Can’t reveal info of customers: Banks plead to SC on RTI ruling

Can’t reveal info of customers: Banks plead to SC on RTI ruling

New Delhi:10.04.2021 

Nearly six years after the Supreme Court ruled that RBI had to reveal information about functioning of banks under the RTI Act, major banks, including SBI and HDFC, on Friday urged the court to recall its order as they cannot reveal confidential information of account holders who may sue them for putting such details in public domain, reports Amit Anand Choudhary.

The SC had in 2015 directed that RBI can’t refuse to reveal information under the transparency law on financial health of banks under the pretext of ‘fiduciary relations’ with financial institutions and had held that the regulator was supposed to “uphold public interest and not the interest of banks”. Another round of litigation was initiated after RBI didn’t comply with the SC order and the court issued contempt notice. The proceedings were wound up in 2019 with RBI being given the last opportunity to comply to disclose its Annual Financial Inspection report of banks. With RBI asking the banks to provide information to be disclosed under the RTI Act, third round of litigations has started with all major banks filing fresh applications and petitions seeking quashing or recall of earlier direction. Banks such as SBI, PNB, HDFC, Bank of India, Bank of Baroda made a pitch for re-examining the issue.

Stay Home, Stay Safe To Tide Over 2nd Wave

Stay Home, Stay Safe To Tide Over 2nd Wave

Kolar & Shahpura hunker down for life behind barricades, again

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:10.04.2021

As lockdown was imposed in Kolar and Shahpura localities of the city confining more than 2.5 lakh residents in their homes till April 19, unlike first lockdown which was completely new, residents are mentally prepared for life behind barricades in these 10 days.

“My March closing ended recently, so a break was desperately needed, however this was also sudden, I will now be with family for at least 2-3 days. Probably on Monday I would think how to and what to do from home,” says Kolar resident Vineet Chowdhary who works as a regional head of an insurance company.

Another resident who is a government employee says that it was troublesome in the evening and it took more than 2 hours for him to reach home from office but compared to previous lockdown, he feels, “people at ease with the concept of staying at home”.

“I had a lot of trouble reaching home as it took more than 2 hours. I left office at 6.10 pm and reached home at 8.10 pm, otherwise it is hardly half an hour journey as roads were blocked. We had also completed our March closing and we as government employees have been issued passes, I had to go to office on Saturday too, lets see what is the condition. On Monday, there is no way I will have to go to office. However I feel that now we are more at ease with the concept of staying at home, during initial days of first lockdown it felt as if we would loose our mental calm and stability by remaining confined, but it taught us to be at ease while staying at home,” says an railway official, Arun Hota, a resident of Kolar area.

Traders from the lockdown areas, however feel that this lockdown was also unexpected and sudden.

“We receive supplies from other states, we supply to various education institutions but now everything has stopped. Thankfully we were able to complete the March closing. Visits of marketing officials was also scheduled, but everything has to be planned again. I will think about ways to workout after a couple of days, probably from Monday or Tuesday. Today it should have been more planned, it seemed that the entire planning was done in hurry and haphazardly which led to traffic bottlenecks”, says Rakesh Sharma, a Shahpura resident who supplies, laboratory equipment in educational institutions.

Majority of the residents however think that the announcement was sudden and surprising.

“I was in my home town in Vidisha district, my wife and kids were in Bhopal. When I came to know about the lockdown today morning, I had to rush leaving behind my work there. Anyhow reached home before 6 pm. Now there is nothing to do as of now. Will repair cycles and do cycling if allowed, or will read books, lets wait and watch”, says Pramod Yadav, manager with a private energy company and resident of Kolar.

Heavy traffic on Kolar Road before the nine-day lockdown in the area came into force on Friday

With 1800 active cases, Kolar hit hard by 2nd wave; MP Nagar, Govindpura close behind

Bhopal:

Jehangirabad, Aishbagh, Hanumanganj and Ashoka Garden — they are not the Covid-19 hotspots in the second wave of Coronavirus in the city but now, it’s Kolar, Shahpura, Trilanga, Bawadia Kalan and Gulmohar.

These areas have 1800 active Coronavirus cases and that is why 2.5 lakh to 3 lakh population living in the area are now under lockdown.

All the areas under the lockdown are under the jurisdiction of SDM, Kolar. Next in line could be MP Nagar and Govindpura. Caseload in areas under the jurisdiction of SDM, MP Nagar and Govindpura is quite close to Kolar.

ADM , Bhopal, Sandeep Kerkatti, when asked which are the other Coronavirus hotspots in the city, said after Kolar, it’s MP Nagar and Govindpura.

When asked how close the areas under the jurisdiction of SDM, MP Nagar and Govindpura are to Kolar in terms of number of active patients, he said “Among 4800 active cases in the city, these areas also have almost the same number of Coronavirus active cases as Kolar.”

Kerkatti, when asked whether there could be lockdown in areas under the jurisdiction of SDM, MP Nagar and Govindpura, he said “It depends on the caseload. We hope the situation will improve and lockdown will not be required.” TNN

Why are women missing from health leadership?

Why are women missing from health leadership? 

A key reason is that they are less likely to have mentors than men

10.04.2021

Sandhya Venkateswaran

At the 25th anniversary of the Beijing Declaration and Platform for Action, there is evidence of progress towards greater representation of women in different spheres of life; yet, their under-representation in decision-making positions in most spheres stands out.

