Mild cases can be discharged without test: Health ministry

Mild cases can be discharged without test: Health ministry

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 10.05.2020

In a move that is likely to reduce India’s need for Covid-19 testing kits, the health ministry has said that mild and moderate cases do not need to be tested prior to the discharge of patients from hospital. So far, patients had to test negative twice prior to discharge. The new directive is part of the revised policy for discharge of Covid-19 patients from hospitals. Even for severe cases, the patient would need to test negative only once, as against twice earlier.

“Mild/very mild/presymptomatic cases admitted to a Covid care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse oximetry monitoring. The patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and no fever for 3 days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge. At the time of discharge, the patient will be advised to follow the home isolation for further 7 days as per guidelines,” the revised discharge policy said.

Till Saturday morning, 15.23 lakh samples were tested for Covid-19. According to the ministry, the capacity has been ramped up to test around 95,000 samples per day across 332 government and 121private labs.

Only 1.5% of beds in Covid hosps used

Less than 1.5% of over 1.3 lakh hospital beds earmarked for Covid-19 patients are currently being utilised and this could see a review of hospital preparedness plans that might free up some beds for non-Covid care. P 7

Last 24 hrs see 3,320 fresh Covid-19 cases

However, positive cases also continue to rise across the country. In thelast24hours,3,320 newconfirmed cases have been added taking the total number of cases to 59,662.

The policy also says that at any point of time, prior to discharge from Covid care centre, if the oxygen saturation dips below 95%, patient has to be moved to Dedicated Covid Health Centre (DCHC) with ICU facility. After discharge from the facility, if the patient again developssymptomsoffever, cough or breathing difficulty, he/she will contact the Covid care centre or state helpline or 1075. His/her health will again be followed up through tele-conference on the 14th day, it says.

Moderate cases have been categorised as those whose symptoms resolve within three days and maintains oxygen saturation above 95% for the next 4 days. “If the fever resolve within 3 days and the patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next 4 days (without oxygen support), such patient will be discharged after 10 days of symptom onsetin caseof absenceof fever without anti-pyretics, resolution of breathlessness, no oxygen requirement. There willbe no needfor testing prior to discharge,” says the policy.

Health Ministry eases discharge guidelines

Health Ministry eases discharge guidelines

Only patients with severe illness to be tested before leaving hospital; negative results not required for mild or moderate cases

10/05/2020, BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN ,NEW DELHI

Final test: Medics checking a COVID-19 patient who has completed the mandatory 14 days of quarantine before his discharge from a hospital in New Delhi on Saturday.PTI

The Union Health Ministry has revised its discharge guidelines for COVID-19 patients, saying only those with severe illness need to test negative (through a swab test) before discharge.

Other categories of patients — very mild, mild, pre-symptomatic and moderate cases — need not be tested before discharge.

The two-page revised guideline replaces the rule that patients could be discharged only after testing negative on the 14th and 21st day after confirmation of the infection.

Three-tier facilities

The guideline states that the revised policy is aligned with the guidelines on the three-tier COVID-19 health facilities and the categorisation of patients based on clinical severity — mild, moderate and severe.

Reacting to the revised guideline, Srinivas Rajkumar, general secretary, All India Institute of Medical Sciences Resident Doctors’ Association, said the decision to send back COVID-19 positive patients without testing was a disaster in the making.

“People sent back untested may spread the virus in the community. What was the government doing for 40 days without arranging enough testing facilities? Is the government ready to sacrifice 2 lakh Indians or more to COVID-19 based on estimates?” he said.

Under the latest guideline, mild, very mild and pre-symptomatic cases admitted to a COVID-19 care facility will undergo regular temperature and pulse monitoring.

“Patient can be discharged after 10 days of symptom onset and if they have no fever for three days. There will be no need for testing prior to discharge,” the revised guideline says.

It adds that at the time of discharge, patients will be advised to follow home isolation for seven more days.

