Varsities ditch black gowns, to go traditional

Varsities ditch black gowns, to go traditional

Sangamesh.Menasinakai@timesgroup.com

Hubballi:  18.04.2021 

The sea of black caps and gowns at convocation ceremonies is set to recede, with several universities opting for khadi and regional wear following a UGC directive and the governor’s order in November last year.

The Karnataka Folklore University (Haveri), Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University (Gadag) and the University of Horticultural Sciences (Bagalkot) have already incorporated local traditional attire in their convocation functions.

The University Grants Commission had issued a directive in 2019, asking universities to go traditional for special occasions and convocation ceremonies. “Using handloom garments would give a sense of pride of being Indian,” the commission said, seeking an “action-taken report” from universities. On November 9 last year, governor Vajubhai R Vala issued an order asking varsities to implement the UGC directive and submit action-taken reports.

KM Indiresh, vice-chancellor of the University of Horticultural Sciences, said graduates wore traditional clothes, mostly in white, for the convocation this year. “Black gowns and caps were worn by only guests and academic council members. However, we have decided to make white kurta and pyjama for men and sarees for women common for all from next year’s convocation, as per the governor’s order,” he said.

KB Gudasi, VC of Karnatak University, Dharwad, said wearing khadi once a week is already mandatory on campus. “We decided to make khadi attire compulsory from the next convocation and on special occasions,” he said.

The trend is expected to gain momentum once offline classes and campus activities resume. Following the outbreak of Covid-19, convocations have been low-key affairs or have gone virtual, leaving little opportunity for students to gather and celebrate their graduation.

Dr Sanjeev Kulkarni, a gynaecologist and president of Gandhi Peace Foundation Centre in Dharwad, said mandating khadi on special occasions is not enough. Kulkarni has made khadi mandatory twice a week at his Bal Balaga School for the past 25 years. “Professors and students should not think they are just following orders. Khadi economy is a sustainable one as it gives equal share to the grower, spinner and buyer. It will instil pride and promote selfsufficiency,” he said.

Man loses ₹90L to conmen who promise to ‘legalise’ his PhD

Man loses ₹90L to conmen who promise to ‘legalise’ his PhD

Santoshkumar.B@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:18.04.2021

A 36-year-old aerospace design engineer from T Dasarahalli lost over $1,20,000 (Rs 90 lakh) to a gang of cybercriminals, who promised to legalise his PhD degree obtained through distance education in 2015, when he was working with a private firm in Germany.

Sumanth (name changed) approached North CEN crime police on April 8, and filed a cheating and cybercrime case.

Sumanth said he completed his BE in aerospace design engineering and joined a private company in 2014. He was deployed to Germany and had been searching for study opportunities online or through distance education to utilise his free time.

“I found a PhD opportunity through online study from Must University, which claims to be based in the US. I enrolled there and completed the course in aerospace design by 2015. After completing two years of work in Germany, I returned to Bengaluru,” Sumanth said.

Sumanth said that he received a call from a stranger in 2018 and was informed that his PhD was not genuine as he got it from an unaided university. The caller said the PhD could be transferred to an aided university in the US to legitimise it. Sumanth ignored the call then.

“But in November 2019, I received a call from another number and this time the caller claimed he was from the US embassy office in Delhi. He threatened that I would be jailed if I don’t cancel my PhD or get it legalised,” Sumanth explained.

Sumanth said he agreed to cancel his PhD and paid $2,000 to a bank account provided by the stranger to cancel the degree. Within a few weeks, another stranger contacted him on phone and informed him that there was no provision to cancel his PhD and promised that he’d help Sumanth transfer his PhD to an aided university and get a legal degree. The fraudsters sent fake acceptance letters in the name of California State University.

Sumanth said the strangers posed as police and attorneys from the US. “They threatened me saying I have to follow their instructions or face legal consequences. I was scared and paid more than $1,20,000 to the callers in multiple transactions. They promised me that the money would be reimbursed once all procedures were completed,” he added.

Sumanth suspected something foul as the miscreants started demanding more money in the name of various charges and discussed the developments with his friend. He approached CEN crime police based on a suggestion from his friend and learnt that he had been cheated.

The aerospace design engineer had done PhD through distance mode in 2015. He got a call from a stranger in 2018 who said his PhD was not genuine but could be legitimised. He received another call in 2019, with the caller threatening Sumanth would be jailed if he didn’t cancel the PhD or get it legalised

Girl says she was denied entry to exam hall for wearing headscarf

SULLIA LAW COLLEGE

Girl says she was denied entry to exam hall for wearing headscarf

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mangaluru:  18.04.2021 

An uneasy calm prevailed at KVG Law College in Sullia, Dakshina Kannada, on Saturday after a student was allegedly not allowed to appear for an examination while wearing a headscarf.

Sabna, a first-year law student, demanded that she be allowed to write the examination while wearing a headscarf. She urged the authorities to allow her to do so after conducting a thorough check, if necessary. Her parents, along with leaders from the Campus Front of India (CFI), discussed the issue with the principal. Later, the student blamed the college for not allowing her to write the exam.

Mohammed Sadik, state president, CFI, said initially the principal refused and the girl couldn’t appear for two exams. “We arranged a protest and the media was also informed, after which the principal said she can wear a headscarf. The college was not strict with the rules, ever since classes began about three months ago, he said.

Udaya Krishna, principal, said students have to wear uniform, and at the time of admission, they also sign an undertaking that they will follow the dress code. This year, due to the pandemic, and since classes resumed only after January, the dress code rules were not implemented strictly.

