 at a home in Samayanallur got infected. According to official data, all 37 districts have at least 25 neonatal beds and 100 paediatric beds each."We have already converted most of them as oxygen beds. In addition there are at least six paediatric resuscitation and emergency beds in all districts," said Srinivasan.

Dr Balasubramanian of Kanchi Kamakoti Child Trust Hospital said he was glad the government was finally adding more ICU facilities for children, which might be useful later. But panic is unwarranted because only one per cent of children would require hospitalization, he said.

"Because of lockdown and Covid-related fear, routine cases have dropped in paediatric hospitals. At our hospital, only 65 of the 205 beds are occupied. None of them Covid patients. This is the scenario in most hospitals. So there was no need to panic," he added.

As far as treatment is concerned, Dr Jayanthi Viswanathan said, "Unlike adults, we currently don't witness many children with bad lung involvement...," she added.

Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation says it has placed adequate orders for medicines, masks and disposables for paediatric care.

(With inputs from Sampath Kumar and V Devanathan)

‘Don’t test for Covid within 102 days of recovery’

‘Don’t test for Covid within 102 days of recovery’

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

Pune:31.05.2021

Recovered Covid patients opting for non-urgent or elective surgeries are being asked by surgeons to go for repeat RT-PCR/ antigen tests as part of pre-operative protocols. However, experts from Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) and the national task force for Covid-19 have advised against repeating Covid tests within102 days of recovery, citing presence of “nonviable dead-virus particles” that stay in the body for a while.

These virus remnants cannot transmit the illness but can cause a false positive test result. The experts said surgeons should consider performing a nonurgent surgery on a Covid-recovered patient only after six weeks of recovery to ensure faster healing and convalescence postsurgery.

“At present, Covid reinfection is confirmed only after 102 days of diagnosis. So, retesting within this time frame is not advisable,” said infectious diseases expert Sanjay Pujari, a member of the task force.

“Also, a minimum period of six weeks prior to non-urgent surgery is recommended for Covid-recovered patients who were symptomatic. As for emergency surgeries in recovering or recovered patients, these must be done immediately with due precautions,” Pujari said.

Covid treatment: Banks offer unsecured loans of up to ₹5L

Covid treatment: Banks offer unsecured loans of up to ₹5L

₹100Cr For New Health Units

Retail Loan Rejig Window Opens

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:31.05.2021

Banks will offer off-the-shelf unsecured loans of up to ₹ 5 lakh to individuals for Covid treatment, and business loans up to Rs 100 crore for setting up healthcare facilities.

The launch of the new schemes was announced by SBI chairman Dinesh Khara and Indian Banks’ Association chairman Rajkiran Rai on Sunday. Khara said that SBI has decided to price its unsecured loans at 8.5%.

The bankers also provided an update on the restructuring offer made to small businesses under the scheme announced by the RBI earlier this month. Rai said that up to April, banks did not see any problem in the servicing of loans. However, in May, there was a drop in collections but it was too early to get an idea of the number.

Individuals seeking a restructuring of loans can make an application on the bank’s website or manually submit the proposal.

Both the borrower and the bank will have to agree to a resolution plan within 30 days of the application and September 30 would be the last day for finalising the resolution plan.

Khara said that public sector banks have formulated a templated approach for restructuring loans to individuals, small businesses and MSMEs for up to Rs 25 crore. He said that banks would be proactive and would reach out to eligible customers through bulk SMS messages and offer-cum-acceptance would be generated and sent electronically.

The personal loans would be available to all individuals for treatment of self or family member. The minimum loan amount would be Rs 25,000 and the term would be for a maximum of five years. The RBI had encouraged lenders to provide such loans earlier this month by offering to refinance up to ₹50,000 crore with priority sector status for such advances. While banks have financed oxygen plants and vaccine manufacturers in May 2020, the standardised packages are expected to speed up disbursement.

The business loans would be available for anyone engaged in building and servicing healthcare infrastructures such as hospitals, nursing homes, clinics, diagnostic centres and pathology labs. It will be available for greenfield investments as well as for adding to existing capacity. The quantum of loan, which will be for a tenure of up to 10 years, will be ₹100 crore for metro centres, ₹20 crore for tier-1 and urban centres, and ₹10 crore for smaller towns.