It is not that women’s contribution in leadership roles is not recognised. Studies have demonstrated that women in leadership positions in government organisations implement different policies than men; policies that are more supportive of women and children. A global study on publicly traded companies across 91 countries found women’s presence in top positions of corporate management to correlate with increased profitability. The impact of women’s leadership is not limited to financial outcomes alone, but equally to greater innovation in teams, the development of more creative solutions to problems, a more inclusive culture and improved employee engagement and satisfaction.

Villages in India, with women leaders in local governance institutions have shown to have a higher availability of public goods than other villages. Studies in India have shown the availability of women physicians in districts to be associated with higher maternal healthcare utilisation. Women’s leadership has been known to contribute to strengthening women’s voices, influencing career aspirations and educational attainment of adolescent girls. Clearly, the benefits of women’s leadership are wide.

Yet, gender-related gaps in leadership remain wide. Women constitute 70% of health workers, but constitute less than a quarter of the senior roles in health institutions globally; the pipeline for leadership positions is disproportionate to the wide base of women in lower positions. In India, women constitute about 46% of the health workforce overall, much of it as nurses, where almost 80% are women. This dwindles to less than 30% in the case of doctors and others, comprising pharmacists, physiotherapists, diagnostic and other technicians.

The question of why women’s participation in health declines on the path to decision-making roles has a complex set of answers, ranging from lack of confidence, women’s multiple roles including unpaid work, the absence of agency to navigate institutional structures, gender discrimination, sexual harassment and the dearth of networks and support/ mentoring structures, to name a few. Promotion of women’s leadership requires all of these to be addressed, by enabling access to the tools and resources – social and political – that can help overcome constraints.

Studies have highlighted trust as key to moving up the decision-making ladder; trust in turn requiring ability, affinity and integrity (building on work by Roger Mayer, James Davis and David Schoorman). Affinity, an intangible but significant factor on hiring decisions, is invariably built through networks, which are not prioritised by women in the same way as men; nor do women have the same opportunities to ‘network’. With men dominating leadership roles, opportunities for women to connect with men in informal settings may be lower.

As Oliver Wyman’s 2019 report on women in healthcare leadership points out: “Because they have a harder time expanding their networks and implicitly building more affinity – and because few executives truly appreciate the impact that affinity has on trust and decisions women have essentially defaulted to over-relying on ability and delivering results to get ahead.” The ambiguity in defining ‘ability’, entailing different assumptions of leadership by different people, further reinforces the role of affinity as a decisive element.

It is also suggested that women are less likely to have mentors than men, to help them navigate the institutional ecosystem. Upward movement, when it entails disruption for the family, is often harder for women to undertake, due to their roles as family caregiver and their hesitation to uproot children.

Despite large numbers of young women interested in health as a profession, a gender balance across levels will remain elusive unless proactive measures are taken to remove obstacles for women reaching leadership positions. This imbalance can be addressed: Kerala has a female health minister, several women technical directors and eight times the female doctor density than several other Indian states.

Women’s leadership in healthcare is not only possible but imperative: For themselves, to realise their full potential, and equally for the health sector, so that gender responsive policies and technology are aimed at women’s needs. A better job of hiring, promoting, enabling networks and mentoring will bring many more women in leadership roles. As Anne-Marie Slaughter states: “Only when women wield power in sufficient numbers will we create a society that genuinely works for all women.”

The writer is Fellow, Lancet Citizens’ Commission on Reimagining India’s Health System

Affinity, an intangible but significant factor on hiring decisions, is built through networks, which are not prioritised by women in the same way as men; nor do women have the same opportunities to ‘network’

No empty beds, doctors treat inside ambulances in queue

No empty beds, doctors treat inside ambulances in queue

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Rajkot:10.04.2021

Nine ambulances had to wait outside the Covid ward of PDU hospital with patients on Friday, as all the beds in the government hospital were full. The civil hospital staff had to attend to some of the patients inside the ambulances itself.

After 590 Covid beds in the PDU hospital got filled up, the administration arranged more 200 more beds in the trauma and other departments by shifting some of the general patients to the railway hospital. Ambulances continued to bring in patients leading to a queue of nine ambulances outside the gates at one point tin time. Medical superintendent of PDU hospital, Radheshyam Trivedi said, “We have all the beds full and are admitting patient on bed basis. There was a queue of ambulances and a team of our doctors wearing PPE kit had to go inside the ambulances and treat the severe patients. They identified the severe patients and processed to admit them first.”

Covid patients wait for treatment outside civil hospital in Rajkot

Some will get Covid even after vaccination, and that’s normal

Some will get Covid even after vaccination, and that’s normal

No vaccine guarantees 100% immunity from the novel coronavirus, so a small percentage of people who have received a vaccination will still get sick, but experts say that their symptoms are likely to be mild

Abhilash.Gaur@timesgroup.com

10.04.2021

On March 18, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan took his first dose of a coronavirus vaccine made by the Chinese company Sinopharm. On the 20th, he tested positive for Covid. Vaccine-sceptics felt vindicated, China-bashers shouted ‘hurray’. Both were wrong. A vaccine is like a trainer. It needs several weeks to train your immune system to fight a germ. Khan’s first dose got hardly two days to work. In fact, Khan most probably had the virus for several days before he took his shot.

So, Imran Khan’s positive test does not mean his vaccine failed, but are there other cases where a coronavirus vaccine has ‘failed’ to do its job?

Is it possible for you to get Covid after vaccination?

Yes, a small percentage of properly vaccinated people are expected to get sick with the coronavirus. Now that many millions have been vaccinated around the world, such cases are becoming common. Why does this happen, and is it fair to describe it as a failure of the vaccine?

