Ten universities to set up Kamdhenu Chairs

Ten universities to set up Kamdhenu Chairs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

16.12.2020

Ahmedabad: Ten universities from across the country have announced that they will set up Kamdhenu Chairs in their respective institutions of higher learning. Over 500 vice-chancellors and officials of universities from across the country took part in an open house organized by Rashtriya Kamdhenu Aayog (RKA) on Monday to promote the idea of setting up ‘Kamdhenu Chairs’ in universities.

Among other objectives of setting up the chairs, RKA has proposed setting up of certificate and diploma courses on cow-based entrepreneurship and sensitizing students about the scientific, economic, environmental and spiritual importance and impact of cow.

The universities which have announced that they will set up Kamdhenu Chairs are Allahbad University, Kamdhenu University, RAJUVAS University, Central University of Haryana, Saurashta University, RKDF University, Jyoti Vidyapeeth Women’s University, Guru Govind Singh University and ICFAI University.

“Now the government has started to explore the potential of cows and panchgavya. There is need to promote the science related to indigenous cows and our education system should provide a platform as well as push in research on benefits of cows with modern sci-entific and processoriented approach,”

said RKA chairman Vallabh Kathiria.

Union minister of state for education, Sanjay Dhotre, said, “I am sure that the few colleges and universities will start the Kamdhenu Chair then others will follow. Research and practical implementation in form of products needs to be showcased, established economically and presented with accurate scientific data in time-bound way,” he said.

Apart from officials of over 500 universities, AICTE chairman Anil Sahasrabudhe, UGC secretary Rajnish Jain, secretary-general of Association of Indian Universities (AIU), Pankaj Mittal, and other officials connected with higher education and research were present in the webinar.

Aadhaar not valid to enrol for vaccine

NOT PROOF?

Aadhaar not valid to enrol for vaccine

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 16.12.2020

The state government has embarked on its exercise of registering people for the Covid-19 vaccine, but survey teams do not accept Aadhaar card as proof of identity.

Satellite resident Lalita Patel was appalled to learn that the team surveying the area for senior citizens do not accept Aadhaar cards as valid proof. “Team members categorically told me that we should produce some other document like a PAN card or a voter ID card, but not an Aadhaar card,” Patel said.

Another team visiting a society in Bopal said they have been instructed not to accept Aadhaar cards as proof of identity. “The survey form has a column for a photo identification card. A PAN card, driving licence, passport or even a stamped bank passbook with a photograph will be acceptable, but not Aadhaar card,” a member of the survey team said.

District collector Sandip Sagale said, “The main purpose of the exercise is inclusion of everybody and so we are not insisting on Aadhaar card. If people do not have an Aadhaar card, any other authorised document for identification is valid.”

What went wrong on IIT-Madras campus

What went wrong on IIT-Madras campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.12.2020

The Covid-19 case tally at IIT, Madras, went up to 183 with 79 more students testing positive on Tuesday. Public health officials have identified crowding at the mess and sharing of toilets as one of the reasons for the cluster.

According to the Covid-19 registry, IIT-M reported two cases on December 1, and in the next 15 days the rate of transmission increased pushing the positivity rate to 19%. “It (cluster) has happened before in jewellery shops and meat markets. In every case, it was a violation of the epidemic protocols,” state health secretary J Radhakrishnan said.

In March, when the state announced a lockdown, 335 students continued to stay in the hostels. When public transport resumed, the institute sent some students back to their homes and the strength in the hostel came down to 180. “This is not the first time the institute is reporting a case,” a student said. “Months ago, when students tested positive, the institute sanitized the hostel and quarantined all students. There were no clusters. But this time, no sanitization of buildings or quarantine was done,” the student said.

One of the main reasons for the spread was overcrowding at the mess. The institute operated one mess for 180 students during the lockdown-.But when the campus reopened and the student strength increased to 774, the management still operated just one mess, the Himalaya mess. “It is the only place where students from all hostels meet. All mess employees have tested positive. What else could be the source?” a senior faculty member said.

Following the Covid cluster at IIT Madras, students in city college hostels are being tested

Money laundering is a continuing offence: HC

Money laundering is a continuing offence: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 16.12.2020

Under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, the relevant date is not that of acquisition of unaccountedfor money but when such an amount is being processed and projected as untainted.

The high court made this observation while disposing of a batch of petitions filed in 2016-17, challenging the action initiated under PML Act and saying it can’t be invoked retrospectively.

Pointing out that money laundering is a continuing offence, the court noted that the offence under Section 3 of PML Act is a standalone in itself and one doesn’t need other schedule offences to proceed against a person. For constituting an offence under Section 3, connection of the transaction to proceeds of the crime is sufficient and not the crime, a division bench headed by Justice Aravind Kumar observed.

Not feasible to test students frequently: College admins

IIT CLUSTER SCARE

Not feasible to test students frequently: College admins

TOO MANY & TOO FEW Numbers, Fear Prevent Regular Testing, Say Managements

Only 300 Show Up For 3rd Phase Of Vaccine Trial

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

16.12.2020

Bengaluru: The cluster outbreak at Indian Institute of Technology-Madras, which led to the campus being temporarily shut down, has triggered concerns over the safety of students on campuses in colleges in Karnataka.

At IIT-Madras, more than 180 students and residents were found to be infected and experts say fear of similar outbreaks in campuses in Karnataka would not be unfounded since students are tested only once — before they get back on campuses. This is unlike some countries in the West where students are tested every week, experts say.

They say campuses in the US have been able to open only because of aggressive testing. For example, in New York University, students are expected to undergo tests every week. They are also expected to complete a ‘daily screener’ — a self-reporting form — before entering any NYU building.

Reports say some universities even built their own labs since test results were otherwise delayed. For example, University of New Hampshire, conducted over 250,000 tests in the fall semester in its own lab where students performed self-administered nasal swabs. Syracuse University built its own lab within the biology department.

“Periodical testing is required on campuses,” admitted Dr CN Manjunath, director of Jayadeva Institute of Cardiovascular Research and Sciences and nodal officer for Covid testing and labs in Karnataka. “We can gauge prevalence only if tests are conducted. If prevalence is low, testing frequency can be altered. Tests should not only be conducted on students, but also teaching and non-teaching staff, who keep travelling and live in clustered homes. Complacency at this stage will lead to a second wave.”