TN gives three mths to renew employment registrations

TN gives three mths to renew employment registrations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.05.20121

The Tamil Nadu government has given three months time to candidates, who failed to renew their employment registrations in the past three years — from 2017 to 2019 — to renew it before July28.

The state government has passed a government order (GO) giving an opportunity to the candidates to renew their registration.

“The candidates can renew their registration online at http://tnvelaivaaippu.gov.in/ till July 28. In case they are not able to renew it online, they can apply through a register post to the concerned employment office for renewal,” the order said.

More than 80 lakh people have registered with the employment exchange for the jobs in the state.

Candidates, who failed to renew their employment registrations in the past three years — from 2017 to 2019 — can renew it before July 28

Online apps resume delivery of mutton, chicken; fish still scarce

REGULAR MEAT STALLS STAY SHUT

Online apps resume delivery of mutton, chicken; fish still scarce

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:31.05.2021

City residents can access meat and fish at the click of a button as online outlets have resumed operations after nearly a week. But, the price of mutton has been jacked up by ₹150 to ₹300 a kg compared to the first week of May.

Till Saturday, fish and meat were door delivered only by a few local meat shops and service providers, who took orders on messaging apps and delivered within a day. All fish and meat stalls remained shut.

On Sunday, mutton was sold for ₹850 to ₹1,200 a kg through various apps and the same quantity of chicken was sold for a flat rate of ₹240. Only some varieties of fish were available through online apps, but were sold out within an hour on Sunday.

Traders taking orders on the phone said that limited volumes of fish were available for sale as it has to be sourced from other places in view of the 45-day ban on trawling.

Former president of Chennai Poultry Wholesalers Association J Rajkumar said all meat shops are closed in the city.

"We are permitted to offer meat to eateries and restaurants in the current lockdown. Traders with access to online food aggregators and taking orders on the phone also deliver at doorsteps of residents," he said.

Meanwhile, retail chains are delivering vegetables within a couple of days, though people depending on home delivery apps were facing logistical issues due to the intensified lockdown.

P L Muthu, operations head of a city-based online delivery app providing grocery and vegetables, said that the frequency of sourcing vegetables from different parts of Tamil Nadu has been affected by the intensified lockdown.

"Moreover, home delivery apps are facing shortage for manpower, which is delaying the delivery time in Chennai," he added.

For Kovalam residents, it pays to get a shot

 For Kovalam residents, it pays to get a shot

Trusts Offer Gold, Bike & Fridge For Getting Covid Jabs

Ram.Sundraram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:31.05.2021 

If you’re a resident of Kovalam near Chennai, it pays to get a jab. No, we are not talking about the concomitant medical benefits of Covid-19 inoculation, but free gifts in the form of gold coin, two-wheeler, refrigerator, washing machine, blender, grinder, mobile phone and sarees. And the icing on the cake — a plateful of scrumptious biryani for all to swallow the small pain of the prick. The gifts will be distributed based on a lucky draw.

Three welfare trusts from the city’s picturesque coastal neighbourhood — STS Foundation, managed by Kovalam youngsters; CN Ramadas Champions Development Trust run in memory of a retired IAS officer; and 1992 Don Bosco School alumni group in Chennai — have pooled in ₹50 lakh to bankroll the scheme.

Before the camp was launched, only 50 residents of the area’s 6,000-odd population had received their shots till Friday.

To make everyone count, the Good Samaritans launched the scheme on Saturday with the help of a five-member medical team from Kelambakkam Primary Health Centre. Free vaccines will be supplied for the camp by the Chengalpet district collectorate.

On the first day of the camp on Saturday, 100 got their jabs, said J Sundar, trustee of STS Foundation. Close to 500 have registered to get vaccinated in the coming days, he said.

R Girish from CN Ramadas Trust said that there was misinformation doing the rounds about vaccines and a lot of people were unwilling to get the jabs even if it was free.

OPEN INVITATION: (Left) An elderly woman inaugurates the vaccination camp on Saturday. Gifts meant for participants displayed at the camp

Volunteers aim to make Kovalam TN’s 1st 100% vaccinated locality

RGireesh, “So we needed a strategy which has to be exciting and help people overcome the hesitancy. We hope these prizes and briyani will bring more people to the camp.”

The volunteers have roped in Tamil TV actors to make short awareness videos which they have circulated on local Whatsapp groups.

The volunteers’ aim is to make Kovalam the first 100% vaccinated locality in the state. They are also planning to mobilise funds from their friends and acquaintances in the US, the UK and other foreign countries.

