Thirumazhisai likely to become Koyambedu 2.0

Thirumazhisai likely to become Koyambedu 2.0

Yogesh Kabirdoss and A Prathap TNN

Chennai:12.05.2020

The situation at the Koyambedu wholesale market, which was shut after it emerged as a hotspot for Covid-19, could be repeated at the Thirumazhisai temporary facility where huge crowds gathered on Monday. Very few adhered to social distancing norms and the authorities remained mute spectators.

A majority of the visitors did not wear masks, while those that had them didn’t cover their noses and mouths, stylishly letting them hang by the neck. And the rule of maintaining the mandatory six feet between two individuals was thrown to the wind. No circles were drawn before the market opened at 1am and the 12,000 traders got ready to sell produce brought by at least 2,000 mini-trucks. By 9am, they managed to sell around 3,500 tonnes of vegetables valued at Rs 1.5 crore-Rs 2 crore, said market sources.

Urban development experts said the authorities should have set up temporary wholesale facilities at three different locations.

K P Subramanian, retired professor of urban engineering at Anna University, said allowing a large gathering at a single location could lead to replicating the mistakes made at Koyambedu. “Concentration of activities and people at one place, even for a short period, causes problems, particularly in the context of Covid-19. The government should have adopted a strategy on the lines of special buses being operated from different terminuses such as Tambaram and Poonamallee to clear extra rush during festival seasons for the temporary wholesale market as well. They should have set up markets in multiple locations,” he said.

When contacted, an official of the Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority (CMDA), which is now maintaining the temporary market at Thirumazhisai, said that all necessary measures were taken to ensure all rules would be followed. “In fact, the only reason we decided to establish the market in the spacious land parcel at Thirumazhisai was that social distancing can be ensured,” the official said. Vehicles entering the market were disinfected and people were scanned using thermal scanners, he added.

POINT OF CONCERN: The temporary market at Thirumazhisai began operations on Monday when very few adhered to distancing norms. The authorities remained spectators

More containment areas in Tambaram and Pallavaram

More containment areas in Tambaram and Pallavaram

Little Action Taken Against Erring Shops, Say Activists

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  12.05.2020

As Covid-19 positive cases in Tambaram and Pallavaram are on the rise, the government has increased the number of containment zones in the areas. More people were put in isolation camps to prevent spread.

Tambaram, in particular, had only 14 cases two weeks ago. Just when the last patient was about to recover, the locality in southern Chennai started to feel the heat from the Koyambedu cluster.

As on date, as many as 50 positive cases were reported in Tambaram taluk. This included the six members from the same family, who resided at Krishna Nagar. One among them had visited Koyambedu market to buy vegetables for his hotel.

Special teams were formed to trace people who went to the market recently. Based on their findings, a total of 282 vegetable vendors and traders in these two areas were put in four isolation camps.

Following protests from them about the quality of food provided to them at the camps, the government has increased its spending. On an average, ₹200 is allocated per head a day to buy food from renowned private hotels in the vicinity, said a revenue official.

Samples were collected from them on Saturday and so far nine people have tested positive. They were referred to Chengalpet Government Hospital for further treatment, the official added.

As far as containment zones were concerned, the revenue department has devised a new strategy to meet the daily needs of people residing there.

“Since the frontline workers are not allowed to enter containment zones, we have identified a group of volunteers who can collect ration and food items at the barricades (put in street ends) and distribute them to nearby houses,” said Tambaram thasildar Saravanan.

A WhatsApp group was created for residents to share their needs with these volunteers who would later forward them to authorities, he added.

Residents outside containment zones, however, complained that not much was done to prevent the spread of the virus.

Ragu Ram from Kurinji Nagar Residents Welfare Association said all disinfection and testing measures were restricted only to main roads and interior areas were neglected.

Civic activists alleged that unlike the Chennai corporation, municiplaities here don’t take any action against shops which violate social distancing norms and they don’t update data on cases and red zones on maps regularly.

KEEPING TABS: Officials inspect a containment zone at Perungalathur near Tambaram on Monday

OBC quota not followed in PG Neet results, says DMK MP

OBC quota not followed in PG Neet results, says DMK MP

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.05.2020

DMK Rajya Sabha MP P Wilson on Monday urged Union minister for health and family welfare Harsh Vardhan to recall the provisional result list of PG medical Neet 2020, released for intake under the 50% all India quota seats, as the reservation for other backward classes (OBC) was not followed.

In a letter to the minister, he said, "The provisional seat allotment list released by National Board of Examinations on April 9 has not followed Tamil Nadu Reservation Act, 1994, for seats surrendered by the state. About 400 seats earmarked for OBC candidates have been distributed to other categories deliberately."

In the provisional results, 13,237 candidates shortlisted for admission to MS, MD and PG diploma courses. The final seat allotment is scheduled to be released on May 11.

Wilson further urged the minister to direct authorities at Medical Council of India, Director General of Health Services, Central Medical Counselling Committee and NBE to rework the provisional list by applying state reservation of 69% in seats surrendered under the all India quota and publish a fresh and final list.

He also urged the minister to initiate departmental action against officials who have deliberately discriminated against OBC students and failed to implement the reservation.

SRM entrance test to be held from July 30

SRM entrance test to be held from July 30

Chennai: 12.05.2020

The joint entrance test of SRM, SRM Joint Entrance Examination 2020, will be held from July 30 to August 4 across 127 Indian cities and five cities abroad.

More than 1.75 lakh candidates are expected to write the test this year. Students can download exam hall tickets from third week of July. The joint counselling is scheduled to be held in the second or third week of August. “Due to the lockdown, the last date to apply for SRMJEEE has been extended. The exam will be conducted in a safe and secure manner, following physical distancing and sanitation norms,” the university said in a release.

Meanwhile, Sathyabama Institute of Science and Technology announced that the Sathyabama All India Engineering Entrance Examination will be conducted from August 3 to 5 in 40 cities across the country. The results are expected to be declared on August 8 and online counselling will be held on August 12. TNN

AROUND TAMIL NADU

AROUND TAMIL NADU

First Covid-19 death in Kanyakumari

A 65-year-old cancer patient died at Kanyakumari government medical college hospital on Saturday and later his test results returned positive for Covid-19, making him the seventh coronavirus victim in the southern districts. With 14 cases on Monday, the total number Covid-19 cases in the southern region touched 571. Trained Nagercoil Corporation sanitary workers wearing personal protective equipment took the body to the corporation crematorium where the last rites were performed.

