Delay in Covaxin supply caused average daily vaccinations to dip

Delay in Covaxin supply caused average daily vaccinations to dip

Issue At BB Facility Sorted; Govt Expecting 45L Doses In July

Sushmi.Dey@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.07.2021 

There is a dip in average daily vaccination against Covid-19 which fell to 37.23 lakh doses in the week of July 05-10 from over 61.14 lakh doses in the week starting June 21 and nearly 42 lakh doses in the following week (June 28-July 04), Co-Win data shows.

While the decline in vaccination has raised concerns, the government is expecting to maintain a daily average of 40-45 lakh doses in July with an estimated supply of at least 12 crore doses this month, an official source said. According to the source, the slow down in vaccination is primarily because of some disruptions at Bharat Biotech’s Bengaluru plant which resulted in delay in supply of some batches of Covaxin that were expected in the beginning of this month.

“It is a new facility with large scale fermentation plant. The trial batches were disrupted during standardisation process and therefore, the supply of Covaxin was less than expected. That has been sorted out now,” the official said.

Co-Win data shows the decline is mainly driven by less number of people initiating first dose and a lower uptake in rural areas. Between June 25-30, the number of daily doses administered in rural areas were in the range of 9.9 lakh- 40.43 lakh. However, it dropped to 8 lakh-38.08 lakh doses between July 1-9.

In urban areas, the daily doses varied from 8.25 lakh-31.80 lakh doses during June 25-30, whereas during July 1-9, around 7.6 lakh -27.85 lakh doses were given.

“The combination of progressive reopening and declining vaccination numbers is dangerous. We are not really protected against the current delta variant until we fully vaccinate 60-70% of the population by December. For that we need to administer 90 lakh to 1 crore doses per day. And that needs vaccine stocks which we seem to be running short on. If we can’t vaccinate enough, I’m afraid we need to be obsessed about Covid-appropriate behavior and rethink relaxing restrictions,” says Dr Arvinder Soin, chairman, Medanta Liver Transplant Institute.

However, the average daily vaccination still remained above the pre-June 21 level and officials said with improved supplies and campaigns, pace of vaccination is likely to pick up again in the following weeks.

“The supplies are dynamic. We are constantly working with companies to ensure manufacturing capacities are increased. More vaccine supplies are also expected by August which will help the programme,” the official said.

More than 37.22 crore doses of Covid vaccine have been administered across the country till July 11.

PES student gets ₹1.5cr/yr offer in UK

PES student gets ₹1.5cr/yr offer in UK

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:12.07.2021 

A computer science engineering student from PES University here has bagged an offer of Rs 1.5 crore per year to work in the London office of Confluent.

Sarang Ravindra  from Jayanagar has been interning with the company over the past six months, before he attended interviews and got his placement confirmed.

“I want to believe that it is only my intent to learn and curiosity that the company saw in me. It will overshadow all the other talents. With virtual internships, networking and visibility might come down. But your hard work will show and help you get noticed,” the student said. Sarang said he spoke to his manager and got interviews organised and cleared them.

While the joining date is in July-end, travel will depend on the pandemic scenario, Sarang added.

“I took science in PU and we had computer science in the junior college. That’s when my interest started building. My elder brother is also a computer science engineer. I started coding with him and enjoyed it,” said Sarang.

A tabla player, Sarang completed his schooling from Kumaran’s School and pre-university education from RV PU College.

PES stated that 1,283 sixth-semester students across its campuses had virtual internships during the pandemic year, with them receiving monthly stipends ranging from Rs 15,000 – Rs 87,000. The highest stipend offered was around Rs 1.3 lakh per month.

‘Placements on track’

“The Covid-19 pandemic has had no negative impact on placements. The internship offers are good and conversion rates to preplacement offers are over 90%. Companies want to catch the students young and train them before anyone else can offer them jobs. The numbers are very encouraging. The final placements for the next academic year will start by August and not July because of the pandemic,” said Shridhar KS, registrar, PESU.

One-way airfare to Canada costs students 10% of total course fee

One-way airfare to Canada costs students 10% of total course fee

Non-Acceptance Of RT-PCR From India Forces Detour

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:12.07.2021 

Parents of Hansal Khatri, from Ghatlodia were in for a shock when they started checking availability of flights to Canada. “I have admission in a PG diploma course for business management at a university in Canada for Fall semester (starting September). I need to be there by the last week of August,” he said. His entire course fees is Rs 20 lakh while current one-way airfare by carriers such as Air India is Rs 1.75 lakh to Rs 2 lakh – accounting to 10% of total course fees.

“The tickets were costing between Rs 50,000 and Rs 70,000 in January this year. While it was still costly, we justified it due to Covid conditions. But air fares rising three times is too much when majority of passengers during this time are only foreign-bound students,” said Amit Khatri, his father. “As he has already secured admission, we have no option but to shell out the money, but it is not fair," the father felt.

It’s not just students – even regular passengers are bearing the brunt. Naranpura resident Subhash Ghonchala said a one-way ticket for his daughter-inlaw from Ahmedabad to Toronto, Canada on July 5 cost Rs 1.77 lakh which was three times the normal price of Rs 70,000.

It’s not just students – even regular passengers are bearing the brunt

Covid has pushed up travel costs

More than money, my daughter-in-law and her baby had to go to Toronato via Belgrade in Serbia where there was a stay of 2 nights and one day to get RTPCR test done. So, she went from Ahmedabad to Toronto via Mumbai-Frankfurt-Belgrade-Frankfurt- Toronto,” said Subhash Ghonchala .

Sanket Patel (name changed), 21, said he had deferred his travel to Canada due to the second wave in May. “My visa expires in December. While I’ll still wait a month to get the economic deal, what if third wave starts or Canada changes its rules? There’s a strong buzz there would be relaxation in some categories announced in the last week of July, but it’s always a gamble,” he said. “Getting the visa was a great feeling, but it’s now turning into desperation.” Travel and visa consultant Sabina Advani said Covid-19 specific sanctions imposed by countries have pushed up travel duration and cost of travellers.

