Four nurses duped by consultancy
29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

The Halasuru police have taken up a case of cheating against a -based job consultancy firm that allegedly duped as many as four nurses by falsely promising them employment in Ukraine, and then taking their money and passports.

Based on a complaint filed by Avinash B., a nurse from Mysuru, the police have booked a cheating case against the owner of the firm — Pranay Kiran Shah — who is absconding. In his statement to the police, Avinash said that Shah runs a consultancy firm in Murphy Town and had advertised that there were job opportunities for nurses in Ukraine. Avinash and three other nurses — Devaiah, Karyappa and Venkatachala — approached him and paid the required fee of ₹1 lakh each. In September 2019, they submitted their passports to the firm.

The cheating came to light this month when the victims went to collect their visas and air tickets as was promised to them and found the office locked up. They tried to reach Avinash but found that his phone was switched off, after which they went to the police to register a complaint.

Fake aviation firm scam

In a similar incident, a city based businessman filed a cheating complaint against an aviation firm for duping him by promising to to train his son to become a pilot.

The victim Mahadevaswamy, 57, a resident of Banashankari, told the SJ Park police that the accused Naveen Ravindran, owner of Suguna Aviation academy, had taken the money for the course in 2014, but kept prolonging the training session. On Wednesday, when the businessman went to the firm’s office to get his money back, he learned that Naveen had vacated the premises, and was unreachable on his phone.

Don’t withhold information sought under RTI : DGP

29/11/2019, GAUTAM S. MENGLE,MUMBAI

The office of the Director General of Police (DGP), Maharashtra, has issued instructions for information on ongoing cases, sought under the Right To Information Act, to be given out to applicants provided it can be established beyond doubt that giving out the information will not hamper the case.

The circular, signed by Special Inspector General of Police Milind Bharambe, Law and Order, on behalf of Subodh Kumar Jaiswal, DGP, refers to repeated observations about police officers refusing point blank to share information about ongoing cases, saying it will hamper the investigation.

“It has been brought to the notice of the State Information Commissioner that applications filed under the RTI that seek information about registered cases are summarily dismissed, with the only reason given being that the information can not be revealed as it is an ongoing investigation. Police officers have been observed to refuse or avoid giving information using this reason,” the circular states.

It further says that following these observations, instructions were issued by the State Information Commissioner about making information available about records, case diaries and reports, and CCTV footage as requested under the RTI.

The circular also instructs police personnel to save a copy of every footage released to applicants.

When contacted, Mr. Bharambe said,

“We have observed ample examples of RTI applications being filed for frivolous reasons, which is why it is important to consider each application based on its merit.”

Gujarat

Kuwait domestic help issue raised in House

Action taken against apps: Minister

29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT, ,CHENNAI

V. Muraleedharan

The Kuwait government has clamped down on apps and websites used to sell domestic help, Union Minister of State for External Affairs V. Muraleedharan said in a written reply to the Lok Sabha.

He was responding to query raised by Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi MP D. Ravikumar.

“According to certain reports in the media, a digital application was used to solicit the services of domestic workers for Kuwait. The country’s laws are against human trafficking,” the Minister said in his reply. The authority concerned of the Government of Kuwait responded promptly to the media reports and took necessary action against such applications as well as other similar websites, he added.

Protective measures

Mr. Muraleedharan said the Indian Mission was also in touch with the Kuwait authorities to protect Indian workers from such applications. No case of an Indian victim duped through such means had come to the knowledge of the Mission, he said.

The Minister highlighted the measures put in place by the Indian government to safeguard Indian women workers and regulate their emigration for overseas employment in Gulf countries. All women emigrants (except nurses) emigrating on ECR [Emigration Check Required] passports, irrespective of the nature/category of employment, must be above the age of 30 years, he said. If foreign employers wanted to recruit Indian female workers holding ECR passports for overseas employment in 18 ECR countries, they could only do so by engaging any of the State-run recruiting agencies, Mr. Muraleedharan said.

No database

The foreign employer had to deposit a bank guarantee in the respective Indian Mission equivalent to $2500 for recruiting a woman worker in case of direct recruitment, the Minister said. Embassy attestation had been made mandatory in respect of direct recruitment of all ECR passport holding women workers in respect of all ECR countries, he said

Mr. Muraleedharan, however, said there was no mechanism at present to prepare a comprehensive database of women working as domestic servants in the Gulf countries because a number of such category of workers are holders of Emigration Check Not Required (ECNR) passport and they were not required to take either clearance or register themselves before departure from India. In addition, many often go to Gulf Countries on tourist visa/ family visit visa and subsequently take employment there. Naturally, in such cases also, there is no clearance or registration.

Train passengers seek better access facilities at Tambaram station

29/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

When Tambaram railway station was designated as the third railway terminal in the city a few years ago, it brought cheer to the residents in the southern parts of the city.

While Southern Railway has started operating long-distance trains and has also provided stoppages for several trains at the station, it is yet to become a full-fledged railway terminal.

Despite good multi-modal facilities, the station suffers due to poor access facilities. Senior citizens particularly face severe hardships to reach the platforms to board trains.

V. Rama Rao, a senior citizen, rued the absence of an escalator or lift in platforms 7 and 8.

A senior official of the Chennai Division of Southern Railway said several passenger amenities have been created including the concrete-paved access road, parking facilities, and food plazas on both sides of the station.

On the absence of escalators and lifts at platform nos. 7 and 8, he said there is a proposal to instal escalators and lifts on the northern side of the station.

Another school meal shocker: One litre milk diluted with water for 81 children
Binay Singh@timesgroup.com

Varanasi:29.11.2019

A litre of milk was allegedly diluted with copious amounts of water to meet the nutritional needs of 81 children at a primary school in UP’s Sonbhadra district on Wednesday, reminiscent of the midday meal controversy stoked by a viral video purportedly showing students of a school in Mirzapur having roti with salt.

As news of the latest midday meal sham spread on social media, the district education authorities laid the blame at the school’s door. Basic shiksha adhikari Gorakhnath Patel, who visited Salaibanva Primary School in Chopan block on Thursday, held the staff there accountable for the lapse. “Appropriate action will be taken against the erring staff after a probe,” he told TOI later. The children at the school were to be served tehri (vegetable mixed rice) and milk on Wednesday. But since only a litre of milk was available in the kitchen, water was generously used to make up for the shortfall. Dev Kalia, a member of the Kota gram panchayat, reported the alleged adulteration.

“According to midday meal norms, each student of a primary school should get 150ml of milk. In junior high school, the prescribed quantity for every child is 200ml,” Patel said. “It was sheer carelessness on the staff’s part not to arrange the required quantity of milk for the children. More milk was arranged and served to the children after the lapse was brought to our notice.”

In August, a video purportedly showing “roti-namak” being served to children at a primary school in Mirzapur district had triggered a furore. The administration accused the journalist who shot the video and the person who had invited him there of criminal conspiracy to malign the government’s image.


MIDDAY MEAL SHAM: The children at the school were to be served tehri (vegetable mixed rice) and milk on Wednesday. But since only a litre of milk was available in the kitchen, water was generously used to make up for the shortfall

Pharma companies offer women to bribe docs: Study

TIMES NEWS NETWORK
29.11.2019

Medical representatives have revealed the widespread use of bribes including foreign trips, microwave ovens, expensive smart phones, gold jewellery and even women by pharmaceutical companies even as the government drags its feet on a 2016 proposal to bring in a Uniform Code of Pharmaceutical Marketing Practices (UCPMP) “with teeth” in the form of penal provisions.

In a report on pharmaceutical marketing practices compiled by a public health group Support for Advocacy and Training to Health Initiatives (SATHI), medical representatives (MRs) talked of the tremendous pressure exerted by companies on them through high sales targets. They also revealed how training for MRs is focused less on technical knowledge and more on salesmanship and ‘management of customer (read doctors) relations’.

The report is based on indepth interviews with 50 MRs, area sales managers, allopathic and Ayush doctors and pharma executives from six cities conducted last year. Though the code of ethics of the Medical Council of India bars doctors from accepting any gifts, cash, travel facilities or hospitality from pharma companies for themselves or any member of their family, there are no laws to deal with such corrupt marketing practices of pharmaceutical companies.

According to the MRs, hardly 10-20% doctors follow the MCI code of ethics, while the rest accept or even demand ‘incentives’ to prescribe products of a company. The most common inducement is the sponsoring of doctors for national and international conferences. In many high value deals, such as instalments on the purchase of a car, the company even threatens the doctor if the targeted business (a certain number of prescriptions for a drug) is not achieved, revealed MRs. The report revealed how cash bribes have changed to petrocards, credit cards or e-vouchers for online purchases.

Full report on www.toi.in


The report is based on in-depth interviews with 50 MRs, area sales managers, allopathic and Ayush doctors and pharma executives from six cities conducted last year

IMPERSONATION CASE: ADVANCE BAIL SOUGHT

NEET scam: Student’s dad asked to appear before probe officer

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:29.11.2019

The Madras high court has directed an MBBS student’s father to appear before the investigating officer and cooperate with the probe in a NEET impersonation case.

V Ravikumar and his son, of Chennai, filed two separate petitions before HC seeking anticipatory bail as a case was registered against them in connection with impersonation in NEET. In the petition, Ravikumar stated that his son had cleared NEET and the allegation of impersonation was due to mismatch of photograph in the hall ticket. He stated that he had informed this issue to the authorities concerned and his son was allowed to appear in the exam.

Hearing the petition on Thursday, Justice G R Swaminathan directed Ravikumar to appear before the investigating officer on November 29 and cooperate with the probe.

Bridge washed away, kids wade through river to reach school

Vincent.Arockiaraj@timesgroup.com

Nagapattinam:29.11.2019

For children of five villages in Nagapattinam district, going to school has never been as risky and challenging as it has been in the last two months. Ever since the wooden bridge across the Vettaru river was washed away in September, the students as well as villagers of Kilvelur union have been wading through the water to reach the other side.

“Ever since the monsoon set in, we have been walking through the water all drenched from the hip. We carry school bags on our head. Since there is a heavy flow now, we cross the river risking our lives. It is affecting our studies,” said S Arun, a student of government higher secondary school, Kilvelur. The affected students are mostly from schools in Nagapattinam, Kilvelur and Tiruvarur.

P Mahalaxmi of the same school said they carry an extra pair of clothes. “After crossing over, we change to our uniform . We rarely manage to reach on time. While coming back, the uniform also gets wet,” she said. Many fall ill and are forced to skip classes frequently. Some lucky ones, small in size, are carried on shoulders of a parent or a relative. As for little kids, parents invariably have to carry them both ways.

Around 1,500 families in Okkur, Kadamangudi, Moongilkudi, Vilampakkam and Mulapadugai have been going through this ordeal. They had approached the authorities several times but no action has been taken, said K Sundharambal, a villager who wants nothing short of a concrete bridge built.

