Centre to HC: Med quota for govt students will affect merit

Centre to HC: Med quota for govt students will affect merit

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:22.01.2021

Setting the stage for a fresh round of political slugfest, the BJP government at the Centre has opposed exclusive reservation for government school students in MBBS/BDS admissions under NEET.

It will not “be desirable,” said the Union home ministry when a related case came up before the Madras high court for hearing. “Any artificial, horizontal reservation is likely to create abnormal incentives/disincentives affecting pre-medical education…” it said.

Noting that NEET provided uniform national standards on the principle of one nation one merit list, the Centre said the proposal of the Puducherry administration to provide quota in medical courses for government school students diluted the merit principle. Such demands would undo merit-based admission reform, the Centre said.

The Centre filed the counter in response to a plea moved by a student seeking a direction to the Union government to approve 10% horizontal reservation for students from government schools in Puducherry for admissions to medical courses.

Counsel for petitioner senior advocate P Wilson, who took strong exception to it, said the central government was belittling the 7.5% reservation policy adopted by Tamil Nadu.

Acted promptly on reference from UT, Centre informs court

The Centre, denying that it was sitting on the reference from the Union territory, said the 7.5% reservation provided for government school students to medical admission in Tamil Nadu had been provided through state legislation and that no reference had been made to the Centre for information/ concurrence in the matter.

Asserting that such reservation may lead to similar or other demands from other states, it said After the Puducherry cabinet approved the exclusive reservation and forwarded the same to lieutenant-governor Kiran Bedi, she referred the matter to the central government on the ground that she differed with the view of the elected Puducherry government. Claiming that the Centre is sitting on the reference made on November 6, 2020 without taking a decision, the present plea was for a direction to the Centre to approve the reservation.

When the plea came up for hearing before Justice B Pugalendhi on Thursday, a limited reply was filed by the Centre through Ravi Ranjan, deputy commandant, union ministry of home affairs.

Denying that the reference is kept pending indefinitely, the reply said this ministry had acted promptly on the reference made by the LG and the CM of Puducherry and had sought inter-ministerial consultations for taking an informed decision.

“It is pertinent to mention here that the ministry of health vide an office memorandum dated December 10, 2020 while disagreeing with the proposal for granting horizontal reservation to students from government schools in the state quota seats in admission to medical courses conveyed that medical education is under concurrent list,” the reply said. Since the Centre sought further time to take a decision on the reference made, the judge adjourned the hearing to February 25.

The Centre said the 7.5% reservation provided for government school students to medical admission in Tamil Nadu had been provided through state legislation

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Murder case filed in college girl’s death

Murder case filed in college girl’s death

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:21,01,2021

Trichy district police have registered a murder case in connection with the unexplained death of a 19-year-old BPharm student at the women’s hostel of a private college at Samayapuram on Tuesday. A resident of Poiyur in Ariyalur district, the deceased R Rajeswari was a second year BPharm student at Srinivasan college of pharmaceutical sciences and was staying in the college hostel.

According to the first information report quoting the complaint of the girl’s father Ramaiyan, the principal informed him over phone that she was found lying on the ground behind the women’s hostel around 7.30 am on Tuesday. The principal told him that Rajeswari fainted and died later at the SRM hospital in Iringalur. However, the college administration told him that the girl must have fallen off the fourth floor of the hostel.

The FIR of Samayapuram police said Ramaiyan raised suspicions over the death and that she might have been murdered. He mentioned having found injuries on her jaw and right leg, bruises on her back and hand when he saw her body at the hospital in Irungalur on Tuesday. Inspector Anbazhagan of Samayapuram police told TOI on Wednesday that a case of murder has been booked based on the complaint. The girl had returned from home after Pongal holidays only on Monday night.

“She was one of the seven students staying in the hostel. Though the injury marks do not lead to any suspicion of murder, the viscera has been collected for examination to determine the cause of death. Since the father raised the suspicion of murder, we have registered a case of murder,” Inspector Anbalagan said. The postmortem was performed at the government hospital in Srirangam on Wednesday.

AIADMK won’t break up even if a thousand Stalins emerge: EPS

AIADMK won’t break up even if a thousand Stalins emerge: EPS

‘Will Continue As CM Even After Jan 27’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:21,01,2021

Asserting that there would be no split in the AIADMK as anticipated by rivals, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Wednesday said he would continue to hold his official post even after January 27. The AIADMK would return to power for yet another term, the CM said, adding that it was the DMK which is on the verge of a split with former CM M Karunanidhi’s elder son M K Alagiri planning to float a party.

During his whistle-stop campaign in Kancheepuram, Palaniswami was at pains to dismiss speculation of possible split in the wake of the release of Jayalalithaa’s close aide V K Sasikala from a Bengaluru prison on January 27. DMSK president M K Stalin on Tuesday took a dig at the EPS government, wondering if the government would survive after January 27.

“Stalin’s ambition is to split the AIADMK and topple the government. He has no intention to do good for the people. Everywhere he goes, he asks if Edappadi Palaniswami will continue as CM. Of course, he will. That is because he enjoys the support of the people. The AIADMK cannot be touched even if a thousand Stalins emerge,” Palaniswami told supporters in Theradi, Kancheepuram district.

Palaniswami reminded the crowd of how he rose up the ranks from area secretary to minister through sheer hard work. “Stalin came up through short-cuts,” he said. “Stalin, you did not come to this position through hard work. But I did. I know how to steer the party and run the government,” the CM said, asking the DMK chief “to do good or else people may not even offer you a seat in the opposition benches”.

Recalling the “disrespectful behavior” of the DMK during the trust vote in 2017 and the alleged “physical assault” on Jayalalithaa in 1989 on the floor of the House, he said voters should think what it would be like if the DMK returned to power. Law and order would deteriorate, he said. “Udhayanidhi speaks disparagingly of women. Such people are eager to come to power. There is no history of those who slander and humiliate women winning,” the CM said and accused Stalin of making false and fancy promises during his Makkal Gram Sabha meetings.

SEA OF SUPPORTERS: Chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at a rally in Kancheepuram on Wednesday

College principal on sit-in protest for basic facilities

College principal on sit-in protest for basic facilities

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:21.01.2021

The principal of a government college in Puducherry has launched a novel protest to highlight the problems students and faculty face.

From Wednesday, Sasi Kanta Dash, principal of Tagore Government Arts College, refused to use his chamber and instead set up office on the floor near a bust of Tagore at the entrance to the institution. He’s also decided to spend his nights at the college until the government fulfills a 12-point charter of demands.

