பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகத்தில் அலட்சியம்: அலுவலர்கள் வழங்காமல் கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்ததாக மக்கள் புகார்

பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகத்தில் அலட்சியம்: அலுவலர்கள் வழங்காமல் கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்ததாக மக்கள் புகார்வாக்காளர்களுக்கு வழங்கப்படாமல், செங்கல்பட்டு ஜோசப் பள்ளியில் வைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பூத் சிலிப். படம்: 

எம். முத்துகணேஷ்.

செங்கல்பட்டு

பூத் சிலிப் விநியோகிக்கும் அலுவலர்கள், சில இடங்களில் வீடுதோறும் வழங்காமல், கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்துள்ளனர். இதனால் பல இடங்களில் வாக்குப்பதிவு தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டது.

தேர்தலில் வாக்குப்பதிவு செய்ய தேர்தல் ஆணையம் சார்பில், வரிசை எண், பாகம் எண் உள்ளிட்ட விவரங்கள் அடங்கிய வாக்காளர் சீட்டு (பூத் சிலிப்) வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இவை ஆசிரியர்கள், அங்கன்வாடி பணியாளர்கள், கிராம உதவியாளர்கள் உள்ளிட்டோர் மூலம் வீடுதோறும் வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இதை பலரும் முறையாக வழங்காமல், அந்தந்த பகுதி கட்சியினரிடம் ஒப்படைத்துள்ளனர்.

செங்கல்பட்டு மாவட்டத்தில் பெரும்பாலான இடங்களில் வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பூத் சிலிப் வழங்கப்படவில்லை. பூத் சிலிப் இல்லாமல் வாக்களிக்க வந்த பலரின் வரிசை எண், பாகம் எண் உள்ளிட்ட விவரங்கள் தெரியாததால், தாமதத்தை தவிர்க்க பூத் சிலிப் வாங்கி வருமாறு திரும்ப அனுப்பி வைக்கப்பட்டனர். பின்னர் அந்த வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்குச்சாவடிக்கு முன்பிருந்த கிராம நிர்வாக அலுவலக ஊழியர்களிடம் பூத் சிலிப் வாங்கி வந்து வாக்களித்தனர்.

இதுகுறித்து, பொதுமக்கள் சிலர் கூறியதாவது: எந்த கட்சி சின்னத்தையும், வாக்காளர்களிடம் திணிக்கக் கூடாது என்பதற்காகத்தான் தேர்தல் ஆணையம் வாக்காளர் சீட்டை வழங்குகிறது. இதை, வாக்காளர்களிடம் நேரடியாக கொண்டு சேர்க்க பணியாளர்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளனர். ஆனால், அவர்கள் அரசியல் கட்சினரிடம் மொத்தமாக ஒப்படைத்து விடுகின்றனர். கட்சியினர், இந்த வாக்காளர் சீட்டை கொடுத்து வாக்கு சேகரிக்கின்றனர். பலர் குறிப்பிட்ட இடங்களில் அமர்ந்துகொண்டு வாக்காளர்களை வந்து பெற்றுச்செல்ல அறிவுறுத்துகின்றனர். தேர்தல் ஆணையம், இனி வரும் காலங்களில் முறையாக அனைத்து வீடுகளுக்கும் வாக்காளர் சீட்டை கொண்டு சேர்க்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்க வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

காரைக்காலில் புதுமை: பெண் அலுவலர்கள் மட்டுமே பணியாற்றிய 'பிங்க்' வாக்குச்சாவடிகள்; ஆட்சியர் பாராட்டு

காரைக்காலில் புதுமை: பெண் அலுவலர்கள் மட்டுமே பணியாற்றிய 'பிங்க்' வாக்குச்சாவடிகள்; ஆட்சியர் பாராட்டு

காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடியை பார்வையிட்ட மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அர்ஜூன் சர்மா

காரைக்கால் மாவட்டத்தில் பெண் அலுவலர்களை மட்டுமே கொண்டு இயங்கும் வகையில் 5 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

இன்று (ஏப்.06) நடைபெற்ற புதுச்சேரி சட்டப்பேரவைத் தேர்தலை முன்னிட்டு, காரைக்கால் மாவட்டத்தில் உள்ள 5 சட்டப்பேரவைத் தொகுதிகளில் மொத்தம் 234 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

இவற்றுள் 5 வாக்குச் சாவடிகள் ”பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடிகள்” என முழுமையும் பெண் அலுவலர்களால் மட்டுமே நிர்வகிக்கும் வகையில், புதுமையான முறையில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

வரிச்சிக்குடி அரசு உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளி, செல்லூர் கால்நடை மருந்தகம், காரைக்கால் ஒப்பிலாமணியர் கோயில் தெரு அரசு தொடக்கப்பள்ளி, காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபம், நிரவி ஹுசைனியா அரசு உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளி ஆகிய 5 இடங்களில் இந்த வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன.

காரைக்கால் ஆயிரம் வைசியர் திருமண மண்டபத்தில் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்த பிங்க் வாக்குச் சாவடியை மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரும், தேர்தல் அதிகாரியுமான அர்ஜூன் சர்மா இன்று மாலை பார்வையிட்டார்.

பின்னர் அவர் கூறியது: இந்த வாக்குச்சாவடியில் தேர்தல் பணிகள் முழுவதையும் பெண்களே மேற்கொள்வது அவர்களின் தன்னம்பிக்கை வளர்வதற்கு ஒரு சிறந்த எடுத்துக்காட்டாக இருக்கும். இது போன்ற முயற்சிகள் ஒரு ஊன்றுகோளாய் அமையும் என்றார். ஸ்வீப் அதிகாரி முனைவர் ஷெர்லி உடனிருந்தார்.

TN elections: Abu Dhabi techie on vacation back home in Tiruchy finds his vote stolen

TN elections: Abu Dhabi techie on vacation back home in Tiruchy finds his vote stolen

When he provided his booth slip and identification proof for polling officials to verify his credentials, he was in for a shock as they informed him that his vote had already been cast

Published: 06th April 2021 05:11 PM |

R Ramesh Kumar

By Jayakumar Madala

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Scenes from Kollywood flick Sarkar played out at a polling booth in Ponmalai on Tuesday when R Ramesh Kumar, an engineer working in Abu Dhabi, found to his shock that his vote had already been cast when he went to exercise his democratic right.

Ramesh Kumar, a resident of Mel Kalkandarkottai, works as an operations manager at a private firm in Abu Dhabi.

The 34-year-old, who had come back to India on vacation on March 22, decided to exercise his franchise by going to vote at his allotted booth -- Government Middle School in Mel Kalkandarkottai. However, when he provided his booth slip and identification proof for polling officials to verify his credentials, he was in for a shock as they informed him that his vote had already been cast.

Speaking about the incident, Ramesh Kumar said, "As I was present in my hometown during the polls, I thought I would cast my vote. When I approached the presiding officer at my booth, I was taken aback when they said that a vote has already been cast on my behalf. Only after cross-verifying with my identification proof, they realised that I was the original voter and a fake vote had been cast on my behalf."

