Student safety supreme; CM will decide on fate of Class XII exams

Student safety supreme; CM will decide on fate of Class XII exams

02.06.2021 

In an interview with Julie Mariappan and A Ragu Raman, school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi shares his ideas and views on issues ranging from abolition of board examinations this year, and doing away with NEET forever, to the barrage of sexual harassment complaints coming from school students against their teachers

Now that CBSE has cancelled board examinations for Class XII, what is TN’s decision on holding state board examinations?

Our chief minister has a lot of concern for the safety of students and their future. We will discuss the issue with the chief minister on Wednesday and he will take a call.

Students are venting their anger on social media, highlighting sexual assaults at the hands of teaching staff and indifference of managements. What are you going to do?

Every school should have a committee headed by a female teacher to deal with complaints of sexual harassment. If the school managements go beyond a ‘limit,’ the state government will not hesitate to move the CBSE for action. The teaching staff, who commits such an offence should be punished. Whenever such complaints are received, the education department holds an inquiry and submits a report to the government. For us, the school management or the teaching community should not get affected just because a teacher commits an offence, or a student gives wrong information. It should be noted that the chief minister has ordered a committee to be set up to frame guidelines for online classes.

The DMK government boycotted a meeting convened by the Centre because the latter did not respond to a request to hold a minister-level discussion on New Education Policy (NEP). Is Tamil Nadu the loser?

We only wanted the Centre to have a meeting at the ministerial level since we are elected members. The policy has many flaws which are against the interests of the students. We are against the three-language formula or kulakkalvi thittam (hereditary education) in the name of vocational courses. The chief minister will soon hold a meeting on the NEP.

DMK also promised a separate state education policy to fulfil the needs of the students. Please Comment.

Our promise is to have a policy for our own and abolishing NEET will form part of that. The previous AIADMK did not do the job properly. You wait and see what DMK will d o on NEET.

What are your immediate priorities in the school education department?

I can proudly say we are on a par with the CBSE when it comes to content or syllabus. We need to bring in innovation and reforms. We have set up a thinktank, a 12-member expert group, to aid us in our activities like setting up model schools, CSR activities or availing ourselves of funds. There are also plans to make the state-run Kalvi TV interactive. You will get to see the developments after the upcoming assembly session.

Dropout rates at all levels have been a cause of concern. What is the current status?

It is prevalent in some areas, mostly among the downtrodden sections who either take away children for work or get their girl children married. We are trying to engage with children to minimise the dropout rate. The continued absence of 30 days without an excuse is considered a dropout in our system.

Have you got a blueprint for the revival of Anna Centenary Library?

Yes, soon the work will begin.

HC: Govt staff cannot seek legal refuge in DA cases

HC: Govt staff cannot seek legal refuge in DA cases

Kaushik.Kannan@timesgroup.com

Madurai:01.06.2021

The legal protection to a public servant, against prosecution for a deed done as part of his official duty, will not be available if he faces a case of disproportionate assets, the Madras high court has said.

Declining to come to the rescue of Dhandapani, who faced a case while working as assistant director in the rural development department in Trichy district and with an investigation pending against him, a division bench of Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice S Ananthi upheld a single judge’s order in this regard.

The judges held that the complaint is not with regard to discharge of Dhandapani’s official duties, but related to his disproportionate assets.

Govt permission not needed to prosecute in Dhandapani’s case

The judges said: “Therefore, Section 17(A) of Prevention of Corruption Act is not applicable to the appellant. The single judge has rightly observed this point. The appellant has to face the criminal case.”

Section 17 A of the Prevention of the Corruption Act insulates a public servant against prosecution, and says: “No police officer shall conduct any enquiry or inquiry or investigation into any offence alleged to have been committed by a public servant under this Act, where the alleged offence is relatable to any recommendation made or decision taken by such public servant in discharge of his official functions or duties, without the previous approval…”

It was Dhandapani’s case that he and his brother Kandasamy had a property dispute, due to which the latter’s friend P Karthik kept filing complaints against him before various authorities. Karthik had also moved the high court in 2019 seeking DVAC to probe into his complaints. While dismissing his petition, the court directed Karthik to submit a complaint before the director of rural development and panchayat raj at Chennai.

