Min: RGUHS interim VC pick surprising

Min: RGUHS interim VC pick surprising

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:  13.06.2021

The appointment of Dr Jayakara SM, principal, AECS Maruthi College of Dental Sciences, as the interim vice-chancellor (VC) of Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has come as a surprise to medical education minister K Sudhakar.

Sudhakar told STOI that he had written to the governor that one of the registrars or a dean of a government college can hold the post. The appointment, he said “has come as a surprise” and that some deans have written to him about it.

Jayakara’s appointment will be effective from June 15 till a VC is appointed or until further orders. This is the first time a private college principal will hold the post of the VC, albeit as an interim position in the history of RGUHS.

Sudhakar said as the pro-chancellor of the university, he had requested for a meeting with the governor three weeks ago to discuss the appointment. “Given the Covid situation, the governor was not meeting anyone is what I was told. Hence, I could not meet him, but had written to him on the interim VC post, which is usually given to the director of medical education, registrar evaluation or administration of the university, or seniormost deans of government medical colleges,” he said.

The minister’s letter also mentioned the formation of the search committee and its chairperson that can select the VC. “May be the letter was not considered,” he said.

The appointment has also disappointed some professors in government medical colleges, who were in the seniority list. “There’s no clarity on how a private dental college principal has been made the interim VC, when there are several of us, who have worked in government medical colleges in highest capacities,” said dean of a government college.

Chosen based on work: Dr Jayakara

Dr Jayakara said he was nominated by the chancellor. He said he was also the dean of dental faculty at the university and served the university as dean and senate member for two times each.“I’ve also served the university in various capacities, chairing some of the committees. When the marks card scam was unearthed (2013-14), I was appointed the chairperson of the committee by the syndicate and I had submitted a report. It was based on my report that several reforms were introduced,” Jayakara said, adding that he was given the post based on his work. Jayakara said he would discuss the matter with the CM on Saturday.

“I don’t know what has happened. Had I met the governor, I would have explained about it. Now, the professors are asking me how an interim post has been given to a private college principal. When I return to Bengaluru, I will try to meet the governor.”

வாடகை அறை முன்பதிவு திருமலையில் புதிய முறை

வாடகை அறை முன்பதிவு திருமலையில் புதிய முறை

Added : ஜூன் 12, 2021 23:31

திருப்பதி : திருமலையில் வாடகை அறை முன்பதிவு செய்வதில் புதிய முறை அமல் படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது. திருமலை ஏழுமலையானை தரிசிக்க வரும் பக்தர்களின் வசதிக்காக, திருமலையில் வாடகை அறைகள் உள்ளன. இந்த அறைகளை நேரடி முன்பதிவு மற்றும் 'ஆன்லைன்' வாயிலாக பக்தர்கள் பெற்று வருகின்றனர். வாடகை அறை தேவைப்படும் பக்தர்கள் திருமலையில் உள்ள மத்திய விசாரணை அலுவலகத்தில் சென்று, தங்களின் முன்பதிவு டோக்கனை காண்பித்து, அறை உள்ள இடத்தின் துணை அலுவலகத்திற்கு சென்று சாவியை பெற வேண்டும்.மத்திய விசாரணை அலுவலகத்தின் அருகில் வாகன நிறுத்தம் இல்லாததால், பக்தர்கள் பலர் அவதியுற்று வருகின்றனர்.

மேலும், அறைகளைப் பெற இரண்டு இடங்களில் பக்தர்கள் வரிசையில் நிற்க வேண்டிய கட்டாயம் ஏற்படுகிறது.இவற்றை எளிமையாக்க, தேவஸ்தானம் புதிய முறையை அமல்படுத்தி உள்ளது. இதன்படி, வாடகை அறை முன்பதிவு செய்த பக்தர்களின் வசதிக்காக திருமலையில் பல்வேறு பகுதிகளில் 'கவுன்டர்'கள் அமைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன.

இங்கு சென்று பக்தர்கள் தங்கள் பெயர்களை பதிவு செய்ய வேண்டும். அவர்களின் மொபைல் போனுக்கு, வாடகை அறை அளிக்கப்பட்ட பகுதி மற்றும் அதன் துணை அலுவலகம் குறித்த குறுந்தகவல்கள் அனுப்பப்படும். பக்தர்கள் நேரடியாக துணை அலுவலகத்திற்கு சென்று, பணத்தை செலுத்தி தங்களின் வாடகை அறையின் சாவியை பெற்றுக் கொள்ளலாம். இந்த புதிய முறை நேற்று முதல் அமல்படுத்தி உள்ளது குறிப்பிடத்தக்கது.

IGIMS doctors remove cricket ball-sized black fungus from brain

IGIMS doctors remove cricket ball-sized black fungus from brain

VK Tripathi TNN

Patna:13.06.2021

Doctors of the Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) here surgically removed a cricket ball-sized black fungus, or mucormycosis, from the brain of a 60-year-old patient on Friday. After the three-hour open surgery, Anil Kumar from Jamui district of Bihar is doing well.

Talking to TOI on Saturday, IGIMS medical superintendent Dr Manish Mandal said no mucormycosis case of such an intensity in the brain region had been reported from anywhere in Bihar before. “A team led by Dr Brajesh Kumar operated on the patient with such precision that his eyes were not affected,” Dr Mandal added.

Two weeks ago, Anil, a post-Covid patient, got epileptic attacks that would lead to temporary unconsciousness. He consulted local doctors, but his condition deteriorated and he was admitted to IGIMS. “The patient’s CT scan and MRI test showed that his brain had been severely invaded by mucormycosis. Apart from a cricket ballsized fungus, about 100ml of abscess was also removed from his brain,” Dr Mandal said.

