Elderly couple get 10 years’ RI for sexual assault of 4-year-old

Elderly couple get 10 years’ RI for sexual assault of 4-year-old

Rebecca.Samervel@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:11.03.2021 

In a rare instance, a now 81-year-old woman and her 87-year-old husband were found guilty of the 2013 sexually assault of their 4-year-old neighbour and sentenced to 10 years’ rigorous imprisonment. This is probably thefirst case in the city where a woman has been found guilty for such a crime under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act. The special Pocso court relied on testimonies of the child and her mother, and medical evidence.

Special judge Rekha N Pandhare ordered the accused to pay Rs50,000 each to the child as compensation within a month. The court observed that the victim being a child and the accused being of the age of her grandparents, were supposed to take care of her. Instead, they sexually assaulted her, the court ruled.

In the trial by special public prosecutors Veena Shelar and Geeta Nayyar, seven witnesses deposed. The child was eight at the time of deposition.

In a statement to police, the child said she returned from school at 10am on September 4, 2013. She had something to eat, watched cartoons on TV and at noon went to the fourth floor of her building to play with a friend. The child said that as her friend was sleeping, she decided to return home. She said at that time, the accused, whom she referred to as ‘dada’ and ‘daadi’ (grandfather and grandmother), called out to her.

The child said when she went to the man, he carried her and took her into the house. He made her sit on the swing but he slapped her when she tried to leave. The child alleged that while the woman held her, the man undressed her and sexually assaulted her. The woman repeated the act. She said once again, when she tried to run, the man spat on her face. The child said she got afraid and after the accused let her go, she dressed up and ran home.

The child’s mother had told police that after she returned from work and finished household chores, at10pm she tried to put the child to bed. The mother said the child said she wanted to tell her something and pleaded with her not to scold her. After the mother assured the child, she confided in her about the incident. The mother said she checked the child’s private parts and found inflammation. The mother informed the father and complained to police. The accused was arrested the next day.

Father of two sets 16-year-old girl on fire for rejecting his advances

Raipur:

A married man with two children, who was stalking a minor girl for months, allegedly set her on fire in the early hours of Thursday after she spurned his advances.

He also got burnt when she fought back, engulfed in flames. He managed to flee the spot, but was arrested within hours. Now, both of them are in hospital with severe burns.

The incident took place in a residential locality on the outskirts of Raipur. The accused, Karan Porte, broke into the house of a 16-year-old girl, and poured kerosene on her while she slept, say police. Despite being ablaze, the teenager grappled with him, burning him in the process. Injured, Porte ran out of the house before the girl’s family members could understand what was going on. They doused the fire but by then she had suffered 50% burns. She was taken to hospital where she is in a critical condition.

Police traced Porte through his mobile phone location and arrested him. He has suffered 25% burns and was admitted to hospital, say sources. The girl’s parents said they had repeatedly warned him not to harass her but he persisted, say police. Preliminary probe indicates he tried one last time to force her into ‘marriage’ on Wednesday evening, and decided to kill her when she refused, say police. TNN

In 5 years, 50% drop in students passing out of AU

In 5 years, 50% drop in students passing out of AU

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.03.2021 

Number of engineering students graduating from Anna University has fallen by nearly 50% over the past five years with only 85,247 BE, B,Tech students graduating in 2020 compared to 1,65,417 students in 2016. The number of graduates among ME, MTech, MArch has also steeply fallen over the same period.

According to the 2020 convocation report, just 16,720 postgraduate students graduated in 2020, while it was 42,254 in 2016. On an average, around 50% to 60% students completed their courses within four years and received their degrees.

Only 29,520 got degrees in 2020

Along with declining engineering admissions, the confusion over arrear exams also contributed to a huge drop in the number of graduates in 2020,” a source said. The unprecedented move by the state government of cancelling arrear exams for all students and subsequent court cases delayed arrear exams by at least five months.

The university conducted only the final semester exams and arrear exams in final semester for passed out students in September 2020. While 1,14,767 students got their degrees in 2019, the number has come down by 29,520 in 2020. “The huge difference this year is because of the confusion surrounding the arrear exams. Next year, the number of students passing out will be more,” a senior professor said.

The university successfully conducted online arrear and semester exams for 4.5 lakh students in February. However, on a positive note, the number of PhD scholars has increased compared to 2016. While 1,507 students received their PhD degreesin 2016,the number hasincreased to 2,051in 2020.

Maths, physics not must, biz & agri students too can do engg

Maths, physics not must, biz & agri students too can do engg

Bridge Courses To Ensure Learning Outcomes: AICTE

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.03.2021 

In a move that could have far-reaching implications for engineering education in the country, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) — the nodal statutory body for technical education — has made mathematics and physics at Class XII-level optional for admissions to BE and BTech courses from 2021-22.

Currently, Class XII-level maths and physics are mandatory for admission to undergraduate programmes in engineering and technology.

The approval process handbook for 2021-22 released by the AICTE has changed the eligibility criteria for UG admissions. Now, students have to pass 10+2 with any three of the following subjects: Physics / mathematics / chemistry / computer science / electronics / information technology / biology / informatics practices / biotechnology / technical vocational subject / agriculture / engineering graphics / business studies / entrepreneurship.

Candidates have to score 45% marks (for reserved category students it is 40% marks) in the above subjects taken together.

“Universities will offer suitable bridge courses such as mathematics, physics, engineering drawing for the students coming from diverse backgrounds to achieve learning outcomes of the programme,” AICTE said in its handbook.

The move has come under strong criticism from academicians who said mathematics is a foundation for all engineering degrees.

‘Maths must remain a compulsory subject’

Bridge course is a remedial course for those who are weak in mathematics. It cannot replace higher secondary-level mathematicswhichis a foundational course,” said S Vaidhyasubramaniam, VC, SASTRA university. The AICTE’s model curriculum for engineering programmes has mathematics running up to fifth semester in almost all programmes. “Mathematics and physics must be compulsory for allengineeringcourses,” hesaid.

However, AICTE chairman Anil D Sahasrabudhe told TOI: “It is not the question of option. The choice of three mandatory courses required as input to engineering education are expanded. Hence, for different disciplines there could be three different mandatorycourses.”

“If a student without maths is admitted,hewillbe requiredto do a lot of math courses in first year. Even earlier, direct second year entrants from diploma holders needed extra maths courses. This will bring a lot of flexibility in line with National Education Policy and in the new system of 5+3+3+4, there would be no arts, science and commerce streams. But still for understanding engineering, one will need maths, physicselsealot of bridge courses shall be required to come to the same level as those who have done physics and maths,” hesaid.