It is the first COVID-19 death in the southernmost district. More than 140 people from Kanyakumari who were stranded in Maldives and were brought to Kochi by ship reached the district in buses and were taken to quarantine facilities.

Trichy hospital gets two robots from SASTRA varsity

SASTRA University in Thanjavur has donated two more advanced robots to Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital (MGMGH) in Trichy to aid frontline health workers at the Covid-19 isolation wards. Officials from SASTRA University handed over the two Zafi Go robots to Trichy collector S Sivarasu in the presence of dean Dr K Vanitha on Monday. The robots can carry food, medicines and clothes to Covid-19 patients in the isolation wards at MGMGH. Aimed at reducing the contact between health workers and patients, the robots can carry a load of 15kg. They can serve 10 to 15 patients at one go and have a battery backup of four hours. The robot can be operated through remote control from a distance of 1.5km. A screen fitted on the robot will allow the doctor to interact with the patient.

Pondy government shifts focus to home quarantine

The Puducherry government has shifted its focus on receiving hundreds of people stranded in other parts of the country and abroad. The government has advised people reaching Puducherry to be ‘responsible and disciplined’ and quarantine themselves at home for 14 days. Director (health and family welfare services) S Mohankumar said the health directorate will screen the people and medical teams will visit them periodically. Meanwhile, Karaikal district, Puducherry’s enclave 140km south of headquarters Pondicherry, reported its first Covid-19 case on Sunday. Police said the 37-year-old bus driver, who was arrested for his involvement in a petty crime, was subjected to a medical examination before he was remanded in judicial custody. He tested positive for Covid-19 infection. He was admitted at Karaikal government general hospital for treatment.

More curbs to go, but lockdown may stay, PM hints at CMs meet

More curbs to go, but lockdown may stay, PM hints at CMs meet

‘Need To Reduce Spread, Increase Public Activity’

Akhilesh.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.05.2020

Prime Minister Narendra Modi indicated that steps to open the economy would continue to be pursued in line with relaxations announced so far even as efforts to reduce incidence of Covid-19 continue apace and social distancing norms are followed.

Modi hinted that a more graded relaxation of the lockdown could be on its way during a lengthy interaction with chief ministers on Monday. “I am of the firm view that the measures needed in the first phase of lockdown were not needed during the second phase and, similarly, the measures needed in the third phase are not needed in the fourth,” an official release quoted the PM as saying.

“We have a twofold challenge — to reduce the transmission rate of the disease and to increase public activity gradually, while adhering to all the guidelines,” he said.

PM Modi at the video conference with CMs on Monday

Didi, Thackeray favour extension of lockdown

The long interaction, where all CMs spoke, saw some in favour of continuing with the lockdown beyond May 17. Given the focus on containment, the lockdown may not be called off even as more easing of curbs, particularly in green areas, is on the anvil.

While West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee complained about the Centre’s “unilateral” actions, she like other CMs such as Uddhav Thackeray and Nitish Kumar favoured extension of the lockdown. Kumar expressed reservations on resumption of train services. Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan said states should be allowed to decide on public transport while Odisha CM Naveen Patnaik suggested that there should be broad lockdown principles. Thackeray expressed concern over reports of a second wave of infection in China.

Sources said the PM was very conscious about the need to continue all efforts to contain the disease so that gains of the lockdown were not lost and also referred indirectly to the need to concentrate on problematic areas.

“We now have a reasonably clear indication as to the geographical spread of the pandemic in India, including the worst affected areas. Moreover, over the past few weeks, officials have understood operating procedures in a time such as this, right up to the district level,” Modi said, suggesting that the disease tracking mechanism was gaining experience and becoming more effective.

Full report on www.toi.in

50 சதவீத பயணிகளுடன் பேருந்துகளை இயக்கினால் ஒரு கி.மீ.க்கு ரூ.15 இழப்பு

50 சதவீத பயணிகளுடன் பேருந்துகளை இயக்கினால் ஒரு கி.மீ.க்கு ரூ.15 இழப்பு ஏற்படும் என மதிப்பீடு- சாலை வரி விலக்கு அளிக்க அரசுக்கு வலியுறுத்தல்

சென்னை  11.05.2020

கரோனா ஊரடங்கு முடிந்த பிறகு 50 சதவீத பயணிகளுடன் பேருந்துகள் இயக்கப்பட்டால் போக்குவரத்து கழகங்களுக்கு ஒரு கிலோ மீட்டருக்கான இழப்பு ரூ.15 ஆக உயரும் என மதிப்பீடு செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. எனவே, அடுத்த 6 மாதங்களுக்கு சாலை வரி விலக்கு அளிக்க வேண்டும் என்று தமிழக அரசிடம் கோரிக்கை விடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழக அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழக பேருந்துகளில் தினமும் 1.87 கோடி பேர் பயணம் செய்துவந்தனர். இதற்கிடையே, ஊரடங்கு உத்தரவு அமலில் உள்ளதால் பேருந்து சேவை நிறுத்தப்பட்டு 320-க்கும் மேற்பட்ட போக்குவரத்து பணிமனைகளில் பேருந்துகள் நிறுத்தி வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. அரசு பேருந்துகள் ஓடாததால், போக்குவரத்து துறைக்கு இது வரை இல்லாத அளவுக்கு ரூ.1,150 கோடி வருவாய் இழப்பு ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில் ஊரடங்கு முடிந்த வுடன் 50 சதவீத பயணிகளுடன் பேருந்துகள் இயக்கப்படும் என்று கூறப்படுகிறது. இதுதொடர்பாக அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழக உயர் அதிகாரிகள் கூறியதாவது:

இழப்பு உயரக்கூடும்

அரசு பேருந்துகளில் ஒரு கி.மீ-க்கு ரூ.43 வசூலானால் மட்டுமே வருவாய், செலவு சரி சமமாக இருக்கும். கரோனாவுக்கு முந்தைய நிலவரப்படி ஒரு கி.மீ.க்கு ரூ.33 தான் வசூலானது. இதற்கிடையே, பல்வேறு பாதுகாப்பு வழிமுறைகளைப் பின்பற்றி ஊரடங்கு முடிந்த பிறகு பேருந்துகளை இயக்க தயாராக வேண்டும் என்று போக்குவரத்து துறை அறிவுறுத்தியுள்ளது.

