India’s daily cases now 3rd highest in world

India’s daily cases now 3rd highest in world

Atul.Thakur@timesgroup.com

23.03.2021 

For the fourth consecutive day, more than 40,000 fresh cases were reported in the country and the steady increase of cases has once again pushed India to become the world’s third-worst affected country in terms of daily cases.

Data compiled by WHO shows that once again the trio of Brazil, the USA and India are leading the world in daily cases. WHO data shows that on March 22, Brazil had reported 79,069 new cases, the highest in the world, followed by the US at 60,228 and India 46,951 cases. Analysis of daily case data for the past few days shows that India reached the third spot on March 19 and since then it has maintained that position.

India reported 40,622 fresh cases, with data from Assam yet to arrive till late at night. An analysis of state-wise data shows that the increase in daily cases was no longer confined to few a states. Despite being a Monday, when cases dip every week, at least 9 states reported the highest case count since January or earlier Gujarat for instance reported 1,640 cases on Monday, the highest ever in the state. Today’s cases were higher than 1,607 cases reported on the earlier peak that the state reached on November 27.

Deaths too were increasing and the daily toll breached the 200 mark on Sunday.

Ugadi cheer for govt staff as CM announces 30% fitment

Ugadi cheer for govt staff as CM announces 30% fitment

Retirement Age Also Up From 58 to 61

Koride.Mahesh@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad:  23.03.2021 

In what could cheer state government employees, pensioners and teachers, chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday announced 30% fitment and also increased retirement age to 61 from existing 58.

Claiming that the pandemic had impacted the state’s economy badly and delayed the pay revision last year, the CM said the government had decided to not only revise the pay scales of government employees, but also that of teachers, pensioners and other categories of employees, including contract staff. His statement in the assembly came barely days after the TRS scored an emphatic victory in the graduates MLC constituency elections.

The hiked salaries will be applicable from April 1, 2021, and 9,17,797 employees of all categories and pensioners would be benefited. Several government employees’ unions and associations leaders, ministers, legislators met the CM in his chambers in the assembly and thanked him for revising the pay scales.

Ugadi (Telugu New Year day), which will be celebrated on April 13, came early for the employees, an association leader said.

The Telangana government had last revised the pay scales in 2014 when KCR announced the highest fitment of 43% soon after the formation of the state. In fact, the employees’ long-pending demand has been 43% fitment, but they will now have to settle down for 30%.

In the just-concluded MLC polls, various government employees’ unions had openly voiced their support to the TRS following an assurance by the CM of an increased fitment.

Retirement gratuity to be increased to ₹16L from ₹12L

The Election Commission of India had even slapped a show-cause notice to the employees’ unions leaders for supporting the ruling party in violation of the model code.

The CM said contract employees, outsourcing employees, home guards, village revenue assistants, grant-in-aid employees, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan employees, daily wagers, anganwadi workers, Asha workers, Society for Elimination of Rural Poverty (SERP) employees and Telangana Vidya volunteers will be eligible for enhanced salaries.

Apart from making announcements on fitment and retirement age, the CM said family members of contributory pension scheme (CPS) employees, who die while on duty, would be brought under family pension policy. He said it has been decided to constitute a steering committee with employees’ associations and government officials as stakeholders for evolving the new modalities of employees’ health scheme (EHS) as per the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) recommendations.

He said the government would reduce the age limit from 75 to 70 for availing15% additional quantum of pension to retired government employees and teachers. Similarly, the retirement gratuity will be increased to Rs 16 lakh from Rs 12 lakh.He said PRC-related12-month arrears would be paid to the employees along with retirement benefits. Appreciating the government employees, he said they had played an inspirational role during Telangana movement and took part in Sakala Janula Samme (all people’s strike).

Sydney faces worst floods in 60 years

Sydney faces worst floods in 60 years

Pitt Town (Australia):  23.03.2021 

Australia was set on Monday to evacuate thousands more people from suburbs in Sydney’s west, battered by the worst flooding in 60 years, with torrential rains expected to continue for another day or two. Reuters images showed submerged intersections, marooned livestock and cars up to their windshields in water, out of which poked the tops of street signs, as three days of rain swelled rivers in the most populous state of New South Wales “This is an ongoing situation that is evolving and is extremely dangerous,” PM Scott Morrison told parliament. Australia’s coal exports were disrupted, as the deluge shut rail lines into the port of Newcastle, the world’s largest coal export port, and forced some mines to cut output.

Sunday was Sydney’s wettest day of the year, with almost 111 mm of rain, while 900 mm was dumped in some north coast regions in the last six days, or more than three times the March average, government data showed. The Hawkesbury and Nepean rivers flooded most of northwestern Sydney, leaving residents stranded. “You get a lot of rubbish. It was going past...as fast as the ski boats go-...As soon as it broke the banks, it was like a torrent,” said Larry Powers, after he was rescued from Pitt Town. A helicopter rescued a bride and groom on Saturday to get them to the church on time. Authorities said about 18,000 people have been evacuated from low-lying areas. REUTERS

Astra Covid vaccine found to be 79% effective in US study

Astra Covid vaccine found to be 79% effective in US study

Shows Strong Protection For 65+, 100% Efficacy Against Severe Disease

Rupali.Mukherjee@timesgroup.com

23.03.2021 

AstraZeneca-Oxford’s Covid-19 vaccine demonstrated an efficacy of 79% at preventing symptomatic Covid-19 in large-scale phase III trials in the US, much higher than UK trial results. The interim data rests speculation on the vaccine’s efficacy on those over 65 years, and showed a 100% efficacy against severe disease and hospitalisation. The data validates it “as a much-needed additional vaccination option, offering confidence that adults of all ages can benefit from protection against the virus”, AstraZeneca said.

Confidence in the safety of AstraZeneca’s Covid-19 vaccine has taken a big hit in several countries in Europe as reports of rare blood clots have been linked to it, with many countries temporarily pausing on its use in the vaccinations. In India, government is monitoring the serious adverse effects of the vaccines being administered, including Covishield, AstraZeneca’s vaccine manufactured by Serum Institute.

