Schools, colleges to reopen from November 23 in Gujarat

Schools, colleges to reopen from November 23 in Gujarat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:12.11.2020

After being closed for about eight months, schools and colleges are set to reopen in the state from November 23 amid Covid-19 pandemic.

A decision to reopen secondary and higher secondary schools as well as colleges in the state after Diwali vacation was taken on Wednesday by the state cabinet chaired by CM Vijay Rupani.

The state will resume classroom studies from class 9 to 12 from November 23 for schools. In case of colleges and universities, the government will reopen them in a phased manner, starting with medical, paramedical and post graduate programmes. For undergraduate courses, the government has decided to resume classroom studies only for final year students initially.

The decision comes at a time when many other states have had to revoke similar decisions and again shut down educational institutions after facing a rising number of Covid-19 infection cases in school going students.

Before taking the final decision in the matter, the government held discussions with various stakeholders including department of education, school, college, university administrators and academicians, said education minister Bhupendrasinh Chudasama.

Tirumala employee sends porn link to devotee, dismissed

Tirumala employee sends porn link to devotee, dismissed

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati:12.11.2020

Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams on Wednesday dismissed an employee working for Sri Venkateswara Bhakti channel (SVBC), following an internal inquiry that confirmed he sent a porn link to a devotee, instead of religious material. The incident came to light after the devotee, who received the porn link from the official email handle of SVBC, lodged a plaint with TTD top brass. An inquiry was ordered.

According to an official statement, an employee of the channel allegedly sent the porn link to a Hyderabadbased devotee. The staffer, who has access to the official e-mail of a particular programme on SVBC, was reportedly in a highly inebriated state when he emailed the porn link to the devotee.

The temple body, which engaged the services of IT experts from its vigilance and security wing, was even more shocked when it was found that nearly 30 staffers of SVBC regularly watched TV serials and porn sites on office computers during office hours. When the inquiry officials checked the search history of SVBC office computers, links to several pornographic websites were noticed.

The inquiry team, which has already seized the office computers, is in the process of compiling a preliminary report for submission to SVBC and TTD managements for action against the guilty.

In January actor-turned politician Prudhvi Raj resigned from the chairmanship of SVBC after an audio clip of his ‘intimate’ talks with a woman staffer of the channel went viral. Following Prudhvi Raj’s episode, the temple body revamped the SVBC board and appointed additional EO A V Dharma Reddy as the channel’s managing director.

The official statement said a team of 25 software engineers carried out computer security audit in SVBC and a cyber cell team has been constituted. “During inquiry it was found that a few more employees are also involved in such wilful, indecent conduct. If proved guilty, action will be initiated against them too,” the statement said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Beware of post-Covid pneumonia, say docs

NOV 12: WORLD PNEUMONIA DAY

Beware of post-Covid pneumonia, say docs

Kamini.Mathai@timesgroup.com

Chennai:

Around 15% of those who have recovered from a Covid-19 infection return to the hospital with pneumonia a couple of weeks later, say doctors.

“That’s why the convalescent period for Covid-19 is important and the patient needs to be monitored at home for weeks after the treatment,” says Dr K Rajkumar, pulmonologist, Fortis Malar Hospital. “If patients return with a secondary bacterial infection, recovery is difficult because the lung has already been weakened by the coronavirus. Mortality can go as high as 30% in those who have returned with pneumonia,” says Dr Rajkumar.

Pneumonia is an infection of the lungs caused by viruses and bacteria. “Most viruses produce pneumonia that is confined to a small part of the lung, but if it extends to a larger part of the lung, then it can cause hypoxia, a condition where the body is deprived of oxygen,” says Dr Raj B Singh, pulmonologist at Apollo Hospitals.

The first phase of Covid-19 is virus replication, explains Dr Singh. The second phase of the disease is the immune response. “We have found cortico steroids and anticoagulants (as the blood tends to clot easily at this time) to be effective in this phase.”

When the Covid-19 infection is not severe, people can recover fast, says Dr Singh, but two weeks later it can develop into a widespread systemic inflammation or pneumonia, one that can cause damage to the nervous system, liver, and kidney.

“This is dangerous and sometimes lethal,” he says.

Doctors say they are still unsure as to who is likely to get the post-Covid pneumonia. “People think it is the elderly, or those who are immunecompromised, but it is difficult to predict,” says Dr Rajkumar.

Doctors suggest that those who have recovered remain cautious and report even the mildest symptoms, which can include a low grade fever, cough with or without yellowish sputum, fatigue and tightness in the chest.

Dr Singh says it is best that those who have recovered from Covid 19 continue to monitor themselves for temperature and oxygen saturation. “Get enough rest and adequate fluids. Do not overexert and be ambitious about getting back to work. Try to exercise only when the strength returns, don’t force it. It can take one to two months for a full recovery.”

This is where timely intervention helps, says emergency medicine consultant Dr M Sai Surendar from the Rela Institute and Medical Centre. “We have found that people who seek medical help in the earlier stages of Covid-19 infection are likely to recover better. If they come in when the infection is at a severe level, they are likely to return with pneumonia a few weeks after discharge.”

Get enough rest and adequate fluids. Do not overexert and be ambitious about getting back to work. Try to exercise only when the strength returns, don’t force it

DR RAJ B SINGH

pulmonologist Apollo Hospitals

HC not happy with Marina closure; will pass orders, say judges

HC not happy with Marina closure; will pass orders, say judges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.11.2020

Irked at continued closure of Marina and other beaches for public, the Madras high court has warned the authorities concerned that it would order their opening if the government did not take a decision.

A division bench of Justice Vineet Kothari and Justice M S Ramesh made the observation on Wednesday when the the corporation authorities said beaches might not be opened for public till November-end.

Wondering why the Marina beach alone was still out of bounds for the public when everything else, including cinemas, have been opened, the judges said: “If Chennai Corporation does not take a decision, then we would have to pass direction to open the beach.”

The bench also expressed its disappointment over the submission made by additional advocate general S R Rajagopal that the beach might not be opened for public till the end of November.

The issue pertains to a plea for regularisation of vending on the beach, its proper maintenance and eviction of fish venders from the Loop Road.

When the plea came up for hearing on Wednesday, Rajagopal filed an additional report on behalf of the corporation and submitted that the corporation commissioner and the city police commissioner are frequently inspecting the beach and Loop Road, as per directions of the court.

As to the maintenance of the beach, the corporation is using 8 tractor-driven beach cleaning machines regularly from 6am to 2pm, the AAG said. As to the tender for procurement of 900 uniform smart carts to be distributed to licenced vendors in Marina, the AAG submitted that the tender was scheduled to be opened on November 10 at 3 pm but the same could not be proceeded in view of a stay issued by a single judge of the court. The stay has been ordered on a plea moved by one of the bidders, he added.

Recording the submissions, the bench directed the registry to tag the petition challenging the tender with the current PIL and adjourned the hearing to November 18.

