Railways takes indirect route to fare hike

Railways takes indirect route to fare hike

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.03.2021 

In what could be an indirect fare hike, Southern Railway has started to operate some of the passenger trains as mainline multiple electric units (MEMU) services with limited stops and high fares.

This means that people will have to pay more to use trains between small towns, including Chennai to Puducherry and Tambaram to Villupuram. Southern Railway has converted around 12 trains, which were being operated as passenger services in pre-Covid-19 days, into MEMUs with fare equivalent to that unreserved passenger ticket rates of express/mail trains.

This includes Chennai-Puducherry passenger service which was used by employees of small firms and daily wage workers. They will now have to pay ₹90. Since, the train does not stop at all the stations, many will not benefit from the service.

K Baskar, former member of divisional rail users consultative committee in Chennai, said, "People have to pay more for tavelling short distance such as Coimbatore-Mettupalayam which will be hardly 36km. If such short distance passenger trains are turned into those with fares on a par with unreserved class in express trains, more trains could be converted in the future. In the case of the Pondy train, it used to be a blessing for many from intermediate stations. These set of passengers are being ignored."

T Sadagopan, a frequent traveller, said, "Railways had increased fares by doing public consultation. Now, unilaterally they have changed the classification of trains to collect more money. This is like making passengers adopt to the idea that they have to pay more to travel." ASouthern Railway official said the trains will be converted into passenger services when normalcy returns. The fare is high as stoppage is limited and journey time is less. The aim is to discourage people from travelling because of Covid-19.

MU campus interview for govt jobs: 55 PG students shortlisted

MU campus interview for govt jobs: 55 PG students shortlisted

Chennai:02.03.2021 

A team of officials from cabinet secretariat, Government of India, conducted campus interview for the post of deputy field officer at Madras University and shortlisted 55 postgraduate students for final interview to be conducted in May.

“The starting salary for the job would be ₹72,000 per month. This is the first time in our university, a campus interview has been conducted by the cabinet secretariat of Government of India," said S Gowri, vice-chancellor of the university. Around 250 postgraduate students from various departments including economics, commerce, English, physics and chemistry and other science departments attended the selection process. The interested candidates asked to appear for a written test, group discussion and preliminary interview. The university also plans to conduct campus interview for UG students studying in distance mode at Institute of Distance Education in the university and its affiliated colleges. IT companies, financial companies and others likely to participate in the placement drive likely to be held this month. TNN

‘Country needs more scientists like C V Raman’

‘Country needs more scientists like C V Raman’

Chennai:02.03.2021 

The country needs many more scientists like C V Raman, said Dr S M Yusuf, director of Institute of Physics in Bhubhaneswar, on Monday.

He was addressing the gathering at the SRM Institute of Science and Technology (SRMIST)'s annual research day.

Yusuf is also the associate director, physics group at the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre. Yusuf said SRMIST has been doing a good job in contributing to the nation through research. He urged students to use high-tech instruments, available at the institute for high quality research. TNN

Property registrations drop further due to model code for polls

Property registrations drop further due to model code for polls

Yogesh.Kabirdoss@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.03.2021 

Property registrations have plunged after the model code of conduct for the April 6 state assembly election came into force, with sub-registrar offices in the city and its peripheries reporting a significant drop on Monday compared to last month. Revenue through property registrations was facing a deficit of ₹809 crore in 2020-21 over 2019-20. February 2021 recorded a revenue of ₹1,386.6 crore, the highest in the past11 months.

Registration department data shows that the Selaiyur sub-registrar office, under Chennai South, barely had 60 registrations against a daily average of 300. Of this, only 10 were land registrations. The office at Red Hills, under Chennai North, had just 65 registrations on Monday against a daily average of 120-140.

“Most of the documents registered pertained to memorandums of deposit of title deeds, gift deeds and settlement deeds,” an official said.

People with more than ₹50,000 in cash must show receipts for the source of money when stopped by surveillance teams of the Election Commission of India. Unaccounted money would be seized.

From April 2020 to February 2021, property registrations netted revenue of ₹9,313 crore, a decrease of ₹809 crore over the ₹10,122 crore netted from April 2019 to February 2020. But, the registration department remains hopeful that ₹900 crore will be generated in March. “Revenue will reach ₹10,200 crore by the end of 2020-21,” a senior official said. The contribution of Chennai zone, comprising the city, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur districts, to the TN’s total revenue fell by 9% this year from the average of 44%.

ELECTION EFFECT: Footfalls have dropped in registrar office in the city. (In pic) Sub-registrar office at Tambaram

Daughter of Jeppiaar, 4 more booked for cheating his wife

Daughter of Jeppiaar, 4 more booked for cheating his wife

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:02.03.2021 

The Central Crime Branch (CCB) of police has booked five people including former employees of late educationalist Jeppiaar for stealing documentsof hiswifeRemibai’s land in Sriperumpudur and pledging it for ₹5 crore.

Police registered a case against former personal secretaries of Jeppiaar S Jose, of Perumbakkam, and S Justin, of Kanyakumari, A Muralidharan of Nandanam, S Francis of T Nagar, and B Sheela, daughter of Jeppiar andRemibai.They were booked under IPC sections 405 (criminal breach of trust), 468 (forgery) read with 34 (criminal acts done by several people with common intention) and 120(B) (criminalconspiracy).Afterpreliminary inquiries, police said Sheela, a former trustee of the education trust, was behind the fraud and made Jose and Justin steal the documents and pledge them to Francis for ₹5 crore.

Police booked the five after N Kannan, who held power of attorney for Remibai, lodged a complaint that Jose and Justin had stolen the documents and amassed wealth worth crores while drawing a monthly salary of ₹75,000 with the support of Sheela.

Nurse: One of the memorable days of my life

Nurse: One of the memorable days of my life

Bosco.Dominique@timesgroup.com

Puducherry:02.03.2021 

“Are you using a thicker needle? Politicians are usually thick-skinned,” Prime Minister Narendra Modi joked with nurse P Niveda who administered the Bharat Biotech-manufactured Covaxin to him at the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, on Monday.

The 28-year-old from Puducherry said the Prime Minister praised her saying he did not feel the jab. “The Prime Minister wished us and asked where we were from. The moment I said I am from Puducherry he said ‘Vanakkam’. He then cracked a joke asking whether we settled for a stronger needle as politicians are usually thick-skinned,” said Niveda, who did her nursing degree from Jipmer in Puducherry, where her father is an ambulance driver.