“Countries like Canada do not accept Indian RT-PCR reports mandating travel via third countries for RT-PCR reports. For the US, currently there is a 14-day quarantine in a third country hotel. We are hopeful of Maldives and Dubai opening post July 15 which would be preferred by Indian travellers due to easy availability of Indian food,” says Travel and visa consultant Sabina Advani .

Due to these rules, travellers are going via Mexico, Belgrade and Armenia currently where 14-day quarantine stay with meals pushes the ticket price to upwards of Rs 1.75 lakh on confirmed flights.

Sameer Yadav, a citybased student visa and immigration consultant, said that there are a few sites offering cheaper tickets. “But often the travellers are not going for it – the chances of flight cancellation are high. Currently there are no direct flights to Canada, and most are taking detours. While the cancellation amount comes back, it cannot help the students who have to reach Canada in a time-bound manner,” he said.

Protest to safeguard students’ future is not unlawful: HC

Protest to safeguard students’ future is not unlawful: HC

K Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:12.07.2021 

A protest with an intention to safeguard the future of students cannot be construed as unlawful assembly, the Madras high court has said while quashing the final report filed against people who staged a protest seeking action against 30 bogus nursing and paramedical colleges in 2016.

The prosecution case was that the four petitioners along with others belonging to Abdul Kalam Latchiya India Party carried out a protest without prior permission against the bogus institutions and blocked the road disrupting traffic in Dindigul on April 14, 2016. Based on a complaint from the sub inspector of police, Dindigul Town North police registered a case against the protesters under sections 188, 143 and 145 of IPC. The police also filed the final report which was taken cognizance of by the Dindigul judicial magistrate II court. The four petitioners had filed the petition seeking to quash this report.

Justice G Ilangovan observed that for taking cognizance of offence under Section 143 of IPC, the ingredients under Section 141 of IPC must be brought on record. It appears that the petitioners and others staged a protest to initiate necessary action against bogus nursing and para medical colleges which spoiled the life of students. The court observed that there is no material on record or collected during the investigation to show that the agitation ended in violence. Hence, the ingredients of offence under Section 141 of IPC are not applicable to the present occurrence.

The judge said that in Section 145 of IPC, the words “unlawful assembly” are mentioned. The petitioners and others held the agitation with an intention to safeguard the future of students and hence it should not be considered as unlawful assembly.

“Registration of case and filing of final report may not be considered to be proper since the right of agitation has been recognized and that too conducting the agitation without any violence cannot be considered to be per se illegal,” observed the judge. Though only four people had approached the court, the judge quashed the final report in its entirety.

Online courses: UGC calls for applications

Online courses: UGC calls for applications

12.07.2021 

The University Grants Commission invited applications from higher educational institutions (HEIs) entitled to offer online programmes without prior approval of the commission. The portal to submit online applications will be opened from July 15. Institutions can visit the UGC’s website www.usc.ac.in/deb for further details and updates. The commission amended the University Grants Commission (Open and Distance Learning Programmes and Online Programmes) (Amendment) Regulations, 2021 making NAAC accreditation valid for next three academic years. TNN

No Covid-19 deaths in Chennai after 139 days

No Covid-19 deaths in Chennai after 139 days

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.07.2021 

Not a single person in Chennai succumbed to Covid-19 in the last 24 hours. After 139 days, the district witnessed zero covid deaths on Sunday. Another 19 districts in Tamil Nadu also recorded no Covid deaths today.

The number of fresh infections has continued to decline, with 2,775 cases on Sunday.

With 47 deaths, TN's cumulative death toll increased to 33,418 -- third highest in the country next to Maharashtra (1,25,878) and Karnataka (35,835). Tamil Nadu's present case fatality ratio, however, continues to hover around 1.3%.

One lakh get jabs

The state vaccinated 1,02,904 people on Sunday. Health Minister Ma Subramanian said TN totally needed11.5 crore vaccine doses but only 1.6 crore doses were supplied by the Union government till date. All the five lakh doses, which the state received on Saturday, were dispatched to all districts the same evening. Another 3 lakh doses were expected late on Sunday so that vaccination could continue on Monday, he said.

Chennai and its neighbouring districts received 82,500 doses and rest were distributed to other districts. In southern districts, long queues were spotted outside most vaccine camps as the drive resumed after a twoday gap. Almost 40% of fresh cases were reported from the western region. Coimbatore topped the chart with 298 new cases, followed by Erode (198) and Salem (175) in the region. Thanjavur stood second in this chart with 210 new cases.

Infection numbers were dropping at a brisk phase in Chennai (171 new cases) and its neighbouring districts. Similar trends were observed at other major cities in the state such as Trichy (108), Madurai (35).

In 29 of the 38 districts in the state, the discharge rate outpaced the new infection count. Even in the remaining nine districts, the gap was significant only in Thanjavur (201 new cases and 116 discharges).

Pondy schools, colleges to reopen on July 16

Puducherry:

Schools in the Union territory will reopen for students of Classes from IX to XII from July16 after the Union territory witnessed a drop in the rate of incidence of Covid-19 infection. All colleges in the territory will also reopen on July16. Chief minister N Rangasamy made an announcement in this regard on Sunday.

The territory did not report a Covid-19 death in a day after a span of more than three months. There were145 fresh Covid-19 cases even as 213 patients recovered bringing down the total number of active cases to1,505 on Sunday. Puducherry has maximum active cases with 1,156 followed by (214), Mahe (101) and Yanam (34). So far 5.85 lakh doses of the vaccine (including the second dose) have been administered. TNN

More countries open to travellers sans vax

More countries open to travellers sans vax

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.07.2021 

In what could be a sign of revival of international travel, nine countries have opened their borders for people to travel to without vaccination.

Turkey, Egypt, Maldives, South Africa, Ukraine, Serbia, Uzbekistan, Ethiopia and Russia are allowing passengers who have not got vaccinated against Covid-19. But visitors will have to carry a RT-PCR test report along. Except in Turkey, quarantine is necessary in the other countries only if tested positive. Maldives will be open for travel from July 15.

