Reduce the cut-off by10 percentile points to help fill 7k BDS seats: SC

Reduce the cut-off by10 percentile points to help fill 7k BDS seats: SC

Says Reducing Qualifying Marks Doesn’t Lower Edu Standard

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:09.02.2021 

The Supreme Court on Monday ruled that reducing the cut-off marks for admissions to courses does not lower the standards of education and overruled the Union government by directing lowering of qualifying marks by 10% percentile points to help private colleges fill nearly 7,000 BDS seats for the academic year 2020-21 by February 18.

A bench of Justices L N Rao and Krishna Murari accepted senior advocate Maninder Singh’s argument that the government could not have refused to accept Dental Council of India’s recommendations for lowering the qualifying marks by 20% percentile points on the ground that lowering the cut-off mark could have adverse impact on education standards. Singh had said the Union government had earlier accepted similar recommendations for lowering cut-off for super speciality courses in medical sciences.

Writing the judgment, Justice Rao said, “If reducing minimum marks amounts to lowering the standards, the Union government would not do so for super speciality courses. We are in agreement with Singh, counsel for the petitioners, that lowering the minimum marks and reducing the percentile for admission to the first-year BDS course would not amount to lowering the standards of education.” It ordered admissions to BDS courses strictly on merit and said the process of admission be completed by February 18.

The bench also found force in additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati’s argument that fees charged by private dental colleges were a deterrent in filling up seats. “Only 265 out of 7,000 vacant seats are in government colleges. All the other unfilled seats are in private dental colleges. The managements of private dental colleges shall consider reducing the fee charged by them to encourage students to join the colleges,” the SC said.

“We direct that the vacant seats in first year BDS course for the year 2020-2021 shall be filled up from candidates who have participated in NEET (UG) for the year 2020-2021 after lowering the percentile mark by10 percentile points,” it added.

This means general category candidates with 40 percentile points, SC/ST/OBCs with 30 percentile points and physically challenged candidates with 35 percentile points would be eligible for admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges.

Singh had relied on proceedings relating to lowering of minimum marks for super speciality courses for the year 2019-2020 and for admission in Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy (AYUSH) - UG courses for the year 2020-2021. He argued that 7,000 seats in BDS courses were vacant and the available infrastructure would be wasted.

Bhati submitted that 7.71 lakh candidates were found to be eligible for filling up 82,000 MBBS and 28,000 BDS seats, thus for each vacant seat seven candidates were available. She said the Centre decided against lowering the qualifying marks as there were sufficient dentists in India.

Full report on www.toi.in

This means general category candidates with 40 percentile points, SC/ST/OBCs with 30 percentile points and physically challenged candidates with 35 percentile points would be eligible for admission to BDS courses in government and private colleges

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.02.2021

Two weeks after making a controversial announcement that it was suspending admissions to two centrally sponsored MTech courses, Anna University told the Madras high court on Monday that it would recommence the academic programmes.

Nine supernumerary seats will be created in MTech Biotechnology and MTech Computational Biology, and those students will not be able to claim stipend of about ₹12,000 to ₹12,500 a month. The Centre, however, will offer the stipend to students admitted under its 49.5% quota of seats.

The courses were suspended due to disagreement between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government over the state’s 69% reservation or the Centre’s 49.5% reservation in admissions.

HC asks AICTE to figure out way to add nine seats

When the state insisted on its quota policy, the Centre refused to fund the sponsored courses, leading to the university cancelling admissions to the courses.

A prospective student, Chitra, then moved the court seeking resumption of admissions to the reputed courses – M Tech Biotechnology and M Tech Computational Biology. Her counsel A Saravanan submitted that readmitting students was imperative as quantum of reservation could be argued separately. However, the compromise made by Anna University and Centre came not before Justice B Pugalendhi made a loaded query about whether the Centre funded reservation or the MTech courses.

Vijayakumar, counsel for the university, said the court must take an undertaking from students being accommodated in the supernumerary seats that they would not claim stipend during the course period. “Paying stipend of ₹12,000 a month for these nine students

Sasi boarded car with AIADMK flag at border

Sasi boarded car with AIADMK flag at border

Team TOI

09.02.2021

The return of V K Sasikala to Tamil Nadu from Bengaluru on Monday had its share of drama. She got out of her car before entering TN and boarded an AIADMK functionary’s vehicle that had the party flag. Later in the evening, the functionary, Sulur east union youth wing secretary S R Sambangi, was expelled from the party.

Krishnagiri DSP T Saravanan had ‘warned’ Sasikala not to use the AIADMK flag. He had mentioned it in a letter to the AMMK’s Krishnagiri district secretary K S Arivalagan.

Earlier, Hosur DSP Murali, tahsildar Senthil Kumar and Sipcot police inspector Balakrishnan handed over a notice asking Sasikala to remove the AIADMK party flag that was tied to the SUV. Her advocate Raja Senthoor Pandian, who received the letter, explained that a case was pending with the Madras high court.

“We will face the case in the court,” he said.

AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran said Sasikala was travelling in Sambangi’s SUV. “Sambangi is also travelling with her in the same vehicle,” he said, while asking police to show restraint. “Police officials should be non-partisan in their actions. We are observing their actions,” he told reporters.

“Chinnamma’s car developed a technical snag and on hearing this, I offered my car for her journey,” Sambangi told TOI.

In Chennai, fisheries minister D Jayakumar termed Sasikala and Dhinakaran as “DMK’s B-team” who have nothing to do with the AIADMK. “Sasikala has no right to use the AIADMK flag and she is in no way connected with the party,” he said.

Jayakumar said he was reflecting the party’s stand and not making any individual comment. “What I say is not my individual opinion. It is the stand of the party and I am reflecting it. The chief minister (Edappadi K Palaniswami) has made it clear,” said Jayakumar.