“On Friday, three students came to my chamber, seeking permission to wear their headscarf. Two of them agreed to write without headscarf, but one girl refused to do so. On Saturday, despite asking her to take the hall ticket and write the exam, she walked out along with her parents, and is now blaming the college of denying permission to appear for the exam,” he said.

Despite asking her to appear for the exam, she walked out, and is now blaming the college, the principal said

Man, 63, dies after avoiding hospital

Man, 63, dies after avoiding hospital

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  18.04.2021 

A 63-year-old man who ignored the advice of getting admitted to a hospital after testing positive died at his home five days later. The man, from Taralu village in Bangalore Urban district, did not tell his family members that he had Covid-19 and switched off his phone. They learned about it while checking the phone following his demise on April 16.

Relatives believe he hid his health status as he feared hospitalisation costs and social stigma. The senior citizen worked as an attender at a club near Jayanagar. He developed acute fatigue and got admitted to Sevakshetra Hospital on April 9. A test revealed on April 11 that he had contracted the coronavirus infection. The hospital, which didn’t treat Covid-19 patients at the time, advised him to seek treatment at another facility and discharged him. But instead of visiting another hospital, the man went home, where he died on April

16. The last rites were performed as per Covid-19 safety protocols after a mediaperson coordinated with the health department.

“We found out that he had Covid-19 only after his death. We accessed his phone and saw the message. The hospital that discharged him should have alerted government authorities,” a relative said.

According to information on the Covid hospital bed management system, the 63-year-old was allotted a bed at Oxford Medical College on April 15. A medical officer at the Bolare primary health centre, which covers Taralu village, said the man refused to get hospitalised even after his condition worsened. “Health and ASHA workers visited his house multiple times and explained to him that he required hospitalisation. A gram panchayat member also tried to persuade him, but to no avail,” the medical officer said.

Dr Ranganath Nayak, medical director, Sevakshetra Hospital, told STOI that doctors had clearly explained everything to the man. “When he was discharged on April 11, we didn’t have a Covid ward. We are a charitable hospital, mostly with geriatric patients. We could not have accommodated a Covid-19 patient then and we told him the same. He refused to understand the gravity of the situation,” said Dr Nayak. The hospital started admitting Covid-19 cases three days ago.

Patient refused admission when ASHA workers visited his house. What more can health dept do if patients and their families do not cooperate?

Dr Srinivas Gulur | HEALTH OFFICER, BENGALURU URBAN

2 Guj docs return to duty hours after cremating moms

2 Guj docs return to duty hours after cremating moms

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:18.04.2021

Within a few hours of the demise of their mothers, two Gujarat doctors returned to the business of saving lives. One of them said her mother had said there was no greater duty they could perform.

At 3.30 am on Thursday morning, her mother passed away in the Covid ICU after a week’s battle with the virus. Six hours later, Dr Shilpa Patel, an associate professor with the anatomy department at the state-run SSG Hospital, was back in the saddle trying to save lives.

After carrying out the last rites of her 77-year-old mother, Kanta Ambalal Patel, Dr Patel diligently donned her PPE suit once again, staying true to her mother’s words: duty before everything else. Dr Rahul Parmar, too, lost his mother, Kanta Parmar  (67), who passed away from age-related issues in Gandhinagar on Thursday.

But Parmar, who as nodal officer for Covid management and part of the dead body disposal team at central Gujarat’s biggest hospital, finished the cremation rituals and rushed back to join duty on Friday. “It was a natural death. I finished the cremation rituals with my family and returned to Vadodara,” said Parmar, who is with Preventive and Social Medicine Department at SSG.

The officer on special duty for Covid-19 in Vadodara, Dr Vinod Rao, said the Covid warriors displayed great personal commitment and devotion to duty.

Covid patient dies within 8 hrs of admission

Covid patient dies within 8 hrs of admission

FAMILY ALLEGES DELAYED TREATMENT, MISMANAGED ADMISSION

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:18.04.2021 

Maninagar resident, Rupal Thakkar, lost her battle to Covid within eight hours of being admitted to Shalby Hospital in Prahladnagar. Battling uneasiness and severe weakness at home, Rupal inquired for admission at the hospital on Friday and got confirmation, following which she went all by herself to the hospital. Her family was shocked to learn about her death in the wee hours of Saturday and alleged a mismanaged admission process and inadequate infrastructure.

“The hospital confirmed a room and bed for her. But when she reported at the emergency ward around 7pm on Friday, she was denied admission citing ‘there was no relative accompanying her’,” said Dipan Thakkar, Rupal’s brother.

Around 9pm, she was finally on oxygen support through Bipap. “The hospital didn’t have an ICU bed, so we decided to shift her next morning,” Dipan added. Around 3.30am, he learnt from the hospital that Rupal’s oxygen levels had dipped critically. “Despite repeated attempts, we couldn’t find a single ambulance. By 5am, I leanrt that she has a cardiac problem and within 30 minutes, she was no more,” said Dipan.

The family was left devastated but their ordeal didn’t end yet. “On Saturday morning, the hospital asked us to obtain death certificate from Rupal’s physician. After repeated arguments, they asked for an NOC from the police station. Finally we got a certificate around1pm and initiated process for last rites,” her brother said.

Later, when they went to collect her belongings, the family alleged that Rupal’s ATM card and Rs 5,000 in cash were missing.

Sunil Mehta, general manager of Shalby Hospital, said the patient was critical when she arrived. “She did not have any relative with her that can complete the formalities. The hospital howeverstarted treatment,” he said. Talking about the postdemise procedure, Mehta said that the hospital followed the protocol. He added that Thakkar did not have the said ATM or cash on her.

Is a heart attack and cardiac arrest the same?