மேலும், சமூக இடைவெளியைக் கடைபிடிக்க 50 சதவீத பயணிகளுடன் மட்டுமே பேருந்துகளை இயக்க வேண்டும் என்றும் தெரிவித்துள்ளது. இதனால், அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகங்களுக்கு மேலும் வருவாய் இழப்பு ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புள்ளது. அதாவது, அரசுபேருந்துக்கு ஒரு கிலோ மீட்டருக்கான இழப்பு ரூ.10-ல் இருந்து ரூ.15 ஆக உயரும் நிலை ஏற்படும் என மதிப்பீடு செய்துள்ளோம்.

எனவே, அரசு போக்குவரத்துக் கழகங்களுக்கு அடுத்த 6 மாதங்களுக்கு சாலை வரியில் விலக்கு அளிக்க வேண்டும் என்று தமிழகஅரசிடம் கோரிக்கை விடுத்துள்ளோம். அதேபோல், பொது போக்குவரத்து வசதியைப் பாதுகாத்திடும் வகையில் சுங்கச்சாவடி கட்டணத்தில் இருந்து பேருந்துகளுக்கு மத்திய அரசு சலுகை அறிவிக்க முன்வர வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

Surprised by your electricity bill this month? Here’s what TNEB says

Surprised by your electricity bill this month? Here’s what TNEB says 

April 30, 2020 Aruna Natarajan 

TNEB CHARGES DURING THE LOCKDOWN 

https://chennai.citizenmatters.in/how-is-tneb-charging-electricity-bills-during-lockdown-15940

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Self-reporting of meter readings is only allowed for industrial and commercial connection holders. Pic: Pixabay (CC BY : SA 2.0) 

The rapid spread of the Coronavirus pandemic across the country has forced it into a lockdown that has lasted over a month now. During this time, other than essential services, all other activities have been suspended. The pandemic has also put many in a financially precarious situation with job losses and pay cuts. 

Central and state and local governments have taken cognisance of the difficulties faced by the public to offer some concessions on dues such as loans, property tax dues, water tax dues and electricity bills. 

In line with this, and also partly due to operational hurdles, the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board (TNEB) has decided to charge the same amount as in the previous billing cycle for the present cycle as well, and offer some relief to those running commercial operations. 

If your bi-monthly electricity bill is much less than you anticipated during the lockdown, this is the reason and here’s what you need to know. 

Why is the bill amount due the same as the previous cycle? 

For the billing cycle that falls during the lockdown, TNEB has decided to charge customers the same amount that they paid during the last cycle. This is because the EB staff has been unable to calculate the meter readings since they cannot visit houses during the lockdown period. 

Does this mean the remainder of the bill amount has been waived? 

No. The concession is only applicable during the lockdown. After the lockdown, the accurate meter readings for this billing cycle will be determined and the amount due will be adjusted with the payment that has already been made. The revised bill will be added to the next billing cycle after deduction of subsidy for 100 united for each cycle. 

How can electricity bills be paid during the lockdown? 

The officials of TNEB have encouraged residents to avoid visiting their offices as much as possible and pay the dues online. Those who are unable to pay online may visit the office, but they are advised to pursue this only as a last resort. 

Can you set up online payment for EB now? 

Yes. The online payment option can be activated by visiting the website of TNEB by following the steps listed here. 

Can advance payment be made in order to avoid paying a huge amount in the next cycle? 

Yes. After you have cleared the current dues, the website offers an option to pay in advance for the coming cycle. The amount paid will be adjusted with the actual dues when the next billing cycle is completed. 

Does this apply to both residential and commercial connection holders? 

The change in the billing method is applicable only to residential connection holders. Since most commercial establishments were shut due to the lockdown, their dues are likely to be much less than the amount paid in the previous billing cycle. 

With businesses inoperational, many would be short of cash. As a result of a representation made by industries to the EB, the EB has decided to allow commercial connection holders to self-report the meter readings to their respective Assistant Engineers by sending a photo of the reading. The bill amount is then calculated based on the actual consumption for the month. 

Will power connections be snapped if dues are not cleared? 

Authorities from the TNEB say that since the beginning of the lockdown, no power connection has been cut even if payment could not be made due to the difficult circumstances faced by the people; this consideration will continue until the lockdown is lifted. 

How can those living in containment zones pay the bill? 

Those living in Chennai’s 200+ containment streets have been advised to avoid stepping out. If a resident of the containment zone wishes to pay their electricity bill, they may do so online (as described above). 

If online payment is not an option, they may reach out to the corporation officials stationed at their zone for assistance. 

Embrace online payment 

Palani Vel, Superintending Engineer said that the TNEB has attempted to ease the burden on the public and its staff through this move. “We have had our staff coming in to work from various parts of the city passing through checkpoints. We decided to follow this method so as to not have them visit houses during the lockdown and expose themselves or the public to any risk of the illness.” 

A smart metering system that would allow for TNEB to register meter readings automatically could have prevented this situation. But the project’s limited pilot in T Nagar has come to a halt due to COVID-19. “We had just kicked off the project with the meter installation that would have allowed us to take readings remotely. But it will have to be resumed only after the lockdown now,” said Palani Vel. 

He also urged the public to embrace online payment wherever possible. “Only around 40% of the total customers pay online. There has been a small uptick in that number since the lockdown but we are hoping that more people will take to online payments as a result of the situation we are in.” 

For any further questions, you can reach out to the Assistant Engineers in your respective areas for clarification and assistance. 

** TNEB clarifies 

The calculation for the two billing cycles and slab rates as clarified by TNEB. 

On May 8th, TNEB provided certain clarifications with regard to the charges and slabs as can be seen above. To sum up: 

The accurate reading for the current and next billing cycle will be ascertained by taking the meter reading at the end of the next billing cycle, by when lockdown restrictions may be eased. 