The results could provide the much-needed boost to the company’s vaccine, which has been facing doubts around its safety and efficacy recently.

The interim safety and efficacy analysis was based on over 32,000 participants accruing 141 symptomatic Covid cases. Vaccine efficacy was consistent across ethnicity and age, the firm said. Significantly, in participants aged 65 years and over, vaccine efficacy was 80%.Ann Falsey at University of Rochester School of Medicine (US) and co-lead principal investigator for the trial, said: “These findings reconfirm previous results observed in AZD1222 trials across all adult populations but it’s exciting to see similar efficacy results in people over 65 for the first time”.

Armed with the findings, the company plans to apply for US approval. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Monday that the governemnt would equitably integrate AstraZeneca’s vaccine into the distribution system if the vaccine is approved by FDA. Interestingly, the US trial data showed that the vaccine’s efficacy of 79% was achieved when two standard doses were given at an interval of four weeks, while data from UK trials showed an efficacy of 53% for an interval of less than six weeks. The vaccine was well tolerated, and the independent data safety monitoring board identified no safety concerns, the statement added.

Officials expressed hope that the results would shore up global confidence in the vaccine “I have just finished getting the (AstraZeneca) injection, there is no pain at the injection site, and there is no soreness of the body,” Taiwan PM Su Tseng-chang said on Monday. And French President Macron has said he would take the AstraZeneca vaccine if that’s what was offered after previously being quoted as saying the shot was “quasi-ineffective”.

(With input from agencies)

As cases surge, Chennai civic body starts vaccinating 18+

As cases surge, Chennai civic body starts vaccinating 18+

Move Has Been Long Advocated By Experts To Contain Virus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.03.2021 

As Covid-19 cases rise again in Chennai, several primary health centres run by the city municipal corporation have been quietly vaccinating anyone over the age of 18 for the past few days, something several health experts have long been advocating.

The Union government has stipulated that only frontline workers of all ages, all those aged over 60 and people with co-morbidities aged 45-60 should be vaccinated for now.

TOI found that these PHCs in the city followed different criteria. One PHC gave shots to everyone over the age of 45; another vaccinated people with co-morbidities who were below the age of 45. A few people in their thirties said one PHC asked them to come after 2pm so that only those doses which would anyway gone waste would be administered to them. Priority was still for the strictly eligible. However, from last week, this particular PHC has started administering shots to everyone from 9am.

Once opened, a vial of Covaxin that contains 20 doses should be used in four hours. The same goes for a vial of Covidshield, which contains 10 doses.

The city’s civic body has the capacity to vaccinate 60,000 people a day. The maximum it managed was 35,215 on Saturday. The number dropped to 18,018 on Monday. Close to 5 lakh people in Chennai have been vaccinated so far.

Senior epidemiologists, virologists and infectious diseases experts have been asking the government to open vaccination for the general public.

Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, an infectious diseases expert said anything is better than wasting vaccines. “However, officials must prioritise those who deserve it more and that they don’t run out of doses,” he said.

Senior virologist Dr T Jacob John told TOI earlier, the state's the goal should be prevention of severe disease and death along with strategies for safe reopening. “We can do this more effectively by offering the vaccine to more people," he said. He even advocated delaying the second dose of Covishield. Studies also show that the efficacy goes from 54% to 82% when the vaccine's second dose of Covishield is delayed from 28 days to 12 weeks, he had said.

Eminent cardiologist Devi Shetty, writing in TOI, had advocated mass vaccination of people in the 20-45 age group saying they are the super spreaders.

A senior GCC official said these were stray incidents and that they have also been apprised of the situation and have taken steps to curb it . “GCC’s current instructions are to vaccinate only eligible citizens. We want all PHCs to work uniformly,” the official said.

A zonal level official said their definition of frontline workers has been expanded; this now includes those working at restaurants, auto and taxi drivers, house helps, cooks and security personnel at apartments and mall workers. “Every ward has been given a target of bringing at least 100 people for vaccination everyday,” the official said. There are 200 wards in the city.

There are 140 PHCs in the city. Apart from this, vaccines are also available at 16 other municipal corporation-run health centres, 175 private hospitals and 19 government hospitals in the city.

Elderly women after getting vaccinated in Guwahati, on Monday

ரூ.267 கோடி கேட்டு கல்லுாரி நிர்வாகி வழக்கு

ரூ.267 கோடி கேட்டு கல்லுாரி நிர்வாகி வழக்கு

Added : மார் 22, 2021 23:43

சென்னை : கொரோனா சிகிச்சைக்காக, மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியை பயன்படுத்தியதற்காக, 367 கோடி ரூபாய் செலுத்தக் கோரி, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், கல்லுாரி நிர்வாகி வழக்கு தொடுத்துள்ளார்.

மனுவுக்கு பதில் அளிக்க, அரசுக்கு, உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.திருவள்ளூர் மாவட்டம், குன்னவலத்தில் உள்ள டி.டி., மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி தலைவர் டி.டி.நாயுடு தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:போதிய வசதிகளுடன், டி.டி., மருத்துவமனை இயங்கி வந்தது. கொரோனா சிகிச்சைக்காக, 3,000 படுக்கை வசதியை, மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் பயன்படுத்தியது. மொத்தத்தில், எங்கள் கல்லுாரி, மருத்துவமனையில் உள்ள வசதிகளை, மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் பயன்படுத்திக் கொண்டது.இந்நிலையில், 12.78 லட்சம் ரூபாய் மின் கட்டணம் செலுத்தும்படி, மின் வாரியத்திடம் இருந்து கடிதம் வந்தது.