This move by the nine countries is a blessing for travellers looking for a short vacation. It also leaves people who work in the Middle East and the US with more options for transit and the mandatory 14-day quarantine before heading to the destination, since the locations have banned direct travel from India.

Travel and tour operators said travellers who have been looking for options to spend more than14 days outside India, so that they can enter Dubai or transit via Dubai to other countries such as the US, can now fly to Maldives, Egypt or Russia. People have been entering Dubai, which is open for tourists, via other countries.

Basheer Ahmed of Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) said, “Many people who work in the US and the Middle East are stuck here because they are not allowed to fly directly from India. People have been travelling to Saudi Arabia and the US after staying for a few days in another country. Now, they can travel to Dubai too. More countries opening up is also helping people who want to try and have a vacation. Those who are returning to India from the US also now have more transit options.”

J Sethuraman of Travel XS said this definitely is a way out for people because they have been stuck for more than a year unable to travel. “When Maldives opened last year, Indians were the biggest clients for the country. It will be similar this year too,” he said. “The countries allowing people without quarantine will help boost travel and is a plus,” Sethuraman said, but added that vaccination is key for international travel in the long run.

கிளம்பிட்டாய்ங்கய்யா... ‛வாட்ஸ் ஆப் வெரிபிகேஷன் ஸ்கேம்' திருடர்கள்: ஓ.டி.பி.,யை சொல்லிடாதீங்க

கிளம்பிட்டாய்ங்கய்யா... ‛வாட்ஸ் ஆப் வெரிபிகேஷன் ஸ்கேம்' திருடர்கள்: ஓ.டி.பி.,யை சொல்லிடாதீங்க

Updated : ஜூலை 11, 2021 10:39 | Added : ஜூலை 11, 2021 10:34

மதுரை: 'அடிச்சு கூட கேட்பாங்க சொல்லிடாதீங்க' என வடிவேலு காமெடியில் வருவது போல் 'ஓ.டி.பி.,யை - ஒன் டைம் பாஸ்வேர்டு' சொல்லிடாதீங்க... 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப் வெரிபிகேஷசன் ஸ்கேம்' என்ற திருடர்கள் கிளம்பிட்டாங்கய்யா... கிளம்பிட்டாய்ங்க'... என சைபர் வல்லுனர்கள் எச்சரிக்கின்றனர்.

வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செயலியை 'கூகுள் பிளே ஸ்டோரில்' பதிவிறக்கி நம் அலைபேசி எண் பதிவு செய்து பயன்படுத்துகிறோம். நம் அலைபேசி எண்ணை தங்கள் போனில் உள்ள வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செயலில் பதிவு செய்து நம் தகவல்களை திருடுபவர்கள் தான் 'ஸ்கேம்' திருடர்கள். இவர்கள் நம் எண்ணை அவர்கள் வாட்ஸ் ஆப்பில் பதிவிடும் போது நம் அலைபேசி எண்ணுக்கு 4 இலக்க ஓ.டி.பி., எண்கள் வரும். உடனே நமக்கு போன் செய்து 'தவறாக உங்கள் எண்ணுக்கு ஓ.டி.பி.,வந்து விட்டது தயவு செய்து கூறுங்கள்' என மூளைச் சலவை செய்கிறார்கள்.

நாமும் ஏதோ ஒரு அவசரத்தில் யார், என்ன என்று கேட்காமல் ஓ.டி.பி.,யை கூறி விட்டால் அவ்வளவு தான் நம் 'வாட்ஸ் ஆப் சாட்' முழுதும் திருடர்கள் அலைபேசியில் ஓப்பனாகும். இந்த நேரத்தில் நம் அலைபேசியின் வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செயலி 'லாக் அவுட்' ஆகிவிடும். ஆனால் அதை கவனித்து மீண்டும் நாம் 'லாக் இன்' ஆகும் இடைப்பட்ட நேரத்தில் நம் தகவல்கள் திருடப்பட்டிருக்கும். வாட்ஸ் ஆப்பில் நண்பர்கள், குடும்பத்தினருக்கு நாம் அனுப்பிய ஏ.டி.எம்., பாஸ்வேர்ட், ஆதார் எண் உள்ளிட்ட பல ரகசியங்கள் திருடர்கள் கையில் சிக்கினால் நம் கதை கந்தல் தான்.

இதில் இருந்து தப்பிக்க நம்பகமான நபர்கள் தவிர வேறு யார் போன் செய்து ஓ.டி.பி.,யை கேட்டாலும் சொல்லவே கூடாது. பிரவுசிங் சென்டர் உள்ளிட்ட இடங்களில் ஏதாவது ஆவணங்கள் பெற செல்லும் போது நம் அலைபேசிக்கு வரும் ஓ.டி.பி.,யை அங்குள்ளவர் ஆவணத்திற்காக தான் பயன்படுத்துகிறாரா என்றும் கவனிக்க வேண்டும்.

'வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செட்டிங்ஸ்' மாற்றுங்கள்

தகவல் திருட்டை தடுக்க சில 'செட்டிங்'குகளை மாற்ற வேண்டும். வாட்ஸ் ஆப் செட்டிங், பிரிவில் அக்கவுண்ட் தேர்வு செய்து 'டூ ஸ்டெப் வெரிபிகேஷன்' கிளிக், எனேபில் செய்து 6 இலக்க பின் நம்பர் கொடுக்கவும். இதை செய்தால் திருடர்கள் ஓ.டி.பி., வைத்து நம் அலைபேசி எண்ணுள்ள வாட்ஸ் ஆப்பில் நுழையும் போது பின் நம்பர் கேட்கும்.

Rural teachers fight a losing battle to keep kids in ‘class’

TOI+

Rural teachers fight a losing battle to keep kids in ‘class’

In Bihar alone 1.4 crore students are without digital devices. To make sure education reaches all, teachers are trying everything from evening classes to phone recharges

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

11.07.2021 

With lockdowns shutting schools across the country, students have struggled to access remote learning. In some places, they wait for their parents to return from work so that they can access lessons sent by the teacher on WhatsApp. Some land up at neighbours’ homes asking to use their smartphones. Others watch non-interactive recorded lessons on TV. But the struggle isn’t theirs alone.

