சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் ரூ.4,000 வழங்க கோரிக்கை

சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் ரூ.4,000 வழங்க கோரிக்கை

Added : மே 11, 2021 20:36

சென்னை:கொரோனா பாதிப்பு நிவாரணமாக, அரிசி ரேஷன் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு, 4,000 ரூபாய் வழங்கப்படுவதை போன்று, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் வழங்க வேண்டும் என்ற கோரிக்கை எழுந்துள்ளது.

இது குறித்து சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்கள் கூறியதாவது:சர்க்கரை கார்டுகளை வைத்திருப்போர் எல்லாம் வசதியானவர்கள் அல்ல; அரிசி கார்டுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்த போது, அதை ரத்து செய்த அதிகாரிகள், சர்க்கரை கார்டு வேண்டுமென்றால் வாங்கிக் கொள்ளுங்கள் என்றனர். அதற்காகவே, பலரும் சர்க்கரை கார்டு பெற்றனர். எனவே, சர்க்கரை கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கும் கொரோனா நிவாரண தொகை வழங்க, முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

கார்டு வழங்குவது நிறுத்தமா?

இதற்கிடையில் புதிய ரேஷன் கார்டு கேட்டு, சமீப நாட்களாக பலர் விண்ணப்பித்து வருகின்றனர். அவர்களுக்கு புதிய கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் அளிக்கும் பணி, நேற்று முன்தினம் முதல் திடீரென நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இது குறித்து பாதிக்கப்பட்டவர்கள் கூறியதாவது: ஏற்கனவே ரேஷன் கார்டுக்கு விண்ணப்பித்தோம். 'தேர்தல் நடத்தை விதி அமலில் உள்ளது; நடத்தை விதிகள் ரத்தானதும் கார்டு வழங்க பரிந்துரைக்கப்படும்' என, உணவு வழங்கல் துறை அதிகாரிகள் கூறினர். தேர்தல் முடிந்தும் கார்டு வழங்கவில்லை.

மீண்டும் அதிகாரிகளிடம் கேட்டால், 'இம்மாதம், 10ம் தேதி முதல், புது கார்டுக்கு, உதவி ஆணையர், வட்ட வழங்கல் அதிகாரிகள் ஒப்புதல் அளிப்பது, தற்காலிகமாக நிறுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளது. 'நிவாரண தொகை வழங்கும் பணி முடிந்ததும், கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் தரப்படும்' என்கின்றனர்.

குறித்த காலத்தில் ஆய்வு செய்து,ரேஷன் கார்டு வழங்காதது, அதிகாரிகளின் தவறு. தற்போது, கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் தருவது நிறுத்தப்பட்டிருப்பது எந்த வகையில் நியாயம். எனவே, புதிய கார்டுக்கு ஒப்புதல் அளிக்கும் பணியை விரைந்து மேற்கொள்ள, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அரசு உத்தரவிட வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அவர்கள் கூறினர்.

உணவுத்துறை அதிகாரிஒருவர் கூறுகையில், 'தகுதியான அனைவருக்கும் புதிய ரேஷன் கார்டு தொடர்ந்து வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. சிலர் தவறான தகவல்களை பரப்புகின்றனர்' என்றனர்.

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

என் நுால்களை யாரும் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் அரசு அலுவலர்களுக்கு இறையன்பு வேண்டுகோள்

Added : மே 11, 2021 20:35

சென்னை:'அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம்' என, தமிழக அரசின் தலைமை செயலர் இறையன்பு, வேண்டுகோள் விடுத்து உள்ளார்.

அவரது அறிக்கை:நான் பணி நேரம் முடிந்த பின்பும், விடுமுறை நாட்களிலும், எனக்கு தெரிந்த தகவல்களை வைத்தும், என் அனுபவங்களை தொகுத்தும், சில நுால்களை எழுதி வந்தேன். அவற்றில் உள்ள பொருண்மை, கடற்கரையில் கண்டெடுத்த சிப்பியையே, முத்தாகக் கருதி சேகரிக்கும் சிறுவனின் உற்சாகத்துடன் எழுதப்பட்டவை.

இப்போதுள்ள பொறுப்பின் காரணமாக, பள்ளி கல்வித்துறைக்கு, ஒரு மடல் எழுதி உள்ளேன். அதில், 'நான் எழுதியுள்ள நுால்களை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும், எந்த அழுத்தம் வரப்பெற்றாலும், தலைமை செயலராகப் பணியாற்றும் வரை, எந்த திட்டத்தின் கீழும் வாங்கக் கூடாது' என, தெரிவித்துள்ளேன்.

பார்ப்பவர்களுக்கு என் பணியின் காரணமாக, அது திணிக்கப்பட்டிருப்பதாகத் தோன்றி, களங்கம் விளைவிக்கும் என்பதால் தான், இத்தகைய கடிதத்தை எழுதி உள்ளேன். எந்த வகையிலும், என் பெயரோ, பதவியோ தவறாகப் பயன்படுத்தப்படக் கூடாது என்பதே நோக்கம்.அரசு விழாக்களில் பூங்கொத்துக்கு பதிலாக,புத்தகம் வழங்கினால் நன்று என்ற அரசாணை பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. இது, 2006ல் பிறப்பிக்கப்பட்டது.

அரசு விழாக்களில், அரசு அலுவலர்கள் யாரும், என்னை மகிழ்விப்பதாகஎண்ணி, என் நுால்களை, அரசு செலவிலோ, சொந்த செலவிலோ, பரிசாக பூங்கொத்துகளுக்கு பதில் வினியோகிக்க வேண்டாம் என்று, அன்புடன் விண்ணப்பம் வைக்கிறேன்.இவ்வேண்டுகோள் மீறப்பட்டால், அரசு செலவாக இருந்தால், தொடர்புடைய அதிகாரியிடம் அது வசூலிக்கப்பட்டு, அரசு கணக்கில் செலுத்தப்படும். சொந்த செலவு செய்வதையும் தவிர்ப்பது சிறந்தது.

எனவே, இத்தகைய சூழலை, எக்காரணம் கொண்டும் ஏற்படுத்த வேண்டாம்.இவ்வாறு இறையன்பு தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வம்

இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வம்

Updated : மே 12, 2021 08:07 | Added : மே 12, 2021 08:05

புதுடில்லி: இந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து கொரோனாவுக்கு எதிராக தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க, அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வமாக உள்ளது.