On receipt of the complaint, it was forwarded to district collector who appointed an inquiry officer. Subsequently, the DVAC also issued proceedings on March 9, 2020, directing Dhandapani to furnish certain particulars. Challenging the proceedings, Dhandapani filed a petition before the Madurai bench of the high court. The single judge had dismissed his petition. Challenging the order of the single judge, the appellant had filed this present writ appeal.

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.”

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

Govt. not ignoring Coimbatore, says CM

Govt. not ignoring Coimbatore, says CM

31/05/2021

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin addressing a press meet in Coimbatore on Sunday. S. Siva SaravananSIVA SARAVANAN S

He recalled his statement that the DMK government would work in such a way that people who voted for the party would be happy and those who did not vote would regret it, appreciating its work.

To drive home his point, he said this was his second visit to the district. He had held a video-conference with the Collector, deputed Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma. Subramanian and designated a senior officer as the nodal officer to oversee the implementation of the COVID-19 control measures.

If need be, he would make another visit, he said.

Mr. Stalin said the State had fared better than Kerala and Karnataka, which had reported the highest daily case count of 43,000 and 50,000 as the pandemic peaked. On the other hand, Tamil Nadu had reported the highest of 36,000 cases, the Chief Minister said.

The case count had come down in the last two days in the district as the administration was taking all steps to control the spread of the infection.

The Coimbatore Corporation had 631 areas under quarantine in the city and the district administration had 302 localities in rural areas. The administration had vaccinated three lakh people in the last couple of weeks and lifted samples for RT-PCR testing from 1.7 lakh persons.

In response to a question on the State’s move to take on lease the Integrated Vaccine Complex in Chengalpattu, Mr. Stalin said he was awaiting a response from the Centre.

Lockdown till June 7, nod for mobile grocers

Lockdown till June 7, nod for mobile grocers

Chennai:  29.05.2021 

The state government on Friday announced the extension of the complete lockdown for another week till 6am on June 7.

Chief minister M K Stalin said the sale of fruits and vegetables through mobile outlets would continue in all districts. Permission has been granted to grocers to sell commodities on vehicles and pushcarts with the approval of local bodies between 7am and 6pm. The supply of groceries bought online and ordered over phone can also be done during the same time. TNN

13-item grocery kit to be given to all rice card holders

Stalin said, “As the total lockdown draws to a close on May 31, I have ordered an extension for a week — after a district-wise review on the severity of Covid-19 — to prevent the spread of the virus and to save precious lives.” “I have also ordered the cooperation and consumer protection department to supply a kit of13 grocery items to all rice card holders from the month of June in all PDS outlets,” he said.

He appealed to people to stay indoors when the state is under complete lockdown to prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Stalin said that Covid-19 related guidelines, including wearing mask, following individual distancing and washing hands with soap and water or sanitisers should be adhered to.

A two-week lockdown was clamped on May 10 in Tamil Nadu with some relaxations and subsequently, it was extended by one more week, till May 31 and the relaxations were withdrawn.

The additional restrictions between May 24 and May 31 included closure of vegetable shops and grocery outlets, which were earlier allowed to function between 6am and 10am. All such curbs would continue to be implemented till June 7.

A two-week lockdown was clamped on May 10 in Tamil Nadu with some relaxations

Govt restricts staff at the Secretariat

Govt restricts staff at the Secretariat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:27.05.2021

TOI Chennai Edition 

Chief secretary V Irai Anbu has directed the secretaries of the essential service departments to avail only necessary staff in Secretariat.

The chief secretary said the government staff with co-morbidities, pregnant women and lactating mothers should be exempted from duty. “Appropriate measures must be followed to prevent the transmission of Covid-19,” the top bureaucrat said in an order.

The state government has allowed only the essential departments in Secretariat and in districts to function during the week-long total lockdown period ending May 31.

In a statement, Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association S Peter Anthonysamy thanked the chief secretary for accepting the request of the association.

'மீட்டர் ரீடிங்' நீடிக்கும் குழப்பம்; தெளிவுபடுத்துமா மின் வாரியம்?

'மீட்டர் ரீடிங்' நீடிக்கும் குழப்பம்; தெளிவுபடுத்துமா மின் வாரியம்?

Updated : மே 26, 2021 07:15 | Added : மே 26, 2021 07:14

சென்னை : ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில் வீடுகளில் மின் பயன்பாட்டை கணக்கெடுப்பது தொடர்பாக நிலவும் குழப்பத்தை மின் வாரியம் எளிய முறையில் தெளிவுபடுத்துமா என்ற எதிர்பார்ப்பு நுகர்வோரிடம் எழுந்துள்ளது.