“I joined AIIMS three years ago. Today is one of the memorable days in my life. My colleague from Kerala Rosamma Anil and myself got the opportunity to administer Covid vaccine to our Prime Minister. We took photos with him. Our PM has set an example to prove that India’s vaccine is safe and highly efficient and to encourage others to take the vaccine,” she said.

The Prime Minister was kept under observation for 30 minutes after vaccination. He will get the second dose after 28 days. Niveda’s father Palanisami said she aspired to pursue medicine or nursing. “She joined nursing in Jipmer. After completing the course, she worked in a private hospital in Puducherry before joining Jipmer as a project nurse on contract basis. Three years ago, she was selected by AIIMS,” said Palanisamy, who joined Jipmer 33 years ago. “I am from Karaikal I joined Jipmer as a driver in 1988. I will retire in November next year. I am proud of my daughter,” he said.

In live-in relationship, sex does not become rape: SC Even Women Should Not Promise To Marry And Break Away: CJI

In live-in relationship, sex does not become rape: SC

Even Women Should Not Promise To Marry And Break Away: CJI

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:  02.03.2021 

The Supreme Court on Monday said in a prolonged live-in relationship, consensual sex between a couple could not be categorised as rape if the man failed to keep his promise of marriage to the woman.

“Making a false promise to marry is wrong, Even a woman should not promise to marry and then break away. But that does not mean in a prolonged live-in relationship, the sexual intercourse would be categorised as rape,” a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian said.

The case related to two call centre employees who were in a live-in relationship for five years. The man finally married another woman, leading to the spurned lover slapping rape charges against the man and accusing him of indulging in sexual intercourse on the false promise of marriage.

Appearing for the man, senior advocate Vibha Datta Makhija said if consensual sex in a live-in relationship between two adults could result in rape charges, which invariably leads to arrest of the man, it would set a dangerous precedent. The complaint's counsel Aditya Vashishth said the man had displayed to the world that they were living as husband and wife and had married the complainant in a temple but had wriggled out of the promise after brutally assaulting the woman and extorting money.

When Makhija said there was a “habitual” aspect to the complainant and alleged that she had done the same to two other men, the bench said using the word “habitual” for rape survivors was impermissible under law. Makhija said she was aware of the sensitivity of the issue but termed the complainant's allegations false.

The bench protected the man from arrest for eight weeks and asked him to find out from trial proceedings whether the prosecution was able to produce evidence to substantiate rape charges. “It is a good case for you to seek discharge from the trial court,” the bench said while disposing of the man's petition.

In 2018, the SC in two successive judgments had held that if a woman was voluntarily in a live-in relationship, it would be difficult to categorise sexual intercourse as rape. In Shivashankar alias Shiva vs Karnataka on April 6, 2018, the SC had said, “It is difficult to hold that sexual intercourse in the course of a relationship which has continued for eight years is 'rape', especially in the face of the complainant's own allegation that they lived together as man and wife.”

Full report onwww.toi.in

The bench protected the man from arrest for eight weeks and asked him to find out from trial proceedings whether the prosecution was able to produce evidence to substantiate rape charges

‘Varsities can’t refuse change of name requests’

HC ON DEGREE CERTIFICATES

‘Varsities can’t refuse change of name requests’

Mahir.Haneef@timesgroup.com

Kochi:02.03.2021

A university cannot refuse to change a student’s name in degree certificate, citing the reason that application for such change was filed after conferment of the degree, the high court said.

Disagreeing to the contention put forward by Indira Gandhi National Open University (IGNOU), Justice Anu Sivaraman said request for changing name in degree certificate should be considered if documents evidencing the name change are in order.

The court was considering a petition by Mathew Anil Parakkal of Chalakkudy through advocate Jeena Joseph. While the degree certificate had the name ‘Mathew Anil’, the petitioner wanted to change it to ‘Mathew Anil Parakkal’.

IGNOU contended that as per a notification issued in January, application for change of name will be entertained only before the degree is awarded.

In the judgment, the court said, “Having considered the contentions advanced, I find that the petitioner has submitted the request before the IGNOU for recording a change in his name which has already been effected through corrections carried out in all relevant documents including the birth certificate, school records, Aadhaar card as well as PAN card. The petitioner has taken out paper publication of the change of the same as well. In the above factual situation, I am of the opinion that the refusal to consider the request on the ground that it was made after the conferment of the degree is completely unjustified.”

IGNOU was ordered by the court to consider the application and correct the name if the documents produced are in order.

Court: IGNOU should consider the request if the documents evidencing the name change are in order

'Will You Marry Her?' Supreme Court Asks Man Accused Of Raping Minor; Grants Him Protection From Arrest

'Will You Marry Her?' Supreme Court Asks Man Accused Of Raping Minor; Grants Him Protection From Arrest

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK1 March 2021 3:27 PM

Bombay High Court POCSO Judgment

The Supreme Court on Monday asked a 23-year old man, who stands accused of raping a minor girl when she was aged around 16 years, whether he will marry her.

A bench headed by the Chief Justice of India was hearing a special leave petition filed by the man, who is now a government servant in Maharashtra, against an order of the Bombay High Court(Aurangabad Bench) which cancelled his anticipatory bail(Case : Mohit Subhash Chavan v State of Maharashtra).

"Will you marry her?", CJI SA Bobde asked the petitioner's lawyer when the matter was taken.

"I will take instructions", Advocate Anand Dilip Langde, petitioner's lawyer responded and sought a pass over. The lawyer submitted that his client was a government servant who will be suspended from service if arrested in the case. The petitioner, Mohit Subhash Chavan, presently aged 23 years, was accused of raping a 16 year old girl during 2014-15.

"You should have thought before seducing and raping the young girl. You know you are a government servant", the CJI replied.

"We are not forcing you to marry. Let us know if you will. Otherwise you will say we are forcing you to marry", the CJI added.

When the case was taken again after other matters, the lawyer informed that marriage was not possible as the petitioner had married someone else. The lawyer added that the petitioner initially wanted to marry her but she refused.

After that, the bench dismissed the petition giving him liberty to seek regular bail. The bench, also comprising Justices AS Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian, also granted the petitioner protection from arrest for four weeks.

The FIR against the petitioner was lodged in 2019 under Sections 376, 417, 506 of the Indian Penal Code and under Sections 4 and 12 of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012 ("POCSO Act") by the girl.