These demands are to provide basic amenities for students such as classrooms with adequate seating, toilets and common rooms for girl students, and renovation of the computer laboratory, physics laboratory and auditorium. From just 647 students in 2016, the college no had more than 14,000 students, but infrastructure had not kept pace. The result: The 45-year-old dilapidated auditorium now houses three classrooms without partitions. The toilets for girl students are inadequate and computer and physics laboratories have not been upgraded. "How will the toilet facilities set up for 600-odd students cater to the needs of 14,000-odd students. Within 30 minutes the toiletsrun dry and we have to call the services of water tankers. The auditorium is dilapidated and if any untoward incident happens the teachers must not be made scapegoats," said the principal. He said repeated pleas to the officials concerned fell on deaf ears.

"My conscience does not allow me to sit in the principal's chamber while all my students and staff members are suffering in this pitiful environment. Therefore from January 20, I shall discharge my official duty by sitting on the floor of the college and staying in the college day and night till the grievances are met. I wish to categorically declare that my action is not a protest against the government or any authority but an expression of the unbearable anguish I feel when I see my students and staff members suffer," said Dash.

From Wednesday, Sasi Kanta Dash, principal of Tagore Government Arts College, refused to use his chamber and instead set up office on the floor near a bust of Tagore at the entrance to the institution

Sasikala admitted to hospital in B’luru with fever, breathlessness

Sasikala admitted to hospital in B’luru with fever, breathlessness

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

21.01.2021

Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala, who is about to complete her four-year jail term in the disproportionate assets case, was shifted to a hospital in Bengaluru after she suffered fever and breathlessness on Wednesday. Parappana Agrahara prison officials shifted Sasikala to Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College Hospital around 5.30pm.

"Sasikala, 63, with comorbidities of hypertension, diabetes and hypothyroidism has been admitted with cough and fever," Dr Manoj Kumar HV, dean and director, Bowring hospital, said late at night.

Sasikala, who is slated to be released from jail on January 27, was put in an isolation ward after she had fever and breathlessness. A Rapid Antigen Test of her throat swab sample tested negative for Covid-19. However, the results of her RT-PCR tests are awaited. “She’s being treated with high flow nasal oxygen. Necessary investigations are being done and results are awaited,” said hospital medical superintendent Dr Vijayalakshmi GN.

When Sasikala was brought to the hospital, her oxygen saturation level was 80%, as against the normal of 95% and above. “With oxygen support, she is maintaining oxygen saturation level of 97 %,” the superintendent told TOI.

Prison officials have already officially communicated the date of Sasikala’s release to her advocates. However, there is no clarity on when her fellow convicts in the case — sister-in-law J Ilavarasi and nephew V N Sudhakaran — will be released. All three were imposed ₹10 crore each as fine, besides four-year jail term. Failure to pay fine entails another year in the prison.

Sudhakaran’s jail term ended on January 14. “We wonder why he hasn’t paid the fine as he has been fighting a legal battle for early release,” an official said. A special court in Bengaluru had deducted 89 days of imprisonment of Sudhakaran, permitting him to walk out any time after paying ₹10 crore. Ilavarasi, slated to be released in February, too has not paid the fine.

“Sasikala’s release formalities will begin on January 26. An official communication will be made to Sasikala, asking her to get ready to walk out on January 27. That morning, she has to sign a few documents, including the prison register she had signed on February 14, 2017,” prison officials said.

Asked if she had deposited any property or gold, prison officials said, “There was no gold ornament on her when she walked into prison. She didn’t have any cash either.”

While the charges against the prime accused, J Jayalalithaa, lapsed due to her death before the Supreme Court judgment on February 14, 2017, the three other convicts walked into central prison the next day.

Sasikala paid the fine in November 2020 and sought an early release. In her application to the home department, she sought remission, enabling an early release. The papers are with the home department.

HEALTH SCARE: Parappana Agrahara prison officials shift Sasikala to Bowring and Lady Curzon Medical College Hospital in Bengaluru on Wednesday

I-T searches properties of private varsity

I-T searches properties of private varsity

Pan-TN Raids Initiated Over Tax Evasion

Mayilvaganan.V@timesgroup.com

21.01.2021

Income tax department sleuths descended on several properties linked to a private university and a missionary institute across Tamil Nadu on Wednesday.

Sources said searches were conducted in 28 places in Coimbatore and Chennai belonging to Karunya University and Jesus Calls, a missionary institution. The simultaneous searches were conducted by 300 personnel split into several teams drawn from the I-T department in Chennai, Trichy, Madurai Coimbatore and Kerala.

In Coimbatore, searches were conducted at Karunya Institute of Technology and Sciences run by the university, Karunya Christian School’s Avinashi Road campus as well as residences of some of the senior officials of the varsity and Jesus Calls ministry.

Though I-T department officials were not available for comments, sources said the searches were due to alleged tax evasion. Searches were on at the time of going to the press.

The searches shocked the students and faculty members of Karunya University, located on the outskirts of the city, on Siruvani Road. Karunya Institute of Technology was established as an engineering college in 1986, while Jesus Calls ministry was founded in 1962.

It is the third such raid in the district in the past two months. In November, I-T officials had raided three places belonging to DMK’s Coimbatore west district in-charge R Krishnan in Kalapatti. It was also part of a state-wide raid related to an educational institution. It was reported that the raid was carried out at Krishnan’s house after the sleuths found a land transaction between him and the chairman of an educational institution in Erode.

Corrupt govt staff are like weeds, must be nipped early: Court

Corrupt govt staff are like weeds, must be nipped early: Court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  21.01.2021

Government servants who demand bribe are like weeds that need to be nipped early for the general public to have faith in the system, observed a special court in Chengalpet while sentencing a city traffic police inspector to three years imprisonment under the Prevention of Corruption Act.

Iyappan, who was with the Valasaravakkam police station, had demanded bribe from the staff of a contractor hired by the city corporation after seizing his two-wheeler.

According to the prosecution, during the early hours of November 19, 2018, Thangadurai was overseeing stormwater drain work along Arcot Road when the inspector seized his two-wheeler stating they did not have police permission to carry out the work. Despite several attempts to meet the inspector at the station, he was unavailable, and a week later, when Thangadurai requested the two-wheeler, the inspector demanded ₹10,000 bribe. The contractor alerted DVAC (Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption) officials and Iyappan was caught red-handed while taking ₹8,000 near a traffic signal along Arcot Road, the prosecution submitted. The prosecution submitted 17 witness statements.

In response, the counsel for the tainted police official submitted that the prosecution has not submitted enough evidence to prove the allegations against the inspector and contended that the complaint itself was fabricated due to previous enmity. The counsel further argued that the seized money was not sent for chemical analysis.

