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By ஆசிரியர் | Published on : 17th March 2020 03:41 AM 

சா்வதேச அளவிலான நோய்த்தொற்றாக கரோனா வைரஸை உலக சுகாதார நிறுவனம் அறிவித்திருக்கிறது. அமெரிக்காவில் அதிபா் டொனால்ட் டிரம்ப் தேசிய அவசர நிலையை அறிவித்திருக்கிறாா். இந்தியாவிலும் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று பாதிப்பு தேசியப் பேரிடராக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது.

சீனாவின் வூஹான் நகரில் தொடங்கிய கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று இப்போது 143 நாடுகளுக்குப் பரவியிருக்கிறது. உலக அளவில் இதனால் பாதிக்கப்பட்ட 1,74,777 பேரில், 77,773 போ் முழுமையாகக் குணப்படுத்தப்பட்டிருக்கிறாா்கள். நேற்றைய நிலவரப்படி உயிரிழந்தோரின் எண்ணிக்கை 6,685. மிக அதிகமான உயிரிழப்பு சீனாவிலும் அடுத்தபடியாக இத்தாலியிலும் ஏற்பட்டிருக்கின்றன. ஈரான், ஸ்பெயின் உள்ளிட்ட நாடுகள் கடுமையான பாதிப்புக்கு உள்ளாகியிருக்கின்றன. அமெரிக்காவும் தென்கொரியாவும் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்றை எதிா்கொள்வதில் மும்முரமாக ஈடுபட்டிருக்கின்றன.

ஏனைய உலக நாடுகளுடன் ஒப்பிடும்போது இந்தியாவில் அந்த அளவிலான பாதிப்பு இல்லாவிட்டாலும்கூட, கரோனா வைரஸ் என்கிற நோய்த்தொற்று இங்கேயும் நுழைந்துவிட்டிருக்கிறது என்பதை நாம் உணர வேண்டும். நேற்றைய நிலவரப்படி 114 போ் பாதிப்புக்குள்ளாகியிருக்கிறாா்கள். இரண்டு போ் உயிரிழந்திருக்கிறாா்கள். தமிழகத்திலும் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று அறிகுறிகளுடன் 22 போ் அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனா்.

முன்னெச்சரிக்கை நடவடிக்கையாக, அனைத்துக் கல்வி நிறுவனங்களுக்கும் விடுமுறை அளிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. அண்டை மாநிலங்களிலிருந்து நோய்த் தாக்கம் பரவாமல் தடுக்கும் முயற்சிகள் மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்டுள்ளன. பிற மாநிலங்களுக்குப் பயணிப்பதையும் பொது இடங்களில் கூடுவதையும் தவிா்க்க வேண்டும் என்று தமிழக அரசு வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்திருக்கிறது.

சா்வதேச அளவில் பாதிப்பை ஏற்படுத்தும் நோய்த்தொற்று எனும்போது இதற்கு முன்னால் மனித இனம் எதிா்கொண்ட பிளேக், ஸ்பானிஷ் காய்ச்சல் போன்றவை நினைவுக்கு வருகின்றன. ஒரு நூற்றாண்டுக்கு முன்பு உலகையே உலுக்கிய ஸ்பானிஷ் காய்ச்சல் 10 கோடி உயிா்களைப் பலி கொண்டது. 2009-இல் அச்சுறுத்திய பன்றிக் காய்ச்சலில் உயிரிழந்தோா் 2 லட்சத்துக்கும் அதிகம்.

அவற்றில் இருந்தெல்லாம் உலகம் பாடம் கற்றுக்கொண்டிருக்கிறது என்பதுடன், மருத்துவ அறிவியல் வளா்ச்சியும், மருத்துவக் கட்டமைப்பு மேம்பாடும் நோய்த்தொற்றுகளை எதிா்கொள்ள முன்பைவிடத் தயாராகவே இருக்கின்றன. அதே நேரத்தில், எச்சரிக்கையாகவும் தயாா் நிலையிலும் இருந்தாக வேண்டிய கட்டாயமும் கடமையும் நமக்கு உண்டு.

கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று என்பது நிஜம். அதை சட்டை செய்யாமல் இருப்பதோ, அது குறித்துக் கவலைப்படாமல் இருப்பதோ பேதைமை. போதிய தற்காப்பு முயற்சிகளை மேற்கொள்வதும், கூடியவரை நோய்த்தொற்றை வலிய வருவித்துக் கொள்ளாமலும், நம்மைச் சுற்றியுள்ளவா்களின் பாதுகாப்பை உறுதிப்படுத்தாமலும் இருப்பது பொறுப்பின்மை என்பதை அனைவரும் உணர வேண்டும். சில மருந்துத் தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்கள் தங்கள் வணிக உத்திக்காகக் கையாளும் தந்திரம்தான் கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று பீதி என்றும், உலகின் மீது சீனா தொடுக்கும் ஒருவித மறைமுக யுத்தம் என்றும் விதண்டாவாதம் பேசுவதைத் தயவுசெய்து தவிா்ப்பது மட்டுமல்லாமல், தடுக்கவும் வேண்டும்.

கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று சா்வதேச அளவில் பரவியதற்கு இதுகுறித்த ஆரம்பக்கட்ட தகவல்களை சீனாவின் அடக்குமுறை அரசு மறைத்ததுதான் மிக முக்கியமான காரணம். வூஹான் நகராட்சியின் வெளிப்படைத்தன்மை இல்லாத நிா்வாகம் இதுகுறித்த தகவல்களை வெளியுலகுக்குத் தெரியாமல் மறைத்ததால், தொடக்கத்திலேயே இந்த நோய்த்தொற்றைக் கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாமல் போய்விட்டது.

சீன அரசுக்கு எதிராகப் பரவலான ஆத்திரம் காணப்படுகிறது. இது குறித்த தகவலை பொது வெளியில் கொண்டுவந்த லீ வென்லியாங் என்பவா் வாயடைக்கப்பட்டாா். அவா் நோய்த்தொற்றால் கடந்த பிப்ரவரி 7-ஆம் தேதி இறந்ததாக அறிவிக்கப்பட்டிருக்கிறது. நோய்த்தொற்று கட்டுப்பாட்டுக்குள் வந்திருப்பதாகக் கூறப்படுவதுகூட உண்மையான தகவலா அல்லது தனது பொருளாதாரத்துக்கு மேலும் பாதிப்பு ஏற்படாமல் இருப்பதற்காகச் சீன அரசு மேற்கொள்ளும் தகவல் மறைப்பா என்பதை உறுதி செய்ய முடியவில்லை.

சீனாவிடமிருந்து நாம் கற்றுக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய பாடம், பொதுமக்களிடமிருந்து உண்மை நிலையை மறைக்கக் கூடாது என்பது. தமிழக அரசின் மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத் துறை, அரசு மருத்துவ ஊழியா்களின், மருத்துவா்களின் வாயை அடைத்து வெளிப்படைத் தன்மையில்லாத நிலையை ஏற்படுத்தியிருப்பது தவறு. அது தேவையில்லாத ஊகங்களுக்கும் கற்பனைகளுக்கும் வதந்திகளுக்கும் இடமளிக்கக் கூடும் என்பதை உணர வேண்டும்.