Rita John, head, department of theoretical physics, Madras University, and alsoadomain expert for physics, said: “Without physics and maths, the fundamental understanding of science will be very poor. Without a strongfoundation in science,our future engineers will not be able todo proper engineering.”

Professors say maths used to betaughtin seven outof eightsemesters and those students are generally good in engineering. As of now, maths is compulsory in three semesters and optional in the fourth. “Emerging areas such asdata science, artificialintelligence and machinelearning are all based on maths. Without knowing maths,studentscannot shine in these areas. It is not a good move,” said professor D Arivudainambi, department of mathematics,AnnaUniversity.

Anna University vice-chancellor M K Surappa said maths should remain a compulsory subject. “It is important even for courses like biological engineering and biotechnology. Mathematical knowledge helps students be more analytical and creative,” he said.

Rlys cuts amenities, charges high fares, passengers unhappy

POOR SERVICE

Rlys cuts amenities, charges high fares, passengers unhappy

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12/03/2021 

Most services have resumed, but travellers are irked that railways continues to charge the same fare as earlier despite offering few amenities.

Passengers are no longer given linen, pillows and towels, curtains have been removed from coaches and food vending inside trains halted. In addition, unclean berths and faulty fixtures mar the travel experience.

Chennai-Madurai Yercaud Express, Chennai-Kollam Express, Chennai-Madurai Tejas Express and Chennai-Bengaluru Double Decker trains are a few of the many trains that have drawn the ire of travellers.

“People spend more money to travel in AC coaches thinking the level of hygiene will be better here. But the berths were not clean. I did not get bottled water at en route stations. Railways should cut fare if they are not giving these amenities or should offer linen and pillows to those who ask for them,” said H R Ananth, who paid ₹1,075 for his journey from Chennai to Erode on Yercaud Express (02649).

Despite paying close to ₹2,000 for an executive chair car seat and ₹920 for an AC chair car seat, passengers on Chennai-Madurai Tejas Express too are inconvenienced.

“There is no food and water, WiFi was off and plug points were not working in the executive chair car. The TV screens at the back of the seats are no good. Distribution of food may be limited due to the pandemic, but what do other facilities have to do with it,” asked Priya, a recent traveller. “Without providing any facilities, it is unfair to charge the same rate.”

T Sadagopan, a frequent traveller, too had a poor trip on a Double Decker train. “The C3 coach had too many mosquitoes as the sliding door was broken. The food trays were broken too,” he said.

Sources said more than 60% of complaints were regarding linen and food. Passenger misuse, fixing facilities on time using contractors and sourcing of spares continue to remain problems. “Steps are being taken to ensure amenities are maintained on trains like Tejas,” a senior official said.

Three held for grabbing land worth Rs 1 crore

Three held for grabbing land worth Rs 1 crore

Three men, who allegedly grabbed 2,400 sq feet of land valuing upto Rs 1 crore from its owner without his knowledge using forged documents were arrested in Thiruninravur.

Published: 10th March 2021 04:07 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Three men, who allegedly grabbed 2,400 sq feet of land valuing upto Rs 1 crore from its owner without his knowledge using forged documents were arrested in Thiruninravur. Police said that the land belongs to K Natesan from Thiruninravur, who is settled in Bengaluru.

“In 2020, he came to know from a neighbour in the area that his land was being encroached. Natesan rushed to Chennai and on inquiring, the encumbrance certificate revealed that the land had been transferred to one Yesudas as if Natesan’s father registered it as a settlement,” said a police officer. Shocked by this, Natesan approached the Central Crime Branch (CCB).

Village revenue officer apprehended for taking bribe in Andhra Pradesh

Village revenue officer apprehended for taking bribe in Andhra Pradesh

Our team apprehended a village revenue officer (VRO) K Venkata Nagaraju red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 20,000, ACB DSP said.

Published: 09th March 2021 12:17 PM

By ANI

PRAKASAM: A village revenue officer has been apprehended by Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) officials for taking a bribe of Rs 20,000 in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district.

"Our team apprehended a village revenue officer (VRO) K Venkata Nagaraju red-handed while taking a bribe of Rs 20,000. D Venkata Sivaramakrishna, a farmer in Kurichedu village, went to K Venkata Nagaraju for recording the details of his mother and brother in the official records. The VRO demanded Rs 30,000 bribe and asked him to give an advance of Rs 20,000. Sivaramakrishna registered a complaint to the ACB in this regard," ACB DSP Suryanarayana Rey told ANI on Monday.

"Accordingly, our team laid a trap to catch the officer. We caught the VRO red-handed while taking a bribe. The cash is recovered from him and Nagaraju accepted his crime. The accused officer will now be produced before the ACB special judge court," Reddy said.

He added that further probe is underway in the case.

DCI asks dental colleges to apply for renewal of permission for BDS, MDS courses

DCI asks dental colleges to apply for renewal of permission for BDS, MDS courses: New Delhi: In a series of notices to dental colleges, the DCI has issued another notice to the principals and deans of the dental colleges of India directing them to apply for renewal of...

Only NRI quota seats based on entrance exams for OCI cardholders: MHA

Only NRI quota seats based on entrance exams for OCI cardholders: MHA

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

NEW DELHI:, MARCH 06, 2021 18:21 IST

UPDATED: MARCH 06, 2021 20:42 IST

Photo: ociservices.gov.in

OCI cardholders cannot undertake any ‘missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities’ without prior permission of the GoI

The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has reiterated through a gazette notification that Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) cardholders can lay claim to “only NRI (Non Resident Indian) quota seats” in educational institutions based on all-India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) or other such all-India professional tests.

The notification also reproduced a part of the guidelines issued by the Ministry on November 15, 2019 regarding benefits to OCI cardholders, which said that OCIs are not entitled to undertake any “missionary, mountaineering, journalism and tabligh activities” without prior permission of the Government of India. The notification provides legal teeth to the guidelines.

The notification says that the OCI cardholder shall be required to obtain a “special permission or a special permit” from the competent authority or the Foreigners Regional Registration Officer (FRRO) or the Indian Mission “to undertake research, Missionary or Tabligh or Mountaineering or Journalistic activities, undertake internship in any foreign diplomatic missions or foreign Government organisations in India or employment in any foreign diplomatic missions in India and visit any place which falls within the Protected or Restricted or prohibited areas as notified by the Central Government or competent authority”.

OCI citizens are of Indian origin but they are foreign passport holders and are not citizens of India. India does not allow dual citizenship but provides certain benefits under Section 7B(I) of the Citizenship Act, 1955 to the OCIs.

The fresh notification replaces three previous notifications issued on the subject on April 11, 2005; January 5, 2007; and January 5, 2009, respectively. The previous notifications did not specify the special permission required for “missionary, Tabligh, mountaineering or journalistic activities” and were merely part of the November 2019 guidelines.

