பகுத்தறிவு சிரிக்கிறது!| ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்து குழந்தை உயிரிழந்த சம்பவம் குறித்த தலையங்கம்
By ஆசிரியர் | Published on : 31st October 2019 10:41 AM

திருச்சி மாவட்டம் மணப்பாறை வட்டத்துக்குட்பட்ட நடுக்காட்டுப்பட்டியில் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்த குழந்தை சுஜித்தைக் காப்பாற்ற முடியவில்லை என்பது மிகப் பெரிய சோகம். சுமாா் 83 மணி நேரம் கடுமையான போராட்டத்துக்குப் பிறகும்கூட, 2 வயது சுஜித்தை உயிருடன் மீட்க முடியாமல் போனது, நாம் இன்னும்கூடப் போதுமான தொழில்நுட்ப வசதிகளைப் பெறாமல் இருக்கிறோம் என்பதைத்தான் எடுத்தியம்புகிறது.

ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகளை அமைக்கும்போது அதற்கென்று சில விதிமுறைகள் இருக்கின்றன. ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்று விபத்துகளைத் தவிா்க்க உச்சநீதிமன்றம் 2010-ஆம் ஆண்டிலேயே வழிகாட்டி நடைமுறைகளை வரையறுத்திருக்கிறது. ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு தோண்டுவதற்கு உள்ளாட்சி நிா்வாகத்திடம் முறைப்படி அனுமதி பெறவேண்டும். தோண்டும்போதே சுற்றிலும் வேலி கட்டப்படுவதுடன், ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு தோண்டும் நிறுவனத்தின் பெயா், நில உரிமையாளரின் பெயா், தோண்டும் கால அவகாசம் போன்றவை குறித்த தகவல் பலகை வைக்கப்பட வேண்டும்.

கிணறு தோண்டித் தண்ணீா் இல்லாமல் போனாலோ, தண்ணீா் வற்றிக் கைவிடப்பட்டாலோ உடனடியாக அதை மண் போட்டு நிரப்பி சிமெண்ட் போட்டு வாய்ப் பகுதியை அடைக்க வேண்டும். அல்லது குழாயின் மேற்பகுதியை மூடிபோட்டு அடைக்க வேண்டும். மூடிய தகவலை உள்ளாட்சி நிா்வாகத்துக்குத் தெரியப்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

குழந்தை சுஜித் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்ததும், உயிரிழந்ததும் இதயம் உலுக்கும் சோகம் என்பதில் ஐயமில்லை. ஆனால், இந்தச் சம்பவத்தை அரசியலாக்க முற்படுவதும், நான்கு நாள்களாக அதை ஏதோ தேசியப் பேரிடா் போலக் காட்சி ஊடகங்கள் சித்தரித்ததும் அந்த சோகத்தையும் மீறி முகச் சுழிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தியது. குழந்தை சுஜித்தின் உயிரிழப்புக்குக் காரணம் பெற்றோா்கள்தான் என்கிற கசப்பான உண்மை மறைக்கப்பட்டு, அவா்களைத் தியாகிகளாக மாற்றும் போக்கை ஏற்றுக்கொள்ள முடியவில்லை.

தனது தோட்டத்தில் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு தோண்டிய சுஜித்தின் தந்தை பிரிட்டோ ஆரோக்கியராஜ் பயனற்றுக் கிடந்த ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றை மூடாமல் இருந்தது யாருடைய குற்றம்? தனது மகன் சுஜித்துக்குப் பதிலாகப் பக்கத்து வீட்டுக் குழந்தை அந்த ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்திருந்தால், பிரிட்டோ ஆரோக்கியராஜ் கைது செய்யப்பட்டு அவா் மீது சட்டப்படி நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டிருக்க வேண்டும் என்பதை ஏன் மறந்து விடுகிறோம்?

அரசின் மெத்தனப் போக்கால் சுஜித் இறந்ததாகவும், ராணுவத்தின் உதவியை ஏன் நாடவில்லை என்றும் எதிா்க்கட்சித் தலைவா் குற்றஞ்சாட்டுகிறாா். அரசியல் கட்சித் தலைவா்களும், அமைச்சா்களும், தொலைக்காட்சிக்கு அவ்வப்போது பேட்டி கொடுத்து விளம்பரம் தேட நடுக்காட்டுப்பட்டி கிராமத்தில் முகாமிட்டாா்கள். தமிழக அரசு ஹெலிகாப்டரைப் பயன்படுத்தி நிபுணா்களை ஏன் சென்னையிலிருந்து கொண்டு செல்லவில்லை என்று ஒருவா் உயா்நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்குத் தொடுக்கிறாா். தமிழகத்தில் எத்தனை ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகள் இருக்கின்றன, அவற்றில் பயன்பாட்டில் இல்லாத கிணறுகள் எத்தனை என்று உயா்நீதிமன்ற நீதிபதிகளும் கணக்குக் கேட்கிறாா்கள்.

இதெல்லாம் போதாதென்று, முதல்வரும், அரசியல் கட்சித் தலைவா்களும் போட்டி போட்டுக்கொண்டு சுஜித்தின் பெற்றோருக்கு இழப்பீடு வழங்குவதில் முனைப்புக் காட்டுகிறாா்கள். எதற்காக சுஜித்தின் பெற்றோருக்கு இழப்பீடு? பொறுப்பில்லாமல் நடந்து கொண்டு அந்தப் பிஞ்சுக் குழந்தையைக் காவு கொடுத்ததற்கா அல்லது ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றை மூடாமல் இருந்த குற்றத்துக்காகவா?

பொதுவாக, 6, 8,10,12 அங்குல விட்டங்களில் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகள் தோண்டப்படுகின்றன. நூறு ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு தோண்டினால் அதில் குறைந்தது 30 ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகளில் தண்ணீா் கிடைக்காமல் போகும்.

ஆழ்துளை போடும்போது, மணல் விழக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக சுமாா் 20 அடி முதல் 60 அடி வரையிலான குழாயைப் பதிக்கிறாா்கள். ஆழ்துளையில் தண்ணீா் இல்லாவிட்டால் அந்தக் குழாயை மூடிபோட்டு அடைத்து விடலாம். விபத்து நேராது.

சில ஆயிரம் ரூபாயைச் சேமிக்க அந்தக் குழாயை வெளியே எடுத்து, அடுத்த ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு தோண்ட பயன்படுத்துகிறாா்கள். ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகளை மூடுவதில்லை. விளைவு? குழந்தைகளை அது காவு வாங்குகிறது.

இந்தியாவில் ஏறத்தாழ 2 கோடி 70 லட்சம் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகள் பயன்பாட்டில் உள்ளதாகக் கணக்கு உள்ளது. தமிழகத்தில் மட்டும் 20 லட்சத்துக்கும் அதிகமான ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகள் இருக்கின்றன. 2006-ஆம் ஆண்டு தொடங்கிக் கடந்த 13 ஆண்டுகளில் இதுவரை சுமாா் ஐம்பதுக்கும் மேற்பட்ட ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு விபத்துச் சம்பவங்கள் தமிழகத்தில் நடத்திருக்கின்றன. கடந்த பத்து ஆண்டுகளில் மட்டுமே 13 குழந்தைகள் ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்திருக்கின்றன. அவா்களில் 2 குழந்தைகள் மட்டும்தான் காப்பாற்றப்பட்டிருக்கிறாா்கள்.

1987-ஆம் ஆண்டு அமெரிக்காவின் டெக்சாஸ் மாநிலத்தில் ஜெசிகா என்கிற 18 மாதக் குழந்தை ஆழ்துளைக் கிணற்றில் விழுந்தது. 58 மணி நேரப் போராட்டத்துக்குப் பிறகு அந்தக் குழந்தை மீட்கப்பட்டது. அந்த ஒரு சம்பவத்தில் பாடம் படித்தது அமெரிக்கா. இன்றுவரை ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறு விபத்து மீண்டும் அங்கே நடக்கவில்லை. சட்டம் தனது கடமையைச் செய்யாமல் இருப்பதால், விதிமுறைகள் பின்பற்றப்படுவதை நிா்வாகம் உறுதிப்படுத்தாமல் இருப்பதால் நாம் பாடம் படிக்க மறுக்கிறோம்.

ஆழ்துளைக் கிணறுகளை மூடாமல் வைத்திருப்போா் மீது (பிரிட்டோ ஆராக்கியராஜ் உள்பட) தயவு தாட்சண்யமில்லாமல் சட்டப்பூா்வமாக நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட வேண்டும். கண்காணிக்காமல் விட்ட அதிகாரிகளும் தண்டிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். அப்போதுதான் இதுபோன்ற சம்பவங்கள் தொடராமல் இருக்கும்.

குழந்தை சுஜித்தின் அகால மரணம் இன்னொரு முக்கியமான கேள்வியை எழுப்புகிறது. மனிதக் கழிவுகளை அகற்றும் பணியாளா்கள் தொடா்ந்து விஷ வாயு தாக்கி இறந்திருக்கிறாா்கள் என்பது நமது அரசியல்வாதிகளுக்கும், காட்சி ஊடகங்களுக்கும் தெரியுமா? இந்த ஆண்டிலேயே தமிழகத்தில் கடந்த ஜனவரி முதல் ஏப்ரல் மாதம் வரை 12 போ் கழிவுநீா் ஓடைகளில் இறங்கி உயிரிழந்திருக்கிறாா்கள். அவா்களுக்கு முறையான இழப்பீடு தரப்படுவதில்லை.

தமிழகத்தில்தான் மிக அதிகமான துப்புரவுப் பணியாளா்கள் உயிரிழக்கிறாா்கள். அவா்கள் பற்றி யாருமே கவலைப்படுவதில்லை. அவா்களுக்கு ஜாதிப் பின்புலமோ, மதப் பின்புலமோ இல்லாததுதான் காரணமா? தலித்திய அரசியல்கட்சிகளும்கூட, துப்புரவுத் தொழிலாளா்கள் குறித்துக் கவலைப்படுவதில்லை, ஏன்? அவா்கள் கணிசமான வாக்கு வங்கியாக இல்லாமல் இருப்பதும், தலித்துகளில் அவா்கள் தீண்டத்தகாத தலித்துகளாகக் கருதப்படுவதும்தான் காரணமாக இருக்குமோ?