Work on new Egmore bridge begins

Work on new Egmore bridge begins

2-Lane Bridge On Arunachalam Rd To Ease Traffic

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.06.2021

Greater Chennai Corporation began construction of an additional bridge at Arunachalam Road in Egmore across the Cooum River. The 10-metre-wide bridge aims at decongesting vehicular movement along the key road stretch connecting Egmore with Chintadripet.

At present there is only one bridge (formerly known as St Andrew’s bridge) with two lanes off Arunachalam Road. During peak hours, close to 4,000 vehicles use this stretch and as a result it takes at least 10 to 15 minutes to cross the 70-metre long bridge.

Given that most Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) buses, connecting central and southern parts of the city with north Chennai, use Arunachalam Bridge, the area badly needed an additional bridge, said a senior corporation official, requesting anonymity.

Tenders were floated to construct another two-lane bridge parallel to the existing one at an estimated cost of ₹9.5 crore and bids were finalised in February.

“However, we could not start construction work right away as Covid cases started to increase. Now, foundation work is underway,” the official added.

Authorities clarified that there will be no major traffic diversions during the initial stages of construction but some adjustments might be needed next year when final bridge decks are taken up.

The project is likely to be completed in 18 months.

“We hope the corporation sticks to the timeline proposed. Because roads in Chintadripet are narrow and once lockdown conditions are relaxed, it will be difficult to commute if the project gets delayed as usual,” said Raghupathy, who owns a mobile shop on Gandhi-Irwin Road.

After both the bridges are opened for traffic, the civic body also plans to move the roundtana in front of Ramada Hotel to a centralised point so that vehicles waiting at the traffic signal there will have adequate space on all sides.

DECONGESTING KEY STRETCH: The 10-metre-wide bridge at Arunachalam Road in Egmore across the Cooum is being constructed parallel to the existing one at an estimated ₹9.5 crore

Govt to form panel to probe univ appointments

Govt to form panel to probe univ appointments

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.06.2021

The government will form an IAS officer-headed panel to probe the alleged irregularities in appointments and promotions at Salem Periyar University, Madurai Kamaraj University, and Annamalai University.

“We have received complaints alleging irregularities in appointments in these three universities. Courts also gave directions against these irregularities. After consulting the chief minister, we will form an inquiry committee headed by an IAS officer and will take action based on the findings of the committee,” higher education minister K Ponmudi told reporters.

There were allegations of irregularities in promotions to faculty of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) and Annamalai University. Some professors said MKU had not acted on Justice G M Akbar Ali committee report, which recommended review of promotions of 40 faculty members. Irregularities in appointments, civil work and procurement at Periyar University in the past 10 years were also alleged.

Ponmudi also said first year admissions to polytechnics will be based on Class IX marks following the cancellation of Class X exams.

Last year, Class IX annual exams were cancelled and admissions are likely to be based on marks in quarterly and half-yearly exams.

Polytechnic students who have exceeded their stipulated time will be given another opportunity to clear arrears.

Admission to engineering colleges would be announced after the government fixes the evaluation criteria.

Medical students foot bill for examiners’ stay?

Medical students foot bill for examiners’ stay?

Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan told Express she hasn’t yet received official directions from the government to conduct an inquiry.

Published: 12th June 2021 05:13 AM |

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Final-year MBBS students at the Government Stanley Medical College allegedly had to pool in money for their external examiners’ “accommodation and food” during the April-May 2021 exams. The Directorate of Medical Education is now going to launch an inquiry, after the father of a student who failed in one subject brought the matter to light.

The girl’s father complained to the college management, saying his daughter had failed as she didn’t pay the money. The Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University, meanwhile, has temporarily suspended the examiners in question from the Panel of Examiners.

Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University vice-chancellor Dr Sudha Seshayyan told Express she hasn’t yet received official directions from the government to conduct an inquiry. “The college conducted an inquiry and submitted a report to us. Since the father alleged money was collected for the exam, the university has taken a call, saying we are not asking anyone to collect money during university exams.”

After the college management received the complaint on May 16, it formed an internal inquiry committee, said committee member Dr S Jaswanth. “In the first inquiry, it was found that the students didn’t receive instructions from any examiners, but collected money themselves after circulating messages on WhatsApp. This student failed as she didn’t perform well. Of the 246 students, 23 didn’t pay the money, but all the rest passed. So the complainant’s allegations are not true.” Another official of the college said a second inquiry will be conducted.

The report on the first inquiry was submitted to the university, and a copy sent to the Directorate of Medical Education. Dr R Narayana Babu, Director of Medical Education, said he received the letter on Thursday, and an inquiry will be launched, in which all students and faculty members will be questioned.

Meanwhile, in her report to the Health Secretary, Dr Sudha Seshayyan said, “Screenshots of messages enclosed by the parent of the said candidate indicate that such collection is regularly being made ‘to show gratefulness to departments’ and to arrange accommodation and food for the external examiners.” The report added that due to the pandemic, exams were conducted online, so the question of accommodation in Chennai for external examiners would not have arisen.

Pending clearance from the Examination Disciplinary Committee, the names of the internal examiners, from the departments of Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology and Paediatrics, have been temporarily removed from the university’s Panel of Examiners, the report said.

The university’s inquiry report says the complainant obtained 193/300 marks in General Surgery, 127/200 in Gynaecology and 60/100 in Paediatrics, but failed in the General Medicine clinical exam. Final-year MBBS students in other medical colleges in the city said such collection of money is a regular practice. “Once, the external examiner asked for a mobile phone, so the students collected money and provided the phone. We are afraid because the examiners can fail us,” said a student.

