கிறுக்குத்தனமாக பதில் அளிப்பேன்! வெறுப்பேற்றிய வேளாண் அமைச்சர்

கிறுக்குத்தனமாக பதில் அளிப்பேன்! வெறுப்பேற்றிய வேளாண் அமைச்சர்

Added : ஜூன் 08, 2021 01:31

தஞ்சாவூர் : ''கிறுக்குத்தனமாக கேள்வி கேட்டால், கிறுக்குத்தனமாகத் தான் பதில் அளிப்பேன்,'' என, வேளாண் அமைச்சர் பன்னீர்செல்வம் கூறினார்.

அமைச்சரின் பேச்சுக்கு விவசாய சங்கத்தினர் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்துள்ளனர். குறுவை சாகுபடி தொடர்பாக, தஞ்சாவூர், திருவாரூர் மாவட்ட வேளாண் அதிகாரிகள் ஆலோசனை கூட்டம், தஞ்சையில் நேற்று நடந்தது. இதில், வேளாண் துறை அமைச்சர் எம்.ஆர்.கே.பன்னீர் செல்வம், எம்.எல்.ஏ.,க்கள் உள்ளிட்ட பலர் பங்கேற்றனர்.கூட்டத்துக்கு பின், அமைச்சர் பன்னீர்செல்வம் பேட்டி அளித்தார். அப்போது நிருபர்கள், 'நேரடி நெல் கொள்முதல் நிலையங்களில், மூட்டைக்கு, 40 ரூபாய் விவசாயிகளிடம் பிடித்தம் செய்யப்படுகிறதே' என கேள்வி எழுப்பினர்.

உடனே அமைச்சர், ''இப்படி கிறுக்குத்தனமாக கேள்வி கேட்டால், கிறுக்குத்தனமாகத் தான் நானும் பதில் அளிப்பேன்,'' என்றார். கேள்விக்கு உரிய பதில் அளிக்காமல், பத்திரிகையாளர் களை அவமதிக்கும் வகையில், அமைச்சர் பேசியது கடும் அதிர்ச்சியை ஏற்படுத்தி உள்ளது. அமைச்சரின் பொறுப்பற்ற பதிலுக்கு, விவசாய சங்கத்தினர் கடும் கண்டனம் தெரிவித்து உள்ளனர். காவிரி விவசாயிகள் பாதுகாப்பு சங்கத்தின் தஞ்சாவூர் மாவட்டச் செயலர் சுந்தர விமல்நாதன் கூறியதாவது: விவசாயிகளின் வேதனைகளை வெளிப்படுத்தும் விதமாக, நிருபர்கள் கேள்வி கேட்கின்றனர்.

அதற்குப் பொறுப்பாக பதில் அளிக்க வேண்டிய அமைச்சர், பொறுப்பற்ற முறையில் பேசிஉள்ளார்.இதுபோன்று, அமைச்சர் பொது இடத்தில் பதில் அளிக்கும் பட்சத்தில், ஆட்சி மாறியும், காட்சி மாறவில்லை என்பது போலத் தான் உள்ளது. இது கண்டிக்கத்தக்கது. விவசாய துறைக்கு இவர் பொருத்தமானவரா என்பதை முதல்வர் தான் முடிவு செய்ய வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு, அவர் கூறினார்.அதிகாரிகள் குழு பயணம்தஞ்சாவூர், திருவாரூர், நாகை உள்ளிட்ட டெல்டா மாவட்டங்களில், குறுவை பருவம் துவங்கியுள்ளது. இப்பருவத்தில், 3.50 லட்சம் ஏக்கரில் நெல் சாகுபடி செய்ய, வேளாண் துறை இலக்கு நிர்ணயம் செய்துள்ளது. இதுவரை, 1 லட்சம் ஏக்கரில் மட்டுமே சாகுபடி பணிகள் துவங்கியுள்ளன.

மேட்டூர் அணையில் இருந்து, ஜூன், 12ல் தண்ணீர் திறக்க முதல்வர் ஸ்டாலின் உத்தரவு பிறப்பித்துள்ளார்.காவிரி நீர், கடைமடைக்கு சென்று சேர்வதற்காக மேற்கொள்ளப்பட்ட கால்வாய்கள், வாய்க்கால்கள் துார்வாரும் பணிகள், 67 கோடி ரூபாய் செலவில் நடந்து வருகின்றன. சாகுபடி பணிகள் குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்ய, வேளாண் துறையினருக்கு, தலைமை செயலர் இறையன்பு உத்தரவிட்டுள்ளார்.இதையடுத்து, வேளாண்துறை செயலர் சமயமூர்த்தி, இயக்குனர் தட்சிணாமூர்த்தி உள்ளிட்ட அதிகாரிகள் குழுவினர், டெல்டா மாவட்டங்களுக்கு சென்றுள்ளனர்.மாவட்ட வேளாண் அதிகாரிகளுடன் சாகுபடி நிலவரம், விதை நெல், உரங்கள், பூச்சிக்கொல்லி மருந்துகள் கையிருப்பு குறித்து ஆய்வு செய்கின்றனர். சாகுபடியில் ஆர்வமில்லாத விவசாயிகளை ஊக்கப்படுத்தவும், தேவையான உதவிகளை வழங்கவும் அறிவுறுத்தி வருகின்றனர்.

How Covid-19 second wave rose like tsunami and is crashing fast

How Covid-19 second wave rose like tsunami and is crashing fast

Corpn’s Multi-Pronged Approach Helped City Shed Tag As Hotspot & Recover

Komal.Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.06.2021

The city had more cases, more deaths during the second wave of the viral infection that began on April 11 compared to the first wave in May 2020. While several factors including a highly infectious strain of the virus played a crucial rule in expediting transmission, epidemiologists say efforts taken by Greater Chennai Corporation dragged the curve down quicker this year.

On June 30, 2020, with 2,392 new cases, Chennai reported the highest number of cases for the first wave. It took 30 days for the city to reach the peak from May 31 (prepeak period) when it was reporting around 800 cases. In the second wave, on May 12, Chennai reported 7,564 cases – it’s peak during the second wave – 30 days after 2,105 cases on April 12, 2021. “In 2020, it took 16 weeks for the city to report a pre-peak number of 800 cases a day. In 2021, Chennai did that in a fortnight,” said P Ganeshkumar, epidemiologist, National Institute of Epidemiology.