இந்தியாவுக்கான அமெரிக்க துாதரகத்தின் உயர் அதிகாரி டேனியல் ஸ்மித் கூறியதாவது:கொரோனா இரண்டாவது அலையால் கடுமையாக பாதிக்கப்பட்டுள்ள இந்தியாவின் நிலையை பார்த்து, அமெரிக்கா கவலை அடைந்துள்ளது. இந்த நெருக்கடியில் இந்தியாவுக்கு துணை நிற்க, அமெரிக்க அரசு உறுதி எடுத்துள்ளது.

இ ந்தியாவுடன் இணைந்து தடுப்பூசி தயாரிக்க வேண்டும் என்பதில் அமெரிக்கா ஆர்வமாக உள்ளது. சீரம் நிறுவனம், கோவிஷீல்டு தடுப்பூசி தயாரிப்பது போல், ஜான்சன் அண்ட் ஜான்சன் நிறுவனத்துடன் இணைந்து, இந்தியாவில் தடுப்பூசி தயாரிப்பதற்கான வழிகளை அமெரிக்கா ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறது. இவ்வாறு அவர் கூறினார்.

IT companies use biz uptick to reward staff

IT companies use biz uptick to reward staff

Shilpa.Phadnis@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.05.2021 

Many IT companies are giving a second round of salary increases and promotions within months of the previous one. Last year’s salary increment had initially been deferred on account of the pandemic and business downturn. But as business picked up in the second half of the year, increments were given with effect from late last calendar year or early this year. Now, with intense competition for talent, companies are rewarding employees again.

Accenture India, which has over 2 lakh employees, had its annual December increments, bonuses and promotions, and an added round of promotions in February this year. “In April, all our people up through associate director level received a one-time ‘thank you bonus’ equal to one week of base pay for their contributions during this difficult year. Additionally, we have expanded our annual mid-year promotions this coming June to include managing directors — a first in our company’s history — as one more way we continue to create new opportunities for our people,” Accenture India told TOI. In December last year, Accenture globally promoted 605 people to MD, and 63 people to senior MD, including a record percentage of women.

Infosys EVP & HR head Richard Lobo said its second compensation review cycle for the year is under way. It had given increments effective January, after having put them on hold for most of the last fiscal. It is doing another review based on last year’s performance, and the salary hike based on this will be effective July. Both compensation reviews are applicable to employees across levels. The quantum of hike is a factor of role and performance. The two increments together will be 10-14%, in an otherwise languid pay market.

Infosys’s move follows that of TCS, which too gave hikes within a six-month gap. TCS has given increments to all associates across geographies effective April. Sources told TOI that many senior employees received hikes in the range of 6-8%, higher than normal.

Wipro CEO Thierry Delaporte said in the latest earnings call that measures are in place to ensure the supply chain does not slow its pace of growth and it includes the rollout of “much-deserved” salary increases for his senior colleagues in June. The quantum of the hikes is yet to be decided. Salary hikes for employees in band C1 (managers and above) that was due in June last year had been deferred. But the company paid out 100% variable pay to all employees in each of the past three quarters because of business pick-up.

HCL, which normally gives salary increments effective July, had deferred it by one quarter last year. But this year it expects to return to the regular cycle. “On average, we rolled out 7-8% hikes last year, but those were higher at the bottom of the pyramid,” chief HR officer Apparao V V said.

Harshvendra Soin, global chief people officer in Tech Mahindra, said it recently completed the appraisal cycle and has announced salary hikes, in line with the industry, with effect from April 1. “The letters are being rolled out. We have also introduced retention bonus for key talent and have announced skill-based allowances for associates with niche skills and projectbased bonuses,” he said.

With competition for talent increasing, companies are rewarding employees again

From 1.2L a day, Tirumala footfall drops to 2.4k

From 1.2L a day, Tirumala footfall drops to 2.4k

Tirupati:12.05.2021 

Pilgrim footfall at Lord Venkateswara temple in Tirumala on Monday reported an all-time low of 2,400. This is perhaps the lowest ever in the history of the temple.

With the surging Covid-19 cases leading to full and partial lockdowns in many parts of the country, including in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the flow of devotees to the hill temple has dried up considerably over the last few weeks. While the temple was closed during the lockdown in the first wave of Covid-19 during March-June 2020, soon after its reopening the temple recorded an average footfall of 8,000 pilgrims.

Tirumala temple is famous for its large turnout of pilgrims round the year, the numbers often touching 1.25 lakh on weekends and festivals. Never in its history the temple had witnessed a pilgrim turnout less than 8,000 a day.

Now, though the TTD is allowing devotees with darshan tickets to enter Tirumala even after 12 noon, when the 18-hour partial curfew announced by the state government comes into force, people have been reluctant to visit the temple during these pandemic times.

While just 2,400 devotees visited the temple on Monday, about 1,375 devotees got their heads tonsured as part of fulfilment of their vows. The low pilgrim footfall also saw the temple’s hundi collections dip to an all-time low of 24 lakh. The hundi collection on normal days hovers between Rs 3 crore to Rs 5 crore daily. Even during the first wave Covid-19 restrictions the hundi collection never dropped below Rs 1 crore a day.

Officials expect a further dip in the pilgrim footfall as Telangana government on Tuesday announced near-lockdown restricting public movement. TNN

Hosp debarred for charging ₹10L from patient who died during treatment

Hosp debarred for charging ₹10L from patient who died during treatment

Agra:12.05.2021 

Arun Kansal, a 62-year-old resident of Agra, died while being treated for Covid at Ravi hospital and his family was charged a bill of Rs 9.6 lakh. This was found to be in violation of the rates fixed by the state government for the treatment of Covid patients, and the hospital has been debarred from further admissions.

Following a complaint made by the patient’s family, and an initial investigation, district magistrate Prabhu N Singh has debarred the hospital from admitting Covid-19 patients. A showcause notice has also been issued to the hospital, which is owned by the former district president of Indian Medical Association, Dr Ravi Mohan Pachori. Action will be taken against the hospital if it fails to reply, said officials. TNN

Kumbh returnee, 67, infects 33 in B’luru

Kumbh returnee, 67, infects 33 in B’luru

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.05.2021 

A 67-year-old woman who returned from Kumbh Mela tested positive for Covid in the first week of April and ended up infecting 33 persons, including 13 psychiatric patients at Spandana Healthcare and Rehabilitation Centre, near Nandini Layout, in west Bengaluru.