எழும்பூர் ரயில் நிலையத்துக்கு வயது 113

எழும்பூர் ரயில் நிலையத்துக்கு வயது 113

Added : ஜூன் 12, 2021 01:53

சென்னை:எழும்பூர் ரயில் நிலையம் துவங்கி நேற்றுடன் 113 ஆண்டுகள் ஆனதையொட்டி அதிகாரிகளும் ஊழியர்களும் 'கேக்' வெட்டி இனிப்பு வழங்கி கொண்டாடினர்.

சென்னையில் பெரிய ரயில் நிலையங்களில் ஒன்றாக எழும்பூர் நிலையம் உள்ளது. இந்நிலையம் 1908ம் ஆண்டு ஜூன் 11ம் தேதி துவங்கப்பட்டது.இந்திய முகலாய மற்றும் கோதிக் கட்டட கலையுடனான இந்தோ - சராசனிக் வடிவமைப்பில் இந்நிலையம் கட்டப்பட்டுள்ளது.ஆங்கிலேயரான ராபர்ட் சிஸ்ஹோம் கட்டடத்திற்கான வரைபடத்தை வடிவமைத்து கொடுத்தார். அக்காலத்தில் புகழ்பெற்ற ஒப்பந்ததாரராக திகழ்ந்த சாமிநாதப் பிள்ளை நிலையத்தை கட்டினார்.

ஆரம்பத்தில் இரு நடைமேடையுடன் துவங்கப்பட்ட இந்நிலையம் தற்போது 12 நடைமேடையுடன் இயங்குகிறது.இந்நிலையத்தில் இருந்து 25 எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் ரயில்கள்; வழியாக 10 ரயில்கள் என 35 ரயில் போக்குவரத்துடன் இந்நிலையம் வழியாக இருவழியிலும் 256 புறநகர் மின்சார ரயில்களும் இயக்கப்படுகின்றன.

தினமும் இரண்டரை லட்சம் பயணியர் வரை வந்து செல்லும் நிலையமாக உள்ளது. கொரோனாவால் தற்போது ரயில்கள் எண்ணிக்கை குறைக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.இந்நிலையம் துவங்கப்பட்டு நேற்றுடன் 113 ஆண்டுகள் ஆனதையொட்டி நிலைய அதிகாரிகள் ஊழியர்கள் 'கேக்' வெட்டி இனிப்பு வழங்கி கொண்டாடினர்.

BREAKING - Postpone INI CET By At Least A Month, Supreme Court Suggests To AIIMS

BREAKING - Postpone INI CET By At Least A Month, Supreme Court Suggests To AIIMS: The Supreme Court on Friday suggested to the All India Institute of Medical Sciences(AIIMS) that

EPS-OPS posters war hots up in south

EPS-OPS posters war hots up in south

Madurai:  12.06.2021

Poster wars are hotting up within the AIADMK in the southern districts, with those supporting former chief minister and party joint coordinator Edappadi Palaniswami appearing in Tirunelveli and those in favour of party coordinator O Panneerselvam surfacing in Theni as well. The posters demonstrate the open rift between the EPS and OPS factions.

The ones which appeared in many parts of Tirunelveli district including Mannur two days ago blamed Palaniswami for the AIADMK debacle in the elections. They said his high-handedness and decisions without consulting O Panneerselvam cost them dearly and that the mantle should be handed over to OPS. A complaint has been filed. On Thursday, some posters thanking the MLAs for electing Palaniswami as Opposition leader appeared at Thalaiyoothu in the district. AIADMK sources said cadres loyal to the party are left confused due to such actions of their seniors.

Meanwhile, posters hailing OPS as “protector of the AIADMK fortress”, were put up on behalf of Theni district fishermen’s wing of AIADMK on the Theni- Madurai road.The poster wars are expected to increase before the party’s legislative party meeting on Monday.

Schools told to gear up for next academic year

Schools told to gear up for next academic year

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Trichy:12.06.2021

The school education department has directed principals and administrative staff of government and government-aided schools to start preparatory works to commence the next academic year by visiting their schools from Monday.

A source from the department said, “as the state government has cancelled the Class XII public examination in the view of covid-19 pandemic, several procedures like calculating and preparing the certificates that are required to pursue higher education and related works need to be carried out.” “As admission for the next academic year is about to commence, school managements need to carry out the admission process and distribute notebooks and other government welfare schemes to the students. School campuses and classrooms need to be cleaned,” the source added.

Principals and administrative staff of all state-run and aided schools have been directed to visit their schools, following Covid-19 safety protocols, from next week to carry out these works, said the source.

“From next week, we will also start admitting students for Class XI as their classes are likely to commence from the third week of June based on government guidelines,” said M Ramakrishnan, chief educational officer.

A circular from the department said that if a school receives more applications for a particular group than the permitted class strength, then the school is allowed to increase the cap limit by 10-15% and students should be admitted in the group of their choice. If the number of applications for a particular group exceeds the additional 15% strength, then the student should be selected based on his/ her Class IX marks, the circular added.

“Earlier, the department had asked the school management to conduct an entrance examination if the number of applications exceeds the additional 15% strength and directed teachers to prepare a question paper with 30 questions. After objections raised from multiple corners, they had cancelled the entrance examination and asked the schools to admit based on Class IX marks,” said T Arulanantham, state auditor of Tamil Nadu High and Higher Secondary School Graduate Teachers’ Association.

PhD enrollment in TN went up 19% in 2019-20, says survey

PhD enrollment in TN went up 19% in 2019-20, says survey

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:12.06.2021

Enrollment for PhD in Tamil Nadu increased 19% in 2019-20 compared to the year before, data from the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) released on Thursday showed. The enrollment for MPhil programmes declined by 20% in the state during the same period.

