Docs Advise Caution As Students Under Stress

No consensus on Class XII exams

Docs Advise Caution As Students Under Stress

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:04.06.2021

Parents and students want the state board Class XII exams cancelled in line with the CBSE, while teachers want to hold them.

The state government has asked around 7,000 higher secondary schools to find out what parents and teachers think. The schools compiled the feedback and sent it to the directorate of school education on Thursday. The school education department will hold an online meeting of health experts, educationists and officials on Friday. It will submit a report to chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday on the issue.

C Thenmozhi, a parent from Kolathur, said students were under pressure due to the postponement of exams. "Health experts are also saying the third wave will affect the children. So, it is better if the exams are cancelled," she said.

K P O Suresh, state president of Tamil Nadu Post-Graduate Teachers Association, said the board exams are necessary for admission to higher education courses. "A majority of students do not have access to online classes. The question paper pattern should be more liberal," he said.

"In a survey among parents and students, only 25% of parents wanted the board exams. Parents say the life of a child is more important than exams," said Agnes Rita, principal of GRT Mahalakshmi Vidhyalaya Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Ashok Nagar.

"Due to uncertainty and long wait, a majority of parents and students were not in favour of board exams. The state government should have conducted some form of online assessment earlier," said B Purushothaman, senior principal of Everwin Group of Schools in Chennai.

Padmaja R, headmistress of Chennai Girls Higher Secondary School in Saidapet, said teachers and top rankers want exams. "But, a majority of students were not for exams citing mental exhaustion and tiredness. They were also not confident of writing the exams after facing just three months of offline classes. Some students only gave Covid-19 as a reason for not wanting exams," she said.

Parents from government schools also were not in favour of exams . "Of 600 students in our school, parents of above 400 students were not for exams," a headmaster of a government school in the city said.

"In our school 30% students and 100% teachers were in favour of conducting the exams. The state government should at least conduct an online assessment test to evaluate the students," said GJ Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet.

N Vijayan, senior principal of Zion Matriculation Higher Secondary School in Tambaram, said the state government should conduct the exams after the cases come down.

CATCH 22: One survey said only 1 in every 4 parents wanted the Class XII board exams to be conducted on schedule

Driven from Covid wards, attendants now crowd hosp premises

Driven from Covid wards, attendants now crowd hosp premises

A Prathap & Komal Gautham TNN

Chennai:04.06.2021

Despite the directorate of public health’s order banning relatives of Covid patients from wards, these attendants remain a problem at government hospitals in the city.

On Thursday, there were at least 50 attendants of covid positive patients crowding the exit gate at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital (RGGGH) in Chennai. They insisted that they should be allowed to enter the wards to tend to their relatives.

Hospital dean E Theranirajan told TOI that ever since the order was issued, the hospital has ensured that attendants aren’t allowed in wards. “We also sought help from the city police to manage them. We appointed 60 volunteers. But attendants insist on helping patients themselves,” he said.

Around noon on Thursday, a TOI photographer witnessed a huge crowd at the out gate and several autos waiting alongside. These auto drivers and attendants are nothing but super spreaders, said health experts, adding that since they don’t wear PPE or N95 masks, they expose themselves to high viral load.

In May, TOI reported on hospitals in Chennai, Chengalpet, Ramanathapuram and Coimbatore mandating attendants for patients due to staff shortage. Vijayageetha, whose father was admitted to a Coimbatore hospital, said she had to call the nurse every time his saturation fell. “They don’t watch the patients closely as there are many critical patients. Almost everyone here needs ICU but it is not available and if we don’t stay with the patient, we are sure they will not be cared for properly. The situation is terrible,” she said. An attendant at RGGGH told TOI that though they were sent away, attendants of patients on ventilators were asked to stay close to the ward. “The nurses told us to stay as they are unable to even take toilet breaks,” an attendant said.

Director of public health T S Selvavinayagam told TOI that the state has ensured that no relative goes into the ward. “We cannot allow that as they will be exposed to high viral load and they will expose others as well when they travel. If they crowd outside the hospital, we need to ask the police to intervene,” he said.

POTENTIAL SUPER SPREADERS: Relatives of patients crowded the exit gate of Rajiv Gandhi hospital on Thursday

WA trying to get ‘trick consent’: Govt

WA trying to get ‘trick consent’: Govt

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:04.06.2021

In a fresh salvo against Facebook-owned messaging platform WhatsApp, the Centre has accused it of indulging in “anti-user practices” by trying to obtain “trick consent” for its contested privacy policy.

“Millions of existing users of WhatsApp, who have not accepted its new policy, are bombarded with notifications on an everyday basis,” the Centre told the Delhi high court in an affidavit, blaming the social messaging platform of trying to “force” its users to provide consent to the new privacy policy before the Personal Data Protection Bill becomes a law.

For this, the platform has “unleashed its digital prowess on unsuspecting existing users and would like to force them to accept the updated 2021 privacy policy by flashing such notifications at regular intervals”, the affidavit by the Centre said, adding that its “game plan is very clear”.

Disappearing mode in WhatsApp soon

Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg has told WABetaInfo, a website, that a disappearing mode is coming to WhatsApp that automatically enables ephemeral messages in new chat threads. He has mentioned that another feature ‘View Once’ will be rolled out soon.

‘How many have accepted the updated 2021 privacy policy’

The company wants to “transfer the entire existing user base committed to the updated 2021 privacy policy before the Personal Data Protection (PDP) Bill becomes the law”, the Centre said.