The Mahalakshmi Layout resident’s 40-year-old daughter-in-law, a psychiatrist with Spandana, had no symptoms and was treating 13 patients. A couple of days after her mother-in-law tested positive, the doctor got herself tested only to find she, too, was Covid positive.

The hospital tested all her contacts, and 13 patients and two staffers were found positive. BBMP officers from Nandini Layout came rushing to the hospital for inspection as it was a cluster case. In all, 18 family members of the Kumbh returnee were found to be infected.

Patients didn’t have severe symptoms, recovered now

The woman was admitted to a private hospital. She has since recovered as she had moderate infection.

A BBMP medical officer from Nandini Layout primary health centre said the index case was the psychiatrist. “None of the infected had severe symptoms and they were treated in their facility itself. As we traced further, we found the source was a Kumbh returnee from the psychiatrist’s family,” the doctor told TOI.

Dr Mahesh R Gowda, who heads Spandana, said with three employees and 13 patients testing positive, they had to close a floor and become more of a Covid hospital. The hospital now has 31 patients from outside.

All the patients of Spandana have recovered and they did not end up spreading the virus as they were isolated well in time. “However, we don’t know if the 18 family members further spread the virus to others,” said Dr Gowda.

The psychiatrist was asymptomatic and developed symptoms of Covid later, requiring hospitalisation. “Our colleague stopped coming to the hospital after her mother-in-law tested positive,” Dr Gowda said.

There are no details on how many from the state attended Kumbh and if they took a test on their return. Experts had advised the government to track the Kumbh returnees .

A third or fourth wave is natural for new viruses, says professor R M Pitchappan, a pioneer in human immunogenetics, but preparation for them is key. In an interview with Padmini Sivarajah, the visiting professor at Madurai Kamaraj University dispels fears about the vaccine and mutations.

A third or fourth wave is natural for new viruses, says professor R M Pitchappan, a pioneer in human immunogenetics, but preparation for them is key. In an interview with Padmini Sivarajah, the visiting professor at Madurai Kamaraj University dispels fears about the vaccine and mutations.

12.05.2021 

The principal scientific adviser to the Government of India has warned of a third wave. What is your opinion?

Yes, it is possible that there may be a third wave. In any new viral or vectorborne disease it is always seasonal and episodic, it takes a few cycles for the infection to die out. We cannot wait for herd immunity and all precautions have to be taken. We must also keep in mind that the pandemic will die down like the spread of hepatitis 20 years ago.

It is feared that the third wave will affect children. Can it be overcome?

There is no evidence yet that the third wave will affect children alone. Children, except newborns till a few months, have a robust immune response capable of responding to most infections. There is no need to panic it can be overcome with care and vaccination. Children might require a low volume of vaccine due to their size and immune system. Pharma industries should think of systematically procuring and marketing it, but it is a laborious process. Passive therapy from convalescent plasma is another option.

Can the present Indian vaccines be administered to children?

Theoretically the same vaccine should work in children, maybe with some dosage adjustments, but adverse reaction trials have to be done before implementing it. The government agencies should give the nod for trials and make the vaccine available for children. In a country where polio has been eradicated, it is possible to tackle Covid. Proper planning to vaccinate children and opening schools need to be made. The immune system of children may be less experienced, but it is not less competent than that of an adult.

There is a shortage of antiviral drugs. There are also conflicting reports on the usefulness of these drugs.

A recent literature shows none of the drugs used as on date including these antivirals provide 100% efficacy in saving a life. The Indian vaccine manufacturers have scaled up their production. Yesterday, DCGI approved anti-Covid drug, 2-deoxy-D-glucose developed by DRDO for emergency use in moderate to severe Covid patients as an adjunct therapy. The new drug reduces oxygen dependence and faster recovery.

What about alternate medicines?

Researchers from Germany and India have identified Thymoquinone from Nigella Sativa (“Karunseeragam” in Tamil) having antiviral properties. It is also antibacterial, anti-inflammatory and immunomodulatory. The drug can be synthesised in the laboratory. India with its vast scientific community and pharma should aim at such innovative, native medicines. This can become an affordable alternative, preventive and therapeutic like the siddha ‘kabasura kuidineer’ being attempted in various parts of the country.

People contracting Covid-19 after both doses is raising concern.

The severity is less in people who contract the disease after vaccination. But if they succumb to the disease then these cases should be studied for demographic profile, medical history, nutritional status and co-morbidities. Linking the cases and data to the Aadhaar number, proper follow-up and introspection will help in policy making.

With the virus mutating fast, will these vaccines help?

Antibodies generated due to vaccines may neutralise the virus to some extent if they have not mutated further in the host. The immune system also has other antibodies such as cytotoxic lympohocytes that tackle infection and help in long term immunity.

Re-exam will set wrong precedent, say academics

Re-exam will set wrong precedent, say academics

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.05.2021 

Conducting a re-exam for four lakh engineering students and changing the proctored online test to an unsupervised online test like in other universities will set a wrong precedent, say academicians.

The government directed the university to conduct a reexam following complaints that only 1.1 lakh of the 2.3 lakh students whose results were declared cleared it. Results of nearly two lakh students were withheld for suspected malpractices.

Higher education minister K Ponmudi on Monday said withholding so many results was itself an irregularity, but professors who were part of the inquiry committee said many students resorted to malpractices. “Around 80% took online test from mobile phones. Without knowing their screen was recorded, they frequently changed screen and shared answers. They formed WhatsApp groups, Telegram groups to share answers. Some even took help of friends and siblings. Some pasted a mobile phone to their laptops to cheat,” said one.

An Anna University professor said the previous government wanted to give allpass to students with arrears without exams. “The new government wants to give all pass to students by allowing them to write an unsupervised exam.”

Former vice-chancellor of Anna University E Balagurusamy said the online system cannot be termed wrong because many failed. “The proctored online test was an example for all state universities. Results of students suspected to have been involved in malpractices were withheld.”

The online test conducted by other universities is not at all an exam, he said. “Students receive question papers on WhatsApp, write exams from home and post the answer scripts. The examination is not monitored.”

G Shanmugam, former registrar of University of Madras, said conducting a nonproctored online exam led to mass copying and other malpractices. “Asking Anna University to conduct re-exam following methods of other universities is not good.”

Students and colleges, however, welcomed the move.

