As banks in Tamil Nadu shut shop due to strike, ATMs dry up, small industries hit

As banks in Tamil Nadu shut shop due to strike, ATMs dry up, small industries hit

The two-day strike has been called to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders by the central government

Published: 15th March 2021 02:43 PM 

As staff of nationalised banks stage a protest against privatisation of banks, the office of a public sector bank wears a deserted look in Chennai on Monday. (Express Photo | Debadutta Mallick)

By C Shivakumar

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Banking services in public sector banks across the state in the manual mode were disrupted as more than 60,000 bank employees from 160 branches joined the two-day strike to protest against the proposed privatisation of two state-owned lenders by the central government.

The closure has impacted many people as ATMs dried up in many branches on Sunday itself. With banking operations hit on Monday and Tuesday, transactions worth Rs 5,150 crore could be affected in Chennai, says CH Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees Association.

But online transactions have not been impacted due to the strike. R N Sekar, secretary, Chennai Customs Brokers Association (CCBA) told The New Indian Express that online transactions are going on. "The two-day strike is unlikely to have any significant impact as we expected," said Sekar. He said only those who are dependent on cheque and cash transactions are impacted.

Currently, most of the trading houses have moved to cashless transactions, he said. Meanwhile, ATMs, where filling of cash has been outsourced, continue to be active while those which have to be replenished by banks were hit. A bank employee told The New Indian Express that most of the ATMs in the state could be hit as they are being replenished by bank employees themselves. Banks were shut on Saturday and Sunday as both days were holidays for bank employees.

Regional chairman of Federation of Indian Exporters Organisation Israr Ahmed told The New Indian Express that the two-day bank strike will impact small and medium-sized enterprises more as most of them have yet to move to online mode while the bigger industries won't be hit that much. He said the strike would put a strain on the already affected exporters who are struggling due to the lockdown and second wave of Covid-19.

"Exports have been down. Last year, we were hoping that we will recover by March this year. But this has not happened due to the lockdown in the United States and the second wave of the pandemic striking us. Many of the exporters have closed shop as they could not continue," says Ahmed.

T V Hariharan, president of Chennai District Small Scale Industries Association, told The New Indian Express that the strike has impacted small scale industries who have yet to migrate to online mode and are dependent on cash and cheques to carry out their daily transactions. There are 1500 SMEs in Ekkaduthangal and they are hit as banks have been closed since Saturday.

"Usually, we pay salaries to daily wagers on Saturday. Since there have been no bank transactions, we are unable to pay them on Monday and Tuesday," said Hariharan. To a query on why the SMEs don't move to online mode, he said most of the owners are still dependent on others for online transactions as they are educated only up to Class 8 or Class 12.

G V Manimaran, general secretary All India Nationalised Banks Officers’ Federation (AINBOF), and CH Venkatachalam, general secretary, All India Bank Employees Association, said the strike has been called to oppose the central government's move to privatise public sector banks which was announced in the Budget 2021.

Manimaran said privatisation will have a negative impact on all the good work being done by public sector banks since they put socio economic upliftment over and above profitability. While public sector banks cater to people from various strata of society, the same would not be the case with private entities. The benefits of privatisation will accrue to the few corporate and private entities whereas the majority of the country’s populace may be left out of mainstream banking, he claimed.

"If banks are privatised, employment opportunities will be reduced for the educated youth and jobs will be on contract basis instead of permanent jobs. Job security will be affected. Reservation policy will not apply to private banks and hence reserved category employees will be affected. Hence privatisation will only benefit the rich corporate houses who will buy these banks. Already many corporate houses are defaulters of huge bank loans and there is a risk of such defaulters becoming owners of these banks," said Venkatachalam.

VIT-Chennai students enter final of Microsoft's Imagine Cup

VIT-Chennai students enter final of Microsoft's Imagine Cup

There were 353 team entries and over 10,000 individual entries across India and the VIT’s “Team Intelli-Sense” emerged among the top contestants, the statement added.

Published: 15th March 2021 04:48 AM 

Vellore Institute of Technology campus in Chennai

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Vellore Institute of Technology (VIT) Chennai in statement on Sunday said its students, Venkat Ragavan and Tarun Hariharan, Yogeeshwar S and Vishwath Kumar BS, have emerged as one of the finalists in the first virtual edition of 'Imagine Cup' organised by Microsoft.

There were 353 team entries and over 10,000 individual entries across India and the VIT's "Team Intelli-Sense" emerged among the top contestants, the statement added. Imagine Cup 2021 awards a prize money of USD 75,000 and a mentorship opportunity with Microsoft.

Imagine Cup is a global competition designed to empower students to apply artificial intelligence and other technologies to solve some of the world’s most critical social and sustainability problems. The VIT team focused on assistive technology for people with low vision. Microsoft and the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) jointly organised this nation-wide event.

Top contestants

There were 353 team entries and over 10,000 individual entries across India and the VIT's "Team Intelli-Sense" emerged among the top contestants

Moving out without mask? Be ready to shell out ₹100 fine

Moving out without mask? Be ready to shell out ₹100 fine

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:16.03.2021 

District collector, Avinash Lavania, has directed all the SDMs, revenue and Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) officials to convene meetings with traders' association of different markets, residents' welfare societies of large colonies and other groups of people to motivate them ensure compliance of Covid-19 guidelines.

Nobody without a mask should be allowed in the weekly habits and markets that operate from open spaces, he said. Lavania said that people found without masks at a market place should be fined Rs 100.

On Sunday, people not wearing masks were fined in areas under Huzur, Kolar, Berasia, Bairagarh, Govindpura, M P Nagar, T T Nagar and other areas by teams led by the district administration officials and Rs 36,500 were collected from them.

