Sailing from Chennai to Russia in just 24 hours

TIME IS MONEY

Sailing from Chennai to Russia in just 24 hours

New Sea Link To Vladivostok To Help Avoid Middle East

V Ayyappan & P Oppili | TNN

20.04.2021

If everything goes as per plan, giant oil tanker ships carrying crude oil or LNG may sail into Chennai from Vladivostok in Russia in a year.

Two years after it was first mooted, Chennai Port Trust will start the process to identify a consultant this week to study feasibility of a Chennai-Vladivostok sea link via the Straits of Malacca and South China Sea, covering ports in Malaysia, Philippines and South Korea.

A tender was floated in March and the technical bids will be opened on Friday. The commercial bids or final bids are expected to be opened on April 22.

The consultant will study the route, its revenue potential, the goods that can be transported and other details in around four to five months after the contract has been awarded.

The Eastern maritime corridor is shorter and ships will be able to sail to the destination in Russia in 24hours as against the longer route via Suez Canal and Europe.

The main aim of the route is to import crude oil and LNG as part of the efforts to explore import options from countries other than those in the Middle East, said an official.

ONGC Videsh has already started production in an offshore field off Sakhalin Islands in Russia. There is also scope for bringing coal, timber, machinery, agriculture produce, vehicles, tin, gold, diamond and other materials from Russia.

Sources in the Chennai Port Trust said there are some cargo movements from Chennai to Vladivostok at present. This cargo passes through Visakhapatnam, Kolkata, Myanmar, Malaysia and reaches Suez Canal from there to the east coast of Russia. This also means that the cargo needs to be clubbed with those headed to other ports. So far there is no direct connectivity between Chennai port and the Russian ports. Hence it was proposed to take up the study to explore the possibility of improving the trade between the two nations.

“We feel that if a study on this route is done, it will help in understanding the potential that it will provide to those in the trade. The study will also help in learning about the types of cargo that can be transported from Chennai to Vladivostok,” said a senior official. The route is being prepared after Prime Minister Narendra Modi signed an agreement at Vladivostok in 2019.

The proposed eastern maritime corridor will link ports of Chennai, Visakhapatnam and Kolkata with those of ports in Vladivostok, Vostochny and Olga in the east coast of Russia.

City hospital performs rare surgery

City hospital performs rare surgery

Chennai:20.04.2021

Doctors at Rela Hospital have performed a liver transplantation without blood transfusion on a 3-year-old Ukrainian girl.

Milana was referred to the hospital with a critical medical condition. Since her family belongs to Jehovah’s Witness (followers of a Christian faith that prohibits use of blood or blood products during treatment) her parents asked for performing the surgery without blood transfusion, an official release said.

Hospital chairman professor Mohamed Rela said with liver failure blood does not clot and meticulous care was taken during surgery to reduce blood loss.

Rlys, airlines crack down on mask violation

Rlys, airlines crack down on mask violation

Chennai:20.04.2021

Airlines and railways have started to penalise passengers for not wearing masks.

While Southern Railway collected ₹500 fine from 290 passengers each at major railway stations in the city in the last two days, a 44-year-old man was booked for refusing to wear a mask inside a flight that landed at Chennai from Kannur on Monday. Police said airline staff advised the passenger to wear masks by explaining the risks when they spotted him boarding without a mask at Kannur. However, he refused to pay heed. After the airline staff alerted the control room, police detained him when the flight touched down in Chennai at 11.30am. He was booked under the Pandemic Act and also for threatening the airline crew. TNN

City’s 18% positivity rate worries experts, doctors

City’s 18% positivity rate worries experts, doctors

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.04.2021

The city’s Covid-19 positivity rate of 18% is almost double the state’s 9.7% and the number of its total active cases has crossed 24,000 recorded on July 5, 2020. As on April 18, the city had 25,011 active cases.

City-based Covid data analyst Vijayanand said the doubling period for Chennai stood at eight days. If the present trend continues, there will be 50,000 cases in a week. “For entire TN, the doubling time is nine days and the cases, at this rate, will touch one lakh in the next six days.”

At present, Greater Chennai Corporation has more than 1,500 people in Covid care centres and even if 80% are in home isolation, the numbers in the coming weeks will be ery high and hospitals will be overwhelmed, said experts.

Infectious diseases expert Dr S Subramaniam said the problem is that the state has not upgraded the process, and the protocol used in March 2020 is being followed now. “We need to make quick decisions. Earlier only a few, mostly elderly, were symptomatic. Now, after one person in a family tests positive, almost all his/her contacts are testing positive, most of them youngsters and symptomatic. We cannot give them home isolation as it is risky,” he said.

With the current surge in cases, the trend of oxygen bed occupancy must be monitored, said Dr P Ganesh Kumar, assistant director at National Institute of Epidemiology. Data on proportion of active cases under oxygen support will help project the number of oxygen beds which would be filled with current increase in cases.

Corporation officials said that in the current surge more youngsters are getting affected. “For every positive case, a minimum of six contacts are being traced. The problem is all of them are testing positive. Last year, only symptomatic were tested and most of them tested negative. The entire trend has changed,” said an official.

The civic body has 12,600 beds in Covid care centres and is prepared to scale up the number to 20,000. “But we are aware this won’t be enough,” he said.

Dr Subramanian said bed shortage was far worse than last year because of the number of youngsters requiring hospitalization. “I have two pregnant mothers in ICU now. We have no new protocols on treatment as we are still following the older one.”