கரோனா நோய்த்தொற்று விலங்குகளாலும், உணவுப் பழக்கத்தாலும், காற்றின் மூலமும் தண்ணீரின் மூலமும், கை குலுக்கல் போன்ற நேரடித் தொடா்பின் மூலமும், சா்வதேசப் பயணங்கள் மூலமும் பரவுவதைவிட மிக அதிகமாக வதந்திகள் மூலம் பரவுகிறது என்று தோன்றுகிறது. நமது காட்சி ஊடகங்களும், கட்செவி அஞ்சல் பரிமாற்றங்களும் பல தவறான, ஆதாரமற்ற செய்திகளைப் பரப்பிக் கொண்டிருக்கின்றன. நிரூபிக்கப்படாத சிகிச்சை முறைகளையும் நோய்த்தொற்றுத் தடுப்புக்கான வழிமுறைகளையும் வெளியிட்டு வருகின்றன. ஆதாரமாற்ற தகவல்களை மீள்பதிவு செய்து பரப்புவதற்கு முற்றுப்புள்ளி வைத்தாக வேண்டும்.

'மாதா, பிதா, கூகுள், தெய்வம்!'

Added : மார் 17, 2020 02:37

இன்றைய இளசுகள், தொழில்நுட்பத்தில் கெட்டி என்று நான் எழுதியதை படித்து விட்டு, சில பெரியவர்கள், என்னிடம் மாறுபட்ட கருத்துக்கள் தெரிவித்தனர். 'இவர்களுக்கு பெரிய அறிவியல் அறிவெல்லாம் கிடையாது; மொபைல் போன் வைத்து நோண்டிக் கொண்டிருந்தால், பெரிய அறிவாளி என்று அர்த்தமா...' என்று செல்லமாக சண்டை போட்டார், ஒரு தகப்பனார்.என் கருத்தை விளக்கினேன். 'பிறக்கையிலேயே, இவர்களுக்கு எல்லா மின்னணு கருவிகளும் அறிமுகமாகி விடுவதால், இவர்கள் எல்லோரும், Gadget freeks. இதை தனித்திறன் என்பதை விட, இந்த சந்ததியின் சர்வ சாதாரண இயல்பு என்று தான் சொன்னேன்' என்றேன்.

தொழில்நுட்பம் புகுந்த வாழ்க்கை, இன்று வயது வித்தியாசமின்றி, எல்லோரையும் பாதித்து வருகிறது என்பது தான் உண்மை. இன்று, 'டிவி' தனியாக ஓடிக்கொண்டிருக்க, வீட்டிலுள்ள அனைவரும் மூன்று மூலைகளில் உட்கார்ந்து கொண்டு, மொபைலைப் பார்த்துக் கொண்டிருப்பது தான், பலர் வீடுகளில் நடக்கிறது. ஆனால், எல்லா வயதினரையும் விட, அதிக பாதிப்பு, 20களுக்குத் தான்.திரையைப் பார்க்கும் நேரம், இன்று மனித முகங்களை பார்க்கும் நேரத்தை விட, பன் மடங்கு அதிகமாகி விட்டது. 'ஆன்லைன்' தான் இன்று சமூகக்கூடம், கல்விக்கூடம், பணியிடம், ஆடுகளம், கேளிக்கை தளம், காதல் அரங்கம் எல்லாம்.

இதனால், இன்று நம் வாழ்வின் தவிர்க்க இயலாத அங்கமாக மாறிவிட்டது கைப்பேசி. தட்டையான திரையைப் பார்த்து பார்த்து, நம் வாழ்வும் மழுங்கடிப்பட்டு, தட்டையாக மாறி வருவதை கவனிக்கத் தவறுகிறோம். 35 வயதை கடந்தவர்களுக்கு கைபேசி இல்லாத ஒரு காலம் தெரியும்; அதனால் பெற்றது என்ன, இழந்தது என்ன என்று ஒப்பிட முடியும். 20களுக்கு அந்த கற்றல் கிடைக்க வாய்ப்பேயில்லை.

எப்படி அறிவுரை சொல்வது?

மனிதர்கள், சக மனிதர்களோடும், விலங்குகளோடும் இயற்கையோடும் மட்டுமே வாழ்ந்த வாழ்க்கை ஒன்று இருந்தது. அதை, எப்படி இப்போது இந்த, 20களுக்கு புரிய வைப்பது? இதற்கு அவர்களை குறை சொல்வதில் எந்த நியாயமுமில்லை. இந்த இயந்திரம் சூழ் வாழ்க்கைக்கு பெரும் காரணம், இப்போது வாழும், 40களும், 60களும் தானே! ஆனால், தொழில்நுட்பம் வரமா, சாபமா என்று விவாதித்தால், யாராலும் ஒரு பட்சமாய் தீர்ப்பு சொல்ல இயலாது.நமக்கு பழக்கம் இல்லாத ஒரு உலகிற்கு நாம் தள்ளப்பட்டது போல உணர்கிறோம். எல்லாம் தெரிந்த ஆசிரியர் என்ற மதிப்பு போய் விட்டது. எல்லாம் தெரிந்த, 'கூகுள்' நம் கையில் உள்ளதாக நினைக்கிறோம். ஒரு மாணவன் வேடிக்கையாகச் சொன்னான்: 'மாதா, பிதா, கூகுள், தெய்வம்!'என்று. செயற்கை அறிவு, படு மலிவாய் நம் உள்ளங்கையில் கிடைக்கையில், நாம் அறிவு சேர்க்க அனுபவம் தேவையில்லை என்று, அவசரப்பட்டு முடிவு செய்து விடுகின்றனர்.எல்லாம் தெரிந்ததாக நினைத்துக் கொண்டிருக்கும் சந்ததிக்கு எப்படி அறிவுரை சொல்வது? பெற்றோரின் அதிகாரமும், ஆசிரியர்களின் கட்டுப்பாடும் மிக விரைவில் தோற்றுப் போய் விடுகின்றன. படுக்கையில் விழுகையில் மட்டும், மருத்துவர்கள் சொல் கேட்கின்றனர்.

'சரி, எப்படியோ போகட்டும்!' என்றும் மூத்தவர்களால் போக முடியவில்லை. முதல் முக்கிய காரணம் உடல் மற்றும் மன நலக்கேடு. இரண்டாவது உறவுப் பிரச்னைகள். ஆரோக்கியம் இன்று இவர்களின் மிகப்பெரிய சவால். இதைப் பற்றி புதிதாக உங்களுக்கு சொல்ல ஏதுமில்லை. உணவு, உறக்கம், ஓய்வு, உடற்பயிற்சி என, ஒவ்வொரு விஷயத்திலும் இவர்களுக்கு பிரச்னை. மன நலப் பிரச்னைகளும் இன்று பெருகி விட்டன. பள்ளிக் குழந்தைகள், 'டிப்ரஷனுக்கு' மருந்து எடுப்பது என்பது, சென்ற தலைமுறை அறியாதது.போதை மனித முகங்கங்கள்கைப்பேசித் திரை, மடி கணினித் திரை, தொலைக்காட்சித் திரை என, குறைந்தபட்சம் மூன்று திரைகளில், ஒரு நாளைக்கு, எட்டு மணி நேரத்திற்கு மேல் பார்த்தால், அதுவும் போதை போல நம்மை ஆட்கொள்ளும். Electronic Screen Syndrome இன்று பரவி வருவதாக, மன நல மருத்துவர்கள் கூறுகின்றனர்.

என்ன போதை இது?