The girl alleged that during 2014-2015, when she around 16 years of age and was studying in the ninth standard, the accused used to stalk her. Since he was her distant relative, he used to keep coming to her house. She further alleged that during that period, he clandestinely entered into the house from a backside door and committed rape on her. He also threatened her of consequences if the incident was disclosed. She further alleged that even thereafter he continuously stalked her and threatened her. She alleged that he used to come frequently to her house and used to have sexual intercourse.She has also stated that sometimes, he used to use contraceptive. Since she was afraid, she never disclosed this fact to anybody.

It was further alleged that when she tried to lodge a police complaint with the help of a social worker, the mother of the accused dissuaded her from it saying that she will accept her a as a daughter-in-law. She further alleged that the petitioner once got executed a writing on a stamp paper from her illiterate mother,stating that there was an affair between the two and with her consent, they both had indulged in sex. It was promised that he will marry her after she attained majority.

However, the accused backtracked from his promise and married someone else.

After the accused was granted anticipatory bail by the Sessions Court, the girl approached the Bombay High Court seeking its cancellation.

In the order cancelling his anticipatory bail, the Bombay High Court observed that the accused had sexually exploited the girl for a sufficiently long period.

"One can easily conclude that going by the allegations respondent No.2(the accused) has sexually exploited the applicant for a sufficiently long period, since she was around 16 years of age. The papers of investigation would further corroborate the applicant's version about execution of a writing on a stamp paper of Rs.500/-. Respondent No.2 and his family seem to be so influential that they could get executed this writing from the applicant and her widowed mother. The very fact that they could get such writing executed is indicative and is sufficient to infer that respondent No.2 had indulged in sex with the applicant even when she was merely 16 years of age. Pertinently, this writing also bears his signature and signature of his mother".

The High Court even went to the extent of saying that the Sessions Court's order granting bail was "atrocious". The Sessions Court observed though the girl was a minor, she was of "sufficient maturity" as she "has with meticulous details mentioned about use of contraceptive" by the accused.

Taking strong exception to the "lack of sensitivity" shown by the Sessions Court, Justice Mangesh S Patil of the High Court observed:

"The approach of the learned Judge from such a reasoning clearly shows his utter lack of sensitivity in such serious matters. Inspite of having noted that the applicant was still a minor when respondent No.2 had sexually exploited her and inspite of observing that her consent would be immaterial,he has concluded that it was a consensual relation. Astonishingly, merely because she has mentioned in the FIR about use of contraceptive by respondent No.2, the learned Judge has jumped to the conclusion that she was having sufficient maturity. The height is committed by the learned Additional Sessions Judge even to record an observation that there is a possibility of false implication of respondent No.2. Such an approach is a clear indication that the learned Judge utterly lacks competence. It is indeed a matter which deserves a serious consideration"

Bank Guarantees – Legality Of Timelines For 'Assertion Of Claim' And 'Enforcement Of Claim'

Bank Guarantees – Legality Of Timelines For 'Assertion Of Claim' And 'Enforcement Of Claim': As we are aware, Bank Guarantees ('BG/BGs') are independent contracts that vest the beneficiary therein with a right to make a claim against the bank to pay for the loss suffered due to the default...

தஞ்சையில் காலை வரை பனிப்பொழிவு: ரம்மியமாக காட்சியளித்த பெரியகோவில்!

தஞ்சையில் காலை வரை பனிப்பொழிவு: ரம்மியமாக காட்சியளித்த பெரியகோவில்!

Added : பிப் 28, 2021 23:27

தஞ்சாவூர்: தஞ்சாவூரில் பனிமூட்டம் காரணமாக, பெரியகோவில் மிகவும் ரம்மியமாக காட்சியளித்தது, சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை வெகுவாக கவர்ந்தது.

தஞ்சை மாவட்டத்தில், நேற்று காலை, 8 மணி வரை மாவட்டம் முழுதும், பனிமூட்டம் அதிக அளவில் காணப்பட்டது. காலை, 8 மணிவரை கூட, சாலைகளில் வாகன ஓட்டிகள் முகப்பு விளக்குகளை எரியவிட்டபடி சென்றனர். உலகப் புகழ் பெற்ற தஞ்சை பெரியகோவில், பனிமூட்டத்தால் முற்றிலும் மறைந்ததால், கோவில் மிகவும் ரம்மியமாக காட்சியளித்தது. அதேநேரம் கோவிலின் கோபுரம் பனியால் சூழப்பட்டு இருந்ததால், சுற்றுலா பயணிகள், கோபுரத்தின் அழகை முழுமையாக கண்டு ரசிக்க முடியாமல் ஏமாற்றத்துடன் சென்றனர். கோவில் முழுதும் ரம்மியமாக பனி சூழ்ந்து இருந்தது, சுற்றுலா பயணிகளை வெகுவாக கவர்ந்தது.புதுக்கோட்டையில் கடும் பனிப்பொழிவு: புதுக்கோட்டை மாவட்டத்தில் அன்னவாசல், கீரனுார், ஆலங்குடி, அறந்தாங்கி, திருமயம், விராலிமலை உள்ளிட்ட பகுதிகளில், நேற்று காலை, 9 மணி வரை கடும் பனிப்பொழிவு நீடித்தது. இதனால் சாலையில் சென்ற வாகனங்கள் மெதுவாக ஊர்ந்து, முகப்பு விளக்குடன் சென்றன. பனிப்பொழிவால் பொதுமக்கள் நடமாட்டம் குறைவாகவே இருந்தது. சித்தன்னவாசல், நார்த்தாமலை, குடுமியான்மலை போன்ற மலைப்பகுதிகள், பனிப்பொழிவு காரணமாக, மலைகள், வானத்துடன் ஒட்டி இருப்பது போல் அழகாக காட்சியளித்தன.

தமிழ்மொழியை கற்கவில்லையே என பிரதமர் மோடி... உருக்கம்!

தமிழ்மொழியை கற்கவில்லையே என பிரதமர் மோடி... உருக்கம்!

Updated : மார் 01, 2021 00:02 

'உலகின் மிகப் பழமையான மற்றும் பிரபல மொழியான தமிழை கற்காமல் போனதற்காக வருத்தப்படுகிறேன்,'' என, பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடி, உருக்கமாக பேசினார்.

ஒவ்வொரு மாதமும், கடைசி ஞாயிறு அன்று, 'மன் கீ பாத்' என்ற பெயரில், வானொலி வாயிலாக நாட்டு மக்களுக்கு உரையாற்றுவதை, பிரதமர் நரேந்திர மோடி வழக்கமாக வைத்துஉள்ளார்.

