Thursday, March 25, 2021

BIRYANI the hit for all seasons


BIRYANI the hit for all seasons

New Avatar: After Pasta & Ice Cream, Biryani-Flavoured Popcorn Is Now A Sizzling Hit

Kamini.Mathai@timesgroup.com

25.03.2021 

Whether the smoky dark Dindigul version or the veiled spiciness of the Ambur spin-off, biryani is a dish that’s local in flavour but clearly universal in appeal. Bizarrely so, in fact. Earlier this year, it adapted itself into a flavour of popcorn as well. Vishal Gurusami of Chennai-based Binge Pop began offering the biryani-flavoured popcorn, and found that within days of its launch it had become a bestseller. “We do our own seasoning for the popcorn. Clearly, people like biryani in any form,” he says.

The popcorn joins the bandwagon of recent out-of-the-box fusions of the staple such as biryani-scented attar and biryani pasta. And not to mention the biryani flavoured ice cream (which apparently comes with caramelized onion shavings for garnish!) Clearly, it’s the flavour of every season.

Giving an idea of just how much it’s in demand, Swiggy’s 5th Annual StatEATstics report 2020 reveals biryani was ordered more than once every second. In fact, during the lockdown, a large number of users made their debut on the food-ordering app by placing an order for chicken biryani. And now with the elections around the corner, the one-pot meal takes centre stage again at rallies as the surefire route to a voter’s heart — a packet of biryani, the carb-protein dish perfectly poised to raise flagging energy levels.

At its most basic level, biryani is just a meal of meat and rice, says sociocultural anthropologist Dr S Sumathi. “But that little plate holds within it the complexities of Tamil culture and that’s what makes it so popular,” she says.

In the state, the concept of hospitality or ‘Virunthombal’ is all-important, explains Sumathi. “Both food and culture are interlinked so deeply, one does not exist without the other. At a typical feast, for instance, even the very action of how you close a leaf, towards or away from you, signifies whether the experience was mournful or joyous,” she says.

In some villages, food serves as a traditional fundraiser. People who are bankrupt take a loan and throw a feast, says Sumathi. “Well-wishers enjoy the meal and place money under the leaf. So the man in debt raises money without loss of face. Food is the common denominator in times of crisis and occasions of joy.”

“There is a saying in Tamil, veetilai kai nanachitta, vaaku maara kudathu (once you come to the house and eat, you cannot go back on your word), which shows just how closely food and honour are connected. Also what makes food an integral part of TN politics,” says Sumathi. With almost 98% of the state being non-vegetarian, the easy-going and hearty biryani is the perfect way to cement a bond.

When food vlogger Irfan (of the popular social media handle Irfan’sView) got started three years ago, among the first videos he put up was of him relishing a plate of Dindigul style biryani. Almost instantly, it got him 1.6 million views and helped his digital trajectory get off to an explosive start. “When my vlogging was taking off, I would do biryani episodes at least once every two weeks because I found they got the most views,” says Irfan, a 27-year-old BPO employeeturned-popular vlogger. “Biryani is a universal dish but can be customized to local tastes. I realised viewers are on the lookout for what’s new on the biryani scene.”

Biryani is a versatile meal, says Krish Ashok, author of ‘Masala Lab: The Science of Indian Cooking’. “It can be minimalist or extravagant, depending on the ingredients. It can be made sinfully expensive with ingredients like rose water, dry fruits and saffron, or cheap by using lower quality rice and cuts of meat. But whichever way you cook it, biryani brings with it the aroma and aura of a feast,” he says.

Though it traces its origins to Persia and is believed to have been brought to India by the Mughals, today, every part of the country has its own signature version, says Krish. “For instance, the Malabar style incorporates pineapple, while the Bengalis add potato.”

“The Madurai style uses the more meaty seeraga samba rice, while in Chennai it’s the lighter basmati rice that is used. Just the type of rice can change the taste.” Though biryani merely combines the most widely eaten staple rice with meat, it is truly a canvas that adapts itself across class and situation, says Krish. “It’s perfect for people in a rush, for those who have all the time in the world, for the poor and the rich. It’s infinitely variable,” he says. Which is why, election season or not, it’s always got the vote of the masses.