They want to repeat their campaign in 10 other places in and around Chennai to inoculate at least 50,000 people.

The three welfare groups are also currently running a 15-bedded Covid care centre in Velachery with oxygen supported beds for free.

After Chennai’s Covid beds position got better, they shifted their attention to vaccination.

The volunteers have roped in Tamil TV actors to make short awareness videos. They are also planning to mobilise funds from their friends and acquaintances in the US, the UK and other foreign countries. They want to replicate the campaign in other places

BREAKING : Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea To Suspend Central Vista Project Work Amid COVID

BREAKING : Delhi High Court Dismisses Plea To Suspend Central Vista Project Work Amid COVID: The Delhi High Court on Monday dismissed a petition which sought to suspend the ongoing construct

High Courts Weekly Roundup [May 24, 2021 – May 30, 2021]

High Courts Weekly Roundup [May 24, 2021 – May 30, 2021]: Allahabad High Court 1.

மின் கட்டணம் கணக்கீடு எப்படி? இணையதளத்தில் வாரியம் விளக்கம்!

மின் கட்டணம் கணக்கீடு எப்படி? இணையதளத்தில் வாரியம் விளக்கம்!

Added : மே 29, 2021 22:43

சென்னை : கொரோனா பரவலால், வீடுகளில், இம்மாதம் மின் பயன்பாடு கணக்கெடுக்காத நிலையில், மின் கட்டணம் எப்படி கணக்கிடப்பட்டு, ஜூலையில் முறைப்படுத்தப்படும் என்பதற்கான விளக்கத்தை, மின் வாரியம், தன் இணையதளத்தில் வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.

ஊரடங்குதமிழக மின் வாரிய ஊழியர்கள், வீடுகளுக்கு இரு மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை நேரில் சென்று, மீட்டரில் பதிவாகியுள்ள மின் பயன்பாட்டை கணக்கெடுத்து, அதற்கான மின் கட்டணத்தை நுகர்வோரிடம் தெரிவிப்பர்.தொற்று பரவலை தடுக்க, ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப் பட்டு உள்ளது. அத்தியாவசிய துறையின் கீழ் மின் வாரியம் இடம் பெற்றாலும், கொரோனா பரவலால், வீடுகளில் மின் பயன்பாடு கணக்கெடுக்கப்படவில்லை.

இதனால், 'ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில், முந்தைய கணக்கீட்டில் இருந்து, 60வது நாள் ஆகியிருப்பின், மின் கணக்கீடு செய்ய வேண்டியவர்கள், 2019 மே கட்டணத்தை உத்தேசமாக செலுத்தலாம். குழப்பம்'அந்த கட்டணம் கூடுதலாக இருப்பதாக கருதுவோர், நடப்பாண்டு மார்ச் மாத கட்டணத்தை உத்தேசமாக செலுத்தலாம்.'அந்த கட்டணம், ஜூலையில் முறைப்படுத்தப்படும்' என, மின் வாரியம் தெரிவித்தது.இந்த முறையில், மின் கட்டணம் எப்படி கணக்கிடப்படும் என்ற குழப்பம், நுகர்வோரிடம் நிலவுகிறது. இதையடுத்து, இம்மாதம் மின் பயன்பாடு கணக்கெடுக்காத நிலையில், மின் கட்டணம் எப்படி கணக்கிடப்பட்டு, ஜூலையில் முறைப்படுத்தப்படும் என்ற மாதிரி விபரங்கள், 'www.tangedco.gov.in' என்ற, மின் வாரிய இணையதளத்தில் வெளியிடப்பட்டுஉள்ளன.

வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்தவர்களுக்கான ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி; ரூ.6 லட்சம் கட்டணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல் மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள் தவிப்பு: அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு பயிற்சி மாற்றப்பட்டதால் சிக்கல்

வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்தவர்களுக்கான ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி; ரூ.6 லட்சம் கட்டணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல் மருத்துவ மாணவர்கள் தவிப்பு: அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு பயிற்சி மாற்றப்பட்டதால் சிக்கல்

https://www.hindutamil.in/news/tamilnadu/676527-foreign-medical-students-2.html

வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்தவர்களுக்கான ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி மருத்துவர் பணி அரசுமருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டதால், ரூ.6 லட்சம் கட்டணம் செலுத்த முடியாமல் அவர்கள் தவித்து வருகின்றனர்.