தமிழக மின் வாரிய ஊழியர்கள் இரு மாதங்களுக்கு ஒரு முறை வீடுகளில் மின் பயன்பாட்டை கணக்கெடுக்கின்றனர். குறித்த காலத்தில் கணக்கெடுக்காமல் தாமதமாக எடுத்தால் மின் பயன்பாடு அதிகரித்து அதற்கு ஏற்ப கூடுதல் கட்டணம் வரும். தொற்று பரவலை கட்டுப்படுத்த முழு ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டதால் ஊழியர்கள் மின் பயன்பாடு கணக்கெடுக்க செல்லவில்லை.

இதனால் 'மே 10ம் தேதி முதல் 24ம் தேதி வரையிலான காலத்தில் தாழ்வழுத்த நுகர்வோர் 2019 மே மாத கட்டணத்தை செலுத்தலாம். புதிய நுகர்வோர் மே மாதத்திற்கு முந்தைய கணக்கீட்டின்படி மார்ச்சில் செலுத்திய கட்டணத்தை செலுத்தலாம்' என மின் வாரியம் மே 11ம் தேதி தெரிவித்தது. இந்த இரண்டு முறையிலும் கணக்கெடுத்தால் அதிக கட்டணம் வருவதாக புகார்கள் எழுந்தன.

இதையடுத்து ஊரடங்கு காலத்தில் நுகர்வோரே தங்களே மீட்டரில் பதிவாகியுள்ள மின் பயன்பாட்டை கணக்கெடுத்து எஸ்.எம்.எஸ். -'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' மற்றும் மின்னஞ்சலில் பிரிவு அலுவலக உதவி பொறியாளருக்கு அனுப்ப அனுமதிக்கலாம். அதன் வழியே செலுத்த வேண்டிய கட்டண விபரம் அனுப்பப்படும்.பொறியாளர்களின் அலைபேசி எண்கள் www.tangedco.gov.in என்ற இணையதளத்தில் உள்ளதாக மின் வாரியம் 20ம் தேதி மாவட்ட மேற்பார்வை பொறியாளர்களுக்கு சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பியது.

இந்த விபரம் பொதுமக்களுக்கு அதிகாரப்பூர்வமாக தெரிவிக்கப்படவில்லை. ஆனால் சுற்றறிக்கை விபரம் ஊடகங்கள் வாயிலாக வெளியாயின. தற்போது பல நுகர்வோருக்கு 2019 மே கட்டணத்தை செலுத்தக்கோரி எஸ்.எம்.எஸ். அனுப்பப்பட்டு வருகிறது. அந்த கட்டணம் அதிகம் இருப்பதாக நுகர்வோர்கள் கருதுகின்றனர். மீட்டர் 'டிஸ்பிளேயில்' பார்க்கும் போது வரிசையாக எண்கள் மாறுபடும். அதில் தேதி நேரத்திற்கு பின் சில எண்களுடன் கே.டபிள்யூ.எச். என்று வரும். அந்த எண் தான் மின் பயன்பாடு அளவு. அதை கணக்கெடுக்க பலருக்கு தெரியவில்லை.

அனைவராலும் இணையதளத்தை பார்த்து தங்கள் பகுதி பொறியாளர்களின் அலைபேசி எண்ணை தெரிந்து கொள்ள முடியவில்லை. அலைபேசி கண்டுபிடித்து எஸ்.எம்.எஸ். வாட்ஸ் ஆப் அனுப்பினால் பதில் கிடைப்பதில்லை. இதனால் எந்த மின் கட்டணத்தை செலுத்துவது மின் பயன்பாட்டை கணக்கெடுத்து யாருக்கு அனுப்புவது என 'மீட்டர் ரீடிங்' தொடர்பாக நுகர்வோரிடம் பல குழப்பங்கள் நிலவுகின்றன.

Supriya Sahu is forests secy in major reshuffle

Supriya Sahu is forests secy in major reshuffle

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:26.05.2021 

In a major reshuffle in the bureaucracy, the state government on Tuesday posted Supriya Sahu as principal secretary of environment and forests department. She was principal secretary/chief executive officer of Tamil Nadu small tea growers’ industrial cooperative tea factories’ federation limited (Indcoserve).