“From Tamil Nadu, 30,600 students (15,828 men and 14,832 women) enrolled for PhD in 2019-20 while 25,820 students registered in 2018-19,” the survey stated. While 9,144 chose to pursue MPhil in 2018-19, the number fell to 7,133 in 2019-20.

Educationists opined that the increase may have been due to PhD being made a minimum qualification for entry-level assistant professor posts in universities that year. Rankings such as NIRF also give more weightage to those with PhDs.

“Statutory bodies such as University Grants Commission (UGC) and All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) have prescribed PhD as a minimum qualification for the post of assistant professor in universities. If they want to enter state-funded universities, they need a PhD. This may have been the reason for the spike in PhD enrollment while that for MPhil dipped,” said S P Thyagarajan, former vicechancellor of Madras University. “UGC has also advised all universities not to offer MPhil programmes from 2021,” he said.

Thyagarajan called for improving existing benchmarks for PhD to produce better researchers and teachers.

“State Eligibility Test (SET) was not conducted in the past few years. That could have been a reason for high enrollment in PhDs,” said P Duraisamy, former vice-chancellor of University of Madras, adding that the university has made publishing of two research papers before thesis submission mandatory.

“More students are joining PhD programmes due to increase in government colleges and availability of scholarships,” said S Swaminathan, advisor of NET/SLET association. He added that the government should focus on improving infrastructure to improve the quality of PhDs.

Stanley med college holds probe into illegal collection of money

Stanley med college holds probe into illegal collection of money

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.06.2021

Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has temporarily suspended faculty in four departments of Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital from a panel of examiners after a man complained that his daughter failed in one of the clinical papers in her final year as she did not pay ₹10,000 demanded from students.

In his complaint, the parent said final year students received messages demanding ₹10,000 each “to arrange accommodation and food” for external examiners and “to show gratefulness to the department” as per “regular practice”. His daughter (name withheld) who did not pay the money failed the test held in May by 7 marks.

Following the parent’s allegation, a 10-member panel of professors from the college management conducted an inquiry on Friday. “Five members looked into why the student failed her medicine paper and others investigated why money was collected from students,” said dean Dr P Balaji. Preliminary inquiry showed that 223 out 246 students who wrote the exam had paid at least ₹10,000 each. Committee estimates that funds collected by student representatives ran into more than ₹22lakh.

After talking to student, examiners and looking into the answer sheets, the committee found the student had failed the clinical exam in medicine because of poor performance. “She is otherwise a bright student but in clinicals everything depends on how you interpret the given case on that day. She did not do it well,” said college vice principal Dr A Jamila, who chaired the inquiry panel.

But the panel did not rule out malpractices on campus.

Meanwhile, Dr Balaji said he will issue orders to stop collection of money on campus without approval from the dean or vice-principal.

No e- registration is needed to travel from home to Railway station

 

Lockdown extended by a week, Tasmac & salons to open in city

Lockdown extended by a week, Tasmac & salons to open in city

No Relief For 11 TN Dists With High Caseload

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.06.2021 

Tamil Nadu government on Friday extended the statewide Covid-19 lockdown by another week till June 21 and introduced further relaxations in 27 districts including Chennai where the caseload is showing a decline.

The new relaxations include permission for schools, colleges and universities to commence administrative work relating to admissions and nod for Tasmac outlets to operate from 10am to 5pm. Beauty parlours and salons will be allowed with 50% customers between 9am and 5pm.

Chief minister M K Stalin said the additional relaxations are not applicable to Coimbatore, the Nilgiris, Tirupur, Erode, Salem, Karur, Namakkal, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur, Nagapattinam and Mayiladuthurai districts where Covid-19 cases are high. The new relaxations would take effect on June14.

TTV slams govt for opening Tasmac shops

Export and vendor units can c ontinue functioning with 50% workforce, following SOPs. The rest of the industries will also be allowed with 33% workforce.

Workers have already been allowed to travel in four-wheelers. Hereafter, they will be allowed to travel on two-wheelers, provided they take e-registration for the vehicles and carry identity cards, Stalin said. IT/ITES offices have been directed to work with only 20% workforce or with a maximum of 10 employees. Housing finance companies, non-banking financial companies and all insurance corporations are allowed to function with 33% workforce.

Stalin said all shops permitted to operate should adhere to standard operating procedures. Providing hand sanitizer with dispenser and thermal screening are mandatory. The managements should ensure that the staff and customers wear masks. “All shops should function with no air-conditioning and not let in many people. Marks should be drawn for people to maintain physical distance when they queue up before shops,” the CM said.

The state government also extended certain relaxations in the 11 districts where case load is still high. Export units and vendor units can operate there with 25% workforce, following standard operating procedures. Private security services, agencies for maintenance and upkeep of office, and housekeeping in residential complexes are permitted with e-registration. Passengers with e-registration will be permitted in rental vehicles, taxis and autos.

Self-employed electricians, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters can work between 6am and 5pm with e-registration. But shops in these categories will not be permitted to open. Cycle and twowheeler repair shops, those selling agriculture equipment, pump set repair shops, optical shops and service centres shall operate from 9am to 2pm. Pottery and handicraft shops can function from 6am to 5pm.

Meanwhile, condemning the state’s decision to open the Tasmac outlets, AMMK leader T T V Dhinakaran urged the government to rollback the decision immediately since the outlets could become a possible Covid-19 spreader. In a series of tweets, hours after the government’s announcement, Dhinakaran said the move was against the state’s intention to save the people from the pandemic. “It is worse that the government, like the previous regime, does not care about the lives of the people but seeks to fill the treasury,” he said. Dhinakaran accused the government of offering Covid relief on one hand and snatching it through the Tasmac outlets.