ரஷ்யா, பிலிப்பைன்ஸ், சீனா உள்ளிட்ட நாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்துவிட்டு இந்தியா வருபவர்கள் இந்திய மருத்துவக் கவுன்சில் நடத்தும் எஃப்எம்ஜிஇ (FMGE) என்ற தகுதித் தேர்வை எழுதி தேர்ச்சி பெற வேண்டும். பின்னர், அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட அரசுஅல்லது தனியார் மருத்துவமனையில் பயிற்சி மருத்துவராக ஓராண்டு பணியாற்ற வேண்டும்.

தமிழகத்தில் அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லூரிகள், மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகள் மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவமனைகளில் ஆண்டுதோறும் குறிப்பிட்ட விகிதத்தில்தான் வெளிநாட்டில் மருத்துவம் படித்தவர்களுக்கு ஓராண்டு பயிற்சிமருத்துவராக பணியாற்ற வாய்ப்புவழங்கப்படுகிறது. நடப்பாண்டில் கரோனா வைரஸ் தொற்று பாதிப்புஅதிகமாக இருப்பதால் வழக்கத்தைவிட கூடுதலானவர்களுக்கு வாய்ப்பு வழங்கப்பட்டது.

80 பேருக்கு அனுமதி

அதன்படி, மருத்துவம் மற்றும் ஊரக நலப்பணிகள் துறை (டிஎம்எஸ்) மூலம் காஞ்சிபுரம், கடலூர், ஈரோடு ஆகிய மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி மருத்துவராக பணியாற்ற 80 பேருக்கு அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.

தற்போது அந்த உத்தரவை ரத்து செய்து 80 பேரும் மருத்துவக் கல்வி இயக்ககத்தின் (டிஎம்இ) கீழ் செயல்படும் சென்னை மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி, கீழ்ப்பாக்கம் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி, ஸ்டான்லி மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி, ஓமந்தூரார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளனர். அவர்கள் தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்ஜிஆர் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் தடையில்லாச் சான்றை பெற்று சமர்ப்பிக்கவேண்டும் என கடந்த 25-ம் தேதிஅரசாணை வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி மருத்துவராக பணியாற்ற மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் ரூ.2 முதல் 3 லட்சம் வரையும், மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளில் ரூ.6 லட்சத்துக்கு அதிகமாகவும் கட்டணம் செலுத்த வேண்டியுள்ளது. அதனால், பெரும்பாலானோர்மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்ற விண்ணப்பிக்கின்றனர். தற்போது மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்ற அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்த 80 பேர், மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளதால் ரூ.6 லட்சம் பணம் கட்ட முடியாமல் தவித்து வருகின்றனர்.

வரும் ஜூன் 1-ம் தேதிக்குள் பயிற்சியில் சேருகிறீர்களா, இல்லையா என்பதை தமிழ்நாடு டாக்டர் எம்ஜிஆர் மருத்துவப் பல்கலைக்கழகத்தில் தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும். அப்படி பயிற்சியில் சேர விருப்பமில்லை என்றால், அதற்கான காரணத்தை தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும் என்று மாணவர்களுக்கு சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், மாணவர்களும், அவர்களின் பெற்றோரும் பணத்துக்கு என்ன செய்வதென்று தெரியாமல் குழப்பத்தில் உள்ளனர்.

இதுதொடர்பாக வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்து பயிற்சி மருத்துவராக பணியாற்ற காத்திருப்பவர்கள் கூறியதாவது:

தமிழகத்தில் கரோனா வைரஸ் தொற்று அதிகமாக இருப்பதால், இந்த ஆண்டு வழக்கத்தைவிட கூடுதலானவர்களுக்கு ஓராண்டு பயிற்சி மருத்துவராக பணியாற்றி வாய்ப்பு வழங்கிய தமிழக அரசுக்குநன்றி. 80 பேருக்கும் அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டிருந்த காஞ்சிபுரம், கடலூர், ஈரோடு ஆகிய மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்ற அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு மாற்றினால், இந்த பெருந்தொற்று காலத்தில் திடீரென்று ரூ.6 லட்சம் பணத்துக்கு எங்கே செல்ல முடியும்?