டாக்டர்கள் டிரான்ஸ்பர்: அமைச்சர் தகவல்

Updated : அக் 31, 2019 09:36 | Added : அக் 31, 2019 07:46 |

சென்னை: கடந்த 7 நாட்களாக போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள டாக்டர்களுக்கு, பிரேக் இன் சர்வீஸ் நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. சென்னையில் மருத்துவ கல்லூரி டீன் மூலம், மருத்துவ கல்லூரி பேராசிரியர்கள், உதவி பேராசிரியர்கள், டாக்டர்களுக்கு நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இதன் இடையே, பணிக்கு திரும்பும் டாக்டர்களை தடுக்கும் டாக்டர்கள் பணியிட மாற்றம் செய்யப்படும் நடவடிக்கை துவங்கியது எனவும் பணிக்கு திரும்பும் டாக்டர்களை தடுத்து போராட்டத்தில் ஈடுபட வைத்தால் கடும் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும் என அமைச்சர் விஜயபாஸ்கர் கூறினார்.

நவ. 16 ரயில், நவ. 29 விமானம் ராமாயண யாத்திரை துவக்கம் ரயில்வே உணவு, சுற்றுலா கழகம் ஏற்பாடு

Added : அக் 30, 2019 23:25

மதுரை, :இந்தியன் ரயில்வே உணவு, சுற்றுலா கழகம்(ஐ.ஆர்.சி.டி.சி.,) சார்பில் பாரத தரிசன சுற்றுலா ரயில் நவ., 16ல் மதுரையில் இருந்து ராமாயண யாத்திரை செல்கிறது. நவ., 29ல் சென்னையில் இருந்து இலங்கை ராமாயண யாத்திரை விமானம் புறப்படுகிறது.நவ., 16ல் மதுரையில் புறப்படும் ரயில் திண்டுக்கல், கரூர், ஈரோடு, சேலம், ஜோலார்பேட்டை, காட்பாடி, சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் வழி உத்திரபிரதேசம் செல்லும். அங்கு சித்திரக்கூட நகரில் ராம்காட் நதியில் நீராடி ராமாயண கோயில்கள் செல்லலாம். கங்கையில் நீராடி ரகுநாதபுரம் பிரம்மேஸ்வரநாதர் சிவன் கோயில், நேபாள் சீதை பிறந்த இடம், ஜனக்புரி கோயில், அயோத்தி சரயு நதி, ராமஜென்ம பூமி, நந்திகிராமம், அலகாபாத் திரிவேணி சங்கமம் செல்லலாம்.இதற்கு பின் சிருங்கவெற்பூர், சீதாமார்தி தரிசனம், மகாராஷ்டிரா பஞ்சவடி சீதா குகை, கோதாவரி நதி நீராடி கர்நாடகா ஜோஸ்பேட் வரலாம். இந்த இடம் ராமனை ஹனுமன் சந்தித்த, ஹனுமன் பிறந்த, ராவணன் கவர்ந்து சென்ற போது சீதையின் அணிகலன் விழுந்த இடமாக நம்பப்படுகிறது. 13 நாள் யாத்திரைக்கு ரூ.14,720 கட்டணம். இதில் 2ம் வகுப்பு படுக்கை வசதி, தென்னிந்திய சைவ உணவு, உள்ளூர் சுற்றுலா வாகன வசதி, தங்கும் விடுதி, சுற்றுலா மேலாளர், பாதுகாவலருக்குரிய கட்டணம் அடங்கும்.நவ., 29ல் சென்னையில் புறப்படும் யாத்திரை விமானம் இலங்கை செல்லும். அங்கு கண்டி, நுவரேலியா, கதிர்காம ராமாயண நிகழ்வுகளை காண 6 நாள் பேக்கேஜ் உண்டு. ரூ.39,900 கட்டணம். இதில் விமானம், தங்கும் அறை, 'ஏசி'வாகனம், உணவு, கைடு கட்டணம் அடங்கும். மத்திய, மாநில ஊழியர்கள் எல்.டி.சி., வசதி பெறலாம். சுற்றுலா செல்ல விரும்புவோர் www.irctctourism.com இணையத்தளம், 90031 40680 அலை பேசியில் தொடர்பு கொள்ளலாம், என தென்மண்டல சுற்றுலா மேலாளர் சுப்பிரமணி தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

PM dedicates Article 370 move to Patel

‘Centre has fulfilled his dream of full integration of Jammu and Kashmir with India’

01/11/2019, , SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,AHMEDABAD

Towering leader: Narendra Modi paying tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity.ANIANI

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday dedicated the government’s “historic” decision of withdrawing the special status to Jammu and Kashmir under Article 370 to Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel on his birth anniversary, and said the Centre had fulfilled Patel’s dream of full integration of J&K with India.

Paying glowing tributes to Sardar Patel at the Statue of Unity built by the Gujarat government on an island on the Narmada near the Sardar Sarovar dam at Kevadia, Mr. Modi said that with the abrogation of Kashmir’s special status under Article 370, Patel’s dream of unifying India was now complete.

Human cost

“The country took the decision of abrogation of [special status to J&K under] Article 370, which had only given separatism and terrorism to that State and over 40,000 people lost their lives in three decades of terrorism,” he said, adding that it was Patel who had inspired him to take the decision to dilute Article 370 and that he was dedicating the decision “at the feet of” the first Home Minister of the country.

Comparing the move on Article 370 with the act of destroying a wall, Mr. Modi said the ‘temporary wall’ between Indians and those living on the other side had been brought down.

While lauding Patel for his efforts at integrating the hundreds of princely States after Independence, Mr. Modi also took a swipe at the country’s first Prime Minister Jawarharlal Nehru, indirectly blaming him for the way Jammu and Kashmir had been handled.

“Patel had once said that had he handled the Kashmir issue, it would not have taken so long to resolve it,” Mr. Modi said, implying that the issue had not been resolved for long since Nehru had handled it directly after Independence.

Without naming Pakistan, the Prime Minister warned that those who tried challenging the country’s unity would never succeed in defeating the country and its “unity in diversity”.

The new system in Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, both now Union Territories after the State was bifurcated following the dilution of Article 370 in August, was not meant to draw a line on the land or create a boundary but to build a strong link of trust between the government and the people of both regions, Mr. Modi said.

He also announced that, as promised by the government in August, government employees of Jammu and Kashmir would be treated on a par with other government employees and the Seventh Pay Commission’s scales had come into force from Thursday.

HC grants bail to another medico

01/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,MADURAI

The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has granted bail to yet another student in the NEET impersonation case. Four medical students have been granted bail in the case so far.

Relief denied to mother

Granting bail to the student on Thursday, Justice G.R. Swaminathan, however, denied the relief to the mother of the student.

The court had already observed that the investigation in the case was at a crucial stage.

The case of the prosecution was that the student wrote NEET in Salem while the impersonator took the test in Kolkata. The Principal District and Sessions Judge, Theni, had earlier denied bail to the daughter-mother duo.

The court had taken a serious view of the impersonation case and observed that people involved in the case must be secured.

The High Court Bench had refused bail to the parents of the students in the case, holding them responsible for placing their wards in the current situation.

Service postgraduate doctors protest at GRH

01/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

A total of 114 service postgraduate doctors at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) staged a protest in solidarity with their peers in Chennai, here on Thursday.

G. Arivoli, who led the demonstration, said that it was unfair on part of the government to threaten protesting doctors with transfers to obscure places without approaching them and conducting talks.

“The Health Minister must take the effort to ensure that they come to the negotiating table regarding the pay. Dynamic Assured Career Progression that supposedly guarantees pay and time-bound promotion, does not allow career advancement proportionate to the work being carried out,” he said.

Doctors in the State are eligible for time-bound promotions during the 8th, 15th, 17th and 20th year but have sought its reduction to years 4, 9 and 13.

The protesters also demanded that counselling be held regularly for the 500 post graduate vacancies at government medical college hospitals and district hospitals instead of randomly assigning locations to doctors. “Allow service post graduates to apply for counselling and select them based on parameters such as experience. Until two years ago, the government followed the due procedure. Now, we do not understand the metrics necessary for filling up the vacancies. The process lacks transparency,” he said.

Dr. Arivoli added that vacancies in medical college hospitals should be determined based on patient inflow instead of the number of students by the Medical Council of India (MCI).

“The sooner the government initiates talks, the lesser will be the effect on the quality of healthcare. We are only protesting without a choice. The government cannot threaten to transfer doctors as they please,” he added.

Nirbhaya convicts given deadline for mercy plea

One week to appeal to President

01/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER ,NEW DELHI

The Tihar Jail administration sent a notice to four convicts in the Nirbhaya gangrape case asking them to apply for mercy plea before the President within seven days.

The notice reads: “Jail administration seeks to inform that all the legal proceedings regarding the case against you (convicts) have been completed. However, the only option remaining in your defence is ‘mercy petition’. Hence, the jail administration seeks to inform you that if you have not filed your ‘mercy petition’ before the President, you may do so within seven days of receiving this notice.”

“If not, then it will be deemed that you do not wish to do so and the administration will begin further proceedings regarding your sentence,” the notice says.

An application by one convict would apply to all four.

Tihar Jail Director-General Sandeep Goel said three of the four convicts are housed in Tihar while the fourth one is in Mandoli jail. The notices, in Hindi and English, were read out to the convicts and the entire process has been videographed, he said.

A senior officer from Tihar jail said the notice was handed over to the convicts on October 29.

“After getting the notices, the convicts became restless. Following the procedure, the Tihar administration will inform the trial court, which has awarded the death penalty to the convicts, about the development,” the officer added.

Meanwhile, the mother of the gangrape victim said: “I welcome the move. I hope that after seven years, my daughter will get justice. It will be the biggest message to people who are involved in crime against women.”

Counsel for the convicts A.P. Singh said he got a call from Tihar Welfare Department about the development.

“I will first apply mercy plea for convict Akshya Thakur, then for others,” said Mr. Singh.

Sex ratio improves in country; birth and death rates dip

Total fertility rate in 12 States has fallen below two children per woman

01/11/2019, BINDU SHAJAN PERAPPADAN,NEW DELHI

India has registered an improved sex ratio and a decline in birth and death rates with non-communicable diseases dominating over communicable in the total disease burden of the country, according to the Central Bureau of Health Intelligence’s (CBHI) National Health Profile (NHP) 2019.

The NHP covers demographic, socio-economic, health status and health finance indicators, human resources in the health sector and health infrastructure. It is also an important source of information on various communicable and non-communicable diseases that are not covered under any other major programmes.

“This information is essential for health system policy development, governance, health research, human resource development, health education and training,” Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said.