எதைச் செய்தாலும் அதில் லயிக்காமல், உடனே ஏதோ ஒரு திரையை திறந்து அதை காணுவது. இன்று, வாகனம் ஓட்டுபவர்கள் ஒரு சின்ன இடைவெளி கிடைத்தாலும், உடனே செய்தி தட்டுகின்றனர் அல்லது கைப்பேசியில் படம் பார்க்கின்றனர். இந்த போதை மனித முகங்களை காட்டிலும், திரையை நோக்கச் செய்யும். உறவுகளில் குழப்பம் வர இது போதாதா?இருபதுகள் நம்மை விட அறிவாளிகள் தான்; சந்தேகமே இல்லை. ஆனால், வாழ்வு முறை இடர்பாடுகள் நிறைந்த அவர்கள் வாழ்க்கையில், உணர்வு சிக்கல்களும், உறவு சிக்கல்களும் ஏராளம் உள்ளன. அதை அவர்கள் அறிந்தாலும், பல நேரங்களில் தேவைப்படும் காலத்தில் அவர்களுக்கு உதவி கிடைப்பதில்லை.

முத்திரை குத்தாமல், குற்றம் சொல்லாமல், அறிவுரை சொல்லிக் கொள்ளாமல், நாம் அவர்களுக்கு உதவ வேண்டிய இடத்தில் நிற்கிறோம். அது நம் கடமையும் கூட!

அண்ணா பல்கலை தேர்வு அறிவிப்பு

Added : மார் 17, 2020 00:39

சென்னை;அண்ணா பல்கலையின், செமஸ்டர் தேர்வுக்கான தேதி அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அண்ணா பல்கலை மற்றும் அதன் சென்னை வளாகத்தில் உள்ள கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, பல்கலையின் கூடுதல் தேர்வு துறை இயக்குனரகம் சார்பாக, செமஸ்டர் தேர்வுகள் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன.

மற்ற இணைப்பு கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும், உறுப்பு கல்லுாரிகளுக்கும், அண்ணா பல்கலையின், தேர்வு துறை இயக்குனரகம் சார்பில், செமஸ்டர் தேர்வு நடத்தப்படுகிறது. தன்னாட்சி அந்தஸ்து பெற்ற கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, அந்தந்த கல்லுாரிகளே, தேர்வை நடத்துகின்றன. ஒவ்வொரு ஆண்டும், முதலாம் பருவ தேர்வு, நவம்பர், டிசம்பர் மாதங்களிலும், இரண்டாவது பருவ தேர்வு, ஏப்ரல், மே மாதங்களிலும் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், இந்த கல்வி ஆண்டுக்கான, இரண்டாம் பருவ தேர்வு அட்டவணை வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.அதன்படி, நடப்பு கல்வி ஆண்டில், அனைத்து பட்டப்படிப்புகள் மற்றும் முதுநிலை படிப்புகளுக்கான, இரண்டாம் பருவ தேர்வு, ஏப்., 18ல் துவங்கி, மே, 21 வரை நடத்தப்படும் என, அண்ணா பல்கலை அறிவித்துள்ளது. பாடத்திட்டம் மற்றும் மண்டல கல்லுாரிகளுக்கான தேர்வு விபரங்கள், அண்ணா பல்கலையின், www.annauniv.edu என்ற, இணையதளத்தில் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளன.

காத்திருப்பு இல்லாமல் நேரடி தரிசனம் இன்று முதல் திருமலையில் அறிமுகம்

Added : மார் 17, 2020 00:01

திருப்பதி:திருமலையில், இன்று முதல், காத்திருப்பு அறையில் காத்திருக்காமல், நேரடி தரிசனத்திற்கு பக்தர்களை தேவஸ்தானம் அனுமதிக்க உள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவி வருவதால், திருமலையில் பக்தர்கள், ஒரே இடத்தில் கூடுவதை தடுக்க, பல்வேறு நடவடிக்கைகளை, தேவஸ்தானம் எடுத்து வருகிறது. திருப்பதியில் உள்ள, அலிபிரி சோதனை சாவடி மற்றும் நடைபாதை மார்க்கங்களில், சுகாதார பணியாளர்கள், 24 மணி நேரமும், சுழற்சி முறையில் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ளனர். பக்தர்களின் பயன்பாடு அதிகம் உள்ள இடங்கள், நோய் தொற்று ஏற்படாமல் தடுக்க, கிருமிநாசினி மருந்துகளால், அடிக்கடி சுத்தம் செய்யப்படுகின்றன. மேலும், காத்திருப்பு அறையில், பக்தர்கள் பல மணி நேரம் கூடுவதால், ஒருவருக்கு ஏற்படும் தொற்று, மற்றவர்களுக்கு பரவும் அபாயம் உள்ளது.இதனால், இன்று முதல், 31ம் தேதி வரை, ஏழுமலையானின் நேரடி தரிசனத்திற்கு மட்டுமே, பக்தர்கள் அனுமதிக்கப்பட உள்ளனர். தர்மதரிசனம் முற்றிலும் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. தர்ம தரிசன நேரடி ஒதுக்கீடு, 300 ரூபாய் விரைவு தரிசனம், திவ்யதரிசனம் உள்ளிட்ட நேரடி ஒதுக்கீடு தரிசனத்தில் மட்டுமே, பக்தர்கள் ஏழுமலையானை தரிசிக்க அனுமதிக்கப்பட உள்ளனர்.இவ்வாறு நேரடி ஒதுக்கீடு தரிசனத்திற்கு வரும் பக்தர்கள், தங்களின் ஆதார் அட்டை, வாக்காளர் அட்டை, ஓட்டுனர் உரிமம், பான் அட்டை, பாஸ்போர்ட் உள்ளிட்ட ஏதாவது ஒரு அடையாள அட்டையை, தங்களுடன் கட்டாயம் கொண்டு வர வேண்டும். தங்களுக்கு ஒதுக்கப்பட்ட நேரத்தில் தான், பக்தர்கள் தரிசனத்திற்கு செல்ல வேண்டும். திருமலையில் உள்ள சுகாதாரத்துறை அலுவலகம், 24 மணி நேரமும் செயல்பட்டு வருகிறது. இங்கு, இலவச பரிசோதனை செய்து கொள்ள விரும்பும் பக்தர்கள், 0877-2263447 என்ற, எண்ணை தொடர்பு கொள்ள வேண்டும்.

மேலும், ஆர்ஜித சேவைகளான, விசேஷ பூஜை, சகஸ்ர கலசாபிஷேகம், வசந்தோற்சவம் உள்ளிட்ட சேவைகளை, வரும், 31ம் தேதி வரை தேவஸ்தானம் ரத்து செய்துள்ளது.இதனால், இந்த டிக்கெட்டிற்கு முன்பதிவு செய்த பக்தர்கள், திருமலையில் உள்ள கூடுதல் செயல் அதிகாரி அலுவலகத்திற்கு நேரில் சென்று, அதற்கு பதிலாக, வி.ஐ.பி., 'பிரேக்' தரிசன அனுமதியை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம்.