After perusing all submissions and documents, A K K Rajini, principal sub-judge, Chengalpet, said the arguments by the inspector’s counsel were far-fetched and stated that if the inspector did not have the intention to take a bribe, there was no reason for him to have seized the two-wheeler and kept it in custody for over a week. Based on the evidences submitted, the special court held Iyappan guilty and sentenced him to three years imprisonment with a fine of ₹10,000.

117 MBBS seats, 459 BDS seats wasted due to delay in intake

117 MBBS seats, 459 BDS seats wasted due to delay in intake

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  21.01.2021 

At least five MBBS seats in government medical colleges and 112 seats in self-financing medical institutions are vacant in TN this year after two rounds of counselling. This is not because of the dearth of qualified students but because of the state’s own admission policies and “early” deadline for admission procedure due to the pandemic.

The state selection committee says it will not be able to allot these seats as the deadline set by the National Medical Commission for the admission process ended on January 15. Besides, 12 undergraduate dental seats in government colleges and 447 management seats in self-financing dental colleges are vacant. In the second round, students were allowed to “upgrade” seats — take admission in colleges where seats weren’t available during first allotment. The committee could not fill the vacancies created, particularly in government colleges, with giving the option of “upgrade” to other students.

On January 15, when the second round of counselling ended, one seat each at Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital and Government Vellore Medical College Hospital and three at Rajah Muthiah Medical College were vacant. “All seats in colleges were taken in the first round. During the second round, a student allotted a seat in Kilpauk Medical College, opted for Christian Medical College. We can’t allot the vacant seat to the next student without giving “upgrade option” to all students below his rank,” said selection committee secretary Dr G Selvarajan. The council didn’t have time to fill 112 lapsed NRI MBBS seats and 469 BDS seats. The state has set a separate fee structure for lapsed NRI seats, he said. The counselling process was also slowed because officials had to ensure pandemic protocols were followed.

The directorate of medical education has now moved the Supreme Court seeking additional time for mop-up counselling. “At least 23,000 students had applied for government quota seats and more than 14,000 students had applied for management quota seats. A week-long mop up will give others a chance,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu. The case is likely to come up for hearing on Thursday.

While states such as Karnataka have also reported vacancies in MBBS/BDS seats this year, student counsellors say TN has not just been “slow” with counselling, but also did not plan ahead of time.

5 months on, MTC patronage yet to touch pre-Covid levels

5 months on, MTC patronage yet to touch pre-Covid levels

Reopening Of Schools Pushes Footfalls To 18L A Day; Corporation Has Not Deployed Full Fleet

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

21.01.2021

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation resumed bus services in Chennai five months ago, but daily passenger footfalls crossed the 20-lakh mark only on Tuesday.

While this can be largely attributed to post Pongal crowd and reopening of schools for Classes 10 and 12, average daily patronage for MTC buses remains at 17 lakh-18 lakh, almost half of pre-lockdown levels.

With many offices yet to reopen, ticket sales on key stretches like Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) — where the number of services dropped from 450 a day to 250 a day — and Mount-Poonamallee Road were much lower than normal, said an MTC official.

With local trains too resuming operations, demand for MTC buses along GST Road, Avadi High Road and Marina Beach Road too dropped. As a result, MTC has diverted some buses to suburban areas like Walajabad (579A), Thiruvallur (572) and parts of north Chennai.

Patronage for small buses too has dipped, forcing MTC to operate just 110-120 of the 200 buses. Operated along interior roads to boost last mile connectivity, these buses are causing heavy losses to a corporation already under a financial crisis.

Official data shows that MTC, on average, spends ₹40 per kilometre to operate a small bus, but is not able to get even half of this back through ticket sales. Passengers on the other hand say that only if the timings are regular can MTC gain their trust and more of them will start using the services.

Share auto drivers have taken advantage of the prevailing situation and increased their rates from ₹5-₹10 per head in areas where MTC has reduced services. T Sadagopan, a transportation activist from Avadi, says there is so much anger when MTC increases fares by ₹2-₹4, but there is literally nothing when it comes to share autos. “Why doesn’t the government take any initiative to regularise this mode of public transport,” he wonders.

The cab industry appears happy. Drivers in Chennai say there was a 25% increase in bookings last week. Apart from the fact that it was a festival weekend, there were two ‘muhurtham days’ (considered auspicious for weddings) last week, increasing their daily income to ₹3,500.

Excluding those days, the average daily booking increased from mere two or three last month to 10-12 now. “A majority of these bookings are in core city areas like Anna Nagar, Adyar, Royapuram and railway stations. More importantly, 100-odd business trips happen from Airport to industries in suburbs every day. This has boosted the morale of drivers,” said T Ramanujam of the Tamil Nadu Call Taxi Drivers Association.

CAB DRIVERS SAID THEY HAVE SEEN A 25% INCREASE IN BOOKINGS IN THE PAST WEEK DUE TO THE FESTIVAL AND WEDDING SEASON

தொடரும் 'சர்வர்' பிரச்னை ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்கள் அவதி

தொடரும் 'சர்வர்' பிரச்னை ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்கள் அவதி

Added : ஜன 19, 2021 23:02

சென்னை:ரேஷன் கடைகளில், விற்பனை முனைய கருவியை இயக்கும், 'சர்வரில்' ஏற்பட்ட பிரச்னையால், இம்மாதத்திற்கான அத்தியாவசிய பொருட்களை வாங்க முடியாமல், ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்கள், ஏமாற்றத்துடன் திரும்பிச் சென்றனர்.

தமிழகத்தில், 2020 அக்டோபர், 1ல், 'ஒரே நாடு; ஒரே ரேஷன் கார்டு' திட்டம் அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. அத்திட்டத்தின் கீழ், ரேஷன் கடைகளில், கார்டுதாரர்களின் கைரேகை பதிவு செய்து, பொருட்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.கைரேகை பதிவில் தொழில்நுட்ப பிரச்னை ஏற்பட்டதால், அக்., இறுதியில், அத்திட்டம், தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்பட்டு, ரேஷன் கார்டு, 'ஸ்கேன்' செய்வது உள்ளிட்ட பழைய முறைப்படியே பொருட்கள் வழங்கப்பட்டன.

பின், விரைவாக கைரேகையை பதிவு செய்யும் வகையில், தொழில்நுட்பம் மேம்படுத்தப்பட்டு, டிசம்பர் இறுதியில், மீண்டும் செயல்படுத்தப்பட்டது.இருப்பினும், அரிசி கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, தலா, 2,500 ரூபாய் ரொக்கம் அடங்கிய பொங்கல் பரிசு தொகுப்பு வழங்கும் போது, பிரச்னை ஏற்படக்கூடாது என்பதற்காக, கைரேகை பதிவுக்கு பதில், பழைய முறையே பின்பற்றப்பட்டது.