It further clarifies that after discharge from the facility, if patients develop symptoms of fever, cough or breathing difficulty, they must contact a COVID-19 care centre, State helpline or call 1075. Their health will again be followed up through teleconference on Day 14.

Moderate cases will undergo monitoring of body temperature and oxygen saturation.

If fever resolves within three days and a patient maintains saturation above 95% for the next four days (without oxygen support), he or she will be discharged after 10 days of onset of symptoms in case there is no fever without anti-fever drugs, no breathlessness and no need for oxygen.

“There will again be no need for testing prior to discharge, and home isolation for seven days is suggested, with close monitoring of health,” notes the guideline.

Explaining the rationale for discharging mild/moderate cases without testing, a senior ICMR scientist told The Hindu: “Studies outside India have shown that positive test result does not mean the person is still infectious. They may be positive for the virus but can remain non-infectious.”

Spread of infection

He further explained that 10 days after the disease set in, people might not be infectious. But once discharged, they should stay at home for five days. The Ministry’s revision also takes into account the fact that hospitals are reaching their handling capacities.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention too had revised the guidelines on May 6, saying that no negative test for the virus is needed before a hospitalised person can be discharged.

The CDC says decisions about discharge should be based on “clinical status and the ability of the accepting facility to meet their care needs and adhere to recommended infection prevention and control practices”.

(With inputs from

R. Prasad in Chennai)

Shah quashes rumours

Shah quashes rumours, says he is healthy

10/05/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI/AHMEDABAD

Dismissing rumours, Union Home Minister Amit Shah issued a statement on Saturday that he is healthy and not suffering from any ailment. In a signed statement, Mr. Shah said for the past few days rumours have been floating on social media regarding his health and “some people even wished death for me through their tweets”.

“In the past two days, lakhs of people from my party and well-wishers expressed concern about my health ... I would like to clarify today that I am totally healthy and not suffering from any ailment. According to Hindu beliefs, such rumours make a person healthier. So I would like to request everyone to mind their work... ,” he said.

Ahmedabad’s Crime Branch arrested four persons for allegedly spreading misinformation about the health of Mr. Shah by circulating a fake tweet, said Special Commissioner (crime) Ajay Tomar.

No handover of bodies till lab results are out

Standard safety protocol for burial/cremation

29/04/2020, S. VIJAY KUMAR ,CHENNAI

Government and private hospitals will not hand over the bodies of persons who died due to Severe Acute Respiratory Illness (SARI), including COVID-19 and suspected COVID-19 cases, till the results of laboratory tests are known. A standard safety protocol for burial/cremation of such bodies will be followed, irrespective of the test results, sources in the Health Department said on Tuesday.

The decision follows the recommendations made by the State Level Technical Committee for conducting an audit of COVID-19 deaths. It was decided that all deaths linked to SARI/COVID-19/suspected COVID-19 cases should be reported to the Director of Public Health & Preventive Medicine, the Director of Medical & Rural Health Services and the Director of Medical Education within an hour.

A case-sheet exclusively for COVID-19 cases, formulated by an expert committee, will be used by doctors to ‘legibly’ enter all details that may be useful for the death audit by institutional and State-level committees. The hospital superintendent and senior doctors, drawn from various specialities, will be part of the hospital committee that will audit the death — analyse the treatment protocol and assess the cause of death — and send its report to the State-level committee on the same day, sources said.

“The findings of the death audit report should be recorded and acted upon. A copy of the patient’s case-sheet after hospital audit should be sent to the State- and district-level audit committees and also to the State Death Control Desk at the Directorate of Public Health for future reference,” a senior health official said, adding that the recommendations of the committee had been accepted for implementation.

Govt. reaches out to community leaders

Officials drive home the scale of the COVID-19 pandemic

04/04/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASAN,CHENNAI

Ominous warning: The signboard at a barricade at Villivakkam delivers the message effectively. K. PICHUMANIK_Pichumani

Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam on Friday chaired meetings with heads and representatives of religious communities in the Secretariat to explain to them the magnitude of COVID-19 and the need to contain it.

