இவர்களின் கதையை கேட்டால்... கொரோனா மனமும் கரைந்து விடும்

Added : மார் 28, 2020 01:06

'பைத்தியங்களா... அப்ப தள்ளி நின்னே பேசுங்க. எப்ப என்ன பண்ணுவாங்கன்னே தெரியாது. திடீர்னு கத்துவாங்க, சிரிப்பாங்க, அழுவாங்க, கையில கிடைக்கறத துாக்கி வீசுவாங்க...'

மனநலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் என்றால், பலரின் மன ஓட்டம் இப்படிதான் இருக்கிறது. யார் இவர்கள், எப்படி இந்த நிலைமைக்கு ஆளானார்கள், அவர்களுக்கான தேவை என்ன என்பதை பற்றி சிந்திக்க கூட யாரும் தயாராக இல்லை.

ஆனால், இப்படிப்பட்ட பல எண்ணங்களுக்கும், தவறான புரிதல்களுக்கும், சவுரிபாளையத்தில் உள்ள செஷயர் மன நல காப்பகம் விடை கொடுக்கிறது.ஆண்கள் 25 பெண்கள் 20 பேர் என மொத்தம், 45 மனநலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் இங்கு பராமரிக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றனர். இவர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவருடைய கதையையும் கேட்டால், கொரோனா வைரசும் கரைந்து விடும்.

விமானப்படை பைலட் கதை!

ஒரு காலத்தில், இந்திய விமான படையில், விமானியாக இருந்தவர், இங்கு இருக்கிறார் என்றால் நம்ப முடிகிறதா... ஆம்! டேராடூனில் பணியாற்றி, பல மணி நேரம் வானில் பறந்து, பல உயிர்களை காப்பாற்றியவர் இவர். பைக் பிரியரான இவர், மிலிட்டரி புல்லட்டில் அதிவேகமாக பயணம் செய்தபோது விபத்தில் சிக்கி, மூளை நரம்பில் அடிபட்டதன் விளைவாக, 23 ஆண்டுகளாக மன நலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு இருக்கிறார்.

ராணுவ வீரரும் இருக்கிறார்!

குஜராத், போர்பந்தலில் ராணுவ வீரராக பணியாற்றிய ஒருவரும், இங்கு இருக்கிறார். பணியில் இருந்தபோது, சக வீரர்களால் 'ராகிங்' செய்யப்பட்டு, மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளானதால் இப்படிப்பட்ட நிலைமை அவருக்கு.

காதலரும் உண்டு!

அதேபோல், பி.எஸ்.சி.,கணிதம் படித்து, சென்னை துறைமுகத்தில் வேலை பார்த்த ஒருவர், காதல் தோல்வியால் இப்படிப்பட்ட நிலைமைக்கு ஆளாகியுள்ளார்.இங்குள்ள பெண்களோ...பெரும்பாலும் குடும்ப பிரச்னைகளால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டு இங்கு வந்தவர்கள்.இப்படி, பல பிரச்னைகளால் மனம் இறுகிபோய் காணப்பட்ட இவர்கள், செஷையர் மன நல காப்பகத்தில் கொடுக்கப்பட்ட முறையான பராமரிப்பு மற்றும் பயிற்சியினால் புத்துயிர் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.

ஆம், ஆரோக்கியத்திற்கான பயிற்சி மட்டுமல்லாது, விவசாயம் செய்வதற்கான பயிற்சியும் இவர்களுக்குஅளிக்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது.இதன் விளைவால், இவர்களில் பலர் விவசாயமே செய்கின்றனர். அதுமட்டுமல்லாது, இயற்கை முறையில் விளைவிக்கப்பட்ட காய்கறி பழங்களை, காப்பகத்துக்கு வெளியே சிறிய கடை ஒன்று அமைத்து, விற்பனையும் செய்து வருகின்றனர்.

நம்பிக்கை தானே வாழ்க்கை

அலட்சிய போக்குடன் சுற்றும் மக்கள் தமிழகத்தில் 'கொரோனா' பரவும் அபாயம்

Added : மார் 27, 2020 23:31

சென்னை :மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகள், பலமுறை அறிவுறுத்தியும், பலரும் வீட்டில் இல்லாமல் அலட்சியப் போக்குடன் வெளியில் சுற்றித் திரிகின்றனர். இவர்களால், தமிழகத்தில், 'கொரோனா' வைரஸ், சமூக தொற்றாக பரவும் அபாயம் உருவாகி உள்ளது.கொரோனா பரவாமல் தடுக்க அவசர அவசரமாக இந்தியாவில் ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்கப் பட்டது. உலகளவில் பிப்., 26ல் 81 ஆயிரத்து, 820 ஆக இருந்த கொரோனா தொற்று, மார்ச் 26ல், 5.34 லட்சமாக அதிகரித்துள்ளது. இந்நோயால் ஏற்பட்ட இறப்பு, இத்தாலியில், 8,000த்தையும், ஸ்பெயினில், 4,000த்தையும் தாண்டிவிட்டது.

பொருளாதாரத்தில், மருத்துவத்தில் முன்னேறிய நாடுகள் கூட, திடீரென அதிகரித்த நோய் தொற்றால் தவிக்கின்றன. இதற்கு முக்கிய காரணம், இந்நோய் குறித்த அலட்சியப் போக்கே. பாதிப்பு அதிகரித்த பின், அவசர அவசரமாக ஊரடங்கு பிறப்பித்து வருகின்றன.அதேபோல், இந்தியா போன்ற மக்கள் தொகை அதிகமுள்ள நாடுகளில் அலட்சியப் போக்கு நீடித்தால், அதன் விளைவுகள், பல மடங்கு அதிகமாக இருக்கும்.இதை உணர்ந்தே, பிரதமர் மோடி, நாடு முழுவதும், 21 நாள் ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்து, கட்டாயமாக பின்பற்றவும் வலியுறுத்தினார்.

தமிழகத்தில் தடையுத்தரவு அமலானாலும், மக்கள் ஒத்துழைப்பு முழுமையாக இல்லை. இந்நோய் தொற்று குறித்த அபாயத்தை உணராமல், போலீசாருக்கு, 'டிமிக்கி' கொடுத்து, ஊர் சுற்றுவதில், சிலர் இன்பம் காண்கின்றனர்.மக்களின் அத்தியாவசியப் பொருட்களுக்கு பற்றாக்குறை வந்துவிடக் கூடாது என்பதற்காகவே, அதன் விற்பனை தடை செய்யப்படவில்லை. ஆனால், இதை சாதகமாக பயன்படுத்தி, சாலையில் சுற்றுபவர்களின் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகமாக உள்ளது.குறிப்பாக, உழவர் சந்தைகளில், காய்கறி வாங்க, போட்டி போட்டு கும்பலாக நிற்கின்றனர். அதிலும் பலர், அன்றைய தேவைக்கு மட்டும் காய்கறி வாங்கிச் செல்கின்றனர். மீண்டும் அடுத்தடுத்த நாட்களில், உழவர் சந்தை உள்ளிட்ட பொது இடங்களில் வலம் வருகின்றனர்.