நம் நாட்டின் ஆன்மா

நேற்றைய 'மன் கீ பாத்' உரையில், பிரதமர் மோடி பேசியதாவது:மேற்கு வங்க மாநிலம், கோல்கட்டாவைச் சேர்ந்த ஒருவர், எனக்கு கடிதம் எழுதி இருந்தார். அதில், 'மத்திய அரசின் சுயசார்பு இந்தியா திட்டம், இந்த அரசின் கொள்கை முடிவு மட்டுமல்ல; அது நம் நாட்டின் ஆன்மா' என குறிப்பிட்டு இருந்தார்; அது, 100 சதவீதம் உண்மை.

சுயசார்பு இந்தியா திட்டம் குறித்து, ஒவ்வோர் இந்தியனும் பெருமை அடைய வேண்டும். இது நம் நாட்டின் பொருளாதாரத்தை மேம்படுத்துவதற்கான திட்டம் மட்டுமல்ல. நம் நாட்டின் ஆன்மாவாகவும் கருதப்படுகிறது.

தலை நிமிரல்

சுயசார்பு இந்தியா திட்டத்தின் கீழ், உள்நாட்டில் தயாரிக்கப்பட்ட, தேஜஸ் போர் விமானம், பீரங்கிகள், ஏவுகணைகள் நம் நாட்டுக்கு பெருமை சேர்க்கின்றன.நாம் தயாரித்த, 'மெட்ரோ' ரயில் பெட்டிகள், வளர்ந்த நாடுகளில் ஓடுவதை காணும் போதும், நம் கொரோனா தடுப்பூசிகள் பல்வேறு நாடுகளை சென்றடைவதை காணும் போதும், நம்மை தலை நிமிர செய்கின்றன.

சுயசார்பு இந்தியா திட்டம், நாட்டில் பல்வேறு கிராமங்களையும் சென்றடைந்துள்ளது. பல்வேறு கிராமங்களை சேர்ந்த எளிய மக்கள், சொந்தமாக தயாரிப்பு நிறுவனங்களை துவங்கி வருவதை காண்பது, உண்மையில் மகிழ்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.மனித குலத்தின் வளர்ச்சிக்கு, தண்ணீர் இன்றியமையாதது. அதை பாதுகாக்கும் பொறுப்புணர்வு நம் அனைவருக்குமே உள்ளது.

நம் நாட்டின் பெரும்பாலான பகுதிகளில், அடுத்த சில மாதங்களில் மழை காலம் துவங்குகிறது. அதன் அடிப்படையில், மழை நீரை சேகரிக்கும் திட்டத்தின் முக்கியத்துவத்தை உணர்த்தும், 100 நாள் பிரசாரத்திற்கு, மத்திய அரசு திட்டமிட்டுஉள்ளது. இந்த பிரசாரத்தை, மத்திய ஜல் சக்தி அமைச்சகம் விரைவில் துவக்க உள்ளது. ஏற்கனவே உள்ள மழை நீர் சேகரிப்பு வசதிகளை, நாம் பழுது பார்த்து தயாராக வைத்துக் கொள்ள வேண்டும். கிராமங்களில் உள்ள குளங்கள், ஏரிகளை துார் வார உறுதி ஏற்க வேண்டும்.

பாராட்டு

தமிழகத்தின் திருவண்ணாமலையைச் சேர்ந்த கிராம மக்கள் ஒன்றிணைந்து, அப்பகுதியில் நீண்ட நாட்களாக பயன்பாட்டில் இல்லாத கிணறுகள் மற்றும் இதர நீர் நிலைகளை கண்டறிந்து, அதை துார் வாரும் அவசியம் குறித்து, தீவிர பிரசாரம் மேற்கொண்டு வருகின்றனர். அவர்களின் முயற்சிக்கு என் பாராட்டுக்கள்.

'நான் குஜராத் முதல்வராக பதவி வகித்தது முதல், தற்போது பிரதமராக பதவி வகித்து வரும் இன்றைய காலகட்டம் வரை, செய்ய தவறியதாக நினைத்து வருத்தப்படுவது எது' என, ஐதராபாதைச் சேர்ந்த, அபர்ணா ரெட்டி என்பவர் என்னிடம் ஒரு கேள்வியை கேட்டார்.அதற்கு நான் இப்போது பதில் தர விரும்புகிறேன்.

உலகின் மிகப் பழமையான மற்றும் பிரபலமான மொழியான தமிழை கற்காமல் தவறவிட்டு விட்டோமே என்ற வருத்தம் எனக்கு உண்டு.தமிழ் மிகவும் அழகான மொழி. உலகம் முழுதும் பிரசித்தி பெற்ற மொழி. தமிழ் இலக்கியத்தின் மேன்மை மற்றும் கவிதை வரிகளில் உள்ள ஆழம் குறித்து, பலரும் என்னிடம் சிலாகித்து கூறியுள்ளனர். இவ்வாறு, அவர் பேசினார்.

ம.பி., பெண் அசத்தல்

மத்திய பிரதேசத்தின், சத்தார்பூர் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள, அக்ரவுதா என்ற கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்தவர், பபிதா ராஜ்புத். இந்த கிராமத்தில் மிகப் பெரிய ஏரி உள்ளது. குறைவான மழை காரணமாக, இந்த கிராமத்தில், 2018ல், மிகப் பெரிய தண்ணீர் பஞ்சம் ஏற்பட்டது. இதையடுத்து, ஏரியை புனரமைக்க பபிதா ராஜ்புத் திட்டமிட்டார்.

கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த இதர பெண்களை திரட்டி, ஏரியில் மழை நீர் வந்து விழும்படி கால்வாய் வெட்டினார். கடந்த ஆண்டு இரண்டு முறை பெய்த மழையில், அந்த ஏரி தற்போது நிரம்பி உள்ளது. ம.பி., பெண்ணின் முயற்சிக்கு, நேற்றைய நிகழ்ச்சியில், பிரதமர் மோடி பாராட்டு தெரிவித்தார்.

கைவினைக் கலைஞரை பாராட்டிய பிரதமர்

வாழை நாரில் இருந்து, பல்வேறு கைவினைப் பொருட்களை தயாரித்து வரும், மதுரை மேலக்கால் கைவினைக் கலைஞர் முருகேசனை, 52, பிரதமர் மோடி, 'மன் கி பாத்' நிகழ்ச்சியில் பாராட்டினார். பிரதமர் கூறியதாவது:

மதுரை அருகேயுள்ள, ஒரு கிராமத்தைச் சேர்ந்த கைவினைக் கலைஞர் முருகேசன், பிளாஸ்டிக் பொருட்களுக்கு மாற்றாக, வாழைக் கழிவில் இருந்து, பல பொருட்களை தயாரிக்கிறார். இது, நல்ல தொழில், அனைத்து மாநிலங்களிலும், இதை நடைமுறைப்படுத்தலாம். நாட்டில், இவர் தான், முதல் முறை இம்முயற்சியை செய்துள்ளார்.இவ்வாறு, பிரதமர் கூறினார்.