Backing a clutch of petitions challenging the platform’s revised privacy policy, the government has urged the HC to demand from it record of the number of times such notifications have been sent out till date on daily basis to users and what was the conversion rate — that is how many have accepted the updated 2021 privacy policy vis-a-vis the number of notifications.

It said WhatsApp is “currently having access to personal, sensitive and business data of hundreds of millions of Indian users and has also acquired role of an ‘essential digital service’ during Covid-19 pandemic” which is why its privacy policy and terms of service “should be examined on the touchstone of privacy principles as laid down in K S Puttaswamy judgment of the Supreme Court.”

The affidavit also informs HC that the Competition Commission of India (CCI), in a recent “prima facie opinion,” said that WhatsApp contravened legal provisions “through its exploitative and exclusionary conduct, in the garb of policy update.” Centre has argued that the privacy policy of WhatsApp violates rules as it fails to specify types of sensitive personal data being collected and also fails to notify users about details of the sensitive personal information which is collected. It said even when a user deletes her account, “a substantial corpus of data may be retained.”

Decide on home vaccination for elderly: HC

Decide on home vaccination for elderly: HC

04/06/2021

A Division Bench of the Kerala High Court on Thursday directed the State government to take a decision in 10 days on home vaccination for bedridden patients and senior citizens who cannot move out of their residences.

Norms for employing retired officials defined

Norms for employing retired officials defined

Fresh rules require vigilance clearance

04/06/2021

Devesh K. Pandey NEW DELHI

The Central Vigilance Commission (CVC) has laid down a defined procedure to be followed by government organisations for getting vigilance clearance before employing a retired official on a contractual or consultancy basis.

In a letter to the Secretaries of all the Union Ministries and departments, chief executives and chief vigilance officers of public sector undertakings, the CVC said the absence of a uniform procedure sometimes led to a situation where officials with tainted past or cases pending against them were engaged.

According to the procedure, before offering employment to retired All India Services and Group A officers of the Central government or their equivalent in other organisations owned or controlled by the Centre, vigilance clearance from the employer organisation, from which the officer has retired, should be obtained.

In case a retired officer served in more than one organisation, clearance has to be obtained from all of them where the person was posted in the 10 years prior to retirement.

Simultaneously, a communication seeking clearance should also be sent to the CVC.

If no reply is received from the erstwhile employer (s) within 15 days of sending the communication by speed post, a reminder can be sent.

If there is no response within 21 days, vigilance clearance should be deemed to have been given. Later, if the employee is found involved in any vigilance-related matter or not cleared from the vigilance point of view, the erstwhile employer organisation would be responsible for all consequential actions.

Cooling-off period

In the case of retired officials taking up full-time or contractual assignments in the private sector, the Commission said often, the “cooling off” period was not observed and the act constituted serious misconduct. It directed all government organisations to formulate rules to ensure the cooling-off period was observed

CBSE cannot deny students name change on certificates’

CBSE cannot deny students name change on certificates’

Right to change names is part of freedom of speech: SC

04/06/2021

Krishnadas Rajagopal NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Thursday found a Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) rule that prohibited students from changing or correcting their names on Board certificates, based on a presumption that it would affect “administrative efficiency”, far-removed from social realities and even “absurd”.

The court said the CBSE’s examination bylaws of 2007 made it look as if the Board was more concerned about administrative paperwork than the future prospects of its students, who use their certificates as a public document to go for higher studies and gain employment.

“Students stand to lose more due to inaccuracies in their certificates than the Board, whose sole worry is increasing administrative burden… Administrative efficiency cannot be the sole concern of CBSE. Every institution desires efficiency in their functioning. But it does not mean that efficiency is achieved by curbing their basic functions… One of the primary functions of CBSE is to grant certificates to its students,” a three-judge Bench led by Justice A.M. Khanwilkar observed in a 132-page judgment.

Right to be forgotten

On the other hand, the court illustrated how a juvenile accused of being in conflict with the law or a sexual abuse victim whose identity is compromised due to lapses by the media or the investigative body may consider changing the name to seek rehabilitation in the society in exercise of their right to be forgotten. “If the Board, in such a case, refuses to change the name, the student would be compelled to live with the scars of the past,” Justice Khanwilkar highlighted.

The court ordered the CBSE to take “immediate steps” to amend the by-laws and incorporate a mechanism outlined in the judgment “for recording correction or change, as the case may be, in the certificates already issued or to be issued by it”. The court said one’s name is an intrinsic element of identity. The right to change our name is part of the right to freedom of speech and expression

Class 12 evaluation criteria might be similar to that of Class 10

Class 12 evaluation criteria might be similar to that of Class 10

04/06/2021

S. Poorvaja

CHENNAI

Following the cancellation of the Class 12 exams for CBSE students, schools now expect that the evaluation criteria, which will be announced in two weeks, might be similar to the framework announced for the class 10 results earlier this year.

The evaluation criteria for the Class 10 results took into account marks in the tests and exams conducted throughout the academic year as well as 20 marks weightage for internal assessments. The results also had to be in consonance with the school’s performance in the Class 10 board exams during the last few years. Private CBSE schools began online classes at the start of 2020-21 and through the year, conducted assessments online for Class 12 students.

“Whatever exams we used to conduct during a regular school term, we conducted online. We were able to physically administer revision exams when students came back to the campus in January,” said Srinivasa Raghavan, principal, Bala Vidya Mandir.