Breakthrough Cases

An infection that occurs after vaccination is called a ‘breakthrough case’. But there’s a condition: it should occur at least 14 days after you are “fully vaccinated”. In India, it would mean two weeks after your second dose of Covishield or Covaxin.

Amesh A. Adalja at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security tells Prevention magazine that this time-frame is necessary because “your body should have enough time to develop antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 (the coronavirus).”

In a Forbes column, scientist William A. Haseltine mentions Israeli research that found vaccinated and unvaccinated people were equally likely to get infected in the first 12 days after the first vaccine dose. Even after 17 days, 60-80% of vaccinated people could get infected.

The Atlantic’s science journalist Katherine J. Wu says breakthrough cases will now “continue to grow in number, everywhere… They are an entirely expected part of any vaccination process.” You might hear of them in your circle. But the important thing is to not get alarmed and start doubting vaccines.

No Vaccine Is Perfect

Actually, there was a vaccine that provided 100% immunity against the virus it was aimed at, says Bloomberg’s pharma industry analyst Sam Fazeli. It was so good that it totally wiped out the smallpox virus. But such ‘sterilising immunity’ – stopping not only sickness but also infection – is rare.

For the coronavirus, scientists last year set the bar low at 50% efficacy. Luckily, all of the approved vaccines turned out to be far better with efficacy rates as high as 95%. Yet, even the best vaccine can’t guarantee you won’t fall ill.

Again, Wu reminds you this is not a failure of vaccines because “the goal of vaccination isn’t eradication, but a détente in which humans and viruses coexist, with the risk of disease at a tolerable low.”

With vaccines, we are mainly trying to prevent severe disease and death, not the infection itself, and all of the approved vaccines seem to be excellent at that. For example, the singledose Johnson & Johnson vaccine showed only 72% efficacy in US trials, but nobody who took it needed hospitalisation or died.

As Fazeli says, “You will never know how bad your symptoms would have been if you had not been vaccinated.”

Reducing Risk

So, the main reason for breakthrough cases is that vaccines are not perfect. Haseltine says, “we need to draw a distinction between infection and disease” while talking about coronavirus vaccines. As none of the present vaccines claims to protect you from infection, breakthrough cases aren’t surprising. But what makes some vaccinated people more susceptible to the virus than others? Wu says there could be many factors, from your immune system’s response to the virus variant you are exposed to. As the existing vaccines are based on last year’s coronavirus variant, they might be less effective against the newer variants.

Haseltine says a study from China found that “sera from those infected by the original Wuhan strain last year have little to no ability to protect against either the UK (B.1.1.7) or the South African (B.1.351) strains.” Also, your immune system could buckle under the force of a big virus dose, for example inside a room where many Covid patients are present. “Large doses of the virus can overwhelm the sturdiest of immune defences, if given the chance,” Wu says.

That’s why continuing to wear a mask even after you have been vaccinated can reduce the risk of breakthrough cases. Especially now, when coronavirus infections are sharply rising across India.

Rlys on migrants’ exodus: No plan to curtail train services

Rlys on migrants’ exodus: No plan to curtail train services

‘Nos. To Be Increased On Demand’

New Delhi:10.04.2021

The railways on Friday said there is no plan to curtail or stop train services and assured passengers that trains will be provided on demand amidst reports of migrant workers rushing to their home-towns, reminiscent of the days following the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.

A number of officials, including Railway Board chairman Suneet Sharma, general manager, Southern Railway John Thomas and the chief public relations officers (CPROs) of the Northern and Central Railways, reached out to the media to deny reports of an exodus of migrant workers to their hometowns via trains.

Sharma assured the passengers that there is no dearth of trains and the railways is ready to put them into service on a short notice.

“There is no plan to curtail or stop train services. We will run as many services as required. There is no cause for alarm. We can run trains immediately on demand if there is any rush. This rush is normal during the summer season and we have already announced trains to clear the rush,” he said.

With the number of Covid-19 cases on the rise, a sudden surge in passenger movement at railway stations was reported from across the country. Many travellers, speaking to the media, said the fear of an imminent lockdown was the reason behind their trips. The Railway Board chairman also ruled out the need for a Covid-negative certificate to travel by train. He said the railways has not received any communique yet from Maharashtra to stop or curtail the movement of trains.

Thomas appealed to the public not to believe in the rumours doing the rounds of social media regarding overcrowding at railway stations. He urged them to avoid sharing old videos and false reports on social media platforms. In Mumbai, the Central Railway CPRO took reporters on a live tour of the Mumbai area stations via livestreaming of visuals from platforms and circulating areas to highlight that “contrary to what has been reported by certain sections of the media, there is no rush at the stations in the Mumbai area”.

In Delhi, the Northern Railway CPRO gave the media a tour of the New Delhi railway station, again to show that there is no “rush”.

Currently, on an average, the railways is running a total of 1,402 special train services per day. A total of 5,381 suburban train services and 830 passenger train services are also operational. PTI

With the number of Covid cases on rise, a sudden surge in passenger movement at railway stations was reported from across the country

Courts not experts to decide if BE is similar to BSc: HC

Courts not experts to decide if BE is similar to BSc: HC

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:10.04.2021

Courts are not expert bodies to decide that a bachelor’s degree in engineering is equivalent to that of science. It is for bodies like the University Grant Commission to decide, the high court observed while allowing a writ appeal filed by the Bangalore Water Supply and Sewerage Board.

The board had challenged the order passed by a single bench on September 3, 2020, directing it to treat a degree in engineering on par with that in science and consider the candidature of seven applicants (all BE degree holders) for the post of assistant/clerk.