Travelling to Mahabs? Pay toll at one more point now

Travelling to Mahabs? Pay toll at one more point now

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.11.2020

Get ready to pay toll fee at one more point while travelling to Chennai’s most prominent and preferred weekend getaway — Mammallapuram.

The state municipal administration department has allowed the local panchayat to levy tolls on all vehicles entering or crossing the tourist destination.

“Though local tenders were floated in the past to collect user fees from tourists at an informal checkpost setup at Mammallapuram entrance, there was no accountability, So, government has issued orders in October to regularise this income,” said a Mahabalipuram town panchayat official.

Accordingly, private cars, vans and buses will pay ₹75, ₹100 and ₹125 each. Also, this is the only toll in the Chennai region to demand fees (₹15) from twowheelers. On an average, 700 two-wheelers, cars and vans arrive at Mahabalipuram on weekdays and the number almost doubles during weekends or festival holidays.

Therefore, if a family decides to take out a car for spending their weekend at Mammallapuram, they will have to pay at least₹175 for crossing three toll plazas (IT corridor along OMR, ECR Uthandi toll plaza and the new one at Mammallapuram entrance) for one-way trip. Another ₹100 should be spent on tolls in case they are staying there for a day. Similar toll fee collection points have been set up at Mangadu and other tourist locations in and around Chennai.

More than the toll fee, it is the long queues at tolls plazas and traffic congestion are what irks a section of the public. “Even after paying toll, we don’t see any facilities available to make the commute better,” said S Nirmal, of Thoraipakkam. Leave aside restrooms or emergency services, Mammallapuram doesn’t even have a toll booth. It is just a bunch of men blocking vehicles in the middle of the road and demanding money, he added. “Only now Covid lockdown norms have been relaxed and tourists are coming back. Levying tolls will definitely affect tourism,” said Senthil Velan, a hotelier from Mammallapuram.

A temporary worker of the panchayat collects toll fee from a vehicle at the entry point to Mammallapuram

Fund crunch halts restoration of Chitlapakkam lake

Fund crunch halts restoration of Chitlapakkam lake

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.11.2020

The state government’s ₹25crore eco-restoration of the Chitlapakkam lake has been halted due to fund crunch. The public works department had proposed the project last year after residents began de-silting and restoring the lake on their own.

Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami had visited the lake and sanctioned the project. Work began in February but was stopped due to Covid. In June, the contractor started work again but then stopped it.

“We held a meeting last week and presented before the state government the developments. The government has sanctioned ₹2 crore now and we have given the cheque to the contractor. Work will begin after Diwali. By March next year, it will be complete,” said an official.

Under the project, the PWD plans to strengthen of the bund, desilt and deepen the tank, remove garbage, lay a footpath, build macro drains and stop sewage inflow among others. “We are on the right track. Earlier, instead of removing the legacy waste we had planned to cover it with grass. However, after residents protested, we decided to remove the garbage,” said an official.

Residents contented that desilting has yet to be completed and sewage inlets have not been plugged. They said work was had made little progress.

“The drain constructed has already cracked. They haven’t completed desilting and with the monsoon on, we are worried that water will not percolate. This may create water scarcity in the summer. Had they stopped sewage inflow and completed desilting and deepening of the lake, water would have filled it,” said Sunil Jayaram from Chitlapakkam Rising, the movement behind the restoration project. “Sembakkam lake is filled with sewage and not rainwater. We do not want the same in Chitlapakkam lake.”

An official said the PWD understood concerns of the residents. “But engineering work cannot be completed overnight. We have removed a portion of the legacy waste. And we need to fill that area with sand and debris. We are awaiting permission from the government to remove the remaining waste. We have explained all this to the residents,” the official said.

MTC MD held in ₹2cr job scam case

MTC MD held in ₹2cr job scam case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.11.2020

Officials of the Central Crime Branch on Wednesday arrested K Ganesan, managing director, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), Chennai, in an alleged ₹2-crore job fraud case involving former transport minister V Senthil Balaji. The officer was remanded in judicial custody till November 25.

According to a complaint filed in 2015, the then transport minister K Senthil Balaji and a few others had cheated 81 people of nearly ₹2 crore between 2014 and 2015 by promising them government jobs. The CCB started investigation in November last year after the Madras high court ordered a probe.

Ganesan arrested on charges of cheating, criminal intimidation

K Senthil Balaji, who was AIADMK minister, had joined the DMK and is currently the party’s Aravakurichi MLA.

After police searched 17 places in January, Senthil Balaji got an anticipatory bail in February. In September, police raided the houses of K Ganesan in Anna Nagar West, and houses belonging to Senthil Balaji in Mandaveli and a few others in Karur and Madurai.

K Ganesan, who was working in Coimbatore, was transferred to Chennai as deputy manager (commercial) and was later given additional charge as deputy manager (personnel).

Later, he was promoted as general manager and worked in Villupuram before he came back to Chennai as MD in 2019.

On Wednesday, he was arrested on charges of IPC sections 406 (criminal breach of trust), 420 (cheating) and 506  (i) (criminal intimidation).

Centre tightens rules for NGOs to get foreign funds

Centre tightens rules for NGOs to get foreign funds

Such Bodies Must Have Existed For At Least 3 Years: Govt

New Delhi:12.11.2020

The NGOs that intend to receive foreign funding will now face tougher rules with the Union home ministry making it clear that such organisations must have existed for at least three years and spent ₹15 lakh in voluntary activities to be eligible to receive money from abroad.

In a notification, the home ministry also said office bearers of the NGOs seeking registration under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act must submit a specific commitment letter from the donor indicating the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given.

The FCRA rules were issued about two months after the central government had amended the law under which providing Aadhaar numbers of the office bearers of the NGOs was made mandatory, office expenses were brought down to 20 percent of such amount and election candidates, government servants, members of any legislature and political parties were prohibited from accepting foreign funding.

“A person seeking registration under clause (b) of sub-section (4) of section 12 of the Act shall meet the following conditions, namely:– (i) it shall be in existence for three years and have spent a minimum amount of rupees fifteen lakh on its core activities for the benefit of society during the last three financial years,” the notification said.

According to the rules, any NGO or person making an application for obtaining prior permission to receive foreign funds shall have an FCRA account.

The home ministry said “a person seeking prior permission for receipt of a specific amount from a specific donor for carrying out specific activities or projects shall meet certain criteria that include submission of a specific commitment letter from the donor indicating the amount of foreign contribution and the purpose for which it is proposed to be given”.

For the Indian recipient persons and foreign donor organisations having common members, prior permission shall be granted to the Indian person/entity if it satisfies the conditions that the chief functionary of the recipient shall not be a part of the donor organisation, and 75 percent of the office-bearers or members of the governing body of the recipient shall not be members or employees of the foreign donor organisation.