M Sangeetha, a third-year engineering student from Trichy with a CGPA of 8.2 in past three years, failed in 5 of 6 papers in the fifth semester. “I was comfortable with descriptive mode, but I could not suddenly adapt to the multiple choice online test,” she said.

(With inputs from Sambath Kumar )

298 deaths, 29,272 cases in TN; 7,466 in Chennai

298 deaths, 29,272 cases in TN; 7,466 in Chennai

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.05.2021 

Tamil Nadu reported 298 deaths and 29,272 cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, when 1.6 lakh people were under treatment for the viral infection. The cumulative toll touched 16,178 and the case tally reached 14.3 lakh on a day 19,182 people were discharged from the registry.

Hotspot Chennai

Nearly one in every four persons tested positive on Tuesday were from hotspot Chennai. The city added 7,466 new cases of Covid-19. Together, with Chengalpet (2419), Tiruvallur (1204) and Kancheepuram (664), Chennai region reported 11,753 new cases. After Chennai, the highest number of new cases were from Coimbatore (2650). In the South, Madurai and Kanyakumari reported 1024 and 995 cases respectively. While all districts in the state had more than 100 cases, five districts reported more than 1,000 cases, at least 15 reported less than 500 cases each. At the end of the day, Chennai had 37713 active cases, followed by Coimbatore (14324) and Chengalpet (12038).

Spike in deaths

The number of deaths have been increasing rapidly in the state. The state has added 1,000 deaths to the registry in the last four days. It took the state 115 days to add 1,000 deaths from around 12,000 deaths on December 22. Two weeks later, on April 30 the toll increased to 14,000 and a week later, on May 7 it crossed the 15,000 mark. "The doubling period for deaths too has been dropping drastically," said senior public health officials.

Lack of beds

Through the day many people made frantic calls to the state helpline 104, dialed emergency rooms of hospitals and called friends and family seeking admissions in various hospitals. While just 17% of the beds in the state were vacant, according to data from DPH, there were less than 10% oxygen beds and 6% ICU beds available. Almost all oxygen and ICU beds in Chengalpet, Dharmapuri and Ranipet were taken for most parts of the day. Getting an ICU bed was a struggle in districts such as Chennai, Coimbatore, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur and Vellore.

Needed, more shots

Even as cases continue to spike, health care providers and frontline workers in the state continue to remain vulnerable to the infection. Less than 60% of healthcare providers and 42% of frontline workers in Tamil Nadu who took their first dose are now fully vaccinated.

Overall 73% of healthcare providers and 88% of frontline workers have taken their first dose, but they could still be vulnerable as they have not completed the course. The number of people in the 60+ age group and those above 44(with comorbidity) who have taken the second doses is between 35-40%. On Tuesday, 79,929 people took the vaccine in Tamil Nadu.

This included 26,264 senior citizens, 40,534 people above the age of 45, 4,326 healthcare providers and 8,805 frontline workers.

In TN, virus is killing young people with no comorbidities

In TN, virus is killing young people with no comorbidities

No Scientific Reason Yet About Why Young People Are Dying

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:  12.05.2021 

More young and healthy people —without comorbid conditions and below 40 years — are now dying of Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu, directorate of public health data shows.

On January 10, when TN’s Covid death toll reached 12,222, around 18% (2,084) were those without any comorbidities. By May 9, such people accounted for 6063 of the 15,648 deaths (39%). On Tuesday, 78 of the 298 people who died in the state had no comorbid conditions.

“In absolute numbers, deaths are still high among people above 50 years of age and among people with uncontrolled diabetes or hypertension. But during the last four to six weeks, we are seeing more young and healthy people in ICUs,” said Kilpauk Medical College Hospital dean Dr Vasanthamani P. “Some of them don’t make it.”

On Tuesday, five of the 298 who died were in their 20s and had no comorbid conditions. Of the people in their 30s, were a 30-year-old man and 37-year-old woman with diabetes, a 38-yearold man with hypertension and another man with chronic kidney disease. At least 21 of the 48 people in their 40s had no comorbid conditions.

Between January and May, the growth rate of deaths was highest (37%) among people in the 31-40 age group. On January 10, there were 456 deaths in this age group and 623 on May 9. In the same period, deaths in the 20-30 age group rose from 142 to 187, by 31%. Overall deaths jumped by 28% from 12,222 to 15,648. Since then, 8 people in their 20s and 35 people in their 30s have died.

Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital dean Dr Theranirajan said, “We have been able to reduce morbidity and mortality in people who reach hospitals early.”

Experts say that while more people below 40 years are juggling for space in ICUs with senior citizens, they don’t know why more young and healthy people are dying. “We don’t have any scientific reasons for this yet. We don’t know if the profile of young people we see now is from a better socio-economic background with higher risk of lifestyle disorders,” said senior infectious diseases expert Dr V Ramasubramanian.

Between January and May, the growth rate of deaths in Tamil Nadu as per official data was highest (37%) among people in the 31-40 age group

Don’t fret if 2nd dose delayed, say experts

Don’t fret if 2nd dose delayed, say experts

Neha Madaan & Sumitra DebRoy TNN

Pune/Mumbai:

First-dose recipients of Covaxin don't need to restart their vaccination schedule if the gap between doses goes beyond the recommended 4-6-week interval, a top public health official has said. Experts also stressed that delay in taking a second dose of Covishield or Covaxin does not render the first shot ineffective. An estimated 5 lakh people in Maharashtra are awaiting the second shot of Covaxin alone.

Dr N K Arora, member of the National Committee on Adverse Events Following Immunisation, said recipients should not worry if the second dose is delayed. “We know there are many single-dosers whose second shots have been delayed. They need not be worried. Even if gap between two doses increases to 8-10 weeks, in case of any of the two vaccines, beneficiaries can take the second shot and it will still be effective. There is no need to repeat the vaccine schedule due to a delayed second dose,” he said.

JAB EFFECT: Delay in getting second dose does not make the first ineffective, say experts

‘Advisable for senior citizens to avoid crowded vax centres’

Counselling recipients to not panic, immunologist Dr Vineeta Bal from the Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER), Pune said the first dose has already triggered an immune response which does not disappear because of the delay, only that it’s not optimum, and hence the second dose is needed.

“Abooster (second)doseessentially increases the quality and quantity of the first dose response,” she said, adding that it may be advisable for senior citizens to avoid crowded vaccination centres since there is a real possibility of catching the infection there. The first dose remains in the body but also has its own limited half-life.