TN industrial development corporation chairperson and managing director Kakarla Usha has been posted as secretary in school education department, while Dheeraj Kumar has become principal secretary in higher education department.

Sandeep Saxeena has been posted as additional chief secretary in the public works department and additional chief secretary Dayanand Kataria in transport department. Kumar Jayant is principal secretary of revenue and disaster management and K Gopal is principal secretary of rural development and panchayat raj department.

Hitesh Kumar S Makwana has been posted as principal secretary of housing and urban development vice D Karthikeyan, who has been posted as principal secretary, highways and minor ports.

B Chandra Mohan has been posted as principal secretary, tourism, culture and religious endowments department. Transport secretary C Samayamoorthy has been shifted as agricultural production commissioner and secretary, agriculture and farmers’ welfare department.

Selvi Apoorva has been posted as principal secretary, handlooms, handicrafts, textiles and khadi department.

K Manivasan has been posted as principal secretary of adi-dravidar and tribal welfare department. A Karthik is principal secretary, backward classes, most backward classes and minorities welfare department. Shambhu Kallolikar is the new principal secretary of social welfare and nutritious meal programme.

Full lockdown in TN till May 31, grocery, veggie shops too shut

Full lockdown in TN till May 31, grocery, veggie shops too shut

All Shops To Remain Open Till 9pm Today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.05.2021

Chief minister MK Stalin on Saturday announced total lockdown with no relaxations for a week beginning May 24 as the Covid-19 case count crossed 36,000 a day in the state. Shops selling groceries and vegetables too will remain shut during the lockdown period. A team of medical experts constituted by the state government had suggested intensifying Covid-19 control measures.

Stalin also chaired a meeting with the committee of MLAs representing various parties before announcing the decision. “In view of the total lockdown, the government has permitted all shops open till 9pm on Saturday (May 22) and between 6am and 9pm on Sunday (May 23). All public and private buses will be allowed to ply on Saturday and Sunday,” Stalin said. Malls will not be allowed to open during the total lockdown. Vegetables and fruits will be supplied by horticulture department through vehicles during the lockdown period.

Earlier, speaking at the meeting of MLAs representing various parties, Stalin said the Covid-19 spread had not been brought under control yet. “The government announced relaxations for people to buy groceries and vegetables, but some of them have taken it for granted and started roaming on the streets. They did not obey lockdown norms despite instructions from police”, the chief ministersaid.

‘People’s words reflect fear of Covid, but not actions’

Chennai: “Total lockdown was for people’s benefit and to save their lives. It was saddening when people treat lockdown as a holiday and not as an emergency caused by Covid,” Stalin said.

To bring the pandemic under control, every individual had to take an oath that he or she would not spread the infection, he said. “Fear of coronavirus is evident while members of the public speak about the disease, but it does not reflect in their actions,” Stalin said, recalling how Covid-19 took away many lives and put the future of many families in question.

Former health minister C Vijayabaskar said the chain of transmission could be broken only if total lockdown was imposed. He said the government should focus on early intervention and diagnosis and take up a multi-disciplinary approach on a warfooting by setting up additional Covid care centres, hospitals and screening centres in districts to avoid crowding in specialty hospitals. “Top-most priority should be given to oxygen supply. Post-Covid recovery clinics should also be set up and infrastructure should be ramped up to face the third wave,” the AIADMK leader said.

Earlier, BJP floor leader and former minister Nainar Nagendran said the government should pay adequate attention to rural areas, ensuring isolation and adequate food supply.

Upload all Covid-19 related circulars, GOs, HC tells TN

Upload all Covid-19 related circulars, GOs, HC tells TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:22.05.2021

All government orders, circulars and notifications issued in connection with Covid-19 should be uploaded in the state’s official website and in the ‘stopcorona’ website, Madras high court has said.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy passed an order to this effect on Friday, while closing a public interest writ petition on the issue.

According to the petitioner, all government orders have to be uploaded in the official website whether it is important or not. Since none of the state government departments has ensured uploading of such orders in their respective websites, including orders pertaining to Covid-19, he made a representation to the state on April 24.

As the officials failed to respond to the representation, the petitioner, Ramkumar Adityan, moved the high court. He wanted the court to direct the state to instruct all its departments to upload all the GOs in their official websites.

Responding to the plea, Tamil Nadu advocate-general R Shunmugasundaram submitted that the state has been uploading all such GOs promptly in the official website.