இப்படி தினமும் ஒரு மணி நேரம் வரை, ஊர் சுற்ற, பொருட்கள் வாங்குவதாக காரணம் சொல்கின்றனர். ஆபத்து காலத்தில், ஒரு வாரத்துக்கு தேவையான காய்கறிகளை வாங்கலாம் என்றோ, அவசியமின்றி வெளியே வரக்கூடாது என்ற எண்ணமோ பலரிடம் இல்லை.தமிழகத்தில் பல்வேறு இடங்களில் போலீசார், பொதுமக்கள் செல்ல முடியாத வகையில் தடுப்புகளை வைத்துள்ளனர். ஆனால், பலரும் மருந்து சீட்டு, மருத்துவமனை கார்டுகளை வைத்து, இருசக்கர வாகனங்கள், கார்களில் தாராளமாக செல்கின்றனர்.போலீசார் தடுத்து நிறுத்தி கேட்டால், மருந்துக் கடை, மருத்துவமனை, வங்கிகள் மற்றும் மளிகை கடைகளுக்கு செல்வதாக பதில் அளிக்கின்றனர். இதனால், தெருவில் உலா வரும் பொதுமக்கள் எண்ணிக்கை அதிகரித்து வருகிறது. அவர்களை கட்டுப்படுத்த முடியாமல், போலீசார் திணறுகின்றனர். இதனால், சமூக தொற்று ஏற்பட்டு பலருக்கு கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவும் அபாயம் உள்ளது.இத்தாலியில் ஒரே ஒரு பெண் மூலம் 30 சதவீதம் பேர் தொற்றுக்கு ஆளாகினர் என்கிறது புள்ளி விபரம்.

ஒவ்வொருவரின் அலட்சியப் போக்கும், பல நோயாளிகளை, வயதானவர்களை, கர்ப்பிணிகளை, குழந்தைகளை பாதிக்கும் என்பதை உணர்வதில்லை.நாட்டின் பொருளாதாரத்துக்கு பெரும் வீழ்ச்சி ஏற்படும் என்ற நிலையிலும், மத்திய அரசு எடுத்துள்ள ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு முடிவு, எந்த அளவுக்கு முக்கியமானது என்பது, பலருக்கும் புரியவில்லை. 'எனவே, ஊர் சுற்றுவோரை கடுமையாக தண்டித்து, நிலைமையை கட்டுப்படுத்த வேண்டும்' என, மருத்துவர்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர்.

ஜப்பானை பின்பற்றுவோம்

கொரோனா பரவ தொடங்கிய போது, நோய் தொற்று எண்ணிக்கையில், இரண்டாம் இடத்திலிருந்த ஜப்பான், பின் சுதாரித்து, அரசு எடுத்த நடவடிக்கை, மக்களின் சுய ஒழுக்கம், அங்கு கொரோனா பாதிப்பை கட்டுப்படுத்தியுள்ளது. சில நாட்களாக, அங்கு புது தொற்று வரவில்லை.தற்போது வரை, 1,387 பேர் மட்டும், நோய் தொற்றால் பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இதேபோன்ற நிலை இந்தியாவில் வரவேண்டும் என்றால், பொதுமக்கள் ஒத்துழைப்பு, சுயக் கட்டுப்பாடு அவசியம்.

530 டாக்டர்கள், 1,000 நர்ஸ்கள் புதிதாக தேர்வு

Added : மார் 27, 2020 20:45

சென்னை :கொரோனா தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் தீவிரப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ள நிலையில், சுகாதாரத்துறைக்கு, புதிதாக, 530 டாக்டர்கள்; 1,000 நர்ஸ்கள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளனர். இவர்கள் மூன்று நாட்களில் பணியில் சேர, உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலை கட்டுப்படுத்தும் நோக்கில், சுகாதார துறை சார்பில், பல்வேறு தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகள் எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.இதன் ஒரு பகுதியாக, சுகாதார துறையில், காலிப் பணியிடங்களை நிரப்ப, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மருத்துவ பணியாளர் தேர்வு வாரியம் வாயிலாக, புதிதாக, 530 டாக்டர்கள், 1,508 லேப் டெக்னீஷியன்கள், 1,000 செவிலியர்கள் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டனர். அவர்களுக்கு, பணி நியமன ஆணைகள் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. பணி ஆணை கிடைத்த, மூன்று நாட்களுக்குள், உடனடியாக பணியில் சேர உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.மேலும், புதிதாக, 200 அவசர கால ஊர்திகளை, உடனடியாக பயன்பாட்டிற்கு கொண்டு வரவும், முதல்வர், இ.பி.எஸ்., உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.

சென்னை ராமச்சந்திராவில் 'கொரோனா' பரிசோதனை மையம் அமைக்க அனுமதி

Added : மார் 27, 2020 20:42

சென்னை :சென்னை, போரூர், ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவமனையில், 'கொரோனா' பரிசோதனை மையம் அமைக்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது.தமிழகத்தில், கொரோனா பரிசோதனை மையம், புனேவிற்கு அடுத்து, சென்னை கிங்ஸ் ஆய்வகத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டது. நாடு முழுவதும், கொரோனா பாதிப்பை தொடர்ந்து, 100க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பரிசோதனை மையங்கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

சென்னை கிங்ஸ், அரசு ராஜிவ் காந்தி, தேனி, திருவாரூர், திருநெல்வேலி, கோவை, சேலம், விழுப்புரம் மற்றும் மதுரை ஆகிய, அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில், கொரோனா ஆய்வகம் அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. அதேபோல், சென்னை அப்பல்லோ, வேலுார் சி.எம்.சி., மருத்துவமனைகள் மற்றும் சென்னை, ராயப்பேட்டையில் உள்ள, நியுபெர்க் எர்லிச் ஆய்வகத்தில், கொரோனா பரிசோதனை செய்யப்படுகிறது.

இதை தொடர்ந்து, சென்னை, போரூர் ராமச்சந்திரா மருத்துவமனையிலும், கொரோனா பரிசோதனை ஆய்வகம் அமைக்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது. இதன் வாயிலாக, தமிழகத்தில், கொரோனா பரிசோதனை ஆய்வகங்கள் எண்ணிக்கை, 13 ஆக உயர்ந்துள்ளது.

டாக்டர்கள், நர்ஸ்களுக்கு 138 பஸ்கள் இயக்கம்

Added : மார் 27, 2020 20:37

சென்னை :அரசு மருத்துவமனை ஊழியர்களின் போக்குவரத்துக்காக, 138 பஸ்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.தமிழக அரசு மருத்துவமனைகளில் பணியாற்றும், டாக்டர்கள், நர்ஸ்கள் மற்றும் சுகாதார பணியாளர்கள் பலருக்கு, சொந்த வாகனங்கள் இல்லை. தற்போது, கொரோனா தடுப்புக்காக, ஊரடங்கு அமலில் உள்ளதால், அவர்கள் மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு சென்று வரும் வகையில், தமிழகம் முழுதும், 138 அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் வாகனங்களை பயன்படுத்த, தமிழக போக்குவரத்து துறை ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளது.