The total number of units consumed over the four months will be divided by two. 

The slab rates are then applied to the figure arrived at for number of units consumed during each cycle. 

Subsidy of 100 units is applicable to the unit readings in each cycle. 

The amount already paid during the lockdown will then be adjusted in the final amount due. 

** Article updated on May 9, 2020 with clarification from TNEB

With over 4,300 new cases, India records highest single-day jump

With over 4,300 new cases, India records highest single-day jump

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  11.05.2020

India recorded its highest single-day jump in Covid-19 cases with the number crossing 4,000 for the first time, as the pandemic touched another new high in Maharashtra, which added 1,943 cases on Sunday, including 665 from the previous few days.

This meant that 4,308 cases were added to India’s Covid-19 count, a rise of 6.9% in a day. While Maharashtra reported the lion’s share with Mumbai alone accounting for 875, the pandemic continued to surge in Tamil Nadu (669 new cases), Gujarat (398) and Delhi (381). The eastern states of West Bengal (153), Odisha (83) and Bihar (85) reported their highest jump in cases, mainly due to the influx of returning migrants.

Maharashtra also reported its highest single-day death toll of 53, as the virus claimed 113 lives across India. The death toll in the country stands at 2,201, as per reports from state government.

Meanwhile, the number of people who have recovered from the disease has risen to 20,848, which is 31% of all cases, the highest proportion so far.

Tamil Nadu, which has been reporting the second highest count of cases after Maharashtra in the past few days, overtook Delhi to claim the No.3 spot among Covid-hit states.

Govt approves indigenous antibody test

The Union government has approved an indigenous antibody detection test for Covid-19 to reduce dependence on countries like China for testing kits. The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has developed and validated the indigenous IgG ELISA test ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’ for antibody detection for Covid-19. According to official sources, the test was validated at two sites in Mumbai and was “found to have high sensitivity and specificity”. P 8

Guj saw more patients being discharged after few bad days

Mumbai Remains Worst-affected City With A Total Of 13,739 Cases

Delhi recorded five more deaths due to Covid-19, while 381 fresh cases of the virus were reported. With the fresh cases, the Covid-19 tally in the national capital has climbed to 6,923. With 1,943 new cases and 53 fresh deaths, Maharashtra’s Covid-19 tally has reached 22,171 and 832 deaths have been confirmed in the state.

Mumbai remains the worst-affected city with a total of 13,739 cases and 508 deaths so far.

In more cheerful news, Gujarat which has been seeing huge spike in cases and deaths over the past few days, saw more patients being discharged than new cases on Sunday. Gujarat discharged a record 454 patients in 24 hours. The number of new cases in the state was 398. Total 21 patients succumbed to the virus.

Out of the total discharged, 266 were from Ahmedabad alone, followed by 41 in Vadodara, 33 in Surat and 17 in Anand. Gujarat also crossed 8,000 positive cases mark with 8,195 total cases, becoming the second Indian state after Maharashtra to record the number. According to the state health department figures, Gujarat added 1,000 cases in the past three days alone.

In Odisha, 83 more persons tested positive for Covid-19, of which the local authorities said 80 had arrived from other states. The maximum arrivals were from Gujarat’s Surat

(63), West Bengal (11), Karnataka (5) and Maharashtra (1), the authorities said.

Sunday’s grim figures have taken the total coronavirus patient count in the state to 377. The virus spread to two hitherto unaffected ‘green’ districts — Angul and Boudh — and made a comeback in Puri, also a green zone. The number of affected districts now is 21.

Telangana’s coronavirus caseload stands at1,196 with 33 new cases. So far, 30 deaths have been reported in the state. Bihar recorded the largest single-day spike with 85 fresh Covid positive cases and sixth death due to coronavirus on Sunday. They took the tally of coronavirus cases in Bihar to 696.

SAFETY MEASURES: A mobile Covid-19 testing van in Srinagar on Sunday. Kashmiris, who return from different parts of the country will be tested for coronavirus before they are sent home

Keralites stuck at Kerala-TN border should be allowed to cross if they have a pass: HC

Keralites stuck at Kerala-TN border should be allowed to cross if they have a pass: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:  11.05.2020

In a hearing conducted through videoconferencing on Sunday, the high court directed that Keralites stuck at Kerala-Tamil Nadu border at Walayar since Saturday should be allowed to cross if they have obtained passes from Tamil Nadu. The court also directed the government to provide basic facilities to those reaching the various entry points to the state.

A division bench comprising Justices Shaji P Chaly and M R Anitha considered a public interest litigation filed by Harish Vasudevan through senior advocate George Poonthottam. During the hearing, advocate Mohammed Shah, who represented the Tamil Nadu and Bengaluru units of All India KMCC, sought a directive to ensure proper coordination between Kerala and TN governments.

Advocate Sajal P E sought the court’s intervention on 13 Malayali students stranded at the Malahalla entry point, which is a forest area.

While making clear that its directive regarding those stranded at Walayar shouldn’t be treated as a precedent, the court ordered, “Accordingly we direct the respondents, who are the state and its officials, to take urgent immediate steps to facilitate the persons stranded at Walayar on May 9 to cross the state border by issuing necessary passes.”

“However, we make it clear that all those persons who are crossing the border in accordance with the passes so issued shall strictly adhere to the order and guidelines specified above and any other orders issued by the state government to deal with the situations day by day.” Immediate attention and preference should be given to pregnant women, the aged, and children, the court directed.

Others stranded at Walayar also should be issued passes at the earliest, avoiding unnecessary delay as they are stranded since Saturday, the order said.

Regarding the other demands, the court said, “We direct the state government to ensure that basic facilities are provided to the persons reaching the entry points as is stated in the guidelines specified above and any violations of the same would be viewed by this court strictly.”

Full report on www.toi.in

FREE TO GO: Nuns crossing the Walayar border in Kerala

Govt approves indigenous antibody detection test

Govt approves indigenous antibody detection test

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  11.05.2020

The government has approved an indigenous antibody detection test for Covid-19, which will enable health authorities to do surveillance testing to see how much of the population has been exposed to coronavirus infection. Once these antibody test kits are manufactured indigenously, it will reduce India’s dependence on countries like China for testing kits.