While schools had been given the flexibility to conduct practical exams any time till the end of the board exam schedule, CBSE schools in Tamil Nadu scheduled and completed the practical exams in March and April.

Ashok Shankar, general secretary, CBSE Schools Management Association, said most schools also conducted multiple rounds of revision exams and pre-board exams.

“The onus will now lie on the schools to comply with the criteria that the CBSE comes up with. With regard to ensuring transparency, the CBSE can recommend that its officials will carry out audits of this process at random, in schools across the State,” he said.

Superspeciality hospital coming in Guindy

Superspeciality hospital coming in Guindy

Govt. announces free city bus travel for transpersons and the differently abled

04/06/2021

The hospital will come up on the King Institute campus

.B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

The Hindu

Special Correspondent

CHENNAI

The Tamil Nadu government on Thursday made six major announcements, including the construction of a 500-bed multi-superspeciality hospital at Guindy and free city bus travel for transpersons and the differently abled.

The announcements coincided with former Chief Minister and DMK leader M. Karunanidhi’s birth anniversary.

An official release said a state-of-the-art library would be built in Madurai at a cost of ₹70 crore in memory of Karunanidhi. ‘Ilakkiya Mamani Virudhu’ will be instituted for Tamil literary figures on a par with Kalaimamani awards. Free houses will be given to the recipients of Jnanpith, Sahitya Akademi and other national and State awards.

Warehouses will be established at a cost of ₹30 crore in Tiruvarur.

The ₹250 crore hospital will come up on the campus of the King Institute. The state-of-the-art library, to be built over 2 lakh sq ft, is meant to benefit the people of southern districts. It will be similar to the Anna Centenary Library in Chennai, which has been serving the people of northern districts.

Transpersons and the differently abled can travel free on town buses, in a measure similar to the benefit announced for women last month. “This order will come into force after the lockdown is lifted,” the release said. The ‘Ilakkiya Mamani Virudhu’, comprising a cash prize of ₹5 lakh and a citation, will be presented to three writers every year.

Under the dream house scheme, a house will be given free to scholars who are natives of Tamil Nadu and have won important awards. The house will be in their native district or in any district of their choice.

The government will construct a 16,000-tonne storage unit at a cost of ₹24.3 crore in Tiruvarur, besides 54 drying units and solar dryers costing ₹6.2 crore.

New IT rules don’t apply to us, Google tells HC

New IT rules don’t apply to us, Google tells HC

03/06/2021

Staff Reporter NEW DELHI

Google told the Delhi High Court on Wednesday that the new Information Technology Rules 2021, which came into effect late last month, did not apply to the U.S.-based tech giant as it was a “search engine” and not a “social media intermediary” like Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

On April 20, the High Court issued a slew of directions on a petition by a woman who claimed her photographs and images, though not in themselves obscene or offensive, were taken from her Facebook and Instagram accounts without her consent, and uploaded on a pornographic website with derogatory captions added to them.

Why not buy 100% vaccines if you get discount, SC asks Centre

Why not buy 100% vaccines if you get discount, SC asks Centre

Bench questions Union govt.’s logic that it is getting the sop due to bulk orders

03/06/2021

Krishnadas Rajagopal NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court has questioned the Centre’s logic that manufacturers are selling it COVID-19 vaccines for a hefty discount because it places bulk orders. The court then asked the government why it cannot buy 100% of the vaccines at a discount instead of leaving the States to fend for themselves.

“The Central government justifying its lower prices on account of its ability to place large purchase orders for vaccines raises the issue as to why this rationale is not being employed for acquiring 100% of the monthly CDL [Central Drugs Laboratory] doses,” a Bench, led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, noted in a 32-page order.

The Centre can buy vaccines for ₹150, while the States have to shell out between ₹300 and ₹600.

If the Central government’s unique monopolistic buyer position is the only reason for it receiving vaccines at a much lower rate from manufacturers, it is important for us to examine the rationality of the existing Liberalised Vaccination Policy against Article 14 [right to equality] of the Constitution since it could place severe burdens, particularly on States/Union Territories suffering from financial distress,” the court held.

It said the Centre, with a ₹35,000 crore budget to buy vaccines, has money to spare unlike the States which have suddenly been burdened with the task to cough up funds for vaccines. “The Union Budget for 2021-2022 earmarked ₹35,000 crore for procuring vaccines. In the light of the Liberalised Vaccination Policy, the Central government is directed to clarify how these funds have been spent so far and why they cannot be utilised for vaccinating persons aged 18-44,” the court ordered.

Central varsities wait for clarity on CUCET

Central varsities wait for clarity on CUCET

Consultation was held in March

03/06/2021

Priscilla Jebaraj NEW DELHI

With major school boards cancelling their Class 12 examinations, students looking to apply for college are now waiting for clarity regarding a new avatar of an old admission method — the Central Universities Common Entrance Test (CUCET). In March, about 45 Central universities were told that the National Testing Agency would conduct the CUCET this year for all aspiring students, but the pandemic may have cast a pall of uncertainty over those plans.

“We were told that the NTA would take over the conduct of the exam, and it would be used for all admissions, with separate tests for UG and PG courses... About 45 universities consented,” said the admissions director of one of the newer universities in southern India, who did not want to be named. He claimed that the older universities such as the Jawaharlal Nehru University, the Delhi University (DU), Jadavpur and Shantiniketan were not so keen on a common entrance test, as they have their own admission processes.