The unidentified person who cast the vote on behalf of Ramesh Kumar had provided a fake Aadhaar card for details of identification. With the booth committee agents of various political parties also not showing any objections, the polling booth official accepted the fake Aadhaar card details and allowed the person to vote.

"The Aadhar details which were noted by the polling officer did not match with my identity proof. They had taken only the last four digits of the card and they were also incorrect. The officials present inside did not verify if the photograph in the Aadhaar card and the person present were the same. As a result of this farce, they provided me the facility of 'tendered' vote. But this has happened only due to the pure negligence of the polling staff," added Ramesh Kumar.

According to Section 49P of the Conduct of Election Rules, 1961, if a voter realises that someone has already voted in his/her name, they can approach the presiding officer at the polling booth and flag the issue. Upon answering the presiding officer’s questions about their identity, the voter will be allowed to cast a 'tendered' vote. These votes are cast on ballot papers and sealed and locked away. However, they are counted only when the margin between the winner and runner-up is slim. If there is a large difference, the tendered votes are not counted.

When contacted, S Divya Darshini, District Election Officer, Tiruchy, said, "The tendered vote facility is provided when someone else has cast the vote of the actual voters on their behalf. It will be difficult to ascertain who had cast the vote. We will conduct an enquiry once the polls conclude."

TN elections: Returning Officer allows son to cast father's vote in Tenkasi, this is why

TN elections: Returning Officer allows son to cast father's vote in Tenkasi, this is why

Returning Officer Rajamanoharan said that the polling staff and the booth agents of different political parties should have noticed the mismatch before Mathiyalagan voted.

Published: 06th April 2021 11:29 PM 

By Thinakaran Rajamani

Express News Service

TENKASI: After a 53-year-old man mistakenly cast his vote in the name of his 25-year-old son, the latter was allowed to cast his father's vote by the Returning Officer of Alangulam constituency on Tuesday.

Thangamani (25) said, "The polling staff delivered the booth slips for my family members on Monday. Since all of them were pinned together, my father, Mathiyalagan, who cannot read, brought my booth slip to the booth instead of his. Even though it was his fault, the staff on election duty should have noticed the mismatch in the name and age on the booth slip. But, the polling staff allowed him to cast his vote in my name. Later, when I was not allowed to cast my vote by the staff, I brought this issue to the knowledge of the Returning Officer. He then allowed me to cast my father's vote."

When contacted by TNIE, Returning Officer Rajamanoharan said that the polling staff and the booth agents of different political parties should have noticed the mismatch before Mathiyalagan voted. However, he refused to give an answer to the question on how a father and his son could exchange their votes.

Indelible ink vanishing after single wash?

Indelible ink vanishing after single wash?

Isolated incidents of the indelible ink disappearing after a single wash were reported in Coimbatore North and Chennai.

Published: 07th April 2021 05:25 AM |

The first time voter discloses the indelible ink mark on her point finger after casting her vote, at SIET College, in Chennai. (Photo | EPS/ P.Jawahar)

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Isolated incidents of the indelible ink disappearing after a single wash were reported in Coimbatore North and Chennai. While some more incidents were reported on social media, Express could not verify the claims.

Vishnu Swaroop was among the first to vote in his constituency in Coimbatore (North). He voted at the Kovilmedu Corporation High School at 7.30 am and came back home to realise that his electoral ink had washed away by 10.30 am.

“I called up the flying squad toll free number and the constituency returning officer, and did not get a proper response. So I went back and told the presiding officer about the issue at 4 pm. They inked my index again,” he said. However when he reached home at 4.15 pm and washed his hands, the ink washed off again, he said.

The returning officer of Coimbatore (North) however denied any such incident in the constituency. Another resident from Chennai said that her ink was barely visible after she used alcohol based sanitiser on it.

Tamil Nadu Elections: Work from home gives them will, time to go vote

Tamil Nadu Elections: Work from home gives them will, time to go vote

The pandemic, which put employees in their homes, has become an ‘enabler’ this time

Published: 07th April 2021 05:32 AM 

Kerala goes to poll today. 

By Aadhithya MS

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Many a campaign has been held by the Election Commission to raise awareness among people, especially the youth, on exercising their franchise. However, not every time can one travel to their hometown to get inked, thanks to their hectic lifestyle. However, this time probably, the tables have turned. Call it the ‘pandemic effect’, the work from home option has enabled more youth to come forward and cast their votes this time.

“Usually, we are given a day off to vote. But to just come down for that day and return to our workplace on time is taxing. Sometimes, there is a job pending as well. Given all that, only if employees can manage a long weekend, they go for voting. Many of my colleagues, and even I had missed out on voting chances several times,” says Abul Hassan, an IT professional from Tiruchy. “This time, however, we had it easy. Our employer in Chennai hasn’t called us back yet, and we are continuing to work from home. So, most of us are in our hometowns,” he adds.

K Akil from Karur, who works at a multi-national company in Bengaluru, shares the same opinion. “If there was no work from home, I might not have come this time,” she says. “This time, I did not even take a half-day leave. I was at the polling station by 8 am, was guided to the booth, got inked and walked back home. It did not take over 30 minutes,” she adds.

Kamaal, a DMK functionary who oversees booth agents in the locality, says: “Many youth in this locality are employed ar MNCs in Chennai, Bengaluru, and New Delhi. I know a fair share of them who missed the 2019 Parliamentary elections and the previous Assembly polls. This time, however, the turnout was impressive.”

Tamil Nadu Elections: Alangudi NRI flies down from Singapore to vote

Tamil Nadu Elections: Alangudi NRI flies down from Singapore to vote

Taking this spirit of patriotism up a notch, 29-year-old Sathiyasheelan travelled all the way from Singapore to Senthankudi in Alangudi to exercise his franchise.

Published: 07th April 2021 05:36 AM 

By Sowmya Mani

Express News Service

PUDUKKOTTAI: It’s usually only in movies that we see NRIs flying down to their natives to cast their votes. Taking this spirit of patriotism up a notch, 29-year-old Sathiyasheelan travelled all the way from Singapore to Senthankudi in Alangudi to exercise his franchise.

Sathiyasheelan reached his village 20 days ago. Not only is he interested in voting, but also passionate about the Naam Tamilar Katchi (NTK). “I came early to garner votes for the party, and to ensure that we improve our performance in this election. I hope that the party gets double the votes it did in the 2019 elections,” he says.

An engineer by qualification, Sathiyasheelan works for building maintenance in Singapore. He says though it was difficult getting leave from work, he did it for the elections. “I’ve been interested in politics and the betterment of people’s lives since childhood. I got involved with the NTK in 2009, even before its inception. I love the Tamil culture, and want to help protect it,” he adds.

Sathiyasheelan hopes to have inspired others in his village to vote, and says he didn’t mind the Covid tests and quarantine as it was all for a cause. “If I can come all the way from Singapore, people can travel for a few kilometers to vote,” he says.

Fake doc held for third time

Fake doc held for third time

Rajkot:  07.04.2021 

A 55-year-old man was caught practising as a doctor without a legitimate degree from near Aji Dam chokdi in Rajkot city on Tuesday. This was the third time that Sanjay Sompura was caught by cops.