Is a heart attack and cardiac arrest the same?

Heart attack

Symptoms of a heart attack may be immediate with sudden and intense chest pain. But just as often, symptoms like tiredness start slowly and can persist for hours, days or weeks before an attack.

A heart attack is caused by the blockage of a coronary artery, so blood can’t reach a section of the heart muscle. If the blocked artery isn’t reopened quickly, the heart muscle begins to die. The longer a person goes without treatment, the greater the damage.

Cardiac arrest

A cardiac arrest is triggered by an electrical malfunction in the heart that causes an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). It usually occurs suddenly. The heart can’t pump blood to the brain and other organs, causing loss of pulse and consciousness. If untreated, death will occur within minutes.

— DAILY MIRROR

Pandemics are caused by germs but spread by people who are in denial

BY INVITATION

Pandemics are caused by germs but spread by people who are in denial

SHAHID JAMEEL

18.04.2021 

India recorded 216,828 new Covid-19 cases and 1,182 deaths on April 15, 2021, bringing the overall tally to about 14.3 million cases and over 174,000 deaths. With a 1% daily increase in new cases and a 7% increase in active cases, the pandemic is severely affecting the healthcare system.

These statistics hide innumerable stories of despondency and desperation. Take for example Mohammed Nisar, a 60-year-old, who fell ill on April 14. Unable to get a hospital bed in his native Azamgarh, UP, his family drove him to Lucknow. With no luck there, he was driven to Aligarh, where they got him admitted in a small private hospital. He is critical and all his co-passengers have tested positive.

In early February, Sir Jeremy Farrar, an infectious disease expert and director of Wellcome Trust, told me: “There will be another phase/ peak in India I am afraid — don’t let people get into a sense it is finished…it is not!” What did he see that I didn’t? Perhaps I was blindsided by false narratives doled out daily. Distance often brings the objectivity that science demands.

The 1918 ‘Spanish’ flu had a mild first wave but returned later in the year to cause havoc. In India there were an estimated 12 to 20 million deaths in the second wave. Bombay, then with a population of 1.1 million, reported about 15,000 deaths just in the month of October 1918. What happened to the flu virus in 1918 is happening to the Covid-19 virus in 2021. It’s called mutation and its normal for a virus.

Every time a virus multiplies, random errors are introduced in its genome. While most errors are deleterious and are never seen, some offer advantage by allowing that variant to multiply faster, transmit better or evade pre-existing immunity. More spread means more hosts, more virus multiplication, more errors and more mutants. This is how viruses evolve and with close to 140 million cases globally, there is enough opportunity. Mutations can also accumulate into lineages and some variants become variants of concern (VOC).

By the end of 2020, India had over 10 million cases but only about 5,000 viruses were sequenced. Such low sequencing density can only catch major variants already circulating in the population. But it is the minor emerging ones that inform what is to come. One such variant was first reported on October 5, 2020, followed by isolated sightings in December and January, before it broke loose in February, around the time when daily cases started rising in India. Maharashtra led the way with about 15% to 20% cases there showing this ‘double mutant’, also called the Indian variant, and now the B.1.617 lineage.

Around the same time other VOCs were also increasingly seen in Indian patients. These include viruses of the UK variant lineage (B.1.1.7), the South Africa variant lineage (B.1.351) and the Brazil variant lineage (P.1). While Punjab is now taken over by the UK variant, Maharashtra is showing increasing presence of the Indian variant, Delhi has the UK and Indian variants, and West Bengal has all the VOCs. All these viruses have acquired mutations that allow them to be more ‘infectious’ and partially evade pre-existing immunity. Not surprisingly then, there are increasing reports of re-infections in those vaccinated.

Would vaccines available in India still work? We know from studies elsewhere that the Oxford/ AstraZeneca vaccine (Covishield in India) does well against the UK variant, but poorly against the South Africa and Brazil variants. Covaxin also does well against the UK variant, but has not been tested against the others. The Indian variant has not yet been tested against any vaccine. Since vaccines work by raising antibodies and T cells to multiple targets, they still remain a powerful control strategy.

Pandemics are caused by germs but spread by people. Even in the face of overwhelming evidence, those in denial of the disease and the utility of vaccines are also variants of concern. This attitude prevented high rates of vaccination at a time when the daily cases were low and significant protection could have been achieved. Now it’s an uphill battle.

Those in responsible positions attribute the second wave to people not following “Covid appropriate behaviour”. After a year of false narratives on how Indians are somehow special, for an average person, the private cost of illness is very low. As a result, masks are inconvenient and crowded places cannot be avoided if one is to make a living. The daily scenes of crowded election rallies addressed by the tallest leaders and crowded religious festivals endorsed by them have further diminished this private cost of illness. Together, these human variants of concern are responsible for what awaits us in post-election West Bengal and the rest of India when pilgrims return home.

An election, just like a war, has a victor, but a pandemic has only the vanquished. Their stories will again get buried in the numbers and the lies. Both the viral and human variants of concern will win again.

Jameel is a virologist, and director, Trivedi School of Biosciences, Ashoka University

Pvt vehicle not ‘public place’ under NDPS Act: Top court

Pvt vehicle not ‘public place’ under NDPS Act: Top court

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.04.2021

The Supreme Court has reiterated that a private vehicle would not come within the expression of a public place under the NDPS Act and different provisions mentioned in the act for private and public place must be followed.

Section 42 deals with power of entry, search, seizure and arrest without warrant or authorisation and provides a detailed procedure to follow. Section 43 deals with power of seizure and arrest in public place.

While deciding a criminal appeal, a bench of Justices U U Lalit and K M Joseph said that the explanation to Section 43 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act clearly says that a private vehicle would not come within the expression of 'public place'.