Chennai comes to a crawl, AMMK workers held for obstructing traffic

OUT OF GEAR

Chennai comes to a crawl, AMMK workers held for obstructing traffic

Selvaraj.A@timesgroup.com

09.02.2021 

Even several hours before expelled AIADMK leader VK Sasikala was to drive into the city, vehicles had to move at snail’s pace on many arterial roads of Chennai, and at least 30 Amma Makkal Katchi Kazhagam (AMMK) cadres were arrested for obstructing traffic. The cadres staged the flash protest at Nazarethpet, after police prevented them from erecting hoardings and pasting posters welcoming Sasikala.

Policemen were asked to stay as a group near AIADMK party headquarters near Royapettah, and MGR’s house at Ramapuram, besides other ‘strategic’ locations. Top officials, however, denied having issued any blanket orders to their ranks.

“We have not blocked any roads for vehicular movement in the city. We have instructed the field officers to take decision as per the need and requirements,” said additional traffic commissioner N Kannan.

Ever since Sasikala’s convoy started in Bengaluru on Monday morning, city police deployed its men at designated locations to monitor and streamline the gathering AMMK cadres. T Nagar, where Sasikala is slated to stay after arriving in the city, saw big crowd of AMMK and AIADMK cadres waiting in groups since morning. It was swelling by evening, impeding free flow of traffic.

The Chennai-Bengaluru national highway saw maximum trouble for pedestrians and vehicle-users. Scores of AMMK men, including two former MLAs Raja and Ezhumalai, arrested by police at Nazarethpet were housed at a marriage hall there.

The vicinity of former chief minister MGR’s residence at Ramapuram also saw a lot of action after news that Sasikala may spend an hour meditating there. Party cadres had parked their cars on the road side stretching for about a kilometre, leaving little space for vehicles on the four-lane road between Porur and Guindy. Police efforts to remove the parked vehicles met with resistance, as AMMK workers refused to leave the place.

A software engineer, Boobala, working with firm in Ramapuram, said, “on normal days it takes about 10 minutes for me to reach my office, but today it took 45 minutes for me.”

Elsewhere on Lloyds Road, where AIADMK party headquarters is located, police blocked all accesses with barricades on either side of the road. They, however, have to be removed later as local residents questioned it.

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Anna univ to resume MTech courses, create more seats

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:09.02.2021

Two weeks after making a controversial announcement that it was suspending admissions to two centrally sponsored MTech courses, Anna University told the Madras high court on Monday that it would recommence the academic programmes.

Nine supernumerary seats will be created in MTech Biotechnology and MTech Computational Biology, and those students will not be able to claim stipend of about ₹12,000 to ₹12,500 a month. The Centre, however, will offer the stipend to students admitted under its 49.5% quota of seats.

The courses were suspended due to disagreement between the Tamil Nadu government and the Union government over the state’s 69% reservation or the Centre’s 49.5% reservation in admissions.

HC asks AICTE to figure out way to add nine seats

When the state insisted on its quota policy, the Centre refused to fund the sponsored courses, leading to the university cancelling admissions to the courses.

A prospective student, Chitra, then moved the court seeking resumption of admissions to the reputed courses – M Tech Biotechnology and M Tech Computational Biology. Her counsel A Saravanan submitted that readmitting students was imperative as quantum of reservation could be argued separately. However, the compromise made by Anna University and Centre came not before Justice B Pugalendhi made a loaded query about whether the Centre funded reservation or the MTech courses.

Vijayakumar, counsel for the university, said the court must take an undertaking from students being accommodated in the supernumerary seats that they would not claim stipend during the course period. “Paying stipend of ₹12,000 a month for these nine students would be difficult as there are more than 2,000 postgraduate students studying without scholarship in the university,” he said. This apart, approval must be obtained from All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for creation of nine additional seats, he added.

Special government pleader E Manoharan, representing the TN government, pointed out that the University Grants Commission (UGC) had made it very clear to all universities, deemed universities and other grant-in-aid institutions to follow the reservation prescribed by the state governments, and added, “there is no difficulty for Anna University to comply with the rule of reservation.”

Recording the submissions, Justice Pugalendhi directed the counsel for AICTE to get instructions on obtaining approval for creating nine more seats, and whether there is any prescribed cutoff date for PG biotechnology courses at Anna University. He then adjourned the hearing to February12.

Back in action: Sasikala roars politics, chants unity mantra

Back in action: Sasikala roars politics, chants unity mantra

Says Won’t Let Common Enemy Divide AIADMK

Julie Mariappan & V Senthil Kumaran TNN

Tirupathur:  09.02.2021

V K Sasikala started a new political journey on Monday, standing up to her supporters-turned-detractors and warning them against letting “the common enemy” capture the government.

“I will be actively involved in politics,” Sasikala told reporters at Tirupathur.

She said the government had closed the Jayalalithaa memorial because it was scared of her visiting the place.

Never dropping her belligerent stance, she underscored the need for unity.

“Amma (J Jayalalithaa) felt we should not let our common enemies divide us. And it is our duty to protect her dream. The movement that is the AIADMK should not collapse because of few people’s likes and dislikes,” Sasikala said.

Starting from Bengaluru around 8am, Sasikala was on the highway till late night.

GRAND WELCOME: Supporters shower flowers on V K Sasikala’s vehicle after she entered Tamil Nadu on Monday

More assets of kin to be confiscated

The Chengalpet collector on Monday notified the confiscation of six properties owned by V N Sudhagaran and J Ilavarasi – nephew and sister-in-law of V K Sasikala – within the district limits. The extent of the properties, classified as agri lands, to be confiscated is more than14 acres.

Traffic hit in city ahead of arrival

Vehicular movement was affected in the city in anticipation of the arrival of V K Sasikala. AMMK workers gathered near MGR’s house at Ramapuram and parked their cars along the road. Due to this, vehicles moved on only one lane from Porur to Guindy. Traffic was regulated at Lloyd’s Road near AIADMK headquarters.