Leaders and representatives from various denominations of Hindu, Muslim, Christian, Sikh and Jain communities took part in three separate meetings in which senior government officials and police officers participated. “The meetings were held primarily to seek cooperation from them and to explain the magnitude of the situation ,” an official said.

Prince of Arcot Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, one of the participants, praised the efforts of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami. “Even so many years ago, the authentic sayings of Holy Prophet Muhammad tells us that during epidemics such as plague and others, travel is banned and one should confine himself within the house. I told my Muslim brothers that we should support the government in its efforts,” Mr. Ali said.

Fr. Patrick Paul, secretary to Archbishop of Madras-Mylapore Most Rev. Dr. George Antonysamy, said: “The government explained the seriousness of the pandemic and steps we could take.”

Home Secretary S.K. Prabakar, Revenue Secretary Atulya Misra, Director-General of Police J.K. Tripathy, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh and Chennai Police Commissioner A.K. Viswanathan were present.

‘Ensure transparency’

Manithaneya Makkal Katchi founder M.H. Jawahirullah on Friday said the State government must be transparent in testing for COVID-19 Muslims who attended the Tablighi Jamaat conference in New Delhi. In a statement, he said names of the patients were released in a few districts and urged the government to clamp down on those spreading rumours and hate.

விடுமுறை அறிவிப்பை தவறாக பயன்படுத்தி குடும்பத்துடன் சுற்றுலா செல்வதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்: பொதுமக்களுக்கு முதல்வர் பழனிசாமி வேண்டுகோள்

சென்னை   Published : 17 Mar 2020 07:45 am

விடுமுறையைப் பயன்படுத்தி பொதுமக்கள் குடும்பத்துடன் சுற்றுலா செல்வதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும் என்று முதல்வர் பழனிசாமி வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்துள்ளார்.

இது தொடர்பாக நேற்று அவர் வெளியிட்ட அறிவிப்பில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:

கோவிட்-19 வைரஸ் தடுப்பு முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக கல்வி நிறுவனங்களுக்கு விடுமுறை விடப்பட்டுள்ளன. தனியார் நிறுவனங்கள் வீட்டில் இருந்தே பணி செய்ய பணியாளர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளன இதை தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்தி குடும்பத்துடன் சுற்றுலா செல்வதை பொதுமக்கள் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.

சுற்றுலாவை ஒருங்கிணைக்கும் தனியார், அரசு ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளர்கள் மார்ச் 31-ம் தேதிவரை புதிய சுற்றுலாவுக்கு பொதுமக்களை அழைத்துச் செல்லக் கூடாது. சுற்றுலாப் பயணிகள் தங்குமிடம் அனைத்தும் மார்ச் 31-ம் தேதி வரை மூடப்பட வேண்டும். புதிய முன்பதிவும் செய்யக்கூடாது. கோயில்கள், தேவாலயங்கள், மசூதிகள் மற்றும் பிற வழிபாட்டுத்தலங்களில் கூட்டம் கூடுவதை அனைவரும் தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.

கோவிட்-19 வைரஸ் காய்ச்சல் பற்றி யாரேனும் பொய்யானசெய்தி, வதந்தி அல்லது தேவை யற்ற பீதியை செய்தியாகவோ, சமூக வலைதளத்திலோ, வேறு வடிவிலோ பரப்பினால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும். பொதுமக்கள் மற்ற மாநிலங்களுக்கு பயணிப்பதையும் பொது இடங்களில் கூடுவதையும் அடுத்த 15 நாட்களுக்கு தவிர்க்க வேண்டும்.

கூட்டம் நிறைந்த பொது இடங்களுக்கு வயதானவர்கள், நோய்வாய்ப்பட்டவர்கள், குழந்தைகள் மற்றும் நோய் எதிர்ப்பு சக்தி குறைந்த நபர்கள் பயணிப்பதை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். மக்கள் அதிகம் கூடும் வழிபாட்டுத்தலங்கள், கடற்கரை, வணிக மையங்கள், திருமணங்கள் மற்றும் இதர சமூக விழாக்கள், விருந்துகள் ஆகியவற்றை தவிர்க்க வேண்டும். தனிமனித சுகாதாரத்துக்கு அதிக முக்கியத்துவம் அளிக்க வேண்டும்.