எங்கள் மருத்துவமனையை பயன்படுத்தியதற்காக, அரசிடம் இருந்து எந்த பணமும் வரவில்லை. தற்போது, கல்லுாரி மற்றும் மருத்துவமனையை முழுமையாக மாற்றி அமைக்க வேண்டியதுள்ளது. உள்கட்டமைப்பு வசதிகளை மேற்கொள்ளவும், மருத்துவ சாதனங்கள் வாங்கவும், முழுமையாக சுத்தப்படுத்தி கிருமி நாசினி தெளிக்கவும், எங்களுக்கு நிதி தேவை.மருத்துவமனையை பயன்படுத்திய வகையில், எங்களுக்கு, 367 கோடி ரூபாய் தர, அரசுக்கு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, மனுவில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

மனு, நீதிபதி அப்துல் குத்துாஸ் முன், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. மனுதாரர்சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் சரவணன் ஆஜரானார். மனுவுக்கு பதில் அளிக்க, தமிழக அரசுக்கு நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார். விசாரணையை, ஏப்., 16க்கு, நீதிபதி தள்ளி வைத்தார்.

தேர்தல் பணிக்கு மறுப்பு

தேர்தல் பணிக்கு மறுப்பு

Added : மார் 22, 2021 23:36

சென்னை : 'தேர்தல் பணி பயிற்சி வகுப்புக்கு வராத ஆசிரியர்கள், மருத்துவ குழு முன் ஆஜராக வேண்டும்' என, அதிகாரிகள் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளனர்.

தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபடும் ஆசிரியர்களின் பட்டியல் தயாரிக்கப்பட்டு, பள்ளிக்கல்வி துறை சார்பில், மாவட்ட கலெக்டரிடம் அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. அவர்களுக்கு, நான்கு கட்ட பயிற்சி வகுப்புகள் நடத்தப்பட உள்ளன.இதுவரை, சில மாவட்டங்களில், இரண்டு கட்ட பயிற்சி வகுப்புகளும், சில மாவட்டங்களில், முதல் கட்ட பயிற்சி வகுப்பும் முடிந்துள்ளன.இந்நிலையில், பல மாவட்டங்களில் ஆசிரியர்கள், தங்களுக்கு சர்க்கரை நோய், ரத்த அழுத்தம், இதய நோய் உள்ளதாக கூறி, பயிற்சி வகுப்புகளில் பங்கேற்கவில்லை.

அதனால், ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகளில் பணிபுரிய ஆள் பற்றாக்குறை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது.இதையடுத்து, நோய் பாதிப்பு உள்ளதாக கூறி, தேர்தல் பணிக்கு வர மறுக்கும் ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு, மருத்துவ சோதனை நடத்தப்பட உள்ளது. இதையொட்டி, ஆசிரியர்களுக்கு புதிய உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. 'தேர்தல் பயிற்சி வகுப்புகளில் பங்கேற்காத ஆசிரியர்கள், தங்களின் மருத்துவ சான்றிதழ்களுடன், கலெக்டர் அலுவலக மருத்துவ குழு முன் ஆஜராக வேண்டும்' என, கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதனால், தேர்தல் பணிக்கு வர மறுத்த ஆசிரியர்கள் அதிர்ச்சி அடைந்துள்ளனர்.

'கோவிஷீல்டு டோஸ்' இடைவெளி 8 வாரங்களாக உயர்த்தி உத்தரவு

'கோவிஷீல்டு டோஸ்' இடைவெளி 8 வாரங்களாக உயர்த்தி உத்தரவு

Added : மார் 23, 2021 00:09

புதுடில்லி : கொரோனாவுக்கான, 'கோவிஷீல்டு' தடுப்பூசியின் இரண்டு, 'டோஸ்' களுக்கும் இடையிலான கால இடைவெளி, எட்டு வாரங்களாக உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

நம் நாட்டில், கொரோனா வைரசுக்கான தடுப்பூசிகளை, மக்களுக்கு செலுத்தும் பணிகள் முழுவீச்சில் நடந்து வருகின்றன. அதன்படி, 'சீரம்' நிறுவனத்தின் கோவிஷீல்டு தடுப்பூசியும்; 'பாரத் பயோடெக்' நிறுவனத்தின், 'கோவாக்சின்' தடுப்பூசியும் மக்களுக்கு செலுத்தப்பட்டு வருகின்றன. முதற்கட்டத்தில், டாக்டர்கள் உள்ளிட்ட முன்களப் பணியாளர்களுக்கும், 60 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டோருக்கும், உடல் நலக் கோளாறுடன் உள்ள, 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டோருக்கும், தடுப்பூசிகள் செலுத்தப்படுகின்றன.

இந்த தடுப்பூசிகள், இரண்டு டோஸ்களாக செலுத்தப்படுகின்றன. முதல் டோஸ் செலுத்தப் பட்டு, 28 நாட்களுக்குப் பின், இரண்டாம் டோஸ் செலுத்தப்படுகிறது. இந்நிலையில், கோவிஷீல்டு தடுப்பூசியின் இரண்டு டோஸ்களுக்கும் இடையிலான கால இடைவெளி உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதற்கான சுற்றறிக்கையை, அனைத்து மாநில மற்றும் யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களுக்கும், மத்திய அரசு நேற்று அனுப்பி வைத்தது. இது குறித்து வெளியிடப்பட்ட அறிக்கையில் கூறப்பட்டு உள்ளதாவது:விஞ்ஞான ஆதாரங்களை கருத்தில் கொண்டு, கோவிஷீல்டு தடுப்பூசியின் இரண்டு டோஸ்களுக்கும் இடையிலான கால இடைவெளி உயர்த்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அதன்படி, இரண்டு டோஸ்களுக்கும் இடையிலான கால இடைவெளி, 28 நாட்களில் இருந்து, ஆறு முதல் எட்டு வாரங்களாக உயர்த்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. பாரத் பயோடெக்கின் கோவாக்சின் தடுப்பூசிக்கு, பழைய நடைமுறையே தொடரும் என்றும் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

The Role Of The University

The Role Of The University

Nation needs it, and it can only thrive with academic freedom and institutional autonomy

C Raj Kumar

23.03.2021 

Universities have been forums of knowledge creation and exchange, and they continue to play an instrumental role in transforming nations into knowledge societies. Over time, their academic freedom has been curtailed, and their significance as tools of social change has diminished. The Academic Freedom Index established by the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) has demonstrated that academic freedom has been challenging for universities in several nations. Albert Einstein famously observed, “By academic freedom, I understand the right to search for truth and to publish and teach what one holds to be true. This right also implies a duty: One must not conceal any part of what one has recognised to be true.”