Sources said there was nothing across the river until 2017, when a wooden bridge linking Vilambakkam and Kohur villages came up at ₹6 lakh from the constituency development funds of Kilvelur’s DMK MLA U Mathivanan. In September this year, due to the heavy flow, the wooden bridge was washed away.

When contacted, Keelvelur block development officer K Arunmozhi told TOI that they had sent a proposal to construct a bridge across the Vettaru river. “Since it is a huge project, it will take some time to get the proposal cleared. Since water is flowing on the river, work can start only during summer. We hope to complete the work in the coming summer”, the BDO said. Attempts to contact MLA Mathivanan and the district collector went in vain as both were not reachable.

RISKY ROUTE: Students of five villages in Nagapattinam district risk getting uniforms wet to get to school

NEWS DIGEST

29.11.2019

Delhi-Chennai flight makes priority landing

A Delhi-Chennai AirAsia flight with 160 passengers made a priority landing at Chennai airport on Thursday and was towed to the parking bay near the terminal following a snag in the steering of landing gear. An airport official said it was not an emergency but the flight was given priority to land. In a statement the airline said, “AirAsia flight, I5-761, operating from New Delhi to Chennai had a cautionary message regarding the nose wheel steering system. The captain elected to not taxi back and requested a tow back to the bay, it was conveyed to the air traffic control (ATC) and was arranged for.”

Photography contest on water, energy conservation: Grundfos India has launched their annual online photography contest ‘The Essence of Light and Water’ to spread awareness on water and energy conservation. The contest will be live on Grundfos India’s social media platforms till December 3. Participants must upload photographs that capture the interplay of both elements — light and water. For more details, check the company’s social media platforms Ek Boondh Pani and i Save Energy on Facebook and Twitter.

British Council to organise award ceremony: British Council will organise International School Award 2019-22 at Taj Coromandel, Nungambakkam on Friday at 5pm. The international school award is an accreditation for schools that have shown a commitment to embedding international awarenss and global citizenship within their class and school. The accredtation is valid for three years. There will also be a pane discussion on ‘how can we prepare our students for an uncertain future?’ prior to the award ceremony between 2pm and 4pm.

Psychiatric hospital to mark 10th anniversary: Buddhi Clinic, a psychiatric hospital, will celebrate its 10th anniversary at Madras Management Association on Saturday at 5.30pm. Anurag Sharma, Lok Sabha MP and director, Baidyanath Group, Venu Srinivasan, chairman, TVS Motor Company Ltd, professor Perminder Sachdev, neuropsychiatric institute, Sydney, Australia and Dr Rema Raghu, chief clinical officer, Buddhi Clinic, will be present.

Local cabbies launch app-based taxi service without surge pricing

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Twenty-five drivers of app-based cab services have joined hands to launch their own service in Chennai in an attempt to overcome competition from corporate firms like Ola and Uber.

Within days of the launch, around 160 car and auto drivers have subscribed to ‘D-Taxi’ its founders say will have no surge pricing. It is run by a cooperative society registered with the state industrial department in May 2018. The society floated tenders to design a mobile app for customers and drivers’ use before the service was formally launched on Monday.

Any taxi driver-cum-owner can enrol with D-Taxi if they have a commercial licence and pay ₹100 as registration fee. There will be no commission withheld and drivers can take home whatever they earn. Yhey need to pay a fixed fee of ₹3,000 per month. “The key feature about our service is that there is no surge pricing during peak hours. Users can pay for only the distance they have travelled,” said G Balaji, president.

For autos, the base fare is ₹25 for the first 1.8km and ₹12 for every km travelled thereafter. Waiting charge is 30 paise per min. For hatchback (small) and sedan cars (executive), the base fare is ₹30 and ₹12.50-₹13 a km after that. Waiting charge is ₹1.50 per minute.

As far as XUVs are concerned, ₹150 will be the base fare and rate per km is ₹18-₹19.

Besides short trips, long distance and outstation trips too can be booked using the app available on Google Play Store. Rates vary from ₹9.50 to ₹13 depending on the car model for such trips which cover minimum of 250km.

Bookings can be done on the spot. Drivers will help users make bookings on their app and users can continue if they find the estimated fare satisfactory, said Balaji. “We are trying to set an example. It will be expanded to Coimbatore and Madurai soon,” he added.

WELCOME MOVE: Members of the group that launched the service

MTC runs small buses as regular services

Move Leaves Commuters Confused

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Amid the increasing demand for small buses in Chennai, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has silently converted some of them into regular services. This unannounced conversion has created confusion among commuters.

Based on complaints from passengers, TOI did a reality check at Mandaveli depot. Small buses were operated along regular route 21 (connecting Broadway with Mandaveli) as express services.

MTC has permits only to operate conventional town buses with 48 seats along this route. According to rule 248 of the Tamil Nadu Motor Vehicle Rules, 1989, vehicles owned by state transport corporations including MTC should be operated only along routes approved by the transport authority and any violation attracts ₹2,500 fine. More than 1,500 government buses have been booked for this offence in the past.

“It was very uncomfortable to travel in a small bus till Broadway as they are designed only for short trips. It was very difficult to get down or even move inside when it gets crowded,” said Prabhakar, a commuter from Mandaveli.

In response, an MTC official said this was done only twice a day to help government employees working at the state secretariat to travel easily between their residences and workplace. But the reality check was done around 2.30pm on Thursday which was no way close to offices’ closing or opening hours. “By default, all small buses were operated as express services. Moreover, it will be a loss to operate small buses along regular routes since the seating capacity is less,” the official added.

But when asked about fares, a conductor said it would cost ₹12 to travel to Broadway from Mandaveli and hid the route board under the driver’s seat soon after this reporter left the spot. The fare for ordinary services is just ₹9.

On an average, 120 services are operated along this route from Mandaveli depot on a daily basis carrying around 5,000 commuters.

Besides this, small and regular MTC buses are diverted to neighbouring districts during festivals and special occasions. Though they are eventually brought back to Chennai, passengers suffer in the meanwhile. Patronage will take a beating if services are irregular, say experts.

Corroborating this, official data says daily patronage recorded per small bus dropped from 625 in 2017 to 565 now.

Of the 200 small buses launched in Chennai in 2013 to improve last mile connectivity, more than 180 are operated regularly and rest could not be due to high absenteeism rate among drivers, say officials.

A small bus, to be operated on route 21, at Mandaveli depo

UGC wants to fix fees for deemed univs

5-Member Committees Proposed

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:29.11.2019

Deemed universities may not be able to charge students at their discretion as the University Grants Commission (UGC) is planning to set up five-member committees to monitor fee structure for 126 deemed universities, including 29 in Tamil Nadu.

As of now, there is no mechanism to regulate fees of private institutions deemed to be universities, which come under the purview of the central government.

Draft regulations released by the UGC on Wednesday said, “An institution shall charge from the students only the fee approved and communicated by the fee committee and no other fee shall be demanded or collected by the institution, either directly or indirectly under any other head of account or guise.”

If there are any violations, the committee will impose fine up to ₹10lakh, refund the excess fee and take other penal action. Deemed universities can appeal against the fee committee’s orders. Deemed universities should submit a proposed fee structure for professional programmes at least six months before the date of advertisement for admissions. Each proposal should be accompanied by authenticated data, including documents and audited accounts, on the basis of which the institution proposes the fee structure.

The fee approved by the fee committee at any point shall be valid for the next three years and subsequent changes, if any, shall be applicable only for new admissions. The fees will be based on parameters such as average per seat cost of imparting education, cost of course wise expenses for students, need for research, extent of aid received by the institutions, social status and educational needs of the people in the area.

The committee will have a former vice-chancellor or head of a national regulatory authority as chairman and an eminent educationist, nominee of a regulatory authority, and a financial expert as members. An official from UGC will be member-secretary. After the draft rules were made public, deemed universities in Tamil Nadu demanded adequate representation on the fee committees. “While I hope that the regulations are in alignment with the Supreme Court order in the 13-judge bench in TMA Pai case, adequate representation of deemed universities in the committee membership must be ensured,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, vice-chancellor of Sastra . “When the Justice Srikrishna committee report, medical fee regulations, prohibition of capitation fee acts are in force, the need for new regulations needs justification and, if found necessary, must be in harmony with those in force,” he added.

“Deemed universities are autonomous institutions and promoting research and innovation using their autonomous status. Now, they cannot bring the autonomous institutions under the regulations; it is not acceptable,” said Ishari K Ganesh, chancellor, Vels Institute of Science, Technology and Advanced Studies.

Heavy rain forecast till December 2

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

29.11.2019

If the early morning spells that flooded several suburban localities were the heaviest so far this monsoon, then brace for more. Weathermen have forecast that the heaviest spells of this season will start late Thursday night.

“We can expect rain from Friday night till December 2. Rainfall on December 1 and 2 may be heavier than Thursday morning spells,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD.

Experts said the easterly trough and convection will play key roles in bringing heavy rain across the state, which is likely to reduce the rain deficit and improve groundwater and reservoir levels in the city. At present, Chennai is staring at a 34% deficit.

“The sky condition is likely to be generally cloudy. Light to moderate rain is likely to occur in some areas. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 32°C and 25°C,” the IMD said while forecasting the city’s weather for the next 48 hours.

On Thursday, localities in southern suburbs such as Tambaram (146mm), Sholinganallur (78mm), Perungudi (65) and Taramani (55) got more rain compared to core city locations such as Nungambakkam (22mm), Teynampet (23mm), Kodambakkam (19mm), Broadway (21mm) and Royapuram (17mm).

The IMD official said Chennai will face another dry spell for a week after December 2 and the next round of monsoon rain will be around December 13.

WHEN RAIN IS A PAIN

Govt built storm drains but they don’t work

Drainage Infra Found Wanting As Parts Of Tambaram, Selaiyur, Madipakkam Go Under Water, Bringing Back Memories Of 2015

Ramesh Shankar & Siddharth Prabhakar TNN

29.11.2019

The spell of rain in Tambaram and nearby suburbs on Thursday laid bare the truth — stormwater drains do not matter when there is a heavy downpour. Areas that had stormwater drains and localities that did not have them were inundated, alike.

In Chitalapakkam, ill-planned construction of drains a few months before the monsoon left residents stranded in their homes. In Tambaram, Selaiyur and beyond, residents woke up to rising water levels on the streets.

People skipped offices not because it rained heavily, but because they could not venture out on the flooded streets. “There was knee-deep water in single-storey houses. Tambaram municipality has not constructed a channel to drain the excess water from Selaiyur lake,” said R Raguraman, a Selaiyur resident.

During the 2015 floods, people in these localities had to take refuge on terraces. “There is no planning, no learning. Only 60% of the water drained by the evening,” Raguraman said.

A few kilometers away on Velachery Main Road, the state highways had built stormwater drains but without any inlets. TOI saw an earthmover breaking a newly laid drain near the Selaiyur police office to let the water pass. “Inlets to the drain were made but they were blocked. Sewage is being let into the drains by nearby commercial establishments that blocked the flow,” said a highways official.