AIADMK is afraid, says Sasikala

Through the journey, AMMK cadres showered her car bearing an AIADMK flag with flowers and hailed her as ‘thyagathalaivi’ (the leader who sacrificed).

On AIADMK’s complaint against her using the party flag, she said, “It shows their fear.” She said people knew why the memorials of Jayalalithaa and MGR remain shut. To questions if she would visit the party office and if there was a possibility of an AIADMK-AMMK merger, she said she would soon talk to journalists in detail.

The return of Sasikala, who was officially released from the Parappana Agrahara prison in Bengaluru on January 27, was delayed after she tested positive for Covid-19 and underwent treatment in a Bengaluru hospital and spent a week in isolation in a farmhouse in Devanahalli.

“With the grace of the almighty and the blessings of my sister Puratchi Thalaivi Jayalalithaa, who lives in peoples’ hearts, I’ve recovered from Covid,” Sasikala said. Recalling the song ‘Anbukku naan adimai, Tamil panbukku naan adimai’ from a popular MGR film, Sasikala said she was a slave to the affection of the cadres and people of Tamil Nadu. “But I am not scared of oppressive actions,” she said.

Recalling Jayalalithaa’s statement that the AIADMK would continue to govern for 100 years, Sasikala said, “To achieve this, I will dedicate my life and soul for the development of the party. My family is the party and the party is my family.” The AIADMK had risen like a phoenix from the ashes whenever it faced problems. “The party will rise like a phoenix this time too,” she said. “We will win the election amid several problems with the blessings of Amma,” she said.

FULL COVERAGE: P2

Despite Marrying Willingly A Minor Girl Can't Be Allowed To Stay With Husband Till She Attains Majority: Allahabad High Court

Despite Marrying Willingly A Minor Girl Can't Be Allowed To Stay With Husband Till She Attains Majority: Allahabad High Court: The Allahabad High Court recently held that a minor girl cannot be allowed to live in a matrimonial relationship with a man she claims to be her husband, even if she had left her home of her own ...

Normal academic calendar unlikely next year too: Experts

Normal academic calendar unlikely next year too: Experts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:08.02.2021 

Delay in completing classes for the academic year 2020-21 is set to have a cascading effect on the next academic year as well, including admissions and classes.

Even as admissions for the 2020-21 academic year concluded recently, officials have already started planning the academic calendar for 2021-22 in order to fill the gap that crept in due to Covid-19 last year.

Due to the pandemic, classes in colleges and universities commenced only in September instead of July. With the Telangana Intermediate exams scheduled to be held between May 1 and May 20, the government anticipates to conduct the common entrance tests only by June.

“We expect a delay of nearly three months in the academic calendar. It is going to take long before we actually go on to the normal academic calendar that existed in pre-Covid-19 times,” Telangana State Council of Higher Education (TSCHE) chairman Papi Reddy said.

Colleges admit that it is indeed a race against time as they have to grapple with the delay even this year.

“This year, most universities have decided to give only four to seven days of summer holidays as against 30-45 days every year. All efforts are on to ensure the gap is filled this year so that the next academic year can commence on a much smoother note,” Telangana Pharmacy Colleges Association president Dr K Ramdass said.

Teachers might have to work throughout the year to make up for the loss of working days, Dr Ramdass added.

DINAMALAR

08.02.2021 

போபால்:'ராகிங்' பிரச்னையால், மாணவி ஒருவர் தற்கொலை செய்த வழக்கில், நான்கு மாணவியருக்கு, ஐந்து ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனை விதிக்கப்பட்டது.

மத்திய பிரதேச தலைநகர் போபாலில், தனியார் மருந்தக கல்லுாரி உள்ளது. கடந்த, 2013ல், இந்த கல்லுாரியில் படித்த அனிதா சர்மா, வீட்டில் துாக்கு மாட்டி தற்கொலை செய்து கொண்டார். அவர் எழுதியிருந்த கடிதத்தில், 'கல்லுாரியில் படிக்கும் சீனியர் மாணவியரான தேவன்ஷி, கீர்த்தி கவுர், தீப்தி, நிதி மாக்ரி ஆகியோர், ராகிங் என்ற பெயரில், என்னை சித்ரவதை செய்தனர். இதனால் ஏற்பட்ட மன உளைச்சலால் தற்கொலை செய்து கொள்கிறேன்' என, கூறப்பட்டிருந்தது.

நான்கு மாணவியரையும், போலீசார் கைது செய்தனர். இந்த வழக்கு விசாரணை, போபால் நீதிமன்றத்தில் நடந்தது. வழக்கை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி அமித் ரஞ்சன், நான்கு மாணவியருக்கும், தலா, ஐந்து ஆண்டு சிறை தண்டனையும், 8,000 ரூபாய் அபராதமும் விதித்து, நேற்று தீர்ப்பளித்தார்.