However, quoting from the Supreme Court’s directive in the Zahoor Ahmed case, a division bench headed by Justice Satish Chandra Sharma noted that an employer is entitled to prescribe qualifications as a condition of eligibility and there is no role or function of judicial review to expand upon the ambit of prescribed qualifications.

Pointing out that the single bench had erred in law and facts in allowing the writ petition, the division bench said it is purely the employer’s domain to frame recruitment rules and the prescription of qualification for a post is a matter of recruitment policy.

The single bench had said since the word ‘science’ has not been defined anywhere, it cannot be limited to include only a bachelor’s degree in science. However, BWSSB said by no stretch of imagination can a degree in engineering be treated as a graduation in science since engineering and science are two different disciplines.

AIADMK workers maintain low profile

AIADMK workers maintain low profile

Julie.Mariappan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2021

AIADMK partymen have been maintaining a low profile, resigned to the long wait for the assembly election results. In the last three days, chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami chose to remain mostly indoors in Salem, meeting only a few ministers andcandidates, sources said, adding he was down with acute laryngitis. In an unprecedented move, the party took on the bureaucracy, urging the election commission on Thursday to transfer four senior police officers from the western region, alleging they sided with the opposition DMK during the election.

“The CM is disappointed that grassroot workers did not work as hard as expected in the run-up to the polls. Many functionaries did not campaign like they used to when Amma (J Jayalalithaa) was there. Her presence intimidated many,” said a senior leader. Palaniswami is scheduled to return to Chennai on Saturday evening, after his visit to Theni to condole the death of deputy CM O Panneerselvam’s mother-in-law. Leaders are expected to visit the CM at his Greenways Road residence. Meanwhile, Palaniswami took his second dose of Covid vaccination at the Salem government hospital and urged people to follow Covid norms and the standard operating procedures.

Revenue minister R B Udhayakumar said AIADMK cadres were in an upbeat mood, confident that the party would form a government for the third consecutive term. “It is history repeating itself. In 1977, the DMK went about organising a victory function. But MGR (AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran) won the assembly election that year,” said the minister.

A section in the AIADMK, however, say that the DMK’s anti-BJP narrative in the final stages of the campaign may have influenced the “swinging voters” and the AIADMK leadership failed to counter it effectively.

(With inputs from Padmini Sivarajah)

HC stays ex-chief secy’s appointment as NGT member

HC stays ex-chief secy’s appointment as NGT member

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:10.04.2021

Expressing unhappiness over the appointment of former Tamil Nadu chief secretary Girija Vaidyanathan as an expert member of the National Green Tribunal, the Madras high court on Friday stayed the appointment.

“We are not happy with the qualifications of the person who has been appointed as an expert member of the tribunal,” the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy said.

When the court was informed that she was due to assume charge on April 19, the court said there would be a stay of the appointment till disposal of the case.

“It is possible that the former chief secretary may have dealt with environmental matters in course of the various departments that she headed during her tenure, but it is both necessary for her to indicate the same for the court to be satisfied that the statutory eligibility criteria in such regard is met by her,” the court said.

The bench was passing orders on a public interest writ petition filed by environment conservation NGO Poovulagin Nanbargal, challenging Girija Vaidyanathan’s appointment.

There may be an element of discussion on what may amount to dealing with environmental matters, but the selection committee would not have exercised any discretion to relax the eligibility criterion in derogation of the statutory requirement, the bench said.

According to the petitioner-organisation, the NGT Act prescribes a minimum of administrative experience of 15 years, including five years in dealing with environmental matters in the central or a state government. But in violation of the provision, Girija Vaidyanathan who does not possess five-year experience in handling environmental matters has been appointed to the post, the NGO alleged.

“Section 5 (2) (b) of the NGT Act says that a person shall not be qualified for appointment as an expert member unless they have administrative experience of 15 years, including experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters in central or a state government or in a reputed national or state level institution,” the petitioner said. However, Girija who has been selected for appointment to the post has not possessed an experience of five years in dealing with environmental matters as could be seen from her complete bio data found in the official website of the union ministry of personnel, the NGO added. Therefore, it wanted the court to call for the records pertaining to her appointment dated December 12 issued by the union government and quash the same.

Docs’ forum opposes higher tuition fee in med college

Docs’ forum opposes higher tuition fee in med college

Chennai:10.04.2021

A doctors’ association for social equality has moved the Madras high court against conducting exams to students of Rajah Muthiah Medical College and Hospital (now Government Medical College and Hospital, Cuddalore) through the Annamalai University despite declaring it as a government medical college.

Admitting the plea, the first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice Senthilkumar Ramamoorthy directed the Tamil Nadu government to file its response. According to Doctors Association for Social Equality, the college which was functioning under Annamalai university was brought under the state government through the Annamalai University Act, 2013. On January 27 a GO declared the college as a government medical college. While so, the state has now proposed to conduct examinations to the students of the college under the university which is contrary to the January 27 GO, the petitioner said. TNN

Student tests Covid positive at city airport

Student tests Covid positive at city airport

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

A college student who came to Chennai airport to board a flight to Andaman was admitted at the Government Hospital in Chengalpet after being tested positive for Covid-19.

Swamy, 21, studying at a college in the suburbs, came to board a flight to Andaman scheduled at 8.15am. When officials tested the passengers for Covid-19 Swamy’s report came positive.

The officials immediately alerted the authorities concerned who cancelled Swamy’s flight.

The flight left the airport without the student for Port Blair. Later, the student was handed over to the Chennai Airport police. They admitted him at the corona ward set up in the Government Hospital in Chengalpet.