In Chitalapakkam, cut-and-cover drains built by public works department (PWD) and panchayat failed. “Three lakes in the vicinity were not properly desilted. Whenever it rains, the lakes overflow,” said Sunil Jayaram, a local resident.

While these were outside corporation limits, the situation was no different in the city. Rajesh Nagar First Street in Pallikaranai was under water for hours. At Tamaraikulam in Pallikaranai, people were confined to their homes. “There are storm drains nearby, but on our street the corporation has not built any,” said a resident of VJ Enclave in Pallikaranai.

Kuberan Nagar in Madipakkam has drains, but it went under half-a-feet of rainwater that remained stagnant for four hours. “Water has entered our homes,” tweeted Shanmughapriya, a resident of 11th Street.

“Drains have been constructed, but some work is pending at the end where the water has to drain into a canal. Kuberan Nagar is the only locality in Madipakkam where there was water logging,” he said a corporation official.


SAME OLD STORY: A spell of around 150mm rain was enough to throw regular life out of gear in the city’s southern parts. As stormwater drains failed, busy roads and residential areas were flooded. At Selaiyur, an earthmover was used to break open a drain to let water pass

''ஓ, இதான் பிரியாணியா?''- வாழ்க்கையிலேயே முதல் முறையாக பிரியாணி சாப்பிட்ட குழந்தைகள்- நெகிழ்ச்சி நிகழ்வு!

Published : 27 Nov 2019 17:32 pm

பிரியாணி- நம்மில் சிலரின் தினசரி உணவாக இருக்கிறது. ஆனால் பெரும்பாலான பழங்குடியினக் குழந்தைகளுக்கு பிரியாணி என்னும் உணவு இன்னும் கனவாகவே இருக்கிறது. அத்தகைய குழந்தைகளுக்கு சுமார் 70 கிலோ பிரியாணியைச் சமைத்து வழங்கி, மகிழ்ந்திருக்கிறார் சேலத்தைச் சேர்ந்த தொழிலதிபர் கண்ணன்.

ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், பர்கூர் மலைப்பகுதியைச் சேர்ந்த பழங்குடிக் குழந்தைகளுக்கு பிரியாணி சமைக்கப்பட்டு, சுடச்சுடப் பரிமாறப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

பிரியாணி விருந்து

இதற்காக பர்கூரில் உள்ள கொங்காடை, போரதொட்டி, அக்னிபாவி, பேடரலா, சுண்டைப்போடு ஆகிய மலைக்கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த குழந்தைகளுக்கு அழைப்பு விடுக்கப்பட்டது. கடந்த ஞாயிற்றுக்கிழமை அன்று காலையில் தாமரைக்கரை என்னும் பகுதிக்கு அனைத்துக் குழந்தைகளும் அழைத்து வரப்பட்டனர். பிரியாணி தயாராகும் வரை மேஜிக் கலைஞர், குழந்தைகளுக்கு சாகசங்களை நிகழ்த்தியுள்ளார். அத்துடன் ஏராளமான கதைகள் சொல்லப்பட்டன. படிப்பின் முக்கியத்துவம் குறித்து விவரிக்கப்பட்டது.

கோழி வறுவலுடன், ஆவி பறக்க சிக்கன் பிரியாணி தயாரானவுடன் சுமார் 300-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட குழந்தைகள் பிரியாணியை உண்டு மகிழ்ந்தனர்.



மலைவாழ் குழந்தைகள் 300 பேருக்கு பிரியாணி பரிமாறும் எண்ணம் எப்படி வந்தது? தொழிலதிபர் கண்ணனிடமே கேட்டோம்.

''சிறு வயதில் இருந்தே பிறருக்கு உதவிகள் செய்வதில் எனக்கு ஆர்வம் உண்டு. ஏழ்மை நிலையில் வளர்ந்து, முதல் தலைமுறையாகத் தொழிலை ஆரம்பித்து வெற்றிகரமாக நடத்தி வருகிறேன். இதற்கு என் தந்தை சொல்லித் தந்த நேர்மையும் பிறருக்கு உதவும் மனப்பான்மையுமே முக்கியக் காரணம் என்று நினைக்கிறேன்.

டெக்ஸ்டைல் தொழிலில் நேரடியாக 300 பேர் என்னிடம் பணிபுரிகின்றனர். மறைமுகமாக சுமார் 500 பேருக்கு வேலை கொடுக்கிறோம். அவர்கள் குழந்தைகளின் கல்விக்கு உதவி வருகிறேன். ஊழியர்களை ஆண்டுக்கு இருமுறை சுற்றுலாவுக்கு அழைத்துச் செல்வோம்.

பண்டிகை உணவான இட்லி, தோசை

ஆரம்பத்தில் சேலத்தில் உள்ள ஆதரவற்றோர் இல்லங்களுக்கு உதவினேன். இதற்கிடையே நண்பர் ஒருவர் பர்கூரில் உள்ள மலைவாழ் குழந்தைகளின் நிலை குறித்துப் பேசினார். நானும் நேரடியாகப் போய்ப் பார்த்தேன். அவர்களும் பேசிக் கொண்டிருக்கும்போது சாப்பாட்டைப் பற்றிப் பேச்சு வந்தது. 'இட்லி, தோசை என்பது தீபாவளி, பொங்கல் போன்ற பண்டிகை கால உணவு' என்றனர். சிலருக்கு பிரியாணி என்ற பெயர்கூடத் தெரிந்திருக்கவில்லை.

இன்னும் சிலருக்கு பிரியாணி என்ற பெயர் தெரிந்தது, ஆனால் ருசித்திருக்கவில்லை. 'அசைவம் என்பது எட்டாக்கனி' என்று ஏக்கத்தோடு கூறியவர்களை, சாப்பிட வைத்து சந்தோஷப்படுத்த ஆசைப்பட்டேன். தாத்தாவின் நினைவு நாளான நவ.24-ம் தேதி பிரியாணி வழங்க முடிவெடுத்தேன்.




நண்பர்களின் உதவியுடன் பிரியாணி சமைக்கத் தேவையான பொருட்களை ட்ரக்கில் ஏற்றி, தாமரைக்கரைக்குப் பயணமானோம். 70 கிலோ பிரியாணியும் சிக்கன் வறுவலும் அங்கேயே தயாரானது. சுமார் 13 வயது வரையிலான சிறுவர், சிறுமிகள் 300 பேருக்கு அவற்றை வழங்கினோம். அத்தனை பேரும் ரசித்து, ருசித்து பிரியாணியை உண்டனர். இன்னும் சிலர் தயக்கத்துடன், 'வீட்டுக்கும் இதை எடுத்துச் செல்லலாமா?' என்று கேட்டனர். அவர்களுக்கும் கொடுத்தனுப்பினோம்.

எதுவும் ஈடாகாது

பயத்தை உடைக்க, சுய அறிமுகப் படலம் குழந்தைகளுக்கு இடையே நடத்தப்பட்டது. அசைவ உணவு தயாராகும் வரை குழந்தைகளுக்கு இனிப்பையும் சாக்லேட்டுகளையும் வழங்கினோம். ''தாத்தா- பாட்டி காலத்துல, அவங்க வேட்டையாடி அசைவம் சாப்பிட்டதா சொல்லிக் கேட்டிருக்கோம். ஆனா எங்களுக்கு இன்னிக்கு வரை அது கனவாவே இருந்தது. இன்னிக்கு அது தீர்ந்துருச்சு!'' என்ற சிறுமியின் வார்த்தைகளுக்கு எதுவும் ஈடாகாது.

மலைவாழ் குழந்தைகளுக்கு அளித்த சாப்பாட்டால் மட்டுமே, அவர்களின் குறைகள் தீர்ந்துவிடப் போவதில்லை. ஏழ்மை நிலையில் இருந்தாலும் அந்தக் குழந்தைகள் அனைவரும் புத்திக்கூர்மையுடன் துறுதுறுவென இருந்தனர். அவர்களுக்கு நல்ல கல்வி கிடைப்பதை உறுதி செய்யவேண்டும். படிப்புக்கான அனைத்து உதவிகளையும் செய்யத் திட்டமிட்டுள்ளேன்'' என்கிறார் கண்ணன்.



வேட்டையாடி, அசைவத்தை மட்டுமே உண்டு வாழ்ந்த பழங்குடிகள் இன்று அசைவமே சுவைக்காமல் வளர்கின்றனர். இயற்கையின் குழந்தைகளான மலைவாழ் மக்களுக்கு போதிய ஊட்டச்சத்தும் தரமான கல்வி, சுகாதார வசதிகளும் கிடைப்பதை அரசு உறுதி செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதே சமூக ஆர்வலர்களின் எதிர்பார்ப்பாக உள்ளது.

- க.சே.ரமணி பிரபா தேவி, தொடர்புக்கு: ramaniprabhadevi.s@hindutamil.co.in

மதுரை காமராசர் பல்கலை பொறுப்பு பதிவாளரின் காலநீட்டிப்புக்கு வலுக்கும் எதிர்ப்பு
மதுரை

28.111.2019

காமராசர் பல்கலைக்கழக பதிவாளர் பொறுப்பு வகிக்கும் ஆர்.சுதாவுக்கு கால நீடிப்புக்கு அலுவலர்கள், பேராசிரியர்கள் மத்தியில் எதிர்ப்பு வலுக்கிறது.

மதுரை காமராசர் பல்கலைக்கழக பதிவாளராக பணிபுரிந்த சின்னையா சில மாதத்திற்கு முன்பு, பணி ஓய்வு பெற்றார். இவருக்கு பதிலாக நிரந்தர பதிவாளர் நியமிக்கும் வரை அதே பல்கலைக்கழக பிரெஞ்ச் துறை பேராசிரியை ஆர். சுதா என்பவரை பொறுப்பு பதிவாள ராக நிர்வாகம் நியமித்தது.

இதைத் தொடர்ந்து நிரந்தர பதிவாளர் நியமனத்துக்கான அறிவிப்பு சில நாட்களுக்கு முன், வெளியிடப்பட்டது. தகுதியான நபர்கள் விண்ணப்பித்தனர். இவர்களுக்கான தகுதிப் பட்டியலும் தயாரித்து, நேர்காணல் நடத்த இரு முறை தேதி நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டது. ஆனாலும், சில நிர்வாக காரணத்தால் நேர்காணல் இதுவரை நடக்கவில்லை.

இந்நிலையில் பல்கலை பதிவாளர் பதவிக்கான ஓய்வு பெறும் வயதை எட்டிய நிலையிலும், பேராசிரியை ஆர்.சுதா தொடர்ந்து அந்த பொறுப்பில் நீடிக்கிறார்.

சிண்டிக்கேட் கூட்டத்தில் இதற்கான அனுமதி வழங்கப்பட்டதாக குற்றச்சாட்டு எழுந்துள்ளது. ஏற்கெனவே நிரந்தரப் பணியில் இருந்த பதிவாளர் சின்னையாவுக்கு 58 வயதில் பணி ஓய்வு அளிக்கப்பட்டது.