‘My aunt said she was stepping aside for now, told me to take up poll fight’

TALKING TO TOI ELECTIONS 2021

‘My aunt said she was stepping aside for now, told me to take up poll fight’

AMMK general secretary T T V Dhinakaran says the decision to step aside from politics by his aunt V K Sasikala was her own and that no one forced her to take the call. He denied the BJP had forced her to step aside or tried to bring the AIADMK and the AMMK together. In an interview to D Govardan amid his campaign in Tiruvannamalai on Wednesday, Dhinakaran exuded confidence that the AMMK-led alliance will triumph in the assembly election on the back of people’s yearning for a real change.

How is the response from the people to your campaign?

The response has been very good. The ground reality is reflecting the people’s yearning for change. They have understood that the present government has betrayed the public as well as those who anointed them to the position of power. On the other, the DMK has created an illusion, as it does in every election, that it is coming to power. But the people are ready to demolish that illusion. People are looking for a real change and the AMMK has formed a formidable alliance with the DMDK, SDPI and Owaisi’s AIMIM as well as several smaller local parties, besides several organisations and fronts too have extended their support. Moreover, people are wholeheartedly supporting us and will ensure that our alliance wins with a clear majority.

DMK president M K Stalin says his alliance will win all 234 seats, while AIADMK minister S P Velumani has said their alliance will win more than 200. How many seats have they left for your alliance?

Had Velumani said his party will lose more than 200 seats, it would be closer to reality. The DMK always creates a hype that it will emerge the winner right from the days of Kalaignar (M Karunanidhi) and the best example was the 1980 assembly election, where the DMK had even printed victory posters and had kept them ready for his birthday. But the people re-elected MGR as the CM. The DMK cannot aspire to get people’s votes, beyond those of the allied parties. I am sure people will repose faith in the AMMK.

Your aunt V K Sasikala was given a rousing welcome on her return. So, why did she step aside from politics?

There were a lot of expectations. But not from us. After returning from Bengaluru, she wanted to get into politics full-time. But the repeated statements by AIADMK leaders that she is not welcome, hurt her. Did she say that she wanted to rejoin the AIADMK? It is one thing that someone wants to join and another if the party leaders make statements on their own. It was these people, who had elected her as their general secretary and fell at her feet to accept that post. Watching these developments, she expressed her anguish and told me that she was stepping aside for the present and asked me to go ahead with my electoral fight.

There were reports that the BJP had forced her to step aside.

No. It is not true. No one from the BJP spoke either to me or her. No one coerced her to step aside.

There were reports that I too have been forced to step away from politics. But I informed the media that no one can coerce me and that the first list of candidates will be released on March 10 and I did that. Some vested interests created such rumours.

Who are these vested interests?

Our political enemies and our betrayers, besides the media which supports them and the agents who participate in political debates on television channels. The state is also involved in spreading such rumours. It is definitely an act of those, whose poll prospects will be affected by the AMMK.

There were also reports that the BJP intervened to bring the AIADMK and the AMMK together.

No. There were no talks like that. I also saw such media reports. But no one, especially from the BJP, spoke to me.

There were reports that O Panneerselvam was in touch with you.

It is a blatant lie. We never spoke to each other. In the past people had even spread rumours about Amma (J Jayalalithaa) having a daughter.

Such rumours are the handiwork of our enemy – the DMK or the betrayers – Palaniswami and Company.

But why is Edappadi Palaniswami so cut up with you?

It is because of the fear of losing. To reclaim the AIADMK democratically is our aim. That is why the AMMK was formed and he now fears that our party will defeat them. They are only banking on purchasing votes. But they know they will not succeed. People also know that it is their money that is coming back to them and they will take it. But we will do an RK Nagar across the state.

On Tuesday, O Panneerselvam told a news channel that he never doubted Sasikala in the death of Jayalalithaa and the party is open to examine her re-entry to the party. What do you think made him take such a stand now?

I also saw that. There is opposition building against him in his constituency and the fear of losing could have force him to say such a thing now. He started a ‘dharmayudh’ against our family and the world knows what he had said about us then. If he is changing his stand, it must be due to belated realisation of his folly. You have to pose the question to him. But since this is happening closer to the election, one has to doubt his realisation.

While you attack both the DMK and the AIADMK, you seem to be silent on the BJP in your campaign.

In 2019, it was the Lok Sabha election and hence I had to attack the BJP.