Recently, after a few of the staff in the department tested positive there was a delay and also the government was working only with 40% of staff, however, it was all addressed, and the site was updated till May 18, he added.

Recording the submissions, the bench said all future notifications and government orders should be published in chronological order on the websites and made available with the click of a button.

According to the petitioner, all government orders have to be uploaded in the official website whether it is important or not

All legislature parties to discuss Covid measures on Sat

All legislature parties to discuss Covid measures on Sat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21.05.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin will chair a meeting on Saturday with legislature party leaders who are part of a committee constituted to recommend to the government Covid preventive measures. The meeting will take place at the secretariat at 11.30am. This is the first meeting of the consultative committee.

Following the recommendations of the leaders in an all-party meeting, the government set up the committee with representatives from DMK (N Ezhilan), AIADMK (former health minister C Vijayabaskar), Congress (AM Munirathinam), PMK (G K Mani), BJP (Nainar Nagendran), MDMK (T Sadhan Thirumalaikumar), VCK (S S Balaji), CPM (V P Nagai Mali) amd CPI (T Ramachandran).

Public secretary D Jaganathan is the member-secretary of the committee.

Biometric entry at PDS shops for Covid aid suspended

Biometric entry at PDS shops for Covid aid suspended

Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has suspended use of biometric entries of beneficiaries who collect the Covid-19 relief assistance of Rs 2,000.

Published: 17th May 2021 03:44 AM 

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Tamil Nadu Civil Supplies Corporation (TNCSC) has suspended use of biometric entries of beneficiaries who collect the Covid-19 relief assistance of Rs 2,000. Sources said that beneficiaries must produce the token and their smart card to collect the money.

Speaking to TNIE, a senior official from the district civil supplies department said, “Biometric entry has been suspended in order to prevent Covid -19 spread and to facilitate elderly people to receive the aid without visiting ration shops.”

The official further said that they have recommended to higher authorities to suspend biometric entry for three months not only for distribution of the cash aid but also for commoditites. “We have yet to receive any communication about the suspension of biometric entries for distributing commodities. We have made our recommendation to our department,” the official added.

The senior official pointed out that the district civil supplies department has cleared 7,000 applications received till January for new ration cards. Around 4,51,000 out of 10,17,320 ration card holders in the district have received the aid as on Saturday.

Leave encashment facility suspended for one more year

Leave encashment facility suspended for one more year

Chennai:15.05.2021

Last year, the Tamil Nadu government issued an order suspending the annual leave surrender facility of government employees, teachers and those in statutory and constitutional bodies. The suspension order has now been extended for one more year.

Employees can surrender earned leave for 15 days every year and encash it. In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, the state had last year suspended the facility, saying it would help the government save cash outgo. Now, in an order dated May13, the department said: “In view of the second wave of coronavirus, and the need to conserve resources to fight the pandemic, the suspension of periodical surrender of earned leave for encashment for 15 days every year or 30 days every two years, as provided under Rule 7A of Tamil Nadu Leave Rules, 1933 is extended for one more year, till 31.03.2022, to all government employees and teachers.”

The order is applicable to all constitutional, statutory bodies, including corporations, local bodies, companies, institutions and societies, said the order issued by chief secretary V Irai Anbu. TNN

1993-batch bureaucrat Gagandeep Singh Bedi appointed Chennai Corporation Commissioner

1993-batch bureaucrat Gagandeep Singh Bedi appointed Chennai Corporation Commissioner

Bedi is known for his contribution to ecology and environment and won the Green Award twice, in 2003 and 2004.

Published: 09th May 2021 04:22 PM 

Gagandeep Singh Bedi (File | EPS)

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Senior IAS officer from the 1993 batch, Gagandeep Singh Bedi, has been appointed as the Chennai Corporation Commissioner by the DMK government, as the city finds itself in a tough spot battling the Covid-19 pandemic.

According to a government order by Chief Secretary V Irani Anbu, Bedi, who was the Principal Secretary of the State Agricultural Department, will replace the outgoing Commissioner G Prakash, who held the post since 2019.

Though Bedi is a very senior officer for the role of Corporation Commissioner, it appears that he has been appointed due to the Covid-19 crisis, given his expertise in handling natural disasters like the Tsunami and Cuddalore floods in the past.