சென்னையில் உள்ள 4 அரசுமருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளில் மட்டும் பணியாற்ற அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டிருப்பதால், வெளியூரைச் சேர்ந்தவர்களுக்கு ரூ.6 லட்சம் கட்டணத்துடன் தங்குமிடம், உணவுக்கு கூடுதலாக ரூ.2 லட்சம் வரை செலவாகும்.அதனால், 80 பேருக்கும் மாவட்டதலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்ற அனுமதி வழங்க வேண்டும். இல்லையென்றால், மாவட்ட தலைமை மருத்துவமனைகளின் கட்டணத்திலேயே மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணி செய்ய அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் தெரிவித் தனர்.

கல்வியாளர்களிடம் கேட்டபோது, “தமிழகத்தில் வெளிநாடுகளில் மருத்துவம் படித்த 1,000-க்கும் மேற்பட்டோர் ஓராண்டு பயிற்சிக்காக காத்திருக்கின்றனர். அவர்கள் இந்த பயிற்சியை முடித்தால் தான் மருத்துவராக பணியாற்ற முடியும். பெருந்தொற்று காலத்தில் மருத்துவர்களின் தேவைஅதிகமாக இருப்பதால், அவர்கள்அனைவரையும் கரோனா சிகிச்சைக்கு தமிழக அரசு பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். அவர்களுக்கு பயிற்சிக் கட்டணத்தில் இருந்து விலக்கு அளிக்க வேண்டும்” என்றனர்.

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Make stand clear on Anandaiah’s herbal preparation

Make stand clear on Anandaiah’s herbal preparation

Narayana

He suspects foul play by pharma industry, corporate hospitals

30/05/2021

Special CorrespondentTIRUPATI

Vouching for Krishnapatnam Anandaiah’s “herbal preparation” for COVID-19, CPI national secretary K. Narayana has asked the State government to make clear its stand on administering it to the people. On Mr. Anandaiah’s “prolonged absence,” Mr. Narayana has demanded that Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy “shun his silence” and spell out the future course of action on the raging issue.

Addressing the media here on Saturday, Dr. Narayana cited the presence of lakhs of traditional practitioners and natural healers across the country, and wondered why Mr. Anandaiah was being targeted in the name of Central government clearance, or research by AYUSH team.

“We have local healers administering medicine for jaundice at Kotala and bone fracture at Puttur. But there is unnecessary politics going around Mr. Anandaiah issue,” he pointed out.

Suspecting foul play by the pharma industry and corporate hospitals to either demean the “local medical recipe” or usurp it, he said the 60,000 persons who had been administered the “drug” were ample proof of its efficacy on immunity, if not for COVID-19.

"Local people have started mobilising in favour of Mr. Anandaiah, but some Cabinet Ministers are learnt to be misusing him for preparing the drug for personal use, which is condemnable. We want an answer from Mr. Jagan,” he said.

People pour into Krishnapatnam

People pour into Krishnapatnam

Govt. will decide once clarity emerges on the herbal preparation, says Minister

30/05/2021

M. Goutham Reddy

S. Murali NELLORE

Despite the State government suspending the distribution of the herbal preparation of ayurvedic practitioner B. Anandaiah of Krishnapatnam, which reportedly claims to provide a cure to COVID-19, people from different parts of the State and also neighbouring States are thronging the village hoping against hope that the government will take an early decision based on inputs from the AYUSH department.

Meanwhile, State Industries Minister Mekapati Goutham Reddy said the government would take a decision once full clarity emerged on the herbal preparation being subjected to study by Union and State Government organisations.

Getting to know that Mr. Anandaiah had returned to his village late on Friday, people from far and near thronged his house, where the Nellore Rural police beefed up security. The residents surrounded him and expressed their concern over his being kept away from the village for more than a week.

Sensing that the situation might go out of control, a special police party amid tight security once again took him away to undisclosed destination on Saturday.

Check-post

A check-post has been set up at the village entrance to prevent outsiders from entering the village in a big way. Barricades were erected at different places on the Chennai-Kolkata highway to regulate the crowd, the police said.

Telugu Desam Party national secretary Beeda Ravichandra urged the State government to end the uncertainty by taking an early decision on the herbal preparation.

While poor people who visited the village returned empty-handed, the ruling YSR Congress Pparty ensured the herbal preparation to influential persons clandestinely by holding Mr. Anandaiah on the pretext of providing security, he alleged.