However, doctors point out that a model of weekly tests is impossible in India due to the sheer numbers.

“As a state, we can look at 1lakh testing per day,” said Dr V Ravi, former head of the department of neurovirology, Nimhans and member of the state’s Covid-19 technical advisory committee. “We have several multiples of students than those on campuses in the West. We have around 8 lakh SSLC students, 6 lakh PU students and many more in colleges. We can only test students once and later if they develop symptoms.”

Colleges also say frequent Covid tests on students is difficult if near impossible. “Pupils were uncomfortable getting tested even before reporting back to college. Attendance remained low initially because they were scared to undergo the mandatory test,” said the principal of a management college.

KR Venugopal, vice-chancellor, Bangalore University, said “We could test students today and they might get infected the next day. How often can we test students? The current protocol is ideal. Thus far, no cases have been reported.”

BADLY HIT: Schools and Child Welfare Association members and teachers held a protest on Tuesday demanding reopening of schools

Students with OCI card can get state quota: HC

Students with OCI card can get state quota: HC

Vasanth.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 16.12.2020

Students holding Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cards should be treated as Indian citizens for the purpose of admission to professional courses and they are entitled to admission under the state quota, the Karnataka high court has stated.

The court observation came while disposing of a batch of petitions by students and a writ appeal by the state government.

A division bench comprising Justices BV Nagarathna and NS Sanjay Gowda has pointed out that when the issue pertains to citizenship, the state law must yield to the Citizenship Act, the central legislation enacted by Parliament.

The high court has said the petitioners were minors at the time of filing of petitions and had the benefit of a dual citizenship.

Petitioners have dual citizenship benefit: Court

The court said the petitioners had the benefit of a dual citizenship being conferred on account of their birth in a foreign country (citizenship of that country where the birth had occurred) and also citizenship of India as per section 4(1A) of Citizenship Act, a right particularly conferred on minors so as to safeguard and protect their interests until they attain full age.

“We would like to remind ourselves of the ancient Indian thought – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means ‘the world is a family’. Therefore, the minor children of Indian citizens born overseas must have the same status, rights and duties as Indian citizens, who are minor,” the bench said. The court quashed Section 2(1)(N) of the Karnataka Professional Educational Institutions (Regulation of Admission & Determination of Fee) Act, 2006, (amended in 2017) to the extent it sought to include OCI cardholders within the definition of nonresident Indian category.

Full report: toi.in

We would like to remind ourselves of the ancient Indian thought – ‘Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam’, which means ‘the world is a family’. Therefore, the minor children of Indian citizens born overseas must have the same status, rights and duties as Indian citizens

—Karnataka HC bench

SANJAY GHODAWAT UNIVERSITY

 

OCI Cardholders To Be Treated As Indian Citizens For Admission To Professional Courses: Karnataka High Court

OCI Cardholders To Be Treated As Indian Citizens For Admission To Professional Courses: Karnataka High Court: The Karnataka High Court has held that OCI Cardholders have to be treated as Indian Citizens for the purpose of admission to Professional Educational Institutions.The bench comprising Justices...

OCI Cardholders To Be Treated As Indian Citizens For Admission To Professional Courses: Karnataka High Court

OCI Cardholders To Be Treated As Indian Citizens For Admission To Professional Courses: Karnataka High Court: The Karnataka High Court has held that OCI Cardholders have to be treated as Indian Citizens for the purpose of admission to Professional Educational Institutions.The bench comprising Justices...

RajaRajeswari Medical College Affiliation issue: Karnataka HC asks DGHS to conduct counselling for 118 MBBS seats

RajaRajeswari Medical College Affiliation issue: Karnataka HC asks DGHS to conduct counselling for 118 MBBS seats: Karnataka: Bringing an end to the confusion regarding the admission process of Raja Rajeswari Medical College and Hospital (RRMCH), the Karnataka High Court has finally passed an interim order...

https://www.deccanherald.com/city/rr-medical-college-affiliation-hc-allows-second-round-of-counselling-923135.html

மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு கன மழை வாய்ப்பு

DINAMALAR

தமிழ்நாடு

மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு கன மழை வாய்ப்பு

Added : டிச 15, 2020 01:43

சென்னை : 'தமிழகம் மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியில், அடுத்த மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு, சில இடங்களில் கன மழை பெய்யும்' என, வானிலை ஆய்வு மையம் தெரிவித்து உள்ளது.

சென்னை வானிலை ஆய்வு மையத்தின் இயக்குனர் புவியரசன் வெளியிட்ட செய்திக்குறிப்பு: தமிழகம் மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியில், இன்று பெரும்பாலும் வறண்ட வானிலையே நிலவும். தமிழக கடலோர பகுதிகளில், வளிமண்டல மேலடுக்கு சுழற்சி ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், தமிழக கடலோர பகுதிகள் மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியில், இன்று சில இடங்களில் லேசானது முதல் மிதமான மழை பெய்யும். அதேபோல, நாளை முதல், 18ம் தேதி வரை, தமிழக கடலோர மாவட்டங்கள் மற்றும் புதுச்சேரியின் சில இடங்களில், கன மழை பெய்ய வாய்ப்புள்ளது.

கடலோரம் அல்லாத உள்மாவட்டங்களில், சில இடங்களில் மிதமான மழை பெய்யும். மீனவர்களுக்கு எச்சரிக்கை ஏதுமில்லை.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தற்போது, அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில், சுய கல்லுாரிகளில், 25 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 896 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் காலியாக உள்ளன. இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை விரைவில் நடைபெற உள்ளது.

DINAMALAR

சென்னை : மருத்துவ படிப்பிற்கான முதற்கட்ட மாணவர்சேர்க்கை முடிந்துள்ள நிலையில், அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில் உள்ள, 921 இடங்கள் நிரம்ப வில்லை.அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், மாநில அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை கவுன்சிலிங், சென்னை, நேரு விளையாட்டரங்கில், நவ.,18ல் துவங்கியது.