பொதுமக்கள் அனைவரும் தனி நபர் சுகாதாரத்தை பேணவும், குறிப்பாக வீட்டுக்குள் நுழையும்போதும், அவ்வப்போதும் கைகளை சோப்பு போட்டு சுத்தமாக கழுவுவதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும். கையை சுத்தம் செய்யாமல் முகத்தை தொடாதீர்கள்.

பெற்றோர் தங்கள் குழந்தைகள் விடுமுறை நாட்களின்போது குழுவாக விளையாடாதவாறு கண்காணிக்கவும், வீட்டுக்குள் நுழைந்தவுடனும், அவ்வப்போதும் கைகளை சோப்பு போட்டு சுத்தமாக கழுவுவதை உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும்.

அனைத்து அரசு அலுவலகங்களும் வழக்கம்போல் இயங்கும். அரசு அலுவலகங்கள், தனியார் நிறுவனங்களுக்கு செல்பவர்கள் பாதுகாப்பு கருதி, தங்கள் கைகளை உரிய கிருமிநாசினி கொண்டு தூய்மைப்படுத்திக் கொண்ட பின் செல்ல வேண்டும்.

சளி, இருமல், காய்ச்சல் உள்ளவர்கள் அலுவலகம் செல்வதை தவிர்க்கவும். கோவிட்-19 நோய் அறிகுறி உள்ளவர்கள் உடனடியாக அரசு மருத்துவமனையை அணுகி உரிய சோதனை மேற்கொண்டு சிகிச்சை எடுத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். கோவிட்-19 வைரஸ் தொடர்பாக தெரிந்து கொள்ள சுகாதாரத் துறையின் 24 மணி நேர கட்டுப்பாட்டு அறை இயக்கப்படுகிறது. 104, 044-29510400, 044-29510500, 94443 40496 மறறும் 8754448477 என்ற எண்களில் தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம்.

கோவிட்-19 வைரஸை தடுப்பதற்கான முயற்சிகளை ஒவ்வொரு தனி மனிதனும் சுயமாக உணர்ந்து முழுமையாக மேற்கொண்டு தமிழக அரசு எடுத்து வரும் நோய் எதிர்ப்பு நடவடிக்கைகளுக்கு ஒத்துழைப்பு அளிக்க வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு முதல்வர் தெரிவித்துள்ளார். கோவிட்-19 வைரஸ் காய்ச்சல் பற்றி யாரேனும் பொய்யான செய்தி, வதந்தி அல்லது தேவையற்ற பீதியை செய்தியாகவோ, சமூக வலைதளத்திலோ, வேறு வடிவிலோ பரப்பினால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்.

Many Under-Secretary posts lying vacant in govt. departments

Pending litigation cited as reason

09/03/2020,DENNIS S. JESUDASAN   CHENNAI

About half of the posts of Under-Secretary in various departments at the Secretariat are lying vacant.

Of the more than 200 such posts in 37 departments (regarded as one unit, excluding Finance and Law Departments) at the Secretariat, a little over 100 are currently vacant. While pending litigation in the Madras High Court is often cited as a reason behind the delay in appointing the Under-Secretaries, a section of the staff pointed out that appointment orders had previously been issued promoting staff to the post with a caveat that it would be subject to the outcome of the litigation. “The primary reason for the hold-up is a dispute between direct recruits and promotees, who joined government service as typists, and who have staked their claim to be appointed as Under-Secretaries. The dispute has been going on for a long time. If the government takes legal opinion on the issue, it could be resolved. Otherwise, if either party wins the case, naturally the other would file an appeal. Governance has been affected due to the dispute,” a bureaucrat claimed. A Section Officer said Under-Secretaries deal with files in three to four sections in a department and assist their seniors in taking decisions on the files. “In some departments, about 90% of these posts are vacant. It is due to the delay in promotions for about two years that the clearing of files is taking time. It will also eventually affect the promotions of Assistant Section Officers and Assistants. It is a cyclical issue,” he said.