In that case, recovery was made from the accused while they were in a jeep at a public place. The Punjab and Haryana high court had held that the case of the accused would be covered by Section 43 of NDPS Act and not by Section 42.

Setting aside the HC order, the apex court said that rigor of Section 42 may get lessened in certain situations but in no case, total noncompliance of Section 42 cannot be accepted.

“The evidence in the present case clearly shows that the vehicle was not a public conveyance but was a vehicle belonging to the accused. The Registration Certificate of the vehicle, which has been placed on record, also does not indicate it to be a Public Transport Vehicle. The explanation to Section 43 shows that a private vehicle would not come within the expression public place as explained in Section 43 of the NDPS Act,” the bench said.

In a case, recovery was made from the accused while they were in a jeep at a public place. The Punjab and Haryana high court had held that the case of the accused would be covered by Section 43 of NDPS Act and not by Section 42

WhatsApp users warned against breach of information

WhatsApp users warned against breach of information

New Delhi: 18.04.2021 

Country’s cyber security agency CERT-In has cautioned WhatsApp users about certain vulnerabilities detected in the popular instant messaging app that could lead to breach of sensitive information.

A “high” severity rating advisory issued by the CERT-In, or the Indian computer emergency response team, said the vulnerability has been detected in software that has “WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business for Android prior to v2.21.4.18 and WhatsApp and WhatsApp Business for iOS prior to v2.21.32.”

The v2.21.4.18 and v2.21.32 denotes the versions of the WhatsApp messenger that are downloaded by users for using the platform on their devices.

“Multiple vulnerabilities have been reported in WhatsApp applications which could allow a remote attacker to execute arbitrary code or access sensitive information on a targeted system,” it said. PTI

Ignorance of law, lack of case info extend convicts’ jail stay

Ignorance of law, lack of case info extend convicts’ jail stay

Shanmughasundaram.j@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.04.2021

After spending 12 years behind the bars without much legal aid, 49 year-old life convict Ram (name changed) took up the case on his own and approached the Supreme Court. Now, he was out on bail and trying to win back his freedom.

As on April 15, there were 15,796 prisoners in Tamil Nadu. Of these, 4,311 and 8,683 were convicted and remanded prisoners. “Persons like me are rare. Many prisoners are illiterate and lack knowledge about their legal rights and the available facilities in the existing judicial and prison system,” said Ram, a native of Chennai, who was incarcerated from 2005 to 2018 Puzhal-I central prison in connection with a murder case.

Several hundreds of prisoners are still in the dark about their case status as they lack awareness about their legal rights or assistance from the system. “Unaware that they have to undergo their sentence concurrently, many prisoners remain in prison for more number of years,” said a probation officer.

They can do away with this by approaching court to get direction as per provision of 428 of CrPC (period of detention undergone by the accused to be set off against the sentence). But the ignorance on the part of the prisoners and lack of support from prison welfare officers leave several inmates in jails beyond stipulated imprisonment periods.

The department has trained educated convicts as paralegal volunteers to help their fellow convicts, who themselves were illiterates. However, it is not of much use. “It is difficult to get the case kattu (case brief) from advocates, making it difficult for many prisoners to use the free legal service extended by the legal service authorities,” said an ex-convict, who preferred anonymity. He was one among the 1,600-odd prisoners who had benefited from Tamil Nadu government’s premature release scheme a few years ago.

The daughter of a life convict said her father was imprisoned long beyond the stipulated period after being convicted in a murder case. Though he was eligible to be released under premature release scheme, charges under Arms Act denied him the freedom. He continues to languish in Vellore Central Prison for Men.

Activists seek facilities such as Kiosks where case details and the current status of the cases could be accessed. All prisons mus have the facility to help the inmates to have up to date details of their cases.

Job, Higher Edu Limitations Mean Courses See Few Takers

Job, Higher Edu Limitations Mean Courses See Few Takers

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.04.2021

A survey carried out by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) among undergraduate engineering students on regional language preference shows that a majority of students are interested in Tamil as course language.

According to AICTE, 83,195 undergraduate students took part in the online survey titled as “Undergraduate Engineering Education in Mother Tongue.” Among them, 12,487 students said they would choose to study engineering in their mother tongue Tamil if given to the option. Hindi (7,818), Telugu (3,991) and Marathi (3,226) came next. As many as 1,953 students have answered, not sure. The survey included participants with 22 mother tongues.

The ministry of education has given emphasis to provide engineering and medical studies in regional languages. The survey was to get the views of stakeholders (students) on the matter.

The state introduced Tamil BE Civil Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in 2010.

While the survey findings portray Tamil medium as the popular pick among the group, experts find it very surprising as the two Tamilmedium courses have hardly any takers.

“If true, there should have been a big craze to opt for Tamil-medium courses. Even at College of Engineering, Guindy, seats in the Tamil medium courses are the last ones to be filled. The gap in cut-off for Tamil medium and other students is also huge. It is an indicator that students do not prefer Tamil-medium courses,” said career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi.

“Those who picked Tamil medium are struggling in campus recruitment. They are also not able to go for higher education as the GATE is conducted only in English,” he added.

As many as 17 colleges — College of Engineering (CEG) and 16 constituent colleges of Anna University — have around 1,500 Tamil-medium seats across the two streams.

“The Tamil-medium courses are a failure as the state government could not provide the students books and journals in Tamil. Due to lack of jobs and higher education opportunities, the colleges filled less than 30% seats these past few years. Seats in CEG are filled every year, but that has nothing to do with Tamil medium,” a professor from Anna University said.