அரசு பள்ளி மாணவர்கள், சிறப்பு பிரிவினர், பொது பிரிவினருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் நடந்தது. அதன் பின், பட்டியலினத்தவர்கள், பழங்குடியினர், அருந்ததியருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் நடந்தது.நேற்றைய கவுன்சிலிங்கிற்கு, 358 மாணவர்கள் அழைக்கப்பட்டனர்; 283 பேர் பங்கேற்றனர். அதில், அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில், 90 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - ஆறு பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்கள்; சுயநிதி கல்லுாரிகளில், 42 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் நிரம்பின.நடப்பு, 2020 - 21ம் கல்வியாண்டுக்கான முதற்கட்ட மாணவர் சேர்க்கை முடிந்துள்ள நிலையில், அரசு கல்லுாரிகளில், எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் அனைத்தும் நிரம்பின.தற்போது, அரசு ஒதுக்கீட்டில், சுய கல்லுாரிகளில், 25 எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - 896 பி.டி.எஸ்., இடங்கள் காலியாக உள்ளன. இதைத் தொடர்ந்து, நிர்வாக ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கான மாணவர் சேர்க்கை விரைவில் நடைபெற உள்ளது.

DINAMALAR

புதுடில்லி : 'கொரோனா வைரசுக்கு எதிரான தடுப்பூசியை, முன்பதிவு செய்துள்ளவர்களுக்கு மட்டுமே வழங்க வேண்டும்' என, மாநில அரசுகளுக்கான வழிகாட்டு நெறிமுறையில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. முறைகேடுகளை தடுப்பதற்காக, இந்த உத்தரவை மத்திய அரசு பிறப்பித்துள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரசுக்கு எதிரான தடுப்பூசிகளை வினியோகிக்கும் பணி, பிரிட்டன், அமெரிக்கா உள்ளிட்ட நாடுகளில் துவங்கியுள்ளது. நம் நாட்டில், மூன்று விதமான மருந்துகள் இறுதிக்கட்ட பரிசோதனையில் உள்ளன. தடுப்பூசிகள் கிடைத்ததும், அவற்றை மக்களுக்கு எப்படி வழங்குவது என்பது தொடர்பான ஆலோசனைகளை, மத்திய அரசு ஏற்கனவே துவக்கிவிட்டது.தடுப்பூசிகளை பாதுகாப்பாக வைத்திருக்க, குளிர்சாதன வசதிகள் உடைய கிடங்குகள் தயார் நிலையில் உள்ளன. ஒரு இடத்தில் இருந்து மற்றொரு இடத்திற்கு எடுத்துச் செல்ல, குளிர்சாதன வசதி உடைய வாகனங்களுக்கான ஏற்பாடுகளும் நடந்து வருகின்றன.இந்நிலையில், எந்தெந்த பிரிவினருக்கு முதல்கட்டத்தில் தடுப்பூசி வழங்கப்படும் என்பதும் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

டாக்டர்கள், நர்ஸ்கள், சுகாதாரப் பணியாளர்கள் என, இந்த வைரசுக்கு எதிரான முன்களப் பணியாளர்களுக்கு முதலில் வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது. பாதிப்பு ஏற்படக் கூடிய அபாயம் உள்ள, 60 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டவர்களுக்கும், முதல் கட்டத்தில் தடுப்பூசி வழங்கப்பட உள்ளது.இதையடுத்து, 'இந்த தடுப்பூசியை எவ்வாறு அளிக்க வேண்டும்' என்பது தொடர்பான வழிகாட்டு நெறிமுறைகளை, மத்திய அரசு சமீபத்தில் வகுத்துள்ளது. அனைத்து மாநிலங்களுக்கும் இது அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

'தடுப்பூசி செயல்பாட்டு வழிமுறைகள்' என்ற பெயரில், என்னென்ன நடவடிக்கைகள் எடுக்க வேண்டும் என, மத்திய அரசு விரிவாக விளக்கியுள்ளது. அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ள தாவது:நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட நேரத்தில், ஒரு நாளில் அதிகபட்சம், 100 - 200 பேருக்கு மட்டுமே தடுப்பூசி வழங்க வேண்டும். இதற்காக அமைக்கப்படும் மையங்களில், ஐந்து ஊழியர்கள் மட்டுமே இருக்க வேண்டும். அங்குள்ள வசதிகளுக்கு ஏற்ப, கூடுதலாக ஒரு பணியாளர் இருக்கலாம்.தடுப்பூசி பெற்றவர்களை, 30 நிமிடங்களுக்கு கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும். அவர்களது உடலில் ஏதாவது எதிர்வினை ஏற்படு கிறதா என்பதை கண்காணிக்க வேண்டும். தடுப்பூசி போடப்படும் இடத்தில், ஒரு நேரத்தில், ஒருவரை மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்.

தடுப்பூசி பெற விரும்புவோர், மத்திய அரசு உருவாக்கியுள்ள, 'கோ வின்' எனப்படும், மென்பொருள் மூலமான, இணையதளம், 'மொபைல் போன் ஆப்' வாயிலாக, 'டிஜிட்டல்' முறையில் விண்ணப்பிக்க வேண்டும். அவ்வாறு முன்பதிவு செய்பவர்களுக்கு மட்டுமே தடுப்பூசி வழங்க வேண்டும்.மையங்களில் நேரடியாக வந்து, யாரும் முன்பதிவு செய்ய முடியாது. முன்பதிவு செய்வதற்கு, ஆதார், பாஸ்போர்ட், டிரைவிங் லைசென்ஸ், வாக்காளர் அடையாள அட்டை உட்பட, 12 ஆவணங்களை பயன்படுத்தலாம்.முதல் கட்டத்தில், மக்கள் தொகையில், 30 சதவீதம் பேருக்கு தடுப்பூசி கிடைக்கும். குழப்பங்களை தவிர்க்க, ஒவ்வொரு மாவட்டத்துக்கும், ஒரு குறிப்பிட்ட நிறுவனத்திடம் இருந்து பெறும் தடுப்பூசியை மட்டுமே பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

புதிய பாதிப்பு குறைகிறது!