இதைக்கேட்டு நெகிழ்ச்சியுற்ற முருகேசன் கூறியதாவது: வாழை அறுவடை முடிந்ததும், அதிலிருந்து வரும் கழிவுகளை சேகரித்து, கயிறு திரிக்கத் துவங்கினேன். இதற்காக, ஒரு இயந்திரத்தையும் நானே கண்டு பிடித்து, காப்புரிமை பெற்றுள்ளேன். வாழை கயிறுகளில் இருந்து, டேபிள் மேட், ஜன்னல் ஸ்கிரீன், கூடை, நைட் லேம்ப் உள்ளிட்ட, பல்வேறு பொருட்களை தயாரிக்கிறேன்.

மேலக்கால் மற்றும் சுற்றியுள்ள கிராமங்களைச் சேர்ந்த, 350 பெண்களுக்கு வேலைவாய்ப்பு கொடுத்து, வாழ்வாதாரத்தை உயர்த்தி வருகிறேன். இவர்களுக்கு, மத்திய அரசின் கைவினைக் கலைஞர்கள் என்ற, அடையாள அட்டை பெற்று கொடுத்துள்ளேன்.பிரதமரின் பாராட்டை, என், எட்டு ஆண்டு கால உழைப்பிற்கு கிடைத்த, பெரிய விருதாக நினைக்கிறேன். இதனால் நான் அடைந்த நெகிழ்ச்சிக்கும், மகிழ்ச்சிக்கும் அளவே இல்லை என்றார்.

- இவரை வாழ்த்த 93605 97884.

- நமது சிறப்பு நிருபர் -

AP medical scam puts focus on ₹450cr deals

AP medical scam puts focus on ₹450cr deals

Akin To ESI Med Equipment Scam In Telangana

U.Sudhakarreddy@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  01.03.2021 

A medical equipment maintenance fraud, allegedly worth crores, is unfolding in Andhra Pradesh.

Documents of Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) and health department, accessed by TOI, reveal alleged irregularities in biomedical equipment (BME) maintenance service contracts akin to Employees’ State Insurance (ESI) fraud in Telangana where hundreds of crores were siphoned off for purchase of medicines and equipment by inflating prices by Insurance Medical Services (IMS) former director Ch Devika Rani. The IMS chief, who had allowed shell companies to supply medicines at higher prices to ESI hospitals by fabricating records, was arrested subsequently.

In Andhra Pradesh, the ACB has now asked CID to register a criminal case against the service provider and public servants. The equipment and assets have an estimated value between Rs 450 crore and Rs 480 crore in hospitals across Andhra Pradesh.

The violations found in BME maintenance scam include price escalation, raising bills for non-existing equipment, issuing invoices for equipment under ‘Beyond Economical Repair and Warranty’, and bills raised on equipment still in the warranty period.

A sample inspection of a few hospitals, including King George Hospital, Visakhapatnam, by ACB had shown Rs 96 lakh excess payments.

Excess payment of ₹62 lakh was made to TBS, says ACB

An official said: “It is just the tip of the iceberg.” AP Crime Investigation Department (CID) was asked to probe further and unearth the scam after registering a first information report (FIR).

TBS India Telematic and Biomedical Services Private Limited was identified as a service provider and the then commissioner of family welfare and health, AP, had entered into an MoU on November 1, 2015, for providing biomedical equipment maintenance services in government health facilities. The successful bidder, TBS, would receive 7.45% of total value of assets for 2015-16 and further, they were supposed to receive 10% escalation over the 7.45% ever year.

The AP high court had ordered an ACB probe based on a PIL filed by activist Indkuri Venkata Rama Raju in 2018 .

ACB, in its inquiry report, said, “Around ₹25.5 lakh was paid to the firm Numbers Only Hospital Supply Chain Solutions though the agency never visited 21 hospitals for inventory mapping of BME.”

A field verification at KGH, Visakhapatnam, had revealed that TBS had claimed that the price of each ventilator was ₹11 lakh and each humidifier ₹45,000, but the price range of ventilators was between ₹6.5 lakh and ₹₹11.5 lakh and humidifier ₹40,000. “TBS has claimed excess amount in the bill submitted for heart lung machine by inflating value to ₹45 lakh of its original value of ₹14.6 lakh. Excess payment of ₹3.8 lakh was made from November 2015 to June 2017. Excess payment of ₹34 lakh was made to TBS from November 2015 to June 2017 by inflating the value of BME,” ACB said.

Excess payment of ₹62.8 lakh was made to TBS for the period of November 2015 to June 2017 on the basis of the bill submitted for maintenance of BME, which were under warranty, and the figures pertained to randomly verified hospitals and health centres.

A penalty of ₹45 lakh was not imposedd on TBS despite the failure of the company to repair BME at KGH, Visakhapatnam, within seven days of complaint for repair of 29 BMEs. Then AP chief secretary LV Subrahmanyam, in his note in 2019, said, “ACB has reported many administrative, and procedural lapses resulting in a huge financial loss to the government. ACB reveals there is wilful financial mismanagement in executing the contract for maintaining BME in government hospitals.”

In reply to a show cause notice, TBS India said, “Those referred instances are some isolated and bona fide mistakes.”

The agreement suspension orders of the AP government said, “TBS India Telematic and Biomedical Services agreed that due to human error incorrect prices were billed. It submitted of five assets mentioned in the notice, two assets tagged incorrectly due to clerical errors, an asset is under PPP mode wrongly tagged due to nonavailability of information, one tagged with wrong name.”

Wedding venue in Nagpur turns Covid detection centre

Wedding venue in Nagpur turns Covid detection centre

Nagpur:  01.03.2021 

A wedding venue at Sawargaon in Maharashtra’s Nagpur district turned into an impromptu ‘Covid detection centre’ when health officials arrived at the spot and subjected all present — bride, groom and guests — to rapid antigen tests. Even the priest, cook and drivers were not spared, reports Soumitra Bose. District collector Ravindra Thakare said this could be replicated elsewhere.

Narkhed health official Dr Vidyanand Gaikwad came up with the idea as wedding venues have emerged as superspreader events. “We conducted 26 antigen tests at the venue and everyone tested negative,” he said.