How did the erstwhile hotspot manage this? Timely lockdown played a crucial role. But public health experts say five key decisions by GCC helped the city. First, besides ramping up testing, the state asked scan centres to share CT reports of patients suspected for Covid-19. Since Covid-19 is a notifiable disease, many patients evaded RTPCR tests and opted for CT scans. “This was one of the first leaks we plugged,” said joint commissioner V Alby John. Last year, while there were similar measures, the data from private labs was shared to members of the public directly. This year, it was the civic body that delivered the test results along with the medical kits.

Second, to stop those tested positive from spreading the infection, the civic agency initiated a slew of measures. It arranged for tele consultations and car ambulances that would pick them up from doorsteps to screening centres and hospitals. Those advised home isolation were given medical kits and were monitored by a special team, including medicos appointed by GCC. “Early isolation and therapy reduced the number of cases and deaths,” said Dr Ganeshkumar. The city also tested more than 30,000 people per day in May 2021. “With high and targeted testing, we were able to identify more cases. Test positivity rate also dropped below 10% eventually in a shorter period of time. Last year, it took about a month in comparison to less than 20 days this year due to higher number of tests,” he said.

Despite all these measures, as active cases in the city crossed 49,000 the pressure on the healthcare system was overwhelming. “The progression of the disease was rapid and unpredictable. And more women and younger people suffered badly, recalls infectious diseases expert Dr S Subramanian. Oxygen and drugs such as remdesivir were scarce.

The city corporation worked with the state health department to ensure timely supply of life saving oxygen gas and drugs at different hospitals. “After several brainstorming sessions, we tightened the existing system and filled some gaps. We took vaccines at people’s doorsteps to ensure vulnerable people are quickly covered,” says GCC commissioner Gangandeep Singh Bedi. “Almost all the measures worked. We know we still have a long way to go to stop the virus,” he said.

Vax drive on hold as TN runs out of stock

NEXT BATCH ON JUNE 9

Vax drive on hold as TN runs out of stock

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2021

Tamil Nadu had a little more than 30,000 vaccine doses left on Monday morning, and stocks were nearly emptied out in several districts by evening. By 8pm on Monday, the state announced that 28,000 people received vaccines across the state.

For the second time in the past ten days, the state has announced that it may have to pause the vaccination drive until it receives fresh stock of vaccine from the Centre. The immunisation wing at the directorate of public health said as per the Centre’s schedule for Tamil Nadu, the next batch of around 63,000 doses of Covaxin is expected on June 9 and another 40,000 doses on June10. By June 11, the state is expecting 3.65 doses of Covishield. “The dates are tentative. We have been told that these dates can be preponed or postponed based on availability,” said Dr K Vinay Kumar, joint director (immunisation).

On Monday, several people across the state were turned away by hospitals including tertiary care centres as they did not have vaccines. On June 3, vaccines were available in 2,780 vaccine sessions compared to 1,069 on Monday. With lockdown in force in many districts, people were advised to wait until the vaccination centre close to their homes receives fresh stock. “More people want to get vaccinated now. We have long queues outside vaccine centres, but many centres are turning people away because there is no vaccine,” said state health minister Ma Subramanian. “We don’t stock vaccines at warehouses. All of them are distributed to the districts and cold chain points as soon as stock arrives,” he said.

So far, the state has received 1.01 crore doses of the vaccine under the state and central quota. Of this, nearly 97.35 lakh doses were administered until Monday. In addition, 3 lakh doses have been wasted since inoculation began in January 2021.

In the last week of May, the state said it will pause the vaccination drive after stocks dwindled. But on June 1, the state received 4.25 lakh doses of covid vaccine. The centre promised to double the state’s allotment to 42 lakh in June. This included 25.8 lakh of the Centre’s vaccines and 16.7 lakh doses the state was to buy for people in the 18-44 years age group. “We have to see the Centre’s revised schedule after the PM's announcement on Monday on centralising vaccine procurement,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan.

So far, 17 lakh doses have been given to people in the18-44 years age group, 26 lakh doses in the senior citizens group and 34 lakh people in the 45-59 years age group. Along with doses given to healthcare providers and frontline workers, this takes the cumulative tally to 97.35 lakh doses.

Central quota rule for teacher test creates confusion

Central quota rule for teacher test creates confusion

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.06.2021

Inclusion of noncreamy layer OBC as a category for reservation in the Tamil Nadu State Eligibility Test (TNSET) has caused confusion among thousands of aspiring teachers.

This is because under the state government’s 69% reservation policy, a distinction is not made between “creamy layer” and “non-creamy layer” as the Centre does. However, Annamalai University, which is conducting TNSET 2021 to recruit assistant professors in state universities and college, has made this distinction in the application forms.

Online registrations begin from Monday. A minimum of 55% at the Masters level is the eligibility criteria. There is a 5% relaxation for candidates belonging to socially backward communities. Until last year, this 5% relaxation was provided to Backward Class (BC), Most Backward Class (MBC), Scheduled Caste (SC), and Scheduled Tribe (ST) candidates. This year, Annamalai University’s notification mentioned SC, ST and Other Backward Class (OBC) as noncreamy layer candidates.

G Uday Shankar, an applicant from Madurai, said that while the first half of the notification mentions providing 5% relaxation for OBC noncreamy layer candidates, there is no such mention in the second half. Instead, it uses the terms MBC and BC while discussing fees and results.

G Karunanidhy, general secretary of All-India Federation of OBC Employees' Welfare Association said, "According to Tamil Nadu's existing 69% reservation rule, there is no such category called OBC non-creamy layer. The state did not accept this reservation concept adopted by the Union government in its recruitment drives."

When asked about this, SS Sivashankar, Tamil Nadu Backward Class Welfare Minister, said that the issue was brought to his attention on Monday morning and he has asked officials to check.

"Since Annamalai University's vice-chancellor post is vacant, we are trying to contact the committee formed to monitor the application process to seek an explanation and the issue will be clarified tomorrow (Tuesday)," he told TOI.

Annamalai varsity notification this year mentioned non-creamy layer OBC as a category

House surgeons stage protest in Coimbatore

House surgeons stage protest in Coimbatore

Coimbatore:  08.06.2021 

As many as 100 house surgeons at Karpagam Medical College and Hospital staged a protest on Monday, demanding an increase of the monthly stipend, accommodation and food facilities.