Teachers across rural India spoke about how they were attempting to ensure their students didn’t fall behind with measures that range from open-air classes to recharging phones.

Biswajeet Bodo, head teacher of Jugal High School in Bamunpukhuru village in Assam’s Tezpur district, and his colleagues have been conducting classes in open spaces or in Nam Ghars, places of congregational worship, since only around 150 of the 480 students in the school have access to smartphones.

“During the first wave of Covid, we picked five venues in five villages around the school, called the students of that particular area and taught them in the open. But that had to stop as the number of cases was very high in the second wave,” Bodo said. “Then we made arrangements with families that have mobile phones to lend them for 90 minutes to those who don’t have devices,” he said.

The lack of digital devices among students was acknowledged by the education ministry in a submission on six states to a parliamentary standing committee last month (see box). In states like Maharashtra, Madhya Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, nearly 70% of students don’t have access to a digital device. In Bihar, as many as 1.4 crore or 38% don’t have a device.

Teachers are trying their best to be flexible. Nasim Ahmad, who heads an Urdu medium primary school in the Khijurtoli village near Ranchi, said that 100 of the 186 students have access to their parents’ mobile phones. “We have two-hour open-air classes for those without phones. For those who do, we conduct classes from 7 pm onwards, after their parents return from work,” he said.

Anil Kumar Pradhan, who teaches in a government school in the Lahanda village of Odisha’s Sundargarh district, said that even when students had access to a smartphone, they didn’t have access to the internet. “So, once a week we visited their homes to teach them whatever is possible,” he said.

Even in a state like Kerala, that ranks high on development indicators, internet access has been a problem in rural areas. Michael Sebastian, from the organisation Samagra Siksha Kerala in Idukki, said students in the state have been watching classes that are aired on television. But in Idukki, where there are many tribal hamlets, many homes don’t have continuous power supply.

Sebastian said they set up public study centres where education volunteers can help the children. “More than 1,000 students, including the tea estate workers’ children, attend TV classes in these public study centres,” he said.

OUT-OF-REACH RECHARGES

Even when there’s a phone and internet, there are hurdles like lack of money. “The parents told us when there is no food in the house how can they recharge the phones? There are many children whom we assisted by recharging their parents’ mobile phones,” said Ahmad, the teacher from Jharkhand.

In Andhra Pradesh, Satnarayan Sastry said that the state government had deposited Rs 15,000 in the bank accounts of mothers whose children are enrolled in the schools but only a few bought phones with the money. “The government offered a laptop or Rs 15,000, and a majority opted for the money. But that money was mostly spent on other essential things as many don’t even have enough for food,” he said.

GETTING THEM BACK IN SCHOOL

Most teachers also admitted that there is a growing learning gap with students’ performance declining significantly. Educationist and former CBSE chairperson Ashok Ganguly pointed out that online education is an interim measure and not a real education. “Learning loss can be addressed through innovative measures such as SMSes which assign students engaging activities,” he said.

Then there is the problem of dropouts. The education ministry said nearly 55 lakh children are out of school just in the two states of Jharkhand and UP. Educationist Meeta Sengupta said dropout rate can be reversed with school-wapsi or Back to School programmes. “This is an opportunity to get schooling right, where schools reach children, rather than forcing children to come into regimented schooling,” she said.

BRIDGING THE GAP: With no internet or digital devices, students are forced to attend classes in the open in Odisha’s Sundargarh district

WHO to decide on Covaxin in 4-6 weeks

WHO to decide on Covaxin in 4-6 weeks

11.07.2021 

The World Health Organization is likely to take a decision on including Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin in the emergency use list within four to six weeks, Soumya Swaminathan, the global health body’s chief scientist has said. At a webinar on Friday, Swaminathan said BB is uploading safety and efficacy data and a decision on its inclusion will be taken by an expert advisory group. PTI

The difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

The difference between tennis elbow and golfer’s elbow

11.07.2021 

The difference between golfer’s and tennis elbow is mainly to do with which part of the elbow becomes inflamed. In tennis elbow, the inflammation is on the outside of the elbow, while with a golfer’s elbow, the inflammation is on the inner side. Golfer’s elbow can also cause numbness or tingling in your ring and little fingers.

Tennis elbow affects the extensor tendons of the arm which connect to the muscles that stretch your wrist backward and spread your fingers. Golfer’s elbow affects the flexor tendons attached to the muscles that flex your wrist and screw up your fingers, like when you grip something.

— DAILY MIRROR

Talk it Out

Talk it Out

11.07.2021 

Times of India 

Why it’s so hard for parents to let their adult children leave home

To help readers cope with their anxieties in these stressful times, TOI has launched Talk it Out, a series under which our panel of expert counsellors will answer your mental health queries. This week’s advice comes from psychiatrist Dr Prabha Chandra

We are seniors with a young daughter who wants to excel in her career. We were shell-shocked when she took a separate accommodation and left us. She also said that she will find her own life partner as she feels traditionally brought up boys are dominating and don’t share household work. We are worried about her living separately and her safety. We are more experienced and can get someone in our community matching her requirements. But she is very stubborn and not accepting any proposal. Please advise.

— Anonymous anxious parents

This is such a common scenario in India. Parents and adult children need to establish new ways of communication and negotiation. There are two issues you seem to be concerned about. First, her moving out and feeling that she has ‘left’ you. All adult children have to individuate and separate from their parents, if not physically then symbolically. It is admirable and a testimony to your parenting that your daughter can live on her own, be responsible for her own finances, food and safety. She has not left you. She is just learning to find her wings and fly on her own. There are many ways in which you can support that. To handle your concerns about her safety, having a discussion about alarms, locks etc may help. Your daughter seems to be an intelligent young woman. As her parents, you would want her to find a partner who will respect her and treat her like an equal. In her quest for independence, she may stumble a bit, but she should know that you are around to support her. Being open to her need for independence and respecting her decision also gives you the opportunity to stay connected and have open conversations, including about your own anxieties.