All antibodies produced are proteins that get degraded within the body whether used or not used. “So, the immune response generated by the first dose may possibly start tapering off after 4-5 months,” Bal added.

The duration between two Covishield doses was increased from 4 weeks to 12 weeks primarily based on data from international trials where after a first dose the immune response was measured until the second dose was given. “In some cases, due to trial related issues, the second dose was given as late as 12 weeks and still the effect of the first dose was pretty much okay,” she added.

For Covaxin, such a variation in the duration between first and second dose was not tested in human beings though.

“The makers had uniformly tested at the end of four weeks. That’s why everybody is recommending booster for Covaxin at the end of 28 days. Theoretically, if there is enough response that lasted for four weeks, maybe it will last up to the fifth week too. But we don’t know that since there is no data,” Bal added.

Full report on www.toi.in

A deserted Har ki Pauri ghat on Vaishakh Amavasya on Tuesday

Those taking 2nd shots are priority: Govt

The Centre on Tuesday insisted that those eligible for the second dose of Covid-19 vaccine should be given priority and that vaccination wastage should be minimised. Expressing concern over the misinformation on the subject of vaccination, Cabinet secretary Rajiv Gauba mentioned that all vaccines that are procured either by the central government or the state governments are actually meant for the public in the states and there is no consumption at the central-level. PTI

14 states start getting Covaxin supply directly

A SHOT OF HOPE

14 states start getting Covaxin supply directly

New Delhi:11.05.2021 

Bharat Biotech has commenced direct supply of its Covid-19 vaccine Covaxin to 14 states, including Delhi and Maharashtra, with effect from May 1, according to the company’s joint managing director Suchitra Ella.

The Hyderabad-based firm has started supplying its Covid-19 treatment vaccine to the states based on the allocations received by the central government.

“Bharat Biotech confirms direct supplies of Covaxin to the following state govt’s since 1/5/21, based on the allocations received by GoI. Requests have been received from other states, & will be processed for distribution based on availability of stocks 24x7,” Ella tweeted.

The company is supplying vaccines to Andhra Pradesh, Assam, Chhattisgarh, Gujarat, Jammu & Kashmir, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Odisha, Tamil Nadu, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal.

On April 29, Bharat Biotech announced a cut in the price of ‘Covaxin’ for states to Rs 400 per dose from the earlier Rs 600 per dose.

This followed widespread criticism of its pricing policy as it sold Covaxin to the central government at Rs 150 per dose. India has announced expansion of its Covid-19 vaccination drive by allowing its large18-plus population to get inoculated from May1.

Meanwhile, the Bombay high court has permitted Biovet Private Limited, an associate company of Bharat Biotech, to take possession of a fully operational and ready-touse vaccine manufacturing plant on a 12-hectare plot in Pune to produce Covaxin. PTI

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

NRI couple who came for family time die of Covid

Yagnesh.Mehta@timesgroup.com

Surat:11.05.2021 

“It would have been better had they not come to India. Despite trying for days, we did not get a hospital bed for my ‘mama’ (maternal uncle). We had to toil for hours to arrange oxygen cylinders for him. My ‘mama’ was on oxygen for over four days,” rues Piyush Bhatt, afinance consultant in Ahmedabad.

Bhatt is left lamenting as the septuagenarian NRI couple’s — Rashmikant Raval (73) and his wife Sushila (72) — died of Covid in span of two days last month. Raval, a retired hotel and catering business owner, passed away in Ahmedabad on April 23, while Sushila succumbed the next day.

“After making rounds of crematoriums, it was at the fourth one that I was able to perform the last rites of my uncle. I faced same problems while cremating my aunt,” Bhatt said. The US-based couple came to India in February spend some time with childhood friends and family after over a year of remaining locked in their house in Austin, Texas, due to global pandemic. The two had promised their grandchildren in the US that they will return soon.

The couple arrived in India on February 27 and did not take Covid-19 vaccine in the US. As the condition worsened in India they took the first dose of the vaccine in Ahmedabad on April 3 and 4. Sushila tested positive for Covid-19 on April 16 while Raval developed symptoms on April 19. But Raval tested negative in all three test he underwent.

For days Raval searched for a hospital bed for himself, but in vain. “After approaching several hospitals and trying for over12 hours my mother was finally admitted to one. But my father did not get admission in any hospital since his reports were negative. His CT-scan showed infection in chest.

Raval, who hailed from Choila village in Sabarkantha, lived with Rakesh, a businessman, in Austin, Texas. The family owns a fuel pump, restaurant and few stores that they have currently rented out.

Rashmikant Raval with his wife Sushila

Just 9 varsities started RT-PCR testing: Govt

Just 9 varsities started RT-PCR testing: Govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:11.05.2021 

After a push from Gujarat high court, the state government on Monday submitted that it could make only nine of 26 universities in the state start RT-PCR testing laboratories and has given up hope that five universities will ever start the facility.

When HC pressured the government to increase Covid-19 testing facilities, particularly RT-PCR testing, the state government said it would make 26 universities start these testing facilities. However, after nearly a month and instructions to administrative heads of the region to use the Epidemic Diseases Act to force these universities to act, facilities at only nine universities could be made operational, an addition of only four varsities since last week. These four are National Forensic Science University, Gandhinagar; Sardar Patel University, Anand; Veer Narmad South Gujarat University, Surat and IIPH Gandhinagar.

For Anand Agriculture University, Uka Tarsadia University in Bardoli, Ahmedbad University, Kamdhenu University in Gandhinagar and Central University of Gujarat, the government said they “do not have appropriate RT-PCR machines for testing and thus, RT-PCR testing would not be possible in the five varsities.”

Google Maps now provides hospital beds, oxygen info

Google Maps now provides hospital beds, oxygen info

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:11.05.2021 

Google is testing a new feature using the Q&A function in Maps that enables people to ask about and share local information on availability of hospital beds and medical oxygen in select locations. “As this will be user generated content and not provided by authorised sources, it may be required to verify the accuracy and freshness of the information before utilising it,” the company said in a blogpost.

Google is also amplifying vital safety and vaccination messages that includes the ‘Get the Facts’ around vaccines campaign, to encourage people to focus on authoritative information and content for vaccines. “We’re also surfacing important safety messages through promotions on the Google homepage, Doodles and reminders within our apps and services.”

When people ask questions about vaccines on Google Search, they see information panels that display the latest updates on vaccine safety, efficacy and side-effects, plus registration information that directs users to the Co-WIN website. “You will also find information about prevention, self-care, and treatment under the Prevention and Treatment tab, in easyto-understand language sourced from authorised medical sources and the ministry of health and family welfare,” it said.