இது குறித்து, போக்குவரத்து துறை கமிஷனர், தென்காசி எஸ். ஜவகர் கூறியதாவது:தமிழகத்தில், கொரோனா வைரஸ் தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கையாக, மாநிலத்தில் உள்ள, 21 சோதனை சாவடிகளையும் மூடி, பிற மாநில வாகனங்கள் நுழைவதை தடுத்து வருகிறோம். அதேநேரம், அருகில் உள்ள மாநில அரசுகளின் ஒத்துழைப்புடன், உணவு பொருட்கள், கோழித் தீவனங்கள், மாட்டுத் தீவனங்கள்.மருந்துகள், மருந்து தொழிற்சாலைகளுக்கான மூலப்பொருட்கள், காஸ் சிலிண்டர்கள் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை ஏற்றி வரும் வாகனங்களை, தீவிர சோதனைக்குப் பின் அனுமதிக்கிறோம். ஓட்டுனர்களையும் பரிசோதித்து, வாகனங்களுக்கு கிருமி நாசினி தெளித்து, உள்ளே நுழைய அனுமதிக்கிறோம்.மேலும், தமிழகத்தில் ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு அமலில் உள்ளதால், சொந்த வாகனங்கள் இல்லாத, அரசு மருத்துவமனை ஊழியர்களுக்கு தேவையான வாகனங்களை, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களின் வேண்டுகோள்படி, ஏற்பாடு செய்து அனுப்புகிறோம்.

சென்னை போக்குவரத்து மண்டலத்துக்கு, 23; விருதுநகர் போக்குவரத்து மண்டலம், 15; ஈரோடு, 25; தஞ்சைக்கு, 1 என, மொத்தம், 64 தனியார் பஸ்களை இயக்க ஏற்பாடு செய்து உள்ளோம். அதேபோல், ஈரோடுக்கு, 9; சேலம், 5; மதுரை, 18; கோவை, 14; தஞ்சை, 5; திருச்சி, 13; விழுப்புரம், 1; வேலுாருக்கு 9 என, மொத்தம், 74 அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழக பஸ்களையும் ஏற்பாடு செய்துள்ளோம்.தேவைக்கு ஏற்ப, மேலும் வாகனங்களை ஏற்பாடு செய்வோம்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

வீட்டில் இருந்து வேலை செய்யவது கடினமாக உள்ளதா? இதை கடைபிடியுங்கள்.

Updated : மார் 28, 2020 00:30 | Added : மார் 28, 2020 00:13 |

கொரோனா அச்சம் காரணமாக அனைத்து நிறுவனங்களும் தங்கள் பணியாளர்களுக்கு வீட்டிலிருந்து பணிபுரியுமாறு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியாவில் 21 நாள் மக்கள் சுய ஊரடங்கை கடைப்பிடிக்கவும் உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது. இப்படியான சூழ்நிலையில் வீட்டில் இருந்து வேலை செய்யும்போது அலுவலக பணிகளைக் காலம் தாழ்த்தாமல் முடிப்பது முக்கிய கடமையாக உள்ளது.

அலுவலகத்தில் ஒரு சிலருடன் நீங்கள் பழகாதபோது வேலை செய்வது ஒரு சவால் என்று நீங்கள் நினைத்தால், தற்போது நீங்கள் வீட்டிலிருந்து வேலை செய்வது ஒரு உண்மையான சவாலாக இருக்கும். ஏனென்றால், வீட்டில் வேலை செய்வது வசதியாக இருந்தாலும், நாம் உண்மையில் கவனம் செலுத்த முடியாத இடமாக வீடு உள்ளது. சரியாக வேலையில் கவனம் செலுத்த முடியாது. அப்படியே வேலையில் கவனம் செலுத்தினால் வீட்டின் நடவடிக்கைகளை கவனிக்க முடியாது. இது மன அழுத்தத்தை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது.

மன அழுத்தத்தை வெல்வது எப்படி?

நீங்கள் ஒரு கால அட்டவணையை பராமரிக்க வேண்டிய அவசியம் உள்ளது. அப்படி கால அட்டவணையை பராமரிக்காவிட்டால் வீட்டிலிருந்து வேலை செய்வது மிகுதியான குழப்பத்தை ஏற்படுத்துகிறது. நீங்கள் செய்ய வேண்டிய விஷயங்களை பட்டியலிடுங்கள். ஒவ்வொரு பணிக்கும் நேரங்களை ஒதுக்குங்கள், அப்படியாக எந்த ஒரு பணிக்கு அதற்கான நேரத்தை செலவழித்தால் உங்கள் பணியை சுலபமாக முடிக்க உதவுகிறது?

வீட்டிலிருந்து வேலை செய்யும்போது, உங்கள் வீட்டிலுள்ள மற்ற வேலையையும் செய்யும் கடமை உள்ளது. இவ்விரண்டிற்கும் நடுவில் நீங்கள் உங்கள் உணவைத் தவிர்ப்பது சாத்தியமாகக்கூடும். எனவே நீங்கள் சாப்பிடுவதில் கவனம் செலுத்த வேண்டும். மேலும் சரியான நேரத்தை ஒதுக்கிக் கொள்ளுங்கள். அந்த குறிப்பிட்ட நேரம் உங்களை சோர்விலிருந்து விடுபடவும் உதவும்.

உங்கள் வீட்டின் ஏதோ ஒரு மூலையில் அமர்ந்து வேலை செய்வது சாத்தியமல்லாதது. உங்களுக்கு ஒரு மேசை அல்லது பணியிடத்தை அமைக்க வேண்டும். உங்கள் அலுவலகத்தில் உங்கள் மேசை எவ்வாறு இருக்குமோ அதேபோல பராமரிப்பது மனதிற்குப் புத்துணர்ச்சி தரும். மேலும் விளக்குகள் இருக்கும் இடத்திலிருந்து பணி செய்ய வேண்டும். முடிந்தால் இசை கேட்டபடி நீங்கள் உங்கள் வேலையை செய்யலாம்.

தினமும் உங்கள் வேலையைத் தொடங்குவதற்கு முன்பு குளித்துவிட்டு ஆரம்பிப்பது ஒரு நல்ல செயல். நல்ல ஆடைகளை அணிவது, வழக்கமாக நீங்கள் அலுவலகம் செல்லும்போது செய்யும் சிறிய மேக்-அப் போன்றவற்றை செய்வதில் தவறேதுமில்லை. இது உங்களை மிகவும் புத்துணர்ச்சியுடன் உணர வைக்கும். மேலும் சிறப்பாகச் செயல்பட உதவும்.

Attention citizens of Tamil Nadu, govt to impose fresh restrictions from Sunday. Here is what you need to know

Fresh restrictions will come into force from March 29 as the state is entering the second stage of coronavirus spread. 

Published: 27th March 2020 10:42 PM 

A Chennai Corporation worker seen sanitising the road at Pazhavanthaangal subway. (Photo | Ashwin Prasath, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Friday announced fresh restrictions during the lockdown period to avoid people's unnecessary movement as the state is entering the second stage of coronavirus spread. The fresh restrictions will come into force from March 29. The Chief Minister appealed to the people to cooperate with the steps taken by the government.

Here are the fresh restrictions:

1 Petrol bunks will function only between 6 am and 2.30 pm., However, the exclusive bunks for government vehicles and 108 ambulances will continue to function round the clock.