ரேஷன் கடைகளில், நேற்று முன்தினம் முதல், இம்மாதத்திற்கான ரேஷன் பொருட்களும், விடுபட்ட கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, பொங்கல் பரிசு தொகுப்பும் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன.இந்நிலையில், ரேஷன் ஊழியர்கள் கடைகளை திறந்து, விற்பனை முனைய கருவியை, 'ஆன்' செய்த போது, அதன் மென்பொருள் இயக்கம் செயல்படவில்லை. தொடர்ந்து, அவர்களால், பொருட்கள் விற்பனையை பதிவு செய்ய முடியவில்லை.

இதனால், காலை முதல் சுட்டெரிக்கும் வெயிலில், கால்கடுக்க காத்திருந்தும், பொருட்களை வாங்க முடியாமல், கார்டுதாரர்கள், ஏமாற்றத்துடன் திரும்பி, சென்றனர். டிசம்பர் மாதத்திலும், அதே பிரச்னை காரணமாக, கார்டுதாரர்கள் பாதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தனர். ரேஷனில், 'சர்வர்' பிரச்னை தொடர் கதையாவதற்கு, ஒப்பந்த நிறுவனத்தின் அலட்சியமே காரணம் என்ற, புகார் எழுந்துள்ளது.

Not backdoor entry but luck of the draw, says NBE

Not backdoor entry but luck of the draw, says NBE

DNB Seats: ‘Strictly Going By Principles Of Relocation’

Rema.nagarajan@timesgroup.com

20.01.2021 

The National Board of Examination has responded to an article in TOI about two candidates with very low ranks being given DNB seats in some of the most sought after institutions stating that these were not a case of “backdoor entry”.

According to NBE, after allotting these students immunohaematology and blood transfusion in Nayati Hospital in Mathura, when the accreditation to the hospital was withdrawn, it was found that there were no vacant seats in the same specialty available anywhere in 2020 and in the three years before that.

Since all rounds of counselling including the mop-up round were completed, “as a last resort and in the interest of the trainees as there was no fault of the trainees in this matter and they could not have been allowed to suffer, NBE allowed them to choose their specialty and seat from the vacant available left over seats”.

The NBE statement said it is “strictly adhering” to its principles of relocation of doctors and that there was no discrimination or backdoor entry. During the relocation process, some candidates are adversely affected due to nonavailability of seats in their preferred institute and may get allocated to an institute not at par with the institute they were originally assigned, it stated. It added that such unavoidable circumstances were created due to a few vacant seats being left at the end of counselling and the inability to create extra seats in any other NBE accredited hospitals “as it would be discriminatory and prejudicial to the other candidates who participated in the merit-based counselling and would never have a chance to opt for the extra seats so created”.

In some cases, candidates got better options when relocated due to availability of vacant seats which were not available during original allotment, stated NBE, adding that “since relocation is an exceptional and undesirable situation, it can have some aggrieved candidates who are adversely affected by such relocation”.

The NBE statement does not refute any of the facts in the TOI article except to reject the accusation of some DNB candidates about two candidates with poor ranks being given “backdoor entry” into highly sought-after institutions and specialties.

One of the candidates relocated from Nayati Hospital with rank 34,655 was given a radiodiagnosis seat in Ganga Ram Hospital, considered one of the best in the country for DNB training. Post graduate seats in radio diagnosis, one of the most high-demand specialties, cost crores in private medical colleges. The other with rank 36,335 was given an ophthalmology seat in Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, a government hospital in Delhi. Ophthalmology too is a high demand specialty and government hospitals are among the top preferences of DNB candidates as there is no worry of non-payment of stipend (Rs 70,000 plus in Delhi) and there are enough patients.

The NBE had received complaints about Nayati Hospital from students from the second half of 2019 onwards and from the Association of DNB Doctors in November 2019 after the students’ complaints were not heeded. However, the NBE conducted an inspection only in August 2020. It claims the delay in inspection was due to Covid, though the complaints pre-date Covid by several months. Further, despite the inspection being completed in August, the DNB seats in Nayati Hospital were included even in the mop-up round, when these two candidates were allotted there. The seats of several other institutions whose accreditation was withdrawn were removed from the mop-up round. Nayati's accreditation was withdrawn only on October 9, after all the students had been allotted the hospital.

Till date, the NBE has not put out its policy of relocation of candidates or even a final list of how many candidates were relocated each year and to which institutions in the public domain. So candidates do not know what principles NBE has used to make these relocations.

NBE claims that guidelines for relocation have been passed by the accreditation committee and governing body of NBE this year, but they are yet to be put in the public domain.

The NBE statement also accused this correspondent of not waiting for a response from the board. The fact is that the report was published two weeks after sending mails and messages to the NBE after it failed to respond.

The association of DNB doctors have complained to the NBE about the arbitrary allocation of the two candidates to premier institutions in Delhi “without any formal counselling, which is against merit and principle of justice”

Log on to MTC’s revamped site for live info on buses

Log on to MTC’s revamped site for live info on buses

Passengers To Get Details On Fares As Well

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 20.01.2021 

After a four-year delay, Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) has launched its revamped website with live info on bus routes, fares and timings. The site which resembles the one maintained by Bengaluru Transport Corporation, aims at assisting regular commuters and those who are new to the city.

Earlier, if someone wished to travel from Guindy to Kandanchavadi on Old Mahabalipuram Road (OMR) and was not familiar with the bus route numbers, he or she had no other option but to seek help from other passengers waiting at the bus stop. Language barriers made such commuting even more difficult.

The new website helps passengers avoid all this. All one needs to know is the source and destination. On entering these details in the drop-down menu, the site will display the list of direct bus options available between these two points. Once the route number is displayed, a separate tab is provided to check the fares and timings (updated on a real-time basis).

“By this, we hope the commuting experience becomes hassle-free. At present, stagewise information is made available and soon bus stop-wise will be uploaded,” said an MTC official. A bus stage is a major transit point, which is located between five to seven bus stops.

Besides this, a separate link has been provided to assist passengers from other cities who wish to travel to tourist destinations, hospitals, religious and educational institutions. On selecting a particular place, list of all MTC buses crossing through that point are displayed.

Efforts are underway to introduce live bus tracking option in this page. This feature will be available in the ‘Locate and Access My Bus’ (LAMB) mobile app as well. Following a successful trial run, the app is getting ready for launch. Currently, final phase of testing is in progress, the MTC official added.