However, the controller of examinations from one of the older institutions said all Central universities were on board. “All the controllers were unanimous that apart from a common entrance test, we should have a common counselling process as well, as is done for [engineering admissions via] JEE,” he said.

DU Vice-Chancellor P.C. Joshi told The Hindu on Tuesday that if the Education Ministry approves the use of the CUCET, that could be implemented, adding that the DU would not compromise on merit.

Officials at the Education Ministry, NTA and UGC did not respond to queries regarding CUCET 2021

Relief for engg colleges, worry for others

Relief for engg colleges, worry for others

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:03.06.2021

The state government’s decision to cancel the Class XII state board exams may prove a blessing in disguise for engineering colleges, where more than half of all seats went vacant last year.

However, for arts and commerce colleges, the decision brings the challenge of adding 1.25 lakh seats for the academic year 2021-22. This is to be done in anticipation of the large number of students who are likely to pass this year due to the cancellation of the Class XII board exams.

“Last year, some 34,000 seats at engineering colleges went vacant after the admission committee and the private colleges could not fill them. This year, more students will qualify for engineering courses due to which the number of vacant seats may fall substantially,” said an education department official.

This is expected to benefit private colleges which were left with more than 50% of all seats vacant last year, he added.

Approximately 1.40 lakh science stream students and 5.43 lakh general stream students were expected to take the board exam.

Wednesday’s decision applies to only regular students and the government is yet to take a call on ‘repeater candidates’, who number 1.25 lakh students for Class XII general stream.

Last year, about 3.71 lakh students took the Class XII (general) board exams of which 2.87 lakh cleared it and took admission in commerce and arts colleges.

“This year about 1.25 lakh more students are expected to apply for admission to arts and commerce courses. The education department will have to ensure addition of almost 1,000 divisions to accommodate the huge additional number,” said Jayvantsinh Sarvaiya, president of Gujarat State College Principals’ Association.

About 53,000 students of Class XII science (Group A) were expected to take the board exams this year. Students who have opted for Group A with mathematics can qualify for engineering courses after fulfilling other criteria. In comparison, there 56,000 students in this group last year of whom about 42,500 cleared the exams.

While the board is yet to announce assessment criteria for students, experts feel the overall number of students clearing Class XII and applying for college admissions will far exceed that of last year.

No clarity on GujCET

After the cancellation of the board exams, the government is exploring the possibility of holding the Gujarat Common Entrance Test (GujCET), the state-level exam is held annually for science students seeking admission to in degree engineering, diploma engineering and pharmacy courses in government, grant-in-aid and self-financed engineering institutions in Gujarat. “Unless there is clarity on GujCET, the college admission process cannot be initiated. Last year about 1.25 lakh students had taken the entrance test,” said a source in the Gujarat board. The merit lists for college admission were drawn up by giving 40% weight to percentile obtained by the candidate in GujCET 2020 and 60% weight to percentile obtained in the Class XII (science) board exams. TNN

Decision on JEE (Main) tests, NEET-UG next week

Decision on JEE (Main) tests, NEET-UG next week

New Delhi:03.06.2021

The government will review the situation next week before it is likely to finalise new dates for the remaining two JEE (Main) tests, as well as take a decision on whether NEET-UG could be conducted on August 1, reports Manash Gohain.

The ministry of education will also decide on the fate of the Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) after CBSE announces the assessment scheme for the class XII boards. Due to surge in Covid-19 cases in April, the April and May editions of JEE (Main) were postponed and registration of NEET-UG which were supposed to commence from May 1 was kept in abeyance.

According to a senior education ministry official, “A review meeting next week will assess the situation. Given the present situation, the NEET-UG is likely to be postponed.”

After the cancellation of the class XII exams, concerns are being raised by experts on expected disparities in school level evaluation across the country, as well as challenges that universities are likely to face in normalising the differences in results prepared by school boards.

1,000 govt employees died of Covid since March 2020: Assn

1,000 govt employees died of Covid since March 2020: Assn

ManuAiyappa.Kanathanda@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:03.06.2021

At least 1,000 fulltime and contract employees of Karnataka government have succumbed to Covid-19 and around 1 lakh workforce has been infected with the virus since March last year, according to informal surveys by employees’ associations.

“According to department-wise data collected by our association, 518 full-time employees have died of Covid-19 since last year. The total number of employees who have died of Covid-19 is well over1,000 if we take into account data provided by other associations which have contracted staff as members,” claimed CS Shadakshari, president of the Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association (KSGEA).

Other associations are those of contract employees and workers, ASHA workers and anganwadi teachers who are not full-time government employees. Hence, they do not come under KSGEA.

Victims’ families yet to get aid

There are 6.5 lakh government employees. The government has offered Rs 30 lakh ex-gratia to kin of those who have died due to Covid-19 and jobs to dependents based on their education qualification.

“About 400 teachers have lost their lives, largely in Kalaburagi and Belagavi divisions. This is because many of them were sent on election duty,” said Karnataka Primary School Teachers’ Association president Basavaraj Gurikar.

Some of the deceased were in irrigation, rural development, panchayat, public works, agriculture, revenue and animal husbandry departments. At least 21 forest department personnel died of Covid-19.

Employee association members said kin of many employees were yet to get full benefits from the government.