District administration in association with BMC also organised rallies carrying banners, posters and pamphlets urging people to wear masks and observe social distancing.

Anyone going out of his house must necessarily wear mask, said a press communique issued by the district administration.

MBA student finds her morphed pics online, registers complaint

MBA student finds her morphed pics online, registers complaint

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:16.03.2021 

A 28-year-old MBA student was shocked to see her morphed pictures uploaded on social media through an unknown girl’s account. The photos were accompanied by an obscene caption. The woman reported the matter to Hanumanganj police on Sunday, following which a Zero FIR was filed and the case diary was sent to Bajaria police station for further action. Bajaria police registered a case on charges of forgery under relevant sections of IPC and IT Act against the unidentified girl and started investigations.

The complainant came to know about her morphed photos when her friends and relatives saw her photographs being circulated over social media and informed her.

Investigating officer, SI Ankit Baghel said that the victim stated in her complaint that an unidentified accused, who went by the name of Riya Kushwah, had posted her morphed photographs with an obscene caption on social media on March 10. When her friends and relatives saw the photographs, they informed her. She was shocked to find her photos.

SI Baghel said that the victim stated in her complaint that the obscene photographs were posted online to defame her. Subsequently, she approached Hanumanganj police and filed a complaint. Police have transferred the case to Bajaria police.

SI Baghel said that police were trying to ascertain the real identity of the accused.

Jabalpur collector tests positive 5 weeks after first vaccine dose

Jabalpur collector tests positive 5 weeks after first vaccine dose

Jabalpur:  16.03.2021 

Jabalpur collector Karamveer Sharma tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday, around five weeks after he took the first vaccine dose.

It takes a fortnight after the second dose for antibodies to develop and fend off the virus, but the collector was yet to take his second jab, say sources. Sharma announced his Covid status on social media on Monday and posted: “A small mistake despite all precautions can cause you to be Corona positive. This is my personal experience. Therefore, it is my request to follow Covid guidelines without fail.” CMHO Dr Manish Mishra told TOI that the collector has tweeted from his official handle. “As CMHO, I am not authorised to say anything. But he has got all the rights,” Dr Mishra told TOI.

A few days ago, the collector of Janjgir-Champa district in neighbouring Chhattisgarh had tested positive three days after taking his second vaccine dose. TNN

BU puts off 2nd round of PhD counselling after students protest admission norms

BU puts off 2nd round of PhD counselling after students protest admission norms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:16.03.2021 

Bangalore University decided to put off the second round of PhD counselling after students protested against various norms followed for admission to PhD.

Hundreds of students staged a protest at Jnana Bharathi campus, seeking varied eligibility criteria for SCs, STs and OBCs. “The minimum marks eligibility should be 55% for general candidates, 50% for OBCs and 45% for SCs and STs. It’s 50% for everyone now,” said a student.

The students also demanded an increase in guideship — the number of students who could be guided by professors, assistant professors and associate professors. Currently, the ratio is 8, 6 and 4, respectively. The university should also allow senior professors to guide new PhD students, they said.

The students want the university to cancel the fourth semester PG students’ eligibility to apply for PhD. “In 2018, BU conducted an entrance test that allowed then fourth semester students to write the PhD eligibility entrance exam. No other university allows this,” they alleged. The students have also sought a hike in fellowship money from Rs 22,000 to Rs 25,000.

Vice-chancellor KR Venugopal said the norms followed by the university are as per the statute and any change would require an amendment. “We have called for a meeting with teachers, guides and deans on April 9 to discuss the issue. Once it is approved by them, it has to be sent to the government as it calls for an amendment of the statute...,” he said.

“According to UGC Regulations 2016, sections 2.1 and 2.2 give relaxation of 5% marks from 55% to 50% or an equivalent relaxation of grade for those belonging to SC/ST/OBC (non-creamy layer) / differently abled categories. The same has been adopted in BU PhD Regulations 2016,” he said. BU had called for PhD admissions in July 2019. As many as 3,737 candidates had applied for 764 seats. The second round of counselling is expected to see 1,400 students vie for 400 vacancies.

SEEKING CHANGE OF CRITERIA:

Bangalore University students hold placards spelling out their demands during a protest at Jnana Bharathi campus on Monday

BWSSB PROPOSES STP ON VARSITY CAMPUS

BWSSB has proposed to BU to set up a sewage treatment plant on its campus to treat water from Vrishabhavathi river flowing through its premises. The university is expected to discuss the matter at the upcoming syndicate meeting on March 24.

BWSSB has sought 12 acres of land for the project. “We have written to the vice-chancellor proposing the project. The treated water will be provided to the university,” said BC Gangadhar, chief engineer, BWSSB.

“It will be a Rs 150-200 crore project and will be extremely helpful for the university as we hope to get water and power from it, apart from having the river cleaned up,” said the BU VC.

₹25 lakh fine for giving up seat in MBBS admissions

₹25 lakh fine for giving up seat in MBBS admissions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:16.03.2021 

The state government has decided to increase the fine from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 25 lakh for MBBS course students who surrender their seats during counselling. This will come into effect from the next academic year.

Medical education minister K Sudhakar on Monday told the council the government is doing this to crack down on the seat blocking scam that crops up every year.

He was replying to a question by ruling BJP member N Ravikumar. Explaining the modus operandi, the minister said private medical college managements get meritorious candidates clear the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and block seats by paying the fee to the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). They surrender them after the final mopup round of counselling. The surrendered seats are later added to the management quota of private medical colleges which sell them for huge sums of money.

‘Blacklist colleges blocking seats’

There have been reports that several medical colleges collude with high-ranking candidates in this scam so that seats are made available to less deserving candidates.