TN scrambles to add oxygen beds

TN scrambles to add oxygen beds

Data On Beds Not In Public Domain

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:20.04.2021

Government medical college hospitals in Chennai on Monday struggled to increase oxygen beds amid a dearth of resources including doctors, postgraduates and nurses. The public too were hassled as information on bed availability in government hospitals wasn’t available in the public domain.

The state Covid webpage showedthatof the116government-enlisted private hospitals for Covid care, 91 updated their status until Monday. Of these, 28 reported an occupancy of 100% or more, while 31 had more than 70% occupancy. On an average, 70% of oxygen beds across all private hospitals were occupied. No such information was available for government hospitals. Director of medical education Dr R Narayanababu said no patient was turned away. “But since many are asking for information about government hospitals, we are working towards putting it up on the portal.”

Information from the covid control room at the Directorate of Medical Education showed that by 3pm, nearly 72% of beds in five government hospitals were occupied. The occupancy was at 36% in health centres and 12% at Covid Care Centres.

Most patients in the four medical college hospitals and Government Covid hospital in Guindy have moderate or serious illness requiring oxygen. At the Guindy hospital, 250 of the 550 beds are oxygen beds. The government plans to add another 150 beds here.

On Monday, staff at the 3,628-bed Rajiv Gandhi Government General Gospital were dragging oxygen pipelines to more than 150 beds. “We had set aside1,618 beds as isolation beds for Covid treatment. Of this, a little more than 850 are oxygen beds, and they are all taken. We are adding oxygen pipelines to more beds,” said dean Dr E Theranirajan.

Converting a bed into oxygen bed is more than just civil work. “We have adequate oxygen capacity to convert almost all beds to oxygen beds. But it’s not just about dragging the gas pipe,” said a senior Stanley Medical College and Hospital (SMCH) professor. “We have to match it with human resources.” Of the 1,200 designated for Covid care at SMCH, 750 are oxygen beds.

“Nearly a third of all our postgraduate students are not working because they have exams. Last year, several doctors, nurses and paramedical staff were posted or deputed to city hospitals. We don’t have them this year,” he said.

Of the 380 nurses at SMCH, 10-15 are posted to manage wards where there are senior or vulnerable patients with moderate/severe illness. Health officials said facilities will be ramped up.

Manmohan & T’gana CM KCR test +ve

Manmohan & T’gana CM KCR test +ve

DurgeshNandan Jha & Koride Mahesh TNN

20.04.2021

Former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh was admitted to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi on Monday after testing positive for Covid-19. The 88-year-old has taken both doses of Covid vaccine. Meanwhile, a public meeting that Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao held in Halia for the Nagarjuna Sagar assembly bypoll has led to the town becoming a Covid hotspot with nearly 60 people, including KCR, from the one lakh gathering testing positive.

Former PM Manmohan Singh (L) & Telangana CM K Chandrasekhar Rao

‘Manmohan’s condition is stable, showing mild symptoms’

TRS candidate, Nomula Bhagat and family members of politicians who attended the meeting too tested positive.

Senior officials said KCR has mild symptoms at present and is being treated at his farmhouse in Erravelli. The public meeting was held on April 14. Voting for the bypoll was held on April 17 and the result is on May 2.

KCR, who was suffering from mild fever, body ache and other symptoms since Sunday tested positive for Covid-19 in a rapid antigen test. Later, an RTPCR test result too was positive.

Telangana chief secretary Somesh Kumar told TOI that a special team of doctors has been deputed to monitor KCR’s health. The staff and people who moved with him closely have also been asked to get themselves tested and go for home isolation for a few days.

Former PM Singh has mild symptoms of the disease, including fever and has been admitted to the AIIMS Trauma Centre, which is a dedicated Covid facility, hospital sources said, adding that his condition is stable. The decision to hospitalise the former PM was taken considering his age and history of illness. Singh is known to be diabetic and a heart patient. He has undergone two bypass surgeries. In 1990, he underwent a bypass surgery in the UK, followed by an angioplasty in 2004 in Delhi. In 2009, he again underwent bypass surgery at AIIMS to open-up blocked arteries.

Worried migrant workers in a hurry to get back home

Worried migrant workers in a hurry to get back home

Crowds Throng Chennai Central After TN Announces Further Restrictions

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

Chennai:20.04.2021

Hoping to return to their hometown in Rajasthan before things go out of control, Ram Prasad along with eight of his family members reached MGR Central railway station on Monday morning to catch a train. Prasad’s family reached Chennai by bus from Dindigul where he was a daily wage labourer in a plywood-making unit. However, he was worried to see anxious guest workers like him slowly and steadily congregating at the railway station.

Fearful of a repeat of the exodus last year, guest workers are crowding railway stations and making inquiries on trains to their destinations. On Sunday, the Tamil Nadu government had put in place restrictions after Covid-19 cases breached the 10,000 mark for the first time. The restrictions have caused panic among hundreds of guest workers. “We have been adhering to the SOPs that are in place since last summer. We have advised employers to take care of the workforce,” said a senior IAS officer in the department of labour.

LONG WAIT: Migrant workers at MGR Central on Monday

Pondy imposes 10pm-5am night curfew

Puducherry has decided to impose night curfew between 10pm and 5am from April 20 to contain the spread of Covid-19. Hotels have been asked to close by 8pm and allow only parcel service later. The Beach Road will be closed by 5pm.

To avoid harrowing scenes like last yr, many spend days at stns

Chennai: “I want to see my family reach home (native village) before things turn unpleasant,” said Prasad, who was worried about getting train tickets on time and a safe journey amid the Covid-19 surge.