Currently, all passengers flying to Port Blair are made to undergo test for coronavirus at all domestic airports.

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

‘EC to decide on Velachery booth repoll’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.04.2021

State chief electoral officer Satyabrata on Friday said a report had been sent to the Election Commission of India based on the reports of presiding officer, returning officer and Chennai district election officer on the ‘procedural lapse’ in handling EVMs at a Velachery booth. The ECI will decide on repolling in the booth, Sahoo said.

Two men from a zonal party handling EVMs had taken the ballot units and a control unit, kept in reserve, besides the VVPAT, which had developed a technical snag after 50 minutes of polling, on a twowheeler when they were caught by residents, he said. They were later handed over to police.

Sahoo said: “Transporting the machines on a two-wheeler, also without security guards, is a mistake, It is also against the SOP. The commission has been informed of the lapses.”

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Rlys steps up precautionary measures to fight 2nd wave

Makes Masks Mandatory, Scanners Up At Stations

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  10.04.2021

Amid increasing cases, Southern Railway has stepped up Covid-19 precautions that include making masks mandatory, setting up thermal scanner cameras and implementing contactless ticket checking at stations.

To screen passengers faster at stations, thermal scanner cameras and contactless ticket checking system have been set up at major stations.

Egmore and Arakonam have one thermal scanner camera each while at Central station, where it was first tried out during the lockdown, now have three cameras. Similarly, contactless ticket checking by which tickets of passengers are scanned using a handheld device or a mobile phone is in force at Central, Egmore, Tambaram, Chengalpet, Arakonam, Katpadi and Jolarpet. Such a checking is available at two entry points in Central.

The thermal cameras read temperature of passengers as they walk through a doorframe at the stations. The sensor will display the temperature using a colour code on a computer screen and the RPF staff manning the kiosk will be able to detect the passenger and stop inspite of a crowd. This is being used in addition to temperature check done manually.

Southern Railway general manager John Thomas told reporters that more thermal cameras would be installed after need is assessed.

He also urged passengers to take precautions while traveling as there have been reports that people are not wearing masks at stations and on trains. "Use of masks would be mandatory and "we have told railway staff and TTE to ensure that passengers wore masks at the railway stations," he added.

The precautions are being tightened as the number of passengers using trains are increasing. Central railway station handles 82,000 passengers on average and Egmore handles 64,000 per day.

Southern Railway will deploy more RPF personnel to implement Covid-19 precautions.

STRINGENT CURBS: A thermal scanner at Egmore station

Wear your masks or cops will get you

Wear your masks or cops will get you

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

10.04.2021

The city police will swing into action from Saturday to ensure pedestrians and other road users wear face masks and follow the pandemic protocol.

City police commissioner Mahesh Kumar Aggarwal has asked all officers to conduct awareness programmes in their jurisdiction. Police patrols have been to insist that pedestrians wear masks properly even while walking on the road. There are about 250 four-wheelers and around 400 two-wheelers patrolling the city.

A police officer said, “We will insist residents and road users wear face masks and maintain social distancing. Will not slap cases in the first few days.”

Managements of malls and marriage halls have been told to ensure social distancing according to government norms. In Royapettah, police personnel interacted with welfare associations and merchants to spread the message that the government’s guidelines should be followed.

In Arumbakkam, police gave out 5,000 face masks to pedestrians who failed to wear them. A police team led by inspector Saravanan went on a rally from Anna Nagar arch to Arumbakkam accompanied by youth club members of Aminjikarai. In Thiruvottiyur, deputy commissioner of police G Subbulakshmi gave out pamphlets and spread awareness using a public address system.

NEED OF THE HOUR: A police officer and his team ask vendors to mask up at a fish market in the city on Friday

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

TN univs yet to evolve online test with invigilation

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

10.04.2021

Universities in the state are yet to evolve a foolproof system to properly monitor online exams due to lack of infrastructure and connectivity. Given the second surge in Covid-19 cases, the coming semester exams, partly online, are set to begin in the first week of May.

Question papers will be mailed to students who will write them on paper and post answer scripts to colleges. There is no monitoring. In some cases, students are allowed to send answer scripts a day later.

Earlier, lack of monitoring and easy question papers inflated pass percentage to above 95% in most universities.

Professors say many write exams in groups and form WhatsApp groups to share answers. “Universities and colleges lack infrastructure to conduct online exams. It needs investment to develop software,” a city college principal said.

Another principal said around 60% of the college’s students were from rural areas. “It is not possible to monitor them through mobile phone cameras as connections are poor. We have asked them to mail answer scripts after writing in pen and paper mode.”

Anna University is the only institution to conduct an online test with invigilators and artificial intelligence tools monitoring students. Last semester, the proctored test was successfully taken by more than 90% of students.

University of Madras also tried to develop a software and platform for online exams, but many students complained they didn’t internet connectivity. “So, we had to relax the rules,” said vice-chancellor S Gowri.

Loyola College is conducting exams through virtual platforms with three layers of monitoring. “There will be an invigilator for every 25 students and a supervisor for every five invigilators,” said principal Thomas Amirtham.

Trichy-based Bharathidasan University is discussing ways to improve monitoring mechanism. “We have learned from from conducting online semester exams last time. We are discussing making minor changes and a decision would be taken in another few days,” said M Selvam, VC.

Some senior academicians propose holding online tests at colleges near students’ residences to avoid malpractices.