An expert committee of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences recently submitted a report to the medical education department recommending fivefold rise in penalty. “We accepted the report and decided to implement it to curb this menace,” the minister said.

Earlier, Ravikumar alleged that private colleges have been indulging in seat blocking and cited raids by CBI on 12 such colleges last year. “Blacklist colleges which indulge in such illegal practices,” he urged.

Without taking jab, three certified as vaccine takers

Without taking jab, three certified as vaccine takers

Surat:16.03.2021 

At least three persons in Gujarat's Surat city have received Covid-19 inoculation certificates without getting the actual vaccine dose. A senior civic official put it down to “technical glitch”.

Anup Singh, resident of Pandesara locality, said the vaccination certificate of his father Harbhan Singh   (62) was issued though he was yet to receive a vaccine dose.

“Last Wednesday I got an appointment for my father's vaccination on March13 at Barmoli urban health centre. But he could not get his shot as he was out of town. Despite that he received a certificate on that date,” Anup Singh said. Two more persons from another family who were scheduled to get the jab on March 13 received their certificates before getting vaccinated, civic sources said.

“We are discussing the matter with the IT department and trying to sort it out,” said Deputy Municipal Commissioner (Health) Dr Ashish Naik.

“As per our official record, these beneficiaries have not been vaccinated but still received certificates. It means there is some technical glitch which we are trying to fix,” he said. PTI

Med colleges go online after 4 students test Covid positive

Med colleges go online after 4 students test Covid positive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.03.2021 

The authorities of BJ Medical College have decided to close down on-campus classes for first year MBBS students after four students tested positive for Covid-19. Other medical colleges in the city have also decided to follow suit and switch to online classes for first-year MBBS students.

“The medical college authorities have decided to go back to online studies from Monday for first-year students as a precautionary measure,” said a senior college official while confirming that four first-year students had been infected with Covid-19.

Following the decision by BJ Medical College, other colleges in Ahmedabad including NHL Municipal Medical College, LG Medical College and AMC Dental College have also decided to close down on campus studies for first-year medical students, said sources close to the development.

Also, a medical college in Saurashtra has decided to close down on-campus classroom studies for its students, according to sources.

A first-year MBBS student who spoke on condition of anonymity said despite being frontline workers there are a large number of medical students who have not been vaccinated for Covid-19.

The decision comes on a day when Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation ordered the closure of shops after 10pm in eight municipal wards of the capital city given the rising cases of coronavirus in Gujarat.

As many as 890 new cases of Covid-19 were detected in Gujarat on Monday. Surat led the count with 262 cases, followed by Ahmedabad with a total of 209 cases.

The state’s only fatality was also reported from Surat. The total tally of coronavirus cases in Gujarat now stands at 2,79,097.

Colleges and schools in the state started reopening partially in a phase-wise manner from the second week of January after remaining shut for over nine months as a precautionary measure to check the spread of Covid-19.

BJ Medical, NHL, LG, and AMC Dental will stop on-campus studies for first year students

Asst prof candidates hit verification hurdle

Asst prof candidates hit verification hurdle

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.03.2021 

A large number of candidates applying for the post of assistant professors are facing a tough time during the document verification process. Candidates who have a degree in M Com (statistics) and have cleared NET (National Eligibility TEst) or SLET (State-level Eligibility Test) in Commerce, are faced with disqualification.

These candidates are of the view that there is no provision to do NET or SLET with statistics as the main subject so they have no choice but to take the entrance exam required to qualify for job as assistant professor, with commerce as the chosen subject. “The people who are involved in the document verification process lack such basic understanding,” said a candidate who has applied for the post.

After a hiatus of over two decades, Gujarat government had announced a recruitment drive to enlist 927 assistant professors in grant-in aid colleges this January. These professors will be recruited across 44 different programmes in grant-in aid colleges in the state. Besides, the government has also announced recruitment process for 5,700 assistant teachers in schools. The recruitment has been on hold in grant-in-aid schools for about 15 years now.

Doc couple tests Covid positive despite taking both doses of vax

Doc couple tests Covid positive despite taking both doses of vax

Cases At 69-Day High; Shops In A’bad Areas To Be Shut After 10pm

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:16.03.2021 

A city-based doctor couple – Dr Bela Dave, a professor at AMC-run dental college in Khokhra, and Dr Dilip Dave, a pathologist running a lab in Bapunagar area – tested positive for Covid-19 on Sunday. The duo had completed both the vaccination doses as healthcare workers (HCWs).

The couple told the media on Monday that they had no major symptoms, and have home quarantined themselves. The duo had got tested as part of their duty and had no apparent symptoms associated with the viral infection.

It is the second instance in the past three days where the doctors who have completed both the shots have got infected with the virus. P 5

890 new cases in 24 hours

Dr Mukesh Maheshwari, a city-based pathologist and a committee member in Gujarat chapter of Indian Medical Association (IMA), said that the incidents should not be seen as detrimental to the ongoing vaccination drive.

“None of the vaccinations can claim 100% efficacy – while some have claimed 70% effectiveness, others have claimed 81%. But vaccination is required to ensure that even when a person is infected, the morbidity and mortality remain low,” he said. Surge in Covid-19 cases in Gujarat continued with 890 cases in 24 hours, the highest in 69 days. While Surat city recorded alltime daily high cases at 240, Ahmedabad recorded 75-day high at 205. In wake of the surge in cases, AMC on Monday announced restriction in commercial establishments’ timings from March16 in eight wards with highest surge.

74% faculty posts vacant at IIMs; 35% at IITs, NITs

74% faculty posts vacant at IIMs; 35% at IITs, NITs

Chethan.Kumar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:16.03.2021 

As another academic year is set to start, premier institutions in India — IITs, NITs, IIMs and IISERs — are staring at a collective faculty shortage of 38%, with cumulative vacancies as high as at 74% at the IIMs. It is 38.4% and 36.5% among IITs and NITs, respectively.