ரூ.2000 நோட்டு அச்சடிப்பை கைவிடவில்லை: மத்திய அரசு

Updated : மார் 17, 2020 05:03 | Added : மார் 17, 2020 04:58

புதுடில்லி: ரூ.2000 நோட்டு அச்சடிப்பை கைவிடவில்லை என பார்லி.,யில் மத்திய அரசு தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

மத்திய நிதித் துறை இணையமைச்சர் அனுராக் சிங் தாக்குர் லோக்சபாவில் பேசியதாவது: நடப்பு, 2019 - 20ம் நிதியாண்டில், 2,000 ரூபாய் நோட்டு அச்சடிக்க, 'ஆர்டர்' வழங்கவில்லை. அதேசமயம், அச்சடிப்பதை கைவிடும் முடிவும் எடுக்கப்படவில்லை. பொதுத் துறையைச் சேர்ந்த, ஸ்டேட் பேங்க் ஆப் இந்தியா, இந்தியன் வங்கி ஆகியவை மட்டுமே, அவற்றின் 'ஏ.டி.எம்.,'களில், 2,000 ரூபாய்க்கு பதிலாக, 200 மற்றும் 500 ரூபாய் நோட்டுகளை வைக்க உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளன. அதுகூட, மக்களின் நன்மைக்காகத்தான் இந்த முடிவு எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுவரை, 7.40 லட்சம் கோடி ரூபாய் மதிப்பிற்கு, 2,000 ரூபாய் நோட்டுகள் அச்சடிக்கப்பட்டு, வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளன. அவற்றில், 5.49 லட்சம் கோடி ரூபாய் புழக்கத்தில் உள்ளது. கரன்சி கருவூலத்தில், 0.93 ஆயிரம் கோடி ரூபாய் உள்ளது. மத்திய அரசும், ரிசர்வ் வங்கியும் ஆலோசித்து, ரூபாய் நோட்டு அச்சடிப்பு குறித்து முடிவு செய்கின்றன. இவ்வாறு, அவர் பேசினார்.

KNRUHS Announces Holidays At Its Medical Colleges Due To Coronavirus Outbreak 

By MD BureauPublished On 16 March 2020 10:00 AM | 

Hyderabad: In the wake of ongoing coronavirus (COVID 19) outbreak, the Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal, (KNRUHS) has declared holidays at its affiliated medical colleges. The Telangana State Government had ordered all institutes to declare holidays in view of precautionary measures to prevent spreading of COVID-19-Virus. 

The notice informing about the effect clearly states: 

"Consequent on orders of Government of Telangana vide reference cited above, Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences, Warangal, hereby declares holidays to affiliated colleges from today to 31.03.2020 as a precautionary measure to prevent spreading of COVID-19. Students are strictly advised to avoid public/social gatherings and avoid travel as a precautionary measure." The holidays are not applicable to 

• Faculty and Office Staff of all Colleges 

• Interns and Postgraduate students in all faculties such as Medical, Dental, AYUSH, etc. 

• Interns and Postgraduate students of Nursing and Allied Health Courses working in Hospitals. 

All the principals and superintendents of the institutions must ensure that necessary preventive measures/safety measures are provided for the faculty and interns and PG's on hospital duty. Advertisement It is also informed that university examinations, notified already, will be conducted as per the schedule.

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/colleges/knruhs-announces-holidays-at-its-medical-colleges-due-to-coronavirus-outbreak-63944

NEET 2020 Applications: NTA Activates Correction Window By GarimaPublished 

On 16 March 2020 12:32 PM | Updated On 16 March 2020 12:32 PM 

New Delhi: Through a recent notice, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has informed that the correction facility to rectify the particulars in the NEET 2020 Online Application Form is once again operational for candidates. Candidates, who accidentally submitted incorrect data during the application process, now have the chance to correct it to make their data error-free. The Correction Facility will stay open till 19/03/2020 (up to 12.00 A.M.). 

"The candidates are advised to visit the website and verify their particulars and make necessary corrections wherever required. The aspirants of J & K who have submitted offline Application Form can also avail the correction facility in their Application Form on the website https://ntaneet.nic.in. Application number for such candidates will be shared with them separately through Email and SMS. The candidates are informed to undertake the correction(s) very carefully as no further chance will be given," the notice states. 

The largest entrance examination for UG medical courses, National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the gateway for admissions to medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in the country. The test will be conducted as per regulations of the Indian Medical Council Act-1956 and the Dentists Act-1948, and as amended from time to time. This year, the admission to MBBS course in AIIMS, New Delhi, JIPMER and all AIIMS like institutions will also be made through NEET. 

Date of NEET 2020 NEET 2020 will be conducted on 3 May 2020 (Sunday) from 02:00 p.m. to 05:00 p.m. 

Schedule Downloading of Admit Cards from NTA website 27.03.2020 

Date of Examination 03.05.2020 

Duration of Examination 180 minutes (03 hours) 

Timing of Examination 02:00 pm to 05:00 pm 

Centre of NEET 2020 Examination As indicated on Admit Card 

Display of Recorded Responses and Answer Keys To be announced later on the website Website(s) www.nta.ac.in, ntaneet.nic.in 

Declaration of Result on the NTA website by 04 June 2020 

Any request for changes in information after the closure of the correction period will not be considered by NTA under any circumstances. Any candidate found to mislead by providing inaccurate information will be debarred from taking the examination. NTA disclaims any liability that may arise due to incorrect information provided by the candidate(s) during the registration process. 

NTA does not edit /modify/alter any information entered by the candidates after completion of the application process under any circumstances. NTA does not guarantee that any request for a change in information thereafter will be entertained. Therefore, candidates are advised to exercise utmost caution and care for filling up correct details in the Application Form Any correction pertaining to the photograph and signature of the candidate will be intimated through e-mail/SMS and the same will be available in the candidate's login account. Other permissible corrections can also be carried through log-in account only during schedule fixed for the same. 

Candidates may ensure clear photograph and signatures are uploaded. Thereafter, no request for correction(s) will be entertained except when the window for correction in all fields open. 

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/pdf_upload-125532.pdf For more details, keep visiting the original website of NTA given below: https://www.nta.ac.in/

https://education.medicaldialogues.in/exams-and-results/neet-2020-applications-nta-activates-correction-window-63938

Fear of outbreak grips IT industry; techies to work from home now

Taking stock of the current situation to prevent the deadly COVID-19 from spreading, a number of IT companies in Coimbatore are charting out plans to make their employees work from home.

Published: 16th March 2020 10:27 AM |

People wear masks as preventive measure against coronavirus. (Photo | Shriram BN/EPS)

By Deepak Sathish

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Taking stock of the current situation to prevent the deadly COVID-19 from spreading, a number of IT companies in Coimbatore are charting out plans to make their employees work from home.

While the idea is more relevant for software firms, the same might not be emulated by call centres because of the mandate to attend queries of customers.

The move comes following the a recent public notice provided by the Department of Telecom and Software Technology Parks of India (STPI) allowing employees working at IT and BPO firms present in Special Economic Zones (SEZs) in India (functioning under the Ministry of Commerce and Industry) to work from home till April 30.

Companies in SEZs at Coimbatore are likely to activate the Disaster Recovery (DR) mode by asking its workforce to work from home. As the preliminary plans in this regard are already done, the companies would initiate it if there are any cases of COVID-19 reported in the district.

It must be noted that Coimbatore has three SEZs, namely TIDEL Park, CHIL SEZ IT Park, and Rathinam Techzone.

Highly placed sources at an American multinational corporation here said the employees would be provided laptops and dongles to enable them to work from home. The idea is to basically protect employees, the source said.

Besides, the companies have advised employees to avoid travelling outside the district and deferred its regular process of conducting walk-in interviews.