The National Institute of Virology (NIV) in Pune has developed and validated the indigenous IgG ELISA test ‘Covid Kavach Elisa’ for antibody detection for Covid-19. While real-time RT-PCR is the frontline test for clinical diagnosis of SARS-CoV-2, robust antibody tests are critical for surveillance to understand how much of the population has been exposed to infection.

An official statement said, “NIV’s competent scientific team successfully isolated the SARS-CoV-2 virus from laboratory-confirmed patients in India. This, in turn, has paved the way for the development of indigenous diagnostics for SARS-CoV-2.”

The indigenous antibody test will eliminate the need for low-quality Chinese kits — recently, Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had to return about 500,000 such kits after they malfunctioned, with variable results.

According to official sources, the test was validated at two sites in Mumbai and was “found to have high sensitivity and specificity”. “In addition, the test will have the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours. Moreover, ELISAbased testing is easily possible even at the district level as the ELISA kit has inactivated virus,” a source said. This will make it easier to distribute kits at the panchayat level.

The ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay) test is used to detect antibodies in the blood for a wide variety of infections, particularly HIV. India has a history of being able to successfully combat HIV-AIDS. With the new indigenous antibody test, India will be able to use the existing infrastructure.

The statement said the test had the advantage of having much higher sensitivity and specificity as compared to the several rapid test kits which have recently flooded the Indian market. Health minister Harsh Vardhan said, “The robust indigenous IgG ELISA test for antibody detection developed by ICMR-NIV, Pune will play a critical role in surveillance of proportion of the population exposed to SARSCoV-2 coronavirus infection.”

The test will have the advantage of testing 90 samples together in a single run of 2.5 hours. ELISA-based testing is easily possible even at the district level as the kit has inactivated virus

OFFICIAL SOURCE

Denied entry into labour room, man bites off part of doc’s ear

Denied entry into labour room, man bites off part of doc’s ear

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Berhampur:  11.05.2020

A 32-year-old man bit off a portion of a junior doctor’s ear and assaulted at least three others on duty after being denied entry into the labour room at MKCG Medical College and Hospital on Sunday.

The injured doctor Shakil Khan, a postgraduate student of the facility’s gynaecology and obstetrics department, was administered first aid and his condition is stable.

The accused, Tarani Prasad Mohapatra of Tara Tarini Chhaka, was arrested under various sections of the IPC and the Epidemic Disease Ordinance, 2020, said SP (Berhampur) Pinak Mishra. “We will seek permission to book him under the National Security Act as well,” he added.

Mishra said Mohapatra was part of a group of seven or eight male attendants of a patient which wanted entry into the labour room. First rebuffed by the security guard and then by Khan, an infuriated Mohapatra bit off a portion of the doctor’s ear. “He also assaulted at least three other doctors on duty, along with the guard,” Mishra said.

“My only fault is that I stopped the man from barging into the room that had a number of patients at the time,” Khan said.

“We want exemplary punishment for the accused so that others will not dare to attack doctors on duty,” said Bharati Mishra, the gynaecology department HOD. She also sought better security in the hospital.

Meanwhile, the Junior Doctors Association, Veer Surendra Sai Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (Vimsar), Burla, wrote to chief minister Naveen Patnaik seeking the invocation of NSA against the accused. The Indian Medical Association, Odisha, also condemned the attack on the junior doctors and urged DGP Abhay to book the culprit under non-bailable charges.

Tirupati loses ₹400cr during lockdown

Tirupati loses ₹400cr during lockdown

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati:  11.05.2020

The world’s richest temple trust Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD), which runs the Sri Venkateswara temple at Tirumala, on Sunday said that it has lost ₹400 crore of revenue during the lockdown and does not have enough cash to pay salaries and meet daily expenses.

TTD officials said the trust has already spent nearly ₹300 crore towards salaries, pensions, and other fixed expenses during the lockdown and is deliberating on ways to resolve the crisis “without having to touch” its eight tonnes of gold reserve and ₹14,000 crore fixed deposits.

‘‘TTD is obligated to pay salaries and pensions… It has a fixed annual expenditure of nearly ₹2,500 crore,” said TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy.

TTD’s payout for human resources for 2020-21 is pegged at ₹1,385.09 crore. It has to shell out approximately ₹120 crore every month on paying salaries and pensions. In addition, TTD has to extend financial support in the form of grants to the tune of nearly ₹400 crore to SVIMS, BIRRD, and other healthcare institutions run by it, besides funding the welfare hostels, educational institutions and universities under its fold.

The temple attracts 80,000 to 100,000 devotees daily; the rush increases considerably during festival seasons, officials said.

Petition to give PPEs to non-med frontline workers

Petition to give PPEs to non-med frontline workers

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:  11.05.2020

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed before Madras high court seeking to provide personal protective equipment (PPE) kits to nonmedical frontline workers in the state.

R Sathiamoorthy, executive trustee of the NGO ‘People’s Watch’, said though the state government had taken effective steps for the containment of Covid-19, non-medical frontline workers such as police, fire and rescue services personnel, cleanliness workers, ambulance staff, revenue officials, volunteers and mediapersons were left vulnerable.

All non-medical frontline workers, particularly police personnel and volunteers managing crowds and traffic, were not wearing PPE kits but only masks. He said news reports revealed that several such workers had tested positive for Covid-19 and the Koyambedu experience clearly established the need for properly protecting all frontline workers by providing them PPE kits. Nonmedical frontline workers involved in the disease prevention works should also be subjected to routine medical checkup.

He further stated that careful directions and strict implementation were lacking regarding the need for PPE kits for frontline workers. Though he had submitted representation to the authorities concerned, no steps were taken so far, the petitioner said while seeking a direction from the Madurai bench of the court to the state government to take immediate steps in this regard.