According to the HRD ministry, of the 39,822 sanctioned posts across IITs, NITs, IIMs, IISERs, IIITs, central universities and other institutes funded by the Centre, 14,372 (or 36.1%) are vacant.

The vacancies are caused by retirement, resignation and due to demands brought on by increased student strength, according to the ministry. A director of one of the institutions said: “Compared to the first 50 years, the number of these institutions have more than doubled in the past two decades. However, there has not been a matching growth in our PhDs. The institutions do not always get the promised funds.”

Data specific to IITs, NITs, IIMs and IISERs shows that of the 20,122 sanctioned faculty posts, 7,683 (or 38%) are vacant, while it is 34% for central universities, IIITs, NITTRs (National Institute of Technical Teachers Training and Research) and other centrally funded institutions together.

Pai: Centre must consider Anil Kakodkar panel suggestions

TV Mohandas Pai, chairman, Board of Manipal Global, says: “The primary problem is that of money. The Centre must seriously consider Anil Kakodkar committee recommendations. Despite knowing in advance retirement dates and timeline of expansion, there is no proper planning. The Centre must reimagine the way institutions function and revisit the rigid norms that set facultystudent ratios.”

While IIMs have the highest percentage of vacant posts (74%), they need to collectively fill up only 934 positions. Comparatively, IITs together need to fill up 3,876 positions, while it is 2,736 for NITs. The IISERs, with 137 vacant positions, are the best among the elite institutions have just 10.6% shortage.

Prof S Sadagopan, director, IIIT-B, said: “Hiring, growing and retaining faculty is a challenge for every institution in the world. It is no different at MIT or Harvard as high-quality people are in short supply. That said, institutions deliberately don’t aim to fill up 100% posts as there needs to be room to infuse young blood periodically and have positions for the best when they are available.”

The central universities, with 34% shortage, need to collectively fill up 6,210 posts.

Upward trend goes on with highest Covid cases in 85 days

Upward trend goes on with highest Covid cases in 85 days

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

India recorded 26,291 new Covid-19 cases on Monday, its highest singleday spike in 85 days, taking the country’s infection tally to 1,13,85,339, according to Union health ministry data. The death toll due to the disease increased to 1,58,725 with118 more fatalities being recorded in a day, the data updated at 8 am showed.

Registering an upward trend for five days in a row, the total active caseload has gone up to 2,19,262 which is 1.93% of the total infections in the country, while the recovery rate has dropped to 96.68%, the data stated.

As many as 26,624 infections were recorded in a span of 24 hours on December 20.

The number of people who have recuperated from the disease surged to 1,10,07,352, while the case fatality rate stood at 1.39%, according to the data.

India’s Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19. According to the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), 22,74,07,413 samples have been tested for Covid-19 up to March 14, including 7,03,772 on Sunday. PTI

Ashok Kumar, an independent candidate, campaigns wearing PPE suit at Kolathur after filing his nomination papers for the Tamil Nadu assembly elections

Kerala HC allows transgender woman to join NCC

Kerala HC allows transgender woman to join NCC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Kochi:16.03.2021 

The Kerala high court has ordered that a transgender person be allowed to join the National Cadet Corps and has also directed that the law be amended to include transgenders in the NCC.

Justice Anu Sivaraman issued the directive after considering a petition filed by Hina Haneefa, a student of University College in Thiruvananthapuram. The court said the fact that the NCC Act does not recognise the third gender or that detailed guidelines are yet to be introduced for the integration of persons of the third gender into the NCC cannot be justification to deny the petitioner entry.

Ruling that denial of enrolment in the NCC in this case is unsustainable, the court said the petitioner is entitled to participate in the selection process and to be enrolled if successful.

It was pointed out by the court that the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2019 recognises the right of transgenders to a life of dignity and prohibits discrimination against them. Provisions of the NCC Act cannot preclude the operation of the law on transgender rights, the court said.

The court also said the enactment on transgender rights was one intended to give effect to the rights guaranteed to such persons under Articles 14, 15, 19 and 21 of the Constitution and that it has to be kept in mind when considering cases of this nature. A transgender has not only the right to be recognised as a transgender but also the right to self-perceived gender identity as per the law, the court noted.

Section 6 of NCC Act, which allows only males and females to enrol themselves in the NCC, was challenged by the petitioner. The NCC had contended that there was no provision in law to allow the entry of transgenders.

IN RIGHT DIRECTION

Transgender woman can join NCC: Kerala HC

Transgender woman can join NCC: Kerala HC

Kochi:16.03.2021 

The Kerala HC ordered that a transgender person be allowed to join National Cadet Corps and has also directed the law be amended to include transgenders in the NCC. Justice Anu Sivaraman issued the directive after a petition filed by Hina Haneefa, a student in Thiruvananthapuram. It said the fact the NCC Act does not recognise the third gender or that guidelines are yet to be introduced for the integration of persons of the third gender can’t be justification to deny entry. TNN

UGC: CA, CS, ICWA now equivalent to PG degrees

UGC: CA, CS, ICWA now equivalent to PG degrees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

Candidates qualifying the Chartered Accountant (CA), Company Secretary (CS) or Cost and Works Accountant (ICWA) exams will now be treated quivalentto postgraduate degree holders.

University Grants Commission in an office order issued on Monday said: “UGC had received requests from Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI), the Institute of Company Secretaries of India (ICSI) and the Institute of Cost Accountants of India, to consider the qualification being awarded by them--CA, CS and ICWA, equivalent to post-graduation degrees,” UGC said in an official order.