A group of youth from Odisha recalled their experience last summer and said they were “chased like dogs and treated badly” when they tried to escape the lockdown. “We don’t want that to happen this time,” said Vidhuth in not-so-fluent Tamil. They sell carpets for a living in Chennai.

A few yards away, Shivraj and his extended family took refuge beneath a tree. It has literally turned their home for the past three days. “We are trying to book tatkal tickets for 10 family members, barring five of our children. Only four tickets were confirmed. Without a confirmed ticket, no one is let into the station. I don’t know what to do,” said Shivaraj of Bihar’s Bhagalpur district. He along with his brother and father were selling terracotta dolls in and around Tambaram. Though the situation was grim in their state, he said they had “no other choice”.

Gopal, a porter, said they had been seeing an unusual crowd in the past three days. “We can see hundreds of youngsters and women with children sitting with their belongings, packed and waiting restlessly to get tickets to their destination,” said the young porter pointing to the long queue at the tatkal counter, while a Southern Railway official said trains bound to north and northeastern states were going packed.

A small section of guest workers from MSMEs in Coimbatore and garment sectors in Tirupur have begun leaving TN too. The departure began a week ago and over the past two days, there has been a marginal increase in those leaving Coimbatore. However, the vast majority of guest workers in both cities have decided to wait and watch as they had returned only three months ago after almost six months in their hometowns.

As of now, there has been no sign of reverse migration from the central part of TN, particularly Karur, Trichy and Pudukottai districts that have a significant number of guest workers. A similar situation prevailed in Madurai and other southern districts.

(With inputs from V Mayilvaganan, M K Ananth and K Sambath Kumar)

LONGING TO GET AWAY: Migrant workers camp at Chennai Central railway station on Sunday waiting for tickets to get home

Hospitals reel as shortage of trained nurses hits hard

Hospitals reel as shortage of trained nurses hits hard

Many Leave For Better Salaries Elsewhere

Ardhra.Nair@timesgroup.com

Pune:19.04.2021 

Hospitals in the city are facing an acute shortage of nursing staff after many took up offers in their native states and abroad for lucrative pay packages.

Workload in the Covid-19 pandemic has increased and hospitals have upped their bed capacity to accommodate more patients, stretching the nursing staff to the limits.

Many hospitals said earlier one nurse managed 5-6 patients, but now it is 15 patients. Similarly, if the ratio for ICU beds was one nurse per bed, it is now three beds per staff.

Abrarali Dalal, chief operating officer in Sahyadri Hospitals, said their units were full just like the last year’s. “There is a global shortage of nursing staff. Indian nurses are getting lucrative offers, especially from the Gulf countries. Fresh graduates are not available as colleges have not held exams or have delayed the results during the pandemic. There is a shortage of senior nursing staff to cope with the sudden increase in patients. Nurses are now working almost beyond their capacities,” he added.

Noble Hospital said they need over 400 nurses but have  235. Most are from other states and have gone back home or abroad, some switched to the jumbo facilities while 30 went into government health services.

“Some nurses stopped coming after the March salary. We have complained to the police station that 25 nurses have left without any intimation and don’t take our calls. The government is asking us to increase the beds, but where is the manpower? We have told senior doctors and consultants to do ward duty which is not their job profile. Attrition in nurses affects us the most because about 70% of the work when a patient is admitted in the hospital is done by hem,” executive director H K Sale said.

Lokmanya Hospital, Chinchwad has doubled the salaries during the pandemic but it is still hard to retain them.

“If earlier we had one nurse per patient on a ventilator, now we are forced to have one nurse for 2-3 patients on a ventilator. Since there is more probability of healthcare workers contracting the virus, they are leaving for their native places because they feel that even if they test positive, they should be near their loved ones rather than staying in isolation in an unknown place,” COO Shrikrishna Joshi said.

They have increased operational beds for Covid patients to 150, but the nursing staff strength has not gone up. Earlier a nurse would care for six patients, now it is 15.

Arrear pending since ’90? Anna University lets you clear it

Arrear pending since ’90? Anna University lets you clear it

Anna University has announced a special chance for students admitted since 1990 to clear their pending arrear exams.

Published: 18th April 2021 04:18 AM 

By Sushmitha Ramakrishnan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Anna University has announced a special chance for students admitted since 1990 to clear their pending arrear exams. They will get three chances in August/September 2021, February 2022, and August 2022. The university, in a statement on Friday, advised students to utilise these chances “with utmost care and diligence” since it will be the final opportunity. It said two categories of students will be permitted for these special exams.

“Students of university department of Anna University, Chennai, admitted in the academic year 1990 onwards — both UG and PG under full-time and parttime mode,” is one category. The consideration will also be extended to students of affiliated colleges of Anna University and students admitted to colleges affiliated at the time of admission.

However, the chance will only be provided to students who were admitted since 2002 and those who were pursuing their third semester at least, in 2001. The eligibility criteria includes: “Students of affiliated colleges of Anna University and students admitted in the affiliated colleges at the time of admission i.e. during academic year 2001 (3rd semester onwards) and currently in autonomous ones including distance education offered by Anna University.”

Have an uncleared arrear from 1990? Anna Univ gives a chance

Speaking to Express, M Venkatesan, the controller of examinations of the varsity, said the decision was finalised in the 260th syndicate meeting held on February 16. The varsity had previously given two chances to clear arrears, for students admitted in the university department since 2000. While the first chance was given in November 2019, the second was completed only in April 2021 due to the lockdown and other restrictions.