2 All grocery and vegetable shops, including Koyambedu market in Chennai, should be kept open only between 6 am and 2.30 pm. However, eateries (only takeaways) and medical shops can function throughout the day.

3 Swiggy, Zomato, Ubereats will be allowed to deliver food in three time slots - 7 am.to 9.30 am, 12 noon to 2.30 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm. Those engaged in this service should be allowed to go out only after health check-up.

4 Not more than 20 people can attend funerals.

5 There are workers who are unable to return to their native in other states. The companies which employ them should make arrangements for their stay. Similarly, Chennai Corporation and respective district administrations will make arrangements for the workers in Tamil Nadu who are unable to go to their States.

6 Those who have returned from foreign countries after February 15 and those who were in contact with them should home quarantine themselves voluntarily and inform this to the district administration.

7. Vehicles carrying vegetables and fruits should download the goods at Koyambedu market between 6 pm.and 6 am. Efforts to maintain hygiene in the market should be intensified.

8 People are advised not to distribute cooked food to the needy people. Instead, they can hand over things necessary for cooking to Chennai Corporation Commissioner in Chennai and District Collectors in rest of the districts.

9 Those who are willing to create additional facilities in the hospitals are requested to approach the administration of the respective hospitals. 

‘500 doctors, 400 nurses working round the clock at ESI Hospital’

28/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER ,COIMBATORE

A total of 500 doctors, 400 nurses and 150 conservancy workers are working round the clock on shift basis to treat COVID-19 cases at the Government Medical College and ESI Hospital, said Collector K. Rajamani here on Friday.

He inspected the hospital premises on Friday in the presence of ESI Hospital Dean A. Nirmala and Deputy Director of Health Services (Coimbatore) G. Ramesh Kumar, a release said. With a capacity of 540 beds, ESI Hospital would offer specialised treatment to those with COVID-19 symptoms and those who had tested positive, he said.

With 97 samples having been lifted in Coimbatore district so far, 78 had come out to be negative and the results of 17 cases were yet to arrive. Two persons (one from Coimbatore and one from Tiruppur) had been tested positive for COVID-19, who were currently being treated at ESI Hospital, Mr. Rajamani said.

Adequate beds for treatment of COVID-19 patients were available at private hospitals, government hospitals at Mettupalayam and Pollachi and upgraded primary health centres, according to the release.

In Coimbatore, 275 power pumps, 100 hand pumps and drones were being used to sprinkle disinfectants. Mr. Rajamani said. He requested people to adhere to the prohibitory orders and to maintain personal distancing to prevent the spread of COVID-19.

Help pilgrims stuck in Iran, says SC

Petitioner says many of them are sick and short of money for sustenance

28/03/2020, LEGAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

The court demanded a status report on the steps taken by the MEA.

The Supreme Court on Friday said hundreds of Shia pilgrims stranded in Qom city of Iran on account of the COVID-2019 pandemic were in urgent need of humanitarian assistance. The government should intervene immediately to alleviate their suffering.

Justices D.Y. Chandrachud and Surya Kant issued notice to the Centre after hearing senior advocate Sanjay Hegde, for petitioner Mustafa M.H., through videoconferencing.

Mr. Mustafa, whose relatives are among the pilgrims, sought urgent directions to the government to immediately evacuate them. Many of them were ill and had run short of money for basic sustenance, he said.

The court acknowledged that the petition shows “there is an urgent need for humanitarian assistance to be provided to Indian citizens who are stranded in Qom. In order to obviate concern over their well- being, we issue notice to the Union of India, returnable on March 30, 2020”.

Plan of action

The court asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist the court. Mr. Mehta was asked to place a status report of the steps taken and which the Union of India, through the Ministry of External Affairs, proposes to undertake to alleviate the hardship which has been faced by these persons”.

“We hope and trust that in the meantime all necessary steps that are required to protect the welfare of these citizens will be adopted and a suitable plan of action will be chalked out in consultation with all the concerned authorities, including the Indian Embassy in Iran,” the order said. The case was listed again on March 30.

The petition claims there are over 800-odd Indian citizens stuck in Qom. Mr. Hegde said there was a possibility that several of the existing batch of 500 in Qom have tested positive for COVID-19.

“In case, urgent help is not provided to these pilgrims, there are bound to be serious health hazards, which have started to become fatal and has resulted in the death of two pilgrims already,” the petition said.

Youth ignore lockdown order: violators continued to be booked

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,TIRUNELVELI

Heavy vehicle movement witnessed at Vannarpet in Tirunelveli on Friday.

As the public continue to ignore the lockdown and move around freely along all major roads here without realising the gravity of the situation, almost all the roads were busy with the cars and the two-wheelers throughout the day on Friday.

Consequently, police have registered 12 cases against 19 violators in Tirunelveli city while Tirunelveli Rural police have booked 64 persons by registering 40 cases till Friday afternoon. In Tenkasi district, 120 cases have been filed since last Wednesday against 142 violators.

When the youth, who are roaming around on their bikes in Tirunelveli and Palayamkottai, continued their revelry on Friday also, the policemen posted at important junctions appealed to them with folded hands to remain in their houses to avoid community transmission of SARS – CoV – 2 virus. Since they were let off with just appeals, they could be seen moving around till 2 p.m. along Thiruvananthapuram High Road, South and North Bypass Roads, Tirunelveli Junction and Palayamkottai Bus Stand Road.

The Tamil Nadu Thowheed Jamaath’s Masjid-Ur-Rahman, which would attract a minimum of over 3,000 persons for the Friday prayers, wore a deserted look on Friday as the TNTJ office-bearers asked the Melapalayam locals to offer prayers in their homes itself to avoid huge gathering at the mosque.

The inmates of Sri Lankan refugees’ camp at Subramaniapuram near Gopalasamudram have banned the entry of outsiders into their colony fearing community transmission of the dreaded virus.

Meanwhile, the Government Siddha Medical College in Palayamkottai sent ‘nilavembu kudineer’ herbs to the house quarantined persons in the district on their return from foreign countries or other States. “The ‘nilavembu kudineer’ herbs that gave a lot of relief to the patients suffering from chikungunya and dengue, are being sent to these persons to strengthen their immunity,” the Government Siddha Medical College doctors said. Since the consumers in large number throng the ‘Uzhavar Santhai’ at Maharaja Nagar, Kandigaiperi and Melapalayam and also the vegetable markets at Palayamkottai and Tirunelveli Town, the Corporation, created spaces for vegetable shops at Tiruchendur Road police quarters, VOC Grounds, Nehru Open Auditorium, Palayamkottai bus-stand and a few more areas. However, the vegetable traders put-up their shops only at Tiruchendur Road police quarters area, where vegetables were sold at inflated price.

Though personal distancing is being advocated to prevent community transmission of the virus and it was stressed by the officials through public address system, the consumers ignored this instruction and stood in the long queues to buy the vegetables.

Swamy Nellaiyppar Gandhimathi Ambal Temple authorities have cancelled the famous ‘Panguni Uththiram’ festival celebrations while all other regular pujas would be performed as usual.