பி.எஸ்சி., நர்சிங் படிப்புக்கு

DINAMALAR

பி.எஸ்சி., நர்சிங் படிப்புக்கு

Added : பிப் 08, 2021 04:48

சென்னை: பி.எஸ்சி., நர்சிங், பி.பார்ம்., உள்ளிட்ட, 17வகையான படிப்புகளுக்கு பொதுப்பிரிவு கவுன்சிலிங், 10ம்தேதி முதல், ஆன்லைன் வாயிலாக நடைபெறுகிறது. சிறப்பு பிரிவினருக்கு மட்டும், நேரடியாக சேர்க்கை நடக்க உள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில், அரசு மற்றும் தனியார் மருத்துவ கல்லுாரிகளில், பி.எஸ்சி., நர்சிங், பி.பார்ம்., உள்ளிட்ட, 17 வகையான துணை பட்டப் படிப்புகளில், 13 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட இடங்கள் உள்ளன. இந்த படிப்புகளுக்கு, பிளஸ் 2 மதிப்பெண் அடிப்படையில் மாணவர் சேர்க்கை நடைபெற உள்ளது.இந்நிலையில், 2020 - 21ம் கல்வியாண்டுக்கான சேர்க்கைக்கு, ஆன்லைன் வாயிலாக, 38 ஆயிரத்துக்கும் மேற்பட்ட மாணவர்கள் விண்ணப்பித்தனர்.மாணவர்களுக்கான தரவரிசை பட்டியலில், 37 ஆயிரத்து, 334 பேர் இடம் பெற்றனர். இதைத்தொடர்ந்து, கவுன்சிலிங் நடக்க உள்ளது.சிறப்பு பிரிவினருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங் வரும், 9ம் தேதி காலை, 9:30 மணிக்கு, சென்னை, கீழ்ப்பாக்கம், மருத்துவ கல்வி இயக்குனரக அலுவலகத்தில் நடைபெற உள்ளது.இந்தாண்டு முதன் முறையாக, பொதுப்பிரிவு மற்றும் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டு பிரிவினருக்கான கவுன்சிலிங், ஆன்லைன் வாயிலாக, 10ம் தேதி முதல், 23ம் தேதி வரை, நடைபெற உள்ளது.கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்கும் நேரம் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கவுன்சிலிங்கில் பங்கேற்க உள்ள மாணவர்கள், செயல்முறை கட்டணமாக, 250 ரூபாயை, ஆன்லைனில் செலுத்த வேண்டும்.படிப்பு மற்றும் கல்லுாரியை தேர்வு செய்யும் போது, கவனமாக இருக்க வேண்டும் என, அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஆன்லைன் கவுன்சிலிங் குறித்த வழிமுறைகள், ஓரிரு நாளில் வெளியாக உள்ளன. மேலும் விபரங்களை, www.tnhealth.tn.gov.in, www.tnmedicalselection.org என்ற, இணையதளங்கள் வாயிலாக தெரிந்து கொள்ளலாம்.

No number of Sasikalas can harm AIADMK, says min

No number of Sasikalas can harm AIADMK, says min

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.02.2021 

State fisheries minister D Jayakumar on Sunday put up a brave front, dismissing suggestions that he and his colleagues had been nervous about talking to reporters about V K Sasikala. “Let any number of Sasikalas come, they cannot harm AIADMK,” he told reporters on Sunday. On Saturday, a video, where three AIADMK ministers appeared to be reluctant to talk to reporters and were seen goading the other, was widely circulated on social media.

The AIADMK delegation had met the press on Saturday after a meeting with the state director general of police (DGP), where they lodged a second complaint against Sasikala and her nephew and AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran. “We should not go by social media trends. It may not reflect the reality of what exactly happened,” Jayakumar told reporters on Sunday. “With the party having decided against the reentry of Sasikala, there is no room for any hesitation on our part,” Jayakumar said.

“When the law minister was present, it was only appropriate for him to address the media. It was the case earlier too, when deputy coordinator K P Munusamy was present and he spoke to the media. If they were not there, I would have addressed the media,” Jayakumar said.

According to him, Sasikala and Dhinakaran are functioning as the ‘B-Team’ of the DMK. They have nothing to do with the AIADMK. If she continues to use the AIADMK flag, the police and the law will take its course, he said.

“We want the AIADMK to come back to power once again in Tamil Nadu without the interference of Sasikala’s family and we are all working hard towards achieving that,” Jayakumar said. On deputy chief minister O Panneerselvam running a separate campaign in the media and promoting himself, Jayakumar said he will remain with the party forever and there need not be any doubt about that.

With the party having decided against the re-entry of Sasikala, there is no room for any hesitation on our part

D JAYAKUMAR | fisheries min

Thanks to HC, girl makes it in phase II of med counselling

HAD CONNECTIVITY ISSUES IN PHASE I

Thanks to HC, girl makes it in phase II of med counselling

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:  08.02.2021 

The state government has informed the Madras high court that a medical aspirant who missed her first phase of counselling due to internet connectivity issues has been allotted a seat under 7.5% quota at Erode government medical college in the second phase of counselling. It was on the court’s direction that petitioner S Gowsalya was allowed to attend the second phase of counselling since she was not able to view the communication sent because of poor network connectivity.

She had completed Class XII in a government higher secondary school at Pazhayanur village in Sivaganga district in 2017. Though she appeared for NEET, she was not able to secure sufficient marks then. She appeared for the test again in 2020 and secured 252 marks out of

720. Though she had a bright chance of securing a medical seat under the 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students, she missed the first phase of counselling. The government informed that the petitioner was allotted a seat in Erode government medical college and hospital but the same was withheld for the outcome of this petition.

Taking cognizance of the submissions, Justice V Parthiban observed that once the petitioner has earned the seat on the basis of her performance and ranking, she must be allowed to enjoy the fruits of the outcome in the selection. The judge observed that such benefit ought not be denied to a deserving student like the petitioner who hails from a remote rural area. “In the realm of a beneficial public policy of this nature, a liberal and equitable dispositions are to be preferred than adopting a pedantic and inflexible approach,” observed the judge.

AMMK cadres prepare to greet Sasikala with gusto

AMMK cadres prepare to greet Sasikala with gusto

Hotels In Hosur Full, Banners Line Route To City From B’luru

V Mayilvaganan & V Senthil Kumaran TNN

Krishnagiri:  08.02.2021 

The Tamil Nadu-Karnataka border in Krishnagiri district witnessed unusually frenetic activity on Sunday as AMMK cadres geared up to give a rousing reception to V K Sasikala, who is returning from Bengaluru to Chennai on Monday.

Scores of cars with AMMK men whizzed past the border, heading towards Devanahalli near Bengaluru where Sasikala, a close aide of J Jayalalithaa is staying since her release. The cadres plan to greet Sasikala from the farmhouse and enter Tamil Nadu in a massive convoy. At the border town of Hosur, dozens of AMMK cadres from across the state have checked into hotels to greet her on Monday.