“Students could not fully avail this because of the lockdown. However, we have extended the consideration all the way back to 1990 for the benefit of students this time,” said a senior official from the varsity. Other details about the special exams will be updated subsequently on Anna University’s web portal, the statement said. A decision on the initiative was taken during the meeting the vice-chancellors held on July 29, 2020 under the chairpersonship of principal secretary, Higher Education Department.

Professors in Tamil Nadu forced to canvass students for college admissions

Professors in Tamil Nadu forced to canvass students for college admissions

Come admissions season, private colleges turn professors into marketing executives to rope in new students every year, letting education take a backseat.

Published: 19th April 2021 03:53 AM 

By Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Come admissions season, private colleges turn professors into marketing executives to rope in new students every year, letting education take a backseat. From sourcing students’ database illegally from government schools to making cold calls to students, the faculty members allege they are being exploited by managements.

M Kaviyarasan, an assistant professor at a private college on the outskirts of the city, alleged that the staff members were forced to collect class 12 student databases, including their contact numbers, by visiting schools daily. “During the visits, headmasters do not treat us with respect and often do not part with the details.” To overcome these hurdles, a few colleges have been bribing headmasters with cash and furniture to get the students’ details, Kaviyarasan added.

“This poses a big challenge to us every year. Although the government clearly says colleges should not involve professors in other work, they continue to do so,” he rued. Besides fieldwork, professors make cold calls as well. A female professor at a college in the city said that she was made to work as a telemarketer to explain course details, fees, facilities, etc. to over 150 students daily. “Meanwhile, every male professor has been assigned a target of ensuring at least five admissions in a field visit.”

Salaries of a few professors also hinge on their ability to secure admissions. Another faculty member at a private arts and science college said that he would receive his pre-Covid salary of `19,000 only if he achieves his target of three admissions.

A Head of Department at a private college said that admissions were on top of the priority list of his management. “Admission comes first, college work is second, and teaching comes last” he claimed.

Speaking to TNIE, Regional Joint Director of Collegiate Education Kalaiselvi said that a circular would be issued to private colleges on Monday directing them to not use professors for canvassing students.

ICUs scarce in Kovai

Coimbatore: Beds in ICUs are fast-filling up in the city, an alarming fact which indicates that patients are delaying seeking medical help. Over 50 per cent of ICU beds (50 to 60 beds) in CMCH were occupied. On the other hand, all 14 beds in the ICU at ESI Hospital were occupied. Dean of CMCH A Nirmala said most of the patients reported low oxygen saturation level, and difficulty in breathing.

மத்திய அரசு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு வீட்டில் இருந்தே வேலை

மத்திய அரசு அதிகாரிகளுக்கு வீட்டில் இருந்தே வேலை

Added : ஏப் 19, 2021 04:04

புதுடில்லி: மத்திய அரசின் பல்வேறு அமைச்சகங்கள் மற்றும் துறைகளில், பெரும்பாலான அதிகாரிகளை, வீட்டில் இருந்து வேலை பார்க்கும்படி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவல் இரண்டாவது அலை மிக தீவிரமாக உள்ளது. நாட்டின் பல்வேறு மாநிலங்களிலும், குறிப்பாக டில்லியில் வைரஸ் பாதிப்பு அதிகமாக உள்ளது.இந்நிலையில், பல்வேறு மத்திய அரசின் அமைச்சகங்கள் மற்றும் துறைகளில், வாய்ப்புள்ள அதிகாரிகளை, வீட்டில் இருந்து வேலை பார்க்கும்படி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

அனைத்து துறைகளுக்கும் இது தொடர்பான உத்தரவு எதையும், பணியாளர் நலத் துறை பிறப்பிக்கவில்லை. இருப்பினும், சூழ்நிலையை பொறுத்து, அந்தந்த அமைச்சகங்கள் மற்றும் துறைகள் இந்த முடிவை எடுத்துள்ளதாக தெரிகிறது.சார்பு செயலர் மற்றும் அதற்கு கீழ் நிலையில் உள்ள ஊழியர்கள் மட்டும், வீடுகளில் இருந்து பணியாற்றும்படி கூறப்பட்டுள்ளதாக தெரிகிறது.இந்நிலையில், 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட அனைத்து ஊழியர்களும், கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி போட்டுக் கொள்ளும்படி, அனைத்து துறைகளுக்கும், சமீபத்தில் சுற்றறிக்கை அனுப்பப்பட்டுள்ளது.

4 airlines face FIR for ‘flouting norms’ on Maha-Delhi route

4 airlines face FIR for ‘flouting norms’ on Maha-Delhi route

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

19.04.2021

The Delhi government on Sunday asked the Delhi police to lodge an FIR against four airlines — Indi-Go, Vistara, SpiceJet and AirAsia India — for flouting the rule of flying in people from Maharastra to the capital with negative RT-PCR report. Airlines, on their part, said they adhere to all norms and had not received any FIR till Sunday evening.

“…it has been observed that a large number of passengers fly from Maharashtra to Delhi without a valid RT-PCR report... written to SHO of IGI Airport to lodge FIRs against four flights (possibly one each by) Indigo, Spice Jet, Vistara and Air Asia… for carrying passengers from Maharashtra without valid RT-PCR tests,” the Delhi government said in a statement on Sunday. This action has been sought under the Disaster Management Act, 2005.