14 airlines operated 34 rescue flights

They helped evacuate foreign nationals and bring back Indians

28/03/2020, JAGRITI CHANDRA,NEW DELHI

Fourteen international airlines operated a total of 34 flights in the past three weeks to evacuate foreign nationals from India as well as to bring back Indians stranded in different parts of the world following travel restrictions to contain the spread of COVID-19, according to DGCA data.

Malaysian carrier AirAsia Berhad has so far operated the maximum number of flights, i.e. seven, to evacuate Indians from Kuala Lumpur as well as to evacuate Malaysians from Tiruchi, Vishakhapatnam and Chennai between March 18 and 24.

Japan Airlines will be operating a flight each on Friday and Saturday in addition to three it has already flown into India to evacuate Japanese nationals from New Delhi.

Since the surge in COVID-19 cases in Iran in early March, two of its airlines, Mahan Air and Iran Air, have operated five rescue flights to allow Indians to return from Tehran as well as to evacuate their citizens and cargo from New Delhi.

European carriers, Lufthansa, Aeroflot, Austrian Airline, KLM Royal Dutch Airlines, LOT Polish, among others have operated a total of seven flights to India after India cancelled foreign tourist visas.

Lufthansa sent its A380 aircraft from Frankfurt to Delhi to evacuate German nationals earlier this week. The flight was among the total 220 special flights operated by Lufthansa Group airlines (comprising Swiss, Austrian Airlines, Lufthansa and Eurowings) across the globe, a press statement said.

NEET put off, may be held in last week of May

It was scheduled to be held on May 3

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), for admission to undergraduate medical degree programmes that was scheduled to be held on May 3, has been postponed.

It is now likely to be held in the last week of May, though no date has been decided as yet, the National Testing Agency (NTA) said on Friday. The decision has been taken in view of the hardships faced by parents and students due to the COVID-19 epidemic, said the NTA, an autonomous body under the Human Resource Development Ministry which conducts the examination.

HRD Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal Nishank said he has directed the NTA to postpone the already delayed Joint Engineering Examination’s main paper (JEE-Main) also until the last week of May.

“We are hopeful that we will get back to normal situation relatively soon; but for now, various concerned Ministries and Examination Boards are examining the scenario to evaluate the situation that may necessitate any change in the schedule,” said an NTA notice.

Over 18,000 volunteers register with Health dept.

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Over 18,000 persons, including doctors and paramedics from the private sector, have registered with the Health department till now.

A few days ago, the Health department took to Twitter inviting volunteers to work together in the fight against COVID-19.

Interested volunteers — doctors, paramedical staff and general public — were asked to register on the portal www.stopcorona.tn. gov.in.

“The response is good. More than 18,000 persons have registered. We will involve them according to their qualifications and capabilities. We will split district-wise and share the data with Collectors, and Chennai Corporation commissioner. For State-level needs, we will involve the volunteers appropriately,” an official said.

“Of the total volunteers registered, there are more than 500 doctors and 1,000 paramedical staff,” he added.

Pay last bill amount for current cycle: Tangedco

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

Residents provide food to the police in Madhavaram.B. Jothi Ramalingam

The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has allowed its low-tension customers, whose billing period falls in March and April, to pay the previous billing amount as the current billing amount. The move comes in the wake of the lockdown, in force till April 14, due to which meter assessment cannot be carried out.

Earlier, Tangedco had allowed customers whose meters were not assessed till March 31 to pay the previous amount as the current bill.

In a release, the Tangedco stated that customers could pay the last billing cycle as the amount for March/April and in the consequent billing cycle, the amount would be adjusted with the actual meter reading.

The Electricity Department has also requested its low-tension customers to use online and mobile app facilities to pay bills, as collection counters would not be open till April 14.

When asked about customers who will not be able to pay electricity bills through the online facility, Electricity Minister P. Thangamani said that power connections would not be cut, even if customers do not pay electricity bills till April 14.

Staff of many hospitals stopped on their way to work

Some govt. hospitals arrange transport

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Govt. Medical College premises being disinfected as the special COVID-19 facility is next door. S. R. Raghunathan

Several government hospitals arranged transport for their staff to ensure that they reached work during the lockdown. But there were instances where the police stopped hospital workers, across the city, as a result of which they did not turn up for work.

At a city hospital, at least 50% of the staff, including lab technicians, conservancy workers and other hospital workers, could not make it to work.

“They were stopped by the police in several places. Although they displayed their identity cards, the police told them that there was no point in enforcing a lockdown if they moved around like this. Our doctors and nurses were able to reach the hospital in the morning,” a senior doctor said.

In the absence of many conservancy workers, the hospital had to make alternative arrangements for cleaning, he added. Another government hospital arranged its own vehicles for its staff, including conservancy workers. “The vehicles made two or three trips to bring them to the hospital, as we had to follow physical distancing inside the vehicle too. We asked our doctors to carpool,” an authority said.

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital arranged four or five buses to ply on four different routes to bring their healthcare personnel. They had obtained special permission to transport their staff during the lockdown, said officials.

Another hospital authority said that on the first day of the lockdown, the hospital had issued letters mentioning that the staff were involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. “But the letters were not accepted by the police on the second day. So we issued letters for 15 days. We have issued vehicle passes for all our staff, including contract workers,” the authority added.

JACTTO-GEO members donate ₹150 cr.

VCK chief urges people to comply with lockdown guidelines

28/03/2020, STAFF REPORTER,CHENNAI

The Joint Action Committee of Tamil Nadu Teachers' Organisations - Government Employees' Organisations (JACTTO-GEO) on Friday announced that it has decided to contribute one day’s salary of its members to the COVID-19 relief measures.

A day’s salary of the government staff would total to ₹150 crore, according to a functionary of the organisation. “We have decided to donate a day’s salary,” Tamil Nadu Government Employees' Association general secretary M. Anbarasu, also one of JACTTO-GEO's State conveners, told The Hindu.

P. Ilangovan, a State convenor from JACTTO-GEO, said it was the State government that could give its approval.

Thirumavalavan’s plea

Viduthalai Chiruthaigal Katchi (VCK) founder and Member of Lok Sabha from Chidambaram, Thol. Thirumavalavan on Friday donated ₹1.26 crore from his MPLADS funds towards helping the State Government fight COVID-19 spread.

Mr. Thirumavalavan said a Lok Sabha member could only allocate funds to their main district hospitals unlike Rajya Sabha members, who could allocate funds anywhere. “As per the requirements of the health officials in Chidambaram constituency, I am allocating ₹1.26 crore buy masks, gloves and ventilators. I had already announced that I would be giving an amount of ₹10 lakh before I even got the requirements,” said Mr. Thirumavalavan. He said the requirements from Annamalai University’s Hospital would be sought and funds allocated again.

Law Minister C.Ve. Shanmugam allocated ₹ 75 lakh from MLALAD. AIADMK MLAs M.R. Muthamizhselvan (Vikravandi) and M. Chakrapani (Vanur) offered ₹ 75 lakh and ₹ 25 lakh respectively

TMC president G.K. Vasan said his party would donate ₹10 lakh to CM’s Relief Fund.