As per the NHP, sex ratio (number of females per 1,000 males) in the country has improved from 933 in 2001 to 943 in 2011.

In rural areas the sex ratio has increased from 946 to 949.

“The corresponding increase in urban areas has been of 29 points from 900 to 929. Kerala has recorded the highest sex ratio in respect of total population (1,084), rural population (1,078) and urban (1,091). The lowest sex ratio in rural areas has been recorded in Chandigarh (690),” the report said.

The report also showed that the estimated birth rate, death rate and natural growth rate are declining.

The estimated birth rate reduced from 25.8 in 2000 to 20.4 in 2016 while the death rate declined from 8.5 to 6.4 per 1,000 population over the same period. The natural growth rate declined from 17.3 in 2000 to 14 in 2016 as per the latest available information.

As per the report, the total fertility rate (average number of children that will be born to a woman during her lifetime) in 12 States has fallen below two children per woman and nine States have reached replacement levels of 2.1 and above. Delhi, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal have the lowest fertility rate among other States.

It was also observed that non-communicable diseases dominated over the communicable in the total disease burden of the country.

The NHP also complied a detailed data on health manpower availability in public sector.

“The total number of registered allopathic doctors (up to 2018) is 11,54,686. Number of dental surgeons registered with Central/State Dental Councils of India was 2,54,283. There is an increasing trend in the number of dental surgeons registered with the Central/State Dental Council of India from 2007 to 2018. The total number of registered AYUSH Doctors in India as on January 1, 2018 was 7,99,879,” the report noted.

‘PF Near You’ to be held on November 11

01/11/2019,CHENNAI

Employees’ Provident Fund Organisation (EPFO) will conduct ‘PF Near You, Nidhi Aapke Nikat’ in its regional offices in Royapettah, Tambaram and Ambattur from 10.30 a.m. to 5 p.m. on November 11. Those willing to participate may register their names with the Public Relations Officers by furnishing their PF code number/account number, and nature of grievance, on or before November 5.

Only 9.7% of doctors still on strike, claims Health Minister

01/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

Up in arms: Government doctors taking part in a protest on Thursday. S. R. Raghunathan

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Thursday said only 9.7% of a total of 16,475 government doctors were still striking work. He extended the deadline for the doctors to report for duty to Friday morning.

However, doctors affiliated to the Federation of Government Doctors’ Association (FOGDA) refuted the Minister’s claims, saying that more than 60% of the doctors from across the State were still taking part in the indefinite strike, even as the government was threatening to transfer many of them and declare their posts vacant.

The Minister said as many as 1,163 doctors were still on strike. “On the side of the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, doctors attached to the Primary Health Centres (PHC) in Cuddalore, Tiruppur, Villupuram, Sankarankoil and Ramanathapuram have returned to duty today. Doctors attached to medical college hospitals in places like Madurai, Vellore and Dharmapuri have returned to work,” he told reporters.

Transfer orders issued

Health Secretary Beela Rajesh said transfer orders had been issued to nearly 70 striking doctors. “We have a list of 5,000 doctors waiting [for appointment] from our last round of selection through the Medical Services Recruitment Board. We have classified them, and there are a number of specialists and super specialists available,” she said.

A. Ramalingam, convenor of FOGDA, said 60% to 70% of the doctors were still participating in the strike across the State. “Our strike continues,” he said.

The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association said 4,500 out of a total of 6,000 medical officers of PHCs were still striking work, while the rest were handling emergencies, deliveries and fever cases at block PHCs.

Agitating doctors said many of them had received calls threatening them that they would be transferred or that charges would be framed against them. A senior doctor of a medical college hospital in Chennai said many of them were not allowed to mark their attendance on the biometric attendance system and were told to sign in the attendance register alone.

Your luggage can reach before you!

ManthanK.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:01.11.2019

Passengers of Tejas express, which will run between Mumbai and Ahmedabad, might get the option of sending their luggage through another mode, instead of lugging it along with them on the train.

Passengers may be charged ₹100 per kg of luggage for the service.

Indian railway catering and transport corporation (IRCTC) is working on a project whereby the luggage will be picked up by a start-up firm a day before the train is to depart.

An IRCTC official said, “The luggage will reach the destination (hotel or residence) of the passenger well before they arrive by train.” The official said, “The main advantage of this is that passengers will have the option of traveling by public transport to catch Tejas express at Borivli or Mumbai central, instead of taking a taxi or car.”

Passengers of Tejas Express can dispatch their luggage a day before the journey and will be charged, ₹100 per kg of luggage, for the service

NEET impersonation: Bail for girl, mother to remain in jail
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:01.11.2019

The Madras high court has granted bail to a Dharmapuri-based girl student and denied bail to her mother in connection with the NEET impersonation case.

In their petition, Mynavathi and her daughter said that the case of the prosecution was that the student who appeared for NEET exam in Salem had scored 68 marks while an impersonator who appeared on behalf of her in Kolkata scored 397 marks. The student had joined a private college in Chennai. They said they were arrested based on allegations. The petitioners’ bail petitions filed at Theni principal district and sessions judge on October 23 were dismissed, after which they moved high court Madurai bench seeking bail. When the petition was heard on Thursday, justice G R Swaminathan granted bail to the student without any conditions and denied bail to her mother.

So far, bail has been granted to four students in NEET impersonation case.

Free bus passes remain elusive for school students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:1.11.2019

Six months have passed since schools reopened this academic year, but the state government is yet to issue free bus passes to students. This has put students in a quandary, with there being several instances of them being harassed by ticketchecking squads.

Earlier this year, a video got circulated on social media where a ticket-checking squad was seen demanding fine from school students, who were then asked to get down from a Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) bus at Moolakadai. The students were returning home from school.

A disciplinary action was taken against the staff, sources said. However, such instances have become frequent, according to students, despite transport minister MR Vijayabaskar assuring that students can travel for free in government buses till free bus passes are distributed.

Students from government institutions across Tamil Nadu are exempted from paying tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private institutions.

Government sanctions ₹800 crore every year to state transport corporations, including MTC, towards reimbursement of concession money.

Since the government is planning to do away with paper-made passes and introduce smart cards, there is a delay in distributing them, sources said. Corporations were given the responsibility of verifying details of students and printing bus passes for all eligible candidates.

Till today, the passes are yet to be printed. MTC has issued a circular to all conductors asking them to allow students wearing school uniforms and carrying valid ID cards to travel for free till the passes are ready. Conductors, on the other hand, claim that many miscreants tend to misuse the exemption given to students.

“Many old students simply wear their old uniforms and travel for free. None of them get down at bus stops near schools and only alight near cinema theatres and the beach,” said Prabhu, an MTC conductor on the 102 route (Broadway-Kelambakkam).

Government school students across TN are exempted from tickets while 50% concession is given for those from private schools

Get back to work or lose job: TN to docs
TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.11.2019

The state health department has extended the deadline for doctors to return to work to Friday morning as many doctors, who took part in the strike demanding pay hike, will have to get back to their place of work, health minister C Vijayabaskar said on Thursday. By the end of the day, just 1,613 of the 16,475 doctors abstained from work, the minister said.

“As announced earlier, we will be declaring their posts vacant if they don’t return to work. Their posts will be filled with internal transfers and new recruits. We have a list of doctors who are willing to join service,” Vijayabaskar said. The decision to extend the deadline from 6pm on Thursday to Friday morning was made based on instructions from chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami, he said. The government has issued transfer orders to more than 50 doctors who have been preventing other government doctors from work. “Most protesters were blocking the way and causing inconvenience to patients. Hospitals can’t be places for protests. We will not allow it anymore,” the health minister said.

Doctors protest at Rajiv Gandhi Government GH on Thursday

CM: Docs can’t hinder people

The Federation of Government Doctors Association – a group of five doctors’ associations – has been on strike since October 25 demanding pay hike, recruitment of more doctors in medical colleges and 50% reservation for service candidates in postgraduate medical education. “The government is fudging attendance records,” said Dr A Ramalingam, convenor, FOGDA. “They managed to threaten some of them to return but a majority are with us. We have at least 60% of the strength with us. Ask them to show the biometric attendance at medical colleges,” he said.

Doctors on strike said it was unfair to call their federation unrecognised. “Two months ago, the minister held talks. He promised to initiate action within six weeks. Now, when we are asking why he did not keep up his words, he says the federation is not a recognised body,” said Dr Balakrishnan, convenor, FOGDA. “He called another Association for talks as he knows they will agree to his decisions,” he said.

Earlier, Palaniswami told the media that government doctors who did not return to work would be replaced. “Doctors are for the people. They cannot cause any inconvenience to the general public. The state spends at least ₹1.24crore on every medical student in government colleges though they pay ₹63,000 as fee hoping they will be in government service,” he said.

The weeklong strike of government doctors in Tamil Nadu continued on Thursday despite the state government’s warning that their posts would be declared as vacant. On Wednesday, 4,683 doctors did not sign the attendance. By noon on Thursday, Vijayabaskar said at least 1,500 striking doctors returned to work.

18,000 Cognizant workers may get pink slip, most from India

Sindhu Hariharan & Shilpa Phadnis TNN

Chennai/Bengaluru:1.11.2019

In the largest layoff exercise ever in the Indian IT sector, Cognizant will part with some 18,000 people in the coming months.

About 6,000 of these will be from the content moderation business that Cognizant does for Facebook. The company, which will exit this business, said it will try to find new homes for the employees involved.

The remaining are mid-tosenior-level employees who the company indicated are not adding much value. While the company did not provide a split, most of the layoffs are likely to be in India, which has more than 70% of Cognizant’s 2.9 lakh employees. Cognizant CEO Brian Humphries, who took over in April and who has been taking major steps to revitalize the company, said they looked at the employee pyramid and found there had been excessive growth in the director plus population in Cognizant in recent years and also in non-billable resources. The Facebook content moderation business has been a thorn in Cognizant’s foot.

TVS Motor & Bajaj Auto end DTSi war

Ten years after TVS Motor and Bajaj Auto sparred over digital twin spark ignition or DTSi technology patent rights, both parties have agreed to ‘amicably settle’ the dispute. While Bajaj claimed ownership for the patent , TVS had said its engine was developed in collaboration with AVL, Austria, and filed a ₹250-crore defamation suit against Bajaj. P15

‘Layoffs in mid/senior levels tough, but necessary to compete with IT players’

The Verge journalist Casey Newton in February investigated the working conditions of the employees in this business and found them severely wanting, and noted that while the median Facebook employee earns $240,000 annually in salary, bonuses, and stock options, a content moderator working for Cognizant in Arizona earns just $28,800 a year.