Minister for Personnel and Administrative Reforms D. Jayakumar could not be reached for comment.

Govt. notifies medical devices as drugs

14/02/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,NEW DELHI

The Union Health Ministry notified medical devices used on humans as drugs under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act with effect from April 1, and released the Medical Devices Amendment Rules, 2020, for mandatory registration of such devices. The notification will make companies accountable for quality, said an official. However, Rajiv Nath, Coordinator of Association of Indian Medical Device Industry, said small manufacturers making low-risk equipment would find it tough to comply with the new rules.

Palaniswami inaugurates radiation oncology units

29/01/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated the Radiation Oncology Block and Linear Accelerator service in Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday.

The Chief Minister also inaugurated the CT simulator.

Mr. Palaniswami inaugurated through video conference the radiation oncology block and new equipment for cancer treatment in Government Royapettah Hospital, installed at a cost of ₹22.21 crore, an official release stated. Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam, Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh and other senior officials were present.

‘Govt. cannot interfere in movie jobs’

06/01/2020, STAFF REPORTER,KOVILPATTI

The State government could not interfere in the issue of employment of local workers in any movie as it was under the purview of the producer of the movie, said Information and Publicity Minister Kadambur C. Raju when asked about the recent complaint against music director Anirudh Ravichandran on Sunday.

A controversy arose earlier when the Cine Musicians’ Union complained that Anirudh Ravichandran, music director of Rajinikanth-starrer Darbar, had not opted for its members while recording the music of the film. Instead, foreign musicians were engaged by him, it said.

கட்டாய ஓய்வு; தமிழக அரசு விளக்கம்

Added : டிச 05, 2019 17:09 |

சென்னை: தமிழக அரசு ஊழியர்கள் 30 ஆண்டு பணி நிறைவு அல்லது 50 வயதை கடந்தவர்களுக்கு கட்டாயம் ஓய்வு பெற வேண்டும் என வேலைவாய்ப்பு துறை சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பியதாக சமீபத்தில் தகவல் வெளியானது.

இந்நிலையில் இதற்கு மறுப்பு தெரிவித்த தமிழக அரசு, கட்டாய ஓய்வு குறித்து வெளியான செய்தி உண்மையில்லை என கூறியுள்ளது.

Rajagopal is State’s Chief Information Commissioner

First serving govt. officer to be made CIC

19/11/2019, T. RAMAKRISHNAN,CHENNAI

R.Rajagopal, Additional Chief Secretary attached to the Raj Bhavan, has been appointed the State Chief Information Commissioner (CIC).

He was one among five candidates who were considered by the selection committee, headed by Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami, at its meeting on Monday morning. The other prominent candidate on the shortlist was T.K. Rajendran, former Director General of Police (DGP), according to a source.

An order announcing Mr. Rajagopal’s appointment was issued by Personnel and Administrative Reforms Secretary S. Swarna in the evening. The post of CIC had remained vacant since M. Sheela Priya demitted the office in May this year after she turned 65.

In its edition dated November 16, The Hindu mentioned in a report that Mr. Rajapgopal was one among those whose names were doing the rounds for the CIC’s post.

Mr. Rajagopal, who belongs to the 1984 batch of the Indian Administrative Service (IAS) officers, is the first serving government officer to be made CIC.

All of his predecessors — S. Ramakrishnan (2005-10), K.S. Sripathi (2010-15), K. Ramanujam (2015-17) and Dr. Sheela Priya (2017-19) — held the post after their retirement from government service.

Barring Mr. Ramanujam, who is a former DGP, all others were retired IAS officers. According to the order, Mr. Rajagopal, who turned 58 in June this year, will hold the post for a period of three years.