COVID-19 hospital at Omandurar to have 500 beds: CM

3,000 medical staff appointed; 200 ambulances to be added to existing fleet

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,CHENNAI

Spot check: Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inspecting the special ward for COVID-19 patients at the Government Medical College Hospital, Omandurar, in Chennai on Friday.SPECIAL ARRANGEMENTDIPR

On a day the State saw nine confirmed cases of COVID-19, the government scaled up efforts to battle the pandemic with Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami announcing that the first exclusive government hospital for the SARS-CoV-2 patients in Tamil Nadu at Block B of Government Medical College Hospital at Omandurar will have 500 beds, instead of the planned 350.

About 15,000 beds have been readied for handling people with symptoms of COVID-19, he added.

The government also appointed 530 doctors, 1,000 nurses and 1,508 lab technicians through the Medical Recruitment Board. The Chief Minister directed the newly recruited medical staff to join service within three days of receiving their appointment orders.

Mr. Palaniswami sanctioned induction of 200 new ambulances to the state’s medical fleet. Besides the control room operated by the Health Department, the one in the Secretariat would be declared as ‘Chief Control Room.’

The Chief Minister told journalists that Tamil Nadu was now in Stage 1 of the global pandemic. “We are moving towards Stage 2. We have taken all steps to prevent it. We want to control it in stage 1 itself. This can be done if people cooperate with us [by staying indoors],” he said.

Technically, Stage 1 is primarily imported cases, i.e. persons who travelled to other countries and contracted the infection. Stage 2 is when people who come in contact with the infected person test positive.

The government reiterated that persons who returned from abroad since February 15 and those who were in physical contact with them should go under self-quarantine.

“They have to intimate this information to officials from the corporation and municipalities,” an official release said.

Calls PM

Meanwhile, Mr. Palaniswami informed Prime Minister Narendra Modi over phone of the precautionary and relief measures being taken against COVID-19 in the State.

An official release said Mr. Modi reiterated that the lockdown be observed strictly, while ensuring the public had access to essential commodities and services.

Mr. Palaniswami chaired a meeting with Health Minister C. Vijayabaskar, Chief Secretary K. Shanmugam, Director General of Police J.K. Tripathy and other senior officials in his camp office.

© 2017 All Rights Reserved. Powered by Summit exclusively for The Hindu

Grocers, fuel pumps in T.N. to shut at 2.30 p.m. from Sunday

Food delivery operators allowed to work, with restrictions

28/03/2020, DENNIS S. JESUDASAN,CHENNAI

Come Sunday, provision stores, vegetable and fruit shops and fuel pumps will be allowed to function only between 6 a.m. and 2.30 p.m. in the State during the lockdown. However, “medical shops and restaurants (only takeaway) will continue to function through the day”, an official release said.

The government has permitted app-based food delivery operators like Swiggy and Zomato to operate between 7 a.m. and 9.30 a.m. for breakfast orders; from noon to 2.30 p.m. for delivering lunch; and from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. for dinner orders, taking into account the needs of the elderly and others for such services.

Explaining the rationale behind the latest restrictions, a senior official said: “Without any time restrictions, people were out to get their essentials and shops had to remain open through the day. Now, with specific timings, we can monitor people’s movement effectively.” Specially designated petrol pumps would continue to function for the benefit of 108 ambulances and government vehicles.

Those engaged in food delivery must get the required identity cards through their employers, who must check their health condition on a daily basis, the release stated. The government advised against distribution of cooked food to the destitute by volunteers. Instead dry rations could be supplied to help desks in the offices of the Chennai Corporation Commissioner and District Collectors.

Vehicles carrying supplies from other States must unload them at markets between 6 p.m. and 6 a.m.

Govt. to add 40,000 ventilators by June to battle virus

Death toll rises to 17 even as 75 fresh cases are added in the last 24 hours, including a 10-month-old infant from Karnataka

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,NEW DELHI

No-go zone: Curfew was imposed in Ramganj, Jaipur, on Friday after a resident tested positive for COVID-19.Rohit Jain ParasRohit Jain Paras

As the ICMR on Friday confirmed 75 fresh cases and 17 deaths in the COVID-19 outbreak, the Union Health Ministry announced that it was scaling up measures to combat the virus by bringing in 40,000 more ventilators in the next three months.

According to data released by the Ministry, a total of 724 individuals have tested positive; 27,688 samples from 26,798 individuals have been tested for the SARS-CoV2 virus as on March 27, an ICMR release said.

According to reports from States, the toll from the outbreak has touched 21, with 159 fresh cases in the last 24 hours. Karnataka reported its third death of a 60-year-old man, along with nine new cases, including a 10-month-old infant from Dakshina Kannada. Maharashtra and Madhya Pradesh reported one fatality each. Kerala reported the maximum number of cases at 179 with 39 new cases, while Maharashtra had 153 cases.

Joint Secretary in the Health Ministry Luv Agarwal said India is working on the guidelines prescribed by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to isolate, test, track and treat.

RBI cuts rates, allows loan moratorium

To ease impact of lockdown, repo and reverse repo rates reduced; EMIs deferred for three months

28/03/2020, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT,MUMBAI

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has opened up the liquidity floodgates for banks even as it reduced the key interest rate sharply by 75 bps and allowed equated monthly instalments (EMIs) to be deferred by three months in a move to fight the economic impact of the countrywide lockdown to check the spread of novel coronavirus.

The repo rate was reduced to by 75 bps 4.4% while the reverse repo rate was cut by 90 bps point to 4%. The higher reduction in the reverse repo rate was aimed at prompting banks to lend more rather than keeping their excess liquidity with the RBI.

Unprecedented crisis

“We are living through an extraordinary and unprecedented situation. Everything hinges on the depth of the COVID-19 outbreak, its spread and its duration,” RBI governor Shaktikanta Das said.

“Clearly, a war effort has to be mounted to combat the virus, involving both conventional and unconventional measures,” Mr. Das said.

The meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) which was scheduled for March 31 and April 1,3, was advanced to March 27 due to the unprecedented crisis.

While cutting benchmark rates, the RBI has continued with its accommodative stance. Four of the six members of the monetary policy committee voted in favour of a 75 bps rate cut.

Apart from cutting the repo rate, RBI has also reduced the cash reserve ratio of banks which released ₹1.37 lakh crore liquidity. This, along with other measures, will see an infusion of ₹3.74 lakh crore into the banking system.

RBI has also allowed banks to defer payment of EMIs on home, car, personal loans as well as credit card dues for three months till May 31. Since non-payment will not lead to non-performing asset classification by banks, there will be no impact on credit score of the borrowers.

State Bank of India, the country’s largest lender, promptly responded to the RBI’s action and reduced the lending rates linked to a external benchmark and the repo rate by 75 bps. Interest rate on external benchmark linked loans was cut from 7.8% to 7.05% and those are linked to repo rate were cut to 6.65%. “Consequently, EMIs on Home Loan accounts get cheaper by around ₹52 per 1 lakh on a 30-year loan,” SBI said.

Locking down doesn’t mean drinking up

Taking To The Bottle At Home To Cope With Anxiety During A Crisis Can Make Things Worse: WHO Expert

Andy Gregory  28.03.2020

Alcohol is an “unhelpful coping strategy” for the possible stress and isolation of coronavirus lockdown, a World Health Organisation (WHO) expert has warned.