The order stated that the post of Principal Secretary/Commissioner, Greater Chennai Corporation will be equivalent in status and responsibilities to the cadre post of principal Secretary-cum-commissioner.

Who is Gagandeeph Singh Bedi?

Bedi was born in Hoshiarpur in Punjab in 1968 and has graduated in BE (Electronics and Electrical Communication) and later joined as a lecturer at Thapar Institute of Engineering and Technology.

In 1993, he was selected for the Indian Engineering Services and got a posting in Indian Railways. Subsequently, in 1993, he was selected in the Indian Administrative Services and was allotted the Tamil Nadu cadre.

Since then, Bedi, who is known to be an honest and straightforward officer, held many prominent positions like the Additional Collector, Cuddalore; Commissioner of Corporation, Madurai; Collector of Kanyakumari District and Cuddalore District.

He was also the Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Water Supply and Drainage Board and was Secretary for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Department.

Bedi is known for his contribution to ecology and the environment and won the Green Award twice, in 2003 and 2004. As District Collector, he had promoted various Eco-Tourism projects and other environmental projects.

Bedi also received applause for his services in flood mitigation during the Cuddalore floods in 2015. He also spearheaded the district's fight against Tsunami and he was appreciated for handling the crisis efficiently.

He also received a national award in 2016 for implementation of the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme as Rural Development Department Secretary, from late Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley.

Before taking over as the Chennai Corporation Commissioner, Bedi also served as the District Monitor Officer for Covid-19 in Cuddalore.

New corpn chief Gagandeep Singh Bedi is disaster management expert

New corpn chief Gagandeep Singh Bedi is disaster management expert

Directed Relief Efforts During Tsunami, Floods, Gaja

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.05.2021

Senior IAS officer and principal secretary of the agriculture department Gagandeep Singh Bedi was appointed as the commissioner of Greater Chennai Corporation on Sunday, replacing G Prakash. Prakash had been in the post since February 2019.

Since no elected council is in place, Bedi also becomes the de-facto special officer who will be able to take all crucial decisions taken by the council. He has been given charge of the civic body at a time when Chennai’s daily Covid-19 cases have reached a high of 6,000 and have not yet peaked.

Bedi is a well-known bureaucrat who has won awards including that of ‘Indian of the Year’ given out by a private news TV organisation for his work during the 2004 Tsunami, when he was collector of Cuddalore.

His image as a disaster management expert was enhanced by his work during the floods in 2005 and more recently, during the Gaja cyclone in 2018.

Bedi was also the officer who investigated the illegal beach sand mining in Tuticorin, Tirunelveli and Kanyakumari districts and presented a report to the state government. He has also been at the helm of the fisheries department.

Sources in the TN bureaucracy said Bedi was earmarked for this particular role by the current political dispensation. “He is a very planned person who puts in his best efforts. He is also very soft-spoken,” an official said.

During his tenure, Prakash was known for aggressive field visits and encouraging fresh ideas from officials. GCC’s social media accounts were revamped and ideas such as corona monitoring app and home quarantine monitoring system were developed. Greening in Chennai received a fillip with waste lands converted into Miyawaki forests.

However, GCC continued to face allegations of tender fixing during Prakash’s tenure as well. Prakash, who lives in a locality on East Coast Road (ECR), faced a backlash from fellow ECR residents over construction of a German bank-funded, costly stormwater drain project which they said was unnecessary.

Bedi, a senior IAS officer, is taking over the reins as Greater Chennai Corporation Commissioner from G Prakash, who served in the post since February 2019

Irai Anbu made Chief Secretary; 4 Secretaries to assist CM

Irai Anbu made Chief Secretary; 4 Secretaries to assist CM

Shilpa Satish to handle grievance redressal system

08/05/2021

V. Irai AnbuHANDOUT_E_MAIL

T. UdhayachandranJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

P. UmanathJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

M.S. ShanmugamHANDOUT_E_MAIL

Anu GeorgeRAGHUNATHAN SR

Dennis S. Jesudasan CHENNAI

On its first day in office on Friday, the DMK government named senior IAS officer V. Irai Anbu as its Chief Secretary, replacing incumbent Rajeev Ranjan. It also named four IAS officers — T. Udhayachandran, P. Umanath, M.S. Shanmugam and Anu George as Secretaries I, II, III and IV respectively to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

The State government also appointed IAS officer Shilpa Prabhakar Satish to head the grievance redressal system that will look into petitions received during the election tour undertaken by Mr. Stalin.