கொரோனா பாதிப்பு நிலவரம் குறித்து, மத்திய சுகாதார அமைச்சகம் நேற்று வெளியிட்ட அறிக்கை:கடந்த, 24 மணி நேரத்தில், 27 ஆயிரத்து, 71 பேரிடம், கொரோனா வைரஸ் பாதிப்பு உறுதியானது. இதன் வாயிலாக, இதுவரை வைரஸ் பாதிப்பிற்கு உள்ளானோர் எண்ணிக்கை, 98 லட்சத்து, 84 ஆயிரத்து, 100 ஆக உயர்ந்துள்ளது.இவர்களில், 3.52 லட்சம் பேர், தற்போது சிகிச்சை பெறுகின்றனர்; இது, ஒட்டுமொத்த பாதிப்பில், 3.57 சதவீதம். மத்திய, மாநில அரசுகளின் தொடர் நடவடிக்கைகளால், 93 லட்சத்து, 88 ஆயிரத்து, 159 பேர் கொரோனாவில் இருந்து குணமடைந்துள்ளனர்; மீட்பு விகிதம், 94.98 சதவீதமாக உயர்ந்துஉள்ளது.

வைரஸ் பாதிப்பால் கடந்த, 24 மணி நேரத்தில், 336 பேர் இறந்துள்ளனர். மஹாராஷ்டிராவில் அதிகபட்சமாக, 70 பேர் பலியாயினர். மேற்கு வங்கத்தில், 47; டில்லியில், 33; கேரளாவில், 29; பஞ்சாபில், 20 இறப்புகள் பதிவாகி உள்ளன. இவர்களுடன், வைரஸ் பாதிப்பால் இறந்தோர் எண்ணிக்கை, ஒரு லட்சத்து, 43 ஆயிரத்து, 355 ஆக அதிகரித்துள்ளது; இறப்பு விகிதம், 1.45 சதவீதமாக உள்ளது.பலி எண்ணிக்கை மஹாராஷ்டிராவில், 48 ஆயிரத்து, 209 ஆக உள்ளது. அடுத்ததாக கர்நாடகாவில், 11 ஆயிரத்து, 944 பேரும்; தமிழகத்தில், 11 ஆயிரத்து, 895 பேரும் உயிரிழந்துள்ளனர்.இவ்வாறு, அந்த அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

‘K’taka has maximum cases of spousal violence’

‘K’taka has maximum cases of spousal violence’

Ambika.Pandit@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.12.2020

Karnataka tops the list of 17 states and five UTs with 44% of women surveyed in the state in the age group of 18-49 years saying they had faced spousal violence at some time, followed by Bihar (40%) and Manipur

(39.6%), shows data from Phase I of National Family Health Survey-5 (2019-20).

NFHS-5 defines spousal violence to include “physical and/ or sexual violence”. In three more states over 30% of women in 18-49 years age group responded in the affirmative to the question if they had “ever experienced spousal violence”. These states are Telangana (36.9%), Assam (32%) and Andhra Pradesh (30%). Karnataka, in fact, reported a spike when compared to NFHS- 4 (2015-16) when 20.6% women surveyed had experienced spousal violence. Assam, too, witnessed a rise when compared to 24.5% in NFHS-4.

On the other hand, though the figure is high in Manipur, the state reported a sharp decline as compared to 53.2% in the 2015-16 survey. Andhra Pradesh, Bihar and Telangana also registered a decline in 2019-20 when compared to NFHS-4 figures of 43.4%, 43.7% and 42.9% respectively. Data shows 25.2% women in Maharashtra reported having experienced spousal violence, up from 21.3% in 2015-16 while West Bengal (27%) showed a decline from 33.1% women reporting spousal violence in NFHS-4.

Kerala had 9.9% of women reporting spousal violence, a decline from 14.3% in 2015-16. Jammu & Kashmir

(9.6%), Himachal Pradesh

(8.3%), Goa (8.3%) and Nagaland (6.4%) fall in the below 10% category with Lakshadweep recording the least (1.3%) number of such women.

The percentage of women who admitted to having experienced sexual violence by the age of 18 years ranged from 11% in Karnataka, 9.7% in West Bengal, 8.7% in Ladakh, 8.3% in Bihar, 8% in Assam and 6.2% in Maharashtra to 1.8% in Andaman & Nicobar Islands and 0.8% in Lakshadweep.

Times View: The spurt in domestic violence across states that the NHS survey shows is a matter of both shame and concern. Violence against women primarily stems from a patriarchal mindset and needs to be addressed through gender-sensitive education in schools and an honest application of the law. Policy framers must take cognizance of the survey and find innovative ways to address this social malaise.

Vaccinations kick off in US as virus toll nears 3,00,000

Vaccinations kick off in US as virus toll nears 3,00,000

‘I Feel Like Healing Is Coming’: New York Nurse Receives First Shot

15.12.2020

The first shot was given in the American mass vaccination campaign on Monday morning, opening a new chapter in the battle against the coronavirus pandemic, which has killed more people in the US than in any other country. Shortly after 9am (local time) on Monday, the first vaccination took place in Long Island Jewish Medical Centre in Queens. The pandemic has scarred New York state profoundly, leaving more than 35,000 people dead and severely weakening the economy.

“I believe this is the weapon that will end the war,” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said at a news conference Monday morning, shortly before the shot was given to Sandra Lindsay, an intensive-care nurse. State officials said the shot was the first to be given outside of a vaccine trial in the US. Lindsay, who has treated patients throughout the pandemic, said that she hoped her public vaccination would instill confidence in New Yorkers that the shots were safe. “I feel like healing is coming,” she said. “I hope this marks the beginning of the end of a very painful time in our history.”

President Trump posted on Twitter: “First Vaccine Administered. Congratulations USA! Congratulations WORLD!” The vaccinations started after the FDA’s emergency authorisation of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine on Friday night, and as the US virus death toll approaches 300,000. In Iowa City, Iowa, David Conway, a 39-year-old emergency room nurse, received the vaccine, and in Columbus, Ohio, Dr. Mark Conroy, 41, an emergency medicine physician, did, too.

A majority of the first injections are expected to be given on Monday to high-risk health workers. A wary public will be watching closely to see whether health workers embrace vaccination. Just half of Americans say they want to get vaccinated, while about a quarter don’t and the rest are unsure, according to a recent poll by Associated Press-NORC Centre for Public Health Research.