Qualified Homeopathic Doctors Can Prescribe Preventive And Add On Medicines To Covid 19 Patients: Kerala High Court

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Court Cannot Issue Mandamus Directing All COVID Victims To Be Compensated: Madras High Court

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CA Exams 2021: Plea In Supreme Court Seeks Opt Out Option, More Examination Centres, Postponement Of Exam If Adherence To Covid Protocols Not Possible

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Delhi High Court To Hear Jun 11 Plea For Postponement of Foreign Medical Graduate Examination

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No entrance exam this year, says SASTRA

No entrance exam this year, says SASTRA

10/06/2021

Special Correspondent THANJAVUR

The SASTRA deemed university has announced that there will be no entrance examination for admission to engineering courses for the 2021 academic year.

In a press release, the institution said admissions to engineering programmes would be based on the Class XII scores for 50% of the seats. For the remaining seats, the Class XII and JEE Main scores, with equal weightage for both, will be considered.

Aspiring students should submit their applications online through www.sastra.edu by July 31, after receiving their Class XII scores. The rank list will be released by 9 p.m. on July 31.

The counselling for admissions will commence on August 2, and 30% of the seats will be allotted to Thanjavur- and Tiruchi-based students, the release added.

Implement lockdown strictly, says CJ

Implement lockdown strictly, says CJ

10/06/2021

Mohamed Imranullah S.CHENNAI

Madras High Court Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee on Wednesday expressed disappointment over the police not enforcing strictly the ongoing lockdown in Tamil Nadu to fight COVID-19. He said it appeared as if the lockdown had been lifted and it was “party time” on the roads.

The Chief Justice broached the subject with Advocate General R. Shunmugasundaram and said it was shocking to find people moving about on the roads as a matter of routine, though the lockdown was still in force and only a few relaxations had been provided for the convenience of the people.

“We have just eased a few things for the convenience of the citizens. But if you walk on the streets, it appears that it is party time. There is business as usual. We, the public, must follow what is in our best interest. We must inculcate a sense of discipline in us,” the Chief Justice told the Advocate General.

In reply, Mr. Shunmugasundaram said, “Your Lordship may recall that policemen were beating up people. Now, strict instructions have been given not to beat people and just to ask them about their documents, e-passes, etc. Now, they are handling softly and politely,” he said.

Alagappa University VC term ends

Alagappa University VC term ends

10/06/2021

Special Correspondent KARAIKUDI

Prof. N. Rajendran, Vice-Chancellor of Alagappa University, Karaikudi, has completed his tenure of office on June 4. A convenor’s committee has been formed with D. Karthikeyan, Principal-Secretary, Department of Higher Education, and two Syndicate members of Alagappa University namely Dr. R. Swaminathan, Principal, Vidhyaa Giri College of Arts and Science, Puduvayal, and Dr. T.R. Gurumoorthy, senior professor and Head, Department of Commerce, Alagappa University.

Late referrals of the critically ill put govt. hospitals in a fix

Late referrals of the critically ill put govt. hospitals in a fix

This also causes mental agony to families of the victims

10/06/2021

A majority of such patients are brought in ambulances in the evening. B. Jothi RamalingamJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

Serena Josephine M. CHENNAI

A critically-ill patient diagnosed with COVID-19, who was undergoing treatment at a private hospital, was shifted to a government hospital at about 11 p.m. He died three hours later. Similarly, an octogenarian, referred from a private facility to a government hospital, was declared dead on arrival.

Such incidents have become common in Chennai’s government hospitals. Last-minute referrals of critically-ill COVID-19 patients from private hospitals are not only putting government hospitals in a fix but are also causing mental agony to families of the victims, say senior doctors.

Every day, the major government hospitals in Chennai receive a number of critically-ill COVID-19 patients, even in intubated states, from private hospitals. Most of them are late referrals.

“A majority of such patients are flown in ambulances late in the evening. Most emergency calls that we get after 7 p.m. or 8 p.m. are of such patients. We receive at least 10-15 such cases a day. Almost all of them are last-minute referrals and about 90% of them die in six to eight hours or a maximum of a day. They are shifted in very critical conditions, including in intubated states. They are shifted to government hospitals after seven to eight days of treatment in private facilities,” a doctor at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital said on the condition of anonymity.

Recently, the hospital received eight very critically-ill patients, all late referrals, from private hospitals on a single day, he noted.

A doctor at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital said they received a patient who was referred from a private hospital. He died five minutes after arrival. When the hospital added about 50 beds to its ICU during the peak, 40 of them were occupied by the evening as there were many such referrals, he said.

While the deaths of patients referred in the eleventh hour are accounted for by the respective government hospitals, doctors say it causes a lot of distress to families of the deceased.

“From top hospitals to nursing homes, many institutions resort to last-minute referrals. Private hospitals should avoid such referrals of critically-ill patients to at least save the families from mental agony. The families are traumatised and such practices can be avoided in the best interest of the patients,” he said.

A Health Department official said, “Patients should be referred with complete treatment history, at a mutually convenient time. Private hospitals should also make sure that the patient’s condition will not worsen during the transit.”

Govt. officials targeted in phishing attempt

Govt. officials targeted in phishing attempt

They received malicious web links

10/06/2021

The messages asked officials to update their vaccination status.Getty Imagessarayut

Special CorrespondentNew Delhi

Several government offices, including Defence Ministry officials, were on Wednesday targeted by a malicious web link sent on WhatsApp and SMS, asking them to update their vaccination status.

The message asked officials to click on www.covid19india.in to generate a digital certificate of COVID-19 inoculation.