Coimbatore Hi-tech Information Limited (CHIL) SEZ IT Park, Director Ashok Bakthavathsalam, said, "Based on the recommendations provided to us, IT companies are testing out the disaster recovery plan by asking 20 per cent of their employees to work from home. They are also trying to ensure that the said employees deliver their designated work."

With a secure network or Virtual Private Network (VPN), the employees need not bother about the data or projects while working from home, Ashok added.

An employee working with an e-commerce giant in Coimbatore, requesting anonymity, said his company had asked its employees whether they could work from home if the situation worsens. It is said the company would provide all requirements including power backup, internet, laptops, among others.

TIDEL Park (Coimbatore) Deputy General Manager (operations) R Sendhil Murugan, said they would soon form a committee comprising higher officials of IT companies to check how disaster recovery mode could be activated.

As part of precautionary measures, firms operating in SEZs have deputed doctors for screening their employees and made hand sanitisers available.

Stat attack

Number of SEZ in Coimbatore- 3

TIDEL Park

- Number of employees- 12,500

- Number of companies- 72

CHIL SEZ IT Park

- Number of employees- Around 40,000

- Number of companies- Nearly 20

Coronavirus: Madras HC to take up only urgent cases for next three weeks

Advocates have been instructed to inform their parties not to come to the court campuses, and entry passes would not be issued for the next three weeks.

Published: 17th March 2020 05:59 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI/CHENNAI: The Madras High Court will be taking up only urgent cases for hearing from March 18 for the next three weeks. The move, initiated to prevent the spread of COVID-19, also applies to the Madurai Bench. A decision in this regard was taken at an emergency meeting convened by Chief Justice AP Sahi on Monday, with companion judges, judicial officers, and office bearers of bar associations. The norms to decide the urgency of a case will be the same as what is followed during vacation sittings. Motion cases (new cases or cases which are at the admission stage) would also be heard by judges concerned.

Advocates have been instructed to inform their parties not to come to the court campuses, and entry passes would not be issued for the next three weeks. Canteens and tea shops on the campuses are also likely to be closed, say sources. “Mediation and Reconciliation Centre would also be closed. Bar associations have also requested their members to put bar offices and libraries to minimal use,” said an advocate practising at Madurai Bench.

Meanwhile, at the Assembly, legislators had to undergo a thermal screening at the entrance before being allowed inside. Speaker P Dhanapal announced that starting Monday afternoon, permission given to visitors to watch the proceedings would be suspended until further notice.

COVID-19: Singapore Airlines waives rebooking fee

Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.

Published: 16th March 2020 04:17 PM 

Singapore Airlines. 

CHENNAI: Singapore Airlines has waived all rebooking fees for tickets issued on or before March 15 for travel up to May 31 with immediate effect following coronavirus pandemic.

Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.

The new flight itinerary should be completed by March 31, 2021, according to a release.

This policy allows customers the flexibility to defer their travel plans and applies to all bookings for travel up to May 31. All rebooking fees will be waived, although a fare difference may apply for the new itinerary.

SIA will continue to review its waiver policy and retains the flexibility to extend the cut-off date of May 31 as it assesses the impact of the COVID-19 outbreak on global air travel in the coming weeks. For all new SIA and SilkAir tickets issued from now to March 31, SIA will also waive change fees.

Customers may contact by filling an online form. Those who booked their tickets directly through Singapore Airlines may also contact their local Singapore Airlines reservations teams. Customers who booked their tickets through travel agencies are advised to contact their agents for assistance, the release added.

Siddha medical college declares indefinite closure 

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,TIRUNELVELI

Following dharna by a section of undergraduate students of Government Siddha Medical College on the college premises in Palayamkottai on Monday demanding immediate opening of the men’s hostel, the college administration declared indefinite closure of the college.

The dilapidated 4-storey men’s hostel on Saalai Street in Vannarpet was razed down in September 2018. When the students were about to be shifted to an unused government building, they refused to accept the offer. Demanding opening of a hostel near the college, they started sit-in on its premises.

Services of retiring doctors, paramedics extended in Punjab

Cabinet takes stock of preventive steps to fight COVID-19

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHANDIGARH

CM Amarinder Siungh

The Punjab Cabinet on Monday held a meeting to take stock of the situation arising out of the COVID-19 outbreak and gave ex-post facto approval to the Chief Minister’s decision on extending the services of retiring doctors and paramedical staff working with the State’s health and family welfare department.

An official statement said that their services have been extended till September 30, for which a resolution was passed at the meeting as the Cabinet reviewed the reports of the 7-member Group of Ministers, constituted under the chairmanship of Local Bodies Minister Brahm Mohindra, to oversee the preventive measures undertaken to combat the threat.

Chief Minister Amarinder Singh later talking to journalists reiterated the total elimination of all kinds of mafia and monopoly in the State. He was talking on the occasion of completion of three years of his government. Capt. Amarinder said he will not allow mining, liquor, drug and transport mafias, gangsters and terrorists to disturb the State’s peaceful environment.

The Chief Minister said his government was working to end all these evils since taking over Punjab’s reins. “But these things take time. We have done our best, and we could not have done any better considering the situation,” he added.

Describing unemployment as the biggest concern, he announced that one lakh government vacancies would be filled up in the next two years.

Transport monopoly

To a question about monopoly of a single family on buses being operated from Delhi airports to Punjab, the Chief Minister said his government was working to address the issue.

Referring to complaints of continued illegal practices in sand mining, Capt. Amarinder said he had asked the Water Resources Minister to thoroughly review and make the system fully transparent.

Getting the hang of deathpenalty

India is one of only 58 countries that have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. In 1967, the Law Commission had argued to retain capital punishment, but in 2015 it stated that ‘retribution cannot be reduced to vengeance’

17/03/2020, SOIBAM ROCKY SINGH,NEW DELHI

In January, when senior advocate and human rights activist Indira Jaising urged the mother of the 23-year-old victim of the infamous December 16, 2012, gang rape and murder case to “forgive” the four death row convicts, there was a backlash — not just from the mother but the public as well.

This was despite Ms. Jaising making clear that she was with the mother in her pain, but “against death penalty”.

The debate over the death sentence is going on for a long time. Those in favour of capital punishment see it as a deterrence against such type of crimes while others opine that it has not had any such effect.

First initiative

In British India’s Legislative Assembly, the first time an issue was raised regarding capital punishment was in 1931, when one of the Members from Bihar, Gaya Prasad Singh, sought to introduce a Bill to abolish the death penalty for offences under the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

However, this was defeated.

At the time of Independence, India retained several laws put in place by the British colonial government, including capital punishment for various crimes under the IPC.

A crucial change in the law was made in 1955 when the Parliament repealed Section 367(5) of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), which until then mandated the courts to record reasons where it decided not to impose a sentence of death for offences where the death penalty was an option. The CrPC was re-enacted in 1973 where several changes were made, notably to Section 354(3) mandating judges to provide special reasons for why they imposed the death sentence.

Law Commission reports

In 1967, the 35th Report of the Law Commission had argued for retention of capital punishment in India.

The report stated that retribution should not be understood as an “eye for an eye”, but in its refined form as public denunciation of crime. It also stated that there are a category of individuals who are “cruel and wicked”, and are not capable of reform.

A major reason stated in the report for the retention of capital punishment was the unique condition of India, and the society then prevalent.