Delhi requires people flying in from Maharashtra to have a negative RT-PCR report from a test done within 72 hours of departure, and those coming without it must get quarantined for 14 days. States have different requirement in terms of RT-PCR reports and quarantine for those coming from other states.

An IndiGo spokesperson said the airline has not “received any FIR against it…” AirAsia India said in a statement it is in “compliance with guidelines and protocols issued by the respective regulatory bodies… we have not received any information from any authority on this matter [FIR].” Comments from Vistara and SpiceJet are awaited.

In this ever-evolving pandemic situation, airlines have had their own issues with RT-PCR test reports. In the past few months, there have been several instances of airlines globally being barred from flying to certain places for bringing in passengers with negative reports who test positive on arrival. This has happened with Indian carriers too in places like UAE and Hong Kong. Tamil Nadu had barred a UAE budget carrier for flying in passengers for some days after a person flew in with a negative report but was positive.

Since RT-PCR tests need to be undertaken 3-4 days before departure, there is a possibility of passengers getting infected sometime after giving nasal swab samples. This discrepancy pin test report and actual Covid status was found to be very high with reports from certain labs in India. After that UAE, for instance, barred airlines from flying people from India with reports from some labs here. The Emirates site says “If you are flying from India, Pakistan, Nigeria or Bangladesh, you must get your certificate from one of the labs listed in the designated laboratories document to be accepted on the flight (to Dubai).”

An airline official said: “We have given strict instructions to check-in staff to follow entry requirements of all states. If someone gives a forged test report or if someone with a negative report tests positive on arrival, what can we do? The last thing we want to do is wilfully defy rules and run foul of the law also.”

INVALID RT-PCR REPORTS?

-ve test report must for train travellers from 5 states, Delhi

-ve test report must for train travellers from 5 states, Delhi

Mumbai:19.04.2021

Maharashtra government on Sunday declared Kerala, Goa, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Delhi-NCR region and Uttarakhand as places of ‘sensitive origin’. Passengers arriving by train from these five states and union territory will have to carry a RT-PCR negative report and the Covid test must have been done within 48 hours of travel, said the state government order. It will be the joint responsibility of the railway and local disaster management authorities to ensure the curbs and protocol are followed.

On Saturday, the government had held talks with railway authorities about imposing curbs and issuing a protocol for passengers arriving in Maharashtra, especially from THE Kumbh Mela in Uttarakhand.

As per the order, passengers found to be Covid positive, or displaying symptoms or refusing to undergo screening will be moved to quarantine centres. Passengers with RT-PCR negative reports who also test negative in the rapid antigen test at the arrival station will be stamped for 15-day home quarantine. Those caught violating the home quarantine rule, except for medical emergency, will be fined Rs 1,000 and moved into institutional quarantine. TNN

MBBS grads can’t skip bond service

MBBS grads can’t skip bond service

State Warns Of Action Against Absentees

Yogita.Rao@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:19.04.2021

MBBS graduates in Maharashtra who have completed their internships before March 31 will have to go through the mandatory bond service this year. The Directorate of Health Services issued a circular to this effect on Friday. The circular for the first time also includes the list of around 2,500 eligible graduates. Even the ones keen on pursuing post-graduation will have to serve the bond till they secure a seat. The circular specifies that penal action will be taken against candidates not reporting to the allotted centre within seven days.

Additionally, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) will be deploying over 7,000 medical interns on Covid duty across the state soon, besides creating a pool of 11,000 graduating nurses available for fresh appointments in hospitals facing a shortage. “Post-graduate entrance exams have been postponed in the country. Whenever students get a seat they can opt out, but till then they will have to complete the bond service. We are in a pandemic and action will be taken against students resisting the bond service. The compulsory bond will ensure we have doctors in district hospitals and rural centres too," said Dr TP Lahane, director, DMER, to which students have to apply. Exemption will be granted only to those who pay Rs 10 lakh as bond, as is the rule.

Medical graduates have been asked to apply to DMER by April 21 in an online process. Offline applications will not be accepted, said the circular. Candidates have been asked to apply for Thane, Pune, Nashik, Kolhapur, Nagpur, Akola, Aurangabad and Latur circles only. Students who tried to apply have sought to know why Mumbai is not available as an option.

While students sign the bond every year during admissions, most do not honour it after graduating. But with the state ramping up facilities, the requirement for manpower will soon go up. DMER is, therefore, making bond service mandatory this year, especially for rural areas. “The process has moved online for the first time, but there is no clarity on several aspects,” said Dwij Mehta, an MBBS graduate. Another student said there are vacancies at jumbo Covid centres in Mumbai too. “The circular says students getting an allotment will have to report to the institute within seven days, failing which penal action will be taken. But without clarity on whether Mumbai will be allowed at a later stage, how do we apply online now?” she asked.

Lahane said students who have already started working at Covid centres will be allowed to continue. Sudha Shenoy, a parent representative said, “If PG aspirants complete a few months of bond service before their admissions, will it be carried forward later?” She added that all these doubts should be clarified in another circular soon.

Hong Kong bars flights from India till May 3

Hong Kong bars flights from India till May 3

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:19.04.2021

Hong Kong has barred passenger flights from India, Pakistan and the Philippines for 14 days from April 20 over Covid-19 fears. Passengers who have stayed in these places for more than two hours to board a transit flight to Hong Kong have also been barred for 14 days.

These three countries “will at the same time be specified as extremely high-risk (Covid) specified places… so as to restrict persons who have stayed in these places from boarding for Hong Kong,” a government statement said late on Sunday night.