This is an assembly election and the fight is only between the AMMK, the DMK and the AIADMK. Whenever a move is made by the BJP against the interests of Tamil people, I attack it.

Contesting elections is an expensive affair. With your aunt backing out, how will you manage without her financial support?

We are heading into the election based on the strength of our cadres and the personal financial strength of our candidates. Is Chinnamma (Sasikala) running a finance company to fund me? What support can she provide, when she herself has come out of prison after four years.

If as predicted by opinion polls, the DMK wins, is there a possibility of the AIADMK and the AMMK coming together?

First, the cadres will come together. The AIADMK leaders with moneybags and all those who spoke ill about us will look for alternative pastures out of fear. If by chance, please note, only by chance, the DMK comes to power, everyone will know where these leaders, with skeletons in their cupboards, will be. All those who are not at fault or don’t have any dirty baggage will come together as Amma’s cadres.

Will it be a unified AIADMK then?

Only the cadres will decide when that happens.

Email your feedback to southpole. toi@ timesgroup.com

Star constituency to see a battle royale between doctor & actor

GROUND ZERO THOUSAND LIGHTS

Star constituency to see a battle royale between doctor & actor

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  25.03.2021 

Thousand Lights constituency, where DMK supremo M K Stalin recorded a hat-trick, is now the venue of a doctor-versus-actor tussle.

While actor-turned-politician Khushbu Sundar’s ‘Lotus’ dance to popularise her poll symbol has gone viral on social media, her opponent Dr Ezhilan is sticking to door-to-door canvassing. In terms of star value, this constituency is next only to Chepauk. Khushbu’s eleventhhour nomination by the BJP took everybody by surprise, as the national party had only a few months ago received into its fold the DMK’s sitting MLA Ku Ka Selvam. Earlier there were rumours that Khushbu might be fielded against Udhayanidhi in Chepauk, and visuals of Khushbu’s roadshow in that constituency only added fuel to the story.

Khusbu seems to be in no mood to miss out on this opportunity. Right from the day of her nomination, her rallies have attracted crowds. But the larger question is whether or not it will be converted into votes. The BJP is confident that her popularity and star value will be of great help here. Besides, they also pin hope on that the fact that the minority population at Thounsand Lights area might support Khushbu. Around 10% of the voters are Muslims.

Maulana Ghulam Mohammed Mehdi Khan, Chief Qazi at the Thounsand Lights Mosque, however, said, “Though there has been no major disturbance to communal harmony here so far, we are skeptical about some of the changes proposed by parties in power now.”

It is a loaded statement, indicating that it would take Khushbu much more than a dance-andcharm campaign to breach the DMK bastion. The DMK has won nine of the 15 assembly elections here and Stalin three elections between 1996 and 2006.

The party’s present candidate Dr Ezhilan is the son of N Naganathan, renowned academic and former vice-chairman of the state planning commission. Ezhilan, who gained prominence through his relief work during the 2015 floods, Covid outbreak and protests against NEET and NRC, has assured the electorate that he would improve the living standard of every resident by developing housing board settlements, schools, hospitals and decongesting roads. “There is an urgent need to develop entrepreneurial skills of youngsters at Thousand Lights constituency, which has hundreds of small-scale enterprises like textile shops and printing presses,” he said. Resident welfare associations here say that MLA Ku Ka Selvam’s limited availability and absence of corporation ward councillors made their lives more difficult.

For instance, Greater Chennai Corporation had proposed to construct an elevated corridor from Sterling Road junction to Nelson Manickam Road to reduce congestion on Choolaimedu’ High Road. But till date, it hasn’t materialised and there letters sent to all stakeholders went unanswered, said Kasturi Rangan from Choolaimedu Exnora.

There’s no permanent CM, says OPS

There’s no permanent CM, says OPS

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

25.03.2021 

The divisions within the AIADMK came into the open when deputy chief minister and AIADMK coordinator O Panneerselvam asserted that there was no “dual leadership” in the party nor “a permanent chief minister”. The AIADMK leader said he had a lot of respect for former chief minister J Jayalalithaa’s closeaide V K Sasikala and that he remained a loyal friend to her nephew and AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran.

“The administration is run by a single leadership. And, there is no dual leadership in the party. He (EPS) steers the government and I extend support to him. Similarly, I am the coordinator of the party and he supports me. This is our mutual relationship,” Panneerselvam said in an interview to a Tamil television channel telecast on Tuesday.