A Ministry official said that several OCI cardholder students have filed petitions in courts that they are eligible to get admission against general seats in medical, engineering and other government colleges if they clear the all-India tests.

In March 2019, the MHA clarified to the Karnataka High Court that students with OCI cards had “parity with Non-Resident Indians (NRIs) and can lay claim only on the NRI quota seats based on the all-India tests”.

However on December 15, 2020, the High Court of Karnataka directed that students under the OCI category are to be considered as “citizens of India” for admission to professional courses and asked the State government to admit them to undergraduate professional courses, including engineering, medical, and dental, even under the government and institutional quotas, and not to restrict their admission only under the NRI quota.

The March 4 notification by the MHA said that OCI card holders will have parity with NRIs in the matter of “appearing for the all India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Joint Entrance Examination (Mains), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced) or such other tests to make them eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat: “Provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens.”

OCIs are eligible for grant of multiple entry lifelong visa for visiting India for any purpose and are exempt from registration with the FRRO for any length of stay in India. The fresh notification adds that the OCI cardholders who are normally residents in India “shall intimate the FRRO by email whenever there is a change in permanent residential address and in their occupation”.

The notification gives parity to OCIs with Indian nationals in the matter of tariffs in air fares in domestic sectors, entry fees for visiting national parks, wildlife sanctuaries, the national monuments, historical sites and museums in India. It gives parity to OCIs with NRIs in the matter of inter-country adoption of Indian children subject to the compliance of the procedure as laid down by the competent authority for such adoption, purchase or sale of immovable properties other than agricultural land or farm house or plantation property and to pursue the following professions — doctors, dentists, nurses and pharmacists, advocates, architects and chartered accountants.

The MHA said that in respect of all other economic, financial and educational fields not specified in the notification, the OCI cardholder shall have the same rights and privileges as a foreigner.

An official said that the notification will not impact the 2018 decision by the government that made OCIs eligible for appointment as permanent teaching faculty in premier educational institutions such as the Indian Institutes of Technology, National Institutes of Technology, Indian Institutes of Management, Indian Institutes of Science Education and Research, Indian Institute of Science, and Central Universities and new All Indian Institutes of Medical Sciences set up under the Pradhan Mantri Swasthya Suraksha Yojana (PMSSY).

“The recruitment of OCIs in educational institutes is governed by Section 7B 2 (I) of the Citizenship Act, 1955. Central government can specify the rules by special orders,” said the official.

OCI candidates can get admission to only NRI quota seats after taking NEET: MHA

OCI candidates can get admission to only NRI quota seats after taking NEET: MHA: New Delhi: OCI candidates can only get MBBS/BDS admissions to the NRI quota seats in the medical colleges across the country based on their NEET score.The information to this effect comes from a...

Promotion Of Candidate Will Take Effect From Date Of Eligibility And Not Date On Interview: Delhi High Court

Promotion Of Candidate Will Take Effect From Date Of Eligibility And Not Date On Interview: Delhi High Court: The Delhi High Court on Monday held that the promotion of a candidate would take effect from date of eligibility and not from the date of interview as per the Career Advancement Scheme (CAS)...

DU VC puts in papers on last day of tenure

DU VC puts in papers on last day of tenure

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:10.03.2021 

As the tenure of Delhi University’s suspended vicechancellor Yogesh Tyagi ended on Tuesday, he wrote to the Visitor — the President of India, and other officials, stating he was “relinquishing” the charge as the vice-chancellor of the university.

“On completion of my tenure as the vice-chancellor of Delhi University, I, hereby, relinquish the charge,” he wrote.

In October 2020, the President of India had ordered a visitorial inquiry and suspended Tyagi over an allegation of dereliction of duty. With the inquiry report yet to be submitted, he superannuated in suspension. An official in the Union education ministry confirmed that the report hadn’t been submitted and the probe would continue.

Earlier last week, too, Tyagi had written to the Visitor seeking revocation of the suspension as his tenure was to end on March 9. Even the DU executive council nominee of the chancellor — the Vice-President of India, Raj Kumar Bhatia, had written to the inquiry committee and the President seeking the revocation. A senior university official said no response was received from either the Visitor or the ministry.

“For the first time in the history of the university, a vicechancellor is having such an unpleasant exit,” said a teacher.

Judge on flight fumes over mask violations

Judge on flight fumes over mask violations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:10.03.2021

A “stubborn reluctance” by passengers to wear masks properly on a flight he took has prompted a Delhi High Court judge to take suo motu notice of the “alar ming situation”.

Justice C Hari Shankar on Tuesday directed domestic airlines and DGCA to strictly comply with guidelines to enforce mask discipline among passengers and either offload the errant ones or put them in “no fly regimen” if they disobey rules mid air.

“Such a situation, in the present scenario, when the country is seeing a resurgence of Covid-19 cases, is completely unconscionable. Passengers in a flight are in a closed air-conditioned environment and even if one of the passengers suffers from Covid, the effect on other passengers could be cataclysmic. It is a matter of common knowledge that being within arm’s length distance of a Covid carrier, even if he is asymptomatic and is merely speaking, is more than sufficient to transmit the virus,” Justice Shankar noted, citing his experience on a Kolkata to New Delhi flight last week.

பட்டா மாறுதலுக்கு சிறப்பு ஏற்பாடு

பட்டா மாறுதலுக்கு சிறப்பு ஏற்பாடு

Added : மார் 05, 2021 23:57

சென்னை:தமிழகத்தில் சொத்து விற்பனை பத்திரப்பதிவுக்கு பின், பட்டா மாறுதலுக்கு மக்கள் அலைவதை தவிர்க்க, உட்பிரிவு தேவைப்படாத இனங்களுக்கு, கணினி வழியே பட்டா மாற்ற சிறப்பு திட்டம் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டது.

இத்திட்டம், செங்கல்பட்டு, காஞ்சிபுரம் உள்ளிட்ட, 10 மாவட்டங்களில் அமலில் உள்ளது. இதில், நடைமுறை குழப்பங்களை தீர்க்க, 'ஆன்லைன்' பத்திரப்பதிவு சாப்ட்வேரில், சில மாற்றங்கள் செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன.இதன்படி, கணினி வழியே மாற்றம் செய்யதக்க சொத்து பதிவுகளை, தகுதி வாரியாக பிரித்து, சார் - பதிவாளர் ஒப்புதல் அளிக்க வழி வகை செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான, வழிகாட்டி நடைமுறைகளும் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளன.

HC orders notice on plea for more PG-NEET centres in TN

‘REPLY BY MARCH 8’

HC orders notice on plea for more PG-NEET centres in TN

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.03.2021 

An advocate has moved the Madras high court seeking direction to the central government to establish additional examination centres in Tamil Nadu for PG-NEET 2021.