My husband had to travel abroad for a new job. My son and I will join him next year. My mother, sister and brother came to our place to help as we are expecting our second baby. My mom says she isn’t liking it here and wants to go back. Initially I was patient but gradually, it became unbearable because of the unspoken pressure. I feel she is not even making an effort to settle down and just wants to go back, even though she isn’t particularly happy there. I feel like I can’t talk to my mother and am angry at her. Am I a bad daughter?

— Anonymous

I’d like to reassure you that this is quite common. Neither are you a bad daughter, nor is she an unhelpful mom. Firstly, the pandemic has taken a huge toll on our emotions, especially older people who thrived on social connections and now feel lonely and anxious. When we feel distressed, we’d like to be back in our familiar surroundings which is what your mother probably wants. Secondly, our expectations from our parents may result in us taking them for granted. It looks like you really care for your mother, so acknowledge that she is doing you a huge favour, discuss how you can help her feel more comfortable, negotiate a shorter stay and respect her wishes if she still wants to go back.

I was in an on/off relationship for about seven years. I have cut all connections with my ex-boyfriends who he didn’t like, but he hasn’t. I love him a lot and I know this is very toxic because he makes talking to him very hard. He asks me to support him and says he wants to be with me. I feel his actions and words are completely different. I want to confront him but am worried that it’ll be hard to let him go since I’ve shared a significant portion of my life with him.

— Anonymous

Seven years is a long time. By now both of you should be aware of what is negotiable and non-negotiable. Ex-boyfriends or a platonic girlfriend are not the real problem. Patterns of faulty communication and jealousy may set in early and are related to each partner’s own personal insecurities. Trusting someone and being open with each other means letting go of one’s own fears. Being secretive, confrontational, withdrawing, and being accusatory are all indicative of unhealthy communication. However, these can be resolved by working on one’s own insecurities. In a healthy romantic relationship, one need not stop being friends with others or expect that the partner share every small detail of their life. I would suggest couples counselling because there seem to be things keeping you together.

2 Baroda Medical College students drown in Mahi

2 Baroda Medical College students drown in Mahi

Were Part Of Group That Had Gone For Picnic

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Vadodara:11.07.2021 

Two students of the Baroda Medical College drowned in the Mahisagar river near Rasulpur in Savli taluka of Vadodara district on Saturday.

The students were members of a group that had gone for picnic there.

According to sources, a group of 12 second year MBBS students had gone to Rasulpur which is a popular site for outings and picnics amongst residents of Vadodara.

The group entered the river to bathe. However, the heavy current in the river dragged away four students including the deceased Siddhi Shah (20) and Amogh Goel (20).

While two students managed to hold on to rocks and returned to safety, Shah and Goel drowned in a deep depression in the river. Other members of the group too rushed out of the river and raised an alarm to get help.

Villagers rushed to the spot and brought out Shah and Goel from the river albeit after some delay as they could not be found immediately. The students called for an ambulance and even performed CPR on Shah and Goel. The two students, in critical condition, were rushed to the SSG Hospital in the city to which the college is attached. The doctors at the hospital could not save them despite all efforts.

The two other students who had started drowning along with Shah and Goel were stable. Sources said that the entire group was in a state of shock and was given succour by teachers at the college.

Sources said that the depression at the site is known. In the past too similar incidents have been reported there.

The two students were rushed to SSG hospital in critical condition

Aadhaar’s catch-22: To get missing man’s info, trace him!

Aadhaar’s catch-22: To get missing man’s info, trace him!

Hear Him Before Ordering Us To Reveal Details: UIDAI To HC

Saeed.Khan@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:11.07.2021 

A 19-year-old boy, Jigar Jadav, went missing from his school in Devas village in Banaskantha in 2011. A decade later, when the local police sought help from the Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) to provide any and every available detail on Jadav to help trace him, the Aadhaar authority cited the right to privacy of the person--missing in this case.

In March this year, the Gujarat HC directed Banaskantha police to launch an investigation to trace Jadav and ordered UIDAI to cooperate with the police to trace Jadav through Aadhaar card, if it was issued at all to him.

Reluctant to share Aadhaar information, if it has any, on missing Jadav, the UIDAI authorities informed the Gujarat high court that the HC can order it to furnish information only after hearing the authority and the person whose information is being sought for. Ironically, in this case, it is a missing person!

In March, the Gujarat HC had directed police to launch a probe to find Jigar

Cooperate with cops: HC to UIDAI

The insistence on part of the Aadhaar authority on following the law perplexed the HC which directed UIDAI on Wednesday to cooperate with the police in its investigation into the disappearance of Jadav after 10 years following a habeas corpus petition filed by Jadav’s father, Nagjibhai. Jadav had disappeared from Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar Kumar Chhatralay in Devas village in Banaskantha. His father frantically inquired with the schools and hostel authorities and pursued the matter with high-ups in the government. When no trace of his son was found, he approached the high court through advocate Nayanavati Jethva.

Following the HC order, the Deesa police wrote to UIDAI seeking information about Jadav, if it has any. In reply, the authority said that it would be difficult to identify a person merely on the basis of his birth date and name and without Aadhaar number.

The authority later reiterated this in its affidavit filed in the high court and asserted that it would not be feasible to trace him on the basis of cursory details. It also cited various provisions of laws and court orders by which the right to privacy restricts disclosure of details pertaining to an Aadhaar card holder.

The Aadhaar authority further submitted that the court can order it to furnish information about an Aadhaar card holder only after hearing UIDAI and the person concerned. It cited provisions of section 33(1) of UIDAI Act. “It is pertinent to mention that since Mr. Jigar Kumar Nagji Bhai Jadav has now attained majority (as per the information provided by state police authorities), he is also required to be heard by the Court along with the authority in view of the aforesaid Section 33 (1) of the said Act (as amended), in case if he has enrolled himself for an Aadhaar number and subsequently allotted the same by the Authority,” the affidavit reads.

Meanwhile, the Banaskantha police submitted its report on the probe during the hearing. The HC has posted the matter for further hearing on July 26.