In case of foreign donor organisation being a single individual, that individual shall not be the chief functionary or office bearer of the recipient group and in case of a single foreign donor, 75 percent of the office bearers or members of the governing body of the recipient shall not be the family members or close relatives of the donor, the home ministry said. PTI

According to the new government rules, such organisations must have spent ₹15 lakh in voluntary activities to be eligible to receive money from abroad

CM surprises disabled woman in Tuticorin with job order in two hours

CM surprises disabled woman in Tuticorin with job order in two hours

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tuticorin:12.11.2020

Moved by the plight of a disabled young woman who was waiting in a wheelchair to see him outside the Tuticorin Medical College Hospital on Wednesday, chief minister Edappadi Palaniswami stopped his car, spoke to her and got her a job in less than two hours.

The CM was in Tuticorin to attend a review meeting on Covid-19 and developmental works and inaugurate various projects. As he was leaving the hospital and heading to the collectorate for the review meeting, he noticed the disabled woman and stopped his convoy. The woman, Mareeswari, explained that her husband is a daily wager, now virtually jobless, and they had a five-year-old daughter. The CM instructed revenue department officials to bring her to the collectorate where after discussing with collector Sandeep Nanduri, he surprised the woman by handing over an appointment order.

According to the order, the woman, a Tamil MA holder, will be deployed at the ward for those getting treated under the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme on a monthly salary of ₹15,000 through an outsourced agency. The CM also handed over a cheque for ₹50 lakh and appointment order as teacher to Bhuvaneswari, widow of police constable Subramanian, 28, who was killed in action on August 18. The policeman was hot on pursuit of a history sheeter in the Vallanadu forest when the accused hurled a country bomb on his head, killing Subramanian instantly.

Earlier , EPS inaugurated a linear accelerator for cancer treatment at Tuticorin hospital.

HELPING HAND: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami interacts with Mareeswari

Families to hit the road to spend Diwali weekend

Families to hit the road to spend Diwali weekend

Pratiksha.Ramkumar@timesgroup.com

Coimbatore:12.11.2020

With Diwali falling on Saturday and most offices and schools declaring Friday off, many families in the city have decided to drive to nearby hill stations or resorts to make the best use of the long weekend. Pointing to the restrictions on bursting firecrackers and large social and family gatherings, they say there is no point in staying home to “celebrate the festival”.

Entrepreneur couple Amritha and Dinesh Kumar from Nav India are heading to a home stay at Top Slip with their two children and their siblings’ families to celebrate Diwali. They plan to spend the festival morning on a twohour trek. Amritha says, “Living in apartments, we don’t want to stay cooped up for this festive weekend too. We have decided to show our children a new place and a different experience, instead.”

Most of the families have chosen destinations that are less than six hours away and opted for a two to three-night stay. Popular destinations include Ooty and Coonoor in the Nilgiris, Kochi and Kumarakom in Kerala and Coorg and Kabini in Karnataka.

Anahita Mukherjee, who is travelling to Coorg with her husband for the weekend, says, “Earlier, Diwali was a happening occasion with gettogethers and marathon cards sessions. Now that they are not advisable, there is no point in staying back home.”

Meanwhile, for many homestays and hotels, the upcoming weekend would be the busiest one since the lockdown came into force in March. Ritesh Choudhary, general manager of Savoy - IHCL SeleQtions in Ooty, says, “We have hit 90% occupancy. Coimbatore is our second highest source of guests, after Bengaluru.”

Except for a room, Coco Lagoon at Pollachi is also full for the weekend.

This is despite many hotels charging up to 15% premium for the weekend after seeing the traction. Rooms at such hotels cost anywhere between 8,000 and 13,000, inclusive of taxes, a night. “We see more people wanting to travel now just to take a break in a safe place, giving safety a priority over all other considerations,” says Ritesh.

Pointing out they are seeing an exponential increase in people travelling with their pets for vacation, he says, “We are pet friendly with our pawcation initiative.”

There is also demand for small homestays with limited rooms but a lot of open space.

Ambereena, who manages Serendipity group of hotels, says, “At least two of our properties - 180 Mc Iver and Ambereena - are full with large families booking three to four rooms in a single property.”

Bikers go on a trip to make best use of the holiday season

Telangana guv urges students to stay well committed to all endeavours

Telangana guv urges students to stay well committed to all endeavours

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.11.2020

Governor of Telangana Dr Tamilisai Soundararajan urged students to have more commitment in whatever they do in life and not give excuses. “When you are committed, you will do things even if you don’t like them,” the governor said.

She addressed students after virtually inaugurating the new ladies hostel blocks (Marie Curie Block and Dr Muthulakshmi Reddy Block) and a vermicomposting unit at Vellore Institute of Technology, Vellore, on Wednesday.

Dr Tamilisai said students should have confidence and courage in life and should not get depressed.

Chancellor of VIT Dr G Viswanathan, in his presidential address, said the government should provide free higher education to all, if not possible, at least for girls. Free higher education to girls will prevent child marriages and also increase the percentage of women in workforce. “Around 30 other countries offer free education and I want India too to provide it,” Viswanathan said.

Covid Diwali: More people want houses professionally cleaned

Covid Diwali: More people want houses professionally cleaned

Mamtha.A@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.11.2020

In the run up to Diwali, bookings from users for house cleaning services are up by 30%. Though, house cleaning is a regular practice before Diwali among Indians, service providers say hygiene conscious first-time users who want to safeguard their kids and elderly family members are driving the demand much higher this year. Besides, being holed up inside homes during the pandemic has added to the fatigue, making them seek outsourced services.

Thirty-eight-year-old Himanshu Sharma, a resident of Sowcarpet, has availed a full-house deep cleaning a week before Diwali. “It is an annual practice for us to clean and redecorate our home before Diwali. Unlike earlier times, we have opted for professional help for a fullhouse fumigation and deep clean after the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic,” said Sharma.

Home Service startup Urban Company has seen overall bookings up by 30% at an all-time high of 1,15,000 bookings in October, as compared to 80,000 in September, 2020. The company has doubled its cleaning team staff to meet the demand.

Its director of marketing Pratik Mukherjee said, “Bookings have jumped 20% in Chennai for November, as compared to October. Bookings from new users have tripled in the past three months.” It expects bookings to touch 1,50,000 mark before mid-November.

Another home service provider Housejoy, which has operations in Chennai, Bengaluru and Hyderabad, saw demand for home cleaning service go up by 30-35% in the past two months. Housejoy CEO and founder Sanchit Gaurav said, “We only see this demand going upward in the coming months. There is around 40% overall increase in demand due to Diwali.” The company has plans to enter tier 2 cities such as Mysore, Pune and Vijayawada.

For 52-year-old Parimala Murugan, of Besant Nagar, deep cleaning was agonising that she signed up with a service provider. “We were worried about taking care of my father-in-law, who is in his mid-eighties, amid this pandemic. Festive offers have brought down the service charges by a lot.”

Service providers added that since the pandemic scare, there are more inquiries for full house cleaning, compared to kitchen/ living space cleaning earlier.