“To consider this a committee was constituted by UGC.The commission considered recommendation of the expert committee and resolved that CA, CS and ICWA qualification be consideredequivalent to PGdegrees,” it added.

Following the order,ICAItweeted, “the University Grants Commission @ugc_india has resolved that CA Qualification will be treated equivalent to PG Degree based on requests submitted from @theicai. This will not only help CA’s for pursuing higher studies but will also facilitate the mobility of Indian CAs globally”.

Full report on www.toi.in

PM to interact with CMs on ramping up of vaccination drive

PM to interact with CMs on ramping up of vaccination drive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

Prime Minister Narendra Modi will interact with chief ministers on the Covid-19 situation and the ongoing vaccination drive on Wednesday as the Centre plans to ramp up the inoculation exercise amid a rise in infection in some states, official sources said.

PM will hold the meeting with CMs through a video conference to discuss the issues, an exercise which he has been holding regularly since the outbreak of the pandemic.

The meeting also assumes significance in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases in many states.

Modi’s last interaction with chief ministers was in January before the vaccination roll-out.

He had announced that the Centre will bear the expenses of vaccinating nearly three crore healthcare and frontline workers in the first round and suggested that public representatives, a reference to politicians, should not be part of this initial exercise.

The meeting with CMs which will be held through a video conference assumes significance in the wake of increasing Covid-19 cases in many states

Can Ayurveda practitioners conduct surgery, asks IMA

Can Ayurveda practitioners conduct surgery, asks IMA

SC Seeks Response; Centre Says Practice In Vogue Since 2016

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

The Supreme Court on Monday sought the response of the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) on a petition filed by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) challenging a recent decision by the former allowing Ayurveda practitioners to carry out certain surgical procedures. The IMA said this would play havoc with the health of millions.

Senior advocate Maninder Singh did not have to labour hard to convince a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian to issue notice to CCIM. However, when he sought a stay on the operation of CCIM’s 2020 modification of rules permitting Ayurveda practitioners from carrying out surgeries, solicitor general Tushar Mehta stepped in and said the government had substantial grounds to defend the CCIM rules.

Mehta said the IMA had “over-pitched” its concern and what was been said to be provided for now by CCIM had actually been in existence since 2016. Appearing for the Ayurveda practitioners’ association, advocate V K Biju said Ayurveda practitioners had been carrying out surgeries since 2000 as it was part of Ashtanga Ayurveda, under which surgeries were conducted centuries ago. Biju said the IMA was trying to belittle Ayurveda and the Indian system of medicine and displayed its lack of knowledge about Ayurveda’s history.

However, the IMA was scathing in its attack on CCIM and said it transgressed into the modern medicine system by prescribing certain practices/activities which were purely modern surgical procedures — forming an integral/ inseparable part of the system of modern medicine — as part of the curriculum and practice of Indian medicine.

“If the CCIM regulations permitting surgery by Ayurveda practitioners are allowed to be enforced, it would create havoc in the established system of medical care and treatment,” Singh said, adding that in the past, the SC and HCs had stepped in decisively to quash attempts by CCIM to transgress into the domain of modern medicine.

“While the earlier instances mostly pertained to the transgression into modern medicine by seeking to permit prescription of allopathic medicine by practitioners of Indian system of medicine, the impugned regulations present an extremely dangerous and critical situation where now, an attempt has been made by the CCIM to permit persons possessing qualifications under the Indian system of medicine to perform complicated modern surgical procedures which have a direct bearing on the health and right to life of millions of hapless patients,” the IMA said.

It added that modern surgical procedures had evolved after decades of research and study under the system of modern medicine. “CCIM has no power or jurisdiction to prescribe these modern surgical procedures to be performed by persons holding post-graduate Ayurveda degrees, which are confined to the system of Indian medicine. In the prevalent situation and the background, there is no permissibility whatsoever for CCIM to issue the impugned regulations,” the IMA said.

Full report on www.toi.in

Appearing for the Ayurveda practitioners’ association, advocate V K Biju said Ayurveda practitioners had been carrying out surgeries since 2000 as it was part of Ashtanga Ayurveda, under which surgeries were conducted centuries ago

Govt says LIC not being privatised

Govt says LIC not being privatised

New Delhi:16.03.2021

The government assured the Lok Sabha on Monday that it is not intending to privatise Life Insurance Corporation. It has only planned an IPO to raise the market share of the largest life insurer in the country and bring more investment for better prospects of its policyholders.

Reminding the opposition benches that his government introduced a moratorium on loan repayments to banks when the Covid pandemic hit the country, similarly, if there are problems faced by people in continuing payments of LIC premiums, the insurer may consider providing relief. “There is no plan to privatise LIC. We are just bringing an IPO,” minister of state for finance Anurag Thakur said while responding to questions on LIC disinvestment. TNN

₹2,000 notes not printed in last 2 yrs: Govt in Lok Sabha

₹2,000 notes not printed in last 2 yrs: Govt in Lok Sabha

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

Currency notes of ₹2,000 denomination have not been printed in the last two years even as the quantum of India’s highest denomination currency note has come down, the Lok Sabha was informed Monday.

In a written reply, junior finance minister Anurag Singh Thakur said 3,362 million currency notes of ₹2,000 denomination were in circulation on March 30, 2018, constituting 3.27% and 37.26% of the currency in terms of volume and trade respectively. As of February 26, 2021, 2,499 million pieces of ₹2,000 notes were in circulation, constituting 2% and 17.8% of banknotes in terms of volume and value. “During the years 2019-20 and 2020-21, no indent has been placed with the presses for printing of ₹2000 notes,” he said. RBI in 2019 stated that 3,543 million notes of ₹2,000 were printed during the financial year 2016-17 (April 2016 to March 2017). However, in 2017-18, only 111.5 million notes were printed, which further reduced to 46.7 million notes in the year 2018-19. PTI

NEET to be held only once this year: Pokhriyal

NEET to be held only once this year: Pokhriyal

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:16.03.2021 

Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Tuesday ruled out the possibility of holding the National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) twice this year and told Parliament that the exam will be conducted only once as always.