According to police, Sompura, a resident of Shri Ram Park, used to practice as an ayurvedic doctor without a degree. Police also seized medicines and injections from his clinic.

Police said Sompura used to work as a compounder at a hospital six years ago before he started his own clinic. He was arrested for the first time about two and a half years ago. Later, he was arrested for the offence in November last year.

“Sompura has been booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and Medical Practitioners’ Act-1963. After he was caught for the first time, Sompura changed the name of the clinic to Dr Lakkad’s clinic and started treating people,” police said. TNN

GU defers PG medical exams

GU defers PG medical exams

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:07.04.2021 

Gujarat University has decided to postpone the upcoming exams for postgraduate medical students.

The decision has been taken keeping in view the recent surge in Covid-19 cases in the state, especially given the role played by these postgraduate students who are part of the frontline medical workers.

The medical colleges affiliated with Gujarat University including B J Medical College and Civil Hospital, GMERS Medical College and Hospital (Sola), NHL Municipal Medical College and GMERS Medical College, Gandhinagar.

Given the rise in the number of cases at the 100-bed hospital at Civil Hospital, the hospital superintendent had written to the dean of B J Medical College that more hands were needed to handle the situation. The letter also mentioned that as students are finding it hard to cope with studies while attending Covid-19 duty, the college authorities should consider postponing the exams slated to begin from May 1.

Parents run from pillar to post to get birth certificate for boy born mid-air

Parents run from pillar to post to get birth certificate for boy born mid-air

Yeshika.Budhwar@timesgroup.com

07.04.2021 

Jaipur:

Parents of the baby boy who was born in the Bengaluru-Jaipur flight last month have been running from pillar to post to get a birth certificate for their child who is now 20 days old.

The couple had boarded the flight around 5:45am from Bengaluru and landed in Jaipur airport around 8am on March 17 with their newborn baby. As per the rule, the birth certificate must be issued within 21 days of the birth.

Bhairu Singh, father of baby, told TOI, “After the delivery in the flight we were taken to a private hospital in Jaipur but I did not get my wife and child admitted as it was very expensive … so after initial check-up, we straight away came to my village Jaliya Rupabas in Beawar district.”

After reaching the village, Bhairu started the process to get his son’s birth certificate. “I went to the sarpanch who told me to go to the government hospital from where I was sent to another hospital. Both the hospital officials seemed confused as soon as I mentioned that my son was born in mid-air. They told me to go to the gram panchayat,” Bhairu told TOI.

The gram panchayat initially declined to issue the certificate citing jurisdiction. “Although the certificate should be issued in Jaipur, we will start the process from here to help out Bhairu Singh as now there is no other option left,” Dileep Singh, sarpanch, said.

The family is being tossed from one government body to another with no official having any clarity about issuing the certificate as the child was born mid-air.

When TOI contacted the district administration, the officials again assured that the birth certificate would be issued at the earliest but Bhairu claimed that he will believe it only when he gets the document.

Lalita with her baby Lakshit

25 nursing students in college in Davanagere found infected

25 nursing students in college in Davanagere found infected

07.04.2021 

Davanagere:

Twenty-five girls studying in a private nursing college in Davanagere tested positive for Covid-19 on Tuesday. All of them were admitted to a private hospital. The girls were staying in the college hostel with 109 other students besides 15 cooking staff. Swab samples from all inmates have been collected for testing, said Dr GD Raghavan, district surveillance officer. All of them are from Kerala and arrived at the hostel two months ago when the college reopened. They had furnished Covid negative reports on arrival. The hostel has been declared a containment zone. TNN

No food delivery as eateries remain shut in Madurai

TAKING A DAY OFF

No food delivery as eateries remain shut in Madurai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:  07.04.2021 

As eateries and hotels in Madurai city and the suburbs remained shut on polling day, delivery was also stopped causing trouble to people dependent the service on Tuesday. The eateries and hotels were closed to help the employees exercise their franchise.

The online delivery firms also did not deliver food on Tuesday afternoon, much to the inconvenience of bachelors and people, who had decided to eat out after voting.

However, some hotels were open for dinner service later in the evening.

There were small shops that doubled up as eateries that made some quick money on election day this year, selling water bottles, soft drinks, vadas and bhaji. Beeman of Sakkimangalam said that there was not enough water at the polling booth in their region and he had made some arrangements through his contacts.

A one liter bottle of water, which would sell at Rs 15 normally, was being sold for Rs 20 or more in many of the villages in Madurai, while tender coconut and watermelon sellers also made decent money on the day.

As there was delay in food supply to election officials in a polling location in Valayankulam village in Thirumangalam-Madurai airport road, party men offered them food and refreshments. Street vendors selling fruits like watermelon and sugarcane juice saw good sale on polling day. “We have been seeing good sales since summer began. But, we had better sales on Tuesday as people came to vote in huge numbers to the polling booth, which is located nearby,” said N Muthulakshmi, who runs a sugarcane juice stall with her husband on Kamarajar Salai.

The online delivery firms also did not deliver food on Tuesday afternoon, much to the inconvenience of bachelors and people who had decided to eat out after voting

Madras univ makes Covid negative report must to attend convocation

Madras univ makes Covid negative report must to attend convocation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:07.04.2021 

Amid the rise of Covid-19 cases, University of Madras has announced that students and faculty members must be Covid-19 negative to attend the 163rd convocation scheduled for Thursday.

The university is conducting the convocation after a gap of 18 months.

"Around 683 PhD scholars, 86 rank holders and 100 prize winners will receive degrees in person. It has been made mandatory for all students, staff members, senate members to take swab tests for Covid-19. Those with negative reports will only be allowed inside the convocation hall," said vicechancellor S Gowri. "Around 1,24,000 undergraduate and postgraduate students and 12,011 students from Institute of Distance Education will receive degrees in absentia," he added.

Professors said the university also made arrangements to conduct Covid tests for faculty members at the campus on Wednesday.

Governor Banwarilal Purohit will preside over the convocation and IIT Madras director Bhaskar Ramamurthi will be the chief guest. Purohit will give DLitt degrees to three candidates. Professor Ramamurthi and vice-chancellor Gowri will give the degrees, medals and prizes to the students.

City colleges under the university said they would conduct graduation day or convocation only after three months of awarding degrees by the university. "The university will award degree certificates to PhD scholars. It will take two to three months to get degree certificates of undergraduate and postgraduate students. So, we will conduct a graduate day function probably in June or July. By then, we expect Covid-19 cases to subside and will distribute the degree certificates in person to the students," a principal from a city college said.

Many colleges distributed degree certificates to students, who had graduated in 2019, in the past few months due to the pandmeic.

Men caught with two EVMs in city; not used for polling, says CEO

Men caught with two EVMs in city; not used for polling, says CEO

₹1.12L Cash Recovered, EC Probe on

Srikkanth D & Ram Sundaram TNN

Chennai:7.4.2021 

Four individuals found carrying two electronic voting machines (EVMs) and one VVPAT machine on twowheelers in Velachery soon after the poll on Tuesday sparked outrage, with the DMK and the Congress accusing a serious breach of protocol. Cash worth ₹1.12 lakh was also found on them.