However, MTC is yet to introduce online services for applying students/senior citizen bus passes and seasonal passes, said R Rengachari, a transportation activist. “Till date , public have to wait in queues at bus depots to buy Travel As You Please (TAYP) monthly tickets and renew concession passes,” he said.

Deemed medical universities auction seats to highest bidders despite cap on fees

Deemed medical universities auction seats to highest bidders despite cap on fees

TNN | Jan 16, 2021, 04.48 AM IST

MUMBAI: Wanted: NRI candidates. Deemed medical colleges have been hunting for genuine NRI aspirants who will shell out premium rates for seats.

This year for the first time, Government of India has not permitted deemed universities to charge NRI seat fees to Indian students. That has not changed much for these colleges, though, as the cash component or donations have made a comeback this admission season.

This year, when online admissions by the medical counselling committee closed, a total of 2,463 (1,090 MBBS) seats in deemed universities remained vacant, most of them, 764, under the NRI quota. Compare that with 2019 when fewer seats, 1,112, remained untaken.

“Financial constraints have not permitted candidates to opt for the NRI quota. While we allowed colleges to convert their NRI seats to management quota (three times the regular fees) so that students are saved from travelling to various campuses, we did not see that conversion happening,” said an official from the Directorate General of Health Sciences.

Students camping outside deemed universities for the stray (college-level) admission round were told they are “shortlisted”. The final admission result would largely depend on their “financial submission” at 4.45pm on Friday, January 15, the last day for admissions.

Interestingly, vacant seats were allegedly auctioned to highest bidders. “My daughter will take the exam next year now,” said Mulund’s Mrinalini P who applied to every college where the fee was in the range of Rs 15 lakh a year. “At one college, the management told us the total package is Rs 1.16 crore, with Rs 50 lakh cash component,” she alleged. With a score of 475, and a budget of about Rs 70 lakh for the MBBS programme, she held no chance of getting a seat. Similar is the case with OBC candidate Pratik P who scored 505. “Clearly, they gave seats to the ones who quoted the highest rate,” he told TOI. “College officials said the overall package is Rs 1.6 crore. One parent said he quoted Rs 1.05 crore. Someone else offered Rs 1.25 crore,” said a student.

Former DMER head Dr Praveen Shingare said, “There is a dichotomy as state governments are allowing private colleges to charge NRI fees from Indian students. If deemed universities charge merit fees, how will they sustain themselves?”

NMC warns against fake letter circulating in the name of MCI

NMC warns against fake letter circulating in the name of MCI: New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently issued an alert warning all medicos against fabricated information being circulated in social media in the name of the NMC or the...

Prescription Of Higher Educational Qualification As A Qualification For Promotion Is Not Unconstitutional: Supreme Court

Prescription Of Higher Educational Qualification As A Qualification For Promotion Is Not Unconstitutional: Supreme Court: The prescription of a Higher educational qualification as a qualification for promotion to a post cannot be held as violative of Articles 14 and 16 of the Constitution, the Supreme Court has...

எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., வகுப்புகள் நாளை துவக்கம்

எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., வகுப்புகள் நாளை துவக்கம்

Added : ஜன 18, 2021 23:39

சென்னை : முதலாம் ஆண்டு மாணவர்களுக்கான, எம்.பி.பி.எஸ்., - - பி.டி.எஸ்., வகுப்புகள் நாளை துவங்குகின்றன.அனைத்து மாணவர்களுக்கும், கொரோனா பரிசோதனை செய்ய வேண்டும் என, உத்தரவிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து, அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் கல்லுாரிகளின் முதல்வருக்கு, மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனர் நாராயணபாபு அனுப்பியுள்ள சுற்றறிக்கை:மருத்துவ மாணவர்களுக்கான அறிமுக வகுப்பு, வரும், 20ல் துவங்க வேண்டும். முறையாக வகுப்புகள், பிப்., 2ல் துவங்கலாம். மாணவர்களுக்கு கொரோனா கண்டறியும், ஆர்.டி.பி.சி.ஆர்., பரிசோதனை மற்றும் இதர மருத்துவ பரிசோதனைகளை செய்ய வேண்டும்.ஆள் மாறாட்டத்தை தடுக்க, அனைத்து மாணவர்களின் கல்வி, ஜாதி சான்று உள்ளிட்ட ஆவணங்களையும் சரிபார்க்க வேண்டும். மாணவர்களின் பெருவிரல் ரேகை, விழித்திரையை பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்.

மாணவர்களின் சமீபத்திய புகைப்படத்தை பெற வேண்டும். அனைத்தையும் கண்காணிப்பு கேமரா வாயிலாக பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். பின், அனைத்து ஆவணங்களையும், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரகத்துக்கு அனுப்பி வைக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. கட்டுப்பாடு என்ன? மாணவர்கள், ஜீன்ஸ் பேன்ட், டி- - சர்ட், ஸ்லீவ்லெஸ் போன்ற மேலாடைகளை அணியக்கூடாது; பேன்ட், சட்டை அணிந்து, 'டக் இன்' செய்தும், ஷூ அணிந்தும் வர வேண்டும் மாணவியர் சேலை, சல்வார் கமீஸ், சுடிதார் போன்ற ஆடைகளை மட்டுமே அணிந்து வர வேண்டும்; லெக்கின்ஸ் ஆடையை அணிந்து வரக்கூடாது வகுப்பறையில் மொபைல் போன் உபயோகிக்க கூடாது ராகிங்கை தடுக்க பேராசிரியர்கள் கொண்ட குழுவை அமைத்து, ராகிங்கில் ஈடுபடும் மாணவர்கள் மீது, கடுமையான நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும்.

அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையின் தலைவர் டாக்டர் சாந்தா காலமானார்

அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையின் தலைவர் டாக்டர் சாந்தா காலமானார்

Updated : ஜன 19, 2021 07:14 | Added : ஜன 19, 2021 06:51 

சென்னை: மருத்துவ சேவைக்காக மகசசே, பத்மபூஷன், பத்மவிபூஷன் உள்ளிட்ட உயரிய விருதுகளை வென்ற, அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையின் தலைவர், டாக்டர் சாந்தா (வயது 93) காலமானார்.

பிரபல புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவ நிபுணரும் சென்னை அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையின் தலைவருமான டாக்டர் சாந்தா, உடல்நலக்குறைவால் காலமானார். மூச்சுத்திணறல் ஏற்பட்டு, மருத்துவமனையில் அனுமதிக்கப்பட்ட அவர், சிகிச்சை பலனின்றி, இன்று(ஜன.,19) அதிகாலை உயிரிழந்தார். அவரது உடல், பொதுமக்கள் அஞ்சலிக்காக, பழைய அடையாறு மருத்துவமனையில் வைக்கப்பட உள்ளது.