“They pay us a stipend of 2,500 per month, which is meagre compared to the government stipend of 23,000 a month. They also don’t provide us accommodation or food, despite us working round-theclock,” said a protester. “Any given day, 30 house surgeons are posted in the Covid-19 ward and many are posted in the emergency care, where Covid-19 patients are treated. In the last one month alone, 15 house surgeons were infected with the virus.” By afternoon, the hospital management agreed to provide accommodation. But food will not be free and the stipend will remain the same. TNN

Recover ₹20K from suspended official: SHRC to govt

Recover ₹20K from suspended official: SHRC to govt

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:08.06.2021

The state human rights commission (SHRC) has recommended to recover ₹20,000 from a suspended panchayat secretary in Tenkasi district who had cheated two women of their money after assuring them to get a job as a sweeper and for granting building permission respectively.

SHRC made these recommendations in the petitions filed by P Sundarammal and V Mariammal, residents of Kuvalaikkanni village complaining about Murugan, secretary of the panchayat.

According to Sundarammal, she had paid ₹11,000 to Murugan for appointment to the post of sweeper. Though she was appointed as a sweeper and worked for more than a year, salary was not paid to her. Since no steps were taken on her representation to the district administration officials, she had filed the petition before the SHRC.

Similarly, Mariammal had paid ₹20,000 and ₹1.2 lakh on two occasions to Murugan for getting building permission and for allotment of a group house. Since Murugan did not take steps and failed to return the money, she moved the SHRC.

In his counter affidavit, Murugan denied all the allegations by both women. However, the Tenkasi district collector had submitted a report stating that an inquiry was conducted and Murugan was placed under suspension. During the pendency of the inquiry, Murugan had returned the money to both the women.

Taking into account the submissions, SHRC member A Chittaranjan Mohandoss said that based on the report of the collector, it is clear that Sundarammal was appointed as a sweeper by Murugan in his personal capacity without any appointment order. Salary of ₹45,000 was also paid to her without any records after she had made a complaint to the commission.

The commission said that it indicates that Murugan, by abusing his position as a public servant, had obtained money from both the women.

RTOs to accept licence applications from Thursday

RTOs to accept licence applications from Thursday

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:08.06.2021

Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) in Chennai are likely to accept applications for fresh driving licence (DL) and learner's licence from Thursday.

The state transport department has issued orders extending the validity of all motor vehicle documents till September 30. This order is based on Ministry of Road Transport and Highway (MoRTH) guidelines.

There are 13 RTOs in the city and its suburbs. In order to avoid crowds, they were accepting a limited number of applications. Everyday, a few license applicants were allowed to visit these RTOs for tests or submitting photos/ biometric details. But their operations came to halt from May 24.

Now that the government has relaxed lockdown norms in Chennai, motorists have started applying for DLs, LLRs and RCs through the government's online portal (https://parivahan.gov.in/parivahan/).

“Despite so many attempts, I was not able to book a slot online as the portal said services were shut indefinitely,” said Vijayakannan, whose licence is due for expiry in two weeks. “I'm worried if traffic police might fine me for driving with an expired licence,” he said.

In response, a senior transport department official said that there was no need to panic as validity of all motor vehicle documents, which expired since February 1, has been extended till September end.

“We have opened up only today (Monday) with limited staff. So we have not enabled online booking of slots for fresh DL/LLR applications. But we are planning to accept applications for fresh DL and LLR in the next two days” he said, requesting anonymity.

The transport department is waiting for National Informatics Centre (NIC), an union government entity which manages parivahan portal, to depute adequate staff from their end to restart operations in Chennai RTOs.

E-registration portal crashes on heavy demand, restored

TRAFFIC: 60 LAKH

E-registration portal crashes on heavy demand, restored

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2021

The government’s e-registration portal crashed on Monday after lakhs of users logged on to register and facilitate their movement for work. A select category of skilled workers including electricians, plumbers and those engaged in housing keeping and security agencies was allowed to function in the current lockdown period after acquiring e-passes.

While the process was a breeze on Sunday night, it soon became difficult as tens of thousands of people began logging in. With individuals making multiple attempts, the portal crashed and could be restored only in the afternoon.

K Ramesh, vice-president of the Tamil Nadu Air-condition, Refrigeration Engineers & Technicians Union, which is affiliated to the CITU, said he had registered on the portal on Sunday night but that it went blank since Monday morning. “Thousands of self-employed workers were desperate to avail themselves of the facility since their livelihood had been affected for about one month,” he said. Several people who did not come under the category permitted to apply also logged on and that would have increased the pressure on the system, he added.

Minister for information technology T Mano Thangaraj later told reporters that the number of hits for the portal had increased by 10-fold. “The traffic was about 60 lakh users when we expected only six lakh applicants. As soon as the crash became evident, steps were taken to restore the website,” he said. The website, https://eregister.tnega.org/, was made accessible to members of the public by 3pm, he said.

Officials in the state information technology department said that the number of hits on the portal shot up as the same individuals attempted to login multiple times affecting the server. “We were expecting only a few lakh registrations on day one, but the number overshot it,” the official added.

City goes back to old ways as govt eases lockdown norms

City goes back to old ways as govt eases lockdown norms

Arterial Roads Choked With Vehicles

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:08.06.2021

The city crept back to its old ways on the first day of partial lockdown as shops, markets and offices opened up. Anna Salai, GST road and other arterial roads which wore a deserted look for two weeks had bumper to bumper traffic on Monday.

At places such as Kasimedu fishing harbour and vegetable markets, Covid appropriate behaviour was, as usual, not followed. There were hardly any cops to control crowds at Kasimedu.

At Koyambedu, at least 10,000 people commuted by 3,600 vehicles that were meant for ferrying vegetables and fruits for retail shops from the wholesale market, a Chennai Metropolitan Development Authority official said.

Chennai city police conducted vehicle checks at strategic locations in the city. The city cops have booked cases against 4,098 people in the 24 hours which ended at 6 am on Monday and they seized 2,154 vehicles including 2,074 bikes for violating the pandemic lockdown norms. Traders, shopkeepers however welcomed the relaxations. “Our business runs on credit. The situation has been bleak for more than a year and a half now and with two weeks of total lockdown, things became very difficult,” said M Kannabiran, who runs a provision store in Keelkattalai.