The UN agency acknowledged that many turn to drugs and alcohol in times of crisis, as a new survey suggested the pandemic has caused nearly two thirds of adults in the UK to feel anxious or worried.

But using substances to cope “can make things worse”, said Aiysha Malik of WHO Europe’s mental health and substance abuse department.

It is also vital that drug and alcohol services remain accessible throughout lockdown, Malik said, as those with substance use disorders may face a higher risk of relapse.

The warning comes a day after the government added off-licences to the list of “essential” businesses allowed to stay open during lockdown, emboldening pubs and breweries in their bid for permission to launch takeaway services.

Experts suggest there is a thin line to tread between alleviating the strain on business, ensuring dependent drinkers avoid withdrawal, and encouraging increased alcohol use among the wider population.

Amid fears the NHS could be stretched beyond capacity by an influx of Covid-19 patients, the risks of withdrawal and alcohol-related injury or health complications are particularly potent.

“While keeping off licences open is consistent with clinical advice to protect those who are physically dependent on alcohol from going into dangerous withdrawal, they wouldn’t want to unintentionally send the message that alcohol is ‘essential’ to all our lives,” Alcohol Change UK’s chief executive Richard Piper said.

Piper warned that “with routines out of the window we might well find ourselves reaching for a drink more often”.

Initial reports of supermarkets running out of alcohol and online retailers being overwhelmed with orders may point to a possible increase in consumption, but experts say it is too early to tell the overall impact that coronavirus will have on the nation’s drinking habits.

But it is logical to predict that alcohol only being available for home consumption may lead to rises in domestic violence, fires and potential increases dependence, according to James Morris of South Bank London University’s centre for addictive behaviours research.

“Predicting the longerterm behavioural impact is however particularly difficult. Perhaps for some, home drinking may become more embedded, potentially exacerbated by the further closure of already struggling pubs and bars,” Morris wrote for the ‘Society for the Study of Addiction’.

“For others, the period could highlight how valuable public and social drinking settings are, resulting in a boom in drinking out to celebrate the end of isolation.” THE INDEPENDENT

NOT A HELPFUL COPING STRATEGY

Now, anti-malaria drug sale only on prescription

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:28.03.2020

The government has notified anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine under Schedule-H1, restricting its sale only based on prescription and making it mandatory for chemists to maintain records for such sales.

The move is aimed at stopping misuse of the drug which has now been allowed by the government for prophylactic use in high risk contacts of Covid-19 patients and healthcare workers treating such patients.

According to a gazette notification issued by the health ministry, the sale of the drug from now on should be in accordance with the conditions for sale of drugs as specified in Schedule H1 to the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.

“The central government is satisfied that the drug ‘hydroxychloroquine’ is essential to meet the requirements of emergency arising due to pandemic Covid-19 and in the public interest, it is necessary and expedient to regulate and restrict the sale and distribution of the drug ‘hydroxychloroquine’ and preparation-based thereon for preventing their misuse,” the notification said.

The move comes in the wake of reports of panic buying of the drug by people to prevent chances of catching the infection, even as government has said its use should be restricted to the specified categories and on prescription as there can be side-effects.

LAW TIGHTENED: People purchase medicine in Patna on Friday

K’taka techie held for ‘call’ to spread corona

Bengaluru:28.03.2020

A software engineer has been arrested for giving a “call” to the people to sneeze in the open and spread coronavirus, police said on Friday.

The person identified as Mujeeb Mohammad had made this call in a Facebook post. “Let’s join hands, go out and sneeze with open mouth in public. Spread the virus,” he wrote.

“The person who put this post saying people should go out and sneeze and spread the virus has been detained. His name is Mujeeb. He works in a software company,” Bengaluru joint commissioner of police Sandeep Patil said in a statement. PTI

Tribal girl raped by 10 in J’khand

Rajesh Kumar Pandey@timesgroup.com

Dumka:28.03.2020

A 16-year-old tribal girl was allegedly gang-raped by 10 men in a forest area under the Gopikandar police station in Jharkhand’s Dumka district on Tuesday. The crime came to light on Thursday after the girl lodged an FIR. No one has been arrested in the case so far.

In her statement to the police, the survivor said that she was on her way home from Dumka, where she studied at a college, when she called up an acquaintance, Prasannjit Hansda, who lives in Karudih village, to take her home. Hansda arrived along with a friend on a motorbike and the trio headed towards her village.

The girl said Hansda, instead of taking the usual route, took a different one “because there was police patrol on the usual route to enforce the nationwide lockdown”. He stopped the bike near a forest on the pretext of relieving himself while she and his friend waited. After some time, Hansda arrived with eight other people on bikes and dragged the teenager to the forest and took turns to rape her. The survivor lay unconscious at the crime spot throughout Tuesday night and reached home on Wednesday morning and narrated the incident to her family.

Dumka SP YS Ramesh said, “Our investigation is on. We will soon nab the culprits.”

FIR against Kerala sub-collector for fleeing quarantine

Thiruvananthapuram:28.03.2020

The Kerala government on Friday suspended Kollam sub-collector Anupam Mishra, who left the state violating instructions to remain under home quarantine after his trip abroad.

An FIR had been registered against Mishra, who hails from Uttar Pradesh, on the basis of a report from the health department about the violation. Chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan told reporters that the IAS officer had left without taking permission from the authorities.

“That is not a right act. We have requested those under observation to strictly follow quarantine instructions. But when a responsible officer like the sub-collector fled Kerala, it has brought disgrace to the state, Vijayan said. Hence, “We have decided to suspend him”, he said.

The young IAS officer had returned to the Kerala on March 19 from his honeymoon to Malaysia-Singapore and had been asked to remain under observation. However, he left for his brother’s place in Bengaluru without informing anyone. Though he underwent a medical examination, he did not show symptoms. His personal staff, including a gunman, have also been kept under observation.

When Kollam collector B Abdul Nasser got in touch with him, Mishra informed him that he was in Bengaluru. However, police said Mishra’s mobile tower location showed that he was at Kanpur in Uttar Pradesh. PTI

Kollam sub-collector Anupam Mishra returned to Kerala from his Malaysia-Singapore trip on March 19 and was asked to remain in quarantine, but he left for his home state Uttar Pradesh

Muslims offer Friday prayers at home, mosques remain empty

AIMPLB Asks People To Stay Indoors In View Of Covid-19 Outbreak

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

28.03.2020

Responding to a clutch of fatwas and police notices and urged by clerics, Muslims across India stayed away from mosques on Friday, perhaps an unprecedented event in living history. Groups limited to five, including imams, muezzins and workers called khadims, offered Juma prayers at mosques across the country while the masses stayed home and offered the zuhar prayer. From the 17th century Jama Juma in Delhi to the historic Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad and Eidgah in Lucknow, all wore a deserted look as lay worshippers preferred to stay home and offer zuhar prayers due to fears of a pandemic instead of assembling for Juma prayers.

Alarmed by last Friday’s prayer congregations, the community’s religious leadership had launched a campaign to suspend the practice. Taking the lead, the All India Muslim Personal Law Board (AIMPLB) announced on Twitter: “Due to coronavirus pandemic, Muslims are recommended to offer Zuhur at home instead of praying Jumah at mosques. Don’t come out for congregational prayers and stay at home (and) save lives. It is mandatory upon all to avoid causing harm to their fellow citizens.”