SAFE & SOUND FESTIVAL

10 EWS seats to ESI college caught in state-Centre row

10 EWS seats to ESI college caught in state-Centre row

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.11.2020

Addition of 25 MBBS seats at ESIC Medical College in KK Nagar, on a condition that 10 are supernumerary seats meant for economically weaker section (EWS) among forward castes, is now turning into a quota policy tussle between Tamil Nadu and the Centre.

ESIC College, affiliated to the Tamil Dr MGR Medical University, was established in 2011-12 with100 medical seats. In October this year, National Medical Commission increased the college intake from 100 to 125 because the administration agreed to the EWS quota.

As of now, the college will have 125 seats of which 19 have been surrendered for the All India Quota (AIQ) pool, which will be managed by the Centre’s director-general of health services. Another 25 seats are meant for the wards of ESI-contributing employees. While the DGHS will allot students for these 44 seats, it is Tamil Nadu’s responsibility to admit students for the 81 remaining seats through single window counselling.

However, the state selection committee in Tamil Nadu, which should admit students to the 81 state quota seats, says there will be no EWS category in its seat matrix as the state has no EWS policy.

Who, then, will allot 10 EWS seats? While DGHS will allot five seats, the remaining five have to be allotted through Tamil Nadu government’s single window scheme.

But state selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan said Tamil Nadu has a policy decision not to implement EWS quota. “We don’t have the category in the seat matrix. For the seats surrendered by the college, admission will be done based on merit in NEET and 69% rule of reservation,” he said.

ESIC dean Dr Sowmya Sampath refused to comment, but a senior official in the college said the administration had no role in seat allotments. “We have surrendered seats to respective agencies. Allotment has to be done by them,” the official said. Officials on the Medical Counseling Committee say they will not be able to allot more than 5 seats as it would be illegal to increase the EWS share in the respective quotas.

While seats were added on condition that 10 seats were allotted to economically weaker section (EWS) among forward castes, state authorities said they can’t comply as TN has no EWS policy

Smart choice gets med seats even for modest NEET score

ROUND 1 CUT-OFF LOWER THAN 2019

Smart choice gets med seats even for modest NEET score

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.111.2020

High scores in NEET may fetch hundreds of students a seat in medical colleges, but those with scores as low as 183 (out of 720) marks have also managed to land a seat in deemed universities, in the first round of online allotments itself.

Medical counselling committee attached to the directorate general of health services (DGHS) allots about 80,000 seats in AIIMS, Jipmer, central institutions and 15% seats surrendered by state-run medical colleges and deemed universities.

This year, when the committee released the allotment on November 5, the cut-off in  the general category allotment for students in general/OBC/EWS category for all India quota seats in government colleges was 618 marks compared to 591marks in 2019. For students in the SC and ST category, cut-off was 521 and 492 this year compared to 485 and 459 in 2019. The lowest cut-off was 115, allotted to an ST student with disability.

Under management quota for deemed universities, the cut-off for admission was the lowest to colleges in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, where the annual tuition is the highest. The lowest score that got a seat was a student with 183 marks. The student was allotted a seat in Chennai-based Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Residential Institution in Enathur. The college charges an annual fee of ₹22.5 lakh.

“Over the last two years, we are seeing low-scoring students making smart choices when they lock seats. When they are sure that their chances of entering medical colleges are low, they opt for deemed universities in the first round itself. Students with high scores either opt for all India quota seats in central or state government-run colleges or wait for the state counselling, where there are greater chances of them getting seats in colleges of choice. Those with low scores have no option but to choose deemed universities in the first round of counselling,” said Manickavel Arumugam, who has been counselling medical aspirants on admissions.

A student with 584 marks opted for New Delhi-based Hamdart Institute of Medical Science and Research.

Students have time till Saturday to join the colleges. “Students with high scores allotted to deemed universities may opt for round two or wait for state counselling because there is no fine for not joining round 1,” said NEET coach and counsellor Sai Prakash. “But students with low scores have to join now if they want a medical seat this year. Unlike public colleges, cut-off for deemed universities is likely to go up in the second round,” he said.

State to add 875 seats, 3 pvt med colleges

 State to add 875 seats, 3 pvt med colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.11.2020

Tamil Nadu will add 875 more MBBS seats this academic year. These seats will come from three new private colleges and additional seats granted to six medical colleges.

With this, the state will have 52 medical colleges with 8,000 seats, including 26 government institutions that have 3,650 seats.

On Tuesday, the National Medical Commission granted approval to Bhaarat Medical College and Hospital under the Bharath Institute of Higher Education & Research (deemed University) to admit 150 medical students from 2020. It also granted permission for Indira Medical College and Hospitals in Tiruvallur affiliated to the Tamilnadu Dr MGR Medical University to admit 150 seats. Earlier, the committee had permitted Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute to admit 150 students. Seats from the two colleges will come into the state seat matrix for which counselling will be done by the state selection committee.

The government Kanyakumari Medical College will add 50 more seats, while ESIC college in KK Nagar will add 25 more seats. Besides, permission has been granted for PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research to add 100 more seats. Saveetha Medical College and Hospital (Saveetha University) and Meenakshi Medical College and Research Institute (Meenakshi University) – have permission to increase 100 seats. All the three colleges will now have 250 seats each. In addition Vinayaka Missions Kirupananda Variyar Medical College in Salem (Vinayaka Mission Deemed University) will add another 50 seats taking its seat tally to 150.

Heavy rainfall warning for Chennai ahead of Deepavali

Heavy rainfall warning for Chennai ahead of Deepavali

The weather bulletin says heavy to very-heavy rain with thunderstorms is likely to occur in Chennai, Tiruvalllur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu on November 12.

Published: 11th November 2020 05:41 AM 

Representational image. (File Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After a mini-break, the next active monsoon spell would begin from Wednesday and the regional meteorological centre has issued heavy rainfall warning in Chennai, especially on November 11-12. The weather bulletin says heavy to very-heavy rain with thunderstorms is likely to occur in Chennai, Tiruvalllur, Kancheepuram and Chengalpattu on November 12.

N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, said the State would receive good rainfall in next five days. Weather blogger Pradeep John said with Madden-Julian Oscillation, a phenomenon which is a fluctuation in the tropical weather with eastward movement of the pulse of cloud and rainfall, in the basin the rainfall activity would pick-up pace. “Starting Wednesday, the rains would continue till November 18. Chennai would witness heavy rains. The intensity would reduce a bit around Deepavali.”

Delhi High Court Holds 'To Have A Name And Express The Same' Is Protected Under Articles 19 & 21, Allows DU Student's Plea

Delhi High Court Holds 'To Have A Name And Express The Same' Is Protected Under Articles 19 & 21, Allows DU Student's Plea: In a landmark judgment, the Delhi High Court today while hearing a DU student's plea, held that 'to have a name and express the same' is protected under Articles 19(1)(a) and 21 of the Constitution...