CM announces high-level panel to study impact of NEET

CM announces high-level panel to study impact of NEET

It will suggest corrective measures if exam has caused harm

06/06/2021

Assessing the situation: The panel will look at whether NEET has affected students on the fringes of society. File photo VEDHAN M

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin on Saturday announced the constitution of a high-level committee, headed by former judge of the Madras High Court Justice A.K. Rajan, to study the impact of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) on medical college admissions in Tamil Nadu.

“The committee will study whether NEET has affected students on the fringes of society, suggest corrective measures if NEET has caused any harm and alternative ways and legal means for medical college admissions for all, and its possible implementation,” the Chief Minister said in a statement.

Noted educationists and officials will be members of the high-level committee. “Tamil Nadu has a historical duty to uphold social justice, and the State government is committed to taking measures to remove the effects of NEET,” Mr. Stalin said.

Affecting some students

He said educationists were of the opinion that NEET had severely affected students of rural areas, those from poor families in urban areas, government schoolchildren and those who had studied in Tamil-medium schools.

“The [erstwhile] DMK government led by Kalaignar [M. Karunanidhi] enacted a law for admission to medical colleges based on the marks scored in the Class 12 examinations, and the State government has launched many legal battles [on this front],” he recalled.

Bombay HC refuses to stay MUHS exams

Bombay HC refuses to stay MUHS exams

06/06/2021

Special Correspondent Mumbai

The Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court on Saturday refused to grant interim relief to approximately 44,000 medical students across the country who are to appear physically on June 10 for exams held by the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS).

A single judge Bench of Justice Avinash Gharote said, “Every examinee should have himself tested for COVID-19 and produce a negative report along with his hall ticket. As a safety measure, it would be advisable for each examinee to have conducted an RT-PCR test upon himself and only in case, he finds such a test is negative, he may sit for the exams.”

“The MUHS, therefore, is directed to issue an advisory to the principals of various colleges and also to publish on its website indicating that it would be desirable that each examinee should have himself tested for COVID-19 and should produce a negative report along with his hall ticket on June 10,” the court said.

How to recover from a spinal cord injury

How to recover from a spinal cord injury

06/06/2021

Spotlight on recovery: A high-resolution image of the treated spinal cord.

Aswathi Pacha

A violent fall, a vehicular accident, or a sports injury can sometimes damage the spinal cord and brain leading to paralysis and other life-threatening health problems. The nerve fibres that carry important information are unable to regrow, leading to irreversible damage. Using novel bioinformatics frameworks and screening platforms, researchers have now identified a new gene combination that can help enhance the growth of nerve fibres after an injury.

It is well known that mammals including humans show a high capacity for brain and spinal cord regeneration but only during young ages. The researchers set out to decode why and how young neurons respond so well to injury. They studied a class of genes called transcription factors. They identified a particular combination of genes KLF6/Nr5a2 that when expressed lead to enhanced growth of nerve fibres following injury. The results were published last month in Nature Communications.

Ishwariya Venkatesh, the first and co-corresponding author of the paper explains: “If you think about growth after an injury, it is very similar to developmental growth that happens during the early embryonic stages. Inside the neuron, when you want an axon or nerve fiber to grow, there are networks of genes that work together. Between embryonic day 18 to about a week after birth, these genes are still on because they're helping the axons grow. So, if an injury occurs during this period, the genes quickly deploy these networks to repair. But a week after birth, these genes are no longer active because active developmental axon growth has ended and they are no longer needed.” She was a Research Assistant Professor at Marquette University when the paper was published.

Rebooting networks

“So, if we are able to turn back these gene networks in response to an injury, then we have a chance for high regenerative success. We're trying to artificially reboot those gene programs and trying to coax an older neuron to switch back to a younger, growth-competent state. And we do that by manipulating transcription factors that simultaneously regulate the expression of hundreds of growth-relevant genes because we can't go in and tweak the expression of individual genes,” she adds.

When asked if there is any evolutionary basis for these genes losing their program when we are adults she explains: “There could be a couple of reasons. One is we gave up or traded the ability to regenerate because even if these axons do regenerate, the chances of them reintegrating into a functional circuit in a complex system like the mammalian system is trickier. I also speculate that the longer the distance the axons have to grow, the more guidance errors can happen, and they can synapse onto the wrong targets leading to unintended behavioral outcomes.”

The team adds that these findings can open up avenues to discover additional groups of transcription factors with stronger reprogramming abilities to ultimately allow us to fully revert an older neuron into a younger growth-competent state following injury. These findings also hold promise as a novel molecular strategy for the treatment of human spinal cord injuries in the future.

“We are continuing with pre-clinical tests of Klf6/Nr5a2, for example confirming the genes are still effective when delivered in the chronic injury state, many months after the initial damage. This information is critical for individuals now living with spinal injury,” adds Murray G. Blackmore, Associate Professor at Marquette University and co-corresponding author in an email to The Hindu.

Central Bank, IOB may be up for sale, BoI a likely candidate

Central Bank, IOB may be up for sale, BoI a likely candidate

Surojit Gupta & Sidhartha TNN

New Delhi:07.06.2021

The Centre may sell its stake in Central Bank of India and Indian Overseas Bank (IOB) as part of its mega privatisation initiative unveiled in the Union Budget in February.

While the two banks have been recommended for disinvestment by government think tank NITI Aayog, Bank of India (BoI) may be a potential candidate for sale, sources familiar with the deliberations told TOI.

The proposal from the government think tank is being vetted by the disinvestment and financial services departments, ministry sources said. The exercise is part of a multistage process for finalising entities that are to be taken up for privatisation. While NITI Aayog has been tasked with recommending the names, it is then reviewed by the interministerial group of officers and subsequently by a group of ministers, before the Union cabinet puts its seal of approval.

Sources in the Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM), which handles the government’s asset sales programme, said it will examine the proposal with the department of financial services and discuss the legislative changes needed for the privatisation of the state-run banks. “The timeline will depend on the legislative changes required,” the sources added.

Govt hopes to sell IDBI bank this fiscal

Besides, the issue will have to be discussed in detail with RBI as the law and regulations provide a special dispensation for state-run entities in several areas.

The cabinet recently cleared the decks for the sale of government stake in IDBI Bank, but sale of the Centre’s holding in the two state-run entities will break new ground as the Narendra Modi administration has embarked on an ambitious privatisation drive, which for the first time includes the financial services space.