(with inputs from K Sambath Kumar in Trichy)

CLOSE WATCH : Professors said many students form WhatsApp groups and share answer for test questions

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர்: திருச்சியில் தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார்புகார் தெரிவித்த இளைஞர்கள்.

திருச்சி  09.04.2021

ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாகக் கூறி வருவாய்த் துறையினர் ஏமாற்றிவிட்டனர் என்று, தேர்தல் நாளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறியுள்ளனர்.

தமிழ்நாடு சட்டப்பேரவைக்கு திருச்சி மாவட்டத்தில் மணப்பாறை, ஸ்ரீரங்கம், திருச்சி மேற்கு, திருச்சி கிழக்கு, திருவெறும்பூர், லால்குடி, மண்ணச்சநல்லூர், முசிறி, துறையூர் (தனி) ஆகிய 9 தொகுதிகள் உள்ளன.

இந்த 9 தொகுதிகளிலும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்களிக்க வசதியாக மொத்தம் 1,147 வாக்குப்பதிவு மையங்களில் 3,292 வாக்குச்சாவடிகள் அமைக்கப்பட்டிருந்தன. கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்பு வழிமுறைகளை முழுமையாக பின்பற்றி தேர்தலை நடத்த தேர்தல் ஆணையம் உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

இதன்படி, வாக்களிக்க வரும் வாக்காளர்கள் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளுக்குள் நுழைவதற்கு முன்னதாக கிருமிநாசினி அளித்து கைகளை சுத்தம் செய்ய வைத்து, வாக்காளர்களுக்கு பாலித்தீன் கையுறை, முகக்கவசம் இல்லாமல் வருவோருக்கு முகக்கவசம் அளிக்க அனைத்து வாக்குச்சாவடிகளிலும் ஒரு நாள் கூலி அடிப்படையில் ஆட்கள் நியமிக்கப்பட்டனர்.

இந்தநிலையில், ரூ.1,000 ஊதியம் தருவதாக பணியில் ஈடுபடுத்திவிட்டு, தற்போது ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தர முடியும் என்று ஏமாற்றுவதாக இந்தப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் புகார் கூறினர்.

இது தொடர்பாக, திருவெறும்பூர் தொகுதிக்குட்பட்ட பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் கரோனா தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் 20 பேர், இன்று (ஏப். 08) மாவட்ட ஆட்சியர் அலுவலகத்தில் புகார் அளித்தனர். பின்னர், அவர்கள் 'இந்து தமிழ் திசை' நாளிதழிடம் கூறுகையில், "தேர்தல் நாளில் வாக்குச்சாவடிகளில் கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட ஆட்கள் தேவைப்படுவதாகவும், தலா ரூ.1,000 வீதம் ஊதியம் தரப்படும் என்றும் பூத் ஸ்லிப் விநியோகித்தவர்கள் மூலம் தெரிய வந்தது.

தொடர்ந்து, தேர்தல் நாளன்று பொன்மலை பகுதி வாக்குச்சாவடி ஒன்றில் 28 பேர் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டோம். எங்களுக்கு யாரும் உணவு தராததால், அதற்கும் செலவழித்தோம். தேர்தல் முடிந்த பிறகு வாக்குச்சாவடி அலுவலர்களுக்கு ஊதியம் அளித்த வருவாய்த் துறையினர், எங்களுக்குத் தரவில்லை.

இது குறித்து, கேட்டபோது ஒருவருக்கு தலா ரூ.250 வீதம் ஒரு வாரத்துக்குள் தரப்படும் என்றனர். ஒரு நாள் முழுவதும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டு, உணவுக்கும் செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், ரூ.250 மட்டுமே தரப்படும் என்பது எங்களை ஏமாற்றும் செயல். கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஆட்களைப் பிடிக்க செய்யப்பட்ட உத்தி. எனவே, மாவட்ட ஆட்சியரிடம் புகார் அளிக்க வந்தோம்" என்றார்.

இதனிடையே, இன்று பிற்பகலில் இளைஞர்களைத் தொடர்பு கொண்டு பேசிய ஒருவர், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250 வீதம் ஊதியத்தைப் பெற்றுக் கொள்ளுமாறு கூறியுள்ளார். இதனால், கரோனா பரவல் தடுப்புப் பணியில் ஈடுபட்ட இளைஞர்கள் அதிருப்தி அடைந்துள்ளனர்.

இது குறித்து அவர்கள் மேலும் கூறும்போது, "தேர்தல் நாளன்று உணவுக்கு செலவழித்துள்ள நிலையில், திருவெறும்பூர் வட்டாட்சியர் அலுவலகத்துக்கு வந்து ரூ.250-ஐ பெற்றுக் கொள்ளச் சொல்வது எந்த வகையிலும் நியாயமில்லை" என்றனர்.

Parents of baby boy born mid-air run pillar to post for birth certificate

Parents of baby boy born mid-air run pillar to post for birth certificate

The baby was born on March 17 with the help of the Indigo flight crew and Dr. Subahana Nazir, who was travelling on the same flight, 6E 469.

Published: 08th April 2021 07:44 PM 

The mother and the child with Indigo flight crew. (Photo | EPS)

By Rajesh Asnani

Express News Service

JAIPUR: Parents of a baby boy, born on a flight from Bengaluru to Jaipur in March, are now struggling to get a birth certificate.

The baby was born on March 17 with the help of the Indigo flight crew and Dr Subahana Nazir, who was travelling on the same flight, 6E 469.

According to government rules, the birth certificate is to be issued within 21 days of a baby being born.