A dean of constituent college said some colleges could not fill even a single Tamil medium course seat.

“Tamil BE courses are not successful as text books, resources are not available in Tamil,” said B Chidambararajan, principal of SRM Valliammai College in Chennai.

While the AICTE allowed colleges to start a course in regional language from 2021-22, few TN institutions applied.

Man who hung a thought at THE END OF LAUGHTER

Man who hung a thought at THE END OF LAUGHTER

Comedy That Makes The Audience Think Was Actor Vivekh’s Forte. Be It Spreading Awareness On Environment Or Covid Vaccination, He Was At The Forefront Of Activities And Making A Difference

D Govardan & Neeraja Ramesh TNN

18.04.2021

When it came to his comedy sketches in films, Vivekh worked with a two-track mind — first, he baited his audience with his slapstick slice of life vignettes, and then when he had them right where he wanted, delivered a punchline that silenced them into introspection. And for that he will always be remembered – the comedian with a message in his medium.

The actor died at a hospital in Chennai on Saturday following a cardiac arrest. He was 59, and is survived by his wife and two daughters.

“Vivekh was a jovial person with no ego,” recalls N Mohan, manager to late director K Balachander who launched Vivekh’s career in 1987 with ‘Manadhil Urudhi Vendum’.

The director’s next ‘Puthu Puthu Arthangal’ (1989) made Vivekh popular and there was no looking back.

Vivekh acted in more than 200 movies, sharing screen space with generations of heroes from Rajinikanth to Dhanush. Over the years his fan following grew so much that his face began appearing on posters. Apart from comedies, he also began playing the protagonist and other character roles. In ‘Vellai Pookal’ (2019), for instance, he played the lead role of a retired police officer who goes to Seattle to reunite with his estranged son, while in ‘Dharala Prabhu’ (2020), he endeared himself to the audience as fertility expert Dr Kannadasan.

Mohan says Vivekh’s sense of humour permeated his real life. Whenever Vivekh came to meet Balachander, he recalls, he used to bring a rose. After a few visits, the director chided him for it. So, the next time he brought him an apple. “When Balachander sir chided him again, he started offering him a pen,” says Mohan.

Before his tryst with celluloid, Vivekh had donned many roles — from a harmonium player at a temple in Madurai to a telephone operator with Madurai Telephones to junior assistant in the state Secretariat in the 1980s. That was when he became a member of the Madras Humour Club, where his acting skills were noticed by film producer Kalakendra Govindharaj, who introduced him to Balachander.

“My first shot before the camera was with Vivekh for a scene in ‘Parthale Paravasam’ (2001),” says actor-director Samuthirakani, who was assisting Balachander then. “Sir said to me, if you want to learn to be an actor, act in this scene with Vivekh.”

Comedian Vadivelu, who has also acted with Vivekh, called his style acting “unique and simple”. “His dialogue delivery reached the masses as it always carried a social message,” he says.

Over the years, his comedy began to take a social turn. On screen, he began using his roles to voice concerns about a range of raging issues such as population growth, idol worship, denial of rights for better education for the less privileged and female infanticide. A voracious reader, Vivekh would sometimes scour newspapers and magazines in between shots to incorporate current civic and social issues into his dialogues.

Yoga partner and friend Vairamuthu says he was amazed by Vivekh’s knowledge on various subjects and that the two of them shared a strong bond over books and Tamil language. The industry gave Vivekh the moniker ‘Chinna Kalaivanar’, after yesteryear comedian N S Krishnan, who voiced similar concerns in the 1940s and 1950s was known as ‘Kalaivanar’.

“He helped scores of people throughout his life. He practised what he preached on screen,” says Samuthirakani. In 2010, the actor turned to activism and launched the ‘Green Kalam’ initiative, planting more than 30 lakh saplings. In 2018, he was part of TN government’s noplastic drive urging people to go green. The following year, when Chennai was reeling under a water crisis, he campaigned for rainwater harvesting. Two days before his cardiac arrest, Vivekh urged people to stay safe and get vaccinated.

“Death has no comic sense, that is the reason it took him away from us,” says Vairamuthu. “Now the trees he planted will shed tears for him.”

As hospitalizations go up so does Covid waste

As hospitalizations go up so does Covid waste

U..Tejonmayam@timesgroup.com

Chennai:18.04.2021

Biomedical waste treatment facilities in the city could soon be handling double the quantity handled in the pre-Covid period.

Government Kilpauk Medical College and Hospital dean Dr P Vasanthamani said from an average 250kg a month in pre-Covid times, the hospital disposed 3,500kg to 4,000kg waste every month between July and October 2020. Of the 450 Covid beds, 320 are now occupied. “From 905kg in February 2021, it rose to 1,617kg last month. But we streamlined the collection and disposal during last year’s peak. We have built a shed to segregate and keep Covid waste separate,” she said. Initially, between May and July 2020, the hospital generated nearly 26,000kg waste as leftover food and packaging material from the bedside were also treated as biomedical waste. “Then, food waste was disposed as general waste after guidelines were revised.”

Around 112 private hospitals in Chennai, of the 387 in the state, are treating Covid patients. More than 55 city hospitals have less than five beds vacant or are full.

In August 2020, Tamil Nadu PollutionControlBoardofficials say10 of the 12 common biomedical waste treatment facilities (CBMWTFs) incinerated an average 27 tonnes a day of Covid waste. Last month, the quantity dropped to five tonnes a day, but the daily average from April 1 to 12 was seven tonnes. The 12 CBMWTFs have the capacity to handle 55.167 tonnes a day An official from Tamil Nadu Waste Management Ltd, one of the two companies handling Covid waste from hospitals in Chennai, Kancheepuram and Tiruvallur, said biomedical waste collected from around 1,000 hospitals rose from 3,000kg a day to 5,000kg a day during the first wave in 2020 and the firm struggled as drivers and pickers refused to work. “We are expecting the load to go up in the coming days. But unlike last year, we have manpower, all safety gear and sanitized vehicles,” he said.