› Belagavi village sees 86 Covid-19 deaths in May, P 4

Seniority Cannot Be Claimed From A Date When The Incumbent Was Not Borne In Service: SC [Read Judgment]

Seniority Cannot Be Claimed From A Date When The Incumbent Was Not Borne In Service: SC [Read Judgment]: 'The Law is fairly well settled in a series of cases, that a person is disentitled to claim seniority from a date he was not borne in service.'

Fixation Of Seniority Between Direct Recruitment Employees And Promoted Employees

Fixation Of Seniority Between Direct Recruitment Employees And Promoted Employees: The issue relating to ascertaining the seniority in a post where employees are appointed both through direct recruitment and promotion from feeder post has evolved by a series of precedents. The...

Temporary AYUSH docs at GRH shown the doors

Temporary AYUSH docs at GRH shown the doors

The AYUSH doctors assisted the PG doctors at the hospitals by way of oxygen management for patients - ensuring the right amount of oxygen supply for every patient, among other things, they said.

Published: 02nd June 2021 10:20 AM 

By Express News Service

MADURAI: Days after allopathy doctors were recruited temporarily in the district, AYUSH doctors who were recruited last year temporarily for Covid duty, at the Government Rajaji Hospital (GRH) and the Government Hospital for Thoracic Medicine (GHTM) at Thoppur were shown the doors on Tuesday.

Speaking to TNIE, a homoeopathy doctor said, "As many as 33 AYUSH doctors were temporarily recruited for posting on Covid duty at the GRH and GHTM, through a private manpower agency in June-July last year when the pandemic peaked during the first wave. While four of them opted for transfer, 29 doctors continued to work at the two hospitals under the control of the Directorate of Medical Education."

A Siddha doctor added, "AYUSH doctors who completed BHMS/BSMS were roped in by the government at a time when MBBS doctors were hesitant to take up Covid duty. We were recruited at a salary of Rs 60,000 per month, of which Rs 4,600 goes to the manpower agency. Although our work orders stated that we were being recruited for three months, our contract period was extended through oral instructions from the State Health Department."

The AYUSH doctors assisted the postgraduate doctors at the hospitals by way of oxygen management for patients - ensuring the right amount of oxygen supply for every patient, among other things, they said. "Now, the 80 medical officers (MBBS doctors), who were recruited last week, do the same work assigned to us, indicating that we have been replaced by them," the AYUSH doctors opined. The doctors also claimed that they were not paid their salaries for the past four months.

Another homoeopathy doctor, on condition of anonymity, stated that the temporary AYUSH doctors worked only in Covid wards, posted one week in the wards, the next week in-home quarantine, returned to the Covid wards in the third week and the cycle continued. Meanwhile, the department doctors are posted in non-Covid wards as part of routine duty, giving them a respite.

The Siddha doctor said, "It came as a rude shock at a time when we were hoping to get another extension of service period, as the previous extension ended by May 31. There was no prior intimation."

A group of AYUSH doctors submitted a petition to Collector Dr S Aneesh Sekhar on Tuesday evening, seeking to appoint them alternatively at any other Covid Care Centres or Interim Covid Care Centres.

Dean Dr Rathinavel said that the termination of temporary AYUSH doctors posted at government medical colleges came as an oral instruction from the office of the Directorate of Medical Education late on Monday night. "Had it been a GRH-specific instruction, arrangements would have been made to retain them. But, their termination is a statewide decision," he mentioned.

Southern Railway resumes 33 pairs of train services in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after two weeks

Southern Railway resumes 33 pairs of train services in Tamil Nadu and Kerala after two weeks

Although the railways extended the cancellation of select trains owing to poor patronage, most of the services were resumed amid speculation that lockdown curbs may be relaxed after June 7

Published: 02nd June 2021 07:18 PM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: After being suspended for two weeks on account of the lockdown in the state and Kerala, Southern Railway has resumed 33 pairs of reserved special train services.

The express special trains which include daily, weekly and Mainline Electrical Multiple Unit (MEMU) services were resumed between May 31 and June 1, according to railway sources.

Although the railways extended the cancellation of select trains owing to poor patronage, most of the services were resumed amid speculation that lockdown curbs may be relaxed after June 7.

According to official documents, the daily special trains were resumed on the following routes in Tamil Nadu:

Arakkonam – Jolarpettai, Chennai – Jolarpettai, Coimbatore – Mayiladuturai, Chennai Egmore – Rameswaram, Chennai – Karaikudi, Chennai – Madurai, Chennai – Tiruchy, Chennai – Erode, Chennai – Coimbatore, Chennai – Bengaluru, Chennai – Tirupati, Chennai Egmore – Puducherry, Coimbatore – Nagercoil, and Chennai Egmore – Thanjavur.

Weekly/tri weekly trains have been resumed on the following routes:

Chennai – Madurai, Chennai – Nagercoil, Chennai – Nizamuddin, Tambaram – Nagercoil, Rameswaram – Coimbatore, Mangaluru – Puducherry, Kanniyakumari – Puducherry, Gandhidham – Nagercoil.

MEMU express specials have been resumed on the following routes:

Villupuram – Madurai, Arakkonam – Salem, Kannur – Coimbatore, Tiruchy – Palakkad Town and Tiruchy – Rameswaram.