50% super-specialty, PG medical seats for government doctors in Tamil Nadu

50% super-specialty, PG medical seats for government doctors in Tamil Nadu

TNN | Nov 10, 2020, 04.36 AM IST

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government on Monday issued two crucial orders concerning post-graduate and super-specialty medical courses. While GO (463) reserved at least 50% of PG medical seats for in-service government doctors, the other GO (462) reserved the entire 50% state quota super-specialty medical seats for in-service candidates.

The new admission policy for MD/MS and MDS courses will come into force in 2021, and for the PG super-specialty (DM/MCh) courses, it will come into effect in 2020. The in-service candidates availing themselves of these two categories of seats have to sign a bond pledging to remain in government service till superannuation.

That these GOs have been issued was disclosed in the Madras high court when Justice N Anand Venkatesh took up a batch of cases filed by in-service medicos for further hearing.

On Monday, when the central government wanted the court to defer the hearing till the Supreme Court decides a similar issue pending before it, P Wilson, senior counsel for serving doctors, pointed out that the case before the apex court had nothing to do with the present petition and that it would not come in the way of the Tamil Nadu government granting 50% in-service reservation.

Concurring with the submission, Justice Anand Venkatesh refused to defer the hearing. He then recorded the stand of the state government and disposed of the plea. After surrendering 50% of PG medical seats in government colleges and government share of seats in self-financing to All India Quota for admission by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), the state will be left with 50% of seats. Of this 50% of the seats – that is 25% of the overall seats – will be reserved for in-service candidates. The remaining seats will be for the open category, where all students, including non-service candidates from the state, can apply.

But in case of super-specialty seats, the order says that all 50% of seats reserved for the state will be in-service candidates from this academic year. “This difference was introduced because since 2016 counselling for all super-specialty seats was done by the DGHS purely based on NEET ranking. In case of PG, the state selection committee conducted counselling for 50% of state quota seats. This year, we asked for 50% of seats. We cannot reserve seats for the open category from this,” said Director of Medical Education Dr R Narayana Babu.

“Last year, we had just 10 students from government service in super-specialty courses. We have more than two dozen medical colleges and we are planning to add 11 more. We need more super-specialists who can offer high end surgeries free of cost to our patients,” he said.

HC: No amount of wealth can take place of mother’s love

HC: No amount of wealth can take place of mother’s love

Court Restores Custody Of Minor To Mom

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh: 11.11.2020 

While holding the habeas corpus petition filed by a woman seeking custody of her child, who is aged under 5 years old as maintainable, the Punjab and Haryana high court observed that “no amount of wealth or mother-like love can take the place of mother’s love and care”. The HC also observed that the mother’s protection for the infant is indispensable and no other protection will be equal in measure and substance to the same.

“A writ of habeas corpus is not solely dependent on and does not necessarily follow merely determination of illegality of detention and is based on the paramount consideration of welfare of the minor child, irrespective of legal rights of the parents,” observed the HC.

Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi of the HC passed these orders while restoring the custody of a three-and-half-yearold girl to her mother. Amid the matrimonial dispute between the Bathinda-based couple, the child was taken away by husband in November 2019. While upholding the right of the mother over her minor child, Justice Arun Kumar Tyagi also observed, “In the present case, the question of welfare and interest of the minor daughter has to be judged on the consideration of universally acknowledged superiority of the mother’s instinctive selfless love and affection of her children, particularly the infants. The lap of the mother is the natural cradle where the safety and welfare of the infant can be assured and there is no substitute for the same.... Motherly care and affection is indispensable for the healthy growth of the infants.”

Divjyot S Sandhu, the wife’s counsel, had argued that in view of Section 6(a) of the Hindu Maintenance and Guardianship (HMG) Act, the petitioner is entitled to the custody of her daughter. Sandhu also submitted that due to her tender age, custody of the child with her father is not lawful/proper.

Counsel for the husband, however, argued that his custody of the minor child, being a natural guardian under Section 6 of the HMG Act, is not illegal. Submitting that the habeas corpus petition is not maintainable in such matters, the counsel said the wife has an equally efficacious remedy of filing petition under the HMG Act/the GW Act for custody of the minor child.

After hearing both the parties, the HC, in its order released on Monday evening, ordered the father to restore the girl’s custody to her mother by November 15. The HC, however, has allowed the father once-a-week visiting rights.

While pointing out that the father’s custody of the minor daughter cannot be said to be illegal, the HC was of the view that “there was no valid ground to deny interim custody of the minor daughter who is aged less than five years old, to the mother, as it is in fact essential to the welfare and in the best interest of the minor daughter” and also as per the statutory right conferred by Section 6(a) of the Hindu Maintenance and Guardianship Act.

ESSENTIAL FOR HER WELFARE

While pointing out that the father’s custody of the minor daughter cannot be said to be illegal, the HC was of the view that "there was no valid ground to deny interim custody of the minor daughter who is aged less than five years old, to the mother, as it is in fact essential to the welfare and in the best interest of the minor daughter"

191 உயர் சிறப்பு டாக்டர்கள் கொரோனா தடுப்புக்கு நியமனம்

Added : நவ 11, 2020 00:59

சென்னை:கொரோனா தடுப்பு பணிக்காக, 191 உயர் சிறப்பு டாக்டர்கள், ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையில் நியமிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளனர்.

தமிழகம் முழுதும், கொரோனா தொற்று குறைந்து வருகிறது. ஆனால், பண்டிகை காலங்களில் தொற்று அதிகரிக்க வாய்ப்புள்ளதாக, மருத்துவ நிபுணர்கள் எச்சரித்துள்ளனர். கொரோனா தொற்று தடுப்பு நடவடிக்கைகளை குறைக்கக்கூடாது என, தமிழக அரசு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது. இதன்படி, கொரோனா தடுப்பு பணிக்காக, 191 உயர் சிறப்பு டாக்டர்களை, மூன்று மாத ஒப்பந்த அடிப்படையில், தமிழக அரசு நியமித்து உள்ளது.

சென்னை ஓமந்துாரார் அரசு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரி மருத்துவமனைக்கு, 40 பேர்; கிண்டி கிங்ஸ் கொரோனா சிறப்பு மருத்துவமனைக்கு, 50 பேர்; புதுக்கோட்டை அரசு மருத்துவமனைக்கு, 30 பேர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.சிதம்பரம் ராஜ முத்தையா மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிக்கு, 20 பேர்; திருவள்ளூர் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிக்கு, 21 பேர்; கோவை, இ.எஸ்.ஐ., - கரூர், ஈரோடு மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு, தலா, 10 என, 191 உயர் சிறப்பு டாக்டர்கள் நியமிக்கப் பட்டுள்ளனர்.மேலும், முதுநிலை பட்டம் பெற்ற, ௫௪௭ டாக்டர்களும், தமிழகத்தில் உள்ள, 37 மருத்துவமனைகளுக்கு நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர்.