Recent events that have taken place in a reputed Indian university are only a reflection of the more significant public concern across the world relating to academic freedom, institutional autonomy and regulatory stringency. While many issues of academic freedom are being debated in the public domain, we need to engage in a deeper and more nuanced analysis of these issues, which will shape the future of universities in India and across the world.

At the outset, it needs to be mentioned that academic freedom is fundamental to any university in the world. Democracies take pride in the fact that they’ve precious spaces in society where freedom of speech is duly protected and promoted. In a democracy that celebrates freedom of expression of diverse views, ideological dogmatism of any kind, either from the Left or from the Right, will not help universities. At the heart of academic freedom is preserving democratic ideals consistently, promoting pluralism and nurturing democratic institutions.

Our challenge as educators is to recognise the complex role universities play as social organisations. No unique circumstances favour or disfavour a public or private university to promote academic freedom within its institutional context. However, there’re undoubtedly historical, social, political and economic factors contributing to institutionalising academic freedom in some societies more than others.

The fundamental objectives of university governance are based on the following three principles to promote academic freedom, while ensuring institutional autonomy. First, all recruitment, appraisal and assessment of faculty and staff ought to be entirely undertaken within the university. They must be performance-based, following the policies, rules and regulations of the university. The powers for decision-making to implement these processes must be vested in the university’s leadership, which includes the faculty and staff. Outsiders, including the most generous donors, should be excluded from this process. Internal governance of a university is central to protecting academic freedom, and it has to be led by the faculty and not anybody from outside the university.

Second, all decisions relating to the formulation of programmes, curriculum, courses, pedagogy and establishment of schools/ departments ought to be determined within the university as per established policies, rules and regulations of the university with all powers of decision-making vested within the faculty and staff of the university. While these decisions are taken in consonance with the laws, rules, regulations and guidelines given by the various government and regulatory bodies and based on international best practices, nobody from outside the university should exercise control or influence in these decisions.

And third, all decisions relating to the research that’s undertaken by the faculty members, including their publications ought to be based upon the principles of academic freedom and intellectual autonomy. Those faculty members who’re involved in academic research ought to have full autonomy to determine the type of research projects and initiatives, including the topics of research that they undertake, and the outcomes of the research. While the faculty members will be engaging in research and publications that’ll speak truth to power, it should be based upon evidence, especially when the intention of the research is to inform policy-making.

Going forward, we need to recognise the importance of two central aspects of university governance for academic freedom to be meaningfully institutionalised in Indian universities. One, regulatory freedom. The National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 has envisaged substantive regulatory reforms to empower Indian universities.

Regardless of their public or private character, universities in India are hugely dependent on multiple stakeholders for effective internal governance. These stakeholders are internal and external to the institution. Without achieving substantive regulatory freedom, no university can function in a genuinely autonomous manner and protect the academic freedom of faculty and students. I believe that this is the intention of NEP 2020 as well, which promotes “a ‘light but tight’ regulatory framework to ensure integrity, transparency, and resource efficiency … while encouraging innovation and outof-the-box ideas through autonomy, good governance, and empowerment.”

Two, universities need to develop a culture of transparency in which important decisions are taken after proper consultation with all stakeholders. The need for consultation, communication and consensus-building is imperative. However, for decisions to have legitimacy and acceptance, there ought to be the fundamental and foundational aspect of trust, respect and collegiality among all stakeholders. Only then will disagreements not lead to acrimonious engagements that can vitiate the academic and intellectual ecosystem, and universities must guard against that.

The vision and imagination of NEP 2020, if implemented in letter and spirit, will enable Indian universities to provide world-class education, while promoting excellence and contributing to nationbuilding. ‘Atmanirbharta’, for the nation, institutions, especially universities, is intertwined with the fundamental principles of freedom, autonomy and governance.

The writer is founding Vice-Chancellor of OP Jindal Global University

NEP 2020 has envisaged substantive regulatory reforms to empower Indian universities ... Internal governance of a university is central to protecting academic freedom, and it has to be led by the faculty and not anybody from outside the university

Colleges told to go back to online mode from Tuesday

Colleges told to go back to online mode from Tuesday

The State government on Monday ordered all colleges to conduct online classes from March 23, due to rising Covid cases.

Published: 23rd March 2021 05:37 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The State government on Monday ordered all colleges to conduct online classes from March 23, due to rising Covid cases. The order also directed colleges to finish pending practical classes and exams by March 31.

Chief Secretary Rajeev Ranjan, in a statement, said that the decision was reached after discussion with officials from the Higher Education Department and Health Department. Classes for all higher educational institutions, including colleges and polytechnic, will be held online for six days a week.

Exceptions will be made for Science, Engineering and Polytechnic students, who can complete their practical classes and exams by March 31. The order further said that all semester exams will be held online. However, instructions are pending on whether hostel facilities will remain open for residential students.

50% medicos in DK dist not vaccinated due to hesitancy

50% medicos in DK dist not vaccinated due to hesitancy

Kevin.Mendonsa@timesgroup.com

23.03.2021 

Mangaluru: Close to half the medical and nursing student community in Dakshina Kannada district is yet to be vaccinated. Officials say this is due to misinformation and influence of social media.

M Venkatraya Prabhu, dean, Kasturba Medical College, Mangaluru, said about 70% of medicos including postgraduates in his college have been vaccinated.

“Yes, a number of them are refusing to get the shot and the prime reason is misinformation and negative news,” Prabhu said. “We aim to achieve 100% vaccination by the end of May.”

In Nitte (deemed university) about 5,000 students, faculty, and non-teaching staff have been vaccinated. “While this number appears high, many [medical/dental/nursing students] have not come forward to take the jab,” said Dr Satheesh Kumar Bhandary, vice-chancellor. “The big reason is misinformation, pressure from parents urging them not to take the vaccine and psychological fear of side effects.” Dr Satheesh said he took both doses and his antibody count has increased.

However, many who earlier refused the jab are now turning up for the shot. “When the drive began, there were two schools of thought: One who were for the vaccine and the other who were hesitant,” said Ramachandra Bairy, DHO. “Many who were opposed to the vaccine are taking the shot now.”