Anxiety among TN students after CBSE cancels Class 12 Board exams

Anxiety among TN students after CBSE cancels Class 12 Board exams

Stakeholders divided over the practicality of conducting State Board Class 12 exams but stand united for the idea of coming up with a meaningful way to evaluate students

Published: 03rd June 2021 05:04 AM 

Express Illustration

By SUSHMITHA RAMAKRISHNAN And JEYALAKSHMI RAMANUJAM

Express News Service

CHENNAI/MADURAI: The decision to cancel CBSE Class 12 public exams came as a shocker to students, parents, and even many school authorities. As Tamil Nadu mulls over the possibility of cancelling the State Board exams, stakeholders remain divided on the matter. However, everyone is on the same page on quickly coming up with a meaningful way to evaluate students to aid applying for higher education.

The Centre on Tuesday cancelled the CBSE Class 12 public exams. Following this, it is expected that some combination of internal assessments conducted by the schools will be used as a yardstick to grade students. However, if Tamil Nadu government cancels the State Board exams, it cannot rely on internal assessment scores as many schools did not have the capacity to conduct online tests for students during the lockdown.

Lack of internal assessments

The majority of CBSE and affluent private State Board schools conducted quarterly, half yearly, and revision exams online in addition to the cumulative assessment of class tests. These assessments can be used to ultimately derive a final grade. However, many State Board schools did not conduct any test or were able to hold only one or two revision exams when schools were opened briefly earlier this year.

“Many CBSE schools had already conducted multiple online tests. However, this is not true of State Board schools,” said KR Nandhakumar, head of the Tamil Nadu Matriculation, Higher Secondary and CBSE Schools Association, adding that the State government may not have much choice but to conduct an exam, at least for government school students.

R Visalakshi, the head of the Tamil Nadu Private Schools Association, said, “Board exams to go on or not, the government should tell us soon how students will be evaluated.” She said passing all students in Class 12 was not a viable solution as it will cause chaos while applying for higher education. “Attendance for online classes was not compulsory; meaning, exams were not compulsory. Some children, therefore, did not write any test. How is it their fault when everything was optional to begin with?” she questioned.

Students who plan to apply for higher education in professional courses are in favour of conducting public exams while others do not want to risk exposure to Covid-19. Even teachers are divided. PK Ilamaran, head of Tamil Nadu Teachers Association (TNTA) said government should prioritise the safety and welfare of students in the wake of the pandemic and cancel the public exams. He, however, said that the State should consult stakeholders on evaluation procedures.

The competitive exam conundrum

On the other hand, S Arumainathan, president of the Tamil Nadu Parents Teachers Association, told Express that many schools, particularly State government schools, did not conduct any serious internal assessments. “If they cancel State board public exams without cancelling competitive exams like JEE and NEET, students will be in a fix.

They will have to rush to coaching classes to crack these exams,” he said. MDMK leader Vaiko also opined that the situation will increase the importance of common entrance exams like NEET, paving way for the union government to implement the National Education Policy silently. “The decision of cancelling the board exams and not the competitive exams has been made without any consultation. Tamil Nadu students will be at disadvantage as they will not have enough experience to face competitive exams,” said KPO Suresh, leader of the Tamil Nadu Post Graduate Teachers Association.

“The DMK needs to pass a resolution in the Assembly, inform to the union government and proceed to Supreme Court’s to get concurrence. All these must be done before the National Testing Agency (NTA) begins to invite applications for NEET,” said Suresh.

State Platform for Common School System (SPCSS) Tamil Nadu General Secretary P B Prince Gajendra Babu said, “The Union government’s decision is not based on the interest of the students. In a pandemic situation, if CBSE conducts exam, it might affect the students, so the exams are cancelled, but the same students, when they write National Eligibility Test for admission into colleges, will they not be affected? We are unable to understand the logic here.

In the States where the New Education Policy (NEP) is already in effect, there will be All India Exam by NTA and only its score will be considered by colleges for admission and not the Class 12 board exam score. Whether you conduct the exam or not, it becomes irrelevant. States need not follow CBSE and depending on the their condition, State Board Class 12 exams should be conducted at a later date by giving timetable well in advance,” he said.

Ensure equal opportunity, fairness while appointing staff: HC tells TN varsities

Ensure equal opportunity, fairness while appointing staff: HC tells TN varsities

The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered that all State-run universities in Tamil Nadu must ensure equal opportunity, fairness and transparency while appointing staff.

Published: 02nd June 2021 04:41 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court on Tuesday ordered that all State-run universities in Tamil Nadu must ensure equal opportunity, fairness and transparency while appointing staff. The court issued the direction after it was found that a person, who did not possess any valid educational qualifications, was appointed as assistant technical officer (library) by the Bharathiar University in Coimbatore.

Justice R Mahadevan in his order said, “His appointment has deprived opportunity to eligible candidates. In furtherance to illegality, he has not only enjoyed the fruits of his illegal appointment but also all benefits attached until and post retirement.” The court also ordered the university to videograph interviews, revoke illegal appointments and recover salary paid to such candidates.

The judge made the observations while disposing of petitions moved by Dr K Ramesh and two others challenging the appointment of one Gowthaman. “Though his appointment was challenged, the Registrar did nothing to revoke it. Knowing fully well that he did not possess required qualifications, Gowthaman continued in the post and enjoyed benefits.

Therefore, culpability is to be fixed on the person liable to recruit candidates, and whenever illegal appointments are made, immediate action must be taken not only to stop the continuance of service of appointees, but also against the persons who were responsible for such selection,” the order added.