Meanwhile, many more cadres in towns and villages along the route from Krishnagiri to Chennai were busy sticking posters and erecting banners welcoming Sasikala. There were posters by AIADMK functionaries too welcoming Sasikala in some places.

“We have planned to give a grand welcome to Chinnamma in three places starting from Atebelle, the entry point of Tamil Nadu from Karnataka and in Hosur city,” AMMK Hosur secretary Maare Gowdu said. The AMMK has drawn out a plan to greet Sasikala at 56 places starting from Atebelle to Guindy covering Krishnagiri, Vellore, Tirupattur, Ranipet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts before she ends the road trip in Chennai.

The police, however, are yet to grant permission for the gatherings. In Chennai, Sasikala’s family members were giving final touches to the house on Habibullah Road in T Nagar, where she is most likely to stay.

AMMK founder and Sasikala’s nephew T T V Dhinakaran said cadres from all over the state would assemble voluntarily all along her return route to welcome her. “What is going to happen is not something we are organising. Lakhs of cadres are expected to congregate on their own to greet her,” he said in Bengaluru.

Dhinakaran said he had instructed the cadres not to cause any hindrance to the public on Monday. He, however, said he suspected a conspiracy to defame AMMK cadres by creating a law and order problem. He said Sasikala had initially planned to visit M G Ramachandran and Jayalalithaa memorials after her return. Now that the memorial was closed, her schedule would be decided once she reaches Chennai. Dhinakaran said the action of AIADMK ministers to lodge a complaint with DGP was saddening. “I don’t understand why they are so scared when the power is with them,” he said. AMMK men were also busy trending the hashtags ‘TN welcomes Rajamata’ and ‘TN welcomes Chinnamma’ on Sunday.

Krishnagiri district secretary of Tamil Nadu Thiyaga Thalaivi Chinnamma Peravai Sakthivel petitioned the district SP, seeking his permission to strew flowers from a helicopter.

Meanwhile, the reactions in the AIADMK camp to the preparations was mixed as many appeared to go into wait and watch mode. State local administration minister S P Velumani declined to respond to reporters’ question about Sasikala. In Vellore, where chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami is slated to visit this week, police asked AMMK cadres to remove posters and banners they had put up welcoming Sasikala.

Doctors, nurses turn family for elderly COVID patient who lived alone in Chennai

Doctors, nurses turn family for elderly COVID patient who lived alone in Chennai

The elderly man lived alone as all his relatives were abroad when he tested positive for the coronavirus, said RGGGH Dean Dr E Theranirajan.

Published: 07th February 2021 02:18 AM 

Isolation ward at RGGGH. 

By OMJASVIN M D

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Even as the number of Covid-19 cases reduces, heartwarming stories from hospitals remain aplenty. Doctors and nurses have been the sole caretakers of Covid-19 patients as visitors were not allowed in hospitals; but at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) here, they even served as family to a 70-year-old man who didn’t have anyone else to take care of him.

The elderly man lived alone as all his relatives were abroad when he tested positive for the coronavirus, said RGGGH Dean Dr E Theranirajan. “He had no caretaker when he developed symptoms. He informed his family abroad and they contacted the Health authorities here, who visited his house and brought him to the hospital,” Dr Theranirajan explained.

Since there was no attender, even the patient’s clothes could not be brought to the hospital. He had some lung complications, and was immediately admitted to the RGGGH, the dean added. The RGGGH staff ensured clothes were given to the patient from the ‘Wall of Kindness’, where people can donate clothes and essentials to needy patients at the hospital. “Our healthcare staff also ensured he ate properly. They offered him counselling and communicated with his family abroad,” said the dean.

Eventually, the patient’s wife returned to the country and wrote a check for Rs 1 lakh to the hospital for the treatment and care provided. “She was almost in tears when she came to the hospital. She gave us the cheque and said she would be ready to help the hospital in any way. It was heartwarming for us too,” Dr Theranirajan said, adding that the patient was discharged on January 23.

The RGGGH has handled more than 30,000 Covid-19 cases and saved many lives, including those of 30 patients above the age of 90 years. In the past, patients’ relatives have donated televisions, rice bags and cash, among other things, out of gratitude to the hospital.

Those above 50 will soon be able to self-register on CoWIN for jabs

Those above 50 will soon be able to self-register on CoWIN for jabs

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:07.02.2021

The central health ministry will soon open up the CoWIN app for people aged 50 and above who wish to self-register for Covid vaccination.

On Friday, the ministry had said vaccinations for this category will start in March.

Union health secretary Rajesh Bhushan told TOI on Saturday the government will make the app public within a month. “Currently, Co-WIN access is restricted and is not available to the public. But we have one month to work on it and release it for citizens,” he said.

Bhushan said work is on to make the app more citizenfriendly. “We will be slowly revealing new features that will make it easy for those above 50 to register.”

Ram Sewak Sharma, chairman of the Empowered Group on Technology and Data Management to combat Covid-19, had earlier told TOI that the citizen version of the app would incorporate the suggestions that were made for better, more user-friendly performance.

He said the app will include an “appointment” feature once it’s made public.

Suggestions have come in from states on how to improve the app’s user interface.

“Technology will not be an issue. The best citizencentric interface will be made available in the coming days whenever it goes public,” he said.

CoWIN — an extension of India’s existing vaccine intelligence system, eVIN (electronic vaccine intelligence network) — is an IT solution that helps plan, implement and monitor the ongoing Covid inoculation drive. Currently, access is limited to administrators and vaccinators at sites where jabs are being administered for those who are part of the first two priority groups — healthcare and frontline workers.

In its present form, the app packs certain key modules for administrators, beneficiary registration and status updation.

Frontline and healthcare workers need to be registered on CoWIN before they can receive their vaccines.

Four girl students jailed for ragging junior, abeting suicide

Four girl students jailed for ragging junior, abetting suicide

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:  07.02.2021 

A sessions court in Bhopal has convicted four students of RKDF Pharmacy College for ragging and abetment the suicide of a junior student and sentenced them to five years’ imprisonment.