Harish Manian, CEO of MGM Healthcare, said they brought down the weight of the Covid waste by allowing staff in low risk zones like visitor screening areas to wear lightweight safety gear compared to high risk zones like ICUs. From an average 200kg of just Covid waste a day, the total waste now is around 300kg.

TNPCB chairman A V Venkatachalam said the waste increased manifold last year. “But we diligently reviewed the situationandfoundinstalled capacity of our CBMWTFs is phenomenally high. That’s why we did not face any hardship in the management of biomedical waste.”

22 of Tamil Nadu’s 39 Covid deaths reported in city

22 of Tamil Nadu’s 39 Covid deaths reported in city

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Tamil Nadu scaled a new peak in terms of active cases with 65,635 people under treatment for the viral infection as on Saturday. The state added 9,344 new infections while 5,263 people were discharged.

Of the 39 deaths reported on Saturday, 22 were from Chennai, which also recorded 2,884 fresh infections.

Chennai has 23,625 active cases and has so far reported 4,386 deaths. At least 23 districts reported fresh cases in three digits. Of these, 11 had more than 200 new cases. After Chennai, the highest number of fresh cases and deaths were from Chengalpet (807 cases and three deaths). Active cases in the district have spiked to 6,263. Together with Tiruvallur (389) and Kancheepuram  (248), there were 4,328 new cases in the Chennai region.

The region accounted for more than 50% of Tamil Nadu’s active cases. Testing in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Chengalpet and Kancheepuram districts has also increased over the last one week. Chennai corporation commissioner G Prakash said the city, which is testing 20,000 people a day at present, plans to scale up testing to 25,000. “We are doing this across the state. Health workers have been asked to track down at least 30 close contacts of people who test positive. When we test more people, we will be able to identify cases and isolate them early,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.

As the state inches close to 1 lakh tests a day, the health department is pushing districts to increase the number to 1.25 lakh a day, the health secretary said. Meanwhile, public health officials say isolating people early and initiating treatment will help keep fatality rate below 1.5%.

In the west, the highest number of new cases were reported from Coimbatore (652), while in the central region, it was Trichy (323) and in the south, Tuticorin (261). The western districts together reported 1,820 cases and three deaths, while the 10 southern districts added 1,880 cases and four deaths. The central region reported 817 cases and four deaths.

HC suspends jail term, Lalu to walk free

HC suspends jail term, Lalu to walk free

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ranchi/Patna:  18.04.2021

RJD president Lalu Prasad is set to walk out of jail after the Jharkhand high court suspended the remaining duration of his prison sentence in the Dumka treasury fodder scam case, RC 38A/96, on Saturday. Lalu, at present undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi under custody, is likely to be released next week. Lalu’s counsel Kapil Sibal on Saturday told the court that the RJD chief had completed more than half of his term in the Dumka treasury case and was entitled to be released.

Concerned about dad Lalu’s health: Tejashwi

Lalu’s family and party supporters were elated. While Lalu’s wife, former CM Rabri Devi, and their eldest daughter, Rajya Sabha member Misa Bharti, arrived at AIIMS Delhi, his sons and other daughters expressed happiness on social media.

Lalu’s younger son, leader of the opposition Tejashwi Prasad Yadav, thanked the high court. “But we are more concerned about his health now,” he said. Tejashwi said a decision on Lalu’s coming to Patna would depend on the advice of doctors attending to him at AIIMS Delhi. “He is suffering from different ailments, including of the kidney and heart. We don’t want to take any chances,” he said.

Lalu’s elder son, Tej Pratap Yadav, tweeted, “The messiah of the poor and downtrodden is now back. Tell those who have been doing injustice to them that our leader is coming back.”

One of Lalu’s daughters, Rohini Acharya, said she had got his “Eidi (Eid blessings)”, for which she has been observing Ramzan. Rohini also said she was observing “Chaitra Navaratra” rituals for his father’s release.

RJD workers and supporters celebrated the news by bursting firecrackers and distributing sweets. Though the party appealed to its supporters not to celebrate the occasion in a big way, and to follow Covid-19 guidelines, a few supporters went to Rabri Devi’s 10, Circular Road residence in Patna to celebrate.

Earlier, RJD national vice-president Shivanand Tiwari said, “The whole of Bihar welcomes his (Lalu’s) bail. It has been a long wait for him, his family members and party workers.”

Former CM Jitan Ram Manjhi’s HAM(S), part of the ruling NDA in the state, also welcomed news of Lalu’s bail. HAM(S) spokesperson Danish Rizwan said, “Our leader Jitan Ram Manjhi always expressed his concern about Lalu-ji’s ill health. We hope now Lalu-ji will be able to take care of himself in a better way. We are pleased with his bail.”

CELEBRATIONS GALORE: RJD supporters outside party office in Patna on Saturday

Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

Velachery repoll: Just 186 of 548 votes cast

34 Less Than What Was Recorded On April 6

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Repolling at booth 92 in Velachery constituency concluded in a smooth manner on Saturday. Only 186 of the total 548 votes were polled, accounting for a 34% turnout.

The votes cast were 34 less than the 220 recorded on election day (April 6).