Hong Kong has a “placespecific” mechanism under which if five or more passengers from a place test positive on flights from there — irrespective of airline — in a seven-day period, that place will have passenger flights barred to land in the country for 14 days.

Hong Kong and China do not have an air bubble with India.

2 members seek annulment of BCU syndicate decisions

LETTER TO GUV

2 members seek annulment of BCU syndicate decisions

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.04.2021

Two syndicate members of Bengaluru City University have written to the governor and the state government questioning three decisions recently approved by the syndicate, notwithstanding their dissent.

According to Karan Kumar and Jyothi Vijay, the syndicate approved the campus redevelopment plans of the academic block and sports complex without the authorised agency showing approved plans and estimates on paper. They pointed out that the cost estimate of a building of 45,000 sqft carpet area has been quoted at Rs 31.7 crore, a much inflated figure.

The duo demanded withdrawal of the proposed ‘Master plan of campus redevelopment for BCU’ as it lacked an approved master plan, a detailed project report (DPR) and detailed estimates. They also wanted the decision on allocation of resources for the proposed sports facilities over the academic block in the proposed phase 1 scrapped as it was skewed and not in line with the aspirations of the significant stakeholders of the university. They wanted the proposal to demolish the ‘yet-to-be-used new block’ withdrawn as it was inconsistent with the NEP 2020 goal of having a minimum of 5,000 students in a university, among other reasons.

“We voiced our dissent during the syndicate meeting but were overruled by a majority vote. But if the decisions are wrong and don’t conform to the Act, the government can annul them. We’ve written to the chancellor and the pro-chancellor, apart from the principal secretary of the higher education department, highlighting the errors. If the government does not interfere, I plan to seek legal justice,” said Kumar. The decisions were made at the special syndicate meeting on February 25 and March 20.

The members also expressed displeasure over two more tenders — e-Document Generation System and the Rs 1-crore tender on e-governance in exam — approved by the syndicate, which they fear will be a den of corruption.

BNU exams to begin today

Bengaluru North University has announced its new schedule for exams that were postponed due to the transport strike. They will be held from Monday (April 19). Details are available on website www.bnu.ac.in. This includes BA, BSc, BEd, MA, MSc, MCA, MCom, MA, MFA, MSW, MBA and MTTM programmes. Meanwhile, some students have raised concerns about the university conducting offline exams in the middle of the pandemic. “...We’re dealing with the most unresponsive and apathetic education system. We want the exams to be cancelled. It’s not plausible to gather in a hall together to write exams while the country averages 2 lakh positive cases every day,” read a tweet.

5 pvt univs get nod in K’taka; 6 in pipeline

5 pvt univs get nod in K’taka; 6 in pipeline

Sandeep.Moudgal@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:19.04.2021

Five entrants have joined the growing league of private/deemed universities in Karnataka, with the state government giving the go-ahead in a notification issued on April 16.

The five universities — St Joseph’s, New Horizon, Sri Jagadguru Murugarajendra, Vidyashilp and Atria — will now be allowed to expand their campuses and launch new courses. Murugarajendra University will be based out of Chitradurga, about 200km from here, and the other four will be in Bengaluru.

The addition of five varsities will take the state’s total of such universities to 30. A senior officer said that at least 6-7 colleges and education institutions are seeking the university status, and the tally may breach the 40 mark in the next two years. Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan, who holds the higher education portfolio, told TOI that there is an increasing need to bring more private universities.

Govt strengthening public varsities: Min

With the decision raising a debate on whether Karnataka would “privatise” higher education over the next few years, the state government said the way forward is to increase the number of private universities and also consolidate the strengths of the public varsities in the state.

“Most of these institutions, which are being given the university status, are not-for-profit organisations. With our economy being more knowledge-driven, we need to strengthen our education system with investments,” said deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan.

He also said the state is strengthening its existing public universities and institutions. “We are integrating technology to support our universities to match the needs of the industry. From corporate social responsibility funds to setting up our own source code for the learning management system, the government is investing in our institution as well,” he said.

The Karnataka State Higher Education Council said the government will give emphasis to public universities and colleges as well. “Our intention is to increase the number of public institutions with more researchoriented focus. However, when people apply for a university status, we will examine the infrastructure and necessary requirements,” said KSHEC vice-chairman P Thimmegowda.

A member of the KSHEC said when the state doesn’t have funds to ramp up the quality of education in public varsities, it is obvious private ones will mushroom to drive the market.

Applicant needs 25 acres, 3,000 students

As per the law, any private/deemed university applicant needs 25 acres of land and at least 3,000 students on its campus. With the new National Education Policy, these requirements may be diluted due to the growing cost of land and increased need of practical courses.

Rlys to run ‘Oxygen Express’

Rlys to run ‘Oxygen Express’

New Delhi:  19.04.2021 

Indian Railways will run ‘Oxygen Express’ for faster movement of liquid medical oxygen (LMO) in cryogenic road tankers. The railway ministry said green corridors were being created to facilitate fast movement of these trains.

It said the technical feasibility of transportation of LMO tankers was explored at the request of Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra governments.

On Friday, the railway board had approved the request of Maharashtra government to allow transportation of LMO road tankers through Roll On-Roll Off (RORO) service and had directed all its zonal general managers to make necessary preparations.

“Due to restrictions of the height of road overbridges (ROBs) and overhead equipment (OHE) at certain locations, out of the various specifications of road tankers, the model of road tanker T-1618 with height of 3,320 mm was found feasible to be placed on flat wagons with height of 1,290 mm,” the board said.