Mr. Anbu, a 1988-batch officer, was until recently, the Director of the Anna Institute of Management, a State-run institution to encourage youngsters to take up a career in civil services. Known in IAS circles for being honest, simple and a lover of books, Mr. Anbu has authored several books. He holds two doctorates — one in management concepts found in Thirukkural and one on the comparison between Thiruvalluvar and Shakespeare.

While in Madurai, he contributed a weekly series, ‘Random thoughts’ in The Hindu Metro Plus, which was also brought out as a special publication with three reprints.

Soon after he received the S.P. Adithanar Literary Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Tamil daily Dina Thanthi in November 2017, Mr. Anbu donated the cash prize of ₹2 lakh to the Adi Dravidar Hostel for Men in Mylapore. He has been Collector in many districts and the Commissioner of Economics and Statistics, and is known for efforts in boosting tourism in the State.

Mr. Udhayachandran, who was until recently the Commissioner of Archaeology, is known for his genuine interest in Tamil literature, history and archaeology. It was during his tenure as Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission that it incorporated technology into conducting exams for candidates.

As Madurai Collector, the 1995-batch officer was credited for his efforts to successfully conduct local body polls after a decade in Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nattarmangalam village panchayats, where caste Hindus had refused to accept Dalits being elected as panchayat presidents.

Helping fight COVID-19

Mr. Umanath, who was the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), is credited for efficiently planning ahead for building the oxygen capacity in hospitals and getting testing kits and drugs in time to help combat COVID-19 better. He was also the Coimbatore Collector when the erstwhile DMK government held the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010.

Mr. Shanmugam was posted as the Director of Museums. During his stint as the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation Limited, he refused to allow political interference in his functioning.

As Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, he ensured that law and order problems in the Perumbakkam tenements were resolved.

An alumna of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ms. George was the Collector of Ariyalur district and the Joint Secretary (Protocol) in the Public Department during the AIADMK regime under then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Ms. George has also served as the Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce.

Ms. Satish was earlier Tirunelveli Collector and was in the news when she chose a government-run anganwadi for her child. She has worked as Deputy Commissioner (Education), Greater Chennai Corporation.

Irai Anbu to fine tune TN administration?

Irai Anbu to fine tune TN administration?

Anbu has also served as the coordinator for all committees during the eighth World Tamil Conference at Thanjavur in 1995.

Published: 08th May 2021 04:42 AM 

IAS officer V Irai Anbu who assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary, on Friday paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister MK Stalin at the secretariat

By T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Senior IAS officer V Irai Anbu (58), a multi-faceted personality, who has authored many books on self improvement, and a motivational speaker, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government on Friday. As a strict disciplinarian and an officer known for his integrity and straightforwardness, Anbu is expected to fine tune the State administration.

Anbu superseded 12 Chief Secretary-grade IAS officers under the government to the post. He was promoted to the grade on February 27, 2019. After his appointment to the top post, Irai Anbu called on Chief Minister MK Stalin at the secretariat and presented his book Vaiya Thalaimaikol to the latter.

Born on June 16, 1963 in Salem district, Irai Anbu holds multiple degrees and doctorates in the fields of agriculture, literature, psychology, administration, etc. When he took the civil services examination for the first time in 1980s, he secured 227th rank. In his second attempt, he got 15th place at the national level. His elder brother V Thiruppugazh is also an IAS officer, who is famous for his significant works in Gujarat.

When he was the Assistant Collector in Nagapattinam district, he played an important role in flood relief works. During his tenure as the Additional Collector in Cuddalore, Anbu took steps to provide skill development training to inmates of the district central prison. He also took steps to provide houses for Narikuravas under the district decentralisation plan in erstwhile South Arcot district.

Anbu has also served as the coordinator for all committees during the eighth World Tamil Conference at Thanjavur in 1995. During his stint in the Information Department, he brought in many transformations. One among them was hosting the G.Os of the government departments in time on the website and making them available to the press. The departments he served in the State government include economics and statistics, pollution control board, environment, tourism, etc.