The work involves determining whether certain content violates client standards and whether they involve objectionable materials. “We’ve determined that this subset of work is not in line with our strategic vision for the company. We recognise cleansing the web is a worthy cause, and one in which companies have a role to play. For this reason, we decided to allocate $5 million to fund research aimed at increasing the level of sophistication of algorithms and automation, thereby reducing users’ exposure to objectionable content,” Cognizant management said in an investor call on Thursday.

Humphries said the company can work with its platform partners to review how it could potentially transfer the employees to a new home “once we complete our contractual obligations to our vendors.”

Cognizant started to simplify its structure at the top and mid-level earlier this year, with cumulative savings from actions taken in previous quarters of the fiscal resulting in annualised savings of over $100 million. The current cost optimisation drive will end by 2020 and result in total charges of approximately $150-200 million in severance and exit costs, and bring annualised gross savings run rate of around $500-550 million in year 2021, the company said.

Phil Fersht, CEO of HfS Research, believes layoffs in the mid/senior levels are tough, but necessary to compete on niche digital projects with mid-cap IT players with lesser mid management weight. “There is an excessive layer of middle management in Cognizant, not unlike several of its competitors, and this impedes the firm’s ability to price competitively in a cut-throat market,” he said.

Cognizant said it continues to recruit and hire talent around the world with a focus on its digital priority areas. It said it plans to hire 5,000 for its digital operations.

The exit from the content moderation business will result in a revenue loss for Cognizant of $240-$270 million on an annualised basis in its communications, media and technology (CMT) segment. Moshe Katri, MD of US-based Wedbush Securities, said the management is targeting adjusted operating margin in 2020 to be in the range of 16%- 17%. “The new CEO’s ambitious `disruptive’ strategic plan effectively makes 2020 an investment year (sales, infrastructure, skill sets, acquisitions), which will likely also showcase a much more competitive Cognizant in the large deal space,” he said.

நீட் முறைகேடு வழக்கு: மகளுக்கு ஜாமீன்; தாயின் மனு தள்ளுபடி- உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளை உத்தரவு
மதுரை 31.10.2019

நீட் தேர்வு முறைகேடு வழக்கில் சிக்கிய தருமபுரி மாணவி பிரியங்காவுக்கு ஜாமீன் வழங்கி உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது. அதே வேளையில் அவரின் தாயார் மைனாவதிக்கு ஜாமீன் வழங்க மறுத்துவிட்டது.

நீட் தேர்வில் ஆள்மாறாட்டம் செய்ததாக சென்னையில் உள்ள தனியார் மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் பயின்றுவந்த தருமபுரியைச் சேர்ந்த மாணவி பிரியங்கா, அவரின் தாயார் மைனாவதி ஆகியோர் கைது செய்யப்பட்டனர்.

இந்நிலையில், மதுரை மத்திய சிறையில் அடைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த தாயும், மகளும் ஜாமீன் கோரி உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரை கிளையில் மனுத்தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தனர்.

அதில்," நான் நீட் தேர்வில் 397 மதிப்பெண்கள் பெற்று இளங்கலை மருத்துவம் பயின்றுவந்த நிலையில், நீட் தேர்வில் முறைகேடு செய்ததாகக் கூறி காவல்துறையினர் வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்து கைது செய்து விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

விசாரணையின் பெரும்பகுதி முடிவடைந்துள்ளது. நாங்கள் எவ்வித முறைகேட்டிலும் ஈடுபடவில்லை. என் தாயும் இரத்த அழுத்தம் மற்றும் நீரிழிவு நோயால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு தொடர் சிகிச்சை பெற்று வருகிறார்.

அதனை கருத்தில் கொண்டு இருவருக்கும் ஜாமீன் வழங்க வேண்டும்" எனக் கூறியிருந்தார்.

இந்த மனுவை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி ஜி.ஆர்.சுவாமிநாதன், மாணவி பிரியங்காவுக்கு நிபந்தனையற்ற ஜாமீன் வழங்கினார். அவரின் சகோதரி மாற்றுத்திறனாளி என்பதால் அவருக்கு நிபந்தனையற்ற ஜாமீன் வழங்கி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

அரசுத்தரப்பில் தாய் விசாரணைக்கு ஒத்துழைக்கவில்லை என த்தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. அதைத்தொடர்ந்து தாயாரின் மனுவைத் தள்ளுபடி செய்து உத்தரவிட்டார்.

நிர்பயா வழக்கு குற்றவாளிகளுக்கு விரைவில் தூக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றம்? 

புதுடெல்லி 31.10.2019

டெல்லி மருத்துவ மாணவி நிர்பயா கூட்டுப் பலாத்காரம் செய்து கொல்லப்பட்ட வழக்கில் குற்றவாளிகளாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள 4 பேருக்கும் விரைவில் தூக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படலாம் எனத் தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன.

குற்றவாளிகளாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்ட 4 பேரும், அடுத்த 7 நாட்களுக்குள் கருணை மனுவைக் குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்கு அனுப்பி அங்கிருந்து பதில் பெறாத பட்சத்தில் அவர்களுக்கான தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படும் என்று திஹார் சிறை அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

கடந்த 2012-ம் ஆண்டு, 23-வயதான மருத்துவக் கல்லூரி மாணவி ஓடும் பேருந்தில் கூட்டுப் பலாத்காரம் செய்யப்பட்டு, பேருந்திலிருந்து கீழே வீசப்பட்டார். அவரின் நண்பரும் கடுமையாகத் தாக்கப்பட்டார். உயிருக்கு ஆபத்தான நிலையில் மீட்கப்பட்ட அந்த மாணவி சிங்கப்பூருக்கு மருத்துவ சிகிச்சைக்குக் கொண்டு செல்லப்பட்டு பலன் அளிக்காமல் 2012, டிசம்பர் 29-ம் தேதி உயிரிழந்தார்.

நாடு முழுவதும் பெரும் அதிர்வலையை ஏற்படுத்திய இந்த மருத்துவ மாணவியின் பெயர் வெளியிடப்படவில்லை, அவரை நிர்பயா என்றே அழைத்தனர். டெல்லி போலீஸார் கொலை மற்றும் கற்பழிப்பு வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்து ராம்சிங், முகேஷ் சிங், வினய் சர்மா, பவன் குப்தா, அக்ஷய் தாக்குர் மற்றும் ஒரு இளம் குற்றவாளி என 6 பேரைக் கைது செய்தனர்.



இவர்களில் ராம்சிங், திஹார் சிறையில் 2013-ம் ஆண்டு, மார்ச் மாதம் 11-ந் தேதி தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டார்.‘நிர்பயா’ வழக்கை விசாரித்த விசாரணை நீதிமன்றம் இளம் குற்றவாளிக்கு 3 ஆண்டு சிறைத்தண்டனை விதித்தும் முகேஷ் சிங், வினய் சர்மா, பவன் குப்தா, அக்சய் தாக்குர் ஆகிய 4 பேருக்கு மரண தண்டனை விதித்தும் 2013-ம் ஆண்டு செப்டம்பரில் விரைவு நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பு வழங்கியது. இந்தத் தீர்ப்பை உயர் நீதிமன்றமும், உச்ச நீதிமன்றமும் உறுதி செய்தன.

ஆனால், தூக்கு தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்ட 4 குற்றவாளிகளுக்கும் இன்னும் தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படாமல் இருந்து வருகிறது. இதில் 3 குற்றவாளிகள் திஹார் சிறையிலும், ஒருவர் மண்டோலி சிறையில் 14-ம் எண் அறையிலும் அடைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

இந்நிலையில், இன்னும் 7 நாட்களுக்குள் 4 குற்றவாளிகளும் குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்குக் கருணை மனு அளித்து அதற்குப் பதில் வராவிட்டால் தூக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படும் என திஹார் சிறை அதிகாரிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து திஹார் சிறை இயக்குநர் சந்தீப் கோயல் நிருபர்களிடம் கூறுகையில், "நிர்பயா வழக்கில் தூக்கு தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்ட 4 குற்றவாளிகளும் இன்னும் 7 நாட்களுக்குள் குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்குக் கருணை மனு அளிக்க வேண்டும். இதுவரை குற்றவாளிகள் 4 பேரும் தண்டனையை மறு ஆய்வு செய்யக்கோரி சீராய்வு மனுக்கள் ஏதும் தாக்கல் செய்யவில்லை. தண்டனையை நிறுத்திவைக்கவும் கோரவில்லை.

குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்குக் கருணை மனு அனுப்பி, தங்களின் தண்டனையை ஆயுள் தண்டனையாகக் குறைக்க வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்து அவர் நிறுத்தினால் மட்டுமே தண்டனையை நிறுத்தி முடியும். குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்கு 7 நாட்களுக்குள் கருணை மனு அனுப்பக் கோரி குற்றவாளிகள் 4 பேருக்கும் கடந்த 28-ம் தேதி முறைப்படி நோட்டீஸ் வழங்கப்பட்டுவிட்டது. இவர்களின் மனுவுக்குக் குடியரசுத் தலைவர் ஏதும் பதில் அளிக்காவிட்டாலோ அல்லது குடியரசுத் தலைவருக்கு மனு அளிக்காவிட்டாலோ தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றப்படும்.




குற்றவாளிகளை விரைவில் தூக்கிலிட வலியுறுத்திவரும் நிர்பயாவின் தாய்

மேலும், 4 குற்றவாளிகளுக்கும் தூக்கு தண்டனை வழங்கிய விசாரணை நீதிமன்றத்திலும் கருணை அளிக்க 7 நாட்கள் அவகாசம் வழங்கியது தொடர்பாகத் தகவல் தெரிவிக்க உள்ளோம். 7 நாட்களில் ஏதேனும் பதில் வராவிட்டால், தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கான சட்டபூர்வ வழிகளைத் தொடங்குவோம். ஒருவேளை குற்றவாளிகள் கருணை மனுத் தாக்கல் செய்யாவிட்டால், நீதிமன்றத்தில் கூறி, குற்றவாளிகள் 4 பேருக்கும் தூக்கு தண்டனை நிறைவேற்றுவதற்கான வாரண்ட் வழங்குவோம்" எனத் தெரிவித்தார்.

இதற்கிடையே கடந்த 28-ம் தேதி சிறை நிர்வாகம் சார்பில் நோட்டீஸ் அளிக்கப்பட்ட பின் 4 குற்றவாளிகளும் அமைதியற்று, பதற்றத்துடன் காணப்படுகிறார்கள் என்று சிறை வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவித்தன.