Inox Air Products, a manufacturer of industrial and medical gases, which joined the Indian Railways’ Oxygen Express trial, said the transportation innovation would help state governments avail oxygen in remote areas from surplus areas in a shorter time. TNN

College, varsity staff to visit campus once in three days

College, varsity staff to visit campus once in three days

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:19.04.2021

Colleges and universities in Gujarat have now decided to call faculty and other staff members once every three days to campus for office work.

On other days they can switch to work from home, said a Gujarat University official aware of the development.

The state government had recently directed all colleges and universities to work with 50% staff on campus due to the worsening Covid-19 situation in the state.

“Many colleges in the state decided to call half the staff on alternate days with the other half working from home,” the official said.

He added, “This has however raised concerns about the people being infected with Covid-19 as many employees would be asymptomatic and it would take a couple of days to know that they are Covid positive.”

The risk of spreading Covid-19 is higher if employees are to visit workplace every alternate day as compared to calling them once in three days, said the official.

It is for states to decide on lockdown: Shah

It is for states to decide on lockdown: Shah

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

19.04.2021

Amit Shah added, “The speed at which the virus isspreading today iscertainly problematic but I have full faith that we will win the second fight against the pandemic.” He also highlighted that most of the worst affected states were those which had large diaspora populations. “Punjab, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Kerala, Delhi... it is these states which have a larger international travel,” he said.

On the possibility of a lockdown, Shah said it was for states to decide. “For the last three months,we have allowed states to impose restrictionsas per their analysis. Every state is fighting a different battle. Evaluation will have to be done by state governments, and they have the right to impose restrictions. It is up to states to decide what needs to be done to curb the spread. If the situation is normal in Assam even after the elections, what is the need to impose lockdown there?” he said.

When asked about political parties carrying on with their campaign amid surging infections, the minister said the issue fell within the jurisdiction of the Election Commission. “The EC spoke with all parties, and it was decided to reduce campaigning by one day andtofinishtheday’scampaign by 7 pm. Political parties were urged to provide masks and sanitisers at rallies and my party has,starting withthe PM’s rally on April 17, provided5croremasks.Butwhatisto be done about an election which is under way can only be decided by the EC,” he said.

Shah was bullish about BJP’s prospects in the Bengal polls and said the party’s strong performancein the2019 Lok Sabha elections had dispelled people’s doubts about its electoral viability and it was set to win more than 200 seats. “I have enough experience of participating in elections. I can guarantee you that BJP will form the government with more than 200 seats,” he said.

On the Sitalkuchi incident, he repeated his allegation that West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee first engineered the incident by inciting people to gherao paramilitary personneland then tried to exploit the deaths of those who were killed in the firing that ensued.

Full report on www.toi.in

CASTING A SPELL: Union home minister Amit Shah at a rally in East Bardhaman in West Bengal on Sunday

JEE(M) deferred, fresh dates 15 days before test

JEE(M) deferred, fresh dates 15 days before test

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:19.04.2021 

Ending the uncertainty for over 6.7 lakh aspirants, education minister Ramesh Pokhriyal on Sunday announced postponement of the JEE-Main exam scheduled to be held from April 27-30 in view of the Covid-19 situation.

“Given the current Covid-19 situation, I have advised the DG of National Testing Agency to postpone the JEE (Main) April session. I would like to reiterate that safety of our students and their academic career are the prime concerns right now,” Pokhriyal tweeted.

The NTA order said, “Looking at the present situation of Covid-19 pandemic and also taking into account the safety and well-being of candidates and examination functionaries, it has been decided to postpone JEE (Main) April session. The revised dates will be announced later and at least 15 days before the examination.”

Candidates and parents had been demanding postponement of the exam due to the surge in Covid-19 cases. Starting this year, the exam will be conducted four times annually to offer flexibility to students and a chance to improve their score.

The first phase was conducted in February, followed by the second phase in March. The next phases were scheduled in April and May.

No. of fatty liver cases up since lockdown was induced: Docs

WORLD LIVER DAY

No. of fatty liver cases up since lockdown was induced: Docs

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:19.04.2021

Lockdown-induced lifestyle changes and unchecked intake of antibiotics and vitamin tablets can lead to fatty liver, and there is a necessity to spread awareness about issues in the ‘new normal’, say doctors on the eve of World liver day (April 19).

Fatty liver is the accumulation of fat in the liver, which if left unattended can even lead to liver cirrhosis, causing liver failure.

Dr Joy Varghese, director of hepatology and transplant hepatology at Gleneagles Global Health City, said, in the past year, there has been a considerable increase in patients doing master health check-ups finding they have a fatty liver. “About 2-3 years ago, 30% of our patients were diagnosed with fatty liver. In the past year, 90% were diagnosed with fatty liver,” Dr Joy Varghese said.

Doctors said it is reflective of the sedentary lifestyle of a major chunk of the population since March last year, either due to movement restrictions. “It is basically a lifestyle disease. People should watch what they eat and should not eat the same way they ate before lockdown, excessive calorie diet should be avoided,” said Dr Joy Varghese. Another aspect public should be mindful of is consumption of multivitamin tablets without medical advice, as an overdose of such tablets can also lead to fatty liver.