ஜோ பைடன் கொரோனா குழுவில் மொடக்குறிச்சி பெண் டாக்டர்

ஜோ பைடன் கொரோனா குழுவில் மொடக்குறிச்சி பெண் டாக்டர்

Updated : நவ 11, 2020 00:44 | Added : நவ 11, 2020 00:43

ஈரோடு : அமெரிக்க அதிபராக தேர்வான, ஜோ பைடனின் கொரோனா கட்டுப்படுத்தும் குழுவில், ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், மொடக்குறிச்சியை பூர்வீகமாக கொண்ட பெண் டாக்டர் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளார்.அமெரிக்காவின், புதிய அதிபராக வெற்றி பெற்றுள்ள ஜோ பைடன், தன் பதவியேற்புக்கு முன்னதாக, கொரோனா தடுப்பு மற்றும் வழிகாட்டுதல் குழுவை அமைத்துள்ளார். இதில், மூவர் தலைமையில், 13 பேர் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.

ஆராய்ச்சி பணி

தலைமை பொறுப்பில், இந்திய வம்சாவளியைச் சேர்ந்த டாக்டர் விவேக் மூர்த்தியும், குழு உறுப்பினராக, இந்திய வம்சாவளியைச் சேர்ந்த பெண் டாக்டர், செலின் ராணி கவுண்டர், 35, என்பவரும் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளனர்.செலின் ராணி, ஈரோடு மாவட்டம், மொடக்குறிச்சி பேரூராட்சி, பெருமாபாளையத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர். இவர், நியூயார்க் பல்கலையில் உள்ள, கிராஸ்மேன் மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் உதவி பேராசிரியராகவும், அமெரிக்க நாட்டின் காசநோய் தடுப்பு பிரிவில், துணை இயக்குனராகவும் பணிபுரிகிறார்.இவர், 1998 முதல் 2012 வரை தென் ஆப்பிரிக்கா, மால்வாய், எத்தியோப்பியா, பிரேசில் போன்ற நாடுகளில் காசநோய், எச்.ஐ.வி., தொடர்பான மருத்துவ சேவை, ஆராய்ச்சி பணிகளை மேற்கொண்டுள்ளார்.மேலும், தமிழகத்தின் நீலகிரி மாவட்டத்தில் மலைவாழ் மக்களை பாதிக்கும் நோய்கள் குறித்தும், இரண்டு ஆண்டுகள் ஆராய்ச்சி செய்துள்ளார்.

'ராஜ் பவுண்டேஷன்'

செலின் ராணி பற்றி, அவரது பெரியப்பா மகனான, ஈரோட்டில் வசிக்கும், ஓய்வு பெற்ற, குடிநீர் வடிகால் வாரிய பொறியாளர் தங்கவேல் கூறியதாவது:என் சித்தப்பா ராஜ் கவுண்டர். இவர், 1966ல் அமெரிக்கா சென்று, அந்நாட்டு விமான நிறுவனத்தில் பணி செய்து, அமெரிக்காவைச் சேர்ந்த பெண்ணை, காதல் திருமணம் செய்து, அங்கேயே வசிக்கிறார்.

இவருக்கு மூன்று பெண்கள்; மூத்தவர், செலின் ராணி.இவர், அமெரிக்காவில் பிறந்து, அங்கேயே படித்து, பணி செய்கிறார். இருப்பினும், 'ராஜ் பவுண்டேஷன்' என்ற அமைப்பை, மொடக்குறிச்சியில் துவங்கி,நான்கு முறை மொடக்குறிச்சிக்கு வந்துள்ளார்.மொடக்குறிச்சி அரசு மேல்நிலைப் பள்ளி மேம்பாட்டுக்காக, பல்வேறு உதவிகள் செய்துள்ளார். செலின் ராணியின் கணவர் கிராண்ட், அமெரிக்காவில் உள்ள பத்திரிகை ஒன்றில் பணிபுரிகிறார்.செலின் ராணி, அமெரிக்க அதிபர் அமைத்துள்ள குழுவில், இடம் பெற்றதன் மூலம், மொடக்குறிச்சி பகுதி மக்கள் பெருமை அடைந்துள்ளனர்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.

பள்ளிகள் திறப்பு குறித்து ஓரிரு நாளில் முடிவு

பள்ளிகள் திறப்பு குறித்து ஓரிரு நாளில் முடிவு

Updated : நவ 11, 2020 05:45 | Added : நவ 11, 2020 05:42

சென்னை : பள்ளிகள் திறப்பு குறித்த கருத்து கேட்பு அறிக்கையை, தமிழக அரசிடம், பள்ளி கல்வித்துறை தாக்கல் செய்துள்ளது. இந்த அறிக்கையில் உள்ள கருத்துகள் அடிப்படையில், முதல்வர் இ.பி.எஸ்., ஓரிரு நாளில் முடிவை அறிவிப்பார்.

கொரோனா பிரச்னை காரணமாக, ஏழு மாதங்களாக பள்ளிகள், கல்லுாரிகள் திறக்கப்படவில்லை. தனியார் பள்ளிகள், கல்லுாரிகளில் ஆன்லைன் வழியாகவும், அரசு பள்ளிகள் மற்றும் உயர்கல்வி நிறுவனங்களிலும், 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' வழியாகவும் பாடங்கள் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன.

தமிழக பள்ளி கல்வித்துறை சார்பில், கல்வி, 'டிவி' வழியாகவும் பாடங்கள் நடத்தப்படுகின்றன. இந்நிலையில், வரும், 16ம் தேதி முதல் பள்ளிகள், கல்லுாரிகளை திறக்கலாம் என, தமிழக அரசு அனுமதி அளித்தது. இதற்கு சில அரசியல் கட்சிகள் எதிர்ப்பு தெரிவித்தன. அதனால், பள்ளிகளை திறப்பதா, தள்ளி வைப்பதா என்பது குறித்து, நேற்று முன்தினம் பெற்றோரிடம் கருத்து கேட்கப்பட்டது.

இந்த கருத்துகளை, மாவட்ட வாரியாக முதன்மை கல்வி அதிகாரிகள் தொகுத்தனர். அதில், 9ம் வகுப்பு முதல், பிளஸ் 2 வரை, கருத்து கேட்பில் பங்கேற்ற மாணவர்கள் பட்டியல் இடம்பெற்றுள்ளது. ஒவ்வொரு மாவட்டத்திலும், மாணவர்கள் எண்ணிக்கை எவ்வளவு; கருத்து கேட்பில் பங்கேற்ற பெற்றோர் எத்தனை பேர்; திறக்க ஆதரவு எவ்வளவு; தள்ளி வைக்க கோரியவர்கள் எத்தனை பேர் போன்ற குறிப்புகள் உள்ளன.