Govt increases gap between Covishield shots to 4-8 wks

Govt increases gap between Covishield shots to 4-8 wks

‘Shield Enhanced If 2nd Jab Taken After 6-8 Weeks’

New Delhi:23.03.2021 

The health ministry on Monday revised the interval between two doses of the Covishield vaccine to 4-8 weeks, from the existing 4-6 weeks, after evidence showed higher efficacy following a longer gap between the shots.

The revised time interval between two doses is applicable only to Covishield and not to Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin. Raising the interval between two doses is also likely to be an added advantage in covering more people as the AstraZeneca shot has been the mainstay of India’s vaccination drive. TNN

Expert groups recommended a longer window between shots

A longer window between shots can partly address concerns that vaccinations, despite the increase in sessions, are still not proceeding fast enough. The government could focus on ensuring that as many people as possible get the first shot with a longer timeframe for the second dose.

In a letter to states and UTs, health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said, “Keeping the existing scientific evidence in view, it appears that protection is enhanced if the second dose of Covishield is administered between 6-8 weeks, but not later than stipulated period of 8 weeks.”

The move is based on recommendation by the National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI) and by National Expert Group on Vaccine Administration for Covid-19 (NEGVAC) after reviewing the issue in accordance with the emerging scientific evidence. “During this meeting, the recommendation has been revised to provide second dose of Covishield at 4-8 weeks’ interval after the first dose, instead of earlier practised interval of 4-6 weeks,” the ministry said.

›Inoculating bedridden elders a challenge, P 2

‘Lung damage shows virus hasn’t lost sting’

‘Lung damage shows virus hasn’t lost sting’

Sumitra.DebRoy@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:23.03.2021 

Mumbai’s doctors have witnessed a rapid deterioration of the lung in select young Covid patients, prompting them to reiterate that the virus has not lost its sting completely. A subset of these patients has been asymptomatic for the initial few days before going on to have severe disease.

Doctors at SevenHills Hospital in Andheri have treated a 40-year-old who went from mildly symptomatic to high oxygen dependence in four days. Intensivist Dr Rahul Sawalia said she subsequently needed a non-invasive ventilator despite having been detected on the second day of symptoms. It was an unusual case as involvement of 80% of the lung takes a minimum of 10 days. “We have observed this swift progression in a few young patients in the second wave,” he said. In another case, a patient’s lungs developed a fully cloudy appearance in a span of 18 hours that he took to travel from his native place to SevenHills. This patient was a senior citizen and couldn’t be saved.

A similar prognosis has now been flagged by experts at the civic-run BKC jumbo facility too. Here, doctors have not just seen young patients deteriorating fast, they found that many were completely asymptomatic in the initial few days. Civic authorities have been harping that even though cases were rising, a vast majority were asymptomatic. Doctors are worried though that it was sending out a mixed signal as many are delaying tests or seeking care.

A senior doctor from BKC jumbo hospital said 15-20% of the asymptomatic cases are coming with X-ray reports showing an involvement of lungs. “Patients whose X-rays are bad also have high D-dimer levels, indicative of active formation of blood clots,” said the expert, adding that in spite of blood thinners, D-dimer remains high. “The improvement is very slow in these patients, and when they deteriorate, it’s very fast,” he added.

The Covid death audit committee has noted at least five deaths in young patients. “It has been reported to us. We are trying to understand if this quick progression is more common than we know,” said Dr Avinash Supe, the panel chairman, adding that young lives shouldn’t be lost because of late hospitalisation.

Vashi’s MPCT Hospital has treated a 27-year-old who came in critical condition and had to be started on remdesivir and non-invasive ventilator immediately on admission. Doctors found 80% of his lungs were involved by the eighth day. Intriguingly, despite persistent symptoms, he wasn’t advised a Covid test. “We saved him since he came at the right window, but people cannot take it lightly thinking everyone will be asymptomatic,” said MPCT CEO Dr Prince Surana.

Vax crunch in K’taka, B’luru may run out of stock in three days

Vax crunch in K’taka, B’luru may run out of stock in three days

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:23.03.2021 

Vaccination in Karnataka may have to be paused if the state doesn’t receive its next consignment of 12 lakh doses in the next couple of days.

Several hospitals in Bengaluru have either received very few vials or none at all. At several sites, senior citizens were sent back as there has been no supply from BBPM, Bengaluru’s civic body. While the state has targeted vaccinating 3 lakh persons a day, it may not meet the mark due to the acute shortage.

Health commissioner K V Trilok Chandra told TOI the state has been waiting for 12 lakh doses of Covishield and they could land this week. The state has so far received 31 lakh doses, including 3.9 lakh doses of Covaxin. Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (PHANA) president Dr HM Prasanna said some of its hospitals have faced vaccine shortage. “No vaccine was supplied to my hospital for the past two days but we got it on Monday. At this pace, we’ll take years to cover all the vulnerable populations,” Dr Prasanna, who heads Pristine hospital in Bengaluru West, said.

Though BBMP’s target is1 lakh people a day, it records 30,000-35,000 vaccinations. “By that scale, we have stocks for three days,” said BBMP special health commissioner Rajendra Cholan.

India logs 40,000 cases again, in third place after Brazil and US

India logs 40,000 cases again, in third place after Brazil and US

Atul.Thakur@timesgroup.com

23.03.2021 

For the fourth consecutive day, more than 40,000 fresh cases were reported in the country and the steady increase of cases has once again pushed India to become the world’s third-worst affected country in terms of daily cases.

Data compiled by WHO shows that once again the trio of Brazil, the USA and India are leading the world in daily cases. WHO data shows that on March 22, Brazil had reported 79,069 new cases, the highest in the world, followed by the US at 60,228 and India 46,951 cases. Analysis of daily case data for the past few days shows that India reached the third spot on March 19 and since then it has maintained that position.