Claiming that out of 255 centres established across the country only 28 are in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, Veerapillai Ramesh said even such centres are chosen by candidates of other states, forcing Tamil Nadu students to opt for centres in other states.

Admitting the plea, a division bench of Justice R Subbiah and Justice Sathi Kumar Sukumara Kurup directed the union government and the National Board of Examination to file their reply by March 8.

According to the petitioner, the choice of the city for NEET-PG will depend on the availability of the test centres in any particular city and that the allotment shall be done on a first-come-first-served basis.

“I have learned from various sources that within few hours from the opening of the portal enabling the candidates to apply, the system responds to the effect that all the test centres in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry has been taken and that the said centres do not find a place in the list of centres while applying online,” he said.

The notice inviting applications was itself published on February 23 and on the same day by 3.00 pm all the centres in Tamil Nadu and Pondicherry are said to be filled, he added. This has put the candidates from Tamil Nadu in a very precarious situation, where they have to necessarily opt for centres outside Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, the petitioner said.

6 yrs after man falls to death from train, his family to get ₹8L

HC TO THE RESCUE

6 yrs after man falls to death from train, his family to get ₹8L

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.03.2021 

The Madras high court has made it clear that Southern Railway cannot deny compensation to passengers who die because they had to peep outside the doorway due to overcrowding in local trains.

All accidents that cause death due to impact on a lamp post cannot be construed as self-inflicted injury, Justice S M Subramaniam said while ordering Rs 8 lakh compensation with 6% interest to the family of a daily-wage worker who died in one such accident.

According to the petitioners, Parameswari and Samikannu, the deceased was a worker on a contract with a company in Chromepet and went to office by train. He had a monthly ticket.

On April 28, 2015, while travelling between Perungalathur and Tambaram during the peak hour, he fell down from a running train that was crowded and sustained severe head injuries. The victim died on the spot.

When the family applied for compensation, the railway tribunal rejected the claim on the ground that the death occurred as the man had hit a lamp post due to negligence and carelessness.

Aggrieved, the family have moved the present appeal before the court.

When the plea came up for hearing, the judge said, “Railways pleading negligence and carelessness on the part of passengers should establish an intention to cause selfinflicted injury. If the intention is established, then the exclusion clause may be invoked and not otherwise. Mens rea (criminal intent) is required for committing an act of self-inflicted injury or death.”

The court said that while standing near the door or while boarding a moving train, if an accident occurs, the same cannot be construed as self-inflicted injury, but the injury on account of carelessness. “Such injuries, which cannot be brought within the parameters of selfinflicted injury and compensation shall not be denied,” the court said.

கூகுள் பே’ உள்ளிட்ட செயலி வழியே வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பண பட்டுவாடா - சைபர் கிரைம் உதவியை நாடும் ஆணையம்

கூகுள் பே’ உள்ளிட்ட செயலி வழியே வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பண பட்டுவாடா - சைபர் கிரைம் உதவியை நாடும் ஆணையம்

money-for-vote

‘கூகுள் பே’ உள்ளிட்ட செயலிகள் மூலம் வாக்காளர்களுக்கு, கட்சிகள் பணம் கொடுப்பதைத் தடுக்கசைபர் கிரைம் உதவியை தேர்தல் ஆணையம் நாடியுள்ளது.

தமிழகத்தில் கடந்த 2016 சட்டப்பேரவை தேர்தல் மற்றும் 2019 நாடாளுமன்றத் தேர்தலில் பலநூறு கோடி ரூபாயை வாக்காளர்களுக்கு அரசியல் கட்சியினர் கொடுத்ததாக சில தகவல்கள் தெரிவிக்கின்றன. கடந்த காலம்போல் இல்லாமல் இம்முறைபண விநியோகத்துக்கு தொழில்நுட்ப வசதிகளும் கைகொடுப்பதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது.

‘கூகுள் பே’, ‘போன் பே’ உள்ளிட்ட தனியார் செயலிகள் மூலம்வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பணம் விநியோகம் நடைபெற இருப்பதாகத் தெரிகிறது. பல இடங்களில் வாக்காளர்களின் செல்போன் எண்ணை மட்டும் வாங்கிக் கொண்டு, ‘கூகுள் பே’ மூலம் பணம் அனுப்பப்படுவதாகக் கூறப்படுகிறது.

இதற்காக வாக்காளர்களின் செல்போன் எண்களை சேகரிக்கும் பணிகளை அரசியல் கட்சியினர் ரகசியமாக செய்து வருவதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது. இதுபோன்ற பணப்பரிமாற்றங்களை தடுப்பதற்காக வங்கி பணியாளர்கள், சைபர் கிரைம் போலீஸார் மற்றும் தொழில்நுட்ப வல்லுநர்களின் உதவியை தேர்தல் ஆணையம் நாடியுள்ளது.

செயலி மூலம் பணம் அனுப்பப்பட்டால் அதை ஒரு ஆதாரமாக எடுத்து வழக்குப்பதிவு செய்யலாம் என்று போலீஸாருக்கு தேர்தல் ஆணைய அதிகாரிகள் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளனர். இதுபோன்ற டிஜிட்டல் பணப்பரிமாற்றத்தைத் தடுக்க தேர்தல் ஆணையத்தில் தனியாக ஒரு குழு அமைக்கப்பட இருப்பதாகவும் கூறப்படுகிறது.

மேலும், பண விநியோகம் குறித்து கட்சி அலுவலகங்களை கண்காணிக்கவும் ரோந்து போலீஸாருக்கு அதிகாரிகள் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளனர்.

தேவையில்லாத 'இ - மெயில்' உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவு

Added : மார் 04, 2021 21:29

புதுடில்லி:அரசு துறைகளில் இருந்து தேவையில்லாத, 'இ - மெயில்'கள் வருவதாக தொடரப் பட்ட வழக்கில், 'பிடிக்காவிட்டால், 'அன்சப்ஸ்கிரைப்' எனப்படும், வாய்ப்பை பயன்படுத்தி விலகிக் கொள்ளலாம்' என, டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்ற அமர்வு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

டில்லியைச் சேர்ந்த, சோய்பால் குப்தா, தன் இ - மெயில் முகவரிக்கு, மத்திய அரசின் பல்வேறு துறைகள், பிரதமர் அலுவலகத்தில் இருந்து, தேவையில்லாத, இ - மெயில் வருவதை எதிர்த்து, டில்லி உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் வழக்கு தொடர்ந்திருந்தார்.