The National Testing Agency (NTA last week announced that NEET, for admission to undergraduate medical courses, will be held on August 1 this year in the usual pen and paper mode. Registration for the exam is likely to commence from March18.

“The NTA under the ministry of education conducts NEET-UG for undergraduate programmes in medical sciences, in consultation with the ministry of health and family welfare. In 2021, NEET (UG) will be conducted by NTA only one time,” Pokhriyal told Lok Sabha in reply to a question.

He, however, did not comment whether it will be conducted twice a year later.

Demand for conducting NEET-UG twice a year began after the MoE decided to hold engineering entrance exam— JEE (Main)— four times a year from this year.

Rise in Covid-19 cases drives corpn vaccination campaign

Rise in Covid-19 cases drives corpn vaccination campaign

Field Staff Will Now Urge More To Get Shots

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.03.2021 

The swift hike in the number of Covid-19 cases has given Greater Chennai Corporation an opportunity to ramp up its vaccine coverage.

A senior official said field staff would now urge more people to get vaccinated and that the current situation was conducive to convince fencesitters. “A number of corporation staff have been deputed for poll duty and spreading awareness to increase polling. They will be going from door to door as well as visiting public places like parks to persuade people to get the shots,” he added. Several teams have started vigorous campaigns to increase the vaccination figures.

This comes at a time when the number of active cases in the city crossed 2,000 on Monday evening. The corresponding zone-wise will be released on Tuesday morning.

The corporation has so far vaccinated 2.82 lakh people, with more than 20,000 getting the first dose on Saturday. People above the age of 60 and those between 45 and 60 with co-morbidities have been getting the vaccine free of cost at all corporation Urban Primary Health Centres (UPHCs) as well as at some Amma miniclinics. Many citizens have given notes of appreciation for the clean interiors of government premises as well as the cordial behaviour of the health staff.

An official from a zone in central Chennai said the civic body had started increasing surveillance in marriage halls, theatres and other places where more number of people were crowding. “Spot fines are being issued if masking is not adequate. We also ask people to distribute masks,” he said.

The corporation has also started cross-checking samples tested in private laboratories to ensure there are no false positives.

Zonal level staff have been asked to avoid putting up barricades outside homes or streets where three or more cases are found, but a few banners are being stuck outside houses where more than one case is detected. “This is a precautionary measure,” he said.

Colleges to move court against AICTE’s norm to begin new courses

Colleges to move court against AICTE’s norm to begin new courses

Ragu.Rama@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.03.2021 

As engineering colleges battle poor admission trend and the pandemic, the new rule introduced by the All India India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) which mandates 50% overall admissions last year to be eligible to apply for new courses for 2021-22 has faced strong opposition from engineering colleges. They have decided to challenge the rule.

The council in its approval process handbook for 2021-22, said it would allow new courses only in engineering colleges which had more than 50% overall enrollment last year. In 2020, colleges without NBA accreditation were allowed to start new courses in emerging areas such as AI and data science, by closing a course or reducing their existing intake.

The core committee of Federation of Self-Financed Technical Institutions which met in Chennai on Sunday has decided to challenge the norm in the Supreme Court. "When the overall admissions in engineering colleges is 37% at all-India level, fixing 50% admissions would render 80% of colleges ineligible to apply for new courses. Without new courses, these colleges will have natural death as they cannot survive with poor admissions," said R S Munirathinam, chief patron of the federation.

T D Easwaramoorthy, secretary of the federation, said there were no migration of students from neighbouring states in view of the pandemic this year. "Our engineering college is situated near Kerala border in Coimbatore district. Before Covid-19, we had 65% of admissions. In 2020-21, we were able to fill only 37% seats as our college did not have any students from Kerala. Due to the new rule, we cannot apply for new courses," he said.

KVK Rao, general secretary of the federationsaid, "The deemed universities which are admitting students over and above the sanctioned strength, collecting higher fees have not been properly regulated by agencies including AICTE and UGC. We will challenge the inaction of the regulatory authorities in the court."

College closed after principal, prof test ve+

College closed after principal, prof test ve+

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.03.2021 

Dhanraj Baid Jain College in Thoraippakkam has suspended physical classes after the principal and a staff member tested positive for Covid-19.

The college has around 120 faculty members and 3,500 students across three years.

Following the permission from the state government it reopened for all years from February 8.

"The principal and a professor who went around to ensure the mask compliance of students have tested positive on Friday. Both of them are having mild symptoms. They have quarantined themselves within the campus. The college also temporarily suspended all physical classes for at least a week following the concerns from faculty members," a faculty member from the college said.

Another professor from the college said the faculty members will continue to take classes online.

Pay victim’s kin, recover sum from bike owner, insurer told

Pay victim’s kin, recover sum from bike owner, insurer told

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.03.2021

A city accident claims tribunal has directed an insurance firm to compensate an accident victim, who was killed after he was hit by a vehicle driven by a minor without driving licence, and has directed the insurer to recover the same from the vehicle owner. The tribunal after perusing the submissions directed the insurer to pay ₹18 lakh to the victim’s family.

B Mallika of Sivaganga had moved the tribunal in 2018 seeking a compensation for the death of her husband Babu. According to her petition, Babu was walking along Ambattur Estate road when a rashly driven two-wheeler hit him, leading to his death on the spot.