Through another order of the State government, Anandrao Vishnu Patil, who is now Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Housing Board, has been posted to the Raj Bhavan as Secretary to Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

DELAY IN HOUSE HANDOVER

Buyers can’t seek relief for home loan interests they pay: TNRERA
Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:26.10.2019

That a homebuyer is eligible to claim compensation for delay in handing over of property, is known. But, can he/ she seek compensation for the interest paid on home loans and for appreciated value of an unfinished project? A recent order by The Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) says ‘no’.

The state’s real estate regulator has rejected a plea in this regard. The homebuyer was, however, awarded usual compensation as per the Real Estate Act provisions.

The case relates to a housing project executed by Canara Bank Officers Union to four homebuyers at Madukkarai, in the suburbs of Coimbatore. In a recent order, G Saravanan, adjudicating officer of TNRERA, said the complainants entered into agreements of sale and construction separately on August 1, 2013, with the developer for the project named ‘Grand Hills Apartments/CBOU Enclave’.

The developer had agreed to complete construction and handover the apartments within two years from the date of agreement. “Till date, the flats have not been handed over. Buyers have been put to loss and hardship as they have availed home loans,” the order said. Therefore, the complainants are entitled to get compensation for the delay, it added.

The realty regulator, however, refused to entertain a plea from the complainants seeking compensation for payment of interest for the home loans. “In view of appreciation of the value of the property, the complainants cannot claim compensation for payment of interest on home loans availed for purchase of flats. Hence, the claims for compensation on interest payment on home loans are rejected,” the order said.

Further, the authority refused to fix ₹12,500 as rental loss per month for a period of four years the homebuyers sought. “In the absence of evidence on rental rate, ₹10,000 per month is reasonable. The complainant is entitled for compensation of ₹4.80 lakh and ₹20,000 as litigation expenses,” the TNRERA said. The order added that the developer must pay the compensation within 60 days.

Tamil Nadu government plans common online counselling for all colleges and universities
The proposal is to replicate the admission system followed for engineering courses to other streams also.

Published: 12th September 2019 12:53 AM

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government is contemplating to implement online admission system for all colleges and universities in the state similar to the system already in place for the engineering courses.

The officials in the higher education department said the move is aimed to bring transparency in the admission process and make it more streamlined. The new system may be implemented from the next academic year. However, the modalities of the system are yet to be chalked out.

Mangat Ram Sharma, Higher education secretary, told Express, "There are so many private colleges and universities in the state and it will be difficult to implement the system for all institutions in one go.

Hence, we have plans to implement the online admission process in government and government-aided colleges first.”

“Like engineering courses, the admission in different colleges are also based on the marks obtained in Class XII, so there will be no problem in implementing the online admission process at all,” he
added.

The department is yet to draw a concrete roadmap about implementation of the online admission system. Officials in the higher education department said further meetings will be conducted to discuss about  the best possible ways to implement the admission system in the most effective manner.

The idea for introducing online admission process for colleges, similar to the one in operation for engineering colleges in the state, was proposed recently in a review meeting of the higher education
department which was headed by the chief secretary K Shanmugam. The chief secretary had accepted the proposal and requested concerned authorities to initiate the process.

Sources in the department said the idea was mooted to enhance automation and strengthen the technical capacity in the institutions. “The online admission system will definitely help in better monitoring  of the admission system. The system will serve many purposes. Firstly, the students will not have to apply separately for each college and secondly it will also avoid the alleged corruption in the process,”  said a senior official of the department.

However, some academicians feel implementation of the ambitious project will be quite cumbersome.

“Only few government colleges in the state are in demand among students. In the online process, if all  students will opt for these good colleges and not choose other institutes then what would be their fate. Then we will face a situation like the one we are seeing in the engineering colleges,” said a faculty member of University of Madras.

Planning approval in local bodies goes digital

The move, inspired by the Model Building Bye-Laws of the Centre, is expected to boost transparency

29/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The facility is available for residents of 15 corporations, 121 municipalities and 528 town panchayats in the State.

The State government, to usher in greater transparency, has initiated online sanctioning of planning permission for construction of houses.