The girls were accused of driving their junior, Anita Sharma, to kill herself.

The court of additional district & sessions judge, Amit Ranjan, pronounced the senior students guilty and awarded them jail terms of five years each.

A case was registered in this regard against the four girls under Section 306 of IPC on charges of abetment to suicide. The court, however, acquitted a teacher of the institute, who had been made a co-accused in the case. The accused — Nidhi Magre, Dipti Solanki, Divyanshi Sharma, and Kriti Gaur — have been convicted in the ragging case reported in 2013.

Anita Sharma, an 18-year old B Pharm second-year student at RKDF Institute of Pharmacy, had committed suicide by hanging at her residence in 2013.

In her suicide note, she had accused the girls in question of subjecting her to torture in the name of ragging ever since she joined the college, so much so that she was even ‘forced her to write their mid-semester copies.’ She claimed that when she tried to inform the authorities about the ragging, she was advised to ‘obey her seniors and live with it’.In her suicide note, she wrote, “Only I know how I have suffered the ragging of these four girls.”

It’s mandatory for students to give an undertaking against ragging at the time of admission.

Anita Sharma, an 18-year old B Pharm student, had committed suicide by hanging at her residence in 2013. In her suicide note, she had mentioned the ragging she suffered

Covaxin trials for kids likely soon in Nagpur

Covaxin trials for kids likely soon in Nagpur

Chaitanya.Deshpande@timesgroup.com

Nagpur:07.02.2021

For parents concerned about sending their children, especially primary students, to school due to the Covid-19 pandemic and waiting for vaccine approval for those below 18 years, there is light at the end of the tunnel.

Bharat Biotech, makers of indigenous Covid-19 vaccine, Covaxin, are expected to start vaccine trials for the paediatric population by February-end or early March this year. Sources confirmed that a leading children’s hospital in the city has been selected as one of the sites for trials on children. The trials will start as soon as Bharat Biotech, a company from Hyderabad, gets formal go-ahead from the government of India. In January, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella had said that the vaccine for children will be ready in the next four months — by May 2021. “It will be the first such trial in the world in which paediatric population right from toddlers to teens will be tested for the Covid-19 vaccine,” Dr Ashish Tajne, coordinator for these trials, said. Dr Tajne further said Nagpur was one of the sites for Covaxin’s phase I, II, and III human trials.

“Trials for Covaxin through intradermal route are under way in the city. Soon, Covaxin trials through nasal route will also commence. However, the paediatric trial has a special importance,” he said. According to him, these trials will be conducted in age slabs like 2 to 5 years, 6 to 12 years, and 12 to 18 years. “Special protocol will be maintained. It will be the crucial trial in fight against Covid-19,” he said.

Centre to states: Step up vaccination

The Centre has asked states to “exponentially increase” the pace of vaccination as there is still scope for increasing the numbers. P 5

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A new pandemic term, vaccine-envy, is gaining ground. It’s a sentiment unlikely to be quelled until people start receiving vaccine. P 5

‘Will be first such trial in the world’

In January, Bharat Biotech MD Krishna Ella had said that the vaccine for children will be ready in the next four months — by May 2021.

“It will be the first such trial in the world in which paediatric population right from toddlers to teens will be tested for the Covid-19 vaccine,” Dr Ashish Tajne, coordinator for these trials, said. Dr Tajne further said that Nagpur was one of the sites for Covaxin’s phase I, II, and III human trials.

“Trials for Covaxin through intradermal route are under way in the city. Soon, Covaxin trials through nasal route will also commence. However, the paediatric trial has a special importance,” he said.

According to him, these trials will be conducted in age slabs like 2-5 years, 6-12 years, and 12-18 years. “Special protocol will be maintained. It will be a crucial trial in the fight against Covid-19,” Tajne said.

As per international regulations, only vaccines based on inactivated virus can be administered to children under the age of 16 years. Hence, Covaxin is the only suitable option for children in India. Other made-in-India vaccines are based on mRNA and chimpanzee adenovirus vector platforms.

Earlier, in January, the Drug Controller General of India had given conditional approval for administering Covaxin to children above 12 years of age. But later in the month, the government disapproved this authorisation.

After this, Bharat Biotech declared that it will be submitting a proposal for Covaxin trials for children between 2-12 years. A senior paediatrician from the city, who is most likely to be the principle coordinator of these trials at Nagpur, said that formal announcement about the trials will be done only after receiving government’s final nod.

Google launches paid-for news platform in Australia

Google launches paid-for news platform in Australia

Canberra:  07.02.2021 

Google on Friday launched a platform in Australia offering news it has paid for, striking its own content deals with publishers in a drive to show legislation proposed by Canberra to enforce payments, a world first, is unnecessary.

Only rolled out previously in Brazil and Germany, the News Showcase platform was originally slated for launch last June. But Alphabet-owned Google delayed plans when Canberra moved to make it a legal requirement for Google and Facebook to pay Australian media firms for content, unprecedented anywhere else in the world.

The tech firm, still lobbying the Australian government in private meetings, has previously said was the legislation was “unworkable” and would force it to pull out of the country altogether if implemented. With the legislation now before a parliamentary inquiry, Friday’s launch of News Showcase in Australia will see it pay seven domestic outlets to use their content.

Financial details of the content deals weren’t disclosed.

Google said on Friday it looked forward to striking deals with more Australian publishers, whose position has been bolstered by Canberra’s aggressive push back against Facebook and Google. Google declined to add further comment.

“This provides an alternative to model put forward by the Australian government,” said Derek Wilding, a professor at the University of Technology Sydney’s Centre for Media Transition. “What remains to be seen is if larger publishers sign on to the product,” he said.