When the baby was born in the flight at a height of 33,000, the family of Bhairon Singh, the father of the baby, had suddenly hit the headlines across the country. Despite the publicity they garnered due to this unique mid-air adventure, their difficulties on the ground did not in any way lessen. Nearly three weeks after that exceptional birth, the baby’s father who is an auto-driver in Bengaluru is running from pillar to post to get the child’s birth certificate issued.

Soon after the aircraft had landed at Jaipur airport on the morning of March 17, the mother and the child were rushed to a private hospital for examination. The doctors found them to be perfectly healthy. But Bhairon Singh, the father, found the hospital too expensive and took his wife and the baby to his village near Beawar town in Ajmer district.

A few days after reaching the village, Bhairon Singh said he started the process of getting the birth certificate. But as he is not well-educated, the government machinery is giving him quite a run-around and is forcing him to make multiple trips to different offices.

The infant’s father first approached the sarpanch who then asked him to go to a government hospital from where he was sent to another hospital. Bhairon Singh says officials seem quite confused since the baby was born mid-air. Although he has been assured that he will get it at the earliest, the birth certificate remains elusive despite numerous trips to various government offices.

“I first approached the post office in the village Surajpura but an employee said that I should go to the Jawaja hospital in our area. Later, I was told that I should go to the Jaipur airport and get a certificate from there. Each office wasted three to four days."

Bhairon Singh says he even tried to ring up the authorities at Jaipur airport but he was not given any clear answer. Even though Indigo Airlines gave him some response and even inquired about his son’s health, they too could not give any concrete help in getting the birth certificate for the baby born on their flight.

The New Indian Express was told that the Jaipur Municipal Corporation can issue the birth certificate as the child was born on a flight that landed in Jaipur. But before that, the child’s parents will need to file a written application with the airport authority in Jaipur to send a letter to the Jaipur Municipal Corporation about the child’s birth mid-air on an Indigo flight.

Social distancing: Carrying capacity of buses to come down by 25%

Social distancing: Carrying capacity of buses to come down by 25%

The carrying capacity of buses are set to come down by 25 per cent from Saturday with the State government imposing restrictions on travelling while standing.

Published: 09th April 2021 04:28 AM |

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The carrying capacity of buses are set to come down by 25 per cent from Saturday with the State government imposing restrictions on travelling while standing. The maximum number of travellers on buses will be regulated according to the seating capacity of the vehicle. The move will empty the aisles in buses and allow commuters to comply with social distancing norms, said official sources.

However, on the flip side, the move is likely to have an adverse impact on transport corporations as well as commuters. The transport department has been reeling under financial crunch with mounting debts of over Rs 15,000 crore for the past few years. Each government bus had been charged from Rs 9,500 to Rs 10,000 at every toll gate on the National Highways for 50 trips. As a result, Villupuram and Salem corporations brought down the number of trips on many routes.

The recent curbs will reduce the carrying capacity of buses from 25 to 30 per cent, thereby further taking a toll on the revenue of corporations. However, operational expenses will remain the same. Even as the government is yet to resume more than 40 per cent of bus services post the Covid-19 lockdown since last year, the new restriction on standing will increase the demand for buses.

However, transport secretary C Samayamoorthy maintained that over 70 per cent of the fleet of eight transport corporations was being operated. “To meet the additional demand, we will increase services after studying the demand,” he said. A large section of daily-wage labourers and office goers depends on public transportation, particularly the Mofussil buses outside Chennai city.

K Baskaran, who works at a biscuit manufacturing company near Tiruvallur, said many workers employed in smaller industries relied on government buses for their daily commute. “If commuters are not allowed to stand and travel, the government should increase the number of buses,” he said. The government said buses will be operated to neighbouring Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, and Puducherry.

King Institute’s popularity among Covid patients worries officials

King Institute’s popularity among Covid patients worries officials

Covid patients delay treatment as they wait to get admitted at King Institute Covid hospital

Published: 09th April 2021 04:33 AM 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Covid patients queuing up at the King Institute in Guindy to get admitted while refusing to go to other government hospitals has worried health department officials. Their wait for admission since as early as 5 am could result in a delay in treatment, the officials fear. Some patients are ready to wait for even two days to get admitted at the exclusive Covid hospital at King Institute.

On Thursday, the hospital almost ran out of beds. As per data from the Directorate of Medical Education, of the total 525 beds, 479 had been occupied till evening on the day. A woman, who was waiting to get admitted at the institute, was told that the beds were almost full as many people were already waiting before her. She still managed to get admitted through her contacts.

She refused to go to Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH), where 1,618 beds were vacant. In another case, a man, whose grandmother had taken a Covid test, wanted to wait for the results as King Institute admitted only confirmed Covid patients. He refused to admit her at the RGGGH, which has a separate ward for suspected patients, thus delaying treatment for the woman.

Dr R Narayana Babu, Director of Medical Education, said, people should make use of other government facilities as well. “We still have plenty of beds. In Chennai alone, there are 10,568 beds in government hospitals. Among them, only 1,943 were filled on Thursday. They should not delay treatment by waiting to get admitted at King Institute,” he said.

Another senior doctor pointed out that when it comes to all critical care management, the RGGGH is the mother of all institutions. “Any patient with comorbid conditions can be treated there as the hospital has all specialties,” he said.

People prefer the King Institute because it is a new building and the premises is clean and well-maintained. Some even prefer Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital, which has set up an exclusive Covid-19 hospital, he said. He noted that many other government hospitals have dedicated new buildings for Covid treatment.