India reported 40,622 fresh cases, with data from Assam yet to arrive till late at night. An analysis of state-wise data shows that the increase in daily cases was no longer confined to few a states. Despite being a Monday, when cases dip every week, at least 9 states reported the highest case count since January or earlier Gujarat for instance reported 1,640 cases on Monday, the highest ever in the state. Today’s cases were higher than 1,607 cases reported on the earlier peak that the state reached on November 27. Similarly, Monday saw the highest cases this year for Chhattisgarh (1,525), Madhya Pradesh (1,348), Delhi (888) and Himachal Pradesh (200). Tamil Nadu also reported 1,385 cases on Monday which was the highest since December 14. Rajasthan on the other hand reported 602 cases which were the highest since January 1. Similarly, Uttar Pradesh and Odisha too reported the highest cases since January 10 and January 24 respectively.

Meanwhile, Punjab saw a big surge in fatalities on Monday, with 58 deaths reported in the last 24 hours, the highest in the country along with Maharashtra, which also recorded 50 fatalities.

So many peaks at the state level suggests that it is highly likely that there is a pan-India resurgence of cases and if cases continue to this level then it might soon breach the 50,000 mark. Although Maharashtra reported 24,645 cases on Monday which is over 60% of the cases reported in the country the disease is no more confined alone in Maharashtra as cases are steadily increasing elsewhere as well. The case count was over 1,000 for Kerala, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Madhya Pradesh and Punjab.

Deaths too were increasing and the daily toll breached the 200 mark on Sunday.

SPIKE CONTINUES: The daily toll breached the 200-mark on Sunday

Maha may impose lockdown if cases keep rising: Health minister

Maha may impose lockdown if cases keep rising: Health minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Pune:23.03.2021 

Maharashtra health minister Rajesh Tope on Monday urged the public to follow Covid-19 safety protocols if the state is to avoid another lockdown.

Chief minister Uddhav Thackeray was of the view that lockdown may become necessary in some cities if new cases continue to climb, Tope told reporters. At the same time, he also defended the state’s response to rising cases and pointed out that in terms of cases per million population, many states have fared worse. “He told me that if the number of daily cases in the state remains in the range of 25,000 to 30,000 for the next some days, then we will have to take some stringent steps. He is of the opinion that if the numbers continue to increase, we will have to impose lockdown in some cities,” the minister said.

He has discussed the latest surge in cases with epidemiologists, the health minister said. “According to their estimate, the graph of Covid-19 cases will remain the same for the next two to three days and after that, it will decline. I think this is a peak and I hope it will go down," said Tope.

The minister said CM Thackeray favoured a lockdown in a few cities if cases continued to rise

67-yr-old retired teacher from IIT-Madras zone cracks GATE

67-yr-old retired teacher from IIT-Madras zone cracks GATE

17-Year-Old From IIT-Kanpur Zone Youngest to Qualify

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:23.03.2021 

A 67-year-old from the IIT-Madras zone and a 17-year-old prodigy from the IIT-Kanpur region were among the only 17.8% candidates who cracked Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) this year.

Ritik Sharma, 17, a thirdyear mechanical engineering student from Dayalbagh Educational Institute in Uttar Pradesh is the youngest to qualify. Usually, BTech graduates or final-year students take the exam.

Sankaranarayanan Sankarapandian is a retired teacher from the IIT-Madras zone and has qualified in both computer science & engineering and mathematics. He had completed his MSc in 1976 from AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Thanjavur. The organising institutes do not impose an age bar on candidates. An 88-year-old was the oldest to register for the test this year but did not appear for it eventually.

GATE is a qualifying exam for those seeking admissions to masters and PhD programmes in science and technology and placements in public sector undertakings. The success rate in the exam is usually below 20%.

Of more than 1.2 lakh candidates who cleared the exam, one-fourth are currently in their final-year, also the highest numbers in any category, said Deepankar Choudhury, from IIT-Bombay, organising chairman of GATE 2021. This could be probably because the final-year students are in their regular studies and GATE is mainly based on undergraduate syllabus, he added. Due to the pandemic, IIT-Bombay, the organising institute for GATE 2021, allowed thirdyear students to appear for the competitive exam too. Close to 10,000 students in this group have qualified in the test. Around 26,000 who qualified, completed their graduation last year and 3,837 candidates graduated in 2015 as well.

GATE, jointly organised by the seven older IITs and IISc-Bengaluru, was conducted in 27 subjects this year, with the addition of humanities & social sciences and environmental science & engineering. Toppers in at least six subjects are from the IIT-Bombay zone, including the linguistics paper under humanities. The institutes had opened the exam to humanities students for the first time. The success rate in each of the subjects varied from 8.4% to 29.5%.

Sankaranarayanan Sankarapandian, 67, has qualified in both computer science & engineering and mathematics. He had completed his MSc in 1976 from AVVM Sri Pushpam College, Thanjavur

CBSE students can now retake exam same year

FOR BETTER SCORES

CBSE students can now retake exam same year

New Delhi:23.03.2021 

Starting this year, Class X and XII students wanting to improve their Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) examination scores not need have to wait a year for another shot at the exam. Rather, they can appear for an improvement paper in the same academic session. Such candidates will have to appear in the compartment exams conducted a few months after the declaration of results.

The change is in compliance with National Education Policy, which suggests giving multiple opportunities to board aspirants to score well. According to the new rule, the better of the two scores obtained in a subject will be considered for

declaration of the results and candidates who improve their performance will be issued a combined marksheet.

The only rider is that students can apply for improvement in only one subject. TNN

CBSE Class X, XII exams will begin from May 4

Earlier, if students had to improve their performance in board exams, they had to wait for a complete year and appear in the exam with the next batch. “Recently, the government of India has released the national education policy wherein it has envisaged that students must be given multiple opportunities for improving the performances in subjects opted by them. As per the earlier rule, candidates could improve the performance only in the succeeding year. For improving the performance, any student had to wait for complete one year as these candidates were allowed to appear in the examination conducted next year only. Keeping in view the recommendations made in the NEP, CBSE has decided to extend the opportunities,” said Sanyam Bhardwaj, CBSE examination controller.