அதே போன்று சுதாவுக்கும் ஏன், ஓய்வு அளிக்கவில்லை என பல்கலை பேராசிரியர்கள், அலுவலர்கள் மத்தியில் கேள்வி எழுகிறது. இது தொடர்பாக காமராசர் பல்கலைக் கழகநிர்வாக அலுவலர்கள் சங்கம் கடந்த 22-ம் தேதி பல்கலைக்கழக துணைவேந்தர் எம். கிருஷ்ணன், உயர்கல்வித்துறைக்கு கடிதம் ஒன்றை அனுப்பியது.

அதில், ‘‘ 58 வயதை கடந்த பொறுப்பு பதிவாளர் சுதாவுக்கு பணி ஓய்வு அளிக்கவேண்டும். அவருக்கு கால நீடிப்பு செய்யக்கூடாது. இது போன்ற நடவடிக்கை பல்கலை நிர்வாக விதிக்கு முரணாகும். நிரந்தர பதிவாளர் பொறுப்பு வகித்த சின்னையா உரிய நேரத்தில் பணி ஓய்வு பெற்றிருக்கிறார்.

அவரை உதாரணம் காட்டி பேராசிரியை சுதாவுக்கு ஓய்வு அளிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். சிண்டிக்கேட் உறுப்பினர்கள் முடிவு செய்தாலும் நிர்வாக ரீதியாக துணை வேந்தர் பல்கலை நடைமுறை விதிகளை பின்பற்றவேண்டும், ’’ என குறிப்பிட்டுள்ளனர்.

இது தொடர்பாக பல்கலை அலுவலர்கள் சங்கத்தினர் கூறியது:

பல்கலையில் பதிவாளர் பொறுப்பு என்பது முக்கியமானது. பொதுவாக இப்பதவியில் இருப்போருக்கு 58 வயது வரை பணியில் இருக்கலாம் என்ற விதிமுறை உள்ளது. ஆனாலும், பொறுப்பு வகிக்கும் சுதாவுக்கு நவ., 23ல் முதல் கால நீட்டிப்பு வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதற்கிடையில் நிரந்தர பதிவாளரை நியமிக்கும் நடவடிக்கை தொடர்ந்து தாமதமாகிறது. அதற்கான பட்டியல் தயாரித்தும், நேர்காணல் நடத்துவதில் சிக்கல் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. நேர்காணல் குழுவில் அரசு சார்பிலான பிரதிநிதி ஒருவர் இடம் பெறவேண்டும் என, அரசு தரப்பில் கூறப்படுகிறது.

ஆனாலும், அதற்கான முயற்சி மேற்கொள்ளவில்லை. இது பற்றி அரசாணை இருக்கிறது என்றால் அதை வெளியிடவேண்டும். சமீபத்தில் நடந்த சிண்டிக்கேட் கூட்டத்தில் பொறுப்பு பதிவாளாரே தொடர்ந்து நீடிக்க, ஒப்புதல் அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது என்றாலும், இந்த விஷயத்தில் ஒருசிலரின் கருத்துக்கு பிறகு சிண்டிக்கேட் உறுப்பினர்களும் ஒத்துழைப்பது தவறான முன்மாதிரியை ஏற்படுத்திவிடும்.

எனவே, நிரந்தரப் பதிவாளரை நியமிக்க துரித நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவேண்டும். நிரந்தரப் பதிவாளர் இன்றி, பல்கலையில் புதிய நியமனம் அறிவிப்பு உள்ளிட்ட சில பணியில் தொய்வு நிலை ஏற்படும் சூழலும் நிலவுகிறது. துணைவேந்தர், உயர் கல்வித்துறை செயலர் இதில் கவனம் செலுத்தவேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

கிண்டி காவல் நிலையத்தில் காணாமல் போன காவலரின் பைக்: போதையில் திருடிய தனியார் வங்கி மேலாளர் கைது

28.11.2019 the hindu tamil

கிண்டி காவல் நிலையத்தில் காவலர் ஒருவர் நிறுத்தியிருந்த மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் காணாமல் போனது. அதுகுறித்து போலீஸார் விசாரணை நடத்தியபோது மது போதையில் வாகனம் ஓட்டி சிக்கிய தனியார் வங்கி மேலாளர், தனது மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் என நினைத்து எடுத்துச் சென்றது தெரியவந்தது.

ஆலந்தூரைச் சேர்ந்தவர் அருண்குமார் (28). பரங்கிமலை ஆயுதப்படைக் காவலராகப் பணியாற்றுகிறார். இவர் சொந்த வேலை காரணமாக கடந்த வாரம் கிண்டி காவல் நிலையத்தில் பாண்டிச்சேரி ரிஜிஸ்ட்ரேஷன் கொண்ட தனது பல்சர் மோட்டார் சைக்கிளை நிறுத்திவிட்டு பேருந்து ஏறி ஊருக்குச் சென்றுவிட்டார். பைக் நிறுத்திவிட்டுச் செல்லும் விஷயத்தை ஸ்டேஷனில் உள்ளவர்களிடம் சொல்லவில்லை.

இந்நிலையில் நேற்று அதிகாலை வெளியூரிலிருந்து கிண்டிக்கு வந்து இறங்கிய அருண்குமார், தனது பல்சர் மோட்டார் சைக்கிளை எடுக்க கிண்டி காவல் நிலையம் வந்தார். ஆனால் அவர் நிறுத்திய இடத்தில் மோட்டார் சைக்கிளைக் காணவில்லை. ஸ்டேஷன் முழுவதும் தேடியும் கிடைக்காததால் அதே ஸ்டேஷனில் குற்றப் பிரிவில் புகார் அளித்தார்.

புகாரைப் பெற்ற போலீஸார், ஸ்டேஷனில் உள்ள கண்காணிப்பு கேமராக்களை ஆய்வு செய்தனர். அப்போது தள்ளாடியபடி வந்த டிப் டாப் உடையணிந்த நபர் ஒருவர் ஸ்டேஷனுக்குள் வருவதும், பின்னர் அருண்குமாரின் மோட்டார் சைக்கிளை ஓட்டிச் செல்வதும் பதிவாகியிருந்தது. அவர் யார் என ஸ்டேஷனில் உள்ளவர்களை விசாரித்தபோது தெரியவில்லை.

பின்னர் அந்த சிசிடிவியை போலீஸார் ஆராய்ந்தபோது, அந்த நபர் கையில் போலீஸ் ரசீது ஒன்றுடன் வருவதைப் பார்த்துள்ளனர். அது போக்குவரத்து போலீஸார் கொடுக்கும் ரசீதுபோல இருக்கவே போக்குவரத்து போலீஸாரை அழைத்து விவரம் கேட்டுள்ளனர்.

அதில் ஒருவர், ''அந்த நபர் நேற்று முன் தினம் இரவு மது அருந்திவிட்டு வாகனம் ஓட்டியதில் சிக்கினார். ஏதோ தனியார் வங்கியில் மேனேஜராக இருக்கிறேன் என்று சொன்னார். பல்சர் மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் வாகனத்தையும், லைசென்ஸ் உள்ளிட்டவற்றைப் பறிமுதல் செய்துவிட்டு அபராதம் கட்டிவிட்டு வந்து வண்டியை வாங்கிக் கொள்ளச்சொல்லி அனுப்பி விட்டோம்'' என்று கூறினார். அப்போதுதான் அந்த நபர் காவலர் அருண்குமாரின் பைக்கை எடுத்துச் சென்றது தெரியவந்தது.

இந்நிலையில் அவரின் லைசென்ஸில் உள்ள முகவரியைப் பார்த்தபோது அருண்ராஜ் (27), புது பெருங்களத்தூர் என்று இருந்தது. உடனடியாக போலீஸார் அங்கு விரைந்தனர். வீட்டில் அருண்ராஜ் இருந்துள்ளார்.

போலீஸார் அவரைப் பிடித்து, “மோட்டார் சைக்கிள் எங்கே?” என்று கேட்டபோது ''எந்த வண்டி?” என்று கேட்டுள்ளார். “கிண்டி போலீஸ் ஸ்டேஷனிலிருந்து திருடிக்கொண்டு வந்தாயே அந்த வண்டி” என்று போலீஸார் சொல்ல, “சார் ஒழுங்கா பேசுங்க. என் வண்டி இன்னும் ஸ்டேஷனில்தான் நிற்குது” என்று கூறியுள்ளார். ”அப்படியா இப்ப இன்னொரு வண்டிய எடுத்துட்டு வந்தாயே. அது எங்க சொல்லு” என்று போலீஸார் சிசிடிவி காட்சியைக் காட்டி கேட்க, அப்போதுதான் அவர் இறங்கி வந்துள்ளார்.

சார் எல்லா விஷயத்தையும் சொல்லி விடுகிறேன் என்று நடந்த அனைத்து விஷயங்களையும் கடகடவென்று தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

“சார் 25-ம் தேதி இரவு என் பல்சரில் மது போதையில் வீட்டுக்குப் போகும்போது கிண்டி போலீஸார் பிடித்தார்கள். வண்டியைப் பறிமுதல் செய்துவிட்டு கேஸ் போட்டு அபராதம் கட்டிட்டு வண்டிய எடுத்துட்டு போன்னு சொல்லிட்டாங்க.

வண்டி இல்லாமல் போனால் அம்மா திட்டுவாங்க, அதனால் அங்கேயே சுற்றிக்கொண்டிருந்தேன், அதிகாலையில் ஸ்டேஷன் பக்கம் போனேன். பார்த்தால் என் வண்டி அங்கே தனியாக நின்று கொண்டிருந்தது. போதை தெளிந்தும் தெளியாத நிலையில் வண்டியை எடுத்துக்கிட்டு வீட்டுக்குப் போனேன்.

அப்ப ஒரு பள்ளத்தில் நிலை தடுமாறி விழுந்துவிட்டேன். மறுபடியும் வண்டியை எடுத்தால் வண்டியின் முன்பக்க போர்க் பெண்டாகி ஓட்ட முடியவில்லை. காலையில் என் நண்பர் மெக்கானிக்கிடம் வண்டியை விட்டேன். அவர் வண்டியைப் பார்த்துவிட்டு, ''இது யார் வண்டி. பாண்டிச்சேரி ரிஜிஸ்ட்ரேஷன் இருக்கே என்று கேட்டார். அப்பத்தான் வண்டியையே பார்த்தேன். என் வண்டி இல்லை. போதையில் யாருடைய வண்டியையோ எடுத்துக்கொண்டு வந்துவிட்டேன்'' என்று புரிந்தது.

நண்பர் வண்டி என்று சொல்லி சமாளித்து, வண்டியை ரெடி பண்ணினேன். சரி இதே நம்பருடன் வண்டியை வீட்டுக்குக் கொண்டு சென்றால் அம்மா கண்டுபிடித்து திட்டிவிடுவார் என்று பயந்து என் வண்டியின் எண் கொண்ட நம்பர் பிளேட்டைத் தயார் செய்து மாட்டினேன். பின்னர் இந்த வண்டியைக் கையில் வைத்திருந்தால் சிக்கல் ஆகிவிடும் என்று தாம்பரம் ரயில் நிலைய ஸ்டாண்டில் நிறுத்தி வைத்துள்ளேன்” என்று கூறியுள்ளார்.