Meanwhile, Trump said on Sunday night that he would delay a plan for senior White House staff members to receive the vaccine in the coming days. The shift came just hours after NYT reported that the administration was rapidly planning to distribute the vaccine to its staff at a time when the first doses are generally being reserved for high-risk health workers. Trump also implied that he would get the vaccine himself at some point, but said he had no immediate plans to do so. It was not clear why he decided to change the policy. NYT & AGENCIES

Sandra Lindsay, a critical care nurse, received the Pfizer-BioNTech shot live on TV shortly before 9.30 am EST (8pm IST). ‘I feel relieved,’ she said

Canada joins US, UK in vaccinations

Canada kicked off its inoculation campaign against Covid-19 on Monday by injecting health workers, becoming just the third nation in the world to administer the Pfizer vaccine after the US and the UK. The first dose went to Anita Quidangen, a personal support worker at t a non-profit nursing home for the elderly in Toronto. PM Trudeau said the first recipients will be workers in hospitals and nursing homes, the most vulnerable segment of the elderly, as well as those living on remote aboriginal reserves. REUTERS

2k interns at govt hospitals go on token strike

CARE AVAILABILITY

2k interns at govt hospitals go on token strike

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:  15.12.2020

Over 2,000 intern doctors at the 14 governmentrun hospitals in Gujarat on Monday observed a token oneday strike as a sign of protest over pending demands.

The groups said that the protest would continue even as the government officials on Monday warned them against applying ‘pressure tactics.’ “We demand that the stipend should be increased from Rs 12,800 to Rs 20,000 per month considering our duty in Covid wards. The bond period should be considered in accordance with our Covid duty. We should be paid the remuneration at the rate of Rs 1,000 per day if we are on Covid duty, and the remuneration be at least on par with our counterparts in AMC hospitals,” said a doctor on protest.

Nitin Patel, deputy chief minister and state health minister, on Monday assured the doctors of decision on their demands at ‘appropriate time.’ “Instead of thinking about patients in these difficult times, interns must not apply pressure tactics to press for their demand,” said Patel, adding that the strike was “uncalled-for” in the present scenario.

Officials also warned the students that they would be marked absent if they refrained from duty and it could hamper their admission to PG courses. The doctors, however, said that they were adamant on their demands.

Intern doctors protest demanding an increase in their stipend, outside GMERS Sola Medical College in Ahmedabad on Monday

Bengal’s top officers skip Delhi meeting State Won’t Comply With Deputation Of 3 Top Cops Either

Bengal’s top officers skip Delhi meeting

State Won’t Comply With Deputation Of 3 Top Cops Either

Debasish.Konar@timesgroup.com

Kolkata: 15.12.2020

Bengal's defiance of central directives continued on Monday as both chief secretary Alapan Bandyopadhyay and DGP Virendra didn't turn up for a meeting on law and order in the state with Union home secretary Ajay Bhalla in Delhi.

Senior officials said the state government was still to get a response from the Centre to its two letters — one on the summons to the chief secretary and the DGP and the other on central deputation for three Bengal cadre IPS officers.

The Union home ministry had last week directed the chief secretary and the state police chief to meet Bhalla in his office at 12.15pm on Monday to discuss law and order against the backdrop of three attacks on BJP national president JP Nadda's convoy en route to Diamond Harbour from Kolkata. A day later, the Centre directed that three IPS officers posted in the state — South Bengal IGP Rajeev Mishra, Presidency range DIG Praveen Kumar Tripathi and Diamond Harbour SP Bholanath Pandey — be sent to Delhi on central deputation.

Responding to the summons to him and DGP Virendra for the meeting in Delhi, chief secretary Bandyopadhyay had requested that their "attendance" be "dispensed with" as the state government was "already" addressing the situation in the wake of the attacks on Nadda's convoy and that several people had been arrested in this regard.

The Bengal government then, in another letter, intimated the Centre of its inability to release the three police officers for central deputation, citing the still continuing fight against the pandemic as a reason.

As the state government claimed to await responses from the Centre to its twin missives, Bandyopadhyay and Virendra stayed put in Bengal and went about their "routine work", officials said. The state government is exploring legal avenues on the communication regarding the three IPS officers, the officials added, implying there was no possibility of their release on Tuesday (as requisitioned by the Centre).

The officials said there was a paucity of IPS officers in Bengal and the "sudden and simultaneous" withdrawal of three officers overseeing arrangements for the Sagar Mela in January 2021 would result in administrative problems.

The Union home ministry had called the chief secretary and the state police chief to discuss law and order against the backdrop of three attacks on BJP national president J P Nadda’s convoy in Bengal last week

Rajini to use unrecognised party for his political launch?

Rajini to use unrecognised party for his political launch?

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.12.2020

Tamil superstar Rajinikanth may use an already registered but unrecognised party — Makkal Sevai Katchi — as his political launch vehicle to contest the Tamil Nadu assembly polls next year.

The party, which was originally registered by the Election Commission as Anaithindhia Makkal Shakthi Kazhagam but rechristened as ‘Makkal Sevai Katchi’ through an amended EC notification issued two-and-ahalf months back, may in all likelihood get to contest with ‘autorickshaw’ as its poll symbol.

TOI has learnt that the Election Commission has received an application from Makkal Sevai Katchi seeking allotment of a common poll symbol for candidates that it seeks to field in all 234 assembly seats of the state. The application mentions Rajinikanth’s name, even though it originates from a different person. The application lists ‘two finger’ pose, made famous by Rajinikanth in his 2002 film Baba, as its first preference for poll symbol, while ‘auto’, reminiscent of his 1995 blockbuster ‘Baashha’, is listed as the second preference.

The file is under process, said a source. TOI has, however, learnt that the EC is unlikely to grant Makkal Sevai Katchi the ‘two-finger’ poll symbol as it bears resemblance to the Congress’s ‘hand’ symbol.

4.1L questions in 12 languages: ’21 JEE-M to be held in 4 cycles

4.1L questions in 12 languages: ’21 JEE-M to be held in 4 cycles

Registration For Feb Cycle Likely To Start Later This Week

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  15.12.2020

Sixteen days of tests, 384 question papers in 12 languages and 4.14 lakh questions will define the scale of the Joint Entrance Examination (Main), to be held in four cycles starting February 2021, for admission to engineering courses. Registration of candidates for the February cycle is likely to start later this week.

JEE (Main) 2021 will be conducted once each month, from February to May. The results too would be announced in four to five days so as to give a window of around a week to candidates to apply for the subsequent month’s test.