In conclusion, the court said, “The benefits of public employment, not only includes social security, respect from society and monetary benefits throughout the tenure of employment, but also is extended post retirement. Hence, the appointments to government jobs, more particularly in universities and educational institutions have become a matter of public and judicial scrutiny.”

Numbers show TN not ready to open up

Numbers show TN not ready to open up

At 19%, State TPR Four Times Higher Than Centre’s Guideline of 5%; Vax Coverage Poor

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

The number of fresh cases of Covid-19 is falling as is the test positivity rate in most districts, but the numbers are nowhere near the levels the Centre has set for opening up.

On Tuesday, the Centre set three guidelines for opening up — average seven-day test positivity rate (TPR) of less than 5%, more than 70% vaccination coverage among the 45-plus age group, and “community ownership of care and Covid-19 appropriate behavior”.

No district in the state has a weekly TPR below 5%. Kancheepuram and Sivaganga have the lowest TPR of between 9.4% and 9.6%, followed by Vellore (11.2%). And public health officials said they will not be able to predict if these rates will fall below 5% by June 7, when the state has to extend or lift lockdown restrictions.

On Wednesday, the state said at least 23 districts have reported a decline in the weekly TPR. For instance, fresh cases in Chengalpet came down to 996 on Wednesday from around 2,600 at the beginning of the lockdown. The TPR that was around 32.4% in this district dropped to 19.9% this week. Similarly, daily fresh cases in Chennai came down from around 7,500 to less than 2,500 and the TPR is now 11.4% compared to 23.3% when the lockdown began. However, the TPR in above the state average of 19% in at least 23 districts.

“Despite aggressive testing and isolation, we don’t know why cases are not coming down in some parts of the state. While we have been able to bring down the positivity rate and infection rate in Chennai and surrounding region, we don’t see similar results in parts of the west or central region,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan. The issue was discussed even at the medical experts meeting with chief minister M K Stalin on Wednesday.

Tirupur’s TPR has touched 38.1% compared to 32.8% last week. Despite decrease in cases, Coimbatore is reporting a TPR of 36.6% compared to 30.5% last week. Erode's TPR, which was around 27% last week, is inching close to 30%.

“Test results are delayed and hence isolation is delayed. This is one the main reasons for increase in cases despite lockdown,” said a senior official in Tirupur. Samples from smaller districts are now being sent to nearby districts to expedite results, he said.

Secondly, less than 50% of the healthcare providers in the state and only 31% of frontline workers have taken both doses of the vaccine.

While the state says it can’t measure coverage among people above 45 years (with comorbid conditions), only 20% of people above 60 years have received the first dose and 8% are fully vaccinated. But the vaccination numbers, too , aren't uniform. While Greater Chennai Corporation has said 55% of the above-45 population in the city has been vaccinated, the Nilgiris district announced that at least 60% of the population in the same age group has been vaccinated.

India may get Pfizer’s vaccine in July

India may get Pfizer’s vaccine in July

Final Deal Still Pending Between Govt & American Drug-Maker

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.06.2021

The government’s decisions to ease regulatory norms for clearing foreign-made vaccines for use in India and an in-principle consensus on an indemnity waiver are intended to facilitate supply of Pfizer’s vaccine against Covid-19, which officials hope can be made by July.

The final agreement between the government and the American drug-maker on indemnity and procurement norms are still pending, though the two parties have arrived at an in-principle consensus, sources said.

According to a source, the government may give a complete waiver to foreign-made vaccines that have been approved for restricted use by the US Food and Drug Administration, European Medicines Agency, Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency, UK., Pharmaceuticals and Medical Devices Agency, Japan, or which are mentioned in WHO Emergency Use Listing.

While Pfizer has been insisting on supplying the vaccines through the Centre, the government is working out a mechanism whereby the Centre can negotiate a price with the company and states and UTs can procure the jabs directly from the company at the pre-fixed price, the source said.

However, final signing of the agreement may still take a few days. Besides, despite the waivers and agreements, any company importing the vaccines will have to make a formal application, with documents of approval secured abroad, seeking emergency use authorisation from the drug regulator.

“Once all the documents are submitted and a formal application is made, the approval can come in around 10 days but supplies will take time to arrive and depend on the existing bookings and available stockpile with the company,” a senior regulatory official said.

Pfizer too said it is in talks with the government to make its Covid-19 vaccine available in India.

Apart from Pfizer, Cipla too has been negotiating with the government seeking fasttrack approvals to bring Moderna’s single-dose Covid-19 booster vaccine to the country.

Full report on www.toi.in

DOSE OF IMMUNITY: Students and employees who are travelling to foreign countries for education and employment line up to get vaccinated at a special camp in Bengaluru on Wednesday

Experts want state to unlock in phases, 1st in dists with fewer cases

Experts want state to unlock in phases, 1st in dists with fewer cases

Pushpa.Narayan@timesgroup.com

Chennai:03.06.2021

An expert panel at a meeting with chief minister M K Stalin on Monday has suggested that lifting of lockdown in the state must be staggered as the three-week shutdown has not brought down cases uniformly across Tamil Nadu. The state government, however, must continue to make efforts to augment beds and human resources across districts to handle subsequent waves and infections in children, the panel said.

Doctors pointed out at the meeting about cases peaking at different districts at different times. For instance, while cases in Chennai region have dropped drastically, fresh cases continue to swell in parts of western region. Even within the region, cases in Erode are increasing, but the count in Coimbatore has started declining. “Extending lockdown in a region that has lower infection rate and empty hospital wards may not make sense. Health policies must make economic sense too,” said National Institute of Epidemiology deputy director Dr Prabhdeep Kaur. The decision to tighten or reduce curbs should be made based on district-level epidemiological factors, she said.