ஐஏஎன்எஸ்

Doctors advise adequate sleep at right time, 10,000 steps/day 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | YAMUNA CHANDRAN

Published Oct 31, 2019, 1:29 am IST

According to the report, Indians get an average of seven hours and one minute of sleep per day, the second-lowest after Japan.

The survey also suggests that India is the second-lowest in the sleep index, just below Japan.

Chennai: A sleep insight data shared by Fitbit has shown that India is the second most sleep-deprived as well as the least active country amongst the 18 countries surveyed.

According to the report, Indians get an average of seven hours and one minute of sleep per day, the second-lowest after Japan. The figures are 48 minutes lesser than the average sleep for users in the UK and 32 minutes lesser than the average night sleep time of Americans.

Speaking about these findings, Dr V. Mohan, chairman and chief diabetologist, Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre, says that though he agrees with the findings, it should be noted that the study was conducted amongst Fitbit users, a group generally touted to be fitness motivated. The national aggregate could be much lower, he adds.

"A sedentary person clocks in about 2,000 steps a day. According to science it is widely accepted that walking 10,000 steps a day ideally keeps one healthy, prevents diabetes and aids in weight loss. While 45 minutes of walking amounts to 5,000 steps, it is essential that a person remains active throughout the day to reach the 10,000 mark," says Dr Mohan.

Dr Mohan feels that though Indian Fitbit users have been found the least active walking an average of 6,533 steps per day, it is a decent number, considering the national average which could be at just 3,000- 4,000. Interestingly, a study conducted by Dr Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre found out that pregnant women walk just walk about 2,000 steps during pregnancy. People are also more active in rural areas as compared to urban regions.

"The low physical activity could be attributed to our culture. As a nation, we are more carbohydrate oriented and also have a very low inclination towards fitness, excluding the 10-15 per cent of health-conscious individuals," he reasons.

The survey also suggests that India is the second-lowest in the sleep index, just below Japan. The reason for this could be an increase in screen time as well as the varying work shifts of the office goers, says Dr Mohan." Majority of the young population working in IT firms and BPOs work according to the timings of other countries. This affects their sleep pattern," he says adding that the 'light-dark cycle' and the time by which a person goes to sleep is equally important as the number of sleeping hours.

Not so surprisingly, low physical activity and less sleep can cause severe health implications. Elaborating on this, Dr Pradeep G Nayar, senior consultant, Interventional Cardiology, Fortis Malar hospitals, says " Physical activity keeps the blood vessels, particularly the endothelium(the innermost layer of blood vessels) healthy. An unhealthy lifestyle will damage this layer, resulting in several diseases including diabetes and heart attack. "

"Getting adequate sleep in the right hours is also of prime importance. During sleep, especially REM sleep, hormones are produced to rejuvenate the body. If this is compromised it will lead to the production of stress hormones, which will once again damage the endothelium," says Dr Pradeep.

Aadhaar is a must for these Chennai families to enter their own homes Since their houses are encircled by Indian Army's Officers Training Academy campus, 15 families of ex-servicemen are subjected to the scrutiny every day.

Published: 31st October 2019 11:14 AM 

 

For representational purposes (File Photo | PTI)

By Madhumitha Viswanath

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The necessity of Aadhaar is still a hot debate. But for these 15 families of ex-servicemen, they may not even be able to enter their own houses without producing the Aadhaar card. The reason is that their houses are encircled by the campus of the Indian Army's Officers Training Academy at St Thomas Mount. For last three years, the Army has put an additional outpost which the residents have to clear to reach their homes. Every time Adhaar card has to be produced. Sometimes, the security personnel accept other government identity documents too.

But when Express spoke to the residents, this seems to the one of the lesser problems. The security personnel does not allow anyone else to their houses starting from postman, LPG cylinder deliveryman to even ambulances.

Residents said they are not encroaching or trying to usurp defense property. Their ancestors who worked in the Army and had bought four grounds back in 1911. Their street is called Battery Lane. They have even patta for their property. Over the years this was passed on to their children and grandchildren.

The subsequent establishment of the Officers Training Academy in the area also did not affect them much. But when in 2016 the Army installed an outpost and started checking every person entering the
area, their every lives changed much.

Everytime residents try to go back home after work or after running an errand, they are stopped by defense personnel and asked to show their Aadhaar cards. Since even the electricity board staff are not allowed to reach the houses, the residents are forced to take down electricity meter readings by themselves. They have to fetch the LPG cylinder from the main road from the delivery man. Also, as the postman cannot come inside, letters are delivered to an alternate address neaby.

When Express visited the spot, a live electricity cable was lying in a puddle of water. Residents said after heavy rains on Tuesday night the cable snapped at Battery Lane in St Thomas Mount. Ever after repeated complaints, Tangedco workers hesitated to rectify the problem as they the defense personnel do not allow them to enter.

“We have already submitted photographs of all our family members, photocopy of our Aadhaar cards among other documents. But even after this, we cannot pass the security gate. If they come back late from work after 10 pm, they aren't allowed to enter inside,” said Dinesh Kumar, who shifted his house to Kalaignar Nagar nearby due to the lack of basic amenities here.

Another long-time resident Uma G who is in her early 80s had to walk till the main road in the night when she had a bout of wheezing two months ago. As even ambulances or other civilian vehicles aren’t  llowed inside, she had to walk till Tulasingapuram main road to catch an auto to the hospital.

“After I was discharged from the hospital I was not allowed to go inside by the defense personnel. As they keep changing, new guards did not recognise me and asked for my ID proof which was at home. After waiting for an hour I could finally go in after the old guard came,” she said.

Though residents have sent repeated written complaints to the commandant of the academy, they have received no response or relief so far. “Many people who live here work in the academy. But they don’t  want to provide us with any basic amenities. Our houses are in dilapidated condition. Our roofs have been leaking for years. But they won’t let us bring construction material inside in vans. None of our  friends or relatives can visit us freely. It’s a nightmare living here,” said R Senthilkumari.

An Army official told Express that the academy officials was not aware of any livelihood problems faced by these residents and said they will look into the issue. Though many attempts were made to contact the commandant of the academy, he couldn’t be reached for a comment.

Motor menace beside Chennai's Phoenix Market City mall

Visitors to the Phoenix Market City in Velachery continue to illegally park their vehicles on the roads and footpaths, leading to severe traffic snarls during peak hours. .

 Published: 30th October 2019 06:32 AM 

 
Traffic snarls are common in roads connecting to the mall  Ashwin Prasath

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Numerous private parking lots dot the areas surrounding Phoenix Market City in Velachery. Despite this provision, visitors to the mall continue to illegally park their vehicles on the roads and footpaths, leading to severe traffic snarls during peak hours.

At any time of the day, the 100 Feet Road, located adjacent to the mall, is encroached on both sides. “It gets worse during weekends and holidays. Sometimes, two-wheelers are parked even in two rows. Initially the police were towing the vehicles daily, but the problem has increased a lot lately. During evenings, traffic comes to a standstill due to this,” said S Mohan, a motorist who regularly plies in the area.

The road connecting Guindy and Velachery also faces a similar plight as it is encroached by cabs and autorickshaws whose drivers find it convenient to wait under the shade of the trees.

On the other hand, the public say exorbitant fares imposed at parking lots are forcing them to do this. “The mall charges at least Rs 50 per hour and we have to spend as much as the movie ticket on parking. Also, on Sundays, the private parking lots run out of space, and they too have increased fares lately,” said Subha, one of the visitors to the mall.

The owners of the shops located on the 100 Feet Road say they are forced to deflate tires some times. “Our security personnel keep warning the motorists to not park illegally. Still, if they park outside our shops, we have no other option but to deflate the tires. Most of them protest and fight outside the shop when they find out about this, but this is the only way to stop them,” said one of the managers of a store on the 100 Feet Road.

However, the police said they have been towing vehicles regularly. “Though we tow the vehicle, the public return to park the next day. We must work on an alternative solution,” said one of the cops.

No more queues for check-in bag screening at Chennai International Airport Under the new plan, travellers can go directly to the airline’s check-in counter and drop baggage on the belt.
 
Published: 30th October 2019 09:04 AM |

Chennai International Airport

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Passengers from Chennai International Airport can heave a sigh of relief as the airport is planning to do away in two weeks the need for them to queue up to scan their luggage at stand-alone X-ray machines before depositing them at the check-in counter.

Under the new plan, travellers can go directly to the airline’s check-in counter and drop baggage on the belt. Scanning will be done in several stages even as each piece of baggage travels on the conveyor belt to the hub from where it will go into the aircraft belly.

Chennai airport director S Sreekumar told Express that the inline baggage scan facility is planned to be introduced at the domestic airport also by this year-end.

New machines have been installed and tested, but the hitch is trained manpower to handle them. Ten to 15 batches have to undergo training, which is being done in Kochi.

He said a total of 80 personnel will be required to monitor baggage. “Since only a few batches were trained, we are relying on staff from other centres so that the system can begin next month,” he said.

He said another 80 personnel are required for domestic airport and the director is positive that it will be done by December. This comes after an MoU had been signed with AAI Cargo Logistics and Allied Services Company to supply manpower to screen baggage at the four-level inline screening system.

He said Air India was handling screening of bags at stand-alone machines for all airlines at the international terminal. AAI has taken over the work from September 1.

Air India to connect Amritsar with London

Chennai: Air India is set to connect Amritsar in Punjab, with London Stansted with a thrice-a-week service from Thursday. Commencing from Mumbai, the flight will connect Ram Dass Jee International Airport in Amritsar to Stansted Airport in London. Operated by a 256-seater Boeing 787 Dreamliner aircraft, flight AI165 will fly from Amritsar to London Stansted and return as flight AI 166 to Amritsar on every Monday, Thursday and Saturday.

It will be the first-ever scheduled flight to India from London Stansted Airport and the only direct link between London and Amritsar. This service is the National carrier’s tribute to mark the 550th birth anniversary of Guru Nanak Devji.

Doctors

The-Hindu

ESI doctor, 3 others held for job racket

31/10/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The CB-CID Metro Wing on Wednesday arrested four persons, including a senior assistant surgeon of ESI Hospital in the city, for forging appointment letters for the posts of Secretariat office assistants

Due to the incorrect address of an applicant, the letter was returned to the Secretariat, and another applicant who received it had approached the Secretariat.