The SMS, signed with an abbreviation “MoHFW”, that expands to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said, “as per directives of MoHFW, Confirm your COVID status on https://covid19india.in and generate your vaccination certificate”.

An official said that when he clicked on the link, it directed to a page “@gov.in” that resembled the government website mygov.in, and asked to key in the official e-mail and password

An e-mail received by a Defence Ministry official said that as part of an awareness drive regarding “post vaccination measures to be followed by armed forces” a questionnaire was required to be filled and a Google drive link was shared. Some officials even received phone calls where the caller said he was calling from an Army Hospital and the official need to update the vaccination status on a link being sent on WhatsApp.

The officials were sensitised to not click on the link as it appeared to be a phishing attempt to access their official e-mails and correspondence. A considerable part of government offices are still working from home owing to COVID-19 restrictions.

15 days’ special leave for Central staff

15 days’ special leave for Central staff

10/06/2021

Press Trust of India New Delhi

All Central government employees will be able to get 15 days of special casual leave in case their parents or any dependent family members test COVID-19 positive, said an order by the Personnel Ministry.

“In case of active hospitalisation of any of the family members/parents even after 15 days of the expiry of SCL, the government servants may be granted leave of any kind due and admissible beyond 15 days of SCL till their discharge from hospital,” it said. The Ministry has issued a detailed order on treatment, regularisation of hospitalisation or quarantine for the staff.

கருணைப் பணி 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் நிராகரிப்பு: தனி நீதிபதி உத்தரவு ரத்து

கருணைப் பணி 10 ஆண்டுகளுக்கு பின் நிராகரிப்பு: தனி நீதிபதி உத்தரவு ரத்து

Added : ஜூன் 10, 2021 02:21

மதுரை:குறித்த காலத்தில் கருணைப் பணி கோரி விண்ணப்பிக்கவில்லை என அடிக்கடி அரசுத்துறையில் நிராகரிக்கின்றனர். அதேசமயம் குறித்த காலத்தில் மனு செய்தும் 10 ஆண்டுகளாக நிலுவையில் வைத்து நிராகரித்ததை ஏற்க முடியாது. அந்த உத்தரவு ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது என உயர்நீதிமன்ற மதுரைக் கிளை உத்தரவிட்டது.

நாகர்கோவில் மனோபிரியா தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:எனது தந்தை முருகன் தமிழாசிரியராக அரசுப் பள்ளியில் பணிபுரிந்து 2007 ல் இறந்தார். கருணைப் பணி நியமனம் கோரி 2007 ல் பள்ளிக் கல்வித்துறைக்கு மனு அனுப்பினேன். எனக்கு 2011 ல் திருமணம் ஆனது. நான் முதுகலை பட்டம், பி.எட்.,மற்றும் எம்.பில்., படித்து கூடுதல் கல்வித் தகுதி பெற்றுள்ளேன்; எனது கணவர் பி.இ.,முடித்து தனியார் பொறியியல் கல்லுாரியில் பணிபுரிகிறார் எனக்கூறி மனுவை பள்ளிக் கல்வித்துறை 2017ல் நிராகரித்தது.

அதை ரத்து செய்து கருணைப் பணி நியமனம் வழங்க உத்தரவிடக்கோரி உயர்நீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு செய்தேன். தனி நீதிபதி தள்ளுபடி செய்தார். அதை ரத்து செய்து பணி வழங்க உத்தரவிட வேண்டும். இவ்வாறு மனோபிரியா மனு செய்தார்.நீதிபதிகள் டி.எஸ்.சிவஞானம், எஸ்.ஆனந்தி அமர்வு உத்தரவு:மனு 10 ஆண்டுகளாக பரிசீலிக்கப்படாமல் ஏன் நிலுவையில் வைக்கப்பட்டது என்பதற்கு நாகர்கோவில் கல்வி மாவட்ட அலுவலரின் பதில் திருப்திகரமாக இல்லை.

குறித்த காலத்தில் கருணைப் பணி கோரி விண்ணப்பிக்கவில்லை; தாமதம் ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது என அடிக்கடி அரசுத்துறையில் நிராகரிக்கின்றனர். அதேசமயம் குறித்த காலத்தில் மனு செய்தும் 10 ஆண்டுகளாக நடவடிக்கை இன்றி நிலுவையில் வைத்திருந்ததை பொருத்திப் பார்க்க வேண்டும்.தனி நீதிபதியின் உத்தரவு ரத்து செய்யப்படுகிறது.

சம்பந்தப்பட்ட தாசில்தார் மூலம் மனுதாரர் குடும்ப பொருளாதார நிலை மற்றும் இதர சூழ்நிலைகளை ஆய்வு செய்து நாகர்கோவில் கல்வி மாவட்ட அலுவலர் அறிக்கை பெற வேண்டும். அதன்படி மறு பரிசீலனை செய்து தகுதி அடிப்படையில் 4 மாதங்களில் தகுந்த உத்தரவு பிறப்பிக்க வேண்டும் என்றனர்.

Schools removing wards from online classes groups for not paying fees

Schools removing wards from online classes groups for not paying fees

The government is yet to take a call on fees to be collected from the students, but many schools, sources said, are forcing parents to pay the fees for the academic year 2021-22.

Published: 10th June 2021 03:10 AM 

By Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam

Express News Service

MADURAI: The government is yet to take a call on fees to be collected from the students, but many schools, sources said, are forcing parents to pay the fees for the academic year 2021-22. Even worse, a few schools are allegedly not allowing students who failed to pay the fees to attend online classes.

Speaking to TNIE, Nirmala, the mother of two students, studying in a CBSE school, said that nearly 700 students of the school have not paid the fees and that when she, along with the others went to the school to meet the principal, she refused to meet them.