48 hours after bail to 13 juveniles, SC order yet to reach Agra prison

48 hours after bail to 13 juveniles, SC order yet to reach Agra prison

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesgroup.com

Agra:11.07.2021 

Over 48 hours after the Supreme Court granted “immediate interim bail” to 13 convicts lodged at Agra Central Jail who spent between 14 and 20 years each in prison despite being juveniles at the time of committing the crimes, the inmates are yet to walk free. Jail authorities are awaiting court orders that are delivered via India Post.

“We can’t release the prisoners on bail until we receive a certified copy of the SC order. We have completed all formalities at our end and will let them go once we get the order,” V K Singh, senior superintendent of Agra Central Jail, told TOI.

The case came to light recently after the convicts moved the apex court, stating that they were being kept in jail in violation of the Juvenile Justice Act, 2000.

Full report on www.toi.in

Woman dies after allergy med overdose

Woman dies after allergy med overdose

Coimbatore:11.07.2021 

A 28-year-old woman died of overdose of tablets used for allergies in Coimbatore on Friday night.

The Singanallur police identified the deceased as R Lavanya, of Thatchan Thottam at Neelikonampalayam. She was working with a nationalised bank in the district and was slated to marry a relative on August 20.

A police officer said, “Lavanya had gone to a beauty parlour a few days ago for hand waxing. She developed allergic reaction (on the hands) on Friday evening and immediately took five Avil tablets. When she fell unconscious, family members took her to a private hospital at Singanallur, where she died without responding to treatment. The body was handed over to the family on Saturday afternoon after autopsy at Coimbatore Medical College and Hospital.”

The Singanallur police have registered a case under Section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code. TNN

18 districts had nil vax stock on Sat

18 districts had nil vax stock on Sat

No Camp in Coimbatore For 7th Day; Similar Plight In Southern Districts too

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.07.2021

Most vaccination centres across the state were closed after more than 18 districts reported nil stock on Saturday. By 10pm, TN received 5 lakh doses of Covishield, which were dispatched to districts by road late in the night. Officials said districts will resume vaccination from Sunday but those requiring Covaxin – first or second dose – will have to wait until Tuesday, when the next stock of the vaccine is expected.

The state, which had around 20,000 doses, recorded 27,922 vaccinations on Saturday. Officials said the daily count includes several backlog entries. “Some primary health centres (PHCs) and hospitals do not enter the details of recipients every day. Some of these backlog entries get added to the daily list. Also, nurses manage to squeeze out up to at least 11 doses from every 10-dose vial,” said joint director immunisation Dr K Vinay Kumar.

Over the past week, the state has reported a maximum of 1.3 lakh vaccinations in a day compared to 4.7 lakh on July 3. Coimbatore, which reported nil doses, had no vaccination camps for the seventh day in a row. While most districts in the western belt complained of the same problem, the situation wasn’t different in the southern districts. In Madurai, around 1,000 people were vaccinated on Saturday. Most people who received shots got it through special camps organised by the district health authorities, but what has irked senior citizens is the lack of information. “I am trying to get information on the availability of vaccines. I have called helplines and have asked people I know. Most say there is no vaccine. My husband and I were due for the second dose on July 5,” said A Sundari a resident of Tahsildar Nagar. To make things worse, she got a text message reminding her to get the second dose on time.

In the midst of acute vaccine shortage, state commercial taxes minister P Moorthy inaugurated a special vaccination camp organised by the state labour welfare department. He told reporters that 4,000 construction workers have received their first dose and that steps were on to vaccinate autorickshaw drivers and industrial workers. “We are vaccinating as many people as possible every day. The number of vaccinations depend on the number of vaccines received,” he said.

HURDLE TO FIGHT COVID:

An elderly woman returns after seeing a ‘no vaccine stock’ board at the urban primary health centre at Villapuram, Madurai, on Saturday

‘Faulty’ TNPSC selection process: HC stays MV inspector interviews

‘Faulty’ TNPSC selection process: HC stays MV inspector interviews

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:11.07.2021 

Citing defects in recruitment process, the Madras high court has stayed the interview notified by Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission (TNPSC) for recruitment to to 226 posts of motor vehicle inspector. The interview, scheduled for July 19, will not be held till further orders, the HC said, directing the TNPSC to make available all certificates and credentials of shortlisted candidates to petitioners who had moved the court.

“Since this court is convinced that there are defects in the process of recruitment, this court is of the view that the petitioners’ right should be preserved during the pendency of the writ petitions. Hence there shall be an order for maintaining status quo,” said Justice S S Sundar in his interim orders.

It is seen that TNPSC has now issued notification dated July 1 asking selected candidates to attend the interview on July 19. Hence the interview as scheduled by the notification shall be postponed sine die. There shall be no interview during pendency of the writ petitions or until further orders, the court added.

Directing the registry to post the pleas on July 19 for final hearing, the judge said: “This court will consider whether or not TNPSC can be directed to publish marks obtained by all candidates in the written examination and as to the publication of certificates of all the selected candidates.”

The credentials of the institutions which have issued such certificates will also be considered on July 19, the court added.

The court passed the order on a batch of pleas moved by candidates challenging the recruitment process.

According to the petitioners, of the 226 candidates selected for the interview, many are not eligible as per the recruitment notification.

They further demonstrated before the court that some candidates who were selected earlier by holding that they have required qualification were not selected and that there is no material to reconcile the inconsistencies.

Recording the submissions, Justice Sundar said: “In such circumstances, this court is of the prima facie view that all certificates and credentials of the selected candidates should be made available to the counsels appearing for the petitioners in all the writ petitions.”

Noting that such a move alone would ensure transparency in the process of selection, he said, “This court also can get a valid assistance while considering the cases on merits.”

Since this court is convinced that there are defects in the process of recruitment, this court is of the view that the petitioners’ right should be preserved during the pendency of the writ petitions. Hence there shall be an order for maintaining status quo

MADRAS HIGH COURT

‘No govt student got med seat in 2019 due to NEET’

‘No govt student got med seat in 2019 due to NEET’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.07.2021 

The introduction of NEET for admissions to undergraduate medical courses caused a steep fall in the number of government school students securing MBBS admission, the CPM has told the Madras high court.