Suspecting foul play, Secretariat officials had lodged a police complaint. The four were arrested by S. Meena, Inspector of Police, CB-CID Metro Wing, Chennai.

Doctors

Health Minister cautions striking doctors

Return to duty today or your posts will be declared vacant: Vijayabaskar

31/10/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, CHENNAI

The Minister says Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital is not a protest venue. 

 If the striking government doctors do not report for duty on Thursday, it will be considered a break in service, and their posts will be declared vacant. The government will not hesitate to make fresh appointments to these posts through the Medical Services Recruitment Board (MRB), Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar cautioned.

With the indefinite strike by doctors affiliated to the Federation of Government Doctors Association (FOGDA) entering its sixth day on Wednesday, the Minister told reporters, “The government has to ensure that patient care is uninterrupted. If the doctors continue to boycott work without any prior notice tomorrow, we will consider it as a break in service. The Health Secretary has already issued orders, and this will reach the deputy directors, joint directors and deans through circulars from the respective directorates.”

“There is time till 2 p.m. on Thursday. After this, a list of doctors, who have not turned up for duty, would be drawn up, and sent to the respective directorates of Public Health and Preventive Medicine, Medical Education and Medical and Rural Health Services. The government will immediately declare the posts of these doctors vacant. We will not hesitate to fill these posts,” he added.

Already, 10,017 doctors had applied following a government notification for recruitment of doctors through the MRB, he said, adding: “They had appeared for the exams. Of this, we had issued appointment orders to nearly 1,850 persons. The remaining qualified persons are ready. If needed, new doctors will be appointed.”

Dr. Vijayabaskar said the government was ready to hold talks with the striking doctors after they withdraw their strike with no conditions. “We want the situation to return to normalcy. Our aim is not to take a stand against our doctors,” he added.

He said that FOGDA’s strike continued despite the government recognised association — Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association — withdrawing its their decision to strike work in the interest of patients. “Nearly 90% of doctors are affiliated to the TNGDA,” he said.

He noted that the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital where the doctors are protesting was not a protest venue, and this was causing disturbance to the patients. “Preventing other doctors, who are willing to work, is unacceptable. We are not rejecting their demands. They should not ask that their demands should be fulfilled within a particular time frame,” the Minister said.

Earlier, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh directed the Directors of Medical Education, Medical and Rural Health Services and Public Health and Preventive Medicine to send necessary circulars to instruct medical officers to return to duty immediately. In the letter, she stated that certain government doctors are on strike from October 25. This was a violation of Rule 22 of the Tamil Nadu Government Servants’ Conduct Rules, 1973.

Strike to continue: FOGDA

On its part, FOGDAstated that it has decided to continue the indefinite strike and had sought the Chief Minister's intervention to sort the issue. A. Ramalingam, convenor, FOGDA, said that on August 27, the Health Minister had assured that their demands would be fulfilled in six weeks’ time. “We are asking the government to fulfil what they had assured us. If we are an unrecognised association, why did the government hold talks with us and give their assurance in writing,” he said.

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முகவா்கள் மூலம் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படும் பயணச்சீட்டுகளை ரத்து செய்ய புதிய முறை

By DIN | Published on : 29th October 2019 11:47 PM 

முகவா்கள் மூலம் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படும் ரயில் பயணச்சீட்டுகளை ஒரு முறை கடவுச்சொல் (ஓடிபி) மூலம் மட்டுமே ரத்து செய்ய முடியும் என ரயில்வே நிா்வாகம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

இது தொடா்பாக, இந்திய ரயில்வேயின் துணை நிறுவனமான ஐஆா்சிடிசி வெளியிட்டுள்ள செய்திக் குறிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாவது:

முகவா்கள் மூலம் பதிவு செய்யப்படும் பயணச்சீட்டுகளை ரத்து செய்வதற்கும், அதற்கான கட்டணத்தைத் திரும்பப் பெறவும் ஒரு முறை கடவுச்சொல்லை மட்டுமே இனி பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும். ஐஆா்சிடிசி-யால் அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட முகவா்கள் மூலம் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட பயணச்சீட்டை பயனாளா் ரத்து செய்யும்போது, பதிவு செய்யப்பட்ட செல்லிடப்பேசி எண்ணுக்கு ஒரு முறை கடவுச்சொல் அனுப்பப்படும். அந்தக் கடவுச்சொல்லை முகவரிடம் பயனாளா் தெரிவிக்க வேண்டும். அதன் பிறகே பயணச்சீட்டு ரத்து செய்யப்படும்.

அத்துடன் பயணச்சீட்டை ரத்து செய்வதால் திரும்பக் கிடைக்கும் தொகை குறித்த தகவல்களும் பயனாளா்களுக்கு குறுந்தகவல் (எஸ்எம்எஸ்) மூலம் தெரிவிக்கப்படும். இது ரயில் பயணச்சீட்டுகளை முகவா்கள் மூலம் முன்பதிவு செய்யும் நடைமுறையில் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மையை ஏற்படுத்துவதோடு, பயனாளா்களுக்கு சாதகமாகவும் அமையும்.

இந்தப் புதிய நடைமுறை மூலம் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்ட பயணச்சீட்டுகளுக்குக் கிடைக்கும் தொகையை பயனாளா்கள் அறிந்துகொள்ள முடியும்; முறைகேட்டில் ஈடுபடும் முகவா்களை எளிதில் கண்டறிய முடியும். அங்கீகரிக்கப்பட்ட முகவா்கள் மூலம் இணையவழியில் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படும் பயணச்சீட்டுகளுக்கே இந்தப் புதிய நடைமுறை பொருந்தும் என்று அந்தச் செய்திக் குறிப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இது தொடா்பாக ரயில்வே அதிகாரி ஒருவா் கூறுகையில், ‘‘நாள்தோறும் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படும் பயணச்சீட்டுகளில் 27 சதவீதம் முகவா்கள் மூலமே முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படுகின்றன. அவற்றில் 20 சதவீத பயணச்சீட்டுகள் ரத்து செய்யப்படுகின்றன. அந்தப் பயணச்சீட்டுகளை ரத்து செய்த பிறகு திரும்பச் செலுத்தப்படும் தொகையை பயனாளா்களிடம் முகவா்கள் முறையாக வழங்குவதில்லை என்று குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்தது. இதில் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மையை ஏற்படுத்தும் நோக்கிலேயே, இந்தப் புதிய நடைமுறை அறிமுகப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது’’ என்றாா்.

நீட் ஆள்மாறாட்டம்: 2 மாணவர்களுக்கு ஜாமீன்; தந்தைகளின் ஜாமீன் மனுக்கள் தள்ளுபடி- உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு 

மதுரை 30.10.2019

நீட் தேர்வு ஆள்மாறாட்ட விவகாரத்தில் 2 மாணவர்களுக்கு ஜாமீன் வழங்கியும் அவர்கள் தந்தைகளின் ஜாமீன் மனுக்களைத் தள்ளுபடி செய்தும் உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்த பிரவீன், அவரது தந்தை சரவணன் உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளையில் ஜாமீன் கோரி மனுத்தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தனர். அதில், "2016-ல் 12 ஆம் வகுப்பு முடித்த நிலையில், சென்னை பிரீஸ்ட் கல்லூரியில் மருத்துவக் கல்வியில் சேர்ந்தேன். பின்னர் மருத்துவக்கல்வி நடத்த பிரீஸ்ட் கல்லூரிக்கு அங்கீகாரம் இல்லை என்பதால் நீட் தேர்வு எழுதி 130 மதிப்பெண்கள் பெற்றேன்.

அரசு மருத்துவக்கல்லூரியில் சேர இந்த மதிப்பெண்கள் போதுமானவை என்றாலும், விருப்பத்தின் பேரில் தனியார் கல்லூரி ஒன்றில் 22 லட்சத்து 60 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயை பதிவுக்கட்டணமாக செலுத்தி பயின்று வருகிறேன். இந்த நிலையில், நீட் தேர்வில் ஆள்மாறாட்டம் செய்ததாக எவ்விதமான ஆதாரமும் இன்றி காவல்துறையினர் கைது செய்து விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

இந்த வழக்கில் ஜாமீன் கோரி தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட வழக்குகளை ஏற்கெனவே கீழமை நீதிமன்றங்கள் ரத்து செய்துவிட்டன. ஆகவே இந்த வழக்கில் இருவருக்கும் ஜாமீன் வழங்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்," என பிரவீன் கூறியிருந்தார்.

இதே போல் சென்னையைச் சேர்ந்த டேவிஸ், அவரது மகன் ராகுல் டேவிஸ் ஆகியோரும் ஜாமீன் கோரி மனுத்தாக்கல் செய்திருந்தனர். அதில், "நீட் தேர்வில் 125 மதிப்பெண்கள் பெற்ற நிலையில், எனக்குப் பதிலாக வேறு ஒருவர் லக்னோவில் தேர்வெழுதியதாகவும் அதனடிப்படையில் மருத்துவக் கல்வியில் சேர்ந்ததாகவும் கூறி காவல் துறையினர் வழக்குப் பதிவு செய்து விசாரித்து வருகின்றனர்.

நீட் ஆள்மாறாட்டம் தொடர்பான புரோக்கர் வேதாச்சலம், ரசித் பாய் தொடர்பாக விசாரித்து அவர்களைக் கைது செய்யாமல், எங்களைக் கைது செய்துள்ளனர். இந்த முறைகேட்டுக்கும் எங்களுக்கும் எவ்விதத் தொடர்பும் இல்லை. ஆகவே, எங்களுக்கு ஜாமீன் வழங்கி உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்," என ராகுல் டேவிஸ் கூறியிருந்தார்.

இந்த வழக்குகளை இன்று (அக்.30) விசாரித்த நீதிபதி ஜி.ஆர்.சுவாமிநாதன், "இந்த வழக்கில் மாணவர்கள் முக்கியக் குற்றவாளிகள் அல்ல. அவர்களின் தந்தையரின் தூண்டுதலின் பேரிலேயே தவறு நடைபெற்றுள்ளது. ஆகவே, மாணவர்களின் நலனைக் கருத்தில் கொண்டு ஜாமீன் வழங்கப்படுகிறது" என உத்தரவிட்டார்.

