Both Covid vaccine doses must for staff, family members: Health dept

Both Covid vaccine doses must for staff, family members: Health dept

The Tamil Nadu health department on Saturday issued guidelines on Covid-appropriate behaviour for workplaces, industries, and factories.

Published: 25th July 2021 06:44 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu health department on Saturday issued guidelines on Covid-appropriate behaviour for workplaces, industries, and factories. In a notification issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Prevention Medicine, all the district health officials and Chennai Corporation officials have been asked to ensure that workplaces are screening their staff while they enter their premises.

All staff and family members must be vaccinated with two doses and companies must appoint a qualified health inspector at their own cost for monitoring and coordinating health activities in the premises. A Covid-19 health team must be created on the premises and awareness measures must be held, the guidelines state.

Also, according to the guidelines, the screening process must include asking the employee for any Covid-19 related symptoms, if family members have symptoms, checking body temperature and checking if the staff is quarantined for having symptoms.

Secondly, the guidelines say that mask-wearing is mandatory at all workplaces, and administrations must monitor mask compliance through supervisors and managers, including CCTV monitoring. “Anyone without mask must be sent out of the workplace,” it says.

The guidelines insist on maintaining social distancing, hand-washing facilities, and hand sanitation as well. In canteen and dining area, the workers must be divided into groups and meals and tea timings should be split across the groups. “Sufficient distancing should be maintained in dining hall and zig-zag, or alternate seating arrangements shall be adhered to,” guidelines read. In quarters and dorms, Covid appropriate behaviour must be followed and if anyone is found symptomatic, action must be taken.

Colleges devise strategy for admissions

Colleges devise strategy for admissions

“All department heads will be present in the college and apprise the interested applicants about the facilities and achievements of the department.

Published: 23rd July 2021 05:40 AM |

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The application process for admission into Arts and Science colleges will begin online from July 26. Colleges are busy making elaborate arrangements to ensure a smooth admission process as they are expecting a significant rise in the number of applications this year.

With almost 100 per cent pass percentage recorded in State Board class 12 results and a phenomenal rise in the number of top scorers (90 per cent and above), colleges across the city will be flooded with applications. To handle the situation efficiently and effectively, the colleges have chalked out different strategies. From setting up helpdesks, launching apps to answer admission-related queries, to providing tour of different departments, the colleges are trying it all to help students.

Guru Nanak College has strictly asked all of its staff to come to college from Friday onwards so that if any student wishes to see the infrastructure in the institute and enquire about different departments, he/she can visit the college and get all information.

“All department heads will be present in the college and apprise the interested applicants about the facilities and achievements of the department. Though the admission process is completely online, still many students want to personally visit the campus and enquire before applying,” said MG Ragunathan, principal of Guru Nanak College.

Besides, the college has also launched an app, which is developed by a B.Sc (IT) student of the college, to answer all admission-related queries.

As competition will be high this time, students will apply in as many number of colleges they can to ensure a seat for themselves. Due to this trend, colleges may face problem, as students will leave seats to take admission in their choice of college. To ensure that seats don’t fall vacant, MOP Vaishnav College for Women has decided to conduct online meeting of selected students along with their parents.

“We will interact with all the selected students and their parents online to get clarity about their future plans and whether our course meets their needs or not,” said principal of MOP, Lalitha Balakrishnan.

Loyola takes efforts to reduce the role of brokers

“Last year, we noticed the role of brokers, who were duping students. To check it, we have added more safety features to our portal,” said principal of Loyola College, Amirtham Thomas

MKU V-C appointed as V-C of Central University of TN

MKU V-C appointed as V-C of Central University of TN

He will work as V-C for a term of five years from the date on which he enters office, or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

Published: 24th July 2021 07:10 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Vice-chancellor (V-C) of Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU), M Krishnan, has been appointed as the V-C of Central University of Tamil Nadu (CUTN), Tiruvarur, by President of India, Ramnath Kovind. Following this, the syndicate of MKU is yet to form a convener committee until the new V-C takes charge. Krishnan joined as the V-C of MKU on January 2, 2019.

Though his tenure will be over only on January 1, 2022, he got an appointment to serve as the V-C of CUTN on July 23. He will work as V-C for a term of five years from the date on which he enters office, or until he attains the age of seventy years, whichever is earlier.