அதை விசாரித்த தனி நீதிபதி, மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்தார்.'இந்த இ - மெயில்கள் அனுப்ப வேண்டாம் என, அரசுக்கு இ - மெயில் செய்யுங்கள்' என, நீதிபதி குறிப்பிட்டிருந்தார்.இந்த தீர்ப்பை எதிர்த்து, சோய்பால் குப்தா தாக்கல் செய்த மனுவை விசாரித்த, தலைமை நீதிபதி டி.என்.படேல் தலைமையிலான அமர்வு, 'உங்களுக்கு பிடிக்காவிட்டால், அன்சப்ஸ்கிரைப் செய்யும் வசதியை பயன்படுத்தலாமே' என, உத்தரவிட்டு, மனுவை தள்ளுபடி செய்தது.

ஒரு ஓட்டுச்சாவடி தயார் செய்ய ரூ.1000 போதாது: தேர்தல் கமிஷனிடம் வி.ஏ.ஓ.,க்கள் முறையீடு

ஒரு ஓட்டுச்சாவடி தயார் செய்ய ரூ.1000 போதாது: தேர்தல் கமிஷனிடம் வி.ஏ.ஓ.,க்கள் முறையீடு

Added : மார் 05, 2021 01:29 |

மதுரை:'சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் ஒரு ஓட்டுச்சாவடி தயார் செய்ய தற்போது வழங்கும் ரூ.1000ஐ ரூ.3000 ஆக உயர்த்தி ஒரே தவணையாக வழங்க வேண்டும்' என மாநில தேர்தல் கமிஷனிடம் தமிழ்நாடு கிராம நிர்வாக அலுவலர்கள்(வி.ஏ.ஓ.,) முன்னேற்ற சங்கம் முறையிட்டுள்ளது.

மதுரையில் சங்க மாநில தலைவர் சுரேஷ் கூறியதாவது:ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகள் தயார் செய்யும் பணி வி.ஏ.ஓ.,க்களிடம் ஒப்படைக்கப்படுகிறது. ஒரு சாவடிக்கு ரூ.1000 மட்டுமே வழங்கப்படுகிறது. தற்போது கொரோனா முன்னெச்சரிக்கையாக அதிக வாக்காளர்களை கொண்ட ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகள் பிரிக்கப்பட்டு கூடுதலாக அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

எனவே ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகளை தயார் செய்ய தலா ரூ.3000 வழங்குவதுடன், ஓட்டுச்சாவடி முன்பாக வாக்காளர்களை வெயிலில் இருந்து பாதுகாக்க சாமியானா பந்தல் அமைக்க ஓட்டுச்சாவடி ஒன்றுக்கு ரூ.4000 வீதம் வழங்க வேண்டும்.கடந்த சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் பணிபுரிந்த வி.ஏ.ஓ.,களுக்கு அரை மாத சம்பளம் மதிப்பூதியமாக வழங்கப்பட்டது.

ஆனால் இதே வருவாய்த்துறையிலிருந்து பணிபுரிந்த மற்றவர்களுக்கு ஒரு சாத சம்பளம் மதிப்பூதியமாக வழங்கப்பட்டது.வேறுபாடின்றி அனைவருக்கும் ஒரே விதமாக ஒரு மாத சம்பளத்தை மதிப்பூதியமாக வழங்க தலைமை தேர்தல் அலுவலர் நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும், என்றார். மாவட்ட நிர்வாகிகள் ஜெய்கணேஷ், செல்வக்குமார், கோபாலகிருஷ்ணன் உடனிருந்தனர்.

பயணியர் இல்லாததால் 12 விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து

பயணியர் இல்லாததால் 12 விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து

Added : மார் 05, 2021 01:09

சென்னை:போதிய பயணியர் இல்லாததால் மும்பை, விசாகப்பட்டினம், கொச்சி உள்ளிட்ட நகரங்களில் இருந்து சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும் 12 விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன.

சென்னை விமான நிலையத்தில் விமான சேவைகளுக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்டிருந்த கட்டுப்பாடுகள் நீக்கப்பட்டு தற்போது முழு அளவில் விமானங்கள் இயங்கி வருகின்றன. சென்னை விமான நிலையத்திற்கு பல்வேறு நகரங்களில் இருந்து 25 ஆயிரம் 30 ஆயிரம் பயணியர் வந்து செல்வர்.

இந்நிலையில் நேற்று சென்னைக்கு வந்து சென்ற 231 விமானங்களில் 19 ஆயிரம் பேர் மட்டுமே பயணித்தனர். நேற்று காலை விசாகப்பட்டினம், மும்பை, கொச்சி , கவுஹாத்தி, பாட்னா உள்ளிட்ட நகரங்களில் இருந்து சென்னைக்கு வந்து செல்லும் 12 விமான சேவைகள் போதிய பயணியர் இல்லாததால் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன.

தேர்தல் பணியாளர்களுக்கு பயிற்சி

தேர்தல் பணியாளர்களுக்கு பயிற்சி

Added : மார் 05, 2021 00:29

சென்னை:தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபட உள்ள, அனைத்து பணியாளர்களுக்கும், நான்கு கட்ட பயிற்சி அளிக்கும்படி, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு, தேர்தல் கமிஷன் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இது தொடர்பாக, அனைத்து மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கும், தமிழக தலைமை தேர்தல் அதிகாரி சத்யபிரதா சாஹு அனுப்பியுள்ள கடிதம்:தமிழகத்தில், சட்டசபை தேர்தல் மற்றும் கன்னியாகுமரி லோக்சபா தொகுதிக்கு இடைத்தேர்தல் அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அனுமதிக்க வேண்டும்தேர்தல், ஏப்., 6ல் நடக்க உள்ளது. அதற்கு முன், தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபடும் பணியாளர்களுக்கு, நான்கு கட்டமாக, பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும்.

மார்ச், 18க்குள், ஓட்டுச் சாவடியில் தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபடும் பணியாளர்களுக்கு, மூன்று அல்லது நான்கு நாட்கள் பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும். அதன்பின், மார்ச், 26க்குள் இரண்டு நாட்கள்; ஏப்ரல், 3க்குள் மூன்று நாட்கள் பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும்; ஏப்., 5ல், நான்காம் கட்ட பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும்.

வகுப்பறையில், 40 பேர் மட்டுமே அனுமதிக்கப்பட வேண்டும். செயல் விளக்கம்மாவட்டத்தில் எவ்வளவு தேர்தல் பணியாளர்கள் தேவையோ, அவர்களுடன் கூடுதலாக, 20 சதவீத பணியாளர்களுக்கு, பயிற்சி அளிக்க வேண்டும். ஓட்டுச்சாவடியில் பின்பற்ற வேண்டிய, கொரோனா விதிமுறைகளையும், தெரியப்படுத்த வேண்டும்.