About half-a-century later, the Law Commission, in its 262th Report, highlighted that the death penalty does not serve the penological goal of deterrence any more than life imprisonment. The commission, in its report published in 2015, recommended that the death penalty be abolished for all crimes other than terrorism-related offences and waging war against the State.

Rarest of rare cases

The first legal challenge to the constitutionality of the death penalty came in the 1973 case of Jagmohan Singh vs State of Uttar Pradesh in which the petitioners argued that the death penalty was against the Constitution.

The Supreme Court, however, found that the death penalty was a permissible punishment.

This was followed by the 1980 landmark verdict of the top court in the Bachan Singh case where it upheld the constitutionality of the death penalty but confined its application to the ‘rarest of rare cases’, to reduce the arbitrariness of the penalty.

International scenario

Internationally, countries are classified on their death penalty status based on four categories: abolitionist for all crimes, abolitionist for ordinary crimes, abolitionist de facto, and retentionist.

At the end of 2014, seven countries were abolitionist for ordinary crimes. Only 98 countries were abolitionist for all crimes, and 35 were abolitionist in practice.

This brought the number of countries which are abolitionist in law or practice to 140.

At the same time, 58 countries are regarded as retentionist, who still have the death penalty on their statute book and have used it in the recent past. This list includes some of the most populous nations in the world, including India, China, Indonesia and the United States.

Neighbouring countries such as Nepal officially abolished the death penalty in 1990 and did not reintroduce it even in the aftermath of the civil war.

Sri Lanka, despite a long civil war, has maintained a moratorium on the penalty, the commission report said.

Recent executions

In July 2015, Yakub Memon was executed by hanging in Nagpur Central Jail for his role in the 1993 Bombay bombings.

Afzal Guru, who was convicted for his role in the 2001 Parliament attack, was executed in February 2013.

In November 2012, Ajmal Kasab, the lone terrorist captured alive in the 2008 Mumbai terrorist attacks, was hanged at Yerwada Jail in Pune. The previous execution was carried out in 2004 of Dhananjoy Chatterjee for the crimes of rape and murder of a 14-year-old schoolgirl.

No clear data

Project 39A of the National Law University, Delhi, which publishes the death penalty reports has highlighted the difficulty in obtaining the exact number of prisoners under the sentence of death in India.

As per Project 39A, India has executed around 755 persons since Independence. Its report said that Uttar Pradesh carried out the highest number of executions at 366. Also, the Bareilly District Jail in the State has the distinction of carrying out 130 executions, the highest of all jails in the country, with the last execution being carried out on September 24, 1988.

Delhi’s Tihar Central Prisons carried out 25 executions, the last one of Afzal Guru on February 9, 2013.

“Though we at Project 39A have tried our best to collate data from various sources, it is an unfortunate truth that the prisons and other government departments do not have accurate records of the people they have executed,” Project 39A stated.

“Hence, we continue our struggle to get accurate data on the administration of the death penalty in India and are hindered by an absolute lack of coordination between different official sources,” it added.

A case for abolition

“The notion of “an eye for an eye, tooth for a tooth” has no place in our constitutionally mediated criminal justice system. Capital punishment fails to achieve any constitutionally valid penological goals,” the Law Commission, in its 262th Report had said.

It pointed out that even the Supreme Court has on numerous occasions expressed concern about arbitrary sentencing in death penalty cases. “The court has noted that it is difficult to distinguish cases where death penalty has been imposed from those where the alternative of life imprisonment has been applied,” it said.

The commission had stated that the constitutional regulation of capital punishment attempted in Bachan Singh case has failed to prevent death sentences from being “arbitrarily and freakishly imposed”.

The commission had put a case for abolition of death penalty, except terrorism-related offences and waging war, noting,“Retribution has an important role to play in punishment. However, it cannot be reduced to vengeance”.

Over 180 flights cancelled at Chennai airport

17/03/2020, SUNITHA SEKAR,CHENNAI

Over 180 flights have been cancelled at Chennai airport this month and there may be a nearly 50% dip in the international passenger traffic.

Airport sources said that nearly 100 flights have been cancelled this week alone. On Monday too, several flights to destinations including Singapore, Kuala Lumpur and Bangkok were cancelled by several airlines. Sources said, the international air passenger traffic that was around 8,000-9,000 till last week has fallen further.

“Though we are yet to get an exact estimate of the passenger traffic, from the initial estimates, only 4,000-5,000 are travelling now. This may even fall further in the coming days as more and more number of flights are being cancelled,” a source said. In the first 11 days, about 90 flights were cancelled.

While all airlines that cancel don’t necessarily say it is because of COVID-19, sources said, majority of the cancellations were due to the impact of this pandemic.

The screening of passengers has been on and 1,80,062 passengers have been screened at Chennai, Tiruchi, Madurai and Coimbatore till date.

Some of the airlines like Singapore Airlines has been offering fee waiver and flexible rebooking for all customers.

In a statement, Singapore Airlines has said: “Singapore Airlines is waiving all rebooking fees for tickets issued on or before March 15, 2020, for travel up to May 31, 2020, with immediate effect. Customers can cancel their existing flight itineraries, retain the value of their tickets and rebook their travel at a later date, when they are able to firm up their new travel plans.”

Health checkpost at Rajapalayam

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,VIRUDHUNAGAR

A new health checkpost will start functioning at Rajapalayam for taking up fumigation of vehicles and checking health condition of passengers who enter the district, in the wake of COVID-19 scare.

The check-post will have a medical team and health workers round-the-clock.

“Though Virudhunagar district does not share a territorial border with Kerala, Rajapalayam being a big town, we have planned to spray disinfectant on vehicles. Passengers would be screened by medical teams as a precautionary measure,” said Virudhunagar Collector R. Kannan. All muffosil and town buses would be disinfected after every single trip. A big team of sanitary workers from town panchayats, municipalities and rural areas have been kept ready to take up fumigation, he added.

Isolation wards

The district administration has already geared up to create isolation wards in all the 10 Government hospitals across district. “At least 100 persons could be kept in isolation in the district,” he added.

The Collector, who chaired a meeting with health officials in the evening, said that the Block Medical Officers have been asked to provide right treatment to people complaining of fever. They should be properly screened, he added.

Medical officers and paramedical staff have been advised to take all precautions to avoid bodily contact with patients. They have been asked to wear safety gears like masks and gloves. “The hospitals have adequate stocks of sanitiser, drugs and disinfectant,” Mr. Kannan said.

Medical teams would create awareness on how COVID-19 could spread and the measures to prevent its spreading, he added.

Meanwhile, the first patient with fever has been admitted to the Government hospital at Srivilliputtur. “Since the patient had come from Kerala, she has been kept in isolation and under observation. There is no need for any panic,” the Collector said.

The Collector’s instructions on declaring holidays for schools and colleges would be intimated to all educational institutions.

“We have already closed the anganwadis, along with the primary schools, in the district,” he added.

While the hotels in the district have been asked to stop fresh bookings, the Collector said that local health officials should be intimated if any guests are being provided accommodation.

The district police have been asked to not give permission for any procession or public meetings as a precautionary measure. The Collector also appealed to the people to avoid unnecessary gatherings as a precautionary measure.

Nirbhaya convict’s plea quashed

Mukesh had sought restoration of legal remedies against the death sentence

17/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

Mukesh Singh

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition filed by one of the Nirbhaya case convicts, Mukesh, for restoration of his legal remedies, including a curative petition, against his death sentence.