Panneerselvam’s remarks come against the backdrop of a caste backlash in the mukkulathor-dominated Bodinayakkanur constituency where he is contesting as the AIADMK candidate. The Edappadi K Palaniswami government had announced internal reservation for the vanniyar community within the 20% MBC quota minutes before the Election Commission issued the poll notification for the April 6 assembly election. The mukkulathor caste is a sub-sect of the thevar community to which both Sasikala and OPS belong.

But Panneerselvam’s pro-Sasikala remarks have upset the EPS camp that has stoutly opposed her reinduction into the party as well as a merger of the AIADMK and AMMK. “EPS was quite upset and met OPS at a private hotel in Salem on Wednesday morning and was closeted with him for 15 minutes,” said a source privy to the meeting. “EPS requested OPS to refrain from making statements that may jeopardize the electoral prospects of the party. The leaders also discussed election strategies,” said the source. Panneerselvam reached Salem on Tuesday night to campaign in Salem and Edappadi, while Palaniswami took a break from electioneering on Tuesday and was at his Salem residence. EPS is the AIADMK’s candidate in Edappadi.

In the interview, Panneerselvam said he had “no suspicion about Sasikala in Jayalalithaa’s death” nor did he have anything against her. The AIADMK, he said, could consider taking her back on humanitarian basis, if she accepted the “present set-up” of the party.

“OPS has expressed his views going by his conscience. He is known to speak responsibly after giving much thought. If he says something it must be true only,” AIADMK spokesman Kovai K Selvaraj said. A section, however, feels the comments were unwarranted when the party is fighting a tough poll battle.

“Today, he (EPS) is the chief minister. No one knows who will become CM after him. Only those who possess qualification and ability will get an opportunity,” OPS said in the interview.

INSTANT FEEDBACK: Following his deputy O Panneerselvam’s remarks on Tuesday, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami met with OPS in a hotel in Salem on Wednesday and urged him to refrain from making such comments

IN THE INTERVIEW, PANNEERSELVAM SAID HE HAD “NO SUSPICION ABOUT SASIKALA IN JAYALALITHAA’S DEATH” NOR DID HE HAVE ANYTHING AGAINST HER. THE AIADMK, HE SAID, COULD CONSIDER TAKING HER BACK ON HUMANITARIAN BASIS, IF SHE ACCEPTED THE PRESENT PARTY SET-UP

With 53,364 cases, India sees its biggest one-day spike in 5 mths

With 53,364 cases, India sees its biggest one-day spike in 5 mths

25.03.2021 

For Second Day In A Row, Toll Crosses 200

India recorded its highest single-day Covid-19 count in over five months on Wednesday with 53,364 patients testing positive for the virus. The last time the country had surpassed this tally was on October 23 when 54,350 cases were recorded.

However, unlike in the second half of October, when the first wave was receding after having peaked on September 17, this time around the pandemic is surging rapidly. On September 17, the peak of the first wave in India, the daily count was just around 2,000 cases short of the one-lakh mark.

For the second consecutive day, the daily Covid toll breached the 200-mark with 248 victims succumbing to the virus on Wednesday. The toll was lower than the previous day’s figure of 276. On October 23 – when the cases were just about 1,000 more than March 24 – the daily casualties were 665. TNN

52 students of TN med college test +ve

At least 52 first-year medical students of Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute at Enathur in Kancheepuram district have tested positive for Covid-19. The management closed the hostel and shifted classes for first and second year MBBS students to online mode. P 4

Active Covid cases up by one lakh in last six days

However, active cases on October 23 stood at 6,75,394 and during the second half of October they were decreasing rapidly with each passing day as the number of patients getting discharged was outnumbering the new cases. In contrast, active cases now have been rising at a very fast pace and stood at 3,96,889 on March 24. Last six days have seen an increase in active cases by a whopping one lakh.

The rapid surge on Wednesday by over 6,000 cases against Tuesday’s 47,281infections was led by Maharashtra, which reported its highest ever count at 31,855. Mumbai, too, recorded its highest ever infections, aided by a massive jump in cases — from 3,514 the previous day to 5,190 on Wednesday. Active cases in Maharashtra are inching closer to the 2.5 lakh-mark. Daily toll in Maharashtra was lower at 95 against 134 casualties on Tuesday.