Under Canberra’s proposed legislation, Google and Facebook would have to pay Australian publishers and broadcasters for content.While Google’s public stance on potentially leaving the country remains firm, Australia’s treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Google’s approach had been “constructive” in recent days during private meetings. “The PM (Scott Morrison) and myself... had a very constructive discussion with the head of Google just yesterday.... they re-committed to Australia, we re-committed (to the legislation).” REUTERS

‘25 nations in queue for Indian vaccine’

‘25 nations in queue for Indian vaccine’

Amaravati: 07.02.2021 

India has so far supplied COVID-19 vaccine to 15 countries and another 25 nations are in the queue at different levels for the jab, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said here on Saturday.

He said there are three categories of countries which are keen to get the vaccine from India- poor, price sensitive nations and other countries which directly deal with pharmaceutical companies that make the antidote.

"I think right now we have already supplied to about 15 countries (as per my recollection).

I would say there would be another about 25 countries which are at different stages in the pipeline. But what it has done is today it has put India on the map of the world," Jaishankar told reporters in a press conference.

The minister said some poor countries are being supplied the vaccine on a grant basis while some nations wanted it on par with the price that the Indian Government pays to the vaccine makers.

Some countries have direct contracts with the Indian vaccine producing companies and have negotiated commercially, he said.

The Centre has already given the nod for two COVID-19 vaccines-- Covaxin of city-based Bharat Biotech and Covishield of Oxford, being manufactured by Serum Institute of India in Pune, which are being administered to frontline workers from January 16, under Emergency Use Authorisation. PTI

WHO hails India’s Covid measures

Acclaiming public health measures taken by India and its significant progress in combating the Covid-19 pandemic, director-general of WHO Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus has suggested that other countries could adopt similar methods to tackle the disease. Tedros said: “This shows us that if we can do these simple public health solutions, we can beat the virus...With vaccines being added, we would even expect better outcomes.” TNN

She ditched medical for agri, bags 12 gold medals!

AAU CONVOCATION

She ditched medical for agri, bags 12 gold medals!

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara/Anand:  07.02.2021 

Clinching the highest number of 12 gold medals at Anand Agricultural University’s 17th annual convocation, this student showcased why she preferred a not-so popular course for farmers’ prosperity, when she could have easily got into any of the choicest medical colleges after Class XII.

Meet Radhika Ghetiya, a native of Rajkot, whose cap of feathers is shini ng bright from her brilliant performance on Thursday. Currently, she is studying agricultural statistics at AAU. “I could have become a doctor but chose agricultural sciences as I want to pursue further research in the field and use it for the benefits of farmers,” said Ghetiya. Forty other students of AAU too received gold medals and cash prizes. In all 686 students received their graduation, post-graduation and doctorates degree at the convocation.

“As the environment is fast changing, the young minds should conduct more research for its protection,” said Acharya Devvrat, Gujarat governor and chancellor of the university, in his convocational address.

He also added that traditional Indian methods of agricultural methods should be used for farming to bring the change.

“The young generation should come forward and strengthen agri supply chains to overcome changes and problems in the sector,” said R S Sodhi, managing director of Gujarat Cooperative Milk Marketing Federation (GCMMF) who was the chief guest.

Radhika Ghetiya

HC tells college to pay student ₹25k

HC tells college to pay student ₹25k

Institute Had Failed To Cancel His Admission

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:07.02.2021

The Gujarat high court ordered an ayurveda college to pay Rs 25,000 to a student besides the fees for retaining his admission even after Gujarat Ayurveda University cancelled his admission and ordered that his fees be returned.

The case involved Utsav Patel, who cleared his board exams in 2019 with 43.9% and got admission to the Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery (BAMS) course at JS Ayurveda Mahavidhyalaya in Nadiad. Patel cleared the NEET exam and got admission in the all-India quota through the centralized admission process.

When the university learned that students had been admitted to BAMS courses despite scoring less than 50% in the board exams, which is the minimum eligibility for admission. In February 2020, the university informed the colleges to cancel such admissions and return their fees to the students. The college did not do this for three months.

When Patel learned of the university’s decision to cancel his admission, he moved the high court stating that it was not his fault and that he paid fees and continued to attend classes online during the lockdown. The university as well as the central government reiterated that the admission was cancelled because the student did not fulfill the eligibility criteria. Moreover, Patel was not the only student whose admission was cancelled.

The college, on the other hand, expressed ignorance about the affair. This infuriated Justice Biren Vaishnav, who observed, “Much could be said about the recalcitrance and negligence of the college for which the student has suffered but for the college granting admission in the face of him being ineligible and the petitioner being constrained to approach this court and particularly when the petitioner continued to pursue his studies albeit online with the college’s stand being that it only was an executing and implementing authority shows a complete indiscreet response.”

The court rejected the student’s petition against admission cancellation, but ordered the college to pay Rs 25,000 to him for forcing him into litigation.

Man beats wife for SUV money

Man beats wife for SUV money

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmeabad:07.02.2021

A woman from the Chandkheda filed a case of domestic violence against her husband and five in-laws on Friday alleging that she was beaten often over a demand to seek dowry from her parents so that her husband could buy an SUV.

The woman, 27, states in her FIR with Chandkheda police that she got married to the man, 32, from IOC Road in Chandkheda on May 11, 2018.

“Earlier, I was living happily at my in-laws’ place but six months later my husband suddenly began demanding an SUV in dowry. He told me to get Rs 15 lakh from my father so that he could buy an SUV car,” she states in the FIR.

She states that her father sought time for some days to arrange the money, but her husband felt offended and created a ruckus at her parents’ home in inebriated condition.

After that incident, her father managed around Rs 2 lakh so that he could make the down payment for the SUV and assured the accused that he would pay the EMI. However, the accused spent all the money in booze parties with friends, she alleges in the FIR. She states that he again began seeking money from her father and as he could not give money again, he drover her away forcing her to stay at her parents’ place.

RGUHS CONVOCATION 2021

 

5 feel uneasy after jab, recover in hours

5 feel uneasy after jab, recover in hours

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Shivamogga:07.02.2021

Five nursing students experienced uneasiness after taking their first Covid-19 vaccine dose on Friday. They were admitted to McGann Teaching District Hospital in Shivamogga, but recovered the next morning. District health officer Rajesh Suragihalli said that it might be a case of anxiety.