The accident happened around 7 pm on April 4, 2018. The insurer contended that the two wheeler was driven by a minor at the time of the accident and it cannot be held liable to compensate the victim’s family and also argued that the accident happened due to the negligence of the pedestrian.

After perusing the submissions, the tribunal noted that the insurance firm did not contest that the offending vehicle was insured with them at the time of the accident. The tribunal took note of the investigation report which stated that the bike was driven by a 16-year-old boy without a valid driving licence. Noting that it is a violation of insurance policy, the tribunal stated that the owner is liable to pay the compensation. The tribunal, citing Supreme Court guidelines, directed the insurer to compensate the victim’s family, with liberty to recover it from the vehicle owner.

The deceased was 42 years old at the time of the accident and was working as a mason. Considering the loss to the family and other expenses, the tribunal arrived at a sum of ₹19.7 lakh as compensation within two months.

The insurer contended that the two-wheeler was driven by a minor at the time of the accident and it can’t be held liable to compensate the victim’s family

New system to solve glitches at ticket counters

New system to solve glitches at ticket counters

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.03.2021 

Have you had to wait while staff at railway ticket counters struggled to restart computers and printers, only to find that berth you wanted has been taken?

Expect fewer such delays derailing you travel plans now as the railways has upgraded its ticketing system to a browser-based application called ticketing peripherals management system (TPMS). This will cut time taken to report and repair faults as everything moves online.

With traffic returning to normal, railways wants to improve the working of its booking counters, though more than half of long-distance tickets get booked online.

Railway officials say delays and disruptions are rare for suburban tickets but reservation counter in small railway stations that sell tickets for express trains have faced delays.

Officials say that under the earlier system, the supervisor of a ticketing centre had to contact the controller who, in turn, informed the people or contractors concerned when a printer or a computer or any other equipment went out of order. Now, this can be done online. It can be seen online by anyone. Repairs will also be faster as information about the computer or printer including its date of installation and its lifecycle will also be available online.

“We will be able to avoid situations like closing of one or two counters when printers or computers become faulty," said a railway official.

The system would also help the railways carry out timely maintenance of its equipment.

With traffic returning to normal, railways wants to improve Sworking of its booking counters

AIADMK rolls out 'high cost' promises to woo women, students, unemployed youth

AIADMK rolls out 'high cost' promises to woo women, students, unemployed youth

Taking forward the promise of freebies further, the party has promised a washing machine to each rice card holder.

Published: 14th March 2021 09:52 PM 

By T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The ruling AIADMK which has vowed to retain power for a record third consecutive term, on Sunday rolled out ‘high cost’ electoral promises to all sections of the society especially the women, students and unemployed youth.

Taking forward the promise of freebies further, the party has promised a washing machine to each rice card holder. Also, the key promises aimed at lessening the financial burden of the common man include provision of six gas cylinders per year free of cost.

AIADMK top brass Edappadi K Palaniswami and Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam released the manifesto which has 163 promises, at the party headquarters in the presence of senior leaders of the party.

The manifesto has reiterated a key promise already made by Palaniswami but may have a paradigm shift in the reservation system in the State: Steps will be taken to conduct caste-wise census to ensure the development of people of all communities in accordance with their proportionate population. This follows the complaints that the government has allocated 10.5 percent reservation to the Vanniyar community alone and other communities might be affected by this move.

The major promises for women include Rs.1,500 per month assistance for women, Cable TV connection free of cost, washing machines and solar-power cooking stove for all family card-holders to ease the work burden of the women, 50 percent reduction in bus fare for women who travel in city buses and increasing maternity leave for women government employees to one year.

The promises for students include waiver of educational loans availed by by students, 2GB free data for college students throughout the year, subsidy for buying two wheelers to girl students who are studying in colleges, extension of nutritious noon meal schemes to the standards IX, X, XI and XII and provision of 200 ml of milk to all students from Anganwadi to Higher Secondary courses. A high-quality training centre would be established in each district to encourage the students who wish to take examinations like UPSC, NEET, IIT-JEE and TNPSC.

The promises aimed at wooing unemployed youth include government employment for one person from families who have no government employee till now and starting IT Parks in every district to generate more employment opportunities, establishing a separate university for skill development, allocation of Rs.3,500 crore for skill development training, doubling the monthly assistance being given to unemployed youth and provision of start-up loans for young entrepreneurs who wish to launch their business ventures.

Asked how the State government would get the financial requirements that are needed for implementing electoral promises like providing washing machines etc., since already the government is facing financial crunch, Palaniswami quipped: "Did you pose the same question to the DMK? We have fulfilled our promises made in 2011 and 2016. Similarly, we will fulfil the present promises too by increasing the financial resources of the government.

Some of the common promises both DMK and AIADMK have made include MSP for banana, turmeric, tapioca, millets, etc; subsidy for buying auto rickshaws, loan facility for unemployed youth to start their business ventures; monthly calculation of electricity bill; enhancing the maternity leave for women government employees to 12 months and supply of milk for school students.

Under the Amma House Scheme, for those who are not possessing their own houses, the government will buy lands in rural areas and build concrete houses. In urban areas, multi-storey residential quarters will be built in government lands.

Under the Kula Vilakku Scheme, Rs.1,500 will be paid into the bank accounts of housewives of all family cardholders with a view to attain economic equality; in families which have only men, the amount will be credited to the bank accounts of the head of the family.

The AIADMK has promised that all essential commodities supplied through ration shops will be delivered at the doorsteps of the cardholders. DMDK founder Vijayakanth mooted this idea and made it his election promise many years ago.