Maharashtra government’s Covid-19 task force called for a stringent check on people’s movement in Mumbai, including shutting down of popular spots such as the Juhu beach for a few weeks, restrictions on post-7pm movement of people and early closure of non-essential shops.

Gujarat, too, recorded its highest ever count with 1,790 cases on Wednesday.

Use of Aadhaar data by BJP to woo voters: HC seeks EC report

Use of Aadhaar data by BJP to woo voters: HC seeks EC report

Chennai:26.03.2021 

The Madras high court on Wednesday chided the Election Commission over its failure to probe complaints about the Puducherry unit of the BJP illegally accessing Aadhaar data and using it to reach voters in the Union territory and asked it to file a report by March 26, reports Sureshkumar K.

“A matter of serious concern has been reported by the petitioner that a prominent political party has access to personal records of citizens to undertake a political campaign. It will not do for the ECI to say cyber crimes division is conducting an investigation. When the commission is up and about in all other matters and asserts its primacy and authority, it has to look into this allegation immediately and with the degree of seriousness that it deserves,” a bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.

‘952 groups created using Aadhaar data’

AAnand, president of the Democratic Youth Foundation of India’s Puducherry unit, said in his petition that local BJP candidates had obtained the mobile phone numbers of voters that are linked with Aadhaar and were using them to create WhatsApp groups in their respective constituencies for campaigning.

“Multiple WhatsApp groups have been formed in the Union territory using the same phone number specifically targeting voters in respective booths and constituencies through messages,” said advocate M N Sumathy, who is representing the petitioner.

When the petitioner tried to reach the administrator of one such group, he came to know there were 952 WhatsApp groups created with voter details obtained from Aadhaar data, Sumathy added.

The petitioner also said that voters have been receiving calls from the BJP seeking votes with accurate details such as names, election booths and constituencies from which they will be voting.

52 students of Kanchi med college test +ve

52 students of Kanchi med college test +ve

Chennai:25.03.2021 

At least 52 first year medical students of Meenakshi Medical College Hospital and Research Institute at Enathur in Kancheepuram district have tested positive for Covid-19. The management closed the hostel and shifted classes for first and second year MBBS students to online mode.

Dean Dr K V Rajasekhar said the college had ordered RTPCR tests after six students tested positive two days ago. “Simultaneously, we asked all their primary and secondary contacts on campus to get themselves tested. Besides 228 students, hostel and mess staff and faculty members were tested. In this group, 46 students tested positive,” he said.

Students who tested positive for the viral infection are being kept in an isolation ward of the hospital attached to the medical college. District public health officer Dr V K Palani said the condition of all students was stable. “We have advised home quarantine for students who tested negative,” he said. Barring 40 final year students who are writing their exams, all others were asked to vacate the campus. TNN

Wednesday, March 24, 2021

‘Covid bus’ on tour of temple towns

‘Covid bus’ on tour of temple towns

Ishita.Mishra@timesgroup.com

Dehradun:24.03.2021 

Twenty-two passengers of a bus, travelling from Gujarat, tested positive for Covid-19 in Rishikesh on Monday night. The bus, on a 15-day North India trip, boarded mostly by elderly women, travelled to Jaipur, Pushkar, Mathura and Haridwar before reaching Rishikesh where the health department conducted their tests after a few showed symptoms of the virus.

Not only that, the health department officials said they were finding it difficult to trace the tourists in question as they had all provided wrong phone numbers. As a result, there is no information on whether they have been hospitalised or isolated.

Tehri additional chief medical officer Jagdish Joshi said the bus was stopped near Muni Ki Reti on March 18 where a health team screened the passengers.

When TOI contacted Mahesh Bhai, owner of the travel agency that booked the 50 passengers from various villages of Gujarat, he said, “We started on March 7, covered Ambaji temple in Banaskantha district of Gujarat, Jaipur, Pushkar and Mathura. We reached Haridwar on March 18, where the tourists wanted to take a holy dip in Ganga. We were scheduled to return on March 20, but with two days still in our hands we visited Neelkanth Mahadev temple in Rishikesh,” said Mahesh, and added that he had personally called all the 22 people and asked them to either go to hospital or get themselves isolated at homes.

He also claimed that every passenger had a Covid-negative certificate when they began the journey.