The five, who study at a private nursing college, took the shot at McGann hospital in the morning and returned to their hostel. After lunch, they complained of uneasiness and a headache. One of them also spoke about breathing problems. The warden suggested that they should be immediately taken to the hospital.

Suragihalli said that initially, one student was brought to the hospital. Later, four others arrived. Doctors decided to keep them under observation for the night. “They were discharged early on Saturday. It may have been anxiety. So far, there have been no complaints of vaccine side effects in Shivamogga,” he added.

Two weeks ago, junior doctors from the Shivamogga Institute of Medical Sciences wrote to health minister K Sudhakar, saying the government should allow healthcare workers to choose from the two available vaccines. Earlier, a 60-year-old doctor, who had taken his first jab, passed away. Officials said the death was not linked to the vaccine.

2 students to get ₹35k relief for air ticket error

CONSUMER IS KING

2 students to get ₹35k relief for air ticket error

Petlee.Peter@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:07.02.2021

A commercial airline has been ordered to pay a compensation of Rs 35,000 and refund the ticket fares of two students who were not allowed to board a scheduled flight to Bengaluru to attend an academic competition due to a technical glitch. The duo was forced to book tickets on another flight by paying extra money.

On February 19, 2019, Bhavana and Ananya Sharma were to travel from Delhi to Bengaluru to attend a moot court competition the next day. Bhavana’s father Shri Harsha had pre-booked tickets for them by paying Rs 11,046 via his credit card. But the airline staff didn’t allow them to board, claiming the payment wasn’t complete. The girls tried to explain that the tickets mentioned travel status as ‘confirmed’ as the money had been deducted, but in vain. They had to shell out Rs 29,420 to book another flight the same night.

Shri Harsha contacted IndiGo, which ultimately refunded Rs 11,046, stating there was a technical glitch in the ticketing procedure. But when the issue of the girls being forced to buy new tickets was raised, there was no response from the airline staff. Feeling cheated, Harsha approached the Bengaluru rural and urban 1st additional district consumer disputes redressal forum on September 17, 2019 with a complaint against InterGlobe Aviation Ltd, operator of IndiGo.

IndiGo’s lawyer argued the complainant was attempting to make unlawful gains. He said a technical error which appears to have taken place in the complainant’s payment gateway is not in the airline’s control, and the money deducted for the initial tickets had been refunded.

Judges of the forum questioned the airline over issuing tickets with a ‘confirmed’ status. They noted there was a correspondence from the airline, acknowledging the glitch due to which the credited amount wasn’t reflecting in the system.

In their December 9, 2020 verdict, the judges rapped IndiGo for deficiency in service. They ordered InterGlobe Aviation Ltd to pay Rs 25,000 to Harsha apart from Rs 10,000 for litigation expenses. The airline was told to refund the ticket cost of Rs 18,374 after deducting the earlier refunded amount.

Indian nurses head to Gulf for lucrative Covid vax stints

Indian nurses head to Gulf for lucrative Covid vax stints

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:07.02.2021

Some private hospitals in Bengaluru have raised their concern with the Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) about nurses quitting abruptly. They are being “lured” with attractive salary packages in Gulf countries for their Covid vaccination drives for 3-6 months, they said.

PHANA has told all member hospitals to report such cases. “At a time when the mass vaccination drive is all set to begin in India, we are seeing the new trend of nurses quitting to go to Gulf countries. Some nurses who quit have been trained by the government to work in Covid vaccination session sites,” a PHANA member told STOI.

According to one advertisement, nurses are being offered 8,000 Arab Emirates dirhams (around Rs 1.5 lakh) per month. The pay package is 6-7 times the salary in Bengaluru. Covid-recovered, unmarried nurses below 40 years and trained in Covid vaccination sessions are much in demand, sources said.

A recent case was at Excel Care hospital near Banashankari, where two nurses quit abruptly, one after the other, in January. Both were male nurses, who had recovered from Covid. “One of them stopped coming to work on January 24. We realised he was hired by a Dubai hospital for a mass vaccination drive and was offered Rs 2 lakh a month. He quit without serving the notice period. He was trained by the Karnataka government for Covid vaccination. We also heard he got the visa within a day,” said Dr Suresh Krishnamurthy, medical director of the hospital.

Covid test target cut from 1L to 70K

The government, in a circular issued on January 30, has reduced the daily, statewide Covid testing target from 1 lakh to 70,000. The norms prescribe RT-PCR tests through a pooling method, with some exceptions. The fall in testing comes alongside a fall in Covid-19 cases across the state. Bengaluru crossed 4 lakh cases on Saturday, of which 98% have recovered. P 5

Row erupts over toddler’s billing

A row has erupted after one-year-old Vishalini overcame acute Covid-19 pneumonia after a 74-day battle at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, a private facility in Marathahalli. Though BBMP had referred her to this facility, entitling her to free treatment, her family, which has limited means, spent ₹6 lakh on the child’s treatment. P 5

We may face staff shortage in vax drives: Doc

Dteam r Krishnamurthy got a shock two added days later his when another nurse quit. “At a time when the pandemic has gradually declined and vaccination has begun, our country may lose trained nurses who go outside for better salaries. The government should take note of it,” he said.

PHANA president Dr HM Prasanna said. “As of now, we’ve heard from two hospitals. We’re yet to get the exact number of nurses who have quit. If a few nurses quit, it won’t be an issue as there is always attrition. But there is a huge demand for nurses abroad for vaccination drives. If many nurses quit, we’ll face a manpower shortage in our own vaccination drives and to tackle the Covid second wave, if it happens,” Dr Prasanna told STOI.

The matter will be brought to the government’s notice if there’s an exodus of nurses, he added. While a 20% attrition rate among nurses is seen annually in city hospitals, it could go up, sources said.

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