The four convicts in the case are scheduled to be hanged to death on March 20. Mukesh, through his counsel M.L. Sharma, said his earlier lawyer had coerced him to sign documents for vested political interests hatched in a joint criminal conspiracy.

The petition said: “Petitioner (Mukesh) is victim of criminal conspiracy and fraud played and hatched jointly by the R-1 (Ministry of Home Affairs), R-2 (Delhi government) and R-3 (Vrinda Grover) and other advocate who appeared in the Sessions Court, High Court and the Supreme Court in the petitioner’s death warrant case.”

The petition claimed the limitation period to file a curative petition was three years from the date of dismissal of the review plea. He sought to “restore” the rights available to him and allow him to file curative and mercy petitions till July 2021.

A Bench led by Justice Arun Mishra refused to entertain the plea, saying it was not maintainable. Mr. Sharma was finally allowed to withdraw with the court dismissing the case.

As of now, all four — Pawan, Mukesh, Vinay and Akshay — have exhausted their available remedies.

In Mukesh’s case, the top court had on July 9, 2018 dismissed his review plea. His curative and mercy pleas were rejected by it and President Ram Nath Kovind, respectively.

A 23-year-old physiotherapy student was gang-raped in a moving bus in South Delhi on December 16, 2012. She died after a fortnight from the massive injuries she suffered. Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail days after the trial began.

Karnataka medical colleges to act as COVID-19 ‘war rooms’

An entire floor will be converted into an isolation zone

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,BENGALURU

Safety first: A health official conducting a thermal screening test in Bengaluru on Monday. PTIPTI

All government medical colleges in the districts will henceforth act as COVID-19 ‘war rooms’ in Karnataka. An entire floor in these colleges will be converted into a full-fledged isolation zone with 150-250 beds, ICUs and the required number of ventilators, Medical Education Minister K. Sudhakar said on Monday.

Private colleges

Briefing presspersons after an emergency meeting with the directors of different government medical colleges, the Minister said private medical colleges would be roped in districts where there were no government medical colleges.

Only 17 districts have government medical colleges in the State.

“In Bengaluru, we are holding talks with various medical colleges such as East Point Medical College, Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and MVJ Medical College. In private hospitals, too, we want to convert one floor into an isolation zone. We want to make sure that we have at least 3,000 beds for isolating patients in Bengaluru,” he asserted.

Pondicherry varsity suspends classes

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,PUDUCHERRY

Pondicherry University has suspended classes, examinations and common facilities, including hostels and library till March 31, or until further notice as a pre-emptive measure against spread of the novel coronavirus.

While academic activities remain suspended with immediate effect, hostels and mess facilities will shut down on Wednesday.

In a circular, the university advised students to return home and stay safe. They will be allowed to return to the university only after academic activities resume. Hostel residents need to intimate the warden while leaving premises, the circular said.

“Teaching and administrative staff will continue to function in this period,” a university official said.

The university has also postponed the group discussion and interview for MBA (CAT) admissions for 2020-21 in the wake of the threat of novel coronavirus.

In a notification, S. Chitra Sivasubramanian, Head of the Department of Management Studies, said the revised date will be notified later.

The GD/interview could be held in the first or second week of May. As a consequence, the last date to apply has also been extended to April 15.

The proposed national conference (NCRTGET-2020) hosted by the Centre for Green Energy Technology has also been postponed.

Madras Medical College to get testing lab

Checkposts set up in 16 districts to screen people

17/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Madras Medical College (MMC) will soon have a testing facility for COVID-19.

Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar on Monday said that after Tiruvarur, testing facilities for COVID-19 have been set up in Tirunelveli as well. Laboratories are also functioning at the King Institute of Preventive Medicine, Guindy and at the Government Medical College, Theni. “A testing facility is being set up at MMC and it will be ready in a day or two,” he said after holding a review meeting with officials.

Noting that the number of cases was increasing at the national level, the Minister said, “From 60, the number has crossed to more than 100 positive cases. As the number of positive patients keeps increasing, there is fear. So, we are further intensifying our measures in the State. The number of cases has also increased in Kerala. We need to be more cautious.” The sole patient who tested positive for COVID-19 in the State would be discharged from Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in the evening, he added.

Checkposts in 16 districts

In 16 identified districts, the Health department, along with police personnel, had set up checkposts to screen people travelling from Kerala. “The Kerala government is screening people travelling from Tamil Nadu. Similarly, we are screening people coming from Kerala at the entry points. We are activating all checkposts, and our doctors and nurses along with police personnel are conducting checks,” he said. On behalf of the public health department, the Minister appealed to the public to avoid all non-essential travel to neighbouring States or neighbouring countries for the next 15 days. “This is the biggest help that the public can give us,” he said.

The Minister reiterated that the situation was under control. As of now, 1,975 persons are under the direct surveillance, while 11 persons are under observation in hospitals, he said. “We have taken 88 samples. We are awaitingresults of two,” he added.

Nirbhaya case: 3 death row convicts move International Court of Justice seeking stay on execution, says lawyer

PTI | Mar 16, 2020, 09.30 PM IST

NEW DELHI: As the day of hanging of the four death row convicts in Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case nears, three of them have moved the International Court of Justice at Hague seeking a stay on their "unlawful execution", alleging the probe leading to their conviction was "flawed" and they have been treated as "guinea pigs".

The petition, filed through the convicts' lawyer AP Singh, also said that the four -- Vinay Sharma, Pawan Kumar Gupta, Akshay Singh and Mukesh Singh -- have not yet exhausted all their legal remedies.

It is very important to state that "legal remedies/ cases are already pending for disposal before different courts/constitutional bodies in India on behalf of these death row convicts, but very unfortunately and surprisingly in India, Central Jail Tihar has planned and is going to hang them on March 20," the petition said.

The plea alleged that in the Nirbhaya case, the convicts at different points during the investigation, had pleaded to undergo tests such as polygraph, lie detector and brain mapping, but all such pleas were declined without any justification.

It urged the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to launch an "urgent investigation" into the possibility of false testimony by the sole eyewitness, the friend of the victim, in the case.

The petition claimed that the convicts have been treated as "guinea pigs" and have been falsely implicated in the case and it urged the ICJ to order urgent probe into the matter.

"The fact whether the convicts are guilty of culpability or there has been public and media pressure to falsely implicate the convicts or to treat them as guinea pigs to save others and accept the hypothesis that the prosecution has booked them at the instance of some political executives or to save a situation which disturb society perceives as a collective catastrophe on the paradigm of social stability and to sustain its faith in the investigation to keep the precept of rule of law alive," said the petition.

"In essence, the submission is that the whole exercise, namely, investigation and trial has been carried out with the sole purpose for the survival of the prosecuting agency in India, which is a big miscarriage of justice in India," said the petition.

On March 5, a trial court had issued fresh warrants with March 20, 5.30am, as the date for the execution of the convicts — Mukesh Singh (32), Pawan Gupta (25), Vinay Sharma (26) and Akshay Kumar Singh (31).

A 23-year-old physiotherapy intern, who came to be known as 'Nirbhaya' (fearless), was gang raped and savagely assaulted in a moving bus in south Delhi on December 16, 2012. She died after a fortnight.

Six people, including the four convicts and a juvenile, were named as accused. Ram Singh, the sixth accused, allegedly committed suicide in Tihar Jail days after the trial began in the case.

The juvenile was released in 2015 after spending three years in a correctional home.