மருத்துவ சேவைக்காக பல உயரிய விருதுகளை டாக்டர் சாந்தா வென்றுள்ளார். மகசேசே விருது, பத்மஸ்ரீ, பத்மபூஷண், பத்மவிபூஷண், நாயுடம்மா நினைவு விருது, அவ்வையார் விருது, அன்னை தெரசா விருது உட்பட ஏராளமான விருதுகளை அவர் பெற்றுள்ளார். விருதுகள் மூலம் கிடைக்கும் பணம் முழுவதையும், அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையின் வளர்ச்சிக்கே செலவு செய்தவர் டாக்டர் சாந்தா.

வாழ்க்கை வரலாறு:

சென்னை மயிலாப்பூரில், கடந்த மார்ச் 11, 1927 ஆம் ஆண்டு டாக்டர் சாந்தா பிறந்தார். விஞ்ஞானி சர்.சி.வி.ராமன் இவரது தாத்தாவின் சகோதரர். நோபல் பரிசு பெற்ற விஞ்ஞானி டாக்டர் எஸ்.சந்திரசேகர் தான் இவரது தாய்மாமா. சென்னை மருத்துவக் கல்லூரியில் 1949 ஆம் ஆண்டு டாக்டர் பட்டமும், 1955 ஆம் ஆண்டில் எம்.டி. பட்டமும் பெற்றார். அடையாறில் தொடங்கப்பட்ட மருத்துவமனையில் டாக்டராக தனது பணியை துவங்கினார்.

12 படுக்கைகளுடன் இயங்கிவந்த அடையாறு மருத்துவமனையை தனது குருவாக போற்றும், டாக்டர் கிருஷ்ணமூர்த்தியுடன் சேர்ந்து, உலகத் தரம்வாய்ந்த, புற்றுநோய் சிகிச்சை மையமாக மாற்றுவதில் இவர் பெரும் பங்காற்றினார். உலக சுகாதார நிறுவனத்தின் ஆலோசனைக் குழுவில் இடம்பெற்றிருந்த இவர், இந்திய வேளாண் ஆய்வுக்கழக குழுவின் உறுப்பினர், அண்ணா பல்கலை.,யின் சிண்டிகேட் உறுப்பினர், இந்திய புற்றுநோயியல் கழகத் தலைவர் என பல அமைப்புகளில் இருந்து தனது பங்களிப்பை வழங்கியுள்ளார்.

புற்றுநோய் தொடர்பாக தேசிய மற்றும் சர்வதேச இதழ்களில் ஏராளமான கட்டுரைகளை இவர் எழுதியுள்ளார். உலகில் புற்றுநோய்க்கு எங்கு புதிய மருந்துகள் அல்லது புதிய மருத்துவ முறைகள் கண்டுபிடிக்கப்பட்டாலும், அதனை அடையாறு புற்றுநோய் மருத்துவமனையில், உடனடியாக அறிமுகம் செய்வதை தனது தலையாய கடமையாகக் கொண்டிருந்தார்.

What is the policy framework for declaring a public holiday, asks SC

What is the policy framework for declaring a public holiday, asks SC

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:19.01.2021

What is the policy framework under which the Union government declares a public holiday, the Supreme Court asked on Monday after a PIL complained that the Centre and state governments arbitrarily notified public holidays mainly to appease a section of the population.

The petitioner, ‘All India Shiromani Singh Sabha’, through senior advocate Vikas Singh said while the birth anniversaries of B R Ambedkar and Prophet Muhammad have been declared as public holidays by the Union government, the birthday of Guru Gobind Singh, the 10th Sikh guru, has been arbitrarily declared merely as a restricted holiday.

A bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices L N Rao and Vineet Saran asked solicitor general Tushar Mehta to respond to the PIL.

Mehta said these were policy decisions and he would take instructions and respond to the PIL. The SC gave the Centre 10 days to file its affidavit.

The PIL petitioner said, “In the absence of any guiding principle or any authority regarding declaration of gazetted/public holidays in India, the executive at the behest of political groups, who are in power/government, declare holidays at their whims and fancies, serving the political purpose of appeasement of a particular section of the public.”

Full report on www.toi.in

‘Don’t use WhatsApp if you think it compromises data’

‘Don’t use WhatsApp if you think it compromises data’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:19.01.2021

The Delhi high court on Monday pointed out that accepting the new data sharing policy of messaging app WhatsApp is “voluntary” and people can choose not to use or join the social networking platform if they do not agree with its terms and conditions.

“It is a private app. If you think data is compromised, delete it, don’t use the app. It is a voluntary thing, use some other app,” Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva remarked, while hearing a plea by a lawyer challenging the new policy which has been deferred till May following global outrage.

Justice Sachdeva told the lawyer if the terms and conditions of most mobile apps are read closely “you would be surprised as to what all you are consenting to” and cited the case of Google maps. “Even it captures all your data and stores it,” the court said.

Due to paucity of time, the HC listed the matter for next week, saying it is yet to understand what data would be leaked according to the petitioner and to decide if notice must be issued in the plea or not.

The Centre agreed and said the issue needs to be analysed even as senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for WhatsApp and parent company Facebook, told the court the plea is without any foundation.

“Private chats are completely encrypted. The change policy is for business WhatsApp... All social chats between friends, relatives whatever is completely encrypted,” Rohatgi said.

Full report on www.toi.in

All Covaxin recipients to be monitored for 7 days

All Covaxin recipients to be monitored for 7 days

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.01.2021

The National Centre for Disease Informatics and Research (NCDIR), a Bengaluru-based branch of ICMR, has been identified as the nodal centre to monitor Covaxin’s Phase 3 clinical trials.

In a video conference last week, state governments were directed to call and monitor the health of all Covaxin recipients for seven days from the day of immunisation. A report on their condition must also be sent to NCDIR.

A site each in Chamarajanagar, Davanagere, Hassan, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga and Ballari districts have been chosen to administer Covaxin. Bharat BioTech, manufacturers of the vaccine, has said the common side effects include fever and abdominal pain, body ache, nausea and vomiting. The less common adverse effects are giddiness, tremors, cold, cough, swelling around the injection site and sweating.

Dr Prashanth Mathur, director, NCDIR, said: “We are working out modalities with the state government to avoid duplication of efforts while monitoring Covaxin beneficiaries. We are planning work distribution to ensure the vaccine recipient is not burdened with multiple calls from different agencies. Covaxin beneficiaries are part of the trials.”