₹2,000 old-age pension for estranged wife not enough: HC


MAINTENANCE DISPUTE

₹2,000 old-age pension for estranged wife not enough: HC

Ajay.Sura@timesgroup.com

Chandigarh:24.03.2021

The Punjab and Haryana high court while deciding a dispute between an estranged elderly couple — the man is 75 years old and his wife is 67 years old — over maintenance allowance made it clear that an old-age pension of ₹2,000 is inadequate.

Upholding that ₹9,000 as monthly maintenance allowance allowed by the family court to the aged woman cannot be termed on the higher side, considering that the husband receives ₹50,000 as pension, the high court said that the old-age pension was not enough even to meet medical expenses.

The petitioner’s main plea against the maintenance amount of ₹9,000 awarded by the family court to his estranged wife was that the amount was on the higher side, as his wife has been living in a house provided by him and gets ₹2,000 as old-age pension.

Full report on www.toi.in

Size, number of clusters on the rise in city, say officials

Size, number of clusters on the rise in city, say officials

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:24.03.2021 

With 532 new cases being reported in Chennai on Tuesday, highest since November 17, health officials said the city is witnessing a spike in both the number of clusters and their size. On March13,15 people from four families had tested positive, while on March17, there were 28 positive cases from eight clusters. On Monday, officials found 40 positive cases from three branches of AGS Health Private limited and 25 cases from other clusters. Last week, nearly a dozen people from a private bank tested positive for the viral infection.

States allowed to impose local curbs

Keeping in view the fresh surge in Covid-19 cases in some parts of the country, the new home ministry guidelines valid through April mandate the states and UTS to strictly enforce the ‘test-track-treat’ protocol and allow states to impose local restrictions at district, sub-district, city and ward level. The Centre has asked states to ensure observance of Covid appropriate behaviour including by imposing fines, and scaling up vaccination drive. INSIDE FLAP

‘Clusters can become huge when people take infection to offices’

We continue to see clusters at homes after luncheons, parties, weddings and funerals. But when people take infection to their workplaces, the cluster can become huge,” said director of public health Dr TS Selvavinayagam.

“When people sit in a closed environment, particularly air-conditioned rooms for long hours in close proximity, the chances of infection spreading is high. Masks and social distance can reduce the burden,” he said.

The rising clusters have led to spike in average number of fresh cases reported in the city over the past few weeks. Between February 12 and 18, the city reported an average of 144 cases a day, and the following week the number rose to 152. In the week between March 12 and March 18, there were about 362 fresh cases a day. During that week, the city added 2,288 new cases and reported 17 deaths.

In the last five days, the city has already surpassed last week’s total. Between March 19 and March 23, the city has reported 2,373 cases and 15 deaths.

The trend reminded officials of Covid-19 cases in May last year, when teams were tracking clusters from several streets in North Chennai and the city was under a strict lockdown.

On an average, the city corporation tracks down at least 30 close contacts of every positive patient.

“If there is one person tested positive, we speak to family, colleagues and friends who have been in close contact with them. If clusters and cases are large, it means the health staff must track down more people and ensure they are tested,” said a senior health department official of the Greater Chennai Corporation.

“We test about 30 people for every positive case. Active cases have increased in almost all zones,” he said.

On Tuesday, zonal health officials have asked commercial establishments and factories to do thermal scanning for all staff.

Those showing symptoms of viral infection should be asked to go for a test. The company should ask their staff to always wear masks and maintain social distance.

“Staff, who are eligible for vaccination, should be encouraged to take the shot. Unlike last year, we have an effective vaccine that can prevent complications and deaths. We must use it,” Dr Selva Vinayagam said.

The rising clusters have led to spike in average number of fresh cases reported in the city over the past few weeks. In the last five days, the city has already surpassed last week’s total

Railway Board says no stop for Tejas Exp at Tambaram, passengers disappointed

Railway Board says no stop for Tejas Exp at Tambaram, passengers disappointed

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:24.03.2021 

Residents demanding a stop at Tambaram railway station for the Chennai-Madurai Tejas Express are disappointed as the the Railway Board, according to an RTI reply, has not approved the proposal.

The train which originates at Egmore, with annual footfalls of 4.5 crore, will, however, stop at Dindigul. Tambaram records footfalls of nearly 7 crore annually, next only to Chennai Beach station, with footfalls of 9.5 crore every year, on the city’s suburban station network.