Kalloori Kaalangal

Anbu had earlier conducted Kalloori Kaalangal programme in Podhigai TV channel which ran for many hundred episodes and attracted youth

தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கு தானே கையெழுத்திட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன்

தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கு தானே கையெழுத்திட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன்

Updated : மே 08, 2021 02:23 | Added : மே 08, 2021 02:22 

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தின் புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக வெ. இறையன்பு நியமனத்தையொட்டி, பணியிடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன், தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கான உத்தரவில் தானே கையெழுத்திட்டுள்ளார்.

தமிழகத்தில் நடந்த சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் திமுக தனிப்பெரும்பான்மையுடன் வெற்றி பெற்று ஆட்சியமைத்துள்ளது. திமுக தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின் நேற்று (மே.,7) தமிழக முதல்வராக பதவியேற்றுக் கொண்டார். பல்வேறு துறைகளுக்கான அமைச்சர்களுக்கும் பதவியேற்றுக்கொண்டனர். தமிழகத்தின் தலைமை செயலாளராக இருந்த ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன், தமிழ்நாடு செய்தித்தாள் கழகத்திற்கு இடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு பதிலாக புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக வெ.இறையன்பு நியமனம் செய்யப்பட்டார்.

அரசு விதிமுறைப்படி, ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., அதிகாரிகளை தலைமை செயலாளர் தான் மாற்ற முடியும். எனவே புதிய தலைமை செயலாளருக்கான உத்தரவில் ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன் கையெழுத்திட்டார்.

புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக நியமிக்கப்பட்ட வெ. இறையன்பு ( ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்.) முன்னதாக, நாகப்பட்டினத்தில் சப் கலெக்டராகவும், காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் மாவட்ட கலெக்டராகவும், கடலூரில் இணை ஆணையர், நகராட்சி நிர்வாகம் மற்றும் கூடுதல் கலெக்டராகவும் பணியாற்றியுள்ளார். மேலும் செய்தி மற்றும் மக்கள் தொடர்பு துறையில் இயக்குநராகவும், முதல்வரின் செயலர், செய்தி மற்றும் சுற்றுலாத்துறையின் செயலராகவும், சுற்றுலா மற்றும் பண்பாட்டு துறையில் தலைமை இயக்குநர் (பயிற்சி) மற்றும் இயக்குநர் அண்ணா மேலாண்மை நிலையம் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு முக்கிய பொறுப்புகளை வகித்துள்ளார்.

தொடர்ந்து, தமிழகத்தின் தலைமை செயலாளராக இருந்த ராஜிவ் ரஞ்சன், தமிழ்நாடு செய்தித்தாள் கழகத்திற்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளார். இதற்கான பணி நியமன உத்தரவில் விதிமுறைகளின்படி, அவரே கையெழுத்திட்டுள்ளார். அவரது பெயரில் தான் பணி நியமனத்திற்கான ஆர்டரும் வந்ததாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

New Covid restrictions in force from today

REINING IN COVID

New Covid restrictions in force from today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.05.2021

The state government’s new set of restrictions to contain the spread of virus will come into force from 4am on May 6. Public transport, railways, metro rail, public and private buses and cabs will be allowed to operate at a maximum capacity of 50%.

The standalone grocery and vegetable shops will be permitted till 12 noon without air conditioning facility. Only 50% customers will be allowed at a time. A separate order issued by the government said the differently-abled will be fully exempted from attending office during the 15-day period.

All other shops, other than grocery and vegetable shops will remain closed. The big format shops in an area of 3,000sq ft and above, shopping complexes and malls have already been prohibited to function since April 26 onwards. The grocery and vegetable shops in shopping complexes and malls are also not permitted.

As per the order issued by the state government on Monday, the state government/public sector undertakings-run outlets will be permitted between 8am and 12 noon, while pharmacies, supply of milk and other essential services will continue as usual. Take away service alone will be permitted in all restaurants, hotels, bakeries, and mess from 6am to 10am, 12 noon to 3pm and 6pm to 9pm. Tea shops will be permitted to operate till 12 noon. The government also prohibited social/political/sports/entertainment/academic/cultural/festival gathering in open and closed spaces. Cinema theatres will remain shut.

In an order on Wednesday, chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan said that all offices of governments will function with 50% workforce for a fortnight beginning Thursday. The secretaries to governments, heads of departments, the district collectors will have to have an attendance schedule, either on alternate days or once in three days or as per the requirements based on the workload. “Notwithstanding the above alternate working system, the staff on off-duty will attend office if called for any point of time,” the order said. Private offices also will have to function with 50% workforce.