Chief electoral officer Satyabrata Sahoo said that as per their preliminary inquiry, the motorists were corporation employees and the EVMs they were carrying were not the ones used for polling. “Detailed inquiry is on. As per preliminary findings of the DEO, these two (machines) were not polled EVMs. We will take strict action on any violation of SOPs,” Sahoo said.

It all started when a food delivery agent noticing the machines being transported on two bikes confronted the riders after one of the machines fell down on Taramani main road in Velachery. As the news spread, a group of DMK and Congress functionaries rushed to the spot and picked up an argument. C V Elango, a DMK functionary, said that even as they were verifying the identity of the men, police reached the scene and took them away saying they need to investigate the matter.

‘Bikers attempted to flee when surrounded’

Elango said, “What raised the suspicion was the fact that the bikers attempted to flee when surrounded.” They were wearing ‘Polling Official’ badges, but we suspect them to be AIADMK workers, he said.

Tension prevailed outside Velachery police station where hundreds of cadres from the DMK and the Congress gathered. Police said the motorists were revenue department officials and senior officials were holding talks with Congress candidate Hasan Maulaana and DMK functionaries.

Former DMK mayor Ma Subramanian, who held a long meeting with police and polling officials at the station, said the individuals were poll officials, but he had asked the election commission to verify their call records to identify if there was any wrongdoing. “We seek a fair probe into the matter and a reelection for the booth concerned from where the machines were transported. We also want legal and departmental action against the officers concerned,” Subramanian said.

Regarding the cash, Subramanian said the poll officials have told them that the cash was meant for staff salary and they have sought an investigation on that too. DMK functionaries will meet CEO Satyabrata Sahoo on Wednesday.

TNCC president K S Alagiri questioned Sahoo’s stand on Velachery EVM episode, and said: “Since afternoon, we have complained about removal of names of DMK supporters from the voters list in Velachery. Inaction was his answer. Now, EVMs have been seized from unauthorized people,” said Alagiri demanding immediate action.

Velachery MNM candidate Santhosh Babu said, “I have been a poll observer more than nine times. These units are never handheld or moved using two wheelers, unless there is an emergency. Since this has happened after the polling process, it raises suspicion. This is a clear standard operating procedure violation. When all of us are complaining, AIADMK is missing from the scene. This gives further suspicion,” he added. MNM has demanded a countermanding of elections at DAV school polling booth in Adambakkam.

TENSE MOMENTS: A scene outside Velachery police station on Tuesday evening

மாணவிக்கு மருத்துவ 'சீட்' வாய்ப்பு மறுப்பு இழப்பை ஈடு செய்ய முடியாது: ஐகோர்ட்

மாணவிக்கு மருத்துவ 'சீட்' வாய்ப்பு மறுப்பு இழப்பை ஈடு செய்ய முடியாது: ஐகோர்ட்

Added : ஏப் 04, 2021 01:17 

மதுரை : மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் அரசுப் பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கான, 7.5 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ் சலுகை பெற, இலவச கட்டாயக் கல்வி உரிமைச் சட்டத்தின் கீழ் தனியார் பள்ளியில் படித்ததை குறிப்பிட, விண்ணப்பத்தில் வழிவகை செய்யாததால், மாணவிக்கு வாய்ப்பு பறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அவரது இழப்பை ஈடு செய்ய முடியாது என, உயர் நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை அதிருப்தியை வெளியிட்டுள்ளது.ஆறாவது வகுப்புசிவகங்கை மாவட்டம், சிங்கம்புணரி அருகே ஏரியூரைச் சேர்ந்த சகிலா பானு தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:என் மகள் ஷபானா; ஆறாவது வகுப்பு வரை, இலவச கட்டாய கல்வி உரிமைச் சட்டத்தில் - ஆர்.டி.இ., தனியார் பள்ளியில் படித்தார்.ஏழு முதல் பிளஸ் 2 வரை ஏரியூர் அரசு மேல்நிலை பள்ளியில் படித்தார். பிளஸ் 2வில், 600க்கு, 539 மதிப்பெண், நீட் தேர்வில், 425 மதிப்பெண் பெற்றார்.மருத்துவப் படிப்பில், அரசுப் பள்ளி மாணவர்களுக்கு, 7.5 சதவீதம் இடஒதுக்கீட்டை, தமிழக அரசு கொண்டு வந்தது. இதன் அடிப்படையில், மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக்கு ஷபானா விண்ணப்பித்தார்.

அதில், மாணவர் ஆறாவது வகுப்பு முதல் பிளஸ் 2 வரை தமிழகத்தில் படித்தவரா, எந்த அரசுப் பள்ளியில் படித்தவர் என கேள்விகள் இடம் பெற்றிருந்தது. ஆனால், கட்டாயக் கல்வி உரிமைச் சட்டப்படி, தனியார் பள்ளியில் மாணவர்கள் படித்ததை குறிப்பிடுவதற்கு விண்ணப்பத்தில் வழிவகை செய்யவில்லை. எனவே, கட்டாயக் கல்வி உரிமைச் சட்டத்தில், ஆறாவது வகுப்பு வரை படித்ததை குறிப்பிட முடியவில்லை.இடஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ், மாணவர் சேர்க்கைக்கு தகுதியானவர்கள் பட்டியலில், ஷபானா பெயரை அதிகாரிகள் சேர்க்கத் தவறிவிட்டனர். சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அதிகாரிகளின் தவறால், ஷபானா பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.

7.5 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீட்டில், ஷபானாவிற்கு மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் இடம் ஒதுக்கக் கோரி, தமிழக அரசுக்கு மனு அனுப்பினோம். பரிசீலிக்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, குறிப்பிட்டார். நீதிபதி வி.பார்த்திபன் விசாரித்தார்.அரசுத் தரப்பு, '2020 - 21 கல்வியாண்டு மருத்துவப் படிப்பு கலந்தாய்வு முடிந்து விட்டது. இடங்களும் பூர்த்தியாகி விட்டன' என தெரிவித்தது.நீதிபதி உத்தரவுதமிழக அரசின், 7.5 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ், அரசு மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரியில் சேரும் மதிப்புமிக்க வாய்ப்பு, மனுதாரர் மகளிடமிருந்து அநியாயமாக பறிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கட்டாயக் கல்வி உரிமைச் சட்டப்படி, மாணவர்கள் தனியார் பள்ளியில் படித்ததை குறிப்பிடும் வகையில், விண்ணப்பத்தை சம்பந்தப்பட்ட அதிகாரிகள் தெளிவாக வடிவமைக்காமல், கவனக்குறைவாக செயல்பட்டுள்ளனர்.இதனால், மருத்துவப் படிப்பு கனவுடன் இருந்த இம்மாணவிக்கு வாய்ப்பு மறுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது கொடுமை. பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள மனுதாரர் மகளுக்கு எவ்வளவு இழப்பீடு வழங்கினாலும், இழப்பை ஈடு செய்ய முடியாது.தார்மீக அடிப்படையில், மனுதாரர் மகளுக்கு, 7.5 சதவீத இடஒதுக்கீட்டில், எதிர் வரும் கல்வியாண்டில், மருத்துவப் படிப்பில் இடம் ஒதுக்க, தமிழக அரசு பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும்.ஒருவேளை நடப்பு கல்வியாண்டில் மருத்துவப் படிப்பை யாரும் பாதியில் கைவிட்டால், யாரும் படிப்பில் சேராமல் இருந்தால், அந்த இடத்தில் தாமதமின்றி மனுதாரர் மகளுக்கு இட ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ் இடம் அளிக்க அரசு பரிசீலிக்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, நீதிபதி உத்தரவிட்டார்.