ஓட்டுச்சாவடியில் ஒவ்வொரு அலுவலர்களும், என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும் என்பதை, தனித்தனியே விளக்க வேண்டும். செயல் விளக்கம் மற்றும் விதிமுறைகள் அடங்கிய கையேடை, தமிழ் மற்றும் ஆங்கிலத்தில் வழங்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு, அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கம்ப்யூட்டரிலும் இனி 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' அழைப்பு அறிமுகம்

கம்ப்யூட்டரிலும் இனி 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' அழைப்பு அறிமுகம்

Updated : மார் 05, 2021 07:13 | Added : மார் 05, 2021 07:11

சென்னை: 'கம்ப்யூட்டர் மற்றும் லேப்டாப்'களிலும், 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப்' அழைப்புகள் மற்றும் 'வீடியோ' அழைப்புகள் செய்யும் புதிய வசதி அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட்டுஉள்ளது.

தற்போது, வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செயலி வாயிலாக, மற்றவர்களை அழைத்து பேசுவது மற்றும் வீடியோ அழைப்பு செய்யும் வசதி, மொபைல் போன்களில் மட்டுமே உள்ளது.கம்ப்யூட்டர்களில், வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செயலியில் உள்ள செய்திகளை பார்க்கும் வசதி மட்டுமே உள்ளது.அதை மேம்படுத்தி, இனி கம்ப்யூட்டர் மற்றும் லேப்டாப்களிலும், வாட்ஸ் ஆப் அழைப்புகள் மற்றும் வீடியோ அழைப்புகள் செய்யும் வசதி அறிமுகம் செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

கம்ப்யூட்டர் மற்றும் லேப்டாப் வாயிலாக, குழு உரையாடல் செய்யும் வசதியும் விரைவில் அறிமுகம் செய்யப்படும்' என, வாட்ஸ் ஆப் நிறுவனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

Govt. employees’ demands unmet

Govt. employees’ demands unmet

They pin hope on next government

05/03/2021

Dennis S. JesudasanCHENNAI

Many years after political parties promised the State government employees that the old pension scheme would be restored, the issue still remains a matter of discussion. In its 2016 Assembly election manifesto, the ruling AIADMK vowed to revoke the contributory pension scheme (the new pension scheme). But not much has happened since.

Correcting pay anomalies, payment of arrears for 21 months in accordance with the pay commission’s recommendation and timely promotions are the other expectations of the employees from the next government to be formed after May 2.

“Several months have passed since the T.S. Sridhar Committee, constituted for the purpose, submitted its report. But the government has not made it public. We only want what was originally our right,” says P. Frederic Engels, State coordinator of the Contributory Pension Scheme Abolition Movement.

“The only difference between private jobs and government jobs is the pension. Having spent several years working for the government, it is only our right to ask for a pension,” he reasons. The contributory pension scheme does not do justice to the service rendered by workers, he says.

G. Venkatesan, a State coordinator of the Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teacher Organisations and Government Employees Organisations (JACTTO-GEO), regrets that Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami has not invited the union for talks. “The next Chief Minister should do so.”

Pointing out that the demands raised by JACTTO-GEO in January 2019 are still to be conceded, Tamil Nadu Government Employees Association president M. Anbarasu says, “The Chief Minister has called upon the government employees to ‘forget and forgive’ [for the action taken against the striking employees]. But what was our mistake in the first place? We had only asked for what the political parties promised in their manifestos.”

A Section Officer at the Secretariat in Chennai alleges interference of a Joint Secretary of the Department of Personnel and Administrative Reforms in the promotion of employees. “Whichever government comes to power, it should make the Department independent of any individual, who is manipulating the department heads and misguiding them,” he says.

Former president of Tamil Nadu Secretariat Association J. Ganesan urges the government to come up with a transparent housing scheme for the workers. “The government must settle the pension benefits and gratuity the very next month of superannuation.”

He also wants the government to desist from outsourcing human resource. “Files have sensitive information, and outsourcing them would be dangerous. Only qualified employees, recruited through the Public Service Commission, should deal with the files, and not unqualified persons whose credibility is questionable.

IndiGo connects B’luru to Silchar

IndiGo connects B’luru to Silchar

Bengaluru:  05.03.2021 

After non-stop flights from Bengaluru to Dibrugarh, IndiGo has now directly linked the IT city to yet another location in Assam, Silchar. The private passenger carrier is also set to connect Bengaluru to Bareilly in Uttar Pradesh from May 1, 2021.

Silchar became the second destination in Assam, which IndiGo connects non-stop. The maiden flight to the city in Cachar district took off on Tuesday. Flight 6E 6114 landed at Silchar Airport at11.30am with155 passengers from Bengaluru. On return journey, flight 6E 6118 departed for Bengaluru from Silchar at 12.10pm. IndiGo will connect Bengaluru to Silchar thrice a week.

Similarly, come May, IndiGo will connect Bareilly in UP with Bengaluru non-stop with flight operations thrice a week — Mondays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. TNN

Four engg students arrested for ragging

Four engg students arrested for ragging

05.03.2021 

Mangaluru city police have arrested four engineering students for allegedly ragging a first-year student of a private college at Mukka in Surathkal.

The accused are KU Shamil, 22, Mohammed Bazil, 22, Ashwith S Johnson, 21, and Sambhram Alva, 20. According to police, college dean Thomas Pinto lodged a complaint that Karthik Shetty, a first-year engineering student, was allegedly ragged by four students from the third year. All four have been suspended from the college and booked under the Karnataka Education Act

(116). Another college faculty member has also complained against KU Shamil, Mohammed Bazil and Sambhram Alva of assaulting and threatening him. TNN

9 engg colleges could get only 1 student

COMEDK QUOTA

9 engg colleges could get only 1 student

51 Could Not Fill Even 25% Seats

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Beng aluru:05.03.2021 

Is there a high demand for seats in private engineering colleges in Karnataka? Well, data pertaining to seats under the ComedK (Consortium of medical, engineering and dental colleges - Karnataka) show there have been not many takers this admission season. Sample this: Nine engineering colleges could find only one student each in the ComedK quota while four others could get only two students each.

In a detailed list of a number of seats available and filled under the ComedK quota in colleges, it is only RV College of Engineering that has succeeded in filling up 96 per cent of the seats. Three other colleges –– National Institute of Engineering, BMS College of Engineering and MS Ramaiah Institute of Technology –– had more than 80% of their seats under the quota filled.

As many as 51 colleges could not fill even 25% of their quota; 35 of them had 10 or less than 10 students. Three of these colleges had more than 125 seats and one of them close to 200. Twenty colleges had seats between 25% and 50% filled. Another 16 colleges had filled at least 50% of the seats.