Sign up from 9am today for vax at 136 pvt, 56 govt hosps in city

Sign up from 9am today for vax at 136 pvt, 56 govt hosps in city

Jabs To Be Given 6 Days A Week To ‘Priority’ Popn

Sushmi Dey & Sidhartha Roy | TNN

New Delhi: 01.03.2021 

India is set to enter the second phase of Covid-19 vaccinations on Monday, when registrations will open at 9am for senior citizens (60 years and above) and those aged 45 to 60 years with comorbidities. The expansion of the vaccine drive aims to cover a total of 30 crore “priority” population at a crucial juncture when several states are witnessing an upswing in cases.

For getting the shot, eligible people will have to register on the Co-Win 2.0 portal (www.cowin.gov.in) or through other IT applications.

There are over 21 lakh senior citizens in Delhi, apart from those 45 and above suffering from one of 20 specified comorbidities. These beneficiaries can choose a vaccination centre at one of the 136 designated private hospitals, where they’ll get the vaccine at Rs 250 per dose, including Rs 150 as cost of the vaccine and up to Rs 100 as operational charges. They also have the option of getting a shot free of cost at 56 government hospitals.

Vaccinations will be done six days a week at these centres. The details are available at Delhi government’s website www.dshm.delhi.gov.in.

So far, around 1.42 crore doses have been given to health and frontline workers across the country since the first phase began on January 16.

Covid count at 9-month low, weekly cases up

India reported the fewest number of Covid-19 cases in February since May last year but infections continued to surge for the second straight week, with the last seven days seeing a surge of more than 19% in fresh cases and nearly 18% rise in deaths from the virus. The death toll in the month of February, at 2,767, was the lowest since April last year. P 7

D-Day: Here’s what over 21 lakh senior citizens in line for C-vax should know

These include around 3.7 lakh beneficiaries in Delhi.

The senior citizen beneficiaries in Delhi include 12.2 lakh people in 60-69 age group, 6.7 lakh people in the 70-79 age group and more than 2.3 lakh beneficiaries who are aged 80 years or above, according to the latest electoral rolls.

The option of self-registration, along with a large number of session sites, and the fear of another surge in infections, are all expected to result in people being more willing to take the shots now than they would have been a few weeks ago. Besides, many Cabinet ministers, chief ministers and PM Narendra Modi himself are likely to take the vaccine during this phase, which is expected to give a boost to the drive.

All beneficiaries are advised to carry their Aadhar card, Electoral Photo Identity Card (EPIC) or the photo ID card specified at the time of registration, when they visit a centre for vaccination. Those in the 45-59-year age group will also have to carry a certificate of co-morbidity signed by a registered medical practitioner. The list of 20 specified comorbidities is available at www.dshm.delhi.gov.in.

“Apart from self-registration, district authorities will also help beneficiaries, particularly senior citizens who might not be tech-savvy enough to complete the registration process. Apart from mobilising health workers to reach out to such beneficiaries, district authorities are also roping in RWAs to inform people and create awareness,” said a senior Delhi government official.

Across the country, around 10,000 private hospitals under Ayushman Bharat PMJAY and 687 private hospitals under the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) will be utilised for vaccinations. Besides, states governments can utilise private hospitals empanelled under state health insurance schemes and other programmes. Apart from this, vaccination will also happen at 10,000 government hospitals. Many of the large hospitals will hold multiple sessions for vaccination.

There will be only one live appointment for a beneficiary at any point of time for each dose. Individuals will be able to register on the COWIN portal through mobile numbers. With one mobile number, a person can register as many as four beneficiaries. However, all those registered on one mobile number will have nothing in common except the mobile number. The ID card number for each such beneficiary must be different.

Appointments for any date for a Covid vaccination centre (CVC) will be closed at 3 pm on that day for which the slots were opened. For example, for March 1, the slots will be open from 9am till 3pm on the same day and the appointments can be booked any time before that, depending on availability of slots. However, on March 1, appointment can also be booked for any future date for which vaccination slots are available. A slot for the second dose will also be booked at the same CVC after 28 days have lapsed from the day of the first dose.

However, beneficiaries can make changes or cancel their appointments till the vaccination is done. The beneficiary will have the option to change the slot for second dose from the 29th day to the 42nd day of the first dose. If a beneficiary cancels a firstdose appointment, then appointment of both doses will be cancelled, health ministry said in a guidance note.

The specific vaccine to be given will not be disclosed at the time of appointment, even though a particular CVC will stock only one type of vaccine.

So far, India has granted emergency use authorization to two vaccines – Oxford University and AstraZeneca developed Covishield, manufactured here by the Serum Institute of India, and Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin.

Delhi HC judge named member of governing council of law univ

Delhi HC judge named member of governing council of law univ

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:01.03.2021 

National Law University (NLU), Delhi, has got a new member on its powerful governing council.

Justice Siddharth Mridul of Delhi High Court has been nominated as a member for a period up to June 29, 2023, with immediate effect, by Chief Justice D N Patel.

Delhi High Court Chief Justice, who is also chancellor of NLU, Delhi, issued a notification on February 26 nominating Justice Mridul as member of the governing council of NLU. The council is the supreme authority of the university to take its all crucial decisions related to administration.

Justice Mridul was designated as senior advocate in May 2006 and was appointed as additional judge of Delhi High Court on March 13, 2008, and as a permanent judge on May 26, 2009.

While he was practising as an advocate, justice Mridul was appointed by the high court as a member in various committees to go into the issues of rehabilitation of children after the abolition of child labour, illegal construction in contravention of municipal bye-laws and member of the committee constituted to suggest, supervise and implement measures for the efficient and hygienic functioning of the Safdarjung Hospital.

Can AI pay a month’s salary to terminated pilots, asks HC

Can AI pay a month’s salary to terminated pilots, asks HC

New Delhi:  01.03.2021` 

Delhi High Court has directed Air India (AI) to inform it whether the airline can, in an interim arrangement, pay a month’s salary to pilots who have challenged the termination of their contractual employment during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Justice Prathiba M Singh asked the lawyer appearing for the airline to seek instructions “for payment of one month’s salary immediately, as an ad-interim arrangement, especially in view of the difficulties being faced by the petitioners (pilots) during the pandemic”.

The court was hearing two pleas moved by the pilots, through advocate Lalit Bhardwaj, for quashing an April 2, 2020 order suspending their services and the subsequent order of August 7, 2020 by which they were all terminated.

Justice Singh, referring to the facts of the case, said that it was “prima facie clear that the suspension, which was issued in April 2020, was nothing but termination for which one month notice was to be issued as per the contract”.