Nirbhaya case: Tihar Jail gets ready for final act

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.57 AM IST

NEW DELHI: The preparations to execute the death warrant of the four Nirbhaya gang-rape-cum-murder convicts began in full swing at Tihar Jail on Monday. A team of engineers from the public works department visited the jail premises to check the tenacity of the gallows and also conducted a suspension test on the hanging bar. They will also be present when the hangman conducts a dummy hanging from these bars on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the jail authorities conducted a brain mapping test of the four convicts — Mukesh Singh, Akshay Thakur, Pawan Gupta and Vinay Sharma — during a counselling session to gauge their anxiety level. The exercise was conducted to ensure that they don’t suffer from sleep disorders or loss of appetite, leading to a weight loss, a source said.

The PWD team inspected the newly constructed portion of the gallows built to accommodate all four convicts. The final tests were carried out on Monday under the supervision of an additional inspector-general-rank jail officer. The pathway between the solitary cells and the hanging well, too, was inspected to remove any obstruction.

A jail official said the Manilla ropes that would be used in the hanging were greased with butter and mashed bananas on Monday and will be kept ready for the hangman, Pawan, when he arrives on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the jail counsellor and mental health experts from AIIMS who have been counselling inmates spoke to each of them individually. A source said that while Singh had been a recluse, the three others were still in denial about their execution and had expressed hope that their execution might get stalled after they moved the International Court of Justice on Monday.

While family members of Singh and Gupta have had their last meeting on Friday, Sharma’s family will meet him on Tuesday. Thakur’s family had last met him earlier this month after which no one reached out to the jail authorities for a meeting.

The jail authorities allowed the family members of the two convicts to have a one-to-one meeting with them during which they could physically touch them.

To avoid any untoward incident, additional personnel have been deployed round the clock outside the solitary cells of the four convicts since Monday.

(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)

Covid- 19 scare: Inform about foreigner patients, Delhi government tells private hospitals, nursing homes

TNN | Mar 17, 2020, 04.18 AM IST

NEW DELHI: All private hospitals and nursing homes have been asked by Delhi government to mandatorily report on foreign nationals undergoing treatment at their facilities. Delhi has many corporate hospitals that are frequented by foreigners.

Officials said some of them may have arrived before the imposition of visa restrictions and they have to be traced and screened to ensure that the foreign nationals aren’t carriers of the novel coronavirus.

Covid-19 has affected as many as 162 countries till date. China, Italy, Iran, Italy, South Korea and Spain are among the worst affected nations.

India has, so far, reported only 114 cases of the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, and two individuals have succumbed to it.

This is because that disease has been limited to persons with travel history to the affected countries and those who came in contact with the infected individuals. There is currently no community transmission of Covid-19, according to the government.

However, experts agree, the risk of such an eventuality where Covid-19 breaks out in communities affecting larger number of people cannot be ruled out. “Tracing the high risk individuals and quarantining them until they recover is the only way to contain the disease spread. We need to focus on tracing each and every individual, Indian or foreigner, who has travel history to countries affected by Covid-19,” said a health official.

As of Monday, Delhi had reported seven Covid-19 cases and one death. State health officials said at least two out of the seven patients have been discharged from the hospital.

Last week, Delhi government declared Covid-19 an epidemic and issued Delhi Epidemic Disease Covid-19 Regulations 2020 to contain the spread of novel coronavirus in the capital. The regulations give officials the power to take “coercive action” against any person if he refuses to “cooperate” with the authorities.

“Action will be taken against any suspect/confirmed case if they refuse to take measures for prevention/treatment,” it states. The government has suspended operations of all gymnasiums, Spas, night clubs and theatres in the state till March 31 to contain a potential Covid-19 outbreak.

It is advised that people with the disease symptoms should watch out for severe symptoms such as shortness of breath. Those with mild symptoms like fever and dry cough tend to recover on their own with symptomatic treatment.

India’s ban on OCI cardholders sparks panic, anger, acceptance

Naomi Canton

17.03.2020

Thousands of Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) cardholders have been forced to cancel trips to India owing to the recent ban on their entry by the GOI and are apprehensive they will not be able to get back in the event of an emergency.

Dozens managed to get last minute-flights before the ban on visa-free entry to OCI cardholders came into effect on Friday.

Tara Sahgal, a student a King’s College, London, bought a last-minute ticket to Delhi, as she is convinced the pandemic will get worse in the UK. “They are doing nothing to stop the spread in Britain and the UK is going to be the next Italy. It is unfair because OCI cardholders are as Indian as anyone else. If there is an epidemic, we need to go home,” the 19-year-old said.

Others who rushed back included pupils at private schools in Britain and those with business in India.

“At least, the Indian government is taking drastic action to avoid the virus spread. The UK is leaving everything in God’s hands,” said Harendra Jodha, head of the Rajasthan Association UK. “Those who flew back feel they can get cheaper and better treatment in India and that is where their family is,” Jodha said.

“People think the NHS can’t cope. You can’t even get through to the NHS number. The UK should ask the world for help and not have such a big ego. Other countries can send testing kits. This is about humanity. People who are OCI cardholders still feel they are Indian citizens. This is the first time they have felt they are a bit different and not equal to Indian citizenship. But they understand the government rationale,” Jodha added. There is a Covid-19 emergency visa form for OCI cardholders online, but Jodha said there was still a sense of fear in people’s minds.

Nandini Singh, from Reach India, said OCI cardholders forced to cancel trips home accepted the decision, as they did not want India to become like China or Italy.

Full report on www.toi.in

Two women among 4 more held for fake call centre racket, hunt on for other gang members

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.03.2020

In the continuing crackdown on a gang involved in duping loan aspirants of crores of rupees through fake call centres, the central crime branch of the city police on Monday arrested four people, including two women. A court later sent P Satishkumar, 30, of Walajapet, P Prasanna, 29, of Kolathur, E Preethi, 32, of Virugambakkam and R Kalpana, 28, to jail. The last named was arrested for a house break-in last year and was later released on bail.

Sleuths of the CCB’s Bank Fraud Prevention Wing had on March 12 arrested seven suspects and nabbed three others on March 7 as part of the same probe. Those arrested on Monday, investigators said, were working under prime suspect Munir Hussain, helping him set up three fake call centres. A hunt is on for Muni Hussain who police say has been involved in the racket for the past three years..

Those arrested earlier were working under other kingpins spread across the city and its suburbs, police said, adding that they expected to arrest others in the coming days.

The modus operandi of the gang, which investigators believe could have more than 100 members, involved tele-callers, mostly women, contacting members of the public over phone and convincing them to invest in insurance schemes to secure high value loans at low interest.

All they needed to do was to transfer the amount for the first annual premium and a commission to a bank account, the women at the other end of the line would tell the unsuspecting victims. She would also give out her personal phone number that the victims could call anytime. Once the money flowed into the given account, it would be moved to another account and the call centre staff would disappear after chucking the phone number given.

While Satishkumar and Prasanna were part of the back office staff monitoring the collection of money, Preethi controlled the team leaders at Thousand Lights centre and Kalpana had been running a ‘call centre’ in Sithalapakkam.

The probe in to the fake call centre gang is being supervised by Additional Commissioner of Police (CCB) C Easwaramurthy. Police have requested the public to be wary of callers who come up with attactive online loan offers.

The CCB sleuths last week arrested at least ten people including ‘Benze Club’ Saravanan, after busting several fake call centres across the city.