Southern Railway, in a series of RTI replies, said that in June 2019 the chief passenger transport manager wrote to M S Bhatia, Railway Board executive director (coaching), saying the member (traffic) of the Railway Board had during a visit to the city suggested a halt for the train at Tambaram. The Southern Railway general manager then submitted a recommendation, saying there would be an increase of only 5 minutes in the onward journey, but there would be no delay in the overall running time.

But as per an RTI reply dated March 18, 2021, from M S Bhatia, the railways’ apex body did not approve it. “It only approved the stoppage at Dindigul but not at Tambaram,” said Dayanand Krishnan, a resident of Chitlapakkam. “I sent many RTI applications, seeking information on the recommendations and whether meetings were held to discuss the issue. They replied that no meetings were held. We have no idea why the stoppage was not approved. ”

Several residents have been demanding the halt for more than a year since the service began. Varathan Ananthappan, a resident of Madipakkam said, “There is huge patronage for this train. Now, we need to book cabs that cost us Rs 1,000 more than the ticket fare. In New Delhi, the Tejas Express stops at Ghaziabad, just 13km away, and in Mumbai, it stops at Thane, 35km away. Then why not here?”

A Southern Railway said the reason for the Railway Board not approving the proposal could not be ascertained. Another official said the issue would be taken up again after the state assembly election process was over.

Tuesday, March 23, 2021

No tuition fee for girl PG students in Haryana government colleges with family income less than Rs 1.8 lakh

No tuition fee for girl PG students in Haryana government colleges with family income less than Rs 1.8 lakh

The Director-General of Higher Education Department, Haryana, has forwarded a letter in this regard to principals of all government and government-aided colleges in the state.

Published: 23rd March 2021 12:31 AM 

By PTI

CHANDIGARH: Girl students with annual family income less than Rs 1.80 lakh and pursuing post-graduation in government colleges and government-aided facilities of Haryana will not be charged tuition fee, according to an official statement on Monday.

The Director-General of Higher Education Department, Haryana, has forwarded a letter in this regard to principals of all government and government-aided colleges in the state.

Meanwhile, Chairman, Haryana Board of School Education, Bhiwani, Jagbir Singh said examination of classes nine and 11 will be conducted from 10 am to 12:30 pm in place of the earlier scheduled time of 8:30 am to 11 am.

He said the examination of class 11 students be held from March 26 to April 23, and for Class nine it will be from March 30 to April 17.

In view of the COVID-19 pandemic, all candidates should ensure social distancing and wear mask at the examination centre according to government guidelines, the official said.

Tamil Nadu polls: AIADMK candidate impresses voters by washing cloths to indicate manifesto assurance


Tamil Nadu polls: AIADMK candidate impresses voters by washing cloths to indicate manifesto assurance

Kathiravan is AIADMK’s Nagapattinam town secretary. The 50-year-old candidate contests his first assembly elections after being rewarded with a ticket for his active party work.

Published: 22nd March 2021 09:34 PM |


AIADMK's Nagapattinam candidate T Kathjravan canvasses votes by washing clothes in public near Nagore on Monday. (Photo | EPS)
By Express News Service

NAGAPATTINAM: AIADMK’s candidate for Nagapattinam assembly constituency made heads turn on Monday as he washed clothes of a woman in public while he was canvassing votes in the public.

T Kathjravan, prominently known as Thanga Kathiravan, AIADMK’s candidate for Nagapattinam assembly constituency, made quite a buzz when he went canvassing votes near Nagore Monday. As he and other party functionaries were canvassing votes door-to-door in Vandipettai, he saw a woman washing the clothes of her family members. Kathjravan approached the woman and offered to wash a few clothes. After initial reluctance and awkwardness, the woman gave a few cloths.

Kathiravan sat down and washed them for a few minutes. He also washed a few vessels kept next to him. The residents were awed and impressed by the stunt the Kathjravan pulled on the spot.

When TNIE sought why he chose to wash clothes where he had went for canvassing, Kathjravan said, “Our Amma’s government will give washing machines as assured once it comes to power again. Women and homemakers may never have to hurt their hands when they get their washing machines. The government would take care of it. I washed clothes just to indicate and prove my point.”

Kathiravan is AIADMK’s Nagapattinam town secretary. The 50-year-old candidate contests his first assembly elections after being rewarded with a ticket for his active party work.