The court, however, said that it was leaving open for now the question of whether the contracts were rightly terminated or not and listed the matter for hearing on March 25.

Bhardwaj, during the hearing, said that AI, on November 23, 2020, was asked by the court to take instructions on whether the terminated contractual pilots can be paid one month’s salary as an interim arrangement.

The contention was refuted by AI’s lawyer who claimed the plea was not maintainable as the subject matter of the disputes are private contracts and there is no public function involved. PTI

Most Gulmarg hotels booked till mid-April

Most Gulmarg hotels booked till mid-April

Bharti.Jain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:01.03.2021 

As the mercury shoots up in the plains, tourists with a passion for skiing are thronging a snowed-out Gulmarg. Most hotels in this picturesque Kashmir town are fully booked through March and some even till mid-April with many well-heeled domestic tourists, who used to flock to foreign ski havens for their annual winter break in pre-Covid times, discovering Gulmarg as a refreshing alternative closer home.

Not only skiing enthusiasts — mostly from Delhi and Mumbai — Gulmarg is also attracting less-adventurous folks bored of being largely confined to their homes for a year. “The peaceful atmosphere in J&K over the last couple of years and the mandatory Covid testing at airports has made tourism here a safe and secure alternative to flying abroad,” says Vinit Chhabra, general manager of The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa in Gulmarg.

As many as 29 hotels and resorts in Gulmarg, according to a list accessed by TOI, are fully sold out for most of March, while some have 100% bookings till mid-April. The Khyber is fully booked till March end, The Rosewood Hotel till April 10, The Vintage till April 13 and JKTDC Huts through most of March.

Tourists enjoy themselves in snow-clad Gulmarg on Sunday

‘Early snowfall in Nov brought in skiing enthusiast & tourists’

The early snowfall in November this year brought in skiing enthusiast and tourists here. Of course, the continuing curbs on international flights have given a boost to tourism in Gulmarg," Vinit Chhabra, general manager of The Khyber Himalayan Resort and Spa in Gulmarg says.

“People who always had J&K on their bucket list are now coming here, having been presented with an opportunity. Also, mandatory Covid testing (at airports/railway stations/inter-state border) gives a psychological assurance that no visitor infected with Covid will make it to tourist spots inside the state,” he added.

Most hotel and resort managers TOI spoke to were upbeat about the positive impact on the regular tourist season in Kashmir, which starts in May, with Pahalgam, Srinagar, Sonmarg likely to witness good arrivals. “For the locals, a good tourist season means better earnings and more job opportunities,” said Eijaz Bhat, manager at Jammu & Kashmir Tourism Development Corporation (JKTDC) Huts in Gulmarg.

Bhat attributed the full bookings in Gulmarg to the conscious push given by the Centre as well as J&K government under LG Manoj Sinha, to revival of tourism in the Valley. For instance, Khelo India event was held in the ski resort last week, with the Prime Minister inaugurating it. He added that JKDTC has offered 50% discount on its hotel fares through the Union Territory.

According to Farooq Ahmad of The Rosewood hotel at Gulmarg, tourists from all income groups are making a beeline for Gulmarg. “The excitement of witnessing a snowfall, a first for many, is the main attraction,” he said. “Even for those interested in skiing, Gulmarg is a far cheaper alternative to foreign resorts,” added Bhat.

Of course, the celebrity arrivals in Gulmarg have helped. Bollywood actors Vidya Balan and Arbaaz Khan recently took vacations in Gulmarg. Chhabra of The Khyber disclosed that he recently had to deny a room reservation to actress Sara Ali Khanas the hotel was fully booked.

People climb up a snow covered mountain after fresh snowfall at the ski resort of Gulmarg on Sunday

India’s first digital varsity to create tech leaders

India’s first digital varsity to create tech leaders

The admission process for the first cohort of PhD and postgraduate programmes will begin in March and April 2021, respectively

c-Sheetal.Banchariya@timesgroup.com

01.03.2021 

In a first, India has become home to a digital university. The Kerala University of Digital Sciences, Innovation and Technology (KUDSIT) is established by upgrading the Indian Institute of Information Technology and Management Kerala (IIITMK), which was set up in 2000. It will focus on four key themes required for digital world leadership – Computing, Artificial Intelligence, Sustainability and Entrepreneurship.

It is important to note that the digital university is not a virtual university, says Saji Gopinath, vice-chancellor of KUDSIT. “It has an offline campus, and most programmes will be offered through blended mode. But the focus is on creating talent and knowledge for advancements in the digital era.”

“While many premier institutions use technology for expanding their reach, there is a need to supplement these efforts by doing in-depth studies on the development of effective learning models, assess the impact of digital technology and learning in various aspects of society, which form the mandate of the digital university,” he adds.

The university’s research and development activities will focus on new technologies to drive the digital revolution, training and curating talent to effectively apply the digital means in various sectors of the economy such as agriculture, health care, industry, entertainment and education, says Gopinath.

What’s on offer

The university will initially focus on five disciplines – Computer Science and Engineering, Electronics Systems and Automation, Informatics, Digital Sciences, Digital Humanities & Liberal Arts. Two types of courses will be offered by the digital university – long-duration postgraduate programmes and short-term skilling programmes.

“The varsity will host two batches every year, starting in July and January. The admissions will be conducted through a nationallevel exam. The candidates with GATE or GRE scores will also be considered,” says Gopinath.

Be a warrior, not worrier, Modi tells students ahead of exams

Be a warrior, not worrier, Modi tells students ahead of exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:01.03.2021 

Wishing students ahead of their examinations, PM Narendra Modi on Sunday urged them to “be a warrior, not a worrier” as he invited parents and teachers to give suggestions for ‘Pariksha pe Charcha”. Speaking in his monthly radio programme ‘Mann ki Baat’, the PM also urged the youth to think beyond traditional ways.

Noting that the next few months were of special importance for students with board and other exams approaching, Modi said, “You have to become a warrior, not a worrier, go gleefully for the examination and come back with a smile. You have to compete with yourself, not with anyone else. Get adequate sleep and be mindful of time management. Do not stop playing, for those who play are the ones that blossom. Revision and smart methods of memorisation are to be adopted, that is, overall, in these exams, you have to bring out your best.”

He said due to pressures of traditional thinking, the youth were often not able to do what they really liked. “That is why you should never hesitate in thinking new, doing new. In the same manner Sant Ravidasji has given another important message. This message is ‘to stand on one’s own feet’. It is not fair at all that we remain dependent on others for our dreams. Things remaining the way they are… Ravidasji was never in favour of this. Today, we see that the youth of the country too is not at all in favour of this thinking. Today, when I see the innovative spirit of the youth of the country, I feel Ravidasji would have definitely felt proud of our youth,” he added.