Amit Khare, secretary, ministry of education, said: “States have their own education Boards which conduct their exams between February and March. Due to the Covid situation, Boards may reschedule their calendar. This is for the benefit of the students so that they get ample opportunity as per their convenience. Moreover, tests like SAT, GRE or TOEFL are conducted multiple times in a year. This will be in sync with international best practices.”

Prof Abhay Karandikar, director, IIT-Kanpur, said, “Conducting it four times is a good move. NTA conducted exams successfully even during Covid times and the agency has the capability to meet the challenges. This will ensure a fair opportunity and much greater flexibility to the candidates.”

However, some experts believe multiple tests would increase stress for students. Ashok Ganguly, educationist and former CBSE chairperson, said: “Allowing the child to appear four times a year will not serve any purpose. It will increase the burden on children who will continue to attend coaching classes to perform better next time and hamper regular studies. It may also lead to frustration. So two opportunities seem sufficient.”

Some others also feel multiple tests may dilute quality. A former IIT director said, “By conducting the same exam so many times, questions will get repeated as the syllabus is fixed, unlike TOEFL or GRE where there is no fixed syllabus. Over a period of time students will mug up and score high. This will have adverse effect on quality.”

NTA, however, believes that the decision to conduct the exam multiple times in a disaggregated fashion is reasonable and suitable in the present times. “Between February and May, candidates will either sit for the Board exams or competitive exams. The coaching phase would be over by then. Also, it is not necessary that all candidates will appear in all four tests. In the present context, situations across the states are different due to the pandemic and we don’t know how and when they will conduct the exams. So candidates will at least get two chances to appear,” said a member of the governing body of NTA and a psychometric expert.

He said: “The assessment is decided on the purpose of the examination, which is to see engineering aptitude and therefore it is not necessary that the paper has to be difficult. JEE (Advanced) forces a student to go beyond the syllabus as its questions are of undergraduate level and it creates a situation of bunching at the top.”

With the inclusion of Punjabi, JEE (Main) will be conducted in 12 languages in 2021. “A very good step to give all children an equal opportunity to attempt an examination in the language they are comfortable with. It will be challenging (for NTA), but one has to rise to the occasion,” said Anuradha Joshi, Principal, Sardar Patel Vidyalaya, New Delhi.

Times View: The willingness to undertake this ambitious exercise indicates the confidence of the National Testing Agency. However, confidence must be backed with rigour. The JEE exams are taken by lakhs of industrious students dreaming of a better future. The NTA should ensure that the examination process is error-free and hassle-free. That’s the real challenge.

After Covid freeze, people are shopping with a vengeance

A Shot In The Arm

After Covid freeze, people are shopping with a vengeance

Namrata.Singh@timesgroup.com

15.12.2020

It’s not merely pent-up demand that's lifting the Indian economy. Green shoots are visible in certain parts across industries. While 30 of the 48 high-frequency economic indicators tracked by the Reserve Bank of India have returned to pre-Covid levels, some, such as passenger vehicle and two-wheeler sales, and insurance premiums, have also shown an uptick.

The recovery in oil consumption and steel production shows increasing demand from construction, infrastructure, automobiles and consumer durables.

Call it ‘revenge buying’, but what’s aiding the recovery process is consumers buying not just the essentials but also apparel, jewellery, crockery and gourmet foods. They are spending on dining out as well.

“Consumers have had enough,” said Pinakiranjan Mishra, partner and leader, consumer products and retail, EY India, “Many haven’t spent money on eating out, shopping or vacations in the last nine months, so there’s a kind of saving they have made. There is frustration and desire to at least enjoy a bit of shopping and travelling with due care.”

Some homestays are fully occupied, said Mishra, while adding that travel is mainly for leisure at present.

Devendra Chawla, CEO, Spencer’s Retail & Nature’s Basket, said, “Footfall is inching up by the day, and it's equal to the number of bills as consumers now venture out when they are sure they will shop.” Although the number of monthly mall trips has come down, the average bill value per trip is 15-20% higher than last year, said Chawla.

In the early months of the pandemic, consumers stocked up the pantry with large packs, but later shifted to small packs from neighborhood stores. Now, large packs are back in demand. According to Kantar, post-Covid volumes have grown in squashes and powders, talcs, sauces and ketchups, bottled soft drinks, jams and feminine hygiene. Almost all these categories had slowed down or declined at the start of the pandemic.

Smaller towns (under 1 lakh population) increased the purchase for 33 categories and metros for 26 categories. “The increase is pronounced in smaller towns and lower SECs, which had perhaps cut down on their purchases sharply,” said K Ramakrishnan, MD-South Asia, Worldpanel Division, Kantar.

In a recent survey by community social media platform LocalCircles, with more than 15,000 responses in 303 districts, 18% of households said they spent significantly more than what they needed to after stores and malls opened.

Retail channel checks by Edelweiss Securities show the recovery has continued after the festive season, driven by demand from weddings and categories like winter wear, jewellery and apparel.

Edelweiss said recovery for quick service restaurants continues as dining in has been permitted in major metro cities. Dine-in is now at roughly 50% of pre-Covid levels while deliveries have already exceeded 100%.

A study conducted jointly by Payback and Unomer shows the preference for party-wear grew 41%, followed by 16% for semi-formal and formal wear. Home decor has seen 44% improvement with 27% consumers saying they have bought, and 39% saying they are planning to buy.

While things already look better, Mishra at EY says, “The real revenge shopping will happen when the vaccine is out.”

Seat scam accused held for cheating another aspirant

MEDICAL ADMISSIONS

Seat scam accused held for cheating another aspirant

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  15.12.2020

Investigations into the medical college admission racket, in which money was collected by an education consultancy firm from unsuspecting parents seeking seats for their wards, revealed that the main accused had evaded arrest earlier by getting anticipatory bail.

The accused, 29-year-old Shahe Abrahar of Overseas Education Research Foundation on Rest House Road in central business district, had come under police radar in February 2019 when he was  accused of cheating a medical seat aspirant of Rs 1.7 lakh. He is currently in police custody for duping a 62-yearold man of Rs 10 lakh.

In the 2019 case registered by Cubbon Park police, the FIR identified the suspects as Vijay Sampagilam, Abrahar and the latter’s father Mohammed Ibrahim. While Vijay and Ibrahim were nabbed, Abrahar had managed to get anticipatory bail. However, police are yet to submit a chargesheet in the case.