அருண்ராஜ் சொன்ன கதையைக் கேட்டு சிரித்த போலீஸார் குடித்துவிட்டு வண்டி ஓட்டுவது தப்பு, வாகனத்தைப் பறிமுதல் செய்த பின்னர் அபராதம் செலுத்தி வாகனத்தை எடுத்துச் செல்லாமல் ஸ்டேஷனுக்குள் நுழைந்து வாகனத்தை எடுத்துச் சென்றுள்ளாய், அதுவும் வேறொருவர் பைக் அது. பின்னர் நம்பர் பிளேட்டையும் மாற்றி ஸ்டாண்டில் நிறுத்தி வைத்துள்ளாய்.

எத்தனை குற்றங்கள் செய்துள்ளாய்? தப்பு மேல் தப்பு செய்துள்ளாய் என்று தெரிவித்து மோட்டார் சைக்கிளைப் பறிமுதல் செய்து, மேற்கண்ட குற்றங்களுக்காக அருண்ராஜைக் கைது செய்தனர். மெக்கானிக்கை அழைத்து விசாரித்தனர். அவர் மீது தவறில்லை என்றவுடன் விடுவித்தனர்.

நான் என்ன பில்லாவா? ரங்காவா?'; சிதம்பரம் தரப்பு வாதம்

Updated : நவ 28, 2019 06:03 | Added : நவ 28, 2019 05:58

புதுடில்லி: 'ஐ.என்.எக்ஸ்., மீடியா முறைகேடு வழக்கில், கார்த்தியின் தந்தை என்பதற்காக மட்டுமே சிதம்பரத்துக்கு குறி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஜாமின் தராமல் மறுக்க அவர் என்ன பில்லாவா? ரங்காவா?' என அவரது வழக்கறிஞர் கபில் சிபல் வாதாடினார்.

பணப் பரிமாற்ற மோசடி தடுப்பு சட்டத்தின் கீழ் அமலாக்கத்துறை பதிவு செய்துள்ள வழக்கில் டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் சிதம்பரம் தரப்பில் ஜாமின் கோரப்பட்டது. அவரது ஜாமின் மனுவை டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றம் 20ல் நிராகரித்தது. இதையடுத்து உச்ச நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்யப்பட்டது. இந்த மனு நீதிபதிகள் ஆர்.பானுமதி ஏ.எஸ்.போபண்ணா மற்றும் ரிஷிகேஷ் ராய் ஆகியோர் அடங்கிய அமர்வு முன் நேற்று(நவ.,27) விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது சிதம்பரம் தரப்பில் மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர் கபில் சிபல் மற்றும் அபிஷேக் மனு சிங்வி ஆகியோர் ஆஜராகி வாதாடினர்.

கபில் சிபல் வாதாடுகையில் கூறியதாவது: சிறையில் சிதம்பரத்துக்கு இது 99வது நாள். அமலாக்கத்துறை இதுவரை அவரிடம் விசாரணை எதுவும் நடத்தியது கிடையாது. எந்த ஒரு சாட்சியையும் அவர் எதிர்கொள்ளவில்லை. இந்த முறைகேட்டில் தொடர்புடையவனாக காட்டும் எந்த ஆதாரத்தையும் இதுவரை கண்டறியப்படவில்லை. அவர் வெளிநாடு தப்ப மாட்டார்; சாட்சியையும் கலைக்க மாட்டார். ஆனாலும் இவர் ஏதோ பில்லா, ரங்கா போல இவருக்கு ஜாமின் மறுக்கப்படுகிறது.

'முக்கிய நபர்' என அழைப்பதால் மட்டுமே அவர் சிறையில் இருக்கிறார். கார்த்தியின் தந்தை என்பதால் மட்டுமே அவருக்கு குறி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இவ்வாறு கபில் சிபல் வாதாடினார். ஆனாலும் அவரது வாதத்தை ஏற்காத நீதிபதிகள், சிதம்பரத்தின் காவலை டிச.,11 வரை நீட்டித்து உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்தனர்.

காளஹஸ்தியில் பலி பூஜை தமிழகத்தை சேர்ந்த ஐவர் கைது

Added : நவ 27, 2019 23:58

திருப்பதி, காளஹஸ்தியில் பலி பூஜை நடத்திய தமிழகத்தை சேர்ந்த ஐந்து பேரை காளஹஸ்தி போலீசார் கைது செய்தனர்.ஆந்திரமாநிலம் காளஹஸ்தியில் உள்ள பைரவகோண மலையில் காலபைரவர் கோவில் உள்ளது. ஆங்கில புத்தாண்டு மகாசிவராத்திரி உள்ளிட்ட சில விசேஷ தினங்களை தவிர்த்து மக்கள் இங்கு அதிகம் வர மாட்டார்கள்.இதை சாதகமாக பயன்படுத்திக் கொள்ளும் சிலர் இங்கு பலி பூஜை நடத்தி வருகின்றனர். இந்நிலையில் நேற்று முன்தினம் நள்ளிரவு அமாவாசையை முன்னிட்டு இக்கோவிலில் தமிழகத்தை சேர்ந்த ஐந்து பேர் பலி பூஜை நடத்தினர்.இது குறித்து அப்பகுதியை சேர்ந்த மக்கள் போலீசாருக்கு தகவல் அளித்தனர். சம்பவ இடத்திற்கு விரைந்த போலீசார் அவர்களை கைது செய்தனர். விசாரணையில் காளஹஸ்தீஸ்வரன் கோவிலில் பணிபுரியும் ஊழியர் ஒருவரையும் கைது செய்தனர்.இதுகுறித்து 24 மணிநேரத்திற்குள் விசாரணை நடத்தி அறிக்கை அளிக்க வேண்டும் என காளஹஸ்தி போலீஸாருக்கு ஆந்திர அறநிலையத்துறை அமைச்சர் சீனிவாஸ் உத்திரவிட்டுள்ளார்.

மருத்துவ இயக்குனருக்கு ஆணையம், 'நோட்டீஸ்'

Added : நவ 27, 2019 22:10

சென்னை: மனநல காப்பகத்தில், பெண் கைதி துாக்கிட்டு தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்ட விவகாரத்தில், பதில் அளிக்கும்படி, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனருக்கு, மாநில மனித உரிமை ஆணையம், நோட்டீஸ் அனுப்பியுள்ளது.ஈரோடு மாவட்டத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர் ராஜம்மாள், 65. கொலை வழக்கில், சிறை தண்டனை பெற்று, வேலுார் சிறையில் அடைக்கப் பட்டிருந்தார்.

அவர், மன உளைச்சலில் பாதிக்கப் பட்டிருந்ததால், சென்னையில், கீழ்ப்பாக்கம் அரசு மனநல காப்பகத்தில், சிகிச்சை பெற்று வந்தார்.அவரை, உறவினர்கள் பார்க்க வராததால், மன அழுத்தம் காரணமாக, இம்மாதம், 21ம் தேதி, மனநல காப்பக குளியல் அறையில் துாக்கிட்டு தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டார்.

இந்த சம்பவத்தை தொடர்ந்து, மனநல காப்பகத்தில் சிகிச்சை பெறுவோரின் பாதுகாப்பு கேள்வி குறியாக உள்ளது.இது குறித்து, மாநில மனித உரிமை ஆணையம், வழக்கு பதிவு செய்துள்ளது. ஆணைய நீதிபதி துரை ஜெயச்சந்திரன், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனருக்கு அனுப்பியுள்ள நோட்டீசில், 'மனநல காப்பகத்தில் பெண் தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்ட விவகாரத்தில், ஐந்து வாரத்திற்குள் விரிவான அறிக்கை அளிக்க வேண்டும்' என, உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.

சேலம், கரூர் வழியாக தென் மாவட்ட ரயில்கள்

Added : நவ 28, 2019 00:19

சேலம், :நாகர்கோவில் - மும்பை திருநெல்வேலி - மும்பை ரயில்கள் இனி கரூர் வழியாக இயக்கப்படவுள்ளது.சேலம் - கரூர் இடையே அகல ரயில்பாதை அமைக்கப்பட்ட பின்பும் அந்த வழியில் குறைந்தளவே ரயில்கள் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன. தென் மாவட்டங்களுக்கு செல்லும் ரயில்களை இந்த வழியில் இயக்க கோரிக்கை எழுப்பி வந்தனர்.ஈரோடு, கரூர் வழியாக இயக்கப்பட்ட நாகர்கோவில் - மும்பை, திருநெல்வேலி - மும்பை உள்ளிட்ட ரயில்கள் சேலம் நாமக்கல் கரூர் வழியே இயக்கப்படும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.திங்கள், செவ்வாய், புதன், வெள்ளியில் இயக்கப்படும் நாகர்கோவில் - மும்பை எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில் டிச. 2 முதலும் மறு மார்க்கத்தில் இயக்கப்படும் மும்பை -நாகர்கோவில் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில் டிச. 1 முதலும் கரூர் வழியாக இயக்கப்படும்.திங்கள், வியாழன், வெள்ளியில் இயக்கப்படும் திருநெல்வேலி - மும்பை தாதர் சாளுக்கியா எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் டிச. 9ல் இருந்தும் மறுமார்க்கத்தில் இயக்கப்படும் மும்பை - திருநெல்வேலி எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் டிச. 7ல் இருந்தும் கரூர் வழியே இயக்கப்படும்.இந்த ரயில்களில் ஈரோட்டிலிருந்து முன்பதிவு செய்தவர்கள் அதே டிக்கெட்டில் சேலம் அல்லது கரூருக்கு இணைப்பு ரயிலில் பயணிக்கலாம். இதற்கு ஸ்டேஷன்களில் உள்ள உதவி மையங்களை அணுகலாம் என சேலம் ரயில்வே கோட்ட நிர்வாகம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

கணினி உதவியாளர்கள் கூண்டோடு மாற்றம்: லஞ்ச புகாரால் பதிவு துறையில் நடவடிக்கை

Added : நவ 27, 2019 22:04

சார் - பதிவாளர் அலுவலகங்களில், லஞ்ச முறைகேடுகளுக்கு துணைபோகும் கணினி உதவியாளர்களை, ஒட்டுமொத்தமாக மாற்ற, பதிவுத்துறை முடிவு செய்துள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் சொத்து விற்பனை உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு ஆவண பதிவு பணிகளுக்காக, 575 சார் - பதிவாளர் அலுவலகங்கள் உள்ளன.'ஆன்லைன்' பத்திரப்பதிவு திட்டம் துவங்கப்பட்டபோது, ஒவ்வொரு அலுவலகத்துக்கும் ஒருவர் வீதம், டி.சி.எஸ்., நிறுவனம் வாயிலாக, கணினி உதவியாளர்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.ஆன்லைன் முறை பத்திரப்பதிவு பணியில், சார் - பதிவாளர்களுக்கு, தொழில்நுட்ப ரீதியாக உதவுவதே, கணினி உதவியாளர்களின் பணி. பெரும்பாலான அலுவலகங்களில், உரிய பொறுப்புக்கு மீறிய நிலையில் செயல்படுவதாக, இவர்கள் மீது புகார் எழுந்தது.மேலும், தரகர்களின் பிரதிநிதிகளாக, பெரும்பாலான கணினி உதவியாளர்கள் செயல்படுவதாக, பொது மக்கள் குற்றம் சாட்டுகின்றனர்.