Local Administration Minister S.P. Velumani has announced that property owners who own plots measuring less than 2,500 sq. ft. and who plan to build less than 1,200 sq. ft. of residential accommodation could get planning permission by submitting their applications online.

The online facility https://tnurbanepay.tn.gov.in is available for residents of 15 corporations, 121 municipalities and 528 town panchayats in the State.

As per the announcement the Local Administration department, to simplify the planning permission modelled on the Model Building Bye-Laws 2016 of the Centre is aimed at simplifying the planning permission procedures and obviating the need for any inspection.

The online facility available only for regularised plots could be accessed for getting plan approval by uploading all the documents, including the plan document through a registered civil engineer after getting these documents certified through a notary.

The registered engineer should issue a structural stability certificate. If any deviation is found in the construction, the planning permission would be cancelled along with revoking of the registration of the engineer.

Rainwater harvesting

Once the planning permission is uploaded through the online mode, the building plan approval and digital certificate would be issued online after ensuring that the rainwater harvesting design is also available.

The online facility integrates payment of property tax, water and sewage taxes for the new buildings. Thus, the property owners need not run from pillar to post for getting water and sewer connections.

The online mode could be used for paying property tax, commercial tax, and water and sewage taxes.

The Local Administration department has warned that strict action would be taken against any corporation and municipality officials in case of any complaints received from the public for not giving proper answer regarding the queries.

Jaitley cremated amid emotional scenes

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:26.08.2019

Around 3.10 pm, the skies above the cremation ground at Nigambodh Ghat opened up, first slowly and then in a drenching downpour, just as hundreds of emotional mourners watched the flames leap up from the pyre bearing the mortal remains of former finance minister and BJP stalwart Arun Jaitley who passed away on Saturday.

The dark clouds and the rain seemed a fitting farewell for a well loved leader who touched the lives of thousands in his various roles as lawyer, an influential minister, experienced sports administrator and political communicator. The pyre was lit by son Rohan as notables and BJP workers paid their last respects.

The draft sweeping the cremation grounds on the banks of a Yamuna swollen with monsoon waters fanned the flames that consumed Jaitley’s mortal remains as a Delhi Police guard fired a ceremonial farewell. Earlier, the leader’s body arrived draped in a national flag from the BJP headquarters at DDU Marg. A large crowd of mourners, which included dozens of family members, political colleagues and friends, bid Jaitley a tearful farewell.

His long-time associates like India TV head Rajat Sharma, former law officers Mukul Rohatgi and Maninder Singh were next to the pyre. The bier was brought to the pyre by son Rohan and others including BJP leaders Ravi Shankar Prasad and Anurag Thakur. Members of Jaitley’s staff, who have worked with him for years, were also present.

The narrow passage to the pyre and the covered seating was inadequate to accommodate the people who turned up on Sunday afternoon. Among those present to offer their tributes were Vice President Venkaiah Naidu, Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, BJP veteran L K Advani, party president and home Minister Amit Shah, defence minister Rajnath Singh, BJP working president J P Nadda, Union ministers Nirmala Sitharaman, Dharmendra Pradhan, Smriti Irani, Ravi Shankar Prasad and Anurag Thakur, BJP MPs Vijay Goel and Vinay Sahasrabuddhe, Congress leaders Ghulam Nabi Azad, Jyotiraditya Scindia and Kapil Sibal and NCP leader Praful Patel.

GONE TOO SOON: BJP leaders pay homage to Arun Jaitley

Tributes to Jaitley pour in from Tamil Nadu leaders
Ex-Minister hailed as legal luminary, stellar Parliamentarian

25/08/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

Governor Banwarilal Purohit, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami and Opposition leaders have conveyed their condolences to the family members of former Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley, who passed away on Saturday.

In his condolence message, the Governor said he was aggrieved over the sad demise of Jaitley.