Parents Being Harassed Via SMS To Pay School Fees, Even For Lockdown Duration: Plea Alleges Before Allahabad High Court

Parents Being Harassed Via SMS To Pay School Fees, Even For Lockdown Duration: Plea Alleges Before Allahabad High Court: Whereas the Uttar Pradesh Government is yet to respond to a query put by Allahabad High Court regarding regulation of school fees during suspension of physical classes, yet another PIL has been...

விதிகளின்படி மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி கட்டடம் தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷன் ஆய்வுக்கு உத்தரவு

விதிகளின்படி மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி கட்டடம் தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷன் ஆய்வுக்கு உத்தரவு

Added : ஏப் 02, 2021 23:41

சென்னை:தமிழகத்தில், புதிதாக கட்டப்படும், 11 மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகள், விதிகளின்படி கட்டப்படுகிறதா என்பதை, அவ்வப்போது ஆய்வு செய்யும்படி, தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷனுக்கு, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளது.

இந்தியா முழுதும், 75 மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகளை கட்ட, மத்திய அரசு அறிவித்துள்ளது. இதில் தமிழகத்துக்கு, 11 கல்லுாரிகள் கட்ட திட்டமிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.புதிய மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரிகள், மருத்துவ கவுன்சில் விதிகளின்படி கட்டப்பட வேண்டும் எனக் கோரி, உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், ராஜசேகரன் என்பவர் வழக்கு தொடுத்தார்.

மனு, தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்ஜிப் பானர்ஜி, நீதிபதி செந்தில்குமார் ராமமூர்த்தி அடங்கிய அமர்வில், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது.அரசு தரப்பில் ஆஜரான வழக்கறிஞர், 'பழைய விதிகளின்படி கட்டம் கட்டும்படி, மனுதாரர் கோரியுள்ளார். 2018 - 2020ம் ஆண்டுகளில் புதிய விதிகள் வந்து விட்டன. புதிய விதிகளின்படி, மாற்றி அமைக்கப்படுகிறது' என்றார்.

இதையடுத்து, 'எந்த குறுக்கீடும் இன்றி, திட்டப்பணிகளை மேற்கொள்ளலாம்; தேசிய மருத்துவ கமிஷனின் விதிகளுக்கு உட்பட்டு, மருத்துவக் கல்லுாரி கட்டடங்கள் கட்டப்படுகிறதா என்பதை, அவ்வப்போது ஆய்வு செய்ய வேண்டும்' என, முதல் பெஞ்ச் உத்தரவிட்டது.

தேர்தல் பணியாளர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் தர நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு

தேர்தல் பணியாளர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் தர நிதி ஒதுக்கீடு

Added : ஏப் 02, 2021 23:24

சென்னை:ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகளில், தேர்தலன்று பணியாற்றும் ஊழியர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் வழங்க, 71.21 கோடி ரூபாய் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழக சட்டசபை தேர்தல் மற்றும் கன்னியாகுமரி லோக்சபா தொகுதி இடைத்தேர்தல், வரும், 6ம் தேதி நடக்க உள்ளது. அன்று வாக்காளர்கள் ஓட்டளிப்பதற்காக, 88 ஆயிரத்து, 937 ஓட்டுச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன.ஒவ்வொரு ஓட்டுச்சாவடியிலும், ஆறு ஊழியர்கள் பணியில் இருப்பர். அவர்களுக்கும், இதர தேர்தல் பணியில் ஈடுபடும் ஊழியர்களுக்கும் ஊதியம் வழங்க, முதல் கட்டமாக, 71.21 கோடி ரூபாயை, அரசு ஒதுக்கி உள்ளது.

ஓட்டுச்சாவடி தலைமை அலுவலருக்கு, 1,700 ரூபாய் முதல், கடை நிலை ஊழியர்களுக்கு, 600 ரூபாய் வரை, அவர்களின் நிலைக்கேற்ப ஊதியம் வழங்க அனுமதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. பாதுகாப்பு பணிதேர்தல் பாதுகாப்பு பணியில் ஈடுபடும் காவல் துறை, வனத்துறை, தீயணைப்பு துறை, ஊர்க்காவல் படை, சிறைத்துறை, மத்திய ஆயுதப்படை போலீசார், மாநில ஆயுதப்படை போலீசார் ஆகியோருக்கும் ஊதியம் வழங்க, 21.53 கோடி ரூபாய் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது.இதில், இன்ஸ்பெக்டர்கள் நிலையில், 400 ரூபாய்; ரிசர்வ் போலீசாருக்கு, 150 ரூபாய் வீதம், அவர்களின் நிலைக்கேற்ப, நான்கு நாட்களுக்கு வழங்க உத்தரவிடப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

புதிய துணைவேந்தர் தேர்வு தேடல் குழு நியமனம்

புதிய துணைவேந்தர் தேர்வு தேடல் குழு நியமனம்

Added : ஏப் 02, 2021 22:56

சென்னை:அண்ணா பல்கலை புதிய துணைவேந்தரை தேர்வு செய்ய, மூன்று பேர் அடங்கிய தேடல் குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.அண்ணா பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் சுரப்பாவின் பதவிக்காலம், வரும், 11ம் தேதி முடிகிறது.

புதிய துணைவேந்தரை தேர்வு செய்வதற்கான ஏற்பாடுகள் துவங்கியுள்ளன.பல்கலை வேந்தரான கவர்னர் தரப்பில், மூன்று பேர் அடங்கிய தேடல் குழு அமைக்கப்பட்டுஉள்ளது. டில்லி ஜவஹர்லால் நேரு பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் ஜெகதீஷ் குமார், கவர்னர் பிரதிநிதியாகவும், குழுவின் ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராகவும் செயல்பட உள்ளார்.பல்கலையின், 'சிண்டிகேட்' குழு பிரதிநிதியாக, அவினாசிலிங்கம் பல்கலை துணைவேந்தர் தியாகராஜன், அரசு தரப்பு பிரதிநிதியாக ஷீலாராணி சுங்கத் ஆகியோர் தேர்வு செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளனர்.

இந்த கமிட்டி சார்பில், மூன்று மாதங்களுக்குள் புதிய துணைவேந்தர் தேர்வு செய்யப்படுவார் என, உயர்கல்வி வட்டாரங்கள் தெரிவித்து உள்ளன.

தரிசன முன்பதிவுடன் அறை முன்பதிவு

தரிசன முன்பதிவுடன் அறை முன்பதிவு

Added : ஏப் 03, 2021 00:14

திருப்பதி:திருமலை ஏழுமலையான் தரிசன டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு செய்யும்போது, தங்கும் அறையும் முன்பதிவு செய்து கொள்ளும் வகையில், தேவஸ்தான இணையதளத்தில், விரைவில் மாற்றம் செய்யப்பட உள்ளது.