இது குறித்து, சமீபத்தில்நடந்த, ஆன்லைன் பத்திரப்பதிவு குறைபாடுகள் குறித்த, உயரதிகாரிகள் ஆய்வு கூட்டத்தில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, கணினி உதவியாளர்களை, ஒட்டுமொத்தமாக இடமாற்றம் செய்ய, சார் - பதிவாளர்களுக்கு உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.இது குறித்து, பதிவுத்துறை உயரதிகாரி ஒருவர் கூறியதாவது:ஆன்லைன் பத்திரப்பதிவு துவங்கும்போது, இப்பணிக்கு புதிய நபர்களை, டி.சி.எஸ்., நிறுவனம் அளிக்கவில்லை.பெரும்பாலான சார் - பதிவாளர் அலுவலகங்களில், தினக் கூலிகளாக பணியில்இருந்தவர்களே, பரிந்துரை அடிப்படையில், கணினி உதவியாளர்களாக நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இதனால், சார் - பதிவாளர்களை தாண்டி, இவர்கள் வசூல் மையங்களாக செயல்படுவதாக புகார்கள் வருகின்றன. எனவே, முதல்கட்ட நடவடிக்கையாக, சார் - பதிவாளர்களிடம் இருந்து பரிந்துரை பெறப்பட்டு, இவர்கள் மாற்றப்படுவர்.அதன்பிறகும் புகார்கள் வந்தால், டி.சி.எஸ்., நிறுவனத்திடம் கூறி, இவர்கள் நீக்கப்படுவர். இதற்கான, நிர்வாக முடிவுகள் எடுக்கப்பட்டு விட்டன.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

- நமது நிருபர் -

Bala Singh left a lasting impression

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | ANUPAMA SUBRAMANIAN

PublishedNov 28, 2019, 2:08 am IST

A graduate from National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, he began his career as a theatre artiste.

Bala Singh’s different characters in movies.

Chennai: Veteran film and TV actor Bala Singh passed away early on Wednesday morning. Bala Singh was admitted to a private city hospital for food poisoning and was undergoing treatment for the last few days. He was 67.

A graduate from National School of Drama (NSD), Delhi, he began his career as a theatre artiste. He later entered the world of films through 1983 Malayalam film Malamukalile Deivam.

Though he appeared in brief roles in a few Tamil films, his major breakthrough came with the debut directorial venture of his childhood friend and ace actor Nasser titled Avatharam (1985). While Nasser essayed the lead, Bala Singh's performance as an antagonist was noticed.

Since then there was no looking back. He has acted in hundreds of Tamil films mostly as a villain or in supporting roles along with top heroes.

His notable works include Virumaandi, Pudhupettai, Saamy, Simmarasai, Dheena, Kannathil muthamittal and Indian among many other flicks. Singh was also said to be a part of Kamal Haasan’s Indian 2, releasing in 2020.

The powerhouse performer was last seen in Arya's Magamuni in which he played a politician. Bala was also part of recent films in prominent roles like Karthik Subbaraj's Jigarthanda, Suriya- Selvaraghavan's NGK, Sarvam Thaala Mayam, Saamy Square and Thaana Serndha Koottam.

His popular TV mega soaps include Soolam, Nalla Neram, Rudhraveena and Aathira.

His mortal remains were kept at his house in Virugambakkam on Wednesday for his family and friends to pay their last respects. Family sources said that he would be cremated in his native place Nagercoil on Thursday.

South Indian Artistes Association said that Bala Singh’s demise is a great loss to the Tamil cinema industry.

BE, MSc graduates flock to job interview for sanitary worker posts in Coimbatore

"There is little shame in working as a sanitary worker as everything is a profession," said S Vignesh, a BE Mechanical graduate from Variety Hall Road.

Published: 27th November 2019 04:15 PM 

Graduates from different streams including BSc, MSc, BE and MCom seen at the job interview | EPS

By Deepak Sathish

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Graduates from different streams including BSc, MSc, BE and MCom were among several hundred candidates at a job interview for the post of sanitary workers organised by the city corporation on Wednesday.

While some candidates are already working in private firms, they said they wanted to try their hand at the corporation's job interview to get placed in a permanent job.

Though many are unaware of the basic pay provided for sanitary workers, a few said they were ready to take up the role of sanitary workers if they were selected.

Apart from the graduates, there were homemakers, construction workers, and even contract workers of the city corporation.

"There is little shame in working as a sanitary worker as everything is a profession," said S Vignesh, a BE Mechanical graduate from Variety Hall Road.

He said he attended the job interview as he wanted to support his family comprising his mother and younger brother.

A Poovizhi Meena, a BCom graduate, was accompanied by her husband S Rahul, who is an MCom graduate. The couple said they could work as sanitary workers if they were selected in the interview.

A number of job applicants were contract sanitary workers with an overall work experience of nine to 15 years. P Eswari, working as a contract sanitary worker for over 15 years, said she wanted to apply for the permanent post since the corporation is organising a job interview after several years.

According to corporation sources, nearly 7,000 candidates have applied for 549 grade-I sanitary worker posts. The candidates must know to read and write Tamil and must have completed at least class X. The monthly pay for the sanitary workers ranges from Rs 15,700 to Rs 50,000.

The interview process that commenced on Wednesday will continue till Friday when officials will verify the certificates of the candidates. The shortlisted applicants will be notified by the corporation.

Three years after Demonetisation, 70-plus sisters learn all their savings are worthless

Rangammal (75) and Thangammal (78) had secretly stored the money in an old aluminium box and in rice bags to cover their medical expenses and funeral rites as well as for their 17 grandchildren.

Published: 27th November 2019 07:20 PM 

Rangammal and Thangammal stored the money in an old aluminium box and in rice bags to cover their medical expenses and funeral rites. (Photo | Express)

By Saravanan M P

Express News Service

TIRUPUR: Two elderly sisters from this textiles hub who had saved money over a period of 15-20 years were shocked to learn that all of it had been demonetised more than three years ago.

Rangammal (75) and Thangammal (78) had secretly stored the money in an old aluminium box and in rice bags to cover their medical expenses and funeral rites as well as for their 17 grandchildren.

Selvaraj, the son of Rangammal, told TNIE that his mother and his aunt had "lost their husbands, who were daily wagers, 10 years ago."

Strong and confident women, the duo used to shepherd goats for traders and earned Rs 100-150 as daily wages. Though they squirrelled away some of this money, they did not let anyone else know since they were worried that their sons will squander these savings on drinks.

But when Rangammal and Thangammal both fell ill recently, the bitter truth was revealed.

"When we decided to take them to the hospital, we were short of money. But they told us not to worry and brought their savings before us. We were shocked to find them in old currency notes," Selvaraj said.

Selvaraj revealed what they had to say. "My mother had around Rs 24,000 and Thangammal had around Rs 22,000. During demonetisation, we asked whether they had any money. They said they had nothing. When we questioned them again now, they began to cry, saying they felt their sons and daughters were trying to cheat them of their savings. This led to them lying to us," he said.

Madras High Court upholds dismissal of ‘108’ ambulance driver

THE Madras High Court has upheld orders of the management of ‘108’ ambulance service organisation dismissing a driver from service for misconduct.

Published: 28th November 2019 05:06 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has upheld orders of the management of ‘108’ ambulance service organisation dismissing a driver from service for misconduct.

The charges against the delinquent employee are grave in nature and the level of discipline to be maintained in ambulance service, compared to other organisations is entirely different. The discipline, undoubtedly, must be high in nature. Therefore, the gravity of the charges are to be decided in comparison with the service to be provided with reference to the nature of the service and its importance, Justice SM Subramanian observed.

The charge against R Saravanan was that he had swindled a portion of money kept by the attendant of an accident victim at Kulithalai in April 2014. By an order, the State Head of Operations, GVK Emergency Management and Research Institute (EMRI) at Teynampet dismissed him after following the formalities.
However, the Assistant Commissioner of Labour at Teynampet, by an order dated November 16, 2017, refused approval of the dismissal of the driver. Hence, the present petition.

Allowing it, the judge observed that ambulance service is sensitive. Timely service to the needy is the prime object of the scheme. Thus, any indiscipline or lapses are to be construed grave in nature.
Thus, the Labour Commissioner had erroneously arrived at the conclusion, the judge said and set it aside.

Bachelors’ courting govt jobs jostle for sanitary workers’ post in Coimbatore

Now, who does not want a government job! Given the uncertain times we live in, it emerges as the go-to sector.

Published: 28th November 2019 05:09 AM |

Candidates jostling each other in their rush to finish documentation at the Corporation office in Coimbatore on Wednesday | u rakesh kumar

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Now, who does not want a government job! Given the uncertain times we live in, it emerges as the go-to sector. However, when a sea of graduates descended upon the city corporation office for a job interview on Wednesday, the scenes that unfolded were a damning indictment of our higher education system.

Among the well educated eyeing the 549 vacancies of Grade-I sanitary worker, requiring a minimum educational qualification of class X pass, were BSc, MSc, BE and MCom graduates. Rough estimates pegged the number of applicants at 7,000. Apart from graduates, swelling up the ranks were homemakers, construction workers, and even contract workers of the city corporation.

The hordes of applicants also comprised those employed in private sector as well. The reason: A permanent job. Though many seemed unaware of the basic pay earmarked for the sanitary workers, a few said that they would not think twice before taking up the job, if selected.

“The post of a sanitary worker cannot be termed lowly, as every profession is important,” said a BE graduate from Variety Hall Road, S Vignesh, whose inspiration lay in running his family, comprising his mother and younger brother.

A number of applicants was contract sanitary workers, with an overall work experience spanning 9 to 15 years. P Eswari, a contract worker with over 15 years of experience under her belt, said she wanted to apply for the permanent post as the corporation was holding such an interview after several years.

The corporation mandates the applicants to be able to read and write Tamil for the permanent job that offers salary in the pay band of Rs 15,700-Rs 50,000. The interview process that commenced on Wednesday would continue till Friday; after verification of the certificates, shortlisted applicants would be notified.

Poison on your plate

New report from food regulator comes as a shock to residents of Tamil Nadu

Published: 28th November 2019 06:25 AM |

By B ANBU SELVAN

Express News Service

CHENNAI: FOOD Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) on Tuesday dropped a bombshell saying over 45 per cent of food samples taken for study last year in Tamil Nadu did not meet the required standards with 12.7 % coming up as adulterated and unsafe for consumption.