Police, fire and rescue services personnel, cleanliness workers, ambulance staff and mediapersons were among vulnerable, the plea said

Lockdown doubts

Covid & prohibition: Let’s put up a spirited battle, not fight ghosts

STORYBOARD

Covid & prohibition: Let’s put up a spirited battle, not fight ghosts

ARUN RAM  11.05.2020

Being honest in politics is tough. Look at Karti Chidambaram. The Congress MP from Sivaganga last week said he doesn’t advocate prohibition. “I don’t agree with those who propose it. Almost all who propose total prohibition are hypocrites. Very few have the moral authority to do so,” said the son of former Union minister P Chidambaram in an FB post. Karti was attacked by his rivals, including men of such high morality as his former aide ‘Karate Thiyagarajan’.

The Tamil Nadu government blundered in opening liquor outlets last Thursday — an act that has probably given rise to what we may soon call the ‘Tasmac Covid cluster’. The desperation is evident as the state continues to lose an average of 90 crore daily from liquor sale (the total revenue in 2019-20 was more than 31,000 crore) at a time when it is scraping the bottom of the barrel. A simple solution would be to allow online sale and door delivery of liquor—something the government has been resisting despite courts giving their nod, obviously because it doesn’t want to upset the Tasmac shop guys who overcharge without a bill.

Let’s face it: Prohibition is a failed notion the world over. The idea of restrictions on the use and trade of alcohol has punctuated known human history; the earliest can be traced to the Code of Hammurabi, the Babylonian law of 1754 BC Mesopotamia. In the early 20th century, protestants tried prohibition in North America, the Russians between 1914 and 1925, and the US between 1920 and 1933.

No doubt, alcoholism (not to be confused with drinking) has killed people, shattered families and shocked society, but projecting drinking as an act of sin and attributing all things ill to alcohol give me the hiccups. Here’s my unsolicited advice: If you can hold your drink, well, drink.

In India, Gujarat, Bihar, Nagaland, Mizoram, Manipur and Lakshadweep have prohibition laws, yet illegal sale of alcohol happens in these places. Same is the case in countries, mostly Islamic ones, that have prohibited alcohol on religious grounds.

Tamil Nadu has a history of intermittent prohibition, starting with C Rajagopalachari’s order in 1937. MGR finally launched Tasmac as the state seller of alcohol in 1983. I have lived through N T Rama Rao’s prohibition in Andhra Pradesh from 1995 (the same year his son-in-law snatched power in the famous ‘August coup’). During those years, at sundown, pagers (not many had mobile phones then) would beep out such messages like ‘are we reading or writing tonight?’ ‘Reading’ — note the initial alphabet — meant rum, ‘writing’ whiskey. As bootleggers laughed their way to the bank, the state bled. Naidu lifted prohibition in 1997.

Drinking is an informed choice. The authorities can spell out the ill effects, not stop him. Every liquor label legally sold in India carries the statutory caution: Consumption of alcohol is injurious to health. So do scrolls on our cinema and television screens whenever a character reaches out for a bottle (I wonder if anyone would remake Devdas again).

I bat for a different prohibition — that of driving after drinking. That alcohol impairs our motor and cognitive abilities temporarily (the very reason why many people drink) is an uncontested scientific fact. Campaigns against drunk driving have a higher impact than preaching on moral and religious grounds. A case in point is the impact made by campaigns of Mothers Against Drunken Driving (MADD), an NGO formed initially by women who lost their children to drunk driving in the US.

Such compelling campaigns work. The ‘sin theory’ doesn’t. The only sin I find in a single malt is in the spelling. But then, I also find a monk in Old Monk.

arun.ram@timesgroup.com

High on debts,TN needs Tasmac to remain sober

High on debts,TN needs Tasmac to remain sober

Desperation Apparent In Urgency To Move SC Against Order Of Outlets’ Closure

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

11.05.2020

Ameme — even if people of the state decide to stop drinking, it seems Tamil Nadu government will not let them to do so — widely circulated last week highlighted the desperation of the state to plug its financial loopholes.

The speed at which the government, despite condemnation from the opposition, moved the Supreme Court on Saturday to get reprieve from the Madras high court’s order on Friday to close state-owned Tasmac outlets, only highlighted that fact. And you don’t need a Rajinikanth to drive home the point.

Nevertheless, the actor and politician-in-waiting did make a point. “The state government should look at better ways to fill up its treasury,” tweeted Rajinikanth on Sunday morning, even while chiding the ruling AIADMK to “forget about returning to power” if it plans to reopen Tasmac outlets.

A couple of weeks ago, a senior official from the state finance department told TOI that salaries have to be paid, even while seeking to discount the notion that Tamil Nadu government is surviving on ‘liquor money’. “Consumption of alcohol appears to be high since everything goes through Tasmac, which controls both the wholesale procurement and retail sale. It also indicates the efficiency in collection of this revenue, a model that has been since replicated by the states of Kerala and Andhra Pradesh. But the revenue from liquor is just around 25% of the state’s total own revenue,” the official said, while adding that revenue through Tasmac is around ₹30,000 crore per annum, while state’s own revenue amounts to around ₹1.3 lakh crore.

Surprisingly, the trigger happy AIADMK camp, which hits back at anyone attacking the government, preferred a stoic silence through the day and let Rajinikanth go almost scot-free. Even officials are tight lipped about the precarious state of government finances. But the writing is on the wall and one gets to see the glimpses. First came the withholding of the dearness allowance and then the order to increase the retirement age of state government employees by one year.

That too may not suffice. There are unofficial talks about the state government having ordered a freeze in recruitment and discussing ways and means to implement a salary cut, which some say could be up to 30%, for different categories of government employees. “Salary cut was discussed and debated. It has been decided not to implement it,” said one official. “Paying salaries to government employees will not be a problem since it comes through ‘appropriation account’. Further, there is a 70% chance that this government will not opt for a salary cut of employees,” said another official.

A statement from the Tamil Nadu government on Saturday, announcing an expert committee to be headed by former RBI governor C Rangarajan, seems to highlight the precarious condition of the state’s finances to a certain extent. In reply to the general discussion on the budget on February 20, 2020 deputy chief minister (O Panneerselvam) had announced that an expert committee would be constituted to recommend measures to improve the tax-GSDP ratio of Tamil Nadu, it read.

In the present context where the Covid-19 pandemic has posed much more serious economic and fiscal challenges, the expert committee may be requested to examine the challenges of Tamil Nadu and the way forward to improve the fiscal position including the tax-GSDP ratio as part of the larger brief of suggesting policy measures to improve the economic situation, the statement said.