முன்பதிவு

திருப்பதியில் உள்ள தேவஸ்தான தலைமை அலுவலகத்தில் தொலைபேசி மூலம் பக்தர்கள் குறைகேட்பு நிகழ்ச்சி நடந்தது.அதில் பங்கேற்ற பக்தர்களுக்கு, தேவஸ்தான செயல் அதிகாரி ஜவஹர்ரெட்டி பதிலளித்தார், நிகழ்ச்சி நிறைவுக்கு பின், அவர் கூறியதாவது.கிராம மக்கள் இடையே ஹிந்து தர்மத்தை போதிக்க, தேவஸ்தானம் புதிய நடவடிக்கைககளை மேற்கொள்ள உள்ளது.

அதற்காக பஜனை மண்டலிகள், கோசாலை நிர்வாகிகள், விஷ்ணு சகஸ்ரநாமபாராயணம், லலிதா சகஸ்ரநாமபாராயணம் மண்டலிகள், ஸ்ரீவாரி சேவார்த்திகள் விவரங்கள் உள்ளிட்டவற்றை தேவஸ்தானம் சேகரித்து வருகிறது.கொரோனா தொற்று மீண்டும் பரவத் துவங்கி உள்ளதால், திருமலைக்கு வரும் பக்தர்கள் முககவசம், கையுறை, கிருமி நாசினி உள்ளிட்டவற்றை கட்டாயம் பயன்படுத்த வேண்டும்.இணையதளம் வாயிலாக, திருமலையில் தங்கும் அறைகள் முன்பதிவு செய்யும் பக்தர்கள் முதலில், மத்திய விசாரணை அலுவலகத்திற்கு சென்று, அங்கிருந்து துணை விசாரணை அலுவலக்திற்கு சென்று, அறை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளும் முறை தற்போது அமலில் உள்ளது.

வசதிகள்

இதை எளிதாக்க, அறை முன்பதிவு செய்த பக்தர்கள் அலிபிரி சோதனைச் சாவடியை கடந்ததும், குறுந்தகவல் வாயிலாக, அவர்கள் தொடர்பு கொள்ள வேண்டிய துணை விசாரணை அலுவலக எண்கள், அவர்களது 'மொபைல் போன்' எண்ணிற்கு அனுப்பப்படும். பக்தர்கள் நேரடியாக அந்த அலுவலகத்திற்கு சென்று, தங்கள் அறையை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம். இம்முறை இன்னும், 10 நாட்களில் அமலுக்கு வர உள்ளது.

மேலும், இணையதளம் வாயிலாக விரைவு தரிசன டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு செய்யும் பக்தர்கள், அதே பக்கத்தில் தங்கும் அறைகளையும் முன்பதிவு செய்து கொள்ளும் விதம் இணைய தளத்தில் சில மாற்றங்களை, தேவஸ்தானம் செய்ய உள்ளது. விரைவில் இந்த வசதியும் அமலில் கொண்டு வரப்படும்.இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

Modern bus shelter at Saidapet opens for public

Modern bus shelter at Saidapet opens for public

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.04.2021

Now, commuters walking out of the Saidapet metro station can cool off at a modern bus shelter before they hop on a south-bound MTC bus. Chennai Metro Rail Limited (CMRL) has completed construction of the bus shelter linking one end of it with the entry point of Saidapet metro station to provide commuters with easy access to both the metro and MTC bus services. The bus shelter has replaced the old one, which was partially demolished in 2012 to make way for the construction of the underground metro station.

A metro rail official said besides the bus shelter, an exclusive pathway has also been built to prevent crowding in the area. Other facilities at the bus shelter include circular LED lights, steel benches and display units for bus timings. “We have extended the bus shelter up to one of the entry points of the metro station for commuters to easily walk in from the station to the bus stand,” the official said. “We have also installed a roof to cover the exclusive pathway behind the bus stop,” the official said.

Like the bus stop at DMS, all MTC buses heading towards the southern part of the city must stop at the Saidapet bus stand. Buses proceeding towards East Coast Road, Guduvancherry, Mahabalipuram, Thiruporur, Poonamallee, Kundrathur, Sunguvarchatram and Vellore either stop or originate from the Saidapet bus stand.

CMRL had started reconstruction of the bus shelter more than two years ago, but the work slowed down due to the pandemic induced lockdown in 2020. “We used to walk at least 100 to 200 metres from the station to board an MTC bus earlier,” said K Vijay, a regular metro rail user, adding, "It's more convenient now."

Not all metro stations in the city are directly linked to MTC bus stops as promised, however. Stations like Nanganallur Road, Ekkattuthangal, Vadapalani, Nehru Park and Shenoy Nagar either have no bus stops nearby or are far away, forcing passengers to walk long distances or look for private transportation like cabs and autorickshaws.

COOL SHELTER: The modern bus shelter at Saidapet also has an exclusive pathway to prevent crowding in the area

Paid holiday for all workers on poll day

Paid holiday for all workers on poll day

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.04.2021

In the view of upcoming Tamil-Nadu legislative assembly elections that are scheduled to be held on April 6, the state government announced compulsory paid holiday to all the workers.

This includes daily wages, temporary and contract labour employed in factories, in Chennai and Chengalpet districts.

The state government said action will be taken against those who flout the norms. The paid holiday is to enable public to cast their vote on the election day.

Growth of +ve cases faster than in 2020, warns DPH

Growth of +ve cases faster than in 2020, warns DPH

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.04.2021

Warning that the growth rate of positive cases is higher than during the earlier surge in 2020, the directorate of public health advised district health officials to take effective control measures on Friday, when Tamil Nadu registered 3,290 fresh Covid -19 cases and12 deaths.

The case tally touched 8.92 lakh (8,92,780) and cumulative toll tally reached 12,750. After discharging 1,715 patients, there are18,606 people who are still undergoing treatment for the viral infection.

“The case count is rising exponentially on a week to week basis,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam. On Friday, the weekly average number of fresh cases reported in the state was 2,513 compared to 462 cases reported on March 2. The last time the state saw a weekly average around 2,500 was in the first week of November 2020. The growth rate of average weekly cases was 5.7% in Tamil Nadu – the highest since July 2020. On March 2, it was on the decline at -0.3%. “The rate of growth of positive cases this time is higher than the earlier surge in 2020. Cases are not only increasing in urban areas but also in tier 2 cities and rural areas,” he said.

While hotspot Chennai reported 1,188 new cases, its neighbours Chengalpet (280), Tiruvallur (183) and Kancheepuram (119) together reported 582 cases. While Chennai reported seven deaths, Kancheepuram registered one more. Beside these districts four others reported cases in three digits – Coimbatore (277), Trichy (122), Thanjavur (120) and Madurai (105).

The number of people who took vaccination against Covid -19 declined to 60,726 on Friday. So far, 3175349 people have taken the vaccine in the state.