The government is hoping to conclude the sale of IDBI Bank stake during the current financial year. Among the dozen state-run lenders, NITI Aayog had set its eyes on the six entities that were not part of the merger initiative a few years ago and included Bank of Maharashtra, Punjab & Sind Bank and UCO Bank in addition to BoI, IOB and Central Bank.

It, however, was of the view that the better off entities would attract greater interest, resulting in the shortlisting of IOB and Central Bank.

Based on the current share price, the two entities are together valued at around ₹44,000 crore with IOB’s market cap estimated at ₹31,641 crore.

Delhi hospital junks ‘don’t use Malayalam’ note for nurses

Delhi hospital junks ‘don’t use Malayalam’ note for nurses

TNN and Agencies

New Delhi:07.06.2021

Delhi government’s GB Pant Hospital on Sunday withdrew a controversial circular issued a day before asking its nursing staff not to use Malayalam at work and use only Hindi and English.

The circular was issued on Saturday by the nursing superintendent of Govind Ballabh Pant Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (GIPMER) and strict action is likely after an investigation that is underway.

The hospital’s medical director, Dr Anil Agarwal, issued an order revoking the circular. Saturday’s circular was issued without any instruction or knowledge of the hospital administration and Delhi government and stands withdrawn with immediate effect, the order stated. Dr Agarwal confirmed to TOI that the circular had been revoked.

Stalin: Will make Tamil Centre’s admin language

Chief minister M K Stalin on Sunday vowed to make Tamil the official and administrative language of the Union government. Not only Tamil, the DMK would work to get such a status for all the 22 languages in the eighth schedule, he said. “These languages should be administrative languages too for official communication in their respective states,” said party MP Elangovan.

‘400 Malayali nurses at hosp’

The Saturday circular read, “A complaint has been received regarding Malayalam language being used for communication in working places in GIPMER. Whereas maximum patients and colleagues do not know this language and feel helpless causing a lot of inconvenience. So, it is directed to all nursing personnel to use only Hindi and English for communication. Otherwise, serious action will be taken.”

An official of GB Pant Nurses’ Association said out of around 850 nurses, almost 400 were Malayali. The circular was issued based on a patient’s complaint to a senior officer in the health department regarding the use of Malayalam at the hospital, Liladhar Ramchandani, association president, claimed, adding that “the union disagrees with the wordings”.

LANGUAGE CONTROVERSY: The circular was issued on Saturday by nursing superintendent of GIPMER in Delhi

CBSE class XII results will be a fair evaluation

CBSE class XII results will be a fair evaluation

The Board will give every aspirant a chance to write the exam when situation normalises

Rajlakshmi.Ghosh@timesgroup.com

07.06.2021

The cancellation of the class XII boards brought in its wake a collective sigh of relief among students, parents and teachers, but the debate surrounding the right assessment criteria is far from over. Questions are being raised as to what would constitute a ‘welldefined objective criterion’. Two options emerged – one, on whether the assessment should be based on performances in the final exams of the previous three classes (IX, X, XI), or should a certain weightage be given to class X board results and class XII internal assessments. Speaking to Education Times, Sanyam Bhardwaj, controller of examinations, CBSE, clarifies, “We will prepare the assessment guidelines/Policy and present the same before the Honourable Supreme Court in two weeks’ time. The guidelines, thereafter, will be implemented in all the schools for preparation of the class XII results.”

CBSE is aware of all the intricacies, rules, and regulations, so when the guidelines are prepared, all the students who are entering the board exams will be covered, he adds. “We will look into the interest of all candidates before finalising the assessment modalities. It is hypothetical to discuss any policy without going into the details of the data presented. While the Policy may not be absolute, but we will find a way to prepare results that will be very close to the real assessment of the students if exams could have been held.” He also advises parents and students not to panic or be worried and rely on CBSE’s expertise as “a student-friendly body” to take the right decisions.

Elaborating further on the CBSE’s assessment mode, CB Sharma, professor and former chairman, NIOS, says that the Boards may have been cancelled for the moment, but it would give every aspirant a fair chance to write a full board exam once the situation normalises. “This includes both meritorious students who have been consistently working hard or average students who may not be satisfied with their last three years’ performance and the school’s internal assessments.”

“In the absence of a single statutory body (like the UGC) for school education, decisions that are taken in the interest of school students are not pedagogical in nature but driven more by administrative considerations,” Sharma says. Existing bodies such as the CBSE, NCERT, NIOS, NVs and KVs come under the Education Ministry even though they are autonomous entities. “We do not have research precedence on issues related to school education simply because there is no statutory body to govern its functions. An expert committee set up for working out the assessment modes will best address the crisis,” he adds.

For an objective assessment, Madhav Deo Saraswat, principal, The Scindia School, Gwalior, says, “The method should be congruent with the student’s performance, as well as the school’s performance, for the student and the school are the key stakeholders in the process and mutually calibrate the curve of learning and performance.” To measure the consistency of performance of students and arrive at a figure guided by the students’ results in internal exams in the 2021 session, all exams taken over the year need to be considered, says Saraswat.

How are universities planning admission for the new academic year

How are universities planning admission for the new academic year

Due to the changed assessment this year, they are looking for an alternative method for admission

c-Puniti.Pandey@timesgroup.com

7.6.2021

With the cancellation of class XII exams, universities across the country are now contemplating alternative methods to continue the admission process for the new academic year.

University of Delhi which releases cut off for admission based on class XII results is waiting for CBSE to announce the performance of students on a ‘mature method of evaluation.’ The officials of the university expect the cutoffs to come out by July 15. JK Lakshmipat University, Jaipur is admitting students based on the marks scored by the students in class X.

This year in absence of class XII board examination, we will consider class X score and performance in co-curricular activities ( national level exams, competitions, sports, research, community service etc.) as one of the benchmarks to shortlist students. In addition, for BTech programme, JEE percentile plays an important role. Considering the pandemic, we will also consider students who appeared in JEE 2020 with valid percentile", says Pankaj Sharma, director admissions, JKLU.

“Vijaybhoomi University has taken a decision to support school students and allow them to submit the mark sheet of the XII grade by June 2022. Additionally, in case a student fails to pass the qualifying exam, we shall grant the credits earned by the students which shall be valid for 2 years. A student can then resume his/her university degree again within two years,” says Navneet Sharma, registrar, Vijaybhoomi University. This will allow students to face the exam uncertainty with confidence and ladder up into university seamlessly, he added. This deferred acceptance is being extended to all school boards such as IBDP, IGCSE, CBSE, and State Boards.