While FSSAI report on National Milk Safety and Quality Survey released last month revealed the name of toxic contents in samples, the regulatory body has not mentioned the hazardous content in the samples.
However, the report noted that Disease Burden Epidemiology Reference Group of World Health Organisation has identified 31 food-borne hazards.

“The group has found that frequent causes of food-borne illness are diarrhoeal disease agents, particularly norovirus and Campylobacter spp,” the report said.

Organisms from cattle
“The samples mostly get adulterated because of organisms found in cattle and agriculture field. However, some samples may also contain chemicals used in the local market,” said a food safety officer.
The food regulator blamed the absence of food testing labs and inadequate enforcement authorities for poor quality.

While food safety officials remained tight-lipped on the names of food items, they said steps are being taken to increase vigil and promote hygienic practices among farmers and traders.
On Tuesday, TN Foodgrain Merchants' Association submitted a petition to Agricultural Production Commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi seeking government intervention in protecting merchants.

Association state president S P Jayaprakasam told Express that most of the food items which failed the quality test, including foodgrains, vegetables, fruits are contaminated by fertilizers and chemicals used by farmers. "The FSSAI should release a detailed report of the samples," he said.

Bihar woman gives birth in toilet of running train

Pinky Devi wants to name her baby after the train

28/11/2019, , P. SRIDHAR,KHAMMAM

Baby on wheels: The passenger and her newborn at the District Headquarters Hospital on Wednesday. G. N. Rao

Call it providence followed by prompt action. A pregnant woman passenger from Bihar delivered a baby girl in the toilet of the Chennai-bound Ganga Kaveri Superfast Express on the Dornakal-Khammam section early on Wednesday.

The woman, identified as Pinky Devi, aged around 25, of Chhapra in Bihar, developed labour pains soon after she went into a toilet in the S1 coach to attend nature’s call around 5.40 a.m. She delivered a baby girl in the toilet even as the train passed the Dornakal junction at the time.

First responders

The cleaning staff on board the train noticed the woman and her baby inside the toilet and soon alerted the Railway security control room personnel over phone.

In a swift response, the Railway Protection Force (RPF) personnel deployed a woman constable Sashikala, along with Childline (1098) volunteers, who attended to the woman and her newborn infant after the train reached Khammam a little later.

The train was detained at the station for six minutes to facilitate shifting the mother and child into a 108 ambulance. The ambulance staff rendered first aid to the duo before shifting them to the District Headquarters Hospital.

Ms. Devi expressed her wish to name her baby after the train.

Man files plaint against wife for rash driving

28/11/2019,SHIVAMOGGA

A man from Hebri in Karnataka’s Udupi district, who was in a four-wheeler that met with an accident in Shivamogga district on Tuesday, has lodged a complaint against his wife for alleged rash driving. Near Ramachandrapur, the woman lost control of the vehicle owing to which it fell into a roadside ditch. Three persons in the vehicle, including the couple’s son, were injured in the accident. In the complaint the man has alleged that the accident took place owing to rash driving of his wife.

A.P. mahila panel chief seeks action against director Bhagyaraj

28/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIJAYAWADA

K. Bhagyaraj

Taking strong exception to actor-director K. Bhagyaraj’s alleged misogynistic and sexist remarks in the Pollachi rape case, Andhra Pradesh Mahila Commission’s Chairperson Vasireddy Padma, has written to her Tamil Nadu counterpart demanding strict action against him.

Referring to the actor’s alleged statement that “boys are not the only ones responsible for rapes”, Ms. Padma questioned as to how could one blame a woman for her rape. She said people like Mr. Bhagyaraj should explain the logic behind incidents of rape and murder of very young children, sometimes even toddlers.

Ms. Padma said on the one hand governments, women’s organisations, the police and the judiciary were sincerely trying to control the rising atrocities against women and on the other, ‘celebrities’ like him made such insensitive remarks.

She said the governments should deal sternly with such people and urged the film industry in Tamil Nadu to react to it.

544 stations in Southern Railway get high speed Wi-Fi

Facility will help people from smaller stations connect with web world

28/11/2019, S. VIJAY KUMAR,CHENNAI

Besides the 544 stations, the free Wi-Fi service has been provided also at wayside stations where trains are scheduled to stop. file photo

Southern Railway has commissioned free Wi-Fi services at 544 railway stations in Tamil Nadu and Kerala as part of the Digitial India initiative.

The high-speed internet facility will not only serve as a value addition to passenger services, but also connect people visiting smaller stations located in rural areas in these States to the web world.

The nationwide programme of providing free Wi-Fi at over 5,000 stations in association with Tata Trusts, Google and RailTel was expedited in the 100-day programme of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal.

Southern Railway was among a few zones that achieved the target, thanks to the 4,900-km long optical fibre cable already in place.

The number of stations covered under the free Wi-Fi mission increased from 282 in March 2019 to 544 this year. Besides all major stations, the facility has been provided in almost all wayside stations that have a scheduled stoppage of trains.

The Wi-Fi services would be available at select zones on the railway station premises and passengers will have to connect to the RailWire network and enter their ten-digit mobile number for obtaining a one time password that would activate the internet service.

NMR covered

“While waiting for the train, passengers can do their office work, download a movie or e-book apart from utilising the Wi-Fi for other internet-enabled services. Provision of free high-speed internet at smaller stations located in rural pockets is to connect the people to digital technology,” Principal Chief Signal and Telecommunication Engineer, Southern Railway, S. K. Goel said. Mr. Goel said eight stations along the Mettupalayam-Ooty Nilagiris Mountain Railway were covered under the programme to facilitate tourists access internet in the heritage route. “There are many success stories where the Wi-Fi brought about a change in the lives of those who could not have accessed high-speed internet otherwise. For instance, Helen Jose, an autorickshaw driver of Kollam, downloads study material for her school-going son almost everyday while waiting for passengers.

K. Sreenath, a railway porter at Ernakulam, used Wi-Fi regularly to download study materials and he cleared a competitive exam with 82 per cent score.”

While providing access to the internet was a passenger service and a social obligation, the mission was vulnerable to abuse. RailTel would store the data of users for at least six months. “We will storing the digital footprints and also the closed-circuit television footage that covers the Wi-Fi access areas. The data would be useful in the event of a case of cybercrime reported on railway premises using the free internet facility,” he said.

Temple priest in Chidambaram fears arrest in assault case

Dikshitar files anticipatory bail petition again, denies attacking woman devotee

28/11/2019, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Nataraj Ganesh alias Dharsan, the hereditary Dikshitar (priest) of the Natarajar Temple in Chidambaram, has filed an anticipatory bail petition for the second time in the Madras High Court in a case booked against him for having allegedly assaulted and abused a woman devotee when she insisted on performing puja properly.

Justice C.V. Karthikeyan on Wednesday directed a government counsel to obtain instructions from the Chidambaram Town police and adjourned the petition to December 3.

The priest’s first advance bail petition was dismissed as withdrawn on Monday for not mentioning the crime number. Therefore, he preferred the second petition with identical averments.

According to the prosecution, S. Latha, a nurse serving in a primary health centre in Ayyankudi, visited the temple along with her family on November 16 to perform a puja on the occasion of of her son’s birthday.

However, the Dikshitar, in a hurry to go home, allegedly did not even utter the name of her son before chanting the mantras. When she questioned him about it, he reportedly slapped the woman. Acting on her complaint, the police booked a case under Sections 323 (causing hurt voluntarily) and 294b (using obscene words) of Indian Penal Code. They also invoked the provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act of 1998.

Complainant’s stand

Denying all the allegations, the petitioner claimed that the complainant had come to the temple along with some men and picked up a quarrel when he was performing the last puja of the day before closing the temple.

She insisted that the puja in the name of her son should be performed once again because she did not hear the priest recite the mantras. When the petitioner refused to repeat the puja, she tried to “raised her hand towards this petitioner and in self-defence, the petitioner pushed her away,” the Dikshitar claimed.

Medical conference

28/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Members of the Madurai Obstetrics and Gynaecologists Association will host their 26th annual conference and workshop on ‘Newer frontiers in obstetrics and gynaecology’ from November 29 to December 1.

N. Sumathi, organizing chairperson of the conference, said the conference would provide space for obstetricians, gynaecologists and laparoscopic surgeons to offer a platform for skill enhancement to delegates. Collector T. G. Vinay would inaugurate the event. Federation of Obstetric and Gynaecological Societies of India president-elect Alpesh Gandhi and Madurai Medical College Dean J. Sangumani would be the chief guests.

New technique used in surgery to stabilise fast heart beat

28/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

Doctors at Government Rajaji Hospital have operated upon four persons with supraventricular tachycardia (SVT), an abnormally fast heart rhythm arising from improper electrical activity in the upper part of the heart, through advanced techniques, negating their need to depend on regular medication.

GRH Dean J. Sangumani said that the four patients underwent surgery last month and the doctors used radiofrequency ablation (RFA), a medical procedure in which a part of the electrical conduction system of the heart, tumour or other dysfunctional tissue was ablated using the heat generated from medium frequency alternating current. “We mapped each patient’s heart, identified the origin of the abnormalities and restored regular heart beat. The operations took between two and four hours,” he said.

Dr. Sangumani said that this new treatment technique would provide a great relief to several hundred patients from low socio-economic background as they would not have to spend between ₹1,000 and ₹2,000 for medicines every month after undergoing the surgery. “The GRH is the second government medical institution in the State to have performed it,” he said.

Passengers can now fly to more international destinations

SpiceJet, Emirates sign codeshare, interline agreement

28/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,MADURAI

A new window to various international destinations is opened for air passengers using Madurai airport as SpiceJet has signed codeshare and interline agreement with Dubai-based Emirates.

Wider route network

“That the new agreement will provide travellers to and from India a seamless access to a wider and a stronger route network for international destinations through Madurai airport is a heart-warming news for the passengers in southern districts,” said senior president of Tamil Nadu Chamber of Commerce and Industry S. Rethinavelu.

In a statement, he said codeshare agreement would help the two airlines share the same flight and passengers could book seats for an onward journey to any international destination served by the other airline with a single ticket.

Passengers could book tickets to various international destinations in Europe, the US, Africa and the Gulf countries served by Emirates from nine domestic airports used by Emirates and 172 domestic airports routes of SpiceJet, Mr. Rethinavelu said.

‘Attractive fares’

“Overcoming the handicap of direct flights being operated to only three international destinations of Singapore, Dubai and Colombo from Madurai airport, the codeshare agreement will help passengers book tickets to any international destination using SpiceJet’s flight from Madurai. The agreement will offer attractive fares to passengers and their luggage will be transferred from one flight to another,” he said.


Additional service

Mr. Rethinavelu said the Chamber would appeal to SpiceJet to operate an additional flight service between Madurai and Dubai so that it would have a night departure from Dubai and an early morning departure from Madurai to provide better international connectivity with lesser lay-over period.

“For this to become reality, the Ministry of Civil Aviation should make Madurai airport operational round the clock,” he said.