“What the chief secretary’s order doesn’t say, but was duly acknowledged by the deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam in the state assembly, is that the suggestion to the government to constitute such an expert committee came from me. I have been telling this to the state government since 2017,” said DMK MLA P T R Palanivel Thiagarajan, who worked as a financial consultant in the US before getting active in state politics a few years ago.

“The tax-GSDP ratio used to be around 10% between 2004 and 2014. Since then it has steadily declined to around 7% now. A onethird drop and it should have alarmed the government long ago. The state’s finances were in a precarious situation much before this crisis,” said Thiagarajan. The constitution of the expert committee too does not enthuse him. “The committee does not inspire confidence as it should. It does not have any world-class economists as the one constituted by the Rajasthan government. Also the three-month timeframe given to the committee is too long. By then, we will already be bankrupt or will be in a deep liquidity crunch,” says Thiagarajan.

Email your feedback to southpole.toi@timesgroup.com

UNCONCERNED: People queuing up in front of Tasmac shops were uncontrollable on the first day outlets opened

Lesson not learnt: Trichy markets see huge crowds

Lesson not learnt: Trichy markets see huge crowds

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

Trichy:  11.05.2020

As the fish markets and meat stalls resumed business on Sunday, after being sealed on Sundays for a month, residents thronged the shops ignoring and violating all social distancing norms.

To avoid a huge crowds at markets, the district administration had, since April, banned fish stalls and meat shops from opening on Sundays. While the state is attempting to identify the daily wagers, who returned to their native districts after the closure of Koyambedu vegetable market, fish markets and meat stalls were given a relaxation by the district administration to do business from Sunday.

Huge crowds gathered at these stalls appeared to have forgotten the Koyambedu episode. With very limited space, Puthur fish market on Sunday saw most of the people wearing facemasks but they did not maintain social distance. Although, a few shops in Puthur market had signs for buyers to maintain social distancing, the rush to finish the purchase made the markings useless. “Residents should show responsibility. Market places are still vulnerable to the Covid-19 spread,” said, M Sekaran, president, federation of consumer and service organisations.

Meanwhile, the Trichy Corporation sealed at least 20 shops including bakeries in the past few days for not maintaining social distancing rules. Police personnel deployed in the fish market, however, appeared helpless as their instructions were ignored.

SOCIAL DISTANCING GONE FOR A TOSS: Huge crowds gathered at fish and meat stalls in Trichy on Sunday

Snakes come crawling out, calls for rescue on the rise

Snakes come crawling out, calls for rescue on the rise

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 11.05.2020

It’s summer and reptiles, particularly snakes, are beginning to crawl out, looking for cool places to hide.

Already, the wildlife headquarters range office in the city is getting about half-a dozen calls a day from residents, mainly in the suburbs, saying snakes had strayed in to human habitation and had to be rescued.

Range officer Mohan said Chromepet, Pallavaram, Hasthinapuram, Medavakkam and Madambakkam are among the suburbs, where snakes have strayed into, while in the core city, they have been spotted in such places as Nandanam, T Nagar, Taramani, Velachery and Guindy in the past one month.

Herpetologist V Kalaiarasan says unused bricks, logs or tiles will attract snakes that try to hide under them and that workers, especially in the construction sector, should be careful while removing such unused material.

Well-known herpetologist Romulus Whitaker said rats and mice, found in large numbers around homes, were a big draw for snakes, adding that most of them were luckily harmless.

“If you keep rodents away by catching or killing them you are doing the right thing.

“It will also help if you learn to identify the very few venomous snakes that live around us so that if a harmless reptile like a rat snake, water snake or bronzeback shows up you can just ignore it.”

Cobra, Russell’s viper, krait and saw-scaled viper are the only four venomous snakes likely to be seen in most of India and in case any one of these is spotted near a house, it’s best to leave it alone, he said.

Any resident can call the forest department on 044-22200335 or an authorized snake rescuer — there is at least one in almost every town in the state - but should not try to catch or kill a snake, said Mohan.

A sizeable number of venomous snakes brought to his office are released after a few days in reserve forests in Tiruvallur district or Chengalpet, he said.

WATCH OUT: A file photo of snakes rescued in Velachery

Stranded Kuwait passengers return to city

Stranded Kuwait passengers return to city

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 11.05.2020

As many as 171 passengers including four infants stranded in Kuwait due to shutdown reached Chennai by a special Air India Express flight at 9.25pm on Sunday. This is the third rescue flight to the city. The first two flights from Dubai reached on Saturday early morning.

The passengers were taken to quarantine centres arranged by the government in special buses after nasal and throat swabs were taken to check for Covid-19. The passengers will remain in 14days quarantine.

Officials from health department also put quarantine stamp on their hands to ensure that they not violate the isolation.

An airport official said the same safety protocol that was followed to handle the passengers who arrived by the two flights from Dubai were used to handle the people who arrived from Kuwait also.

The passengers were first checked using thermal scanners and then were led to the immigration counters. After collecting the bags they proceeded to register to select a quarantine facility. Air India Express will operate flights from Kuala Lumpur, Muscat, Manila and Dhaka as part of the Vande Bharat Mission to bring stranded Indians.

BACK HOME: A plane from Kuwait lands at Chennai on Sunday

Guest workers walk home, take interior roads to avoid cops

Guest workers walk home, take interior roads to avoid cops

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  11.05.2020

With no response for registrations in the state government portal (www.nonresidenttamil.org) last week, guest workers from Chennai are now walking back home. To avoid check posts, the migrants take interior roads of villages to cross district and state borders.

Sirajudeen, a 24-year-old worker from Chennai who is travelling to Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, by foot along with 32 others on Saturday, said they were taking interior roads to skip Padianallur toll gate.

They were working in sawmills and paint industries here for a year and registered with the portal as soon as it was launched. However, they haven't received any update.

“Trucks can transport us to Vizag’s outskirts if we pay them ₹1,000. We aren't sure if we can pay for the remaining 100km journey,” said L Tirupathy, a construction worker, who left Kasimedu on Sunday as the government camp they resided in ran out of food.