Aiming at helping the farmers, the AIADMK manifesto promised that farmers will be given Rs.7,500 as agricultural subsidy while ensuring Minimum Support Price for turmeric, onion, tapioca, paddy, sugarcane, banana and millets. The Central government will be urged to provide MSP to paddy on par with wheat. Also considering the production cost for paddy and sugarcane, the State government’s incentive for them would be increased. Also, with a view devise schemes for making agriculture a profit making profession, State Agricultural Authority will be formed. A new scheme for providing agricultural equipment like tractors, bulldozers etc., on rent will be started. To encourage improving arid lands as agricultural lands, an agricultural research centre will be started in association with Israel universities. To improve the rural economy, the Animal Husbandry Board will be launched.

Asked about his views on the DMK's election manifesto, Palaniswami said: "The DMK has given as electoral promises the schemes which I announced already and started implementing already. For example, the crop loan waiver for farmers, waiver of gold jewel loans availed by the poor, waiver of loans of women's Self Help Groups and three phase power supply for farmers.

On the electoral promise of the DMK that separate courts would be set up to hear corruption cases, the Chief Minister said "It is the DMK which is known for engaging in corrupt deeds. Till now, corruption cases against 13 former Ministers are pending before the courts. Let the DMK face them first. They have been deferring the cases by getting more and more hearings.

Responding to a question on the Arumugasamy Commission, Palaniswami said, "DMK leaders M Karunanidhi and his son were responsible for the death of Amma (J Jayalalithaa) since the DMK has challenged the court verdict which acquitted her in cases. People of the State know well why Amma died. The Almighty and Amma's soul will punish them.

திருவாரூரில் இன்று ஸ்டாலின் பிரசாரம்

திருவாரூரில் இன்று ஸ்டாலின் பிரசாரம்

Added : மார் 14, 2021 23:56

சென்னை; தி.மு.க., தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின், இன்று தேர்தல் பிரசாரத்தை, திருவாரூரில் துவக்குகிறார்.

தி.மு.க., தலைமை அறிக்கை: தி.மு.க., மற்றும் கூட்டணி வேட்பாளர்களை ஆதரித்து, கட்சி தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின், இன்று, கருணாநிதி பிறந்த மண்ணான, திருவாரூர் தெற்கு ரத வீதியில் பிரசார பயணத்தை துவக்குகிறார். திருவாரூர், மன்னார்குடி, நன்னிலம் ஆகிய மூன்று தொகுதிகளில் போட்டியிடும், தி.மு.க., வேட்பாளர்களை ஆதரித்து, பிரசாரம் செய்கிறார்.இவ்வாறு, அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

'கூர்மையான போர்க்கருவி' தி.மு.க., தொண்டர்களுக்கு ஸ்டாலின் எழுதிய கடிதம்: தி.மு.க., தேர்தல் அறிக்கை என்பது, பொதுமக்களின் மனதில் ஆழமாகப் பதிந்து விட்ட கதாநாயகன்; தொண்டர்களின் கையில் ஒரு பெரும் போர்க்கருவி. ஜனநாயக அறப்போர்க்களத்தில், கூர்மையான அந்தப் போர்க்கருவியை முழுவீச்சோடு பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும் என, கட்சித் தொண்டர்கள் ஒவ்வொருவரிடமும் கேட்டுக் கொள்கிறேன்.

ஒவ்வொரு வாக்காளரையும் சந்தித்து, கட்சியின் தேர்தல் அறிக்கையில் உள்ள வற்றை தெளிவு படுத்துங்கள். இவை, வெறும் வாக்குறுதிகள் அல்ல; வருங்கால தமிழகத்தின் வளர்ச்சிக்கான வரைவு ஆவணம்; ஒப்பந்தப் பத்திரம் என்பதை எடுத்துக் கூறி, 234 தொகுதிகளிலும் முழுமையாக வெல்வோம்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறியுள்ளார்.

Covid cases cross 700 for 1st time in 64 days

Covid cases cross 700 for 1st time in 64 days

55 Kids From A Pvt School Test Positive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:15.03.2021 

Fresh Covid-19 infections in Tamil Nadu crossed the 700-mark once again after 64 days. Sunday’s tally of 759 new cases was the highest since January 10, when the state recorded 724 cases. Cases had been on the decline since January 10, before the gradually started to rise from mid-Febuary.

Of the new cases, 55 were students from a private school at Ammapettai in Thanjavur district. "We have set up special screening camps in all 24 villages from where the students hailed. Around 1,200 people have been tested so far. A committee has been formed to study the cause for the cluster even when the school followed standard operating procedures (SOP)," said M Govinda Rao, Thanjavur district collector. Tamil Nadu health secretary J Radhakrishnan said people tend to violate SOPs when they gather in groups and requested parents not to send their children to school if they had symptoms such as fever or cold. In the past one week, the number of active cases has increased by 22%. At present, there are 4,870 people undergoing treatment.

Tamil Nadu's case fatality ratio has hovered around 1.5% for almost three months now. With another four people succumbing to the virus in the 24 hours ended Sunday afternoon, the state's Covid toll increased to 12,547 -- second highest in the country after Maharashtra (52,861).

All four deceased were from Chennai region and were aged above 60 and had co-morbidities such as diabetes or hypertension.

The infection rate outpaced the discharge rate in Chennai, Chengalpet, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur. Chennai reported 294 new cases on Sunday and Chengalpattu 64, against 30 two weeks ago.

Coimbatore had 58 new cases, third highest in the state. Tirupur (33) and Erode

(22) too witnessed an increased in infection rate. The situation was better in south Tamil Nadu where all ten districts including Madurai (11) reported fewer than a dozen new cases on Sunday. Kallakurichi was the only in the state to have no new cases. Responding to the spike in cases, TN has increased testing. Last week, TN labs were screening around 55,000 samples. On Sunday, as many as 67,269 samples were tested.