Admission to engineering colleges in Tamil Nadu is based on a common competitive Tamil Nadu Engineering Admission (TNEA) exam that is held in the last quarter of the calendar year for the next academic year, explains SRR Senthilkumar, principal, Sona College of Technology. Since CBSE, ICSE and several state boards have cancelled class XII exams, there are similar expectations from the Tamil Nadu State Education Board. “If the class XII exams are cancelled in Tamil Nadu, the TNEA 2021 may be scheduled as early as the end of July 2021; the engineering admissions could be over by end of August 2021,” he adds. At The NorthCap University, Haryana, provisional admissions to various programmes are in progress. Meanwhile, the university administration is also waiting for CBSE to release students’ results.

Woman booked for lockdown violation

Woman booked for lockdown violation

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 07.06.2021

Police on Sunday morning booked a woman for abusing traffic personnel in Chetpet after her daughter was fined for violating lockdown norms. The action came a couple of hours after a video of the woman, who gave her name as Tanuja Kanthulla and claimed to be an advocate, went viral on social media and a head constable lodged a complaint.

In his petition, Rajith Kumar of the Chetpet traffic police said he was on duty with his colleagues Prabhakaran, Anand and Vimalraj when they intercepted a car around 7.45am for not following the protocol. The driver, who identified herself as Preethi Rajan of Kilpauk, said she was on her way to purchase fish on the beach but did not possess an epass. Police took her licence, registered a case and handed over an e-challan.

The woman then made a call on her mobile phone. Within a couple of minutes, Tanuja Kanthulla arrived in a highend car, hurled abuses at the police personnel and threw away the e-challan, the complaint said.

In the video, which runs for nearly 2.17 minutes, Tanuja, who said she was an advocate, threatened to strip the police personnel of their uniform if they did not mend their ways. “She was not wearing a mask, another violation, and grew furious when we asked her to put it on. We asked her to speak politely to which she refused,” said Rajith Kumar.

The woman was booked under Sections 270 (malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life), 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant.), 294 B (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place,), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty) and 506 (1) criminal intimidation.

Stating that Sunday’s incident was unpleasant, the city police appealed to the public to cooperate with the law enforcers in implementing lockdown restrictions. Field officers have also been instructed to treat the violators politely.

IN THE NET: The woman and her daughter who were booked

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கரோனா பணியில் உள்ள அனைத்து மருத்துவர்களுக்கும் ஊக்கத்தொகை: டாக்டர்கள் சங்கம் வலியுறுத்தல்

கரோனா பணியில் உள்ள அனைத்து மருத்துவர்களுக்கும் ஊக்கத்தொகை: டாக்டர்கள் சங்கம் வலியுறுத்தல்

incentives-for-all-physicians-involved-in-corona-work-doctors-association-insistence

கரோனா வார்டு உள்ளே மூன்று மாதங்கள் வேலை பார்த்தவர்களுக்கு மட்டும்தான் ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இது அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கும் செயல், சரியல்ல. கரோனா வார்டுக்கு வெளியே பணியாற்றியவர்களுக்கும் வழங்க வேண்டும் என சமூக சமத்துத்திற்கான டாக்டர்கள் சங்கம் அரசிடம் வேண்டுகோள் வைத்துள்ளது.

இதுகுறித்து இச்சங்கத்தின் பொதுச் செயலாளர் ஜி.ஆர்.ரவீந்திரநாத் இன்று விடுத்துள்ள அறிக்கை:

* கரோனா சிகிச்சைப் பணியில் ஈடுபடும் மருத்துவர்களுக்கு, பயிற்சி மருத்துவர்களுக்கு, பட்ட மேற்படிப்பு மாணவர்களுக்கு, செவிலியர்களுக்கு மற்றும் இதர ஊழியர்களுக்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படும் எனத் தமிழக முதல்வர் அறிவித்ததை மனமார உடனடியாக வரவேற்றோம்.

* கடந்த அதிமுக ஆட்சியில் செய்யாததை , தமிழக முதல்வர் செய்வதற்கான அறிவிப்பை வெளியிட்டதால் மிகவும் மகிழ்ந்தோம்.

* ஆனால், தற்பொழுது கரோனா பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுவரும் அனைவருக்கும் அதாவது அனைத்து மருத்துவப் பணியாளர்களுக்கும் ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படவில்லை. மாறாக, தொடர்ச்சியாக கரோனா வார்டு உள்ளே மூன்று மாதங்கள் வேலை பார்த்தவர்களுக்கு மட்டும்தான் இந்த ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படுகிறது. இது சரியல்ல. மிகுந்த அதிர்ச்சி அளிக்கிறது.

* மருத்துவமனை உள்ளேயும், வெளியேயும் பல்வேறு துறைகளில் பணியாற்றிய மருத்துவர்களும், செவிலியர்களும், மருத்துவப் பணியாளர்களும் கூட கரோனா தொற்றுக்கு உள்ளாகியிருக்கிறார்கள். சிலர் இறந்திருக்கிறார்கள்.

* கரோனா வார்டுக்கு வெளியே பணியாற்றுபவர்களுக்கு, உள்ளே பணியாற்றுபவர்களை விட கரோனா தொற்று பரவ அதிக வாய்ப்புள்ளது. ஏனெனில், வெளியே பணியாற்றுபவர்களுக்கு பாதுகாப்புக் கவசம் போன்றவை வழங்கப்படுவதில்லை. எனவே, அவர்கள் அதிகம் தொற்றுக்கு உள்ளாகிறார்கள். அவர்களும் கடுமையாக உழைக்கிறார்கள்.

* மருத்துவ சேவை என்பது ஒரு மிகப்பெரிய கூட்டு நடவடிக்கை. கூட்டுச் செயல்பாடு. கரோனா வார்டுக்கு உள்ளே பணியாற்றுபவர்கள், வெளியே பணியாற்றுபவர்களின் ஒத்துழைப்பு இல்லாமல் பணியாற்ற முடியாது.