After NEET was implemented, the number of government school students securing government seats in medical colleges dropped to a paltry five in 2017, seven in 2018 and zero in 2019, the party said, seeking to implead itself as a party to the PIL filed by a BJP functionary.

The PIL opposes the formation of the Justice A K Rajan committee to study the impact of NEET on students in the state. DMK, Dravidar Kazhagam and others too have sought to implead themselves in the PIL, which has been posted to July 13 for further hearing. The Union government, however, filed a counter-affidavit saying constitution of the committee is an affront to the Supreme Court and that it was an exercise in futility.

“Before introduction of NEET, 90% of students getting admission to government medical colleges in the state were from government and government aided schools or low-cost private schools teaching the state board syllabus,” CPM said.

The sudden drop in the numbers post NEET is a cause for worry and the state government is duty-bound to study the root cause of the problem, it said.

NEWS DIGEST

NEWS DIGEST

11.07.2021 

Railway partially cancels trains

Southern Railway has partially cancelled a few trains. Chennai Egmore – Rameswaram superfast special (02205) scheduled to leave Chennai Egmore at 5.45pm on July 11, 12 and 13 will run till Mandapam. Rameswaram - Chennai Egmore special (02206) scheduled to depart Rameswaram at 8.25pm on July 11, 12, 13 and 14 will leave from Mandapam at 8.52pm.

7 more complaints against athlete coach: The city police have received seven more complaints against arrested athlete coach G Nagarajan, 59, who was arrested on a complaint of one of her former trainees, a college student. The complaints were included in the case after inquiring the victims. Police have invited people to reveal about their harrowing experience while getting trained by the coach, said a police officer. The coach, who worked as an assistant commissioner at the GST commissionerate, had been heading a sports academy in the city and he was arrested on May 30 following a complaint from the 19-year-old victim, the first to file a complaint, that she was sexually harassed over the years.

Fine arts college seeks applications for diploma: The Rukmini Devi College of Fine Arts has invited applications for admission to full-time four-year diploma course in Bharatanatyam, Carnatic music (vocal, instrumental, veena, violin, mridangam, flute) and visual arts, academic studies. Indian arts (drawing and painting) sculpture, ceramics, print making, computer graphics and photography. Only online application is accepted. The last date for submission is August 6, 2021. For further details contact 044-24521169, or email- registrar@kalakshetra.in or log onto www.kalakshetra.in.

Metro rail extends train timings: Metro trains will operate from 5.30am to 10pm as Chennai Metro Rail Limited extends train timings to cater to the increasing footfalls. Earlier trains were operated till 9pm. Trains will be available every five minutes during peak hours- 8am to 11am and from 5pm to 8pm. During non peak hours, trains will be operated every 10 minutes. On Sundays and public holidays, trains will be operated from 7am to 9pm with a 10-minute frequency. So far, 40 passengers, who were caught not wearing face masks properly in metro stations and trains, were each fined ₹200.

Revised norms of state govt bus usage

Revised norms of state govt bus usage

hennai:11.07.2021 

Tamil Nadu transport department has revised the norms for condemnation of overaged government buses.

State Express Transport Corporation (SETC) buses will be condemned at the end of seven years or completion of 12 lakh km. Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) mofussil buses will be condemned at end of nine years or 12 lakh km.

The decision has been made based on recommendations made by a committee, constituted to study the issue. TNN

Govt exams & bus service to Pondy allowed from Monday

Govt exams & bus service to Pondy allowed from Monday

All Shops Can Now Work Till 9pm, TN Curbs Extended

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:10.07.2021 

Bus services to Puducherry from Tamil Nadu will resume and shops can remain open till 9pm across the state from Monday as chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday announced extension of the Covid-19 lockdown till 6am on July 19 with more relaxations. Competitive exams for state and Union government jobs will also be allowed, but agencies conducting the tests must inform district collectors in advance.

Interstate public and private transport and international air travel, except the ones permitted by the Union home ministry, however, will continue to remain prohibited. Curbs on cinema theatres, bars, swimming pools, social and political gatherings, entertainment, sports and cultural events, schools and colleges and zoological parks too will remain intact. A maximum of 50 people will be permitted to attend marriages, and 20 people for funerals and last rites.

“All permitted activities will be allowed to continue in the state, except in containment zones. Shops and other activities permitted till 8pm will be allowed till 9pm,” the CM said. Restaurants, tea shops, bakeries, eateries, sweet shops will be permitted with a 50% cap on customers at a time till 9pm. “Standard operating procedures should be followed strictly at all shops and public gatherings,” the CM said.

Doors, windows must be kept open in shops to ensure good ventilation

Even as the total positive rate is falling, the state government wants to remain cautious. “The state is still not in a comfort zone to open up fully,” said a senior official.

Hand sanitizers and dispensers should be compulsorily made available at the entry and customers screened using thermal screening. Management should ensure that staff and customers wear masks at all times. Doors and windows should be kept open in shops with air-conditioning facilities to ensure adequate ventilation. Entry should be restricted to maintain social distance, while marking should be drawn for the customers to maintain distance when they stand in queue near shops.

“The district collectors and local bodies will have to take up intensive preventive measures through micro-level containment of cases,” he said. No other activities other than medical emergency services and supply of essential commodities will be permitted in the containment zones. The administrative machinery should set up committees and take up aggressive door-to-door monitoring in these zones.

Stalin urged the public to avoid stepping out of houses and gather in public places to prevent the infectious disease. “Wearing masks, maintaining social distance and frequent hand washing should be strictly followed. Public should visit hospitals nearby for consultation or treatment as soon as they get to know of the symptoms,” Stalin said. Imposing fines on violations of Covid protocols will continue, he said.

SC judges get ₹208 per case, senior lawyers charge lakhs

SC judges get ₹208 per case, senior lawyers charge lakhs

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.07.2021

If we are looking for mockery of the principle of equal work for equal pay, we don’t have to go beyond the highest court of the land as the comparison of compensation paid to a Supreme Court judge for hearing and deciding a case and to a senior advocate for arguing it brings out the wide chasm.