“He handled the Finance and Defence portfolios wisely. A lawyer by profession, he was a legal luminary and an experienced political leader, known for his governance skills. He will be missed by the country. He was an asset to the people of India. He was appreciated as an outstanding Parliamentarian across parties; his contribution to the nation and the needy will be remembered,” Mr. Purohit said.

Mr. Palaniswami said Jaitley had worked as president of the Delhi University Students’ Union and a senior lawyer in the Supreme Court. During his stint as the Union Finance Minister, he introduced the Goods and Services Tax for the welfare of the people and economic growth.

He was an erudite speaker and an outstanding Parliamentarian. Despite ideological differences, he remained friendly with Opposition leaders, the CM said.

Condoling Jaitley’s death, DMK president M.K. Stalin said the late BJP leader had worked with Jayaprakash Narayan, was arrested during the Emergency and spent 19 months in jail.

He was a democrat and an excellent Parliamentarian, who won accolades for his stints in the Vajpayee and Modi governments. Jaitley had great respect for Kalaignar (former CM Karunanidhi), Mr. Stalin added.

MDMK general secretary Vaiko, DMDK president Vijayakant, TMC president G.K. Vasan and AISMK leader Sarathkumar paid tributes to Jaitley, praising him for his legal, linguistic and analytical skills.

‘TN opposing NEXT from beginning’
Meanwhile, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has requested the government to pass a resolution to treat all children up to 18 years in children’s hospitals.

Published: 17th August 2019 04:44 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government right from the beginning has been opposing the National Exit Test (NEXT), a common test for final-year MBBS students, proposed in the National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill, said Health Minister C Vijaya Baskar.

Speaking on the sidelines of the 44th Annual Conference of Indian Academy of Paediatrics- Madras Pedicon 2019, Vijaya Baskar said, “The State is also against the term ‘Community Health Provider’ proposed in the NMC Bill. The Community Health Provider was proposed as there is shortage of doctors in the country. According to WHO guidelines and Medical Council of India norms, for a population of 1,000, there must be one doctor. But in Tamil Nadu, for around a population of 700 itself, there is one doctor.”



Meanwhile, the Indian Academy of Paediatrics has requested the government to pass a resolution to treat all children up to 18 years in children’s hospitals.

Salem Collector among 7 IAS officers shifted out

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

CHENNAI, JUNE 28, 2019 00:00 IST

Posted in T.N. Music & Fine Arts varsity

In a surprise move, Salem Collector Rohini R. Bhajibhakare, who had executed several projects in Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s native district, was transferred and posted as Registrar of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University in Chennai.

She had served as Salem Collector since August 2017.

IAS officer S.A. Raman is the new Salem Collector. He was earlier the District Collector in Vellore. While Ariyalur Collector M. Vijayalakshmi was transferred and posted as Dindigul Collector, T.G. Vinay, who was holding that post, was transferred and posted as Ariyalur Collector.

Tamil Nadu State Election Commission Secretary T.S. Rajasekar was transferred and posted as Madurai Collector, a position earlier held by DRO S. Santhakumar as additional charge. R. Seethalakshmi, who was earlier the Registrar at Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University, was transferred and posted as Chennai Collector, and A. Shanmugasundaram, holding the latter post, was shifted and posted as Vellore Collector.



She had executed several projects in

Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami’s native district

Transfer and postings

Govt transfers Chennai, Salem collectors

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 28.6.2019

In a minor reshuffle, the state government on Thursday transferred collectors of Chennai, Salem, Ariyalur, Dindigul and Vellore districts.

An order to this effect was passed by chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan. Salem collector Rohini R Bhajibhakare has been posted as registrar of Tamil Nadu Music and Fine Arts University vice Seethalakshmi, who has been posted as collector of Chennai district.

Chennai collector A Shanmugasundaram has been posted as collector of Vellore district, replacing S A Raman. Raman is new Salem collector. Ariyalur collector M Vijayalakshmi and Dindigul collector T G Vinay swapped positions.

Tamil Nadu state election commission secretary T S Rajasekar has been posted as Madurai collector vice district revenue officer S Santhakumar, holding additional charge