Dr Mathur said no beneficiary has reported side effects so far. While beneficiaries cannot choose which vaccine to receive, those willing to take Covaxin must sign a consent form. The consent form is available in local languages and content is explained to beneficiaries.

On Saturday, the first day of immunisation, 365 of the 600 targeted beneficiaries received Covaxin in the six centres in Karnataka. However, so far, none of the recipients have received follow-up calls.

The vaccination drive did not take off in some centres on Monday due to glitches with the CoWIN portal. Vijayanagar Institute of Medical Sciences (VIMS), where only Covaxin will be administered, was among them.

Both vaccines in use have a shelf life of six months

Both vaccines in use have a shelf life of six months

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.01.2021

The Union health ministry has said that both the Covid-19 vaccines — Covishield and Covaxin — being administered now in India have a shelf life of six months from the date of production, but, as reportedearlier by TOI, each vial must be used or discarded within four hours of being opened. The Centre had already procured morethan 16 million doses of the two vaccines.

Arundathi Chandrashekar, a mission director under the National Health Mission (NHM), said, “The expiry dates of these vaccines appear to be in line with the general shelf life for vaccines that we use under the universal immunisation programme (UIP).” This, another official said, gives the government enough time to plan and procure doses.

The Union health ministry has also laid out other guidelines that need to be followed to ascertain if the vaccine is good for use within six months. It has said both vaccines are ‘freeze sensitive’ and vials found frozen or frozen and thawed must be discarded immediately.

For Covishield — whose physical appearance is slightly opaque (colourless to slightly brown), the vials must be discarded if “solution is discoloured or visible particles are observed”, the ministry has said. Similarly, for Covaxin, whose appearance is whitish translucent, “presence of particulate matter or other coloration” are grounds for discarding.

“Given our experience of handling vaccines, we do not anticipate freezing of the vials as we have adequate infrastructure to store it at prescribedtemperatures(2°Celsiusto 8°Celsius),” Chandrashekar said.

Specific instructions for use of Covaxin read: Use of corticosteroids (a class of steroid hormones) and chloroquine (a type of medication), may impair antibody response.

The Centre has also advised vaccinators to discard all vials — a vial of Covishield contains10 doses and Covaxin 20 doses — four hours, and not six as state experts had suggested, after being opened given the absence of vaccine vial monitors (VVMs).

“Six hours should still be all right because the four-hour time frame was set as an additional precaution and was not standard requirement,” an official said. “Usually when open vial policy is not allowed, we can use the vial for more than six hours,whichcouldbe happening at some session sites.”

Med aspirant who forged NEET score arrested

Med aspirant who forged NEET score arrested

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.01.2021

City police on Monday arrested an MBBS aspirant who with her father crashed medical counselling with a fake NEET scorecard and went absconding once the fraud came to light.

N B Deeksha of Paramakudi in Ramanathapuram district and her father Dr N K Balachandran, a dentist, had crashed a counselling session on November 30 and sought a seat showing a card with 610 NEET score. The authorities, who noticed discrepancies in records and ranklist, began questioning her and the fraud came to light. Deeksha and her father left the venue and have been in the hiding since.

Deeksha’s original NEET score was 27. Inquiries revealed that she had replaced the photo and roll number of another candidate N Krithika, who had scored 610 marks, and presented the scorecard as her’s.

While her father was arrested two weeks ago, Deeksha was secured from a hotel in the city where she had been staying with her family since the incident. Sources said she confessed to the crime and was remanded in judicial custody on Monday after being produced in front of a magistrate. The Periamet police have booked the duo under sections 419, 464, 465, 468, 47 and 420 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC).

Fear of the unknown, rumour mills making health workers think twice

Fear of the unknown, rumour mills making health workers think twice

Kamini.Mathai@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 19.01.2021

He was among the first doctors in Tamil Nadu to receive the Covid-19 vaccine when the drive began two days ago, and since then, Dr E Theranirajan, dean of Madras Medical College, has been doing the rounds at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. Not so much to check in on his patients, but on his medical staff to assure them they are not guinea pigs for the vaccine.

“A number of healthcare and frontline workers are hesitant because of incorrect information spread on WhatsApp about vaccine side effects. Though they are in the medical field, they are susceptible to believing fake news,” he says.

A survey conducted among around 1,500 TN healthcare professionals in December found 55% were not willing to take the vaccine immediately and preferred to wait it out for six months. Dr Abdul Ghafur says he submitted his findings to the government to address fears among health workers immediately and scientifically. “The hesitancy is natural. All the other vaccines have been around for decades and they are mostly paediatric, so the apprehension was less. This is an adult vaccine, so fear is expected.”

On January 16, the first day of the vaccine roll out, Tamil Nadu hit less than 20% of its target with several healthcare workers not showing up at centres to be vaccinated.

The reason for vaccine hesitancy, says consultant psychiatrist Dr Mohan Raj, stems from a fear of the unknown fuelled by fake news on social media. “One just has to wait it out to overcome the skepticism,” he says.

Over the past few days, virologist Dr T Jacob John has been receiving calls from the medical fraternity questioning the efficacy of the vaccine. “The hesitancy is because of a lack of information, trust and transparency. Some doctors want to know why there is no choice on which vaccine is administered,” he says.

But health secretary J Radhakrishnan is not overly worried. “In TN, acceptance of a new vaccine has always been slow. We faced the same challenge with the HPV vaccine. Our aim is to ensure there are no adverse events in this rollout,” says Radhakrishnan. “We are like the tortoise in the fable. Slow and steady to the finish.”

Still, the government has begun aggressively debunking false claims on social media. From online live sessions, chats, and face to face group discussions, to positive social media testimonials from those who have taken the vaccine and WhatsApp messages calling healthcare workers the “chosen ones” and “lucky firsts”, the government is on a drive to dispel rumours, says Radhakrishnan.

Radhakrishnan says after the government’s drive, numbers across the state too have climbed by 125% to more than 10,000.

Covaxin co warns people with med conditions not to take jab

Covaxin co warns people with med conditions not to take jab

Not Advised For Pregnant Women Either

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

NewDelhi:19.01.2021

People who are immuno-compromised or are on medicines that affect the immune system are advised not to take the anti-Covid vaccine Covaxin, a detailed factsheet released by its manufacturer Bharat Biotech said.

Earlier, the government had said patients on immunosuppressants or suffering from immune deficiency could take the vaccine though the response was expected to be less effective in such individuals. Usually, cancer patients on chemotherapy, HIV-positive people and those on steroids are immune-suppressed. While the risk of infection is higher in such patients, doctors also say efficiency of vaccines is often very low in such groups.