Pandemic effect

TOI had earlier reported that 69% of the ComedK seats are vacant this year. Of the total 15,020 seats, only 4,711 were filled. The dip this year has been attributed to the non-Karnataka students keeping off due to pandemic fear. Civil and mechanical engineering were the branches that were the most affected.

“Managements need to invest in colleges. They can attract students only if there is a wider vision and work towards improving quality. For many colleges, the fee is so low that they’re even unable to recruit qualified faculty. Covid has come as a double whammy for these colleges as parents have been in financial crisis and most of them did not want their children to travel,” said MK Panduranga Shetty, president of Karnataka Unaided Private Engineering Colleges Association.

S Sadagopan, director, International Institute of Information Technology-Bangalore, said there’s a combination of factors that work against these colleges that are not able to attract students. “They might not be a great brand. Being new, their credentials are not established. The location might not be favourable. When people have a choice, they prefer to go to the good colleges. Colleges kept on adding seats a few years ago when the IT companies were recruiting in large numbers. Three years ago, the trend stopped and the spillover is now for us to see,” he said.

Private engineering colleges have to set apart 45% seats for government quota, 30% seats for students through ComedK and 25% for management quota.

10 MBBS students test +ve in Rajkot

10 MBBS students test +ve in Rajkot

Ex-Minister, Kin Infected In Jamnagar

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:  05.03.2021 

Ten first-year MBBS students of Pandit Deendayal Upadhyay (PDU) Medical College, Rajkot, have tested positive for coronavirus infection on Tuesday and Wednesday.

The college dean Dr M J Samani called an urgent meeting and suspended offline education for a week for the rest of 190 students.

The nine male students and one female found infected have been shifted to the Covid care hospital and are being treated by the senior doctors. Hospital sources claimed that they have mild symptoms.

Contact tracing has been done all other students who came in their contact have tested negative. The college administration also initiated the process to administer vaccines to the students.

Of the 10 infected students, six were staying at the college hostel, while four others were living in private accommodation. They had started offline classes from February 1.

Meanwhile, 45 more people tested positive in Rajkot city on Thursday In all, 107 people have tested positive in the city on Wednesday and Thursday.

In Jamnagar, former minister and MLA Vasuben Trivedi and her family members also tested positive on Thursday. According to Jamnagar district administration, Trivedi, her husband Narendra, son and daughter-in law-tested positive. The number of cases are also spiralling in Jamnagar with 14 testing positive on Thursday.

Woman dies of Covid-19 3 days after marriage

Woman dies of Covid-19 3 days after marriage

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:05.03.2021 

A new bride’s excitement to visit her parental home for the first time as per tradition after her wedding which took place three days ago on March 1 however came to a shocking end after she collapsed at her husband’s place moments before leaving. Later, it came to light that the woman was Covid-19 positive.

The incident took place in the Gotri area of the city on Friday morning when Sanyukta (name changed) was preparing to leave for her parents’ home in the neighbourhood but collapsed suddenly. Relatives called an ambulance and she was rushed to the SSG Hospital (SSGH), where she died during treatment.

Samples of the newly married woman were collected for Covid-19 test, which was found to be positive.

Her husband, who was in a state of shock, could not talk much and said, “We are now planning funeral rituals.”

The emergency police report at the SSG Hospital mentions that the woman was suffering from fever since the past two days. In wake of her death, the officials at SSGH also informed the Laxmipura police station. P 6

A bride was to visit her parental home for the first time after the wedding however she collapsed at her husband’s home moments before leaving. Later, it came to light that she was Covid-19 positive

50kg food wasted per person per yr in Indian homes: UNEP

50kg food wasted per person per yr in Indian homes: UNEP

Most Of Waste Comes From Households

Vishwa.Mohan@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 05.03.2021 

An estimated 931 million tonnes of food, or 17% of total food available to consumers in 2019 globally, went into the waste bins of households, retailers, restaurants and other food services, said the Food Waste Index Report 2021, released by the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) on Thursday.

The weight of the global food waste roughly equals India’s total production of foodgrain, oilseeds, sugarcane and horticultural produce in 2019-20.

The report shows that most of this waste globally comes from households, followed by food services and retail outlets. On a global per capita level, 121 kg of food is wasted each year, with 74 kg of this happening in households.

In South Asia, estimates at household level show a waste of 50 kg of food per person per year in India compared to 82 kg in Afghanistan, 79 kg in Nepal, 76 kg in Sri Lanka, 74 kg in Pakistan and 65 kg in Bangladesh.

Per capita food wastage is, in fact, much higher in west Asian and sub-Saharan African countries compared to South Asian and most of the European and North American countries, challenging earlier narratives of higher consumer food waste in developed countries, and food production, storage and transportation losses in developing countries.

Referring to the Food and Agriculture Organisation of the UN (FAO) which estimates that 690 million people were hungry in 2019, the food waste index report said the number was expected to rise sharply during and post-Covid-19.

“With a staggering 3 billion people that cannot afford a healthy diet (FAO, 2020), the message of this report is clear: Citizens need help to reduce food waste at home,” said the report comprising new global consumer level food waste estimates that were generated from existing data points in 54 countries and extrapolations based upon the estimates observed in other nations.

Underlining that food waste is not just limited to rich nations, the report noted that the household per capita food waste generation is found to be broadly similar across country income groups, suggesting that action on food waste is equally relevant in high, upper-middle and lower-middle income countries.

The report, joint research work of UNEP and UK-based non-governmental organisation WRAP, also flags that 8-10% of global greenhouse gas emissions (GHG) are associated with food that is not consumed.

“Reducing food waste would cut GHG emissions, slow destruction of nature through land conversion and pollution, enhance availability of food and thus reduce hunger and save money at a time of global recession,” said Inger Andersen, executive director of UNEP.

Full report on www.toi.in

Times View: Many people die of hunger every year across the globe and yet 931 million tonnes of food was wasted the world over in 2019. In India too, where millions survive at subsistence level, tonnes of food is wasted.

Experts must suggest ways to get out of this grim paradox or at least minimise it. We also need awareness campaigns on the subject, both by the government and by civil society groups.

BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

TALKING TO TOI ELECTIONS 2021

BJP aim is to prevent DMK victory: Annamalai

05.03.2021 

The BJP and the Centre want a government in Tamil Nadu that would push Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s development agenda. Hence, the BJP’s sole objective in the assembly polls is to prevent the DMK from coming to power, said BJP vice president K Annamalai in an interview with Shanmughasundaram J

What are the prospects of the AIADMK-BJP alliance in the assembly polls?