Though chargesheet has to be filed within 90 days of registering the case, Cubbon Park police had sought more time from the court. Now with Abrahar in custody, police said they will file chargesheets in both the cases.

Cops arrested Abrahar after 62-year-old Vinak HS, a resident of HSR Layout, filed a cheating complaint on October 10. The complainant alleged that Abrahar had contacted him over phone, saying he could get a medical seat for his daughter in a private college in Shivamogga.

“Saying he will get a government seat which would cost Rs 2 lakh per year, Abrahar took Rs 10 lakh from me. But my daughter was allotted a seat that cost Rs 10 lakh fee per year,” Vinay stated in his complainant.

‘Fraudster network’

“Each year, over half a dozen cases of cheating related to seats in medical and engineering colleges are reported in the city. There is an established network of such miscreants. First, they download names and other details of candidates seeking seats at colleges located in and around Bengaluru. Then, they start calling the candidates, offering a seat for payment. During the conversation, these fraudsters claim they have solid contacts in college managements and can easily get the seats, provided candidates shell out money,” a senior police officer explained.

In September 2019, Central Crime Branch sleuths arrested 11 people on charges of cheating medical and engineering seat aspirants of money. Probe had revealed some of the accused were from the city, while a majority of them were from Bihar, Jharkhand, Odisha and West Bengal. Two of the prime accused were running a job consultancy in Jayanagar, which they had opened a few months ago. “The consultancy office was set up just to collect money from the victims. The accused never did job-related work there,” an investigator said.

Abrahar had come under police radar in February 2019 when he was accused of cheating a medical seat aspirant of Rs 1.7 lakh. However, he managed to get anticipatory bail. He is now in custody for duping a 62-year-old man, who claims Abrahar contacted him over phone

With preschools closed, parents bring tutors home

With preschools closed, parents bring tutors home

SruthySusan.Ullas @timesgroup.com

15.12.2020

Bengaluru: Four-and-a-half-year-old Aarav Shukla eagerly awaits Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays when his teacher comes home and takes lessons. He finishes his breakfast early, gets his books, pencils and crayons together, helps his mom roll out the mat on the floor and waits for the doorbell to ring.

Aarav is one of many preschoolers who have teachers coming home for lessons after his pre-school shut in March due to the pandemic. Realising that online classes aren’t helping toddlers, many parents are opting for a programme some pre-schools offer where teachers come home for an hour or two on specific days to interact with their children.

“We tried online classes for a month,” said Ramya N, a marketing general manager of a private healthcare company, who has opted for Klay preschools’ ‘teacher@home’ programme. “My three-year-old refused to sit in front of the laptop for more than 10 minutes. I had my own office schedule and could not give him undivided attention. So, we decided to opt for the programme. Now, he gets a solid two hours daily with the teacher and I don’t feel guilty that I’ve neglected his learning needs.”

Swetha Ramdas, Aarav’s mother, said a teacher at home has brought in a schedule that was otherwise missing after work-from-home began. “It was challenging to maintain a schedule. Now with a teacher coming in, things are in place,” she said.

Teachers too say it has been an experience. “The children get excited when we go to their homes. They take us to their favourite rooms, show us their favourite toys and introduce us to their relatives. Unlike in school, they are more comfortable,” said Swetha Sthanikam, a teacher of Koala preschool, RT Nagar.

Pankti Jayesh Dubal, a teacher in Klay, said, “While this is a joyful experience, I miss school. Children learn from each other and this is missing at home.” Pre-schools managements monitor the health of the teacher and family members on a daily basis for safety purposes.

“We have had 450 enrolments for the programme, out of which 250 are from Bengaluru,” said Srikanth AK, CEO, Klay preschools. “While online classes are a good substitute, they remain a substitute at best. The social aspect is still missing in the child’s learning. It’s also a crucial time in a child’s life as they learn a lot during these years,”

Alifiya Zavery, senior manager Academics, said: “We had to recruit many teachers and train them. It was a win-win situation as many talented teachers had lost their jobs.”

RIGHT STEPS: Teachers say going to toddlers' homes has been a delightful experience

Fake coronavirus vaccines flood darknet, sell for $250

Fake coronavirus vaccines flood dark net, sell for $250

PREYING ON FEAR Over 1k New Domains Have Cropped Up In Nov, Says Report

Just Five Vendors At Traditional Groundnut Fair

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

15.12.2020

Bengaluru: With a vaccine now appearing the only way to beat the pandemic, the dark net has been flooded with hundreds of domains promising ‘vaccines’ at a price — in some cases for as much as $250.

In its latest report, Check Point Research, a global cyber security firm, has found a stream of posts on the internet from sources claiming to have a range of ‘coronavirus vaccines’ or remedies for sale.

From “available coronavirus vaccine $250” to “Say bye bye to Covid-19=Chloroquine Phosphate” and “buy fast. Coronavirus Vaccine is out now,” the range of remedies advertised is extensive.

The findings come close on the heels of Europol, the EU's law enforcement agency, issuing an early warning notification last week. “When a Covid-19 vaccine does become available, it will likely not be available for sale online. However, fraudulent pharmaceutical products advertised as allegedly treating or preventing Covid-19 are already on sale, both offline and online,” the notification reads.

The Check Point report notes: “All the vendors we found insist on payment in bitcoin as it minimizes chances of being traced, casting further doubt on the authenticity of the medicines they are selling. In communications with one vendor, they offered to sell an unspecified Covid-19 vaccine for 0.01 BTC (around$300), and claimed that 14 doses were required. This advice contradicts official announcements which state that some vaccines require two shots, given 3 weeks apart, per person.”

1k+ new domains

November’s positive news about vaccine trials and imminent availability has resulted in a surge in new web domains that relate to Covid-19 or vaccines, the report read. Check Point said that since the beginning of November, 1,062 new domains were registered which contain the word “vaccine”. Of these, 400 also contain “covid” or “corona”.

These figures are equivalent to the numbers in the previous three months (August, September and October) combined, the report read. It also found that besides trying to sell fake vaccines, cybercriminals are also using vaccine-related news as bait for phishing campaigns.

Some emails were found delivering malicious ‘.exe files’ with the name ‘Download_Covid 19 New approved vaccines.23.07.2020.exe’ that installs an InfoStealer capable of gathering login information, usernames and passwords to enable threat actors to take over accounts.