The new Q&A function in Maps enables people to ask about and share local information on availability of hospital beds and oxygen in select locations

MBBS students: Postponement of exams has jeopardised our future

MBBS students: Postponement of exams has jeopardised our future

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

11.05.2021

Lakhs of medical students are exasperated with the government wanting to postpone all exams citing surging Covid cases and then asking the same students to join for Covid ward duty. Going by the government’s logic, they point out, MBBS doctors will get infected if they appear for exams, but not if they work in Covid wards.

They pointed out that their careers have been put on hold and their training periods have been extended indefinitely citing Covid cases even as elections were held and religious gatherings were allowed. Resident doctors and medical students have been writing to all authorities concerned to express their unhappiness with the series of decisions made by the central government. None have responded.

There are about 60,000 post-graduate medical students, including roughly 15,000 Diplomate of National Board (DNB) students — mostly in private hospitals and 45,000 MD/MS students in medical colleges — who were ready to graduate and become specialists by this time. Instead, the government has announced the extension of their tenure till the next batch joins. No fresh batch can join till the entrance exams for post-graduation are conducted, which has been put off till after August 31.

When Union health minister Dr Harshvardhan tweeted on April 15 to announce the indefinite postponement of the post-graduate entrance exam just two days before it was to be held, he said “the decision has been taken keeping wellbeing of our young medical students in mind”. He added that “health & safety of our young doctors is paramount”.

“It takes about a month for results of the exam to be declared and another two months for counselling. So, we cannot expect a fresh batch of PG students to join till November-December. Resident doctors have been doing Covid duty for more than a year now and they are exhausted. Instead of getting a fresh batch to relieve them, the government has done this,” lamented a postgraduate student.

Over 1.7 lakh MBBS doctors have registered for the post-graduate entrance exam. “We had been allotted our exam centres and we had even downloaded our admit cards for the entrance when the government decided to cancel it. Most of us have been preparing for more than a year for the exam. We could have joined as residents in various hospitals if the tension of the entrance exam had got over,” said a doctor who had registered to appear for the entrance.

The PMO also wants finalyear MBBS students to be used to help in the Covid effort. Neither they nor thirdyear students have done much of clinical duties They are now expected to do Covid duty. “Hardly any of them have been vaccinated as they did not qualify as health workers since they were still studying. You are risking their lives by putting them on Covid duty,” said a PG student.

Going by the Centre’s logic, they said, MBBS doctors will get infected if they appear for exams, but not during Covid duty

No vaccine stock, Bengalureans rush to nearby districts for shot

No vaccine stock, Bengalureans rush to nearby districts for shot

Christin.MathewPhilip@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:11.05.2021 

With the city facing a severe shortage of vaccine supplies, more and more Bengalureans, primarily in the 18-44 age group, are now heading to nearby districts for inoculation.

The skewed digital divide works in favour of them since most have better access to high-speed internet and smartphones, own vehicles and thus are increasingly travelling to neighbouring districts like Bengaluru Rural, Chikkaballapur, Kolar, Ramanagara, Tumakuru, Mandya and Mysuru to get the shots.

This sudden influx could slow down vaccination in these regions and adversely impact locals, who may not be familiar with the rigmarole involved in online registration for a vaccine slot.

Twitter handles like Bangalore Vaccine Update @Blore-Vaccine as well as several Telegram groups provide regular information on availability of slots in and around Bengaluru to tech-savvy citizens. There are also several ‘vaccine availability tracker’ portals, which provide information about centres where vaccines are available. Police are allowing those with confirmation SMS for scheduled vaccination to travel outside the city.

Sudhir Srinivasan, who received his first shot at Chintamani in Chikkaballapur, wrote on Twitter, “Reached at 9.10am. Got tokens around 9.40am. Vaccines arrived at 10.30am. They prioritized the second dose so it took a bit longer. But was out at 11.15am. Around half the recipients were from Bengaluru. Line moves fast (sic).”

Nikhil Rajendran, who booked slots at Chintamani for him and his wife, said: “Vaccination process was smooth. When it came to travelling, I was stopped thrice by police on Bengaluru-Chintamani route, but when I showed the appointment slip, they were fine and there were no issues.”

Abhishek Humney, who travelled from Mahadevapura to Government Boys’ School, Hoskote, said: “The centre was well-managed and there was no crowding. They will ask for your ID proof and appointment confirmation message.”

Girish Valecha, a netizen, asked on Twitter: “I got my vaccination slot in Bangalore Rural (562114) for 14th May. Am I allowed to travel for vaccination from 560008 with appointment slip and SMS confirmation?.” In response, the health department wrote back: “Yes.”

Though there is nothing illegal in getting vaccines from rural areas, health experts fear it could affect the rate of vaccination in those areas. “Bengaluru Rural vaccines are for people living there. Let’s not snatch it away,” tweeted Forever Bengaluru @ForeverBLRU.

Mallikarjuna NH, a netizen, wrote: “I might be overreacting, but these people who are booking rural slots of vaccines from Bengaluru are just shameless.”

Doses administered

According to Co-Win portal, as on Monday, the total vaccine doses administrated in BBMP was 19.86 lakh, followed by Bengaluru Urban (3.02 lakh), Mysuru (7.9 lakh), Bengaluru Rural (1.82 lakh), Kolar (2.36 lakh), Tumakuru

(4.29 lakh), Mandya

(3.26lakh), Chikkaballapur

(2.59lakh) and Ramanagara

(2.29 lakh).

Police act tough across state, citizens complain of caning

Police act tough across state, citizens complain of caning

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:  11.05.2021 

Aggressive policing marked the start of the new two-week lockdown in Karnataka on Monday. There were reports of police teams caning people found outside without a valid reason in Bagalkot, Gadag, Dharwad, Kalaburgi, Belagavi, Ramanagara, Kolar, Chikkaballapur and Tumakuru districts. In north Karnataka, such incidents mainly occurred near vegetable markets and railway stations after 10am.

Long queues of vehicles were seen at checkposts in Bengaluru, Mangaluru, Mysuru and Belagavi as many families tried to return to their hometowns. At several places, police personnel urged them to turn back.

In Bengaluru, authorities set up more than 300 checkpoints, including some in residential areas, to stop the non-essential movement of people and vehicles. “We are paying more attention to sending people back than seizing their vehicles,” said a senior officer. Citizens on the way to seek medical care or vaccination were allowed to proceed after they showed relevant documents.