“This permission will be made available to the candidates appearing in the 2021 examination and if they wish to improve the performance in any one subject, they may again apply in the compartment examination for appearing to improve the performance,” added Bhardwaj. CBSE Class X exams will begin from May 4 and conclude on June 7, while Class XII exams will be held between May 4 and June 11.

ALL FOR IMPROVEMENT

Cutting tricolour cake not an insult to national flag, says HC

Cutting tricolour cake not an insult to national flag, says HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.03.2021 

Cutting and consuming a cake with the icing of Indian National Flag would not amount to insult to the National Flag, Madras high court has clarified.

“…there is no doubt that nationalism in a democracy like India is very vital. But hyper and surfeit adherence to it goes against the prosperity of our nation from all its past glory,” Justice N Anand Venkatesh said.

"A patriot is not one who only raises the flag, symbolises his national pride and wears it on his sleeve, but also a person who bats for good governance. The symbolisation of national pride is not synonymous with patriotism, just like how cutting a cake is not unpatriotic,” the court added. Justice Anand Venkatesh made the clarification while setting aside an order passed by a Coimbatore judicial magistrate directing registration of FIR against organisers of a Christmas celebration where a cake bearing the tricolour was cut.

“For proper understanding, let us take a hypothetical case where there is widespread participation in an Independence Day or Republic Day celebrations. During such celebrations, the participants are provided with a national flag to be worn by them. After the participants leave the venue on completion of the celebrations, they do not continue to possess this flag forever, and it becomes part of any other wastepaper,” the court said.

The judge added, “Will this mean that each of the participants has insulted the national flag and should be proceeded against under the Prevention of Insults to National Honour Act? The obvious answer is ‘no’. If people can give such broad meaning to the word ‘insult’, many will become uncomfortable and hesitant to handle the national flag,” the court said.

“If people can give such broad meaning to the word ‘insult’, many will become uncomfortable and hesitant to handle the national flag,” the court said

Doctors remove brain tumour after 8-hour surgery

REGION DIGEST

23.03.2021 

Doctors remove brain tumour after 8-hour surgery

Doctors at Rainbow Children’s Hospital, Chennai, removed a large tumor from the base of the skull of a four-year-old boy from the Middle East, through a complex surgery that spanned over eight hours. The tumor had caused a blockage in the circulation of fluid in the brain and had also affected the boy’s ability to see in the left eye, an official release said. The child was brought to the hospital with symptoms of headache, impaired vision, appetite loss and vomiting. After performing an MRI scan and other allied tests, the patient was found to have a large ‘tennis ball-sized’ tumor in his skull base, which was compressing the nerves to his eyes. The tumor was a large hypothalamic chiasmatic glioma. These uncommon tumors account for about 3% of childhood brain tumors. Adults almost never have this kind of tumor. The treatment of these tumors is very challenging due to the presence of many vital brain structures in the tumor’s vicinity. A team of doctors at the hospital decided to do a surgery using a complex skull base approach to remove the tumor. This surgery is used in adult patients to treat brain and sinus cancers but is rarely used in children. The patient was wheeled into the operation theatre for an eighthour-long surgery, wherein the tumor was completely removed with the preservation of his vision as well as his pituitary gland. The accumulated brain fluid was also released, thereby abating the need for a shunt surgery.

City hospital receives JCI accreditation: MGM Healthcare announced on Monday that it has received the prestigious Joint Commission International (JCI) accreditation, which is considered the gold standard in healthcare worldwide. An extensive on-site audit was conducted at the hospital by a team of international expert surveyors. They assessed the hospital’s patient safety goals, patient assessment and care, anaesthesia and surgical care, medication management, patient and family education, quality improvement, infection prevention and control, among others.

Madras University to offer 12 online courses from 2021-22

Madras University to offer 12 online courses from 2021-22

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.03.2021 

University of Madras will offer 12 online degree and diploma programmes in various subjects including economics, psychology, retail management and maths from 2021-22.

The university signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Consortium for Educational Communication (CEC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission, to jointly offer online degree programmes.

Madras University vicechancellor S Gowri, CEC director Jagat Bhushan Nadda and joint director Nageshwar Nat signed the MoU to partner to develop content for eLearning initiatives.

“CEC hosts one of the largest repositories of digitised educational content. The MoU will help the university to fasttrack design, development and deploying of these online degree programmes,” Gowri said.

TN colleges, univs go online again

STATE GOVT BARS PHYSICAL CLASSES

TN colleges, univs go online again

Chennai:23.03.2021 

The Tamil Nadu government on Monday ordered all colleges, universities and deemed universities to stop holding physical classes and conduct only online classes from March 23 due to the rising Covid-19 cases in the state.

An order issued by chief secretary Rajeev Ranjan said colleges should complete all practical classes and practical exams before March 31, and must hold end-semester exams only through online mode.

In view of the recent spike in Covid-19 cases, the chief secretary conducted a videoconference meeting with vicechancellors, director of technical education, director of collegiate education, director of public health and preventive medicine (DPH) and other health officials.

“The DPH said there are reports emerging about clusters in colleges and hostels and considering the trend in many states, these clusters have the potential to contribute spread disease in their place of residence and surrounding community,” the government order said. TNN

Final semester exam to be held online

The government order read: “The vice-chancellors said classes can be conducted online as70%to80%syllabushavebeen covered. For science stream students, practical classes and examination are going on,”

“The government after careful examination directs all higher educational institutions under thecontrolof thehigher education department and deemed universities to conduct online classes six days a week from March 23. All practical classes and practical exams for science, engineering and polytechnic shall be completed before March 31, especially for final semester students. The semester examination will be an online exam,” Rajeev Ranjan said in the order.

Telangana govt gets EC nod to implement pay revision

Telangana govt gets EC nod to implement pay revision

Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao had reportedly assured employee unions that fitment in their pay would be two to three percent more than what the AP government was paying.

Published: 21st March 2021 05:25 PM 

Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao

By Express News Service

HYDERABAD: Decks have been cleared for the announcement on implementation of the Pay Revision Commission (PRC) report with the Election Commission of India (ECI) giving the go-ahead to the state government.

The state government has sought a clarification from the Election Commission on announcement of pay revision for the employees in view of the by-election for Nagarjuna Sagar Assembly seat on April 17.