Use of robotics in urology explained

28/11/2019, STAFF REPORTER,MADURAI

A one-day workshop on the use of robotics in urology was held at Meenakshi Mission Hospital and Research Centre (MMHRC) here on Monday.

The event was inaugurated by Sudhir Kumar Rawal, Medical Director and Chief of Genito Uro-oncology Services, Rajiv Gandhi Cancer Institute and Research Centre, Delhi, and Ganesh Gopalakrishnan, Senior Consultant, Vedanayagam Hospital, Coimbatore. R. Ravichandran, Senior Consultant and Head, Department of Urology and Andrology, MMHRC, said, “Robotic radical prostatectomy is a surgery completely revolutionised by the robotic system. The advantages to the patient are faster recovery, less pain and shorter hospital stay”.

“One of the most common myths about robotic surgery among patients is that the surgery is being done by a machine. The truth is that the machine is always completely under the control of the surgeon,” said D. Paul Vincent, Senior Consultant, Department of Urology and Andrology.

HC stays execution in siblings murder case

Convict was to be executed on Dec. 2

28/11/2019, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court has stayed the execution of a warrant issued by a Mahila Court in Coimbatore on Monday for hanging to death R. Manoharan, convicted for abduction, rape and murder of a 10-year-old girl apart from the murder of her seven-year-old brother, after subjecting him to sodomy, in Coimbatore on October 29, 2010.

Justices M.M. Sundresh and RMT. Teekaa Raman granted the stay on a writ petition filed by the convict, who is said to have learnt that a Mahila Court in Coimbatore had issued the death warrant on Monday for hanging him on December 2, even though he had a right to prefer a mercy plea to the Governor.

Senior Counsel Yashod Vardhan, assisted by the convict’s counsel on record B. Poongkhulali, claimed that the death warrant was yet to be served on the petitioner and hence a grave injustice would be caused if he was subjected to capital punishment without even granting enough time to submit a detailed mercy petition.

Finding force in the submissions, the judges granted four weeks time for the State government to file its counter affidavit to the writ petition and ordered that the death warrant be kept in abeyance till further orders.

High Court summons Home Secretary

‘Explain delay in releasing life convicts’

28/11/2019, MOHAMED IMRANULLAH S.,CHENNAI

The Madras High Court has summoned Home Secretary Niranjan Mardi to explain the delay in releasing five life convicts despite specific orders passed by a Division Bench of the court between December 7, 2018 and January 25 to release them forthwith by according the benefit of premature release granted to many other convicts in the State.

Justices M.M. Sundresh and RMT. Teekaa Raman said they had no choice but to issue statutory notices (requiring the presence of the Home Secretary in the court next month) in all the five contempt of court petitions filed against him since their patience had run thin after having granted enough time to release the convicts.

The judges had been granting time for the government to comply with the court orders ever since the contempt of court petitions were filed in July.

However, when the contempt petitions were taken up on Wednesday, the government was not able to report whether the Supreme Court had granted any interim relief. Therefore, the judges chose to direct the High Court Registry to issue statutory notices to the Home Secretary insisting upon his appearance after four weeks.

It was actually a Bench of Justices C.T. Selvam (since retired) and S. Ramathilagam (who had also retired from service now), which had ordered the release of the five convicts by according the benefit of a government order issued in 2018 to release many life convicts to mark the birth centenary of former Chief Minister M.G. Ramachandran.

Then, the government had refused to release P. Sakthivel (37) from Coimbatore prison since he had been convicted under the Explosive Substances Act of 1908, apart from the charge of murder under the Indian Penal Code.

Builder told to pay ₹12.78 lakh compensation to home buyer

Developers failed to hand over a villa in Padur on time

28/11/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu Real Estate Regulatory Authority (TNRERA) has directed developers to pay a compensation of about ₹12.78 lakh and refund the advance and further amounts totalling about ₹1.42 crore along with interest to a home buyer for delay in delivery of the villa.

In his compliant, K. Srikar Reddy said in August, 2012, he had booked a villa in the project named ‘Pacifica Aurum Villas’ at Padur, Thiruporur in Kancheepuram district and paid an advance amount and made further payments.

The project was developed by Sylvanus Builders and Developers Limited and Pacifica (Chennai project) Infrastructure Co. Pvt. Ltd.

In March 2014, he entered into a sale and construction agreement with the developers and agreed for a purchase price was about ₹1.47 crore.

Mr. Reddy had availed of a home loan and paid ₹1.42 crore.

Promised in 2015

As per the agreement, the developers were supposed to handover the villa by June 2015, but they did not do so, he alleged in his complaint and sought refund of the amount he paid along with interest as well as compensation and other costs from the developers.

In March 2019, the developers informed the buyer that the villa was ready and asked the buyer to clear the remaining dues.

TNRERA noted that Section 18 of the RERA Act gives the right to home buyers to withdraw from the project and demand their money back with interest and compensation, if the promoter fails or is unable to give possession of the property on the date specified in the agreement.

Entitled to refund

The complainant is entitled to a refund of nearly ₹1.42 crore from the developers along with the interest of 10.15% per annum for the entire amount paid from the date of respective payment till repayment by the builder.

It also fixed 9% of the ₹1.42 crore as compensation and ₹25,000 towards litigation costs.

TAKE TEST IN TAMIL

JEE(M) to be in 11 languages from ’21

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:28.11.2019

Now engineering aspirants can have a shot at JEE in vernacular medium. The Joint Entrance Examination (JEE-Main) will be offered in 11 regional languages, including Tamil, from January 2021. The ministry of human resource development (MHRD) has directed the National Testing Agency (NTA) to prepare for conducting the test in at least 11 languages which include Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Marathi, Odiya, Telugu and Urdu.

JEE (Main), the national level competitive test for admission to various undergraduate engineering and architecture courses mainly in National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Information Technology and other governmentfunded technical institutes (GFTIs), at present is offered in English, Hindi and Gujarati. This test is also the eligibility exam for JEE (Advanced), the admission test for the Indian Institutes of Technology (IITs).

Earlier conducted by CBSE, the computer-based test has now been passed on to NTA. Recently, West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee, while questioning the inclusion of Gujarati, demanded inclusion of other regional languages. NTA said it has been offering the test in Gujarati following a request from the state.

NTA to work on offering test in all the languages

While the department of higher education of West Bengal wrote to NTA for inclusion of Bengali in the JEE (Main) 2020 question paper, a senior MHRD official said that the test will be offered in all the 11languages from 2021.

According to the official, “In such a short time all the languages cannot be offered as the registration and all logistics have already been scheduled for the 2020 exams. Moreover, it takes time for translation as it is a major exam and no student should be at any disadvantage due to a hurried work. This will be implemented from the January 2021 exams.”

The ministry while asking NTA to work on offering the test in all the languages stated that this would help students continue their schooling in their mother tongue instead of shifting to English or Hindi medium. According MHRD sources, it has asked NTA to also explore possibilities to offer the competitive exams in as many languages as possible.

Convocation 2019 Meenakshi Academy of Higher Education (DU)

‘Include yoga & naturopathy in bill to create new regulator for Indian system of medicine’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:28.11.2019

A parliamentary committee has sought the inclusion of yoga and naturopathy in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, stating these age-old practices with focus on holistic health are an integral part of Indian culture and the Ayushsystem.

The department-related parliamentary standing committee on health and family welfare, in its report submitted to the Rajya Sabha, said the absence of a central regulatory body at a time when yoga is being considered as a panacea for a meaningful life and living “may result in proliferation of poor standard institutes and unchecked practices by unqualified practitioners”.

The committee also suggested integration of Indian systems of medicine with modern treatment to provide accessible, affordable and quality primary health care. It also asked the state governments to implement measures to enhance the capacity of existing health care professionals, including Ayushpractitioners to address primary care issues and challenges.

Drafted on the lines of the National Medical Commission, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Bill, 2019 seeks to create a new regulator, replacing the statutory body, Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM), governing higher education in Indian systems of medicine.

The committee has also recommended that a Board of Yoga and Naturopathy be constituted under Clause 18 in the bill. The bill provides for conducting a common National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test and common counselling by the designated authority for admission to all the medical institutions offering Indian system of medicine so as to ensure quality and transparency in admissions.

In rare feat, LS & RS take up all listed questions during question hour

New Delhi:In a rare and coordinated feat, both Houses of Parliament took up all questions that were listed for oral answers by the government on Wednesday during question hour. In Lok Sabha, 20 questions were taken up, while in Rajya Sabha a total number of 15 questions were raised by members of the House.

As soon as question number 140 — the last one on the list of starred questions of the day — was announced, Lok Sabha erupted in table-thumping applause and laughter. Speaker Om Birla thanked the ministers as well as all members of the House for their assistance in letting all questions be answered without disruptions.

In Rajya Sabha too, all 15 starred questions listed for Wednesday were answered orally answered by concerned ministers. TNN

Melavalavu convicts must stay in Vellore: HC

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:28.11.2019

The Madras high court on Wednesday directed the13 convicts in the Melavalavu massacre in Madurai district to stay in Vellore district till the petition challenging the GOs passed for their premature release is disposed of.

A division bench of Justice S Vaidyanathan and Justice N Anand Venkatesh passed the interim order while hearing the PIL filed by advocate P Rathinam, appearing as partyin-person in the plea challenging the GOs. The case involves the massacre of six dalits at Melavalavu on June 30,1997, by members of another caste following the election of a dalit as the village council president. The state government released all the convicts earlier this month citing good conduct.

The judges noted that they were not inclined to grant any stay since it will virtually amount to granting final relief in the petition. However, due to the sensitivity of the issue and to avoid law and order problems at the village, certain interim directions had to be given till the petition is disposed of. The convicts have been asked to report before the Vellore district probation officer on the second and fourth Sundays and the Vellore superintendent of police on the first and third Sundays. They should not move out of Vellore district without getting the court’s permission. Neither the petitioner nor any other organisation shall take up the issue of the release of the convicts through print media or social media.

No meetings or gatherings are to be allowed regarding the issue till the disposal of the petitions and law and order is to be ensured at Melavalavu village. The judges further directed the secretary of home department, IG prisons and Madurai central prison superintendant to file a counter before January 2 and posted the case for final hearing on January 6.

Meanwhile, the state government stated in the status report that the secretary of home department had submitted that the inspector general of prisons and the state-level committee constituted considered the cases of the prisoners who are eligible for premature release as per the eligibility criteria in GO dated February 1, 2018. However, the bench observed that an earlier bench had come to a conclusion that the act of the accused persons was not a murder but to terrorize the scheduled caste community.

“This observation made by the earlier bench in criminal appeals clearly shows that this case cannot be looked from the angle of a regular murder case and this case clearly has an impact on the persons belonging to the downtrodden section of the society and the society at large. A reading of the status report prima facie shows that this case has not been strictly scrutinized from this angle,” observed the judges.

The convicts have been asked to report before the Vellore district probation officer on the second and fourth Sundays and the Vellore superintendent of police on the first and third Sundays