Private hospitals turn away patients as Covid cases surge

Private hospitals turn away patients as Covid cases surge

Not Enough Ventilators At Many Places

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.04..2021

Fresh cases of Covid-19 are rising and many private hospitals in the city have been turning away patients in the last two days.

With 7,161 active cases, hospitals in Chennai are chock-a-block. In some cases, patients are being turned away because there aren’t ventilators or facilities for high-flow nasal oxygen.

On Friday, the state website showed that all 130 oxygen beds at Billroth Hospitals in Shenoy Nagar were occupied as were 40 Covid beds at Kauvery Hospitals. More than 90% of beds in Gleneagles Hospital and Apollo Hospitals, Greams Road, were also occupied. “We redirected some patients to other hospitals this morning. They were symptomatic and could need high flow oxygen, but all our beds were taken,” said Dr Subramanian Swaminathan of Global Hospitals.

Smaller hospitals and nursing homes, which were admitting patients with moderate illnesses, have also begun turning patients away. Representatives from many private hospitals said they were increasing the number of shared accommodation within the hospital and advising home isolation for young and asymptomatic patients.

Government hospitals, which have recorded a spike in admissions, said oxygen and ventilators requirements have increased substantially over the last one week. At Omandurar Multispeciality Hospital, which has about 550 beds, nearly 350 patients are on oxygen therapy. “About a quarter of patients exhibiting severe symptoms also require ventilation,” said dean Dr R Jayanthi. At Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital, of the 100 in-patients, nearly 35 are on oxygen support, while others are senior citizens or patients with comorbid conditions requiring institutional care. “Our oxygen requirement has gone up compared to last year,” said dean Dr Vasanthamani P.

But over the last one year, almost all government hospitals in the city have increased their oxygen capacity by nearly five times. “While doctors and paramedical staff at hospitals are exhausted, they have the infrastructure to take more patients,” said director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu.

Walk-ins for vaccination four times no. of online registrations

Walk-ins for vaccination four times no. of online registrations

Of 7 Cr Regns Till Friday, Only 1 Cr Done Via Online

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.04.2021

Walk-in registrations for Covid-19 vaccination have exceeded those done online by a huge margin. Of the more than seven crore registrations till 9pm on Friday, just one crore were done online, while 3.75 crore people walked in to receive the jabs, official data reviewed by TOI showed.

The total also includes about 2.3 crore health and frontline workers whose details were pre-populated on the Co-Win software.

More than 22 lakh registrations were recorded on Friday till 9pm. The numbers under review relate almost completely to the third phase onwards when vaccination was opened to 60-plus citizens as well as those above 45 with co-morbidities. Phase I and II involved health and frontline workers and their details were supplied by states. A relatively small number of these recipients walked in to receive their shots.

States and hospitals were allowed walk-in registration almost from the start of the 60-plus vaccination stage and continued with the age bracket expanded to 45-plus.

India administered more than seven crore doses of Covid-19 vaccines till 9pm on Friday.

This included 4.3 crore people aged above 45. While around 6.1 crore people have been covered so far with the first dose, 92.6 lakh have been fully vaccinated.

7-day case average in TN same as peak

The seven-day average of daily new cases in TN touched 2,513 on Friday, a level that was on a par with the peak in November 2020 when the average was around 2,500. “The count is rising exponentially on a week to week basis,” said director of public health Dr T S Selvavinayagam. Cases are increasing in urban, tier-two cities and rural areas, he said. P 4

Daily cases in India near 90,000-mark

A day after crossing the 80,000 mark, India’s daily Covid-19 case count rose to just around 1,000 short of 90,000, with 88,988 fresh infections recorded in the past 24 hours, the highest since September 26. The daily tally had crossed 20,000 on March12 and hit 80,000 on April1. The highest daily tally of fresh cases recorded in India was 98,795 on September 17. P 12

‘Rapid vax will arrest growth of Covid-19’

Experts stressed on the urgent need to ramp up vaccination, particularly in the wake of rising number of Covid-19 cases across the country. A study by Tata Consultancy Services said that with no vaccination, the second wave would likely peak at 70,000 cases and the tail end would likely start in 140 days. On the other hand, with vaccination rate of 80,000 per day, the peak would be 20,000 cases and the tail end would likely start after 60 days.

“Rapid vaccination will not only reduce peak cases but will significantly arrest the growth of disease. Taking the simulated results into account, we believe that increase in the vaccination rate will help in arresting the second wave of Covid-19 in India as well as reduce the impact of the third wave,” the study said.

To promote online registration and ensure sessions are conducted in an organised way, the government has said walk-in vaccinations will be allowed only after 3pm from April 1. While both online and onsite registrations are allowed for vaccination, online registrations enable the government as well as hospitals to better manage sessions, an official said. “Online registrations not only help manage the crowd, data and stock availability but also help eliminate any pilferage or corruption,” the official said.

Now, travel by a germ-free SETC bus

Now, travel by a germ-free SETC bus

Air Quality Index Will Be Kept Below 50

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.04.2021

You can now travel to a destination in the state this summer in a germ-protected State Express Transport Corporation bus. The SETC has upgraded 20 airconditioned buses in Chennai, installing multi-stage air filters and disinfection systems using Ultraviolet Controlled (UVC) sterilization to prevent the entry of virus, bacteria and other microorganisms.

Official data shows of the 340 AC SETC buses, around 200 were operated now during the lockdown with an average occupancy of around 65%.

With summer approaching, demand for AC buses is expected to increase, but most passnegers, particularly senior citizens, still fear to travel in them because of the fear of being infected with Covid-19, said a senior SETC official. “So, we held talks with a private firm to launch a pilot project in 20 buses. Accordingly, UV-based air filters, each costing approximately ₹40,000, have been fitted to make them free from germs,” he added, requesting anonymity. The multi-stage filtration kits, attached to existing AC grills of buses, have ionisation combined UVC sterilizers, photocatalyst, filter mesh and fresh air device. The sterilization set-up generates UV rays (of appropriate wavelength), which destroy the molecular structure of DNA or RNA in the cells of microorganisms which try to enter the bus and make them unable to multiply. When a microorganism can’t multiply, it is considered dead and is no longer infectious.

While the photocatalyst and filter mesh ensure they absorb larger microorganisms, other components ensure that fresh air is recirculated. This not only reduces harmful gases and odour but also reduces travel fatigue, he added. Health experts suggest that the Air Quality Index (AQI) value should be less than 50 and anything more than 100 is considered unhealthy or hazardous.

During a trial run, the private firm claimed that the AQI was reduced from759 microorganisms per cubic metre to 33 microorganisms per cubic metre in standard operating conditions after 25 minutes of deep purification. An air quality monitor is fit in the driver’s cabin to monitor AQI, temperature and humidity levels.

New med college buildings must be within norms: HC

New med college buildings must be within norms: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:03.04.2021

The state government must construct buildings for upcoming new medical colleges in the state strictly in accordance with the applicable norms of medical commission, Madras high court has said.

The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy also said it would be open to the commission to depute its personnel to inspect the nature of the construction periodically, if the commission so desired.