Some people tried to mislead officials. A two-wheeler rider who was stopped near Chinnaswamy Stadium claimed he was a doctor. He had stuck a board stating ‘Doctor Covid-19 duty’ on his vehicle. When pressed for answers, he revealed he was a member of the housekeeping staff at a private hospital. A youngster driving an SUV with an MLC sticker on the windshield was flagged down near the stadium. He claimed that the car belonged to an MLC, but failed to name the legislator. Police seized the vehicle as he didn’t have a driving licence. Thirty men were caught roaming around in Koramangala.

After a 14-day curfew, the state government announced a stricter lockdown to slow the alarming spread of coronavirus infections that have strained the healthcare system. While free public movement is banned, certain industries have been allowed to operate with riders. The government notification permitting in situ construction that doesn’t involve calling workers from outside led to confusion on Monday. Police across the state came across labourers being taken to construction sites. Such groups were stopped.

“May is the time when construction activities move into top gear. A lot of work has to be completed before the monsoon sets in. The government has allowed construction by workers already at the site. But they have to move around to get materials,” said an engineer supervising a site in Bengaluru Rural.

Though the government has allowed delivery of essential items ordered online, many delivery agents complained that police beat them up. “Our colleagues were harassed by police when they were delivering orders in locations such as Kamakya-Banashankari, Sultanpalya, Mattikere, Shastrinagar, Kodigehalli and Ramamurthynagara. All the incidents took place between 10am and noon,” said Ravi Raj G from OTPxpress.

Doctors’ ethical dilemma: Save the young or seniors?

Doctors’ ethical dilemma: Save the young or seniors?

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:11.05.2021 

With an increasing demand for ICU beds and ventilators, clinicians are facing an ethical dilemma over allotment of beds: Young breadwinners or senior citizens? The focus is certainly more on saving the youngsters, multiple hospital authorities told TOI on the condition of anonymity.

“Age has to become a criterion for ICU admission, apart from the patient’s condition. Not that we are denying treatment for the elderly patients outright, but we do feel sorry for the families of young patients suffering from severe forms of the disease,” said an intensivist.

The head of a hospital in west Bengaluru told TOI that he had never faced such an ethical dilemma in his 35-year career. “Who should get priority, given the limited resources? From a medical practitioner’s perspective, we can’t differentiate between the young and the old. Now, it is different. Between an ailing senior citizen whose prognosis suggests s/he may not make a recovery and a young man who has chances of survival, I would go for the latter. We do explain the situation to the families,” the doctor said.

Hospital authorities say their focus is certainly more on saving the youngsters

Disease severity a criterion, not age: Doc

There are very few hospitals that have the extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) therapy, which is used to pump and oxygenate a patient’s blood outside the body, replacing the function of the lungs and heart.

“We have had a 44-year-old man on ECMO for the past three weeks and he is making subtle but gradual improvement. There was only one ECMO machine. A week ago, we had a 22-year-old woman who recently required ECMO. She died in front of us. Being helpless is adding to our stress. Each life we are losing was the one that should have been saved,” said an intensivist from a corporate hospital in Bengaluru.

Besides age, the patient’s class matters as they get multiple calls if s/he is from an influential background.

With resource crunch, NGOs helping several critical patients find a bed admit they do make a choice. “If the Covid patient is young and the only breadwinner of the family, we do make our best attempts to help find a bed,” says Mohammed Ismail, a volunteer working with Emergency Response Team of Mercy Mission.

“On April 30, we received a request from the family of a 32-yearold man, whose oxygen saturation level was 70% and the private hospital where he was had no ventilator for him. His parents had died the previous day and his pregnant wife had gone for their cremation. We had to speak to several MLAs, officers to get him a bed and he was finally shifted to Victoria Hospital,” Ismail said. The priority goes for a young breadwinner of the family, pregnant women in need of ICU beds, he added.

But some doctors look at the treatment path. The only criteria between an old and a young patient would be who is the sicker of the two, said Dr Smitha Thimmaiah, medical superintendent, Sparsh Hospital, Mysore Road. “If my parents were in this situation, I would not have ignored considering their age, right? The same is applicable to any other patient too. Age is not the criterion, but the disease severity and the need of treatment are,” said Dr Smitha.

‘Door-to-door vaccination not feasible’

‘Door-to-door vaccination not feasible’

11.05.2021 

Vaccine production in India will be ramped up to more than 13 crore doses per month by the end of July, the Centre told the SC while negating the court’s suggestions for door-to-door vaccination under the national immunisation scheme as unsuitable for Covid-19 inoculation.

The Centre pointed out that the vaccine is required to be maintained at a particular temperature and the person vaccinated is required to be kept under observation for 30 minutes. Moreover, vaccinators would have to open the vaccine vial box repeatedly, affecting maintenance of temperature and efficacy of the vaccines.

Govt Is Trying To Ramp Up Production Of Vaccines, Court Told

Govt Is Trying To Ramp Up Production Of Vaccines, Court Told

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:11.05.2021 

Clearing a cloud of claims over monetary aid given to Covid-19 vaccine manufacturers, the Centre informed the Supreme Court that it has provided no financial assistance to either Bharat Biotech or Serum Institute for development of vaccines but financial support of Rs 46 crore was extended for clinical trials.

“No governmental aid, assistance or grant is made either for research or development of either Covaxin or Covishield. However, they were given some financial assistance for conducting clinical trials,” the Centre said in its affidavit filed late on Sunday night in the SC. It clarified that the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) spent Rs 46 crore on clinical trials of the two vaccines.

The Centre also informed the court that it has given 100% advance money to Bharat Biotech International Ltd (BBIL) and Serum Institute of India (SII), totalling Rs 2,520 crore, for procurement of vaccine doses for the months of May, June and July. SII was paid Rs 1,732.5 crore for 11 crore doses of Covishield and BBIL was paid Rs 787.5 crore for 5 crore doses of Covaxin.

It said Covaxin was developed under public private partnership between the ICMR and BBIL. “ICMR has not provided any funds to BBIL for Covaxin development. However, funds have been spent in various activities undertaken by ICMR and National Institute of Virology (NIV), Pune, for Covaxin development. Also, its phase 3 clinical trials have been funded by ICMR. The trials have been conducted at 22 sites in 25,800 participants. Total estimated expenditure of ICMR is 35 crore,” the Centre said.