ஆனால், வழக்கின் விசாரணையை கருத்தில் கொண்டு தந்தையர்களின் ஜாமீன் மனுக்களைத் தள்ளுபடி செய்து நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

In Tamil Nadu, schools, colleges in 6 districts to remain close due to heavy rain

According to the state government, schools and colleges in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Theni, Virudhunagar, Vellore and Ramanathapuram will remain shut today. 

education Updated: Oct 30, 2019 09:58 IST


Asian News International

Tamil Nadu Representatives(AFP)

All schools and colleges in six districts across the state will remain closed on Wednesday owning to heavy rainfall in the region.

According to the state government, schools and colleges in Tirunelveli, Tuticorin, Theni, Virudhunagar, Vellore and Ramanathapuram will remain shut today.

All schools in Madurai district will also remain closed today following heavy rains.

“All education institutes will remain closed in the Ramanathapuram district following heavy rains lashing across the district,” said Veeraragavarav, District Collector, Ramanathapuram.

According to the Indian Meteorological Department (IMD), heavy to very heavy rainfall very likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu.

Thunderstorm accompanied by lightning very likely at isolated places over Tamil Nadu has also been predicted by the weather agency.

Don’t allow protests on hospital premises, deans told

The communication comes in the wake of ongoing doctors strike across the State.

Published: 30th October 2019 04:50 AM

 

Doctors protesting at Rajiv Gandhi GH in Chennai on Tuesday | Ashwin Prasath

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Director of Medical Education, additional charge, R Narayanababu, has sent a circular to all deans of medical colleges and heads of institutions, under the directorate instructing them to file a police complaint if any protest is organised on the hospital premises. The communication comes in the wake of ongoing doctors strike across the State.

The DME also instructed them not to allow unauthorised, unorganised pandal inside hospitals and college premises. Any such structures inside the campus should be evicted immediately. It is also instructed to lodge complaint with outpost police station or nearby police station to prevent unauthorised gathering or protest against the government, and protect doctors who are attending duty, the circular said.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh also wrote a letter to Director-General of Police (DGP) and also city police Commissioner on Monday seeking protection to all government hospitals and government medical college hospitals.

FIR not a reason to deny admission to educational institutions, says HC The action of the college is violating Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to education, the judge held and passed the above order.

Published: 30th October 2019 04:50 AM

Madras HC (File | EPS)

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Observing that pendency of a First Information Report (FIR) (against a person) cannot be cited as a reason to deny him/her admission in educational institutions, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court directed a Government Arts College in Karur to admit a 20-year-old youth in M.A. History course.

Justice M Sundar passed the order on a petition filed by one K Suranthran of Karur, who belongs to Revolutionary Students Youth Federation (RSYF). Suranthran had graduated B.A. History from the aforementioned college and had applied for post-graduation course in the same discipline. But the college administration, after receiving a communication from police authorities seeking details, including petitioner’s attendance particulars, academic performance and behaviour in the college, had rejected his application citing a pending FIR against him.

Hearing the case, Justice Sundar noted that the college had denied admission to the petitioner, despite him being a meritorious student and several seats for the said course remaining vacant, only on the sole ground that he has an FIR pending against him.

Pointing out that an FIR is not a proof of guilt and that the person shall be presumed innocent until proven guilty by a competent court, the Judge opined that the college authorities assumed the role of prosecutors, juries and judges. The action of the college is violating Article 14 of the Constitution which guarantees the right to education, the judge held and passed the above order.

HC directs school to hand over certificates to student

30/10/2019 , Staff Reporter , MADURAI

Reiterating that certificates of a student could not be held back by an educational institution citing arrears in fees, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court has directed a private school in Pudukkottai district to hand over the certificates to a student.

In his petition, the student’s father, K. Palanisamy from Gandarvakottai, said that his son completed Class 12 in Vidya Vikash Matriculation School. However, the school authorities did not hand over the certificates citing arrears in school fees.

Justice M. Sundar observed that the court had repeatedly held that certificates of a student were his property and they could not be retained by an educational institution, citing any monetary claim.

The certificates of a student were not like fixed deposits in banks, over which an educational institution could claim lien in terms of Section 171 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872.

However, it was open to the school to file a civil suit against the petitioner before the jurisdictional civil court to recover the arrears, the court said. The court directed the school authorities to issue the transfer certificate, conduct certificate, mark sheets and other necessary documents to the petitioner’s son within one week.

Tahsildar sends message criticising Collector 

He holds district administration head responsible for non-disbursal of salary to 30 employees

30/10/2019 , Special Correspondent , VIRUDHUNAGAR

A Tahsildar, R. Ramanathan, has sent a WhatsApp message criticising Collector A. Sivagnanam for ‘failure in disbursing salary to some 30 employees of Virudhunagar and Sattur Units for Land Acquisition meant for Madurai-Thoothukudi railway track doubling project.

In his Deepavali greeting to the Collector, Mr. Ramanathan held the Collector responsible for not taking adequate efforts to disburse their salary for 10 months since January despite the Centre having sanctioned huge funds to the State in December 2018.

However, Virudhunagar District Revenue Officer K. Udhayakumar denied the charge, saying the salary had been issued till April for the staff attached to the Sattur unit and till May for those attached to the Virudhunagar unit.

“Despite a long process and administrative delay in sanctioning the funds to the units, the district administration has managed to disburse their salary through other resources,” he told The Hindu.

However, in his message to the Collector, which is being circulated among functionaries of various government officials’ and employees’ associations, Mr. Ramanathan said the lackadaisical attitude of the district administration had made the 30 families suffer for long without salary.

Among the employee are two Tahsildars, some Revenue Inspectors, Assistants, Computer Operators and Surveyors.

“Even the salary given to us has only been the net salary and not with deductions like Government Provident Fund contribution,” one of the officials employed in a unit said.

Interest

The Tahsildar questioned who would compensate the loss of interest on their contribution due to non-payment of GPF for 10 months.

Stating that the Virudhunagar unit could not even pay rent for its office building and had got loans for taking hundreds of photocopies, Mr. Ramanathan said the officials were made to cut a sorry figure before the landlord and the photocopying shop owner.

“Even travel allowance, electricity bills and water charges have been paid by the employees themselves,” he said in his long message.

Revenue officials said Mr. Ramanathan, who was the district president of Tamil Nadu Revenue Officers’ Association, was one among the several government employees who were placed under suspension in January following their participation in the strike called by JACTTO-GEO.

The DRO expressed hope that very soon the salary of the employees would be sanctioned by the government.

High Court holds special sitting 

Judges express displeasure over govt. officials not being aware of guidelines

 30/10/2019 , Mohamed Imranullah S., CHENNAI

The Madras High Court held a special sitting on Tuesday — despite it being the last day of the Deepavali holidays — and sought to know the number of permissions granted in the last 10 years for sinking borewells and tubewells in the State, the number of drilling agencies registered with the government, how many abandoned borewells there were across the State and the penal action taken against individuals for violating the 2009 Supreme Court guidelines on handling borewells.

Justices M. Sathyanarayanan and N. Seshasayee wanted the details to be submitted by November 21. The interim order was passed on an urgent public interest litigation petition filed by V. Ponraj, former Director (Technology Interface) at the Rashtrapati Bhavan, seeking the effective implementation of the Supreme Court guidelines and the consequent rules that were framed in 2015.

The judges expressed their displeasure over government officials themselves not being aware of the guidelines and even the consequent rules framed by the State government in 2015. Though the Supreme Court had ordered that every landowner wanting to sink a borewell should make an application 15 days in advance and obtain necessary permission from the officials concerned, no such time period had been specified in the 2015 rules, the judges pointed out.

“Unless we, as citizens, are prepared for a change in our outlook, we are going to assemble like this forever. Do we really require a dead body every time to remind us of our duties and responsibilities? It is not just Sujith’s parents but the entire nation has lost a child,” Justice Seshasayee said.

In his submission, Government Pleader V. Jayaprakash Narayan said the borewell in which Sujith fell had been sunk on land owned by the child’s grandfather Devaraj and three other relatives. The borewell had been sunk for 610 feet and was abandoned seven years ago. Though the landowners had closed it with mud, it appeared to have caved in over the years due to rain and other natural causes. The judges appealed to the media, especially television channels, to allocate a few minutes of their prime time slots to create awareness among the people about court orders and statutory regulations governing issues such as illegal flex boards and abandoned borewells.

Optimal efforts were made to rescue Sujith: CM 

Stalin seeking to mislead people with a political agenda, says Palaniswami

30/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, TIRUCHI

Edappadi K. Palaniswami

Lamenting that two-year-old Sujith Wilson had died despite the ‘optimal’ utilisation of technology and manpower in the rescue operation, Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami on Tuesday sought the people’s fullest cooperation in closing down defunct borewells and preventing such incidents in the future.

Mr. Palaniswami announced ₹10 lakh as compensation from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund to the bereaved family. Another ₹10 lakh will be provided on behalf of the AIADMK, he said. “We are saddened that Sujith died despite our best efforts,” he said. Ministers had camped at the village to oversee the rescue operation, and experts drawn from the Oil and Natural Gas Corporation, the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, the National Institute of Technology and Anna University had explored all possible means to rescue Sujith. At no time in the past has the government handled an incident of this nature with the deployment of technology on such a scale, the Chief Minister said after offering condolences to the bereaved. The operation was carried out with the help of expert opinion of geologists, the CM said, as he sought to rebut DMK leader M.K. Stalin’s allegation that the government had handled the issue in an inept manner. Mr. Stalin had asked why the government did not approach the Army for help. The CM said Mr. Stalin had made this point even when a barrage collapsed in Mukkombu. “The Army had certified that the State Public Works Department had adopted the right approach. Mr. Stalin is trying to mislead the people with a narrow-minded political agenda.”

Puducherry CM V. Narayanasamy said, "It's very sad to see the loss of little champ Sujith Wilson. My heartfelt condolences to his family and his relatives."

Doctors do double duty ahead of total strike
 
30/10/2019 , Staff Reporter, MADURAI 


 
Doctors examining a patient at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Tuesday. R. AshokR_ASHOK

Doctors at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH), Primary Health Centres and Government Hospitals in the district wore black badges at work and undertook double duty pressing for compression of time-bound promotion, here on Tuesday.

A senior doctor from the GRH, who is part of the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’ Association (TNDGA), which is spearheading the protest, said that all doctors completed major surgeries scheduled for October 30 and 31 in anticipation of the strike.

“Talks have been going on with Health Secretary Beela Rajesh since 11 a.m. but they seem to be inconclusive right now,” a reliable source said. The doctors did not punch in their attendance in an effort to show solidarity.

Doctors from Usilampatti Government Hospital and a staff member in Melur Government Hospital said that similar protests were carried out at their hospitals too.