மருத்துவமனையில் பணியாற்றும் லிஃப்ட் மேன், ஆம்புலன்ஸ் ஓட்டுநர்கள், ஸ்ட்ரெட்ச்சர், வீல்சேர் தள்ளுபவர்கள், தூய்மைப் பணியாளர்கள் உட்பட அனைவரும் தொற்றுக்கு உள்ளாகி உள்ளனர். அவர்களும் உயிரைத் துச்சமென நினைத்துதான் பணிபுரிந்து வருகின்றனர்.

அவ்வாறு இருக்கும்பொழுது, கரோனா வார்டு உள்ளே பணியாற்றியவர்களுக்கு மட்டும்தான் ஊக்கத்தொகை என்பது பலத்த ஏமாற்றத்தை மருத்துவர்கள், செவிலியர்கள், மருத்துவப் பணியாளர்கள் மத்தியில் உருவாக்கியிருக்கிறது. அரசு நம்மை ஏமாற்றிவிட்டதோ என்ற உணர்வு அவர்களிடம் மேலோங்கியுள்ளது.

* மேலும் தொடர்ந்து கரோனா வார்டில் பணியாற்றியவர்களுக்கு மட்டுமே ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கப்படும் என அறிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதுவும் சரியல்ல.

* பொதுவாகத் தொடர்ந்து சில மாதங்கள் கரோனா வார்டில் ஒருவரைப் பணியாற்ற வைத்தால் அவருக்குத் தொற்றும், மனச் சோர்வும் ஏற்படும் வாய்ப்புகள் மிக அதிகம். எனவே, பெரும்பாலான மருத்துவப் பணியாளர்களுக்கு கரோனா வார்டு பணி, பிறகு கரோனா அல்லாத வார்டு பணி என மாற்றி மாற்றித்தான் பணி நிர்வாகத்தால் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. அதன் அடிப்படையிலேயே அனைத்துவிதமான மருத்துவ சேவைகளும் வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

* தொடர்ந்து கரோனா வார்டில் பணியாற்றுபவர்களுக்கே ஊக்கத்தொகை என்ற அறிவிப்பால் கரோனா வார்டில் பணியாற்றும் பெரும்பாலானோர் ஊக்கத்தொகை கிடைக்கும் வாய்ப்பை இழந்துள்ளனர்.

* எனவே, இப்பிரச்சினையில் உடனடியாகத் தலையிட்டு அனைவருக்கும் ஊக்கத்தொகை கிடைத்திட உத்தரவிட வேண்டும் எனத் தமிழக முதல்வரை சமூக சமத்துவத்திற்கான டாக்டர்கள் சங்கம் கேட்டுக்கொள்கிறது.

* மதுரை அருகே அமைய உள்ள, எய்ம்ஸ் மருத்துவமனை பணிகளை விரைவில் தொடங்கி, முடித்திட வேண்டும் எனத் தமிழக முதல்வர், பிரதமருக்குக் கடிதம் எழுதியுள்ளதை சமூக சமத்துவத்திற்கான டாக்டர்கள் சங்கம் வரவேற்கிறது”.

இவ்வாறு டாக்டர் ஜி.ஆர்.ரவீந்திரநாத் தெரிவித்துள்ளார்.

Southern dists get heavy rain, roads inundated

Southern dists get heavy rain, roads inundated

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Madurai:06.06.2021

Rain lashed many of the southern districts late on Friday and Saturday. Thirupuvanam in Sivaganga district received 120 mm of rainfall in the last 24 hours ending 8am on Saturday. Torrential showers accompanied by heavy winds brought down branches of trees in many places in the southern districts. An electric pole at Sokkanathanpatti in Thirumangalam snapped in the wind and rain, plunging the area into darkness. Similarly, many parts of Madurai, and Kadachanendal witnessed power outages for many hours.

Rain that lashed Madurai from Saturday afternoon left many places such as Tallakulam Main Road opposite to the Tamukkam grounds, Periyar bus stand, Masi Streets and many other places inundated. Many of the city roads turned slushy and muddy. People waded through knee-deep water in many places such as K Pudur.

While paddy procurement centres were opened in many villages, bags of paddy stacked in the open by the farmers were damaged in the rain. Farmers said that these grains would sprout if immediate steps were not taken to dry them. Madurai received an average rainfall of 21.64 in the last 24 hours, with Idayapatti in the district receiving the heaviest rainfall of 75 mm. This was followed by Kallikudi (69 mm) and Chittampatti (40 mm). Sivaganga received an average rainfall of 34.81 mm, with Thirupuvanam receiving 120 mm, the highest rainfall in the region on Friday. Theni district received an average rainfall of 15.72 mm, and two dams, Manjalaru and Sothuparai in the district, started overflowing due to heavy rain. Dindigul district received an average rainfall of 16.55 mm and Kodaikanal Boat Club recorded the highest rainfall of 41 mm. The other southern districts also received moderate to heavy rainfall on Saturday.

FLOODED: Many parts of Madurai city saw similar scenes on Saturday

Retd judge-led panel to study NEET impact on admissions

Retd judge-led panel to study NEET impact on admissions

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.06.2021

Chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday formed a committee headed by retired HC judge Justice A K Rajan to study the impact of NEET on medical admissions. In its election manifesto, the DMK promised to abolish NEET.

“Educationists are complaining that rural students, poor students in urban areas, government school students and Tamil medium students could not get the chance to (pursue) medical education in the past few years after the implementation of NEET. They demand abolition of the entrance test which is against social justice,” the government said in a release. “They want medical admissions based on Class XII board exam marks as implemented by former chief minister M Karunanidhi during the previous DMK regime. The state government resolved to ensure social justice and to take all measures to remove the impact of NEET,” the government said.

In its order, the state said, “The committee will study whether the common medical entrance test has affected socially backward students in the past few years. If it has, then the committee will suggest alternative admission methods for the benefit of all students and possible legal remedies for implementing these admission methods. Educationists and officials also will be part of this high level committee.”

Educationists welcomed the move to form a committee. “DMK has got the clear political mandate in support of abolishing NEET and to have admissions based on higher secondary marks,” said P B Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary of State Platform for Common School System. “Even the parliamentary committee which proposed the Common Medical Entrance Test (CMET) had said that states which do not wish to come under the ambit of CMET have to be kept out.”

Anna University former vice-chancellor E Balagurusamy said, “Instead of taking any political decision, the government has formed a committee. Hopefully, it will have good members representing various fields. We have to wait for the outcome for the committee.”

The previous AIADMK government introduced 7.5% special reservation for government school students in medical admissions saying those students could not join medical colleges after the introduction of NEET in 2017.