The Election Commission of India (ECI) had ordered repolling at the booth after Greater Chennai Corporation staff were caught carrying two EVMs and a VVPAT machine on a twowheeler after polling hours on April 6. The authorities claimed they were unused machines. A day later, the civic body suspended three staff members including an assistant engineer in connection with the incident. However, since the method adopted for transportation was against standard protocol, a repoll was ordered.

By noon on Saturday, around 90 votes were polled at the all-male booth at Seetharaman Nagar in Velachery. The area was fortified with heavy police presence and voters were not allowed to take their vehicles near the polling booth.

“The number of polling officials and police personnel on duty for the repoll easily outnumbered the number of voters who turned up,” said a corporation official.

Earlier in the day, corporation commissioner, G Prakash, who is also the district election officer, inspected the arrangements at the polling booth.

The last vote was polled around 5 pm and until the end of polling hours, no voter turned up. After the conclusion of polling, the EVM machines were loaded onto a van in the presence of booth agents and then sent to the strong room. The entire process was videographed.

On April 6, when the state went to polls, commotion prevailed at Velachery after polling hours because of the incident and workers of the Congress and DMK thronged the Velachery police station seeking action against the corporation staff, who were initially assumed to be AIADMK workers.

A food delivery agent who noticed the machines being transported on two bikes confronted the riders, after one of the machines fell down on Taramani Main Road in Velachery and the issue soon escalated. Some party cadres also treated the staff to mob justice before police intervened.

UNDER STRICT WATCH: Repolling underway at DAV Public School, Velachery on Saturday

Rly commuters found without masks to pay ₹500 penalty

Rly commuters found without masks to pay ₹500 penalty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

For the next six months, Southern Railway will impose a fine of up to ₹500 on passengers who are mask-less in stations and trains.

The decision to impose fines came after the railways received many complaints. Southern Railway has also carried out awareness programmes at railway stations to encourage passengers to wear masks.

The board has authorised all Zonal Railway to impose fine up to ₹500 under Indian Railways (Penalties for activities affecting cleanliness at Railway premises) Rules, 2012, on those not wearing face mask. Officials authorised to collect these fines include the station master or manager, an officer above the rank of ticket collector of the commercial department or an officer of an equivalent rank of the operating department, RPF officials and any other official who may be subsequently authorised by the Railway administration.

Salem meat & fish shops to remain shut on Sundays

Salem meat & fish shops to remain shut on Sundays

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.04.2021

Salem municipal corporation commissioner N Ravichandran ordered closure of meat and fish shops on Sundays with immediate effect and until further orders. “We took the decision as part of the Covid-19 transmission and protective measures,” Ravichandran said.

The commissioner said there were more than 500 meat and fish shops functioning within city limits. These shops are open every day and attract large crowds. “People failed to maintain social distance while buying the meat or fish,” Ravichandran said, adding that many were found not wearing face masks too. “We have directed shopowners to ensure that customers maintain a distance of at least two metres from others and asked them not to service people not maintaining social distance or not wearing masks,” he said.

E-pass must, but who’s checking?

E-pass must, but who’s checking?

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Officials quickly put in restrictions to curb the rapid spread of Covid-19, but on the ground level, rules are not properly enforced.

Though passengers arriving from other states are asked to quarantine, there is no mechanism to ensure that they stay indoors. No followup calls are made.

While government staff carry out temperature checks at the airport and at the major railway stations, they don’t check for e-passes. “No one asked for the e-pass. I did not get any calls from local authorities about quarantine. There is no point in making people go through the exercise of applying for an e-pass if it is not going to be checked,” said Lakshmi Subramanian, who arrived from Mumbai on Friday. An airline official said there is no instruction to check the e-pass of arriving passengers.

M K Ajit Kumar, who arrived from Calicut, said there was no temperature nor e-pass check at the railway station.

A railway official said e- pass check is done by the state government. “We check the temperature of all passengers who enter the stations. The government has posted staff to check the temperature of passengers at exit gates,” he added. However, the temperature check at exit gates is erratic.

Though the number of air travellers has fallen, the airport still handles more than 12,000 arrivals daily, while Chennai Central and Egmore see around 40,000 people a day.

MISCOMMUNICATION? All arrivals are asked to quarantine for up to 14 days, but there is no mechanism to ensure they do

Vivekh, 59, popular actor and green ambassador, dies in city

Vivekh, 59, popular actor and green ambassador, dies in city

Cardiac Arrest Not Related To Vaccine: Docs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:18.04.2021

Celebrated Tamil actor Vivekh known for his sharp wit and social work passed away at SIMS Hospital in the city early on Saturday. The 59-year-old actor was admited to the hospital on Friday after suffering a massive cardiac arrest.

Scores of fans bid him a tearful farewell as his body was cremated with state police’s 24-gun salute. The Tamil Nadu government said the ‘police honour’ was in recognition of his contribution to the film world and his social service. The actor is survived by his wife and two daughters. Vivekh’s teenage son had died years ago.

The Padma Shri awardee has acted in more than 200 movies along with most of the leading Kollywood stars, including Rajinikanth. He has won state awards as best comedian for movies such as “Run,”, “Anniyan” and “Sivaji”. The actor has been a life-long campaigner for planting trees through ‘green Kalam movement’ and has been the state’s ambassador for popularizing public health messages, including prevention of dengue.PM and scores of other dignitaries condoled his demise.

On Friday, he was taken to the emergency room in an unconscious state around 11am by his wife and daughter after he complained of discomfort. He underwent an angioplasty and stenting procedure and was put on ECMO support in the intensive care unit. “He passed away at 4.35am on Saturday,” said hospital vice-president Dr Raju Sivasamy. The actor had taken Covaxin at Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital on Thursday.