Imams too pitched in with appeals “We had announced earlier that we will keep the gates of the mosque shut and had started to announce on speakers that since there are restrictions against mass gatherings, people should stay home and pray,” said Imam Bukhari, Shahi Imam of Jama Masjid in Delhi.

In Mumbai, general secretary of the All India Ulema Council, Maulana Mahmood Daryabadi, sought fatwas from prominent Muftis, including chief Mufti of Maharashtra, Azizur Rahman Fatehpuri, to allow Muslims to call off Friday prayers due to the spread of Covid-19. In Kerala, where for the first time all the mosques closed its doors to believers, Sunni Yuvajana Sangham (SYS) leader Abdul Hameed Faizy Ambalakkadavu said, “Islamic laws are flexible and practical. Five times prayers and mass prayers on Fridays are undoubtedly very important in Islam. At the same time, exceptions are allowed in unavoidable situations.”

Mumbai’s Jama Masjid near Crawford Market roped in Mufti Abdul Ahad to make an appeal against visits on Friday. But at the Jama Masjid in Mahim, police had to act tough to dissuade a group of 10-15 from entering for Friday prayers. “Once the cops intervened, these people retreated and just five people offered namaz at the mosque, which is otherwise filled to capacity on normal Fridays,” said trustee Fahad Pathan.

Similar scenes were reported from Uttar Pradesh where places of worship wore a deserted look. At Lucknow’s Nadwa Mosque, Eidgah Jama Masjid and Teele Wali Masjid just a handful offered prayers. “Today only those who look after certain arrangements of these mosques offered prayers while the general public offered namaz at home,” said Imam of Eidgah Masjid, Maulana Khalid Rasheed Firangi Maheli. In Varanasi, Kanpur and Allahabad, notices were pasted outside mosques informing the public that only three people would be allowed in to offer prayers.

Mosques across Hyderabad too wore a deserted look after Telangana State Wakf Board, prominent clerics and seminaries, urged residents to offer prayers at home.

UNPRECEDENTED UNITY: A deserted look of iconic Jama Masjid in Old Delhi at the time of Friday prayer

CA exams rescheduled between June 19 and July 4

Pune:28.03.2020

The Chartered Accountants examination scheduled to be held from May 2 to 18 has been rescheduled between June 19 and July 4 because of the Covid-19 pandemic. A notification uploaded on The Institute of Chartered Accountants of India website on Friday stated that the foundation course examination would be held on June 27 and 29, and July 1 and 3. The intermediate (IPC) course examination (old syllabus) would be held for Group 1 on June 20, 22, 24 and 26, while for Group 2 it has been scheduled on June 28 and 30, and then July 2.

Intermediate course examination (new syllabus) would be held for Group 1 on June 20, 22, 24 and 26. For Group 2, it would be held on June 28 and 30, and then July 2 and 4. Final course examinations for both old and new syllabus would be held for Group 1 on June 19, 21, 23 and 25, and for Group 2 on June 27 and 29, and then July 1 and 3. International trade laws and World Trade Organisation part 1 examination would be held for Group A on June 20 and 22, while the same for Group B would be held on June 24 and 26. International law taxation-assessment test would be held on June 27 and 29. “It may be emphasized that there would be no change in the examination schedule in the event of any day of the examination schedule being declared a public holiday by the Union or any state governments/ local holiday,” said S K Garg, the additional secretary (examinations), in the notification. TNN

Cops enforce lockdown with blows

Social Media Is Flooded With Footage Of High-handedness, Attracting Shock & Alarm From All

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

28.03.2020

An inquiry was ordered into the death of a 49-yearold ambulance driver on Friday after he was allegedly hit by police in Pune on suspicion that he was ferrying passengers illegally in his vehicle during the all-India lockdown.

Pimpri Chinchwad’s additional commissioner of police Ramnath Pokale confirmed that an investigation has been initiated. The case came to light when the son of the ambulance driver, who was accompanying him when the incident occurred, said they were stopped at a toll naka and cops assaulted his father. He claimed they were allowed to proceed only after making a payment of ₹3,000 to the policemen. The video of the crying man has now gone viral.

But it’s hardly the only video of its kind. Social media is flooded with footage of police highhandedness, attracting shock and alarm from all corners of the country, as they punish people for coming out of their homes in the lockdown. The Pimpri Chinchwad incident comes days after another viral video showed three Punjab cops raining blows with lathi on the soles of a young boy’s naked feet as he cries in pain and for mercy. And in Badaun, migrant labourers on their way back home were made to crawl and do frog jumps on the road by policemen in UP.

While the nationwide lockdown exempts essential services, there have been cases of police assaulting journalists, delivery boys or those venturing out to buy essential items. Two cops in Indore were suspended on Friday after they hit a TOI reporter who wanted to purchase milk during curfew break.

According to the complaint filed with police, health correspondent Antriksh Kar Singh was accosted by ASI KC Parashar and constable Atul Sharma, who were in a private SUV. Singh showed them his media ID card and pointed out that the Indore administration had exempted journalists from curfew restrictions but despite that he was beaten up by them.

Elsewhere, those trying to buy groceries have had to brave lathis. A 35-year-old out to buy milk for his three children in Kolkata died of cardiac arrest soon after an alleged thrashing by cops on Wednesday. Lal Swami’s wife, Annu, alleged that police beat him in the market and he collapsed when he reached home. Police have denied any assault. The man’s postmortem report said he died of chronic diarrhoea and cardiac arrest. A probe, however, has been ordered by Howrah police commissioner Kunal Agarwal.

ADG (Meerut) Prashant Kumar said that “disciplining disobedient crowds is the biggest challenge in containing spread of Covid-19.” Sudhanshu Sarangi, police commissioner (Bhubaneshwar and Cuttack), maintained that force was being used to ensure lockdown “if people don’t follow directions” and “don’t discipline themselves”.

If not brute force, cops are humiliating people by making them rub their noses on the ground or do sit-ups. In one photo shared on Twitter, cops are seen deflating tyres of a vegetable seller’s vehicle to keep him of the street.

Patna SSP Upendra Kumar Sharma admitted they have received a large number of complaints against police. Two sanitation workers were beaten up in the city this week while three constables were dismissed from service for allegedly shooting and injuring a mini-truck driver.

Policemen admit there is lack of clarity and confusion on what constitutes “essential” and “non-essential”. For instance, a man in Ranchi was battered on Wednesday when he went out to give food to dogs. Similarly, in Mumbai, an event manager was hit by police lathi while taking his sick dog to a clinic. The cop who whacked him remarked, “Here people are dying of corona and you are worried about your pet dog.”

Karnataka has another solution — make those loitering on streets sit in police station all day. Chief ministers of at least two states have intervened, urging cops to cooperate with people. Maharashtra CM Uddhav Thackeray ordered police brass not to use force on those stepping out for essential commodities.

(Inputs by Ashok Pradhan, Jaideep Deogharia, Rupak Banerjee, Debashish Karmakar, Ahmed Ali)

WOUNDED: A resident of Ranchi beaten up by cops on Wednesday