ஒவ்வொரு பள்ளியிலும் செயல்படும், பெற்றோர், ஆசிரியர் கழகத்தின் தீர்மானம் என்ன என்ற விபரமும், பட்டியலில் இடம் பெற்றுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, மாவட்ட வாரியாக கருத்துகேட்பு குறித்த, ஏகமனதான முடிவுகள் உள்ள அறிக்கையை, பள்ளி கல்வி இயக்குனரகத்திற்கு, முதன்மை கல்வி அதிகாரிகள் அனுப்பினர்.மாவட்ட வாரியான அறிக்கையை, தமிழக பள்ளி கல்வி துறை செயலர் தீரஜ்குமாரிடம், பள்ளி கல்வி இயக்குனர் கண்ணப்பன், நேற்று தாக்கல் செய்தார்.

இந்த அறிக்கை, தலைமை செயலர், பள்ளி கல்வி, உயர்கல்வி மற்றும் சுகாதாரத்துறை செயலர்கள் அடங்கிய குழுவின் ஆய்வுக்கு பின், முதல்வரிடம் சமர்ப்பிக்கப்பட உள்ளது. அதன்பின், பள்ளிகள் திறப்பு தொடர்பான அறிவிப்பை, முதல்வர் வெளியிடுவார் என, எதிர்பார்க்கப்படுகிறது.

4 நாட்களுக்கு கனமழை எச்சரிக்கை: வட மாவட்டங்களுக்கு 'ஆரஞ்ச் அலர்ட்'

4 நாட்களுக்கு கனமழை எச்சரிக்கை: வட மாவட்டங்களுக்கு 'ஆரஞ்ச் அலர்ட்'

Updated : நவ 11, 2020 06:59 | Added : நவ 11, 2020 06:57

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தின் பெரும்பாலான இடங்களில், இன்று(செப்.,11) முதல் நான்கு நாட்களுக்கு கனமழை பெய்யும். சென்னை, செங்கல்பட்டு உள்ளிட்ட கடலோர மாவட்டங்களுக்கும், கனமழை எச்சரிக்கை விடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில், வட கிழக்கு பருவமழை துவங்கி, இரண்டு வாரங்களாகும் நிலையில், மூன்று நாட்களாக வறண்ட வானிலை நிலவியது.கிழக்கு திசை காற்றின் வேக மாறுபாட்டால், மழை குறைந்து வறண்ட வானிலை நிலவியதாக, சென்னை வானிலை மையம் அறிவித்தது.

இந்நிலையில், இன்று முதல் 4 நாட்களுக்கு, சென்னை முதல் தென்காசி வரை பெரும்பாலான மாவட்டங்களில், கனமழை பெய்யும் என, எச்சரிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

சென்னை வானிலை மைய இயக்குனர் புவியரசன் வெளியிட்ட செய்திக்குறிப்பு: தமிழகம் முழுதும், இன்று முதல், 14ம் தேதி வரை, பரவலாக இடி, மின்னலுக்கு வாய்ப்பு உள்ளது.தமிழக கடலோர பகுதியில் நிலவும் வளிமண்டல மேலடுக்கு சுழற்சியால், சென்னை, திருவள்ளூர், செங்கல்பட்டு மற்றும் காஞ்சிபுரம் மாவட்டங்களில், இன்று இடியுடன் கூடிய கனமழையும், மற்ற மாவட்டங்களில் மிதமான மழையும் பெய்யலாம்.

சென்னை, திருவள்ளூர், செங்கல்பட்டு, காஞ்சிபுரம், விழுப்புரம், கடலுார், மயிலாடுதுறை, தஞ்சாவூர், திருவாரூர், நாகை போன்ற டெல்டா மாவட்டங்களிலும், புதுச்சேரி மற்றும் காரைக்காலிலும், நாளை கன, மிக கனமழை பெய்யும். மற்ற இடங்களில் மிதமான மழை பெய்யும்.

வரும், 13ம் தேதி தமிழகம் மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியில், பல இடங்களில் இடியுடன் கூடிய கனமழை பெய்யும். அடுத்த நாள், தமிழகம், புதுச்சேரியில், கடலோர மாவட்டங்களிலும், கனமழை பெய்யும். சில உள் மாவட்டங்களிலும், இடியுடன் கூடி மிதமான மழைக்கு வாய்ப்புள்ளது. சென்னையில், இன்று பல இடங்களில் மிதமான மழையும்; சில இடங்களில் கனமழையும் பெய்யும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கனமழை அறிவிப்பை தொடர்ந்து, நாளை மற்றும் வரும், 14ம் தேதிக்கு மிக கனமழைக்கான 'ஆரஞ்ச் அலர்ட்' எச்சரிக்கை விடப்பட்டுள்ளது. கனமழை பெய்தால், வெள்ளப்பெருக்கு ஏற்படுவதை தடுக்கும் வகையில், முன்னெச்சரிக்கை மேற்கொள்ள, வருவாய் துறை மற்றும் பொதுப்பணி துறையினருக்கும், வானிலை மையம் தகவல் அனுப்பி உள்ளது.

தமிழக கடலோர பகுதிகளில், இன்று மணிக்கு, 40 முதல், 50 கி.மீ., வேகத்தில் சூறாவளி காற்று வீசலாம்.எனவே, மீனவர்கள்அந்த பகுதிகளுக்கு செல்ல வேண்டாம் என, தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Gold hidden in flyer’s face mask seized

Gold hidden in flyer’s face mask seized

Two Packets With Paste Of Metal Found Stitched Inside

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.11.2020

Gold smugglers are keeping up with the times. Customs officials at Chennai international airport on Monday found gold paste hidden in two packets stitched inside the mask of a passenger.

Officials said they recovered gold paste weighing 114g from the mask of the passenger who arrived from Dubai in an Emirates flight (EK 544) on Monday.

One gold chain weighing 50g was also recovered from the passenger.

Gold was seized from three more passengers who arrived from Dubai by the same flight.

On persistent questioning, the three passengers admitted to carrying gold paste bundles concealed in their rectums. Sixteen bundles of gold paste were recovered from them.

A total of 1.84 kg of gold valued at ₹97.82 lakh was seized from all the four passengers. Three of them were arrested.

Earlier, seven passengers who had arrived from Dubai by Indigo (6E 66) and Emirates (EK 542) flights were intercepted and searched. A passenger had plastic pouches of gold in the form of paste stitched inside his jeans.

Gold cut bits were recovered from the trouser pockets of another passenger.

On persistent questioning, five passengers admitted to carrying gold paste bundles concealed in their rectums. Twelve bundles of gold paste were recovered from their rectums. Six strips and five gold cut bits were also recovered from them.

A total of 1.65kg gold valued at ₹87.48 lakh was seized from these seven passengers, said Customs officials . Two of them were arrested.

In total, Customs officials seized 3.5kg of gold worth ₹1.85 crore and arrested five passengers.

Admissions to mechanical engg course at all-time low

Admissions to mechanical engg course at all-time low

Just One In 4 Seats Filled In Counselling

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.11.2020

Admissions to mechanical engineering course have been on a decline since 2017 and this year is no different. Engineering colleges were able to fill around just one in four seats for the course.