He will join duty after he receives the relieving order from the Tamil Nadu Governor, who is the Chancellor of the university. The Order of the Ministry of Education said, “Krishnan has been appointed as the vice chancellor of Central University Tamil Nadu as per statute 2 of Central Universities Act, 2009.” Sources said over 300 applications were shortlisted for the post.

College admission, exam dates worry many

College admission, exam dates worry many

Class 12 exams scheduled from Aug 6-19; admissions start on July 26

Published: 24th July 2021 07:11 AM |

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Private students and those who are not satisfied with the results published through the new method of evaluation, wanting to write Class 12 exams for betterment of marks, are worried if they might miss a seat in college admissions.

According to the recent announcement by Higher Education Minister K Ponmudy, the application process for admission into Arts, Science, and Engineering colleges will start from July 26. However, Class 12 exams in the State have been scheduled from August 6 to 19. Among the people who will be taking the exam are more than 39,000 private candidates, nearly 2,000 absentees, students with arrears, and registered students who are not happy with their Class 12 marks.

“The government deciding to conduct exams much later after opening the college admissions is in itself an irony. We were promised that we will be given a chance to write exams if we are not satisfied with our marks. But, what will be the use of it if top college seats get filled before we even get a chance to apply,” worried P Saindhavi, a Class 12 student from Tambaram. Parents said students will be taking up optional exams to meet the cut-off, yet will be left only with tier 2 and 3 colleges.

“The students who want to rewrite Class 12 exams might only be 1 per cent, but education must be unbiased and provide equal opportunities to all. The government must reconsider its decision and invite applications for college admissions at a later date. Or, this will discourage a lot of top performers from writing the exams,” said one of the parents, L Bhargav.

Private students also feel that there is a common perception that they might not aim for top colleges. According to a private student, Lathika Rani, some of them give exams in private due to unavoidable conditions and this does not make them any less competitive to bag a seat in top college.

The Class 12 supplementary exam will be conducted from August 6 to 19. Students not satisfied with the marks calculated can apply from July 23 to 27, but will need to do so for all subjects. They cannot seek to write any particular subject.

‘Factored in Covid-19’

When contacted, a School Education Department official said the exam date was fixed after discussing with experts about the Covid-19 situation.

What’s India’s vax output? Even govt might not be sure

What’s India’s vax output? Even govt might not be sure

Jr Health Mantri Gives 3 Sets Of Numbers For Covaxin, 2 For Covishield

Rema.Nagarajan@timesgroup.com

24.07.2021 

India’s vaccine production numbers seems to be a mystery for the government, with the junior health minister giving the Rajya Sabha three different sets of numbers for the monthly output of Covaxin and two for Covishield on the same day in response to questions. Two of these questions were even asked by the same member. And the numbers don’t match what the government had earlier told the Supreme Court in affidavits.

On July 20, in response to a question from Congress MP Mallikarjun Kharge, Bharati Pravin Pawar, junior health minister said the average monthly production capacity of Covishield by Serum Institute of India is 11 crore doses and of Covaxin by Bharat Biotech 2.5 crore doses.

She went on to add that “as communicated by manufacturers, the monthly vaccine production capacity of Covishield is planned to be increased from 11 crore doses per month to more than 12 crore doses per month and production capacity of Covaxin is planned to be increased from 2.5 crore doses per month to 5.8 crore doses per month.”

In response to a question from BJP MP TG Venkatesh from Andhra Pradesh on the same day, Dr Pawar said “the estimated production quantity is around 130 million (13 crore) doses/month” for Covishield and for Covaxin “the estimated production quantity is around 17.5 million

(1.75 crore) doses/month.”

To yet another question from Kharge on the same day, about the MoU signed between ICMR and Bharat Biotech, Dr Pawar said the biotechnology department’s efforts to upscale the production of Covaxin were “expected to enhance the production of Covaxin from the present one crore doses to ten crore in the coming months”.

Incidentally, the government affidavit filed in the Supreme Court on May 9 had stated: “Serum Institute of India Ltd. has ramped up production from 5 crore doses/ month to 6.5 crore doses per month and further ramp-up is expected by July 2021. Bharat Biotech Intl Ltd. has increased production from 90 lakh/ month to 2 crore doses/ month and further increase is expected upto 5.5 crore doses/month by July 2021.”