“The bridging studies of Covishield on 1,600 participants in India were supported by ICMR in partnership with SII. No funds were provided to SII. Funds were transferred to 14 clinical trial sites. Total estimated expenditure of ICMR is Rs 11 crore,” it added.

According to an central government official, the Centre has also helping vaccine development with autonomous institutes of DBT involved in generating animal models for SARS-CoV-2. The immunoassay labs are serving as national service facilities for vaccine development.

In its affidavit, the Centre said the government was trying to ramp up production of vaccines and both BBIL and SII have expanded their facilities to almost double their production and provide 5.5 crore and 6.5 crore doses of vaccines, respectively, by the end of July. It said by then, Sputnik V production by Dr Reddy’s Laboratories would be around 1.2 crore doses.

“As some foreign vaccines have now been administered globally in large numbers, the NEGVAC has decided to allow the conduct of bridging trials of the foreign vaccines simultaneously with its market deployment as opposed to the earlier requirement of conducting bridging trials prior to market deployment, following due safety and quality protocols and in light of the global experience of these vaccines if such vaccines are approved by USA, UK, EU and WHO,” the Centre said.

It added that 11 new vaccines were in various stages of clinical trials. “The department of biotechnology is supporting the research and development of nearly 11 vaccine candidates by industry and public sector laboratories. Three of these vaccine candidates have progressed from proof-of-concept to the clinical development stage and are currently undergoing clinical trials. To further accelerate Covid-19 vaccine development efforts, support for vaccine candidates in clinical development is being provided under ‘Mission Covid Suraksha - the Indian Covid-19 Vaccine Development Mission’,” the government said

As many as 11 new vaccines are in various stages of clinical trials

We don’t print notes to give Covid aid: Minister

We don’t print notes to give Covid aid: Minister

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Shivamogga:11.05.2021 

Senior Karnataka minister KS Eshwarappa on Monday stoked controversy, saying the government does “not own a printing machine” to mint currency notes and hand out compensation to thousands of working-class people hit hard by Covid-induced lockdown.

The minister said, “Do we print notes (to extend doles)?” at his hometown Shivamogga in reply to state opposition leaders’ demand that the BJP government must consider giving Rs 10,000 compensation to each working-class family.

Eshwarappa is the second minister in the BJP government to make insensitive remarks about the plight of the people in less than two weeks.

On April 28, state food and civil supplies minister Umesh V Katti had told a farmer-activist enquiring about foodgrain allotment to “go die”, following it up by saying that it is a “good time for farmers to die”. The audio clip of the conversation on phone had gone viral, causing major embarrassment to the state government.

Oppn leaders should keep quiet for 14 days, says KSE

On opposition leaders’ criticism of the way in which the government is handling the Covid crisis, Eshwarappa said, “If they keep mum, then the lockdown will be a success (and allow positive cases to fall).” He said former CMs Siddaramaiah, HD Kumaraswamy and Congress state unit president DK Shivakumar should “keep their mouth shut for 14 days so that we can tide over the crisis”.

“It is not the time to criticise the government since the pandemic has attacked India after 100 years… Nobody had foreseen it,” he said.

Eshwarappa’s statement drew sharp reactions from Congress and JD(S), while the BJP offered a calibrated view on the issue. JD(S) leader HK Kumaraswamy said the statement is no different from that of Katti’s. “While Katti was crass, Eshwarappa is much more polished by stating it does not matter whether people die in the state.”

Congress working president Saleem Ahmed said, “It is Eshwarappa’s decision whether he wants to print additional notes or take it from the state exchequer. However, as a minister and leader of the ruling party, it is the responsibility and dharma of the government to help people from poor background.”

BJP state general secretary N Ravi Kumar said, “Opposition parties have been demanding a financial relief package, but that does not mean the government is in a position to provide it. The government will look into the needs of the people and will take an informed decision.”

Stalin launches ₹4,153cr dole to ration card holders, people crowd PDS shops

Stalin launches ₹4,153cr dole to ration card holders, people crowd PDS shops

₹2,000 For Each During First Phase

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

11.05.2021 

Chief minister M K Stalin launched Covid relief distribution for ration card holders in the state on Monday.

Stalin gave away ₹2,000 to seven people at the Secretariat in the presence of cooperatives minister I Periyasamy and food minister R Sakkarapani.

Elsewhere in the state, distribution of tokens for two crore ration card holders commenced at public distribution system outlets. While staff at PDS outlets went door-to-door giving away the tokens, people started thronging ration shops in few places unaware of the door delivery system. Ration shop staff had tough time sending them away. Officials, however, said cash distribution in exchange for the tokens from May 15 will be a seamless exercise with each card holder allotted a separate time slab.

Giving away Covid relief of ₹4,000 was one of the key prepoll promises of Stalin. It was one among the first five orders he signed immediately after assuming charge as chief minister. He allotted ₹4,153 crore for the purpose. Stalin said that ₹2,000 each would be given in the first phase and the remaining would be distributed in second phase.

The token distribution for the first phase would be done over three days and cash distribution is scheduled for May 15 at ration shops. “People should wear face masks, follow social distancing and receive the cash,” the statement said.

As people started thronging ration shops at several places in the morning, officials stepped in and issued instructions to send them back home. Salem district collector S A Raman said that he has strictly instructed ration shop staff to visit every car holders house and distribute token at their door step. “I also instructed the staff not to ask the card holder to come to the shop to collect the token,” he said.

In Chennai, authorities swung into action soon after the scheme was launched by Stalin at the Secretariat. Chennai region has 1,746 ration shops and 21 lakh ration cards. So, authorities have planned to finish distribution of tokens before this Friday. There was confusion whether those with sugar cards, who have applied for conversion into rice cards, will be eligible to get this amount. Food minister Sakkarapani clarified that this group will not be part of the relief distribution program. Officials said a team headed by tahsildar or BDO has been formed to ensure effective implementation of the scheme.

An official from the cooperative department in Madurai said they had ensured that people do not visit ration shops seeking tokens. “Tokens are being given door-to-door. People who did not get the tokens can approach the respective fair price shop on Thursday and get it at once,” he said. According to him, distribution of cash will take seven days to complete from May 15 to cover all card holders in Madurai. People need to visit the shop only at the specified time on the given day to collect the cash, the official added.

DEADLY CROWD: People wait outside a ration shop in Chennai on Monday without adhering to any Covid protocols