“A three-member team in both the hospitals has been stationed to ensure that accident cases and critical cases are taken care of,” said O. Chandran, a senior doctor at the Government Hospital in Usilampatti.

Doctors in the State are eligible for time-bound promotions during the 8th, 15th, 17th and 20th year. President of TNGDA K. Senthil said that the members had been seeking its reduction to 4, 9 and 13 years. He added that this strike was the largest by doctors across the State since 2009.

Labour court order upheld

30/10/2019 , Staff Reporter, Madurai

In a relief to a bus driver, the Bench of Madras High Court dismissed the petition filed by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation, Karaikudi division, against a labour court order that had given the driver a clean chit in an accident case.

The Corporation in its petition challenged the order of the labour court that had concluded that the driver A. Sundar was not responsible for the accident that involved a bus and a car.

It was said that in July 2000, the bus en route from Karaikudi to Dindigul met with an accident. The head-on collision resulted in three deaths and three seriously injured. The driver was held responsible for the accident and a departmental inquiry was initiated against him.

He was terminated from service. The driver moved the labour court which set aside the termination order and directed the Corporation to reinstate him with continuity of service.

Justice S.S. Sundar observed that the Corporation had not examined any one before the labour court and had relied on the inquiry report. Also, the conductor had submitted that the driver was not responsible for the accident. With no material to prove the charge against the driver, the labour court had concluded that the driver was not responsible for the accident.

The Corporation had not produced any independent witness to prove that the accident was due to rash and negligent driving, this court has no reason to interfere with the order of the labour court.

OTP-based refund system for train tickets

 30/10/2019 , Special correspondent, NEW DELHI

To make the refund process for tickets booked through agents transparent, IRCTC on Tuesday announced a new system wherein passengers will receive refund for cancelled tickets via a one-time password that will be sent to their mobile numbers.

The one-time password will be sent to the passenger’s mobile number provided to the agent at the time of ticket booking. The traveller will have to share the OTP with the agent for getting the refund.

Shamed for her looks, woman ends life
 
30/10/2019 , Press Trust of India, Kota

A 21-year-old woman, who was married just six months ago, allegedly committed suicide in Rajasthan’s Jhalawar district after being repeatedly taunted by her husband over her “dark complexion”, the police said on Tuesday.

Mangibai jumped into a well outside her house in Banskhoyara village on Monday, station house officer Balveer Singh said.

Mangibai’s husband, Dinesh Lodha, has been booked under Section 306 (abetment of suicide) of the IPC.

Her father, Devlal, told the police that she got married in April but her husband used to humiliate her over her “dark complexion”, the officer said citing the FIR registered.

(Assistance to overcome suicidal thoughts is available at Sanjivini: Society for Mental Health, Telephone: 011-4076 9002)

‘Court will take victim’s word in rape cases’ 

‘If the woman says she didn’t consent to intercourse, court will presume she did not’

30/10/2019 , Krishnadas Rajagopal, NEW DELHI 

The SC said the Gujarat High Court had committed an error.

Rape is presumed if occurrence of sexual intercourse is proved and the woman claims the act was committed without her consent, the Supreme Court has held.

“Section 114-A of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872 deals with the presumption as to absence of consent in certain prosecution for rape. A reading of the Section makes it clear that where sexual intercourse by the accused is proved and the question is whether it was without the consent of the woman alleged to have been raped, and such woman states in her evidence before the court that she did not consent, the court shall presume that she did not consent,” a three-judge Bench of Justices U.U. Lalit, Indu Malhotra and R. Subhash Reddy observed in a recent judgment.

The case involved a woman who accused her employer of repeatedly raping her and taking inappropriate pictures for the purpose of blackmail. He had allegedly even gone to the extent of calling her betrothed and sending him some of the pictures. She finally lodged a complaint and a case of rape was filed against him.

However, the Gujarat High Court quashed the case on the ground that the parties had reached a “settlement” over a large sum of money. The woman subsequently appealed to the Supreme Court saying the “settlement” was a document drawn under threat and coercion. The apex court said the HC seemed to have gotten “carried away” by the settlement, which itself needed to be investigated.

“When it is the allegation of the appellant [woman], that such document itself is obtained under threat and coercion, it is a matter to be investigated,” the court said.

The phone call to the woman’s betrothed should also be probed. It said the High Court had committed an error in quashing the trial court proceedings. The court, without commenting on the merits of the case, ordered the accused to co-operate with the investigation.

Make My Trip, Oyo face antitrust probe 

Regulator finds prima facie violations of competition law, including by Goibibo

30/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, Mumbai

The FHRAI has alleged cheating by OYO and the other firms.

The Competition Commission of India (CCI) has ordered a detailed investigation into online travel booking companies Make My Trip and Goibibo and hospitality provider OYO based on complaints by members of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India (FHRAI) alleging deep-discounting, payment issues and cheating by these firms.

In an order dated October 28, the CCI said following a complaint from the FHRAI, it had examined various aspects of the three companies’ businesses and concluded that prima facie there were violations of competition law.

CCI assessed the allegations on the basis of the relevant markets. While in the case of Make My Trip and Goibibo (referred to as MMT-Go), it looked at the ‘market for online intermediation services for booking of hotels in India’, for OYO it reviewed the ‘market for franchising services for budget hotels in India’.

The competition watchdog observed that MMT-Go prima facie appeared to be a dominant player in the relevant market. However, in the case of OYO it noted, “Prima facie OYO is not found to hold a dominant position, despite being a significant player in the ‘market for franchising services for budget hotels in India’”.

‘Abuse of dominance’

In a 26-page order, the CCI said there was a prima-facie case to investigate MMT-Go and OYO for alleged violation of the provisions of Section 3(4) of the Competition Act — pertaining to anti-competitive pacts — as also grounds to probe MMT-Go under Section 4 of the Act (relating to abuse of dominant position).

“Thus, whether the commercial agreement between OYO and MMT entails preferential treatment to OYO and consequent exclusion of Treebo, Fab hotel and any other hotel chain and if so, the effect of the same on competition merits investigation,” the CCI said.

“Further, the charging of service fee by MMT is alleged to be discriminatory as such fee is levied on certain hotels and allegedly not levied on high-end of chain hotels. Since MMT is prima facie found to be dominant, this conduct of MMT merits investigation,” the watchdog said, setting a 150-day time frame for its director general to submit a report.

Report for work, Minister tells striking doctors Strike enters fifth day 

Government will take necessary measures to protect the welfare of the people, says Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar 

 30/10/2019 , Special CorrespondentCHENNAI , Special 
Correspondent, CHENNAI 


 
CPI(M) State secretary G. Ramakrishnan addressing the doctors on strike at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai on Tuesday. B. Jothi Ramalingam

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Tuesday urged the striking doctors to return to work immediately. If the strike continues, the government will take necessary measures to protect the welfare of the people.

The Minister said that though the Federation of Government Doctors Association was not recognised by the government, the Health Secretary held talks with its representatives on October 25, assuring them that their demands were under consideration and it was not an appropriate time to strike when the monsoon was active.

Higher pay

He pointed out that the Dynamic Assured Career Progression that guaranteed higher pay and time-bound promotions was implemented only for government doctors. It was unfair to demand and compare it with the pay scale of Central government doctors. They were not allowed to practice in private hospitals or run their own hospitals, whereas government doctors in the State were permitted to take up private practice, he said.

However, the government was considering grant of special pay on the basis of seniority, and for doctors working in tough environment, he added.

On their demand to maintain doctor posts in accordance with the number of patients, he said posts should be created as per Medical Council of India norms. The government was looking into the need to create additional posts.

The Minister clarified that the present practice of posting postgraduates to vacant posts in district and taluk government hospitals on priority basis would continue instead of conducting counselling. He said that the government spent ₹1.24 crore of public tax money to create a doctor.

He gave details of the monthly salary of government doctors: first year – ₹80,247, 8th year – ₹97,900, 15th year – ₹1,22,919, 17th year – ₹1,35,365 and 20th year – ₹1,53,027.

Police protection

On Monday, Health Secretary Beela Rajesh wrote to the Director-General of Police seeking police protection to government hospitals and government medical college hospitals to enable medical officers to render their services to the public without any untoward incident. She also requested a police picket to be posted where necessary.

The Director of Medical Education in a circular directed all deans of medical colleges and heads of institutions not to allow any unauthorised/unorganised ‘pandal’ on the premises and to evict them if they were put up.

They were instructed to lodge complaints with the outpost/nearby police station to prevent any unauthorised gathering or protest against the government.

Outpatient services took a hit in a few government hospitals as doctors affiliated to the Federation of Government Doctors Association boycotted work for the fifth consecutive day on Tuesday.

With many doctors in the cadre of assistant professors taking part in the indefinite strike, chiefs of units and doctors from the non-clinical departments were roped in to run outpatient departments.

After talks with the Minister, the Tamil Nadu Government Doctors Association postponed its plan to go on strike on October 30 and 31.

Doctor complains of dowry harassment

30/10/2019 , Special Correspondent, Chennai

A 30-year-old woman doctor has lodged a complaint against an IT official, alleging that he and his father, a retired DSP, had harassed her for dowry even before their marriage.

The police said the doctor alleged that the groom’s family demanded that she register a ₹3.5-crore worth property in their name, and hand over ₹50 lakh in cash, even before marriage.

She claimed that her family had given ₹10 lakh to the boy’s family to buy a car. However, they started demanding the remaining ₹40 lakh.

The Thirumangalam All-Women police took her complaint, and has issued a CSR receipt. The police have summoned the groom’s family for interrogation.

Boy has surgery after nurse leaves injection needle in hip

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kolar Gold Fields (KGF):30.10.2019
A five-year-old boy suffering from fever was left with a pin in his hip after a nurse at General Hospital, KGF, negligently administered an injection to the child and left the broken needle inside his body. Later, he was rushed with a swollen hip to Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru, where he had to undergo surgery.

According to Dr Shivakumar, district surgeon, KGF General Hospital, the boy was brought to the facility around 4.30pm on Saturday with fever. A nurse on duty administered an injection to him on directions of the duty doctor. However, she noticed the needle was missing from the syringe.

While the nurse began to search for the needle, the boy’s mother kept rubbing the hip to reduce his pain. The nurse thought the needle may have been lost. Meanwhile, the boy and his parents left the hospital.

Around 8pm, the parents approached the district surgeon with the boy, whose hip was swollen. The parents got an X-ray of the hips, which clearly showed the needle was stuck inside.

Full report on www.toi.in