About five years ago, mechanical engineering was the most sought after course. In 2020, however, or 8,179 of the 29,354 seats — a mere 28% — were filled in online counselling, conducted from October 1 to 28. Only 11of 461engineering colleges were able to fill all seats for mechanical engineering course this year and 75 colleges could fill more than 50% of seats during counselling.

“Even some top engineering colleges also could not fill 50% of (seats for the course) ,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

The declining trend could be a result of preference for white collar jobs, outdated syllabus and fewer placements due to poor growth of the manufacturing sector. Branches like computer science engineering and information technology had more takers with 65% and 71% of seats filled. Even newly launched courses like artificial intelligence and data science had more takers with more than 60% seats filled in the counselling Nagaraj, a professor from the mechanical engineering department of a private college, said students preference for white collar jobs is reflecting in the poor admission rate.

“IT companies provide attractive offers while core companies are unable to do so. It is also a reflection of the poor growth of the manufacturing sector in our country despite various government programmes,” he said. Industry automation has also brought down the requirement of engineers in recent years, he added.

The poor admission rate will also affect faculty members as colleges may try to reduce their staff strength. “Many faculty members from mechanical engineering departments are now seeking jobs in the industry and many are even willing to take trainee-level jobs,” said a professor, requesting anonymity.

Despite all this, some colleges said they were able to fill more than 90% seats in mechanical and other core courses this year. “We need to understand the requirements of the industry and train students. Even IT majors hire mechanical engineers with certificate programmes like project lifecycle management (PLM) software,” said RM Kishore, vicechairman, RMK Engineering College. He added that students must be ready to learn interdisciplinary areas and emerging areas to keep up with changing requirements.

Industry experts said there was a mismatch between what students learn and the skills that the industry requires. “Mechanical engineering course was not updated while the industry underwent a lot of changes. It is one of the main reasons for poor job opportunities,” said V Thiagarajan, retired general manager (TQM and Six Sigma), WABCO India. “Several new concepts like lean manufacturing for loss elimination, single minute exchange of die (SMED are being followed by the industry. But, these concepts are not being taught.”

He added that students must be introduced to electronics and be updated with technology like the Internet of Things (IoT).

City likely to receive rain from tonight

City likely to receive rain from tonight

Intensity May Increase Tomorrow

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.11.2020

After a brief lull, city residents must now brace for some heavy pre-Diwali spells and localised flooding, as weathermen have forecast rain to start from Wednesday night with intensity increasing from heavy to very heavy over localities on Thursday.

This round of rainfall is likely due to the presence of an elongated region of low pressure or a trough of low closer to north Tamil Coast. Private weather forecasters and bloggers said this round of monsoon spells will last for at least a week with a few days recording moderate to heavy spells expected in some parts of the state.

IMD has forecast thunderstorms with light to moderate rain with isolated heavy fall while the sky condition could be generally cloudy in the city for the next 48 hours. Maximum and minimum temperatures are likely to be around 30°C and 23°C. The agency has also issued a warning of heavy to very heavy rainfall with thunderstorm over isolated places in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kanchipuram, Chengalpattu, Villupuram, Cuddalore, Mayiladuthurai, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam districts on November 12.

“There’s usually low pressure over the equatorial Indian Ocean this time of the monsoon. Under its influence, a trough in easterlies or a trough of low closer to the northern coast brings moist easterlies from the sea which converges closer to the coast resulting in rainfall. The rainfall could begin in coastal regions including Chennai from November 11 and after two or three days, winds could penetrate into interior regions bringing rainfall,” said N Puviarasan, director, Area Cyclone Warning Centre, IMD.

Weather blogger Pradeep John said trough, which is a remnant of cyclone Goni which made landfall in Philippines, could bring heavy rainfall in the city on November 12 followed by two days of light spells. The rainfall intensity picks up again on November 15 and 16, with interior districts too likely to get some spells. “Besides late night or early morning rainfall, this time we could also expect on and off spells in the city during the day. We can expect rainfall till November 18 or 19,” he said.

Skymet Weather, in its online update, said the coastal region of Tamil Nadu will be battered more than the interiors and that northern parts of the state will see rainfall intensity higher than the southern regions. It is because the equatorial belt has been active with two cyclonic circulations and the northeasterly winds have gathered strength all along the coast, which could trigger heavy rainfall over TN coast and south coastal AP.

“Some of the cities like Chennai, Puducherry, Karaikal, Cuddalore and Nagapattinam are at risk of localised flooding associated with incessant rains,” the private forecaster said.

2 docs held in equipment purchase scam

2 docs held in equipment purchase scam

Chinese Spare Parts Used To Assemble Ultrasound Machine At Lower Cost

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.11.2020

Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption has uncovered a scam in Thiruvarur district where around ₹50 lakh meant for purchase of medical equipment like Doppler Ultrasound and Puerpal Sterilisation kits was allegedly misappropriated by two former deputy directors of health services.

In one of the procurement orders, the DVAC discovered that instead of the original equipment, an assembly made from spare parts bought from China with cracked version of the software was used. This was bought at 12% of the cost of the original equipment.

The FIR, which was filed last week, has named Dr R Sumathi and Dr A Subramani as accused. The former works in Tirunelveli district, while the latter is posted in Trichy currently.

DVAC said the scam pertains to works under state balanced growth fund at a cost of ₹74.5 lakh through the state planning commission in 2015.

Nine pieces of Doppler Ultrasound were meant to be procured. It is an equipment which detects foetal growth and congenital malformation during pregnancy. As per the purchase order, the brand to be procured was Ethiroli Tiny 16A. However, this is not a standard brand in ultrasound machines, DVAC said.

In the register, DVAC discovered that entries were made under the brand name of Wipro Ge Logiq 100 Pro, which wasn’t in the order. Only eight machines were supplied, of which only one was of the Ethiroli make. The remaining seven were assembled using Chineese spare parts and cracked software at a cost of ₹30,000.

But for the machines, payment of ₹31.36 lakh at a unit price of ₹3.48 lakh was made. This translated into a misappropriation of ₹28.96 lakh with the bills signed by Dr Sumathi, DVAC said.

Sterilisation kits were bought for unit price of ₹24,970, but the original price was only ₹4,000. Payment was made for 10 kits, while only two were supplied. This was a misappropriation of Rs2.41 lakh by Dr Subramani, DVAC said.

A similar scam was detected in the purchase of an Implantable Loop Recorder, which is a cardiac monitor, wherein ₹1.9 lakh was paid for the recorder which costs only ₹80,000.

Operation tables, which cost ₹40,000, were procured at ₹99,875. Generators costing ₹1.1 lakh were bought for ₹2 lakh.

Procedures of the TN Medical Services Corporation were not followed, DVAC said. They were booked for corruption and criminal breach of trust.

The FIR, which was filed last week, has named Dr R Sumathi and Dr A Subramani as accused. The former works in Tirunelveli district, while the latter is posted in Trichy currently.