The court passed the order on a public interest writ petition filed by N Rajasekaran to direct the state to construct medical colleges as per norms fixed by National Medical Commission (NMC). When the plea came up for hearing on Friday, special government pleader G K Muthhukumar said the petitioner relied on the erstwhile norms of 2010 fixed by the then Medical Council of India (MCI) pertaining to construction of medical colleges.

“The norms were changed in 2018 and the constructions undertaken in the state recently conform to the 2018 norms. In 2020, the norms were somewhat altered by MCI and every attempt is being made to adhere to the latest norms,” the pleader said.

Recording the submission, the bench said: “There is no doubt that the NMC will oversee the construction work and the final permission for the medical colleges to operate has to be issued by the commission upon being satisfied that the construction is in accordance with the norms .”

Ola and Uber fares increase by up to 92%

Ola and Uber fares increase by up to 92%

Bengaluru:  02.04.2021 

Travelling by Ola and Uber cabs will burn a bigger hole in the pockets of commuters with the Karnataka transport department revising fares of app-based taxis by 35% to 92%. Commuters pay a minimum of Rs 75 for small cabs and Rs 150 on luxury taxis for the first 4km. Earlier, the rates were Rs 44 and Rs 80, respectively.

The new fares will come into effect immediately. The previous tariff revision was in 2018. The per-km tariff for journeys beyond 4km will have to be within the minimum and maximum fares prescribed for each class in the notification. The hike in per-km tariff is in the range of 35% to 75%. Ola and Uber were not immediately available for comment. TNN

Commuters to get free waiting time of 20 mins, dynamic pricing barred

The move comes close on the heels of a driver immolating himself over rising fuel costs and based on requests made by drivers.

Radio taxis, as defined in the Karnataka On-Demand Transportation Technology Aggregators Rules, will also be able to charge based on the price of vehicles categorised into four classes. The fare structure is classified into four categories as per the cost of vehicles, with A being highest (more than Rs 16 lakh) and D being the lowest (up to Rs 5 lakh).

“As fuel prices are increasing from time to time and the cost of maintenance and price of vehicles are considerable, the Centre regularly advises the state transport authority to regulate fares for different types of taxis operating under the aggregator rules,” said a transport department official.

The notification provides for a free waiting time of 20 minutes that will help commuters, with a charge of Rs 10 for every 15 minutes of waiting after this period will be allowed for operators. It bars fares based on journey time and dynamic pricing.

On Tuesday, a 34-year-old cab driver, Pratap, set himself ablaze in his cab. Pratap, attached to airport taxi service of Karnataka State Tourism Development Corporation, sustained 70% burns and succumbed. The incident led to protests from cab drivers since their deceased colleague was struggling to pay EMIs with a thinning KSTDC client pool and losing business to Ola and Uber. In contrast to the Rs24 per km fixed government fare KSTDC charges, Ola and Uber operate at under Rs 10 per km.

In February, the government hiked fares of city taxis, which are not operated by aggregators such as Uber and Ola, from Rs 14.5 per km to Rs 18 per km for non-AC cabs and from Rs 19.5 per km to Rs 24 per km for AC cabs.

In the light of frequent increase in fuel rates, vehicle prices, rising bank interest rates, and increasing maintenance cost, many drivers hailed the decision to hike fares as a necessary one.

As 45+ line up for jabs, centres to work even on holidays in April

As 45+ line up for jabs, centres to work even on holidays in April

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 02.04.2021 

As Covid-19 vaccination opened for all those above 45 years on Thursday, the Centre pressed states to ramp up inoculation in the wake of surge in infection that is posing a threat to gains of the previous downturn in cases and the nascent economic recovery.

Around 22.9 lakh doses were administered through 56,390 vaccination sessions across public and private hospitals on Thursday till about 10.30pm, according to the latest data reviewed by TOI. As per the earlier official statement, released by the health ministry, 17.47 lakh doses were administered till 8pm on Thursday. Of this, 15.28 lakh doses were given to those above 45.

Looking to exponentially expand coverage, the Centre has decided to operationalise both public and private sector Covid Vaccination Centres (CVCs) on all days of the month in April (from today till April 30), including gazetted holidays. In an effort to reduce vulnerability to the virus and control its spread, the Centre is aiming to administer at least 30 lakh doses daily with focus on achieving maximum coverage in high burden districts, official sources said.

Overall, India has administered 6.75 crore doses till 8pm on Thursday. Of this, around 4 crore doses have been given to those above 45 years of age.

FIRST OFF THE BLOCKS: The vaccine drive for 45+ recipients gets a thumbs up at KC General Hospital in Bengaluru. More than 50,000 persons across Karnataka in the 45-60 age group took Covid vaccine till 7.30pm on Thursday

Experts ask govt to speed up Covid-19 vaccination

States have been directed to optimally utilise all CVCs across public and private sectors to ensure rapid increase in the pace and coverage of vaccination.

Despite the Centre’s repeated advisories and liberalised policies to rope in all private facilities with required amenities in the vaccination drive, the sites organised in the private sector continue to be far less than those in the government hospitals. Of the total 56,390 sessions organised on Thursday, only 6,440 were in the private sector, rest in government hospitals.

Experts say there is an urgent need to quicken vaccination in the wake rising Covid-19 cases across the country. The average daily cases in the last week of March increased to around 56,200 —more than three folds of around 16,740 recorded in the first week of March. On Wednesday, daily cases increased to 72,330.

However, the pace of vaccinations is still moderate in most states with only 91.81 lakh people fully inoculated so far since the launch of the vaccination drive on January 16.

JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar to head Anna University VC search panel

JNU VC Jagadesh Kumar to head Anna University VC search panel

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:02.04.2021 

Jawaharlal Nehru University vice-chancellor M Jagadesh Kumar was appointed as the governor’s nominee and convener of Anna University’s vice-chancellor search committee. Incumbent VC M K Surappa completes his tenure on April 11. The committee will shortlist three names to submit to governor Banwarilal Purohit.

Professor Kumar also headed the VC search committee of Madras university last year. Political parties in Tamil Nadu had opposed his appointment to Madras university committee stating that his tenure at JNU was mired in controversies.

The Anna University search panel will also comprise Madras university former VC S P Thyagarajan and former IAS officer Sheela Rani Chungath. Professor Thyagarajan was the nominee of the Syndicate while Sheela Rani Sungath was nominated by the state government.

“The search panel may meet once before inviting the applications for the VC post. The first meeting is likely to be held online,” a source said.

Due to the model code of conduct for assembly elections, the formation of a search committee was delayed. The government issued an order only after the Election Commission’s consent.

“Even before issuing the advertisement for the post, the panel may need consent from the Election Commission. So, the selection process is likely to start after the elections on April 6,” a professor from Anna University said.

As per the amendment to Tamil Nadu University Laws, the search panel will have four months to submit the three names to the governor.

The government formed an inquiry committee, headed by a retired high court judge P Kalaiyarasan, to probe the allegations of financial irregularities against VC Surappa. Professor Surappa has filed a case challenging the government order constituting the commission of inquiry against him and it is pending before the court.

The Anna University search panel will also comprise Madras university former VC S P Thyagarajan and former IAS officer Sheela Rani Chungath. The panel is to shortlist three names and submit them to governor Banwarilal Purohit in four months