Modi underlined that Aatmanirbhar Bharat was not just a government policy but a national spirit, and said the mantra of self-reliant India was reaching the villages.

He called for a 100-day campaign to clean all water bodies and prepare them for rainwater harvesting before the monsoon started. Stressing the importance of collective responsibility towards water conservation, he said the Jal Shakti ministry would soon initiate a ‘Catch The Rain’ campaign with its main theme being “catch the rain where it falls, when it falls”.

Go gleefully for the examination and come back with a smile. You have to compete with yourself, not with anyone else

NARENDRA MODI, Prime Minister

TN govt notifies Vanniyar quota law after governor nod

TN govt notifies Vanniyar quota law after governor nod

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.03.2021 

Tamil Nadu government has notified the law mandating 10.5% internal quota for Vanniyakula Kshatriya community within the 20% reservation for Most Backward Classes (MBC) and Denotified Communities (DC) after governor Banwarilal Purohit gave his assent to a Bill for the same. The government had hurriedly introduced and passed the Bill in the assembly just half-an-hour before the Election Commission announced the poll schedule for the state and the model code of conduct came into effect on Friday.

The Bill was then sent to the governor for his assent, which the government secured the same day.

Following the nod from the governor, the state government notified the ‘Tamil Nadu Special Reservation of Seats in Educational Institutions Including Private Educational Institutions and of Appointments of Posts in Services under the State within the Reservation for the MBC and DC, Act, 2021’ in an extraordinary gazette. Vanniyakula Kshatriya community includes Vanniyar, Vanniya, Vannia Gounder, Gounder, Padayachi, Palli and Agnikula Kshatriya castes.

The law provides internal reservation for three categories — 10.5% quota for MBC (Vanniyakula Kshatriyas), 7% for DC and the MBC Communities having similarity with DC and 2.5% for the other MBC not included in the above category.

This follows the recommendation of the chairman of the TN Backward Classes Commission on the demand made by various communities to provide internal quota. PMK, a key ally of AIADMK, had held a series of protests since December, demanding exclusive quota for Vanniyars.

Why coronavirus didn’t hit India as hard as America and Europe

Why coronavirus didn’t hit India as hard as America and Europe

Most Diseases, From Diphtheria To Malaria, Affect Poorer Countries More Than The Rich. Why Is The Coronavirus Pandemic Different?

01.03.2021 

On Monday, Covid deaths in the US crossed the half-million mark. India had less than a third as many deaths despite a rickety health infrastructure and four times the population. Where Covid has felled elderly Americans in droves, here everybody knows neighbourhood uncles and aunties who recovered at home with only mild symptoms. It’s the same story across the developing world.

Why has Covid been kinder to India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, and almost the entire Africa? It’s an “epidemiological mystery,” Siddhartha Mukherjee, cancer specialist and author of the bestselling ‘The Emperor of All Maladies’ writes in a recent New Yorker article.

The possibilities are many, and Mukherjee investigates some at length before concluding that if this were a murder mystery, it would not have a “one murder, one murderer, one weapon” plot. Here’s a look at three of the key suspects.

Younger population

Covid’s severity increases with old age. “After the age of 30, your chance of dying if you get Covid-19 doubles roughly every eight years,” says Mukherkee. So, countries with an older population – Belgium, Italy, the US and UK, for example – are bound to be disproportionately hit by it.

In contrast, poorer countries have a younger population overall. India’s median age (the middle value of all ages) is 28; Italy’s is 47. It’s easy to see which country will have more Covid deaths for every million people. And age is the most common explanation for Covid’s varying impact between rich and poor nations.

Mystery solved? Mukherjee points out that the median ages of Mexico (29) and India are roughly the same. The share of population older than 65 is also similar. “Yet India’s reported rate of Covid-19 deaths per capita is less than a tenth of Mexico’s.”

Immune system’s T cells

Street wisdom says Indians don’t need to fear Covid because our immune systems are not wimps. Filth, street food, flies, dengue, malaria – we are attuned to all of them.

Mukherjee looks at immunity from a scientific angle. There are three main players in it: antibodies, B cells and T cells. Antibodies cannot explain our better response to SARS-CoV-2 – the novel or new coronavirus – because they are custom-made for each germ. Because the coronavirus is new, there is no possibility of having antibodies for it without exposure.

As for B cells, their job is to make antibodies. That leaves us with T cells. When scientists at California’s La Jolla Institute for Immunology tested blood plasma samples collected before the pandemic, they found that in 40% of the samples, “the new coronavirus was somehow triggering a T-cell response.”

What exactly are T cells? They are immune system cells that “hunt for cells infected by a pathogen.” When a virus infects you, it starts turning your cells into factories to make copies of itself. T cells blow up these virus factories.

That does not explain how T cells can recognise a brand-new virus. Mukherjee says it’s because they target germs on the basis of resemblance, not a perfect photo match (unlike antibodies). Why does the new coronavirus look familiar to T cells? It’s because there are four other coronaviruses – called OC43, 229E, NL63 and HKU1 – that cause common colds. Everybody’s been infected by one or more of them. Research at Seattle Pacific University shows all coronaviruses – new and old – have many common building blocks that can trigger T-cell action. At Boston University, scientists found that Covid patients who had a cold between 2015 and March 2020, had “lower rates of mechanical ventilation, fewer ICU admissions, and significantly fewer deaths.”

Undercounting

Can it be that poorer countries are underreporting Covid deaths? Zambia has officially reported only 1,040 Covid deaths so far, but postmortems of 364 bodies in its capital Lusaka found the coronavirus in 70. Roughly one in five dead was infected. Analysis of household surveys that are done every four months in India also showed “deaths doubled between May and August” last year, but a deeper examination revealed the deceased were often younger people in rural areas. Not exactly the typical Covid fatality profile.

Actual deaths are higher

A study published in the British Medical Journal last month suggested that case fatality ratio (CFR) – deaths among total cases – can miss deaths of those who were never tested for Covid-19 but were hospitalised for complications stemming from infection. State-wise analysis shows the “corrected” CFR, which adjusts for testing failures, can be much higher than the reported CFR

Wrong predictions

Mathematical models give health authorities an idea of how much a disease will spread, and how much damage it will cause. For Covid, these models have been largely correct for rich countries, but off by a “staggering margin” when it comes to developing countries.