TN may get a lab for genome sequencing

As new variants of the SARS-Cov 2 emerge across the globe, officials in the state public health laboratory drafted aproposal to set up a whole genome sequencing lab for Tamil Nadu. If approved, TN will get its own lab to sequence genomic code of the virus by the end of June at a cost of ₹2 crore.P 4

‘Upgrade health infra in tier-2 cities, small towns’

High positivity rate, increase in number of cases or deaths, high occupancy rate in hospitals, and doubling time of infection are some of the factors that must be considered while deciding on restrictions, she said.

Experts also discussed the need to upgrade health infrastructure and human resources in tier-2 cities and smaller towns. Deans Dr E Theranirajan and Dr R Jayanthi said the state should ask doctors to stop prescribing steroids for long duration to prevent infections such as mucormycosis (black fungus).

WHO chief scientist Dr Soumya Swaminathan said the state should prepare to handle subsequent waves. Besides protecting the unvaccinated vulnerable population — elderly and people with comorbidities — the state has to draft policies to protect children in the subsequent waves, she said.

Woman claims she was given 2 doses together

COVID VAX BLUES

Woman claims she was given 2 doses together

Kozhikode:03.06.2021

A 46-year-old woman has complained that she was administered two doses of Covishield vaccine, one after the other, during her vaccination at Kadameri community health centre here on Tuesday.

Rajula, hailing from Karakandi near Teekuni, has been admitted to the Kozhikode medical college hospital after she fainted on returning home and experiencing weakness in her limbs.

Local health centre authorities, however, said that the woman was not administered two doses of the vaccine. They said that the first attempt to administer the vaccination was aborted after insertion of the needle due to blood return and the vaccination was provided in the second attempt. District RCH officer T Mohandas said that a report has been sought from the doctor concerned on the incident.

Rajula’s husband Nizar said that he, along with his wife, had gone to the CHC for the first dose of Covishield vaccine and after administering the first jab, the nurse gave another injection to Rajula. “When I was given the single dose of injection, I told the nurse that my wife, who was administered the vaccine just ahead of my turn, was given two shots,” he said.

Nizar said that Rajula fainted around 7pm and was taken to a hospital in Vadakara and later shifted to Kozhikode medical college. Nizar has filed a complaint with the district collector and district medical officer. TNN

Model tenancy law gets Cabinet nod, to serve both owners & tenants

Model tenancy law gets Cabinet nod, to serve both owners & tenants

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.06.2021

More than six years after it was first mooted by the Centre, the Union cabinet on Wednesday approved the Model Tenancy Act which aims to protect the interests of both tenants and landlords.

The government expects this model law, which states can adopt and enact, will open up a large number of residential and commercial properties for rental purposes as the legal framework will eliminate the fear of owners losing their properties.

While announcing that states have the option to adopt the policy, housing and urban affairs minister Hardeep Singh Puri said he expects BJP-ruled states to roll it out and that other states would also do so as it benefits the common man. He said the policy, once notified by the states, will cover urban and rural areas. The model law lays out the norms for establishing separate rent authorities, courts and tribunals in every district to protect the interests of owners and tenants.

The model Act says that the rent and duration of tenancy will be fixed by mutual consent between the owner and tenant and there has to be a written agreement. It suggests that the security deposit for residential properties won’t be for more than two months’ rent and for commercial properties, it can’t be more than that of six months.

For revision of rent, landlords need to give a written notice three months in advance and the new rent will be on mutual consent.

Full report on www.toi.in

We are an ‘aggregator’, not a ‘social media’: Google to HC

We are an ‘aggregator’, not a ‘social media’: Google to HC

Says New IT Rules Not Applicable To Its Search Engine

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:03.06.2021

Arguing that it is an “aggregator” and not a “social media intermediary”, Google on Wednesday moved the Delhi high court, contending that the new Information Technology rules for digital media were not applicable to its search engine as it did not fit the definition of “Significant Social Media Intermediary” (SSMI) which has been made a part of the rules mandating strict compliance.

It challenged a single judge order of HC where certain directions were issued against Google, ruling that the new rules apply to it.

A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh issued notice to the Centre, Delhi government, Internet Service Providers’ Association of India, Facebook and others on the plea by the global firm, seeking their stand.

Appearing for the company, senior advocate Harish Salve said the single judge had misinterpreted some of the provisions and wrongly applied them on the search engine. The plea urged the court to set aside a single judge order which applied the rules on the company while dealing with an issue related to removal of offending content from the internet.

While Salve sought a stay on coercive steps against Google in case the earlier order was not complied with, the bench refused to grant interim order and said it will examine the stand of the other stake-holders.

The case stems from a plea filed by a woman seeking to block offensive and objectionable content against her uploaded on a pornographic site. The single judge had directed Delhi police to ensure the offensive content was removed and directions were also issued to search engines, including Google, Yahoo and Bing, to “globally de-index and de-reference” the offending content from their search results.

It directed search engines to use automated tools, to proactively identify and globally disable access to any content which is exactly identical to the offending content, that may appear on any other websites/online platforms.

Full report on www.toi.in

A bench of the Delhi high court issued notice to the Centre, the Delhi government and Facebook seeking their stand on Google’s plea