Bharat Biotech has advised people with bleeding disorders or who are on blood thinners to avoid the shot. Also, those who are acutely ill, have fever or have any history of allergy, besides pregnant or lactating mothers were also advised against taking the jab. The factsheet suggested that if any recipient developed symptoms of Covid-19, it should be recorded as an adverse event with outcomes of RT-PCR test as proof.

Doctors said the factsheet from Bharat Biotech could be in the light of adverse events — most of them mild — reported from across the country.

Over 10,000 health staff in TN get shots in a day

As many as 10,256 healthcare workers were inoculated against Covid-19 in TN on Monday. It was more than half of the targeted 17,700 beneficiaries for the day. While 10,051 healthcare providers received Covishield vaccine in 160 centres, 205 others opted for Covaxin from six state-run medical college hospitals. As many as 460 healthcare workers were given the shots in The Nilgiris, while in Coimbatore 481were vaccinated. Achieving only 6.7% of the day’s target, Nagapattinam was one of the low performing districts, followed by Tuticorin at 10%. At least 56 healthcare workers opted for Covaxin in Chennai, while 37 opted for it in Tirunelveli. P 4

2nd beneficiary dies; 1st death ‘not related to vax’

A day after Moradabad district hospital ward boy Mahipal Singh, 46, one of those vaccinated against Covid-19, died, another hospital worker — a 43-year-old attender in Karnataka’s Ballari district — passed away on Monday. Both had received the shots on Saturday.

Nagaraj, a patient of diabetes and hypertension, died of a heart attack. “Prima facie, his death isn’t related to vaccination,” the Karnataka government said. Singh’s death was caused due to a cardio-pulmonary disease and wasn’t a result of the vaccination, the Centre said.P 8

More Co-WIN glitches reported

The glitch-prone Co-WIN app failed to inject integration efficiency into the massive pan-India vaccination exercise for the second consecutive day on Monday. While some states faced minor glitches, most struggled to get going in the face of data lag, erroneous communication or total system failure. As a result, the Haryana government allowed vaccinations without pre-registering of recipients. P 8

‘Flu-like symptoms resolve on their own’

All flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, body ache, tiredness and chills, are adverse reactions of a vaccine if they appear within 48 hours and resolved on their own, vaccine experts said. Not all side-effects were adverse events and not all adverse events were related to the vaccine. The terms should be used very cautiously, said experts. P 8

Limited vax doses to be exported

The government on Monday decided to export limited doses of Covid-19 vaccines to friendly countries as a “goodwill gesture” to meet some of their immediate requirements, sources said. Covaxin will be sent to Mongolia, Oman, Myanmar, Philippines, Bahrain, Maldives and Mauritius, while Covishield will be sent to Bhutan, Seychelles, Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Nepal. P 8

‘Vaccinated person can catch Covid, infection likely to be mild’

Experts have said that though a vaccinated person can catch Covid-19, the infection is likely to be  mild.

The company said the advice was intended to be precautionary. “There is a remote chance that the Bharat Biotech Covid-19 vaccine (Covaxin) could cause a severe allergic reaction… may very rarely occur,” the company said. It added that signs of severe allergic reaction could include difficulty in breathing, swelling of face and throat, fast heart beat, rashes all over the body, dizziness and weakness.

“Tell the vaccinator/officer about all your medical conditions, including: Are you on regular medication for any illness? If yes, for how long and for which condition,” the factsheet said.

A health ministry advisory to states before the rollout of the vaccination programme on January 16 had listed history of allergy, pregnancy and lactation as contraindications. As provisional measures, it had suggested delaying vaccination by 4-8 weeks after recovery among acutely unwell or hospitalised patients along with those infected with Covid-19 and patients who had been treated with convalescent plasma.

The clinical efficacy of Covaxin is yet to be established and it is still being studied in Phase 3 trials. “Hence, it was important to appreciate that receiving the vaccine does not mean that other precautions related to Covid-19 need not be followed,” the factsheet said.

The government has procured 55 lakh doses of Covaxin, which have been distributed among 12 states and UTs.

A medic administers Covid vaccine to a lady constable at a military hospital in Prayagraj on Monday

"It's A Private App, If You Don't Want To, Don't Use It": Delhi High Court Defers Issuing Notice on Plea Against WhatsApp's Updated Privacy Policy

"It's A Private App, If You Don't Want To, Don't Use It": Delhi High Court Defers Issuing Notice on Plea Against WhatsApp's Updated Privacy Policy: Observing that WhatsApp is a 'private app' an

விக்கிரவாண்டி சுங்கச்சாவடியில் கடும் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல்

விக்கிரவாண்டி சுங்கச்சாவடியில் கடும் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல்

Added : ஜன 18, 2021 00:31

விக்கிரவாண்டி: பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை கொண்டாட, சொந்த ஊர் சென்ற மக்கள், சென்னைக்கு திரும்பியதால், நெடுஞ்சாலையில் போக்குவரத்து நெரிசல் காணப்பட்டது.

பொங்கல் பண்டிகையை ஒட்டி, கடந்த, 14ம் தேதி முதல் அரசு விடுமுறை அறிவித்தது. பொங்கல் விழாவை கொண்டாட, சென்னையில் வசிக்கும் தென் மாவட்ட மக்கள், சொந்த ஊருக்கு கார் உள்ளிட்ட வாகனங்களில் புறப்பட்டு சென்றனர்.கடந்த, 13ம் தேதி முதல், விழுப்புரம் மாவட்டம், விக்கிரவாண்டி சுங்கச்சாவடி வழியாக, 80 ஆயிரம் வாகனங்கள் கடந்து சென்றன. பொங்கல் பண்டிகை முடிந்து, நேற்று முன்தினம் காணும் பொங்கல் தினத்தில் இருந்து, பலரும் சென்னை திரும்பத் துவங்கினர்.

இதையொட்டி, விக்கிரவாண்டி சுங்கச்சாவடி வழியாக சென்னைக்கு, நேற்று முன்தினம், 32 ஆயிரம் வாகனங்களும்; நேற்று, 41 ஆயிரம் வாகனங்களும் கடந்து சென்றன. வாகனங்கள் அதிகரித்ததால், சென்னை மார்க்கத்தில் கூடுதலாக மூன்று வழிகள் திறக்கப்பட்டு, மொத்தம் ஒன்பது வழிகளில், வாகனங்கள் செல்ல வசதி செய்யப்பட்டது. சுங்கச்சாவடி அதிகாரிகள் மற்றும் போலீசார், நெரிசலின்றி வாகனங்கள் கடப்பதற்கான பாதுகாப்பு பணிகளில் ஈடுபட்டனர்.