“My elder child is studying in Class XII and the class teacher asked her to pay the entire fees of Rs 87,000 on single payment in the month of March. Of this, Rs 18,000 should be paid to school’s bank account and the remaining amount should be paid as cash to the cashier of the school. No proper bill would be given.

Also, I have asked the break-up of fees payment. But, they refused to disclose anything. Since I was unable to pay the fees, they removed my elder child from the group. My younger child was removed from the WhatsApp group in the month of November itself as the fees for the last academic year was pending,” she said. This is not an isolated case.

An educational officer said that previous AIADMK government had given instructions to the schools not to collect fees.

“Then, the schools moved to court, and the court has given the direction to collect 65 per cent of fees for two terms. However, only a few schools obliged to the rule. New government till now has not given any instructions on fees. The government should also create a toll free number or website so that the parents could lodge complaints,” he said.

Meanwhile, State Platform for Common School System’s Tamil Nadu General Secretary PB Prince Gajendra Babu said that the government should order all the schools to post their fees structure on their school website.

Petition on compassionate appointment rejected by Orissa High Court

Petition on compassionate appointment rejected by Orissa High Court

While disposing of the petition in 2013, the court had permitted her to make a fresh representation to the authority concerned.

Published: 10th June 2021 08:23 AM 

By Express News Service

CUTTACK: The Orissa High Court has dismissed a petition filed by the married daughter of a deceased government employee seeking extension of compassionate appointment benefits to her.

Rashmita Pattnayak and her mother had first filed a petition seeking the relief of compassionate appointment in 2012.

While disposing of the petition in 2013, the court had permitted her to make a fresh representation to the authority concerned.

After no decision was taken on her fresh application, Rashmita approached the High Court for the second time and filed a contempt case in 2014.

On June 22, 2016, a co-ordinate division bench dismissed the contempt petition while categorically by observing that a “married daughter cannot be given an (compassionate) appointment.”

The order attained finality as Rashmita did not challenge the order. But after nearly five years she again sought the same relief by challenging the constitutional validity of Rule 2 (b) (iii) of the Orissa Civil Service (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules, 1990.

While dismissing the petition on Wednesday the two judge bench of Chief Justice S Muralidhar and Justice KR Mohapatra said, “It is not possible for this court, in the teeth of aforesaid order dated 22nd June 2016 passed by a coordinate Bench which has become final, to entertain a fresh petition on the same cause of action."

Rule 2 (b) (iii) of the Orissa Civil Service (Rehabilitation Assistance) Rules, 1990 includes daughters in the list of ‘family members’ pre-fixed that word by the word ‘unmarried’.

In other words, it renders married daughters, ineligible for rehabilitation assistance including compassionate appointment.

Salem: Son abandons 95-year-old mother in room near toilet

Salem: Son abandons 95-year-old mother in room near toilet

Collector S Karmegam alerted the Social Welfare department officials, who along with a private NGO, found her living close to the toilet.

Published: 08th June 2021 04:57 AM 

By Express News Service

SALEM: A 95-year-old woman who was allegedly confined in a room by her son was rescued on Sunday. The incident came to light when some residents in the housing board tenements near Dalmia Board in Salem informed officials in the district administration that an elderly woman was raising alarm for help in the locality. Collector S Karmegam alerted the Social Welfare department officials, who along with a private NGO, found her living close to the toilet. Volunteers of the NGO took the woman to their place.

The woman was identified as R Radha (95) widow of head constable Rajagopal. The couple had four sons, out of which two had died. After Rajagopal’s death, Radha received her husband’s pension and stayed with her youngest son, who is a mechanic. He abandoned her in the room unable to fend for her and allegedly was not giving her food.

Police told TNIE that the woman neither gave details on what happened nor lodge a complaint against her son. Also, she did not want to return to her son. When contacted by the NGO, her son refused to entertain their questions, sources said. Kannankurichi police are investigating.

‘Didn’t give her food’

After husband’s death, Radha received her husband’s pension and stayed with her youngest son. He abandoned her in the room unable to fend for her and allegedly was not giving her food

On first day of Unlock, confusion in Chennai as e-registration portal crashes

On first day of Unlock, confusion in Chennai as e-registration portal crashes

"We anticipated four times more applications than earlier but we had ten times more than the registrations we had previously. We received over 60 lakh registrations today," said an official.

Published: 07th June 2021 07:04 PM |

A health worker takes swab sample of a shop keeper, after the lockdown relaxions in Chennai. (Photo | R Satish Babu, EPS)

By Nirupama Viswanathan And B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Ambiguity over e-registrations for movement within the city caused a lot of confusion among Chennai residents on Monday. The e-registration portal https://eregister.tnega.org crashed and remained non-functional for over two hours. According to senior officials, over 60 lakh people had applied for e-registrations on Monday.

As part of the relaxation of the lockdown, the government had allowed individual grocery shops, vegetable shops, stationery shops and a few others to function between 6 am and 5 pm from Monday. Select industries and self-employed people including electricians, IT service persons, plumbers, motor mechanics and carpenters were also allowed to function with e-registration.

However, the portal had no option for e-registration of individual skilled labourers, rued electricians and plumbers who tried applying on Monday morning. The portal was later updated in the evening to include them.

"On Monday morning, I tried for nearly an hour to register on the portal. As there was no option for individuals, I filled in details under MSME. But I am unable to fill the PAN and several other details needed for registration,” said S Krishnamurthy, an electrician from Korattur.

Similarly, K Sridhar, a resident of Villivakkam said, “The portal went down by 10 am. I tried for nearly 90 minutes to register online for visiting a hospital, but didn’t receive the OTP. The auto driver refused to carry me without e-registration.”