The AIADMK-led NDA will definitely come back to power as I don’t see any kind of anti-incumbency against the government and the CM; nor is there any strong pro-DMK wave. When it comes to leadership, people prefer EPS to DMK leader M K Stalin. Of course, there is anti-incumbency against some sitting MLAs and it is up to the ruling party to sort it out.

What are the prospects of the BJP in the polls?

The BJP’s objective this time is to prevent the DMK from coming to power and ensuring the victory of our combination (AIADMK-BJP front). We want EPS to come back to power as part of a larger scheme of things. At the same time, we believe that our time has come in TN. After a gap of 15 years, we will see some of our leaders sitting in the TN assembly.

How do you view V K Sasikala’s decision to quit politics? Did the BJP play a role in it?

I think it’s her personal decision. Our state president L Muruganhas welcomed it. The BJP has no role in what happens in the AIADMK.

Except for one seat, the AIADMKBJP alliance lost all others in the 2019 LS polls? Do you think the trend would have changed within two years?

The outcome of the 2019 LS polls in Tamil Nadu wasabnormal. Anti-Modi sentiment was whipped up by a combination of social media campaigns and careful news narratives. At that time, the AIADMK-BJP alliance was just formed. Things have completely changed now and Stalin is forced to change his narrative every month. The opposition’s anti-BJP and anti-Modi narratives do not have any impact on people.

What is BJP’s narrative for the polls?

We believe the popularity of Narendra Modi is very high in TN because two in every three people in the state have benefited from the Centre’s schemes. He is going to be the party’s biggest ambassador. The PM and the Centre want a government in TN that would push Modi’s development agenda. The EPS-Modi combination and Jayalalithaa factor would work in our favour.

Stalin accused the BJP of admitting several notorious criminals in the party. What is your take?

It is like the pot calling the kettle black. Several leaders of his party face serious criminal charges. We cannot check the background of every person joining our party.

The opposition accuses the BJP of making a mockery of elections bydislodging state governments through unfair means. Puducherry is the latest instance. What have you got to say?

The Narayanasamy-led government has done nothing for Puducherry. (Congress) MLAs, including A Namassivayam, who built the party in Puducherry, came to the BJP on their own. Like G23, (Congress dissidents at the national level) it’s G7 in Puducherry. Knowing that the kitchen cabinet of Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi and Narayanasamy will not allow new leaders to emerge, they came out. It is not fair to say the BJP is killing democracy.

Why are your supporters saying that many TN BJP leaders are against your growth in the party?

I don’t see anybody opposing me, we’re like a family. The party’ssystem is built against it (factionalism). If anybody has an ego issue, itis temporary. I enjoy the role given to me and remain loyal to the party.

BJP says it works for all sections of society. If so, why doesn’t it get support from minorities?

This (BJP) government has done far more than others for minorities. Muslim students get the highest scholarships. It is the DMK that wants to keep them as a vote bank. We see them as part of the country. The triple talaq Act helped us get more votes, particularly from Muslim women. We proved it in Bihar polls and will do it in Tamil Nadu too. It’s only a matter of time.

I-T officials seize ₹3 crore from two business groups

MULTIPLE RAIDS

I-T officials seize ₹3 crore from two business groups

Siddharth Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.03.2021 

Income tax department's searches on the premises of two groups of civil contractors in Ramanathapuram and Madurai districts on Wednesday resulted in detection of ₹175 crore unaccounted income and seizure of ₹3 crore unaccounted money, according to an I-T statement.

The income tax department conducted searches on 18 premises. Based on intelligence inputs about the existence of cash, which is likely to be distributed for election purposes, searches were mounted on the business groups. The action resulted in the finding of unaccounted money to the tune of ₹3 crore.

Other findings include the identification of the fact that the assessee was booking bogus expenses under various heads to reduce the profits. The declared profits were less than 2% of the turnover, when in actual accounts the profits exceeded 20%. Similarly, more than 100 subcontractors were introduced to book expenses to meet illegal payments and onmoney payments for property purchases.

These subcontractors filed returns of income from the same IP address, and for the first time ever, showed only this receipt as their sole source of income.

Pallavaram, Pammal now receive piped water supply

Pallavaram, Pammal now receive piped water supply

Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai:05.03.2021 

More than 40,000 residents in Pallavaram and Pammal municipal limits have begun getting piped water from Metrowater.

A senior official of the agency said that under the project, which was commissioned a couple of days ago, 28,000 connections were provided in Pallavaram, while 13,400 were provided in Pammal.

Metrowater draws more than 4 million litres of water a day (MLD) from Chembarambakkam reservoir for piped supply to the houses in both the municipalities and has collected the required charges.

In Pallavaram, where the requirement is nearly 30 MLD, the municipality buys 5.5 MLD from Metrowater and 1.5 MLD from the TWAD Board that draws from the Palar scheme. The remaining quantity is managed with other sources, an official said.

For residents of areas under Pammal area, where the requirement is 6 MLD, the municipality gets 0.5 MLD from the TWAD Board and another 2.5 MLD from Metrowater.

Given that the water requirement is only set to increase in the two areas where there has been rapid development in the past few years, with residential colonies springing up all over, the authorities the authorities have begun exploiting the abandoned quarries within their jurisdictions. The state department of municipal administration and water supply (MAWS) has set up treatment plants at two quarries in Pallavaram and one in Pammal, the official added.

During the cruel summer of 2019, one of the worst in the memory of the city’s residents, people in some of the core areas were supplied water drawn from some abandoned quarries in the suburbs.

Pilots brace for tough landing at city airport

Pilots brace for tough landing at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:05.03.2021 

It’s that time of the year when pilots flying into Chennai will expect a go-around as soaring temperatures will make the airport notorious for wind shear and crosswind.

With the temperature in the suburbs edging closer to 35°C making the day hot and humid, pilots who fly into the city have started to experience turbulence while landing. “This is the season when landing is tough at the airport. There will be wind shear because the ground heats up fast. Usually, the trend of sudden shift in the wind at low level will start in the second week of March. We fly carefully, ready for corrective action,” said a pilot.

Incidence of wind shear has been increasing at the airport in the past few years during summer while constant presence of crosswinds has made pilots wonder whether the wind direction is changing gradually.

“Planes float away because of the sudden shift in wind. Information about wind shear and crosswind will come from the airport but we also check with pilots who have landed to find out about their experience,” said another pilot.

In addition to the routine precautions about safety manoeuvre, airlines have included crosswinds and wind shear landing in simulator training done closer to the summer months. Pilots undergo a simulator training every six months.

However, crosswind is not risky in Chennai. “It is a risk only if it is 90° with 25 knots speed but we see only mostly 70° with 18 to 20 knots. That is not much. Training is given for pilots and there will be constant alerts about the wind condition,” he said.