Schedules of over 1,000 night buses to change

TRAVEL CURBS

Schedules of over 1,000 night buses to change

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:19.04.2021

With the new travel restrictions, the state transport department is likely to alter services of roughly 1,000 long-distance buses. Most of these buses, run after 7pm, will be operated in the mornings. With hotter days ahead, day-time travel for 300km or more in buses will be difficult and uncomfortable, say operators.

State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) will also be facing logistical issues while running such services in the morning as the bus crews ending trips by 10 pm will not be able to find a bus or other options to get back home. Government transport employees are not sure about the rationality behind allowing only trains in the night.

Similarly, private bus operators too are confused about how they can reschedule their services. Of the 4,000 omni buses, more than 90% are operated in the night hours from Chennai to southern and western parts of the state.

Bus operators claim that the industry, with over two lakh employees, was already struggling to handle the ₹480 crore loss incurred during the restrictions imposed during Covid-19 first wave.

“Future looks very bleak now. Most passengers will cancel trips if we were to travel only in the morning hours,” said Karvendan, a private omni bus proprietor.

Besides buses, taxi operators too are worried since the new restrictions will push them deeper in debt.

K Anbalagan from TN Taxi Drivers Association said, “We managed start getting 10 or 12 bookings a day only now. A majority of them were trips to the city’s outskirts post 8pm and only such bookings bring us profit. If not for them, earning even ₹400 or ₹500 a day becomes difficult”.

TN imposes night curfew, Sunday lockdown, puts off Class XII exam

TN imposes night curfew, Sunday lockdown, puts off Class XII exam

Curbs From April 20 Till Further Orders

D.Govardan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:19.04.2021

With the second Covid-19 wave causing record infections, the Tamil Nadu government on Sunday announced fresh restrictions, including night curfew and Sunday lockdowns, across the state from April  20.

While the Class 12 state board exams have been postponed indefinitely, practical exams will be held as per schedule. Colleges and universities will continue to hold online classes and examinations. Summer education camps are banned.

The new set of restrictions would be in force until further orders, said a statement issued after a review meeting with senior officials by chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami at his camp office in the city. The CM directed the state industries department to issue temporary licences to TN firms planning to produce oxygen.

The new norms will be in addition to the general Covid-19 restrictions already in force in the state till the end of the month. The Sunday lockdown will not cover May 2 which is the date fixed by the Election Commission of India for counting of votes for the assembly election held on April 6. During night curfew, which will be in force from 10pm to 4am, public and private transport services, autos and cabs and movement of private vehicles will not be permitted

.

35% of TN’s 70k active cases from Chennai

Tamil Nadu’s active case count crossed the 70,000-mark on Sunday with the state adding10,723 new infections to its Covid tally. The 42 new deaths pushed the toll to13,113, the third highest in the country. Hotspot Chennai accounted for 35% of TN’s active cases. The city added 3,304 new cases on Sunday. Amid complaints of vaccine shortage, health minister C Vijayabaskar said TN had 8.8 lakh doses as of Sunday morning. Vaccinations took a steep fall on Sunday with just 25,670 people getting their shots compared to more than one lakh on Saturday. P 2

Curbs as active cases up by 50,000 in 20 days

Inter-state and intra-state movement of public and private vehicles will not be allowed. The latest restrictions have been imposed due to the laxity shown by the people in wearing masks and maintaining social distancing norms, that has resulted in active infections increasing to 65,635 on April 17 against 13,070 on March 28 in the state, the release said.

Movement of vehicles for medical emergencies, plying of autos and cabs destined to reach airports and railway stations as well as private transport will be permitted during night curfew. Movement of essential services including milk distribution and newspaper vendors, hospitals, labs, pharmacies, ambulances, commercial goods carriers as well as petroleum and LPG tankers will be allowed. Fuel outlets can remain open throughout the night. Continuous process industries and those manufacturing essential goods will be allowed to function during night curfew.

As for the Sunday curfew, meat shops, fish markets, vegetable shops, cinema theatres, malls and all commercial shops will remain closed. All essential services will be available.

On Sundays, restaurants will be permitted to offer only takeaways and food delivery platforms can function between 6am – 10am, 12-3pm and 6-9pm. Movement of other online platforms deliveries will not be permitted on Sundays.

Weddings, funerals are allowed on Sundays as long as they have a maximum 100 attendees and 50 attendees.

All tourist spots will be outof-bounds the public from April 20. Software and IT companies should ask at least 50% of employees to work from home. All retail outlets, restaurants can work at 50% capacity up to 9pm.

Temples already permitted to conduct festivals and consecrations can go ahead with maximum of 50 people.

Hospitals with required infrastructure can align with hotels to operate Covid care centres. Other guests cannot stay in those hotels.

HC dismisses MKU plea over contract issue

HC dismisses MKU plea over contract issue

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:19.04.2021

The Madras high court has dismissed the plea moved by Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) challenging the order passed by Micro and Small Enterprises Facilitation Council seeking its explanation about the amount pending disbursal to a private company.

Justice V Parthiban said a writ court is not a proper forum to settle a dispute of this nature involving interpretation of contractual terms and agreement and adjudication of the rival claims.

MKU had in 2014 entered into an agreement with Coimbatore-based Set Infotect for creation of an e-learning portal and development of digital content for the directorate of distance education. On completion of the project stage-wise, the company forwarded the bills which were settled by the university.

In December 2020, the company issued a legal notice alleging non-payment of bills to the tune of ₹5.35 crore and also non-refund of earnest money deposit amount of ₹15 lakh. The university sent a detailed reply to the notice in January 2021. Pressing its claim, the company moved the MSEF council for adjudication of the dispute.