In reply, the ECI said that it has no objection from the Model Code of Conduct angle, subject to the condition that no undue publicity in this regard may be done by anyone anywhere for attaining political mileage through it particularly in the district where the election is underway. The letter was signed by Avinash Kumar, secretary, Election Commission of India.

When contacted Chief Electoral Officer Shashank Goel said that they had received the clarification from the State government on Saturday which they had sent to Election Commission which in turn gave the go-ahead signal on Sunday.

A few days before the elections to two graduates’ constituencies of the State Legislative Council, Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao reportedly assured employee unions that fitment in their pay would be two to three percent more than what the AP government was paying. Since AP government had announced 27 per cent, the Telangana employees unions expect that it would be about 29 per cent of their basic pay.

Leaders of TGOs and TNGOs - V Mamatha and M Rajender - then claimed that the Chief Minister had promised them to make an announcement in the Assembly after March 19. When he makes the announcement, they may also include enhancement of employees’ retirement age from 58 to 61 years. The employees were elated since the PRC in its recommendations recommended only 7.5 per cent fitment.

Earlier in the day, Tourism Minister V Srinivasa Goud said that Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao will make an announcement of the implementation of the Pay Revision Commission.

"Very soon, the chief minister will come out with a statement that would please the employees," he said, at a function organised by the Telangana Teachers' Union. He said the chief minister will keep in mind the role employees had played in the Telangana movement while making the announcement, he said.

World’s longest railway platform in Hubballi in its final stage of construction

After completion of the works, Hubballi railway station, which has presently five platforms, will be upgraded to eight platforms that will ease the movement of trains.

Published: 21st March 2021 10:38 PM 

View of SSS Railway Station, Hubballi. (Photo | D HEMANTH/EPS)

By Arunkumar Huralimath

Express News Service

HUBBALLI: The construction of the world’s longest railway platform at Shri Siddharoodha Swamiji Railway Station, Hubballi is in its final stage and it will likely be inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi soon.

Soon after commissioning of lengthening of Platform No 1 to 1,505 meters, it will unseat Gorakhpur station, under North Eastern Railway Zone, which has a platform length of 1,366 meters. After completion of the works, Hubballi railway station, which has presently five platforms, will be upgraded to eight platforms that will ease the movement of trains.

The existing 550-meter platform has been extended to 1,505 m with 10-m width. The longest platform has been designed to accommodate two trains at a time. On this longest track, there will be two platforms that are platform No.1 and platform No.8. To facilitate the passengers to platform No.8 third entry point will be opened. With this Hubballi railway station will be one among a few stations in the country having three entry gates.

Being the headquarter of the South Western Railway zone, Hubballi junction had not seen any developments. In the last decade, many developmental works have been initiated. The main entrance of the station has been constructed as a model railway station. The railway station connects many passenger and goods trains every day from many states. Due to lack of platforms, the trains were supposed to wait in Hubballi South Station and on the Dharwad line.

SWR chief public relations officer E Vijaya said to address the platform issue and to take up electrification and other civil works, the SWR has already completed remodelling the railway station at the cost of Rs 90 crores. Construction of longest platform, building full yard, signalling, electric works, the third entry and other civil works were part of the the project.

“The world’s longest platform construction work is in the finishing stage which will take a week-long time. Soon after the completion, the head office will take a call on the inauguration of the platform,” she added.

Key features

The total length of the platform will be 1,505 meters

The longest track will have two platforms no.1 and no.8

Hubballi will have eight platforms

PM Modi is expected to inaugurate the platform virtually

Rs 90 crore has been spent on various developmental works

Hubballi railway station will be having three entry gates, with this the station will be a few stations in India to have three entry points. At the present main gate, Gadag entry points are facilitating the passengers to the station. The new entry point will help the passengers to reach directly to platform no.8.

Residents of Selaiyur blame lack of co-ordination for delay in bypass

Residents of Selaiyur blame lack of co-ordination for delay in bypass

The construction of the Tambaram Eastern Bypass (TEB) has made travel through the stretch unsafe, say residents of Selaiyur and its neighbouring areas.

Published: 22nd March 2021 03:06 AM |

The poor condition of the road that is laid till Selaiyur | Express

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The construction of the Tambaram Eastern Bypass (TEB) has made travel through the stretch unsafe, say residents of Selaiyur and its neighbouring areas. The reasons cited are poorly-illuminated and dug-up roads.

The TEB connects Rajakilpakkam with Peerkankaranai on the GST Road. The road has been laid till Selaiyur. Most of the residents blame lack of coordination between the different agencies involved in the project for their hardship. E Varathan, a resident of Madipakkam, said there are a lot of lapses. “Work is not happening at Mappedu Junction. Service road has not been properly completed for the entire stretch from Rajakilpakkam to Mappedu Junction. Road widening is also pending for a small stretch in Thiruvanchery,” he said.

Street lights are missing between Camp Road junction and Mappedu junction. “When we complained to the CM cell saying the stretch is risky for travel, the Highways Department replied that road works have been completed in the Selaiyur stretch. It said queries like service lane, street lights and center medians must be diverted to the divisional office,” said Dayanand Krishnan, a resident. He further added, “All the components in road works should be undertaken by a single agency.

There is a lot of confusion and delay in execution.” The TEB, once completed, will ease traffic in Perungalathur and reduce travel time to Southern districts. It is a boon for those living in South Chennai including Velachery, Nanganallur, Madipakkam, Thiruvanmiyur and Adyar among others, as they can directly reach the bypass via Medavakkam. Now, since these vehicles pass through Perungalathur, traffic jams have become inevitable.

The bypass for Tambaram was proposed in the CMDA first Master Plan 1979 to help vehicles from outside the city avoid the railway line and the Irumbuliyur junction, infamous for accidents then. The State government sanctioned `1 crore as a token amount for land acquisition in 2004 for the 9.3-km road that runs from Peerkankaranai on the GST Road and ends at Rajakilpakkam on the Velachery-Tambaram Road. However, tackling the encroachments and issues in land acquisition have delayed project.