An SC judge gets a salary of ₹2.5 lakh a month, which works out to approximately ₹8,333 per day, during which time he/she hears arguments from lawyers on an average of 40 cases. This translates to ₹208 per case, be it a simple appeal, a PIL on Covid issues, or one involving intricate questions of law. In contrast, a newly designated senior advocate commands a price of ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh for arguing a case. The services of a seasoned advocate like A M Singhvi, Kapil Sibal, Mukul Rohatgi or Harish Salve may find the litigant’s bank balance lighter by ₹10 lakh-₹20 lakh per hearing.

Each opinion of a retired CJI fetches her/him ₹10-₹20 lakh

So an SC judge, who hears and decides a case, gets ₹208 per day per case while seasoned senior advocates, who cannot guarantee a result in a case, are paid in lakhs of rupees per day per case.

Well, none of the senior advocates argue in 40 cases a day, for which an SC judge prepares every evening to be ready to listen to the legal arguments the next day.

This is the reason why many SC judges look forward to their retirement, which allows them to offer legal expertise as arbitrators, or, for that matter, provide valued opinion to corporations and multinationals on legal issues in their operations in India, or in disputes arising from contracts, agreements and MoUs.

A retired SC judge earns between ₹2 lakh and ₹5 lakh for a two-hour sitting as an arbitrator and there are some who do three sittings every day to match the earnings of a reasonably successful senior advocate. A retired Chief Justice of India commands a little more than a retired SC judge while performing the duty of an arbitrator.

In rendering an opinion, a retired SC judge gets between ₹5 lakh and ₹10 lakh while each opinion of a retired CJI fetches her/him ₹10-₹20 lakh. A retired CJI confided to TOI: “I do three to four opinions a month and earn between ₹30-50 lakh, unthinkable money for a sitting judge. I indulge in a lot of charity. And yet, I am left with an amount which is more than the provident fund money I got on retirement after rendering services for more than two decades as a judge of constitutional courts.”

Full report on www.toi.in

NEET-UG likely to be deferred to Sept, decision on CUCET soon

NEET-UG likely to be deferred to Sept, decision on CUCET soon

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:10.07.2021

The National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) for admission to medical courses is likely to be postponed to September while a call on rollout of Central University Common Entrance Test (CUCET) will be taken after education minister Dharmendra Pradhan’s interaction with centrally funded institutions, sources said on Saturday.

The entrance test for MBBS/ BDS courses had been scheduled for August 1, but the registration process was deferred due to the surge in Covid-19 cases in April-May and subsequent lockdown.

The education ministry had on July 6 announced fresh dates for JEE (Main)’s April and May sessions. The April session will be conducted from July 20-25 and the May session (fourth and last) fourth from July 27-August 2.

Amid uncertainty over date of NEET-UG, social media has been abuzz with fake claims. A “notice” in circulation, which the National Testing Agency clarified later to be fake, claimed that NEET-UG would be held on September 5.

According to senior government official, the August 1 date for NEET is no longer feasible and it will be postponed. “The fresh schedule along with guidelines for the online registration process is to be announced next week. The new education minister who took charge on Friday would soon take a review meeting. Thereafter, the dates will be announced by NTA. Consultations are on and the exam is likely to be scheduled in the middle of September,” said the official.

There is also uncertainty among undergraduate aspirants and university administration over the status of CUCET.

Full report on www.toi.in

Reserved govt posts for SCs lie vacant for over a decade

GAP IN EXECUTION

Reserved govt posts for SCs lie vacant for over a decade

Shanmughasundaram.J@timesgroup.com

09.07.2021

Tamil Nadu may have 69% reservation, but it doesn’t necessarily reflect in representation on the ground. For nearly a decade at least 30,000 posts reserved for Scheduled Castes (SC) are lying vacant in various government departments in Tamil Nadu, multiple sources confirmed to TOI. This, according to employees’ associations and activists, indicated the lack of will to implement the reservation policy in employment in the government sector.

Repeated demands and protests to draw attention of the higher authorities have yielded no results. “The vacancies in our department remain unfilled for several years now,” said an officer in the Adi Dravidar and Tribal Welfare department.

Admitting to the anomaly, a senior officer in Adi Dravidar Welfare department said they have issued a circular asking the district collectors and heads of each government department to furnish the details of the vacant posts.

“We have started the exercise. We will soon start the process of compiling the data,” said the officer on condition of anonymity. “The government is committed to filling the vacancies through a special drive,” he said, recalling such an assurance in the governor’s address in the state assembly recently.

Tamil Nadu’s reservation policy specifies that 18% of the 69% quota should be reserved for SCs in the recruitment process. The recruitment agencies like the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission and the Teachers Recruitment Board have, however, failed miserably to maintain the quota, sources said.

VCK general secretary and MP D Ravikumar said 14,317 teaching and 4,643 non-teaching posts for SCs in the higher education institutions remained unfilled. “The backlog of vacancies are growing every year. The situation is no better in other departments,” said the MP. He said he had petitioned higher education minister K Ponmudi to look into the huge backlog.

Citing a RTI reply to a query, S Karuppaiah of Tamil Nadu Dalit Liberation Movement said 27,264 vacancies of posts meant for SCs were lying vacant in 2019. “Now the number would have surpassed 30,000. It is nothing but denying equal opportunity to the oppressed sections in the land of Periyar (E V Ramasamy) and Anna (C N Annadurai),” he said. A plethora of petitions to the chief minister’s special cell, minister for SC/ST and official departments concerned under the previous regime had no effect.

In March this year, the Centre had disclosed that at least 42,000 posts reserved for the SC and Scheduled Tribes and Other Backward Castes had been lying vacant in various Union ministries.

Members of Joint Action Council of Tamil Nadu Teachers Organisations and Government Employees Organisations said the government’s disinterest in filling vacancies derailed the reservation policy meant to ensure social justice. They noted the reservation policy was not followed in promotions too. “Police, education and two other departments followed reservation policies for promotions, while the rest of the government departments followed service rules. This should be taken up too,” said another official.