While this was the ordeal of registered workers, hundreds residing in Velachery struggle to get their registrations approved. “The police provided contact numbers. However, they are never answered,” said V Charukesh, a volunteer from Chennai aiding migrants with the online registration process.

TOI on Sunday contacted emergency numbers (of IAScadre nodal officers) released by the government to facilitate movement of workers to Uttar Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh and Odisha. The calls went unanswered.

“The government could have sent migrants home efficiently by operating all available buses. But it just created a portal for namesake and is running only limited trains,” said CITU President A Soundararajan.

Data suggests 2.5 lakh workers registered to go their natives from Tamil Nadu. A train trip can ferry only 1,130 workers. There are 21,000 unused government buses in TN. Calculations revealed they can ferry 8 lakh workers out of the state a day.

“Most industries, that have employed these migrants have also not expressed much support. In fact, some have even threatened to not release pending salary dues,” Soundararajan added.

LONG WAY HOME: Guest workers walk along GNT Road near Red Hills to reach Andra Pradesh as police intensified checks along borders

Cases will go up, but don’t worry: Spl officer

‘High No. Due To Contact Tracing And Targeted Tests’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 11.05.2020

On a day when Chennai saw the highest spike in Covid-19 positive cases (509), special nodal officer for city, J Radhakrishnan said the number of cases in the city will be on the higher side for the coming week, but that the public need not worry.

The high number of cases in the city should be contextualised with the population and the rate of testing done, which is the highest in the country, Radhakrishnan said.

“My humble request is that we need not be afraid because of numbers. For the past 10 days, we have been doing targeted testing. We have traced contacts and are testing at the rate of 3,500 people s day,” Radhakrishnan said.

Deputy directors at ICMRNational Institute of Epidemiology, Chennai, Dr Prahdeep Kaur and Dr Manickam, too had echoed a similar opinion in their interview to TOI on May 8. “Rising numbers reflect good testing and contact tracing strategies. It tells us we are on the right path. At one point, when we are at the peak, the numbers will decline even as we continue to aggressively test people,” the epidemiologists had said.

On Sunday, 669 cases were recorded in Tamil Nadu of which 509 was in Chennai. As on Sunday evening, the total number of cases in the city rose to 3,839 — 53% of the total cases in the state — 7,204.

Stating that coronavirus is an invisible enemy for which the public should prepare themselves as foot soldiers, the official appealed to people to support the authorities by following physical distancing and wear masks compulsorily.

There will come a stage in the future where not wearing face masks and not maintaining physical distancing might lead to fines, he said, and appealed to the public to not step out of the house without a face mask. “Face mask should become a staple part of the outdoor attire,” he said.

Stressing that the elderly and the diabetic are vulnerable, the official sought co-operation from the public.

Radhakrishnan also pointed out that majority of the wards in Chennai have less than ten Covid-19 positive cases and that the maximum cases are restricted to two wards in Royapuram zone and Thiru-vi-ka Nagar zone, which have more than 200 cases each.

For the past 10 days, we have been doing targeted testing. We have traced contacts and are testing at the rate of 3,500 people s day

J Radhakrishnan | SPECIAL NODAL OFFICER, CHENNAI

Tuticorin MCH dean shunted out after video

Tuticorin MCH dean shunted out after video

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.05.2020

A day after a video purportedly featuring Tuticorin government medical college hospital dean Dr B Thiruvasagamani went viral, director of medical education (DME) Dr R Narayanababu said preliminary action has been taken against him by transferring him to Virudhungar Medical College Hospital on Saturday.

In the clip, the authenticity of which could not be independently verified, the dean, seated in his car, could be seen telling final year medical students, house surgeons or compulsory rotatory residential interns to mark themselves as negative for Covid-19 test results. When a student questions him how he could do so without taking the test, the doctor was heard saying “That’s how it is done”.

Dr Thiruvasagamani has maintained that the clip was doctored and that his transfer did not have anything to do with it. Speaking to TOI, the DME said that because of the nature of the case, preliminary action was taken first after which an inquiry will be initiated to thoroughly investigate the matter. “We’ll ask for an inquiry and explanation for the video and then, on investigation subsequently, departmental action will be taken,” he said.

Senior authorities at Tuticorin Medical College Hospital were unavailable for comment.

Buses can ferry only 25 with social distancing

Buses can ferry only 25 with social distancing

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.05.2020

Starting services at a reduced scale with social distancing in the initial days to increasing frequency after a few weeks seem to be the norm that transport authorities are looking at to restart buses, metro rail trains, suburban trains and MRTS services in the city after shutdown.

MTC and metro rail are ready with social distancing norms but railways is yet to decide on the modalities to resume services as Southern Railway is waiting for a nod from the Union ministry.

Metro rail train will carry only 160 commuters while MTC has started to number the seats to allow social distancing. Suburban trains may not allow too many standing commuters. However, officials and staff worry whether they will be able to handle if there is overcrowding at bus stops and railway stations during delays.

The state government has started groundwork to resume bus services – within the city and between cities. Government-run transport corporations across Tamil Nadu have held small-scale meeting with their employees on Friday and Saturday to discuss preparedness.

Dharmendra Pratap Yadav, the state transport secretary, on Thursday sent a circular to all the corporations explaining the standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed for operating government buses after lockdown was lifted.

The circular recommended operation of limited number of bus services initially and change frequencies depending on the demand.

Conductors were instructed to ensure that the seat occupancy did not exceed 50% at any point of time, distance between two standing passengers was at least 6 feet. This indicated that only 25 people (sit-20 and stand-5) can travel in an MTC bus in Chennai.

A Arunagirinathan, a conductor, said it will be difficult to handle crowds at bus stops, particularly if they had waited for long. They will not listen to us and get inside, he said. Similar is the sentiment of railway officials.

As far as autos were concerned, in some districts outside Chennai, they were already in operation informally as it was the only transportation mode available with no buses and trains. But they are allowed to carry only one passenger at a time and cases are booked in case they violated this.

But in Chennai, even share autos, which transport 7-10 passengers at a time, have started operations with lockdown relaxations coming into effect one by one. Since they are not recognised as a separate category of vehicle, there is no clarity on how to formulate social distancing norms for them, said a state transport department official.