FINAL JOURNEY: Hundreds of fans took part in the funeral procession of actor Vivekh in Chennai on Saturday

Panel will probe possible link of actor’s death with vaccine

He told reporters that he had come to a government hospital with his team in order to encourage people to take the vaccine. The same day, for the first time the number of doses administered by the state crossed the two-lakh mark.

A committee for Adverse event following immunization (AEFI) comprising doctors and scientists will hold detailed investigation into the cause of death and its possible links with the vaccine.

The hospital said preliminary reports show the attack was not related to the vaccination, but acute coronary syndrome with a cardiogenic shock. This was the first time that the actor had come to hospital with an attack like this, Dr Sivasamy said. Vivek had a “mild elevated blood pressure.”

Hundreds of fans, actors, directors and political leaders visited his house to pay their respects. His comedy tracks were running in loop across television channels and were shared widely on social media along with condolences.

IN THE HEARTS OF PEOPLE: Fans of actor Vivekh queued up in front of his house to pay their respect. Some carried saplings as he was known to be nature lover and eco warrior

›END OF LAUGHTER, P 4

After 11 fresh cases, JNU advises students to leave campus

After 11 fresh cases, JNU advises students to leave campus

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi  17.04.2021 

 Jawaharlal Nehru University has again issued an advisory to its students asking them to leave for their native places in order to avoid the campus turning into a super spreader. This comes after the university got 11 positive cases on Friday.

JNU registrar Anirban Chakraborti issued the notice, stating that JNU has had 322 cases in campus, with 64 patients at present. Five people have also passed away due to Covid.

In the advisory, the registrar stated that “the predicament of students and research scholars to pursue and complete the academic assignments is understandable. However, the library, hostel mess and eateries in the campus may become super spreaders. Health should be the top priority for all of us, particularly in the face of highly infectious virus with evolving mutants. There is no place better than home for getting a safe environment and, if required, for care for the unfortunate potential victims of the pandemic.”

On Thursday, JNU had announced a vaccination drive in the campus for four days for faculty and other staff members.

Following Delhi government guidelines, the varsity had on April 6 imposed a night curfew where all dhabas and canteens were asked to shut by 9pm.

For Next Two Days, Home Is Your World

For Next Two Days, Home Is Your World

Weekend Curfew Kicks In

Sidhartha.Roy@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:17.04.2021

The weekend curfew aimed at breaking the Covid-19 infection chain means that unless you have a valid emergency or you fall in an exempted category, you can’t step out of your house till 5am on Monday.

The weekend curfew came into effect at 10pm on Friday after the city recorded its highest ever daily tally of new Covid at 19,486 and a toll of 141. Only those who are exempted from the restrictions, such as Central and Delhi government personnel, police, fire and emergency services personnel, healthcare personnel, and those engaged in electricity, water, sanitation services, etc, will be allowed on the streets on production of valid identification cards.

Fifty people will be allowed to move for weddings and 20 for funerals. Travellers going to or coming from airports, railway stations and inter-state bus terminals will be permitted to move on producing valid tickets. Pregnant women and patients will also be allowed to travel for accessing health services. Those who are engaged in other essential services such as food and grocery shops, chemists, petrol pumps, cold storage, etc. but don’t have government identity cards can apply for epasses at www.delhi.gov.in.

Delhi government clarified on Friday that those who already held a night curfew epass needn’t re-apply for a new pass, the old one being automatically considered valid during the weekend curfew. Epasses are also being issued to those going for vaccination during the weekend or attending wedding ceremonies.

Candidates sitting for any examination during the weekend can show their admit cards to be allowed to travel. Examination staff will similarly be permitted on the streets if they produce valid ID cards.

While public transport will be available for people with valid IDs or epasses, personal vehicles can expect to be stopped at pickets at regular intervals and IDs and documents scrutinised. Those found violating the curfew order will have cases registered against them and possibly face arrest too.

Shops dealing in non-essential goods will remain shut. Movement of domestic workers is prohibited too. Home delivery only of essential items will be permitted.

Apart from Delhi Police, the district authorities will oversee the strict compliance of the curfew order. A team of the New Delhi district carried a unique drive at Connaught Place on Friday with two volunteers dressing up as Yamaraj and Chitragupta and both urging people to follow Covidappropriate behaviour and stay home over the weekend.

50  PEOPLE CAN ATTEND WEDDINGS, 20 LIMIT FOR FUNERALS

Demand to postpone exams gets louder

Demand to postpone exams gets louder

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:17.04.2021 

With chief minister BS Yediyurappa testing positive, college students took to social media with even more vigour seeking postponement of exams.

“When our state CM is not safe, how can a common student be safe. Plz think about us,” tweeted Varun, who sought postponement of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) exams. Nikhil R Nair, another student, posted: “Hope you recover soon sir. Please at least now understand how serious the matter is and postpone the exams sir. We are also human and can get the infection.”

Neha said: “Listen u were vaccinated still you got Corona now think about students who are having exams and we are not vaccinated.”

While Bangalore University postponed UG, PG and engineering exams, VTU, the umbrella body for engineering courses, has insisted that exams will go ahead as scheduled — from April 19. Bengaluru City University too postponed exams scheduled for April 17.

Karisidappa, VC, VTU, said: “Students were told about exams a month ago. All SOPs will be strictly adhered to and all arrangements have been made. The exams will be held on schedule.”

Meanwhile, some teachers of Kendriya Vidyalayas are seeking a complete shift to online mode. However, KV officials said they are merely following state government orders and are giving students the option of online and on-campus classes.

PRESSURE ON SMALL FRY: Police stepped up vigilance in Bengaluru, fining motorists for not wearing masks on Friday