2021 threat perception

Terming the pandemic an ultra-rare yet high-impact event that has derailed business, the firm said separate research showed 58% of security professionals reporting an increase in cyber threats since lockdowns were imposed.

Hackers have also sought to take advantage of disruption caused by the pandemic and “pharma companies developing vaccines will also continue to be targeted by malicious attacks from criminals or nation-states looking to exploit the situation,” the report read.

Aside from this a range of phishing activity, including targeting parents with remote learning and increased malware attacks have been predicted.

ONLINE SCAM: From “available coronavirus vaccine $250” to “Say bye bye to Covid-19”, the range of remedies advertised is extensive

Centre to buy 351m more syringes for vaccination

PREPARING FOR THE VACCINE

Centre to buy 351m more syringes for vaccination

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 15.12.2020

As part of its pan-India Covid-vaccination plan, the Centre will procure 351 million more syringes, according to tender documents reviewed by TOI. The government has already placed orders for 230 million syringes. The additional procurement will take the total number for Covid vaccination to around 600 million, in sync with the plan to vaccinate 300 million people (two doses each) in the first few phases.

The tender issued by the Central Medical Services Society (CMSS), under the ministry of health and family welfare, is for “0.5ml auto disable

syringe for fixed dose immunisation with fixed needle” and the estimated bid cost is ₹65.7 crore.

As per the December 11 tender, the government has set short delivery targets for procurement which will happen in four batches of 87.8 million pieces each. The first batch is expected to be delivered 60 days after the order is placed and the last within 150 days.

According to more than one industry representative, this is the first fresh tender being issued for syringes.

“The earlier orders were placed as an extension of existing contracts between firms and the ministry and devices were supplied at old rates,” one of them said.

Sandeep Bhandari, vicepresident, Iscon Surgicals, which has already shipped out 20 million syringes of 52.2 million it has orders for, said: “Order for another 100 million we’ll soon get is part of the old contract. We’ll bid for the new tender as there is enough capacity to fulfil existing orders.”

Medical Counseling Committee Notification

 

HC grants bail to govt staffer in cheating case

₹10 LAKH PAYABLE

HC grants bail to govt staffer in cheating case

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai: 15.12.2020

The Madras high court has granted bail to a government employee on condition that he should deposit ₹10 lakh in a case registered against him for cheating and issuing fake appointment orders to a few people in Ramanathapuram district.

The court was hearing the bail petition filed by Kannan, who was arrested by the Ramanathapuram district crime branch police on September 27.

The case of the prosecution is that the petitioner was working as superintendent in the chief educational officer’s (CEO) office at Ramanathapuram district.

He along with other accused had collected ₹20 lakh to get jobs to three people for the post of junior assistant in government schools, for which fake appointment orders were prepared.

The petitioner’s counsel submitted that he was not involved in the crime as alleged by the prosecution. He submitted that police have completed the investigation and also filed the final report before the concerned jurisdictional court. Since custodial interrogation of the petitioner may not be required, he sought bail.

The government advocate submitted that the petitioner who was working in the CEO office had obtained money and provided fake appointment orders to people to join as junior assistants at government schools in the district. When the headmasters of the concerned schools found that no appointment orders were issued by the CEO and all were fabricated, they informed the CEO.

Justice G K Ilanthiraiyan granted bail to the petitioner on condition that he should deposit ₹10 lakh before the Ramanathapuram judicial magistrate II court.

Himalayan vulture at Point Calimere after 12-year gap

Himalayan vulture at Point Calimere after 12-year gap

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:  15.12.2020

The Himalayan griffon vulture, a migratory bird native to the Himalayas, has been spotted at the Point Calimere wildlife sanctuary after a gap of 12 years, said forest officials. There are forest department records of this bird being spotted in 1964 in the central region while Biodiversity Conservation Foundation founder director A Kumaraguru said that the bird was last spotted in 2008 at Point Calimere.

The bird was spotted near Thambusamy Illam – a forest guest house ravaged by cyclone Gaja two years back. The forest officer who spotted the bird took pictures with his phone while it was perching on a manilkara hexandra tree. The migration of this bird is unique as it belongs to high altitude and has come down to sea level.

Terming it a rare sighting, S Ramasubramanian, conservator of forest (Thanjavur circle), said people may not believe that the bird was spotted in the region. “But the picture taken with the manilkara hexandra tree in the backdrop was evidence of the bird spotted at Point Calimere. Manilkara hexandra is an important species of a dry evergreen tree found in the region.”

He said that a team of forest officials are looking into the possibility of more such birds in the sanctuary as the bird may have tried to migrate somewhere else but could have come here due to successive cyclones.

“It used Point Calimere as a transit and may not stay here for long. Food requirements of the bird is also different as they feed on animal carcases which they may not find in abundance in this region,” he said.

MAJESTIC: The bird was spotted near Thambusamy Illam – a forest guest house ravaged by cyclone Gaja two years ago

No mention of Rajini at marathon AIADMK meeting

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 15.12.2020

Against the backdrop of actor Rajinikanth’s political entry, the AIADMK leadership on Monday told party men that they would take care of formation of alliance and they need not worry about anything. The leadership exhorted the cadres to stay united, strive hard to fetch a third consecutive win in the 2021 assembly poll, and hinted at holding its much-anticipated general council and executive committee meeting soon.

Even as chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami and deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam announced in the presence of Union home minister Amit Shah that the alliance with the BJP will continue, neither the minister nor the party has acknowledged it yet. Uneasiness has swept over the ruling camp ever since Rajinikanth’s announcement that he has decided to take the political plunge. In a meeting of district secretaries, ministers and zonal in charge at the party headquarters on Monday, the AIADMK leadership remained mum on the developments. Both EPS and OPS did not utter a word about the actor nor his political debut.

“Both EPS and OPS told partymen not to worry about the alliance and that they would take care of it. They hinted at continuing in the existing alliance without making any remark on the arrival of actor Rajinikanth,” said a senior leader. Instead, the leaders told the functionaries to focus on staying united and work hard given that their goal was to achieve a majority of the seats (to form the government on their own).

Palaniswami is said to have detailed the achievements of the government and the widespread appreciation from the public for the welfare measures rolled out recently. “The chief minister said there is no anti-incumbency at all in the state. Both leaders said the partymen have more experience in electoral politics and we could succeed this time,” said another leader.