Principals want Class XI marks to be considered

Principals want Class XI marks to be considered

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.06.2021

School principals and educationists on Saturday welcomed the state government’s decision cancelling the Class XII state board exams keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic and students’ safety. Since there was no common quarterly or halfyearly exam for Class XII students, principals urged the state government to consider the students’ Class XI exam marks while computing results.

The state government on Saturday announced that it would form a committee headed by the school education secretary to decide on the modalities to award marks to Class XII students.

“There was no common exam conducted for Class XII students, so the best method going forward would be to award weightage to the common quarterly, half-yearly and annual exams conducted when they were in Class XI. They can include marks from the Class XII practical and internal exams completed in April this year,” said G J Manohar, principal of MCC Higher Secondary School in Chetpet. Taking the average of these three exams could be one way to avoid legal issues, he added.

The school education department completed practical exams for all Class XII students before the closure of the schools.

“For theory papers, the school education department should consider Class X and XI board exams. The past two board exams or common exams should be the yardstick to measure the performance,” said B Purushothaman, senior principal of Everwin Group of Schools in Chennai.

Career consultant Jayaprakash Gandhi said it was a bold decision by the state government and one that prioritised health. “Tamil Nadu government should wait and take decisions on awarding marks to Class XII students by considering decisions taken by other state boards. It should consider all best practices and evaluate student performances accordingly,” Gandhi said.

P B Prince Gajendrababu, general secretary of State Platform for Common School System, welcomed the decision saying it was taken with the best interests of children in mind. “The decision taken by the government of Tamil Nadu is based on a medical report and the fact that there is no provision to vaccinate children below18 years of age. The government has further said admission to arts, science and engineering colleges will be based on higher secondary marks and that there won’t be any entrance exam,” he said.

... award weightage to the common quarterly, half-yearly and annual exams conducted when they were in Class XI. They can include marks from the Class XII practical and internal exams completed in April this year

G J MANOHAR | Principal, MCC Higher Secondary School

HC: No service tax for takeaway orders from restaurants, hotels

HC: No service tax for takeaway orders from restaurants, hotels

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:06.06.2021

In a significant ruling, Madras high court has held that service tax would not be applicable on ‘take-away’ in restaurants and hotels.

Justice Anita Sumanth passed the order while allowing a batch of pleas moved by popular chain of restaurants, including Anjappar, Thalappakatti and Sangeetha Hotels, challenging the notices issued by the commissioner of GST and central excise demanding service tax for ‘take-away’ orders.

The bench held that such provision of food and drink ‘taken-away’ from restaurants would tantamount to only sale and notconsumptionatthe restaurant attracting service tax. “In most restaurants, there is a separate counter for collection of the take-away food parcels. Orders are received either over telephone, by e-mail, online booking or through a food delivery service,” the judge said.

Once processed and readied for delivery, the parcels are brought to a separate counter and are picked up either by the customer or a delivery service. More often than not, the takeaway counters are positioned away from the main dining area that may or may not be airconditioned. Earlier, opposing the pleas, the department relied on Section 66E(1) of the Finance Act which declares the activity of supply of food or any other article of human consumption or any drink as a taxable service. Thus, there is absolutely no infirmity in the impugned orders that have brought to tax the receipts from parcelsales/take awaysales, authorities said.

“The provision of takeaway food and drinks involves the rendition of service and the mode of sale, that is, by parcels, has no bearing in the matter. The transaction in question should thus be bifurcated into one that involves both the components of sale and service and brought to tax accordingly,” the department argued. Refusing to concur, the court observed that not all services rendered by restaurants in the sale of food and drink are taxable and it is only certain specified situations that attract tax.

The bench held that ‘take-away’ would tantamount to sale and not consumption at restaurant attracting service tax

TN cancels Class XII exam, CM asks PM to scrap NEET

TN cancels Class XII exam, CM asks PM to scrap NEET

Secy Panel To Fix Criteria For Awarding Marks

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:06.06.2021

In view of the Covid-19 second wave in several parts of Tamil Nadu and considering the possibility of a third wave, chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced cancellation of Class XII state board exams. A committee headed by school education secretary will decide on the evaluation criteria to award marks to Class XII students and college admissions will be done based on those marks, the CM said. The decision comes three days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi cancelled CBSE Class XII board exams.

Stalin also wrote a letter to the PM on Saturday urging him to cancel national-level entrance exams such as NEET as the “reasons stated for cancelling Class XII exams are applicable for entrance exams too”. “I am of the strong view that conducting national-level exams would be immensely detrimental to the health of students,” the CM said in his letter. “Our state may be allowed to fill all professional seats, including MBBS seats, on the basis of Class XII marks alone as we have always emphasized. I am sure that you would appreciate the fairness of my request and will act upon it favourably,” the CM said.

Panel to include Madras univ VC, headmasters

The state government held discussions with parents, teachers, educationists, health experts and political parties over the past three days on conducting Class XII exams.

During the legislature parties meeting held on Saturday, except five parties including the BJP, the PMK, the CPI and the CPM, other parties wanted board exams to be held.

“Though there were mixed opinions on conducting the exam from various quarters, all of them wanted to ensure the safety of children. Covid-19 second wave was still raging in the state and health experts also predicted a third wave. However, the state government cannot vaccinate Class XII students as they are below 18 years,” Stalin said in his statement.

“Medical experts advised that if students who have not got vaccinated were asked to come at one place to write exams, it may lead to spreading of Covid-19, “the CM said.

“Though the state government was still firm on its policy of conducting college admissions based on Class XII exam marks, doctors say postponing the exam further will affect the students mentally. Based on the medical advice and recommendations by others, the state government is cancelling Class XII state board exams,” Stalin said.

The state government has formed a committee headed by school education secretary to decide on the evaluation criteria and award of marks for students.

The committee will also include higher education secretary, Madras University vice-chancellor, and school headmasters.

Based on the committee’s report, marks would be awarded and admissions to higher educational institutions would be based on these marks, Stalin said.

“Though the decision to cancel the exams has been taken in view of students’ health and safety, the Tamil Nadu government will ensure that admissions to higher educational institutions are not affected,” he further said.

Medical experts advised that if students who have not got vaccinated were asked to come at one place to write exams, it may lead to spreading of Covid-19

M K STALIN

Chief minister

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