An auto driver with a ride-hailing company said that customers needed to have e-registrations before booking autos.

"If it's a really close drop, we take rides. Otherwise we ask them to get e-registrations before booking an auto," he said.

A senior official from the Tamil Nadu e-Governance agency told The New Indian Express that the issue has been resolved and the website was running smoothly as of 4 pm on Monday evening.

"We anticipated four times more applications than earlier but we had ten times more than the registrations we had previously. We have received over 60 lakh registrations today," he said.

E-registrations for those travelling by bikes/autos/cars within the district are allowed only for three reasons -- medical emergencies, death and post death rituals and for those leaving TN by road. For this, residents are required to upload their proof of travel reason document and a copy of their identity cards -- Aadhaar, ration card, driving licence, PAN card or passport.

Those traveling for non-medical emergencies do not have the option to apply for e-registrations in the current system.

"My wife's parents are ailing and one of them also broke their spectacles without which they have trouble seeing. We tried to e-register to bring them essentials and sort out their issues but there wasn't an option to do so," said P Radharaman, a resident of Adyar.

'Directed Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes To Strictly Administer Covaxin To Those Eligible For Second Dose Between 18-44 Yrs': Delhi Govt Tells High Court

'Directed Private Hospitals, Nursing Homes To Strictly Administer Covaxin To Those Eligible For Second Dose Between 18-44 Yrs': Delhi Govt Tells High Court: The Delhi Government on Monday informed the Delhi High Court that it has directed all Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes to ensure that Covaxin shall be given only to those who are eligible for...

மாலை 5:00 மணி வரை ரேஷன் கடைகள் உண்டு

மாலை 5:00 மணி வரை ரேஷன் கடைகள் உண்டு

Added : ஜூன் 08, 2021 00:31

சென்னை : சென்னை உட்பட அனைத்து மாவட்டங்களிலும் ரேஷன் கடைகள், இன்று முதல் மாலை 5:00 மணி வரை செயல்படும்.

தமிழக ரேஷன் கடைகளில், கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு இலவசமாகவும், மானிய விலையிலும் அத்தியாவசிய உணவு பொருட்கள் வழங்கப்படுகின்றன. அவை, காலை முதல் மாலை வரை செயல்பட்டன.கொரோனா வைரஸ் பரவலின் இரண்டாம் அலையை தடுக்க, மே 10ம் தேதி முதல், முழு ஊரடங்கு அமல்படுத்தப்பட்டது. இதனால், அன்று முதல் ரேஷன் கடை வேலை நேரம் காலை 8:00 முதல் மதியம் 12:00 மணி வரை எனக் குறைக்கப்பட்டது. முழு ஊரடங்கு வரும் 14ம் தேதி வரை நீட்டிக்கப்பட்ட நிலையில், நேற்று முதல் சில தளர்வுகள் அமலுக்கு வந்துள்ளன.

இதையடுத்து இன்று முதல், சென்னை உட்பட அனைத்து மாவட்டங்களிலும், காலை 9:00 முதல் பகல் 12:30 மணி வரையும்; பிற்பகல் 2:00 முதல் மாலை 5:00 மணி வரையிலும் ரேஷன் கடைகள் செயல்படும். இந்த வேலை நேரம், மறு உத்தரவு வரை நடைமுறையில் இருக்கும். நிவாரண நிதி இரண்டாம் தவணை, 2,000 ரூபாய் மற்றும் 14 பொருட்கள் அடங்கிய மளிகை தொகுப்பினை வரும், 15ம் தேதி முதல் கார்டுதாரர்கள் பெற்று செல்ல ஏதுவாக, 'டோக்கன்'கள் வினியோகத்தை, 11ம் தேதி முதல், 14ம் தேதி முடிய, கடை ஊழியர்கள், பிற்பகல் நேரங்களில் வீடுகளுக்கு சென்று வழங்க வேண்டும்.

வரும், 11ம் தேதி முதல், 14ம் தேதி முடிய, முற்பகல் நேரத்தில், ரேஷன் கடைகளில் அத்தியாவசிய பொருட்களை வழக்கம் போல் கார்டுதாரர்களுக்கு வினியோகிக்க வேண்டும் என உணவுத்துறை தெரிவித்துள்ளது.

ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்க ரூ.160 கோடி ஒதுக்கீடு

ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்க ரூ.160 கோடி ஒதுக்கீடு

Added : ஜூன் 08, 2021 00:09

சென்னை : கொரோனா தொற்று தடுப்பு பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள பணியாளர்களுக்கு, மூன்று மாதங்களுக்கு ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்க, 160 கோடி ரூபாயை அரசு ஒதுக்கியுள்ளது.

கொரோனா தடுப்பு பணியில், ஏப்ரல் முதல் இந்த மாதம் வரை தொடர்ந்து ஈடுபட்டு வரும் அரசு பணியாளர்கள், ஒப்பந்த பணியாளர்கள், அரசு மற்றும் உள்ளாட்சிகளின் கீழ் பணியாற்றி வரும் பணியாளர்களுக்கு, ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்க அரசு உத்தரவிட்டு, அரசாணை வெளியிடப்பட்டது.அதன்படி ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்க, 160 கோடி ரூபாய் ஒதுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. ஊக்கத்தொகை வழங்கும் திட்டத்தின் ஒருங்கிணைப்பாளராக, பொது சுகாதாரத் துறை இயக்குனர் நியமிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளார்.இது குறித்து மக்கள் நல்வாழ்வுத் துறை செயலர் ராதாகிருஷ்ணன், துறை அதிகாரிகளுக்கும், அனைத்து மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கும் கடிதம் எழுதி உள்ளார்.

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.