Can you eat meat, drink or smoke after getting the jab?

Can you eat meat, drink or smoke after getting the jab?

As the vaccination drive gains popularity, manifold post-vaccine care instructions, scientific and otherwise, are fed to the people.

Published: 22nd March 2021 03:21 AM 


Health workers advising people before taking swab samples at Rajiv Gandhi GH | DEBADATTA MALLICK


Express News Service

CHENNAI: As the vaccination drive gains popularity, manifold post-vaccine care instructions, scientific and otherwise, are fed to the people. Given that many of these instructions seem extremely common, separating disinformation from official guidelines has become hard.

Rajendran, a 62-year-old farmer who got his first jab of vaccination at a rural Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Chengalpattu, a week ago was advised not to drink after he got his second jab. “I was told the vaccine won’t work if I drink,” he said. Meanwhile, in the heart of Chennai, Kalyan*, a journalist in his thirties was informed by the nurse administering the vaccine that he should not drink, smoke or eat meat for 48 hours. His friend, who was vaccinated at an affluent private hospital, was advised to not drink or “eat any non-vegetarian food,” for a week.


So, which advice is right and what should people follow? First things first, there are no dietary restrictions advised by the government along with the vaccine so far. “There are no tangible scientific studies that have shown that non-vegetarian food makes the vaccine ineffective. So people need not stop eating meat to get the vaccine,” said State Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan. Also, there are no approved scientific studies that quantifies the effect of alcohol or smoking on vaccination either.

However, this does not mean it is advisable to get drunk to celebrate getting the first jab. Here’s why: Vaccinations often cause mild flu-like symptoms including fever, chills, headache and nausea. Alcohol tends to aggravate and worsen these symptoms making the experience unpleasant for those getting vaccinated. “Alcohol also affects the body’s immune system negatively and there is a chance that the immune response to the vaccine may not be as effective if there is excessive alcohol in the system,” said Dr P Kuganantham, senior epidemiologist and a member of the State Special Task Force against Covid-19.

“One may feel less sick if they avoid drinking and smoking a week before and after getting the vaccine,” he recommended. The same is true of tobacco consumption. It tends to affect the immune system and therefore may render the vaccine relatively less effective. While the correlation has not been scientifically studied, it is known that smoking does worsen the risk associated with Covid-19 itself.

Kuganantham said that scientifically, there is few pre- and post-vaccination care some people should take. “People on steroids and blood thinners can stop their medications for two days before and two days after the jab to prevent adverse side-effects. If someone has had an anapholatic shock to a vaccine, they should inform their physician and be more careful,” he said. He added that the most important thing to do post-vaccination is to continue wearing masks, maintaining social distance and avoid touching surfaces.

Delhi lowers drinking age to 21, govt to exit business

Delhi lowers drinking age to 21, govt to exit business

AlokKNMishra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:23.03.2021 

In a major reform, the Delhi government has reduced the drinking age in the city from 25 to 21, removing an anomaly in its excise policy. Delhi was among a few states and Union territories that had a higher age bar even as the rest of the country had moved on. In what can prove to be a major game-changer, the government has also announced that it will exit the liquor business.

These two are among a host of decisions, including checking the liquor mafia, ensuring quality control, transforming the liquor buying experience of customers and, finally, increasing the excise revenue by 20% in the first year, announced by the AAP government as part of its new excise policy on Monday.

In 2019-20, the state government earned Rs 6,574 crore from liquor, which is about 9.5% of the total estimated revenue, as mentioned in the budget, of Rs 69,000 crore.

The policy was approved by the Arvind Kejriwal government on Monday and will come into effect after it is notified in a couple of days.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia, who announced the new policy, said the government will not run liquor shops anymore (currently it runs around 60% of these outlets) because it is not the job of the government to sell liquor. No new liquor shops will be opened, Sisodia said, pointing out that since 2016, no new outlet has been opened in the city.

"The excise reforms announced today will be a major blow to the liquor mafia in Delhi. The liquor mafia runs around 2,000 illegal shops which results in tax evasion of Rs 1,500 crore to Rs 2,000 crore," said Sisodia.

Full report on www.toi.in

Delhi was among a few states and Union territories that had a higher age bar even as the rest of the country had moved on

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.

NEWS TODAY 25.12.2024