3 dead, 39 injured as govt bus, truck collide head-on

3 dead, 39 injured as govt bus, truck collide head-on

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Cuddalore:  09.04.2021

Three people including the driver of a TNSTC bus were killed and 39 others were injured when the bus collided head-on with a truck on Thursday near Chidambaram in Cuddalore district. A case was registered against the truck driver, who was said to be in a critical condition.

The deceased people were identified as 38-year-old D Sivakumar of Villupuram district, the bus driver, and passengers A Anbarasan, 36, and R Vairavan, 19, from Nagapattinam district.

Police said the TNSTC bus from Velankanni left for Chennai in the wee hours of Thursday. When the bus crossed Mettupalayam near Chidambaram, it collided head-on with a truck bound for Chidambaram from Cuddalore. Teh front portions of the bus and truck were completely mangled and the bus was flipped to its side in the impact.

While the three were found dead on the spot, 39 others were injured and rushed to government general hospitals in Cuddalore and Chidambaram.

A police team led by DSP (Chidambaram) T A J Lamech reached the accident spot and recovered the bodies.

The condition of the truck driver, identified as Iyyappan, was said to be critical. He was later shifted to Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (Jipmer) in Puducherry for advanced care and was subsequently referred to a private hospital in Chennai.

The Puduchatram police registered a case against Iyyappan under Sections 279 (rash driving or riding on a public way), 337 (causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others), 338 (causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others) and 304 A (causing death by negligence) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and began investigations.

BATTERED: The TNSTC bus was heading from Velankanni to Chennai

Friends beyond faith, only death could part

Friends beyond faith, only death could part

Deepak.Karthik@timesgroup.com

Trichy: 09.04.2021

A life-size obituary banner with portraits of two elderly men sprung up on Jubilee road in Jayankondam town in Ariyalur on Wednesday afternoon as many residents gazed in disbelief. K Mahalingam, 70, and P Jailabudeen, 66, thick friends for 40 years, had passed away within a space of 30 minutesjustthepreviousnight.Bothfamilies haderectedthecommon banner astestimony to a friendship that transcended religious and professional barriers.

Mahalingam was priest at the Mariamman temple on Vriddachalam road andhadbeen running a tea stallnear the temple. Jailabudeen was a rice mill owner staying opposite his house on Jubilee Road. Their families recall that the two addressed each other as mama-mapla (used between close friends).

Being a priest, Mahalingam was a staunch believer in Hindu rituals and wasoften seen withholy ashsmearedon hisforeheadwhileJailabudeen followed Islam. “No function or festival in our house happened in the absence of Jailabudeen thatha (grandfather). They used to tellusthatthey wereneighbourseven as young boys and hung out together,” says S Guru, Mahalingam’s grandson. “My family always consulted Mahalingam thatha whilehosting any function.Wish wehada snap of thetwowhilethey were alive, the deaths were sudden,” Abdul Rashith, grandson of Jailabudeen, said.

Family members say Mahalingam who had hypertension complained of uneasiness on Tuesday noon. He was rushed to a nearby private hospital by his family in an autorickshaw. They werenotawarethatJailabudeen wasalready atthehospitalafter healsoshowedsome discomforts. Both were referred to Jayankondam GH and admitted to the same ward.

Jailabudeen had chest pain, according to his grandson, and he fell unconscious and died around 4 pm. When Mahalingam wasinformedaboutthedeath of his friend, the families said he was already slipping away, but tears welled in his eyes. He breathed his last half an hour later. Mahalingam was cremated at the cremation ground in Jayankondam town while Jailabudeen was buried at the Muslim burial ground on the outskirts on Wednesday.

BOND OF LOVE: P Jailabudeen and K Mahalingam (right)

HC asks TN to reserve med seat for RTE student next year

MAKING AN EXCEPTION

HC asks TN to reserve med seat for RTE student next year

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:  09.04.2021

Madras high court has directed Tamil Nadu government to ‘reserve’ one medical seat next year for a girl student ‘on priority basis’ under 7.5% quota provided for students who studied from Class VI to Class XII in government schools. She, as an RTE quota student, had studied in a private school till Class VI.

It is, however, not clear whether she would be eligible for a medical seat next year, on the basis of her performance in NEET this year. NEET score is valid for the current year only.

The case relates to a case filed by Sabhana’s father, stating that she had studied in a private school under RTE quota, Noting that she did Class VII to Class XII in a government school, he said she is eligible for admission under 7.5% quota. He, however, said that while filling the application form, she had marked ‘no’ against a column which asked if she had studied in a government school from Class VI to Class XII.

Justice V Parthiban, deciding the case in her favour, said the state ought to have had a separate column for students who studied in private schools under RTE quota.

Due to the absence of any specific column for RTE category students, the valuable right of Sabhana for being consideredunder 7.5%quota hadbeen denied to her, said Justice Parthiban, adding: "No amount of consolation from the state authorities could compensate the loss suffered by the petitioner's daughter at the crucial stage of higher educational pursuits.”

The judge observed that the dream and hope of the student to pursue medical education should not be shattered on account of a fault of the authorities who had not clearly framed or formulated the application form.

Observing that the state government is under moral and legal obligation to consider her admission, Justice Parthiban asked the state to explore the possibilities to accommodate the student in this academic year in any leftover vacancy due to the candidates non-joining the course.

After being informed of the closure of the admission process, the judge directed the state to reserve a seat for the student andprovideher admission next academic year on a priority basis in medical courses in terms of her overall standing in the merit list under 7.5% quota, if she is interested in taking up the course to be offered to her.

It was the state’s case that had the student approached the counselling authority immediately, her name could have been included for extension of 7.5% preferential admission this year.