While Serum Institute seems to have ramped up production to 11 crore (or more) as was estimated in May, Bharat Biotech’s actual production capacity appears to be a mystery even to the government. In the May affidavit, the government had stated that it had a production capacity of roughly 2 crore doses per month of Covaxin. But now it puts it at anything between 1 crore to 2.5 crore doses per month.

In an earlier affidavit filed on April 29, the government had stated that Bharat Biotech’s Covaxin production would go up from 90 lakh/month to 1 crore and further up to 5 crore doses/ month by July 2021.

Full story on www.toi.com

Affiliation issue keeps college teachers, students on the edge

VNSGU VS SARVAJANIK UNIVERSITY

Affiliation issue keeps college teachers, students on the edge

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Surat:24.07.2021

Future of some of the oldest colleges of south Gujarat run by Sarvajanik Education Society (SES) hangs in balance as there is uncertainty over which university they would be affiliated to. Currently, these colleges are affiliated with Veer Narmad South Gujarat University (VNSGU) ever since they came into existence.

Now, with the formation of Sarvajanik University of SES, these colleges are gradually being disaffiliated by VNSGU as per government guidelines. However, the Sarvajanik University is not ready to give affiliation to these colleges without clarity on the issue of grants for salary and perks.

This has raised doubts about the future among the teachers and students of grant-inaid colleges of SES. The teachers and students of SESrun colleges on Friday held protests at VNSGU and made representation to the officials. The colleges in question include MTB Arts College, Sir P T Sarvajanik College of Science, Sir K P College of Commerce. However, VNSGU vice-chancellor K N Chavda clarified that the university had no role in it.

“There cannot be two acts or set of rules for a private university in the state and as per my knowledge, there are no disputes,” added Chavda.

VNSGU came into existence in 1966 in the campus Sarvajanik Education Society (SES). Meanwhile, SES’s Sarvajanik University was approved by the government recently.

Chairman of SES Kamlesh Naik said, “We had proposed the government that we will take only self-finance institutions (SFI) while the grant-in aide colleges will remain affiliated with VNSGU. We are ready to affiliate grant-in aide colleges only if we get assurance on grants from the government.” VNSGU started disaffiliation of eight colleges of which five are run by the SES, one by the Vanita Vishram Trust and two from Bardoli are associated with trust that runs Uka Tarsadia University. A senior syndic of VNSGU, Sanjay Desai, said, “Earlier, in May the government had ordered a process of disaffiliation. Since it was not done, government sent a reminder for quick implementation. Teachers and students of these colleges don’t need to worry as there will be no changes in benefits they are receiving.”

Corona batch: 23k from Guj went abroad for education

Corona batch: 23k from Guj went abroad for education

Fourth Highest Figure In India

Parth.Shastri@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:24.07.2021

Despite travel restrictions being in place for much of 2020, 2.61 lakh students made it to other countries for pursuing studies, revealed the data tabled in the Rajya Sabha by the ministry of external affairs. The number represented more than a 50% fall from the four-year high of 5.88 lakh in 2019.

Gujarat showed a similar trend with the student numbers falling from 48,051 to 23,156 in the same period, a 52% drop.

In terms of sending students abroad, Gujarat was in fourth place behind Andhra Pradesh (35,614), Punjab (33,412), and Maharashtra (29,079). In all, about 9% of the students who went abroad from India were from Gujarat. Even in the first two months of 2021, the state maintained that ratio.

The data from 2016 also revealed that the number of those aspiring to study abroad has doubled from 24,775 in 2016 to 48,051 in 2019.

“Covid has surely impacted the plans of many aiming for both graduate and postgraduate studies,” said Jay Trivedi, a city-based immigration and visa consultant. “Annually, about 15,000 students go to Canada and the US alone for further studies. The number has been affected a bit due to travel restrictions and other factors.” Trivedi added: “But the trend is here to stay, with countries such as Australia and Germany and some other European countries attracting students for specialized courses.” How will 2021 pan out for the students? Nethra Rangarajan (name changed), a city-based private university student, said that she had waited for a year to get admission in an AI learning course in the US.

Unable to get jab? Visit a mall

Unable to get jab? Visit a mall

Chennai: 24.07.2021 

If you haven’t been able to get vaccinated, visit a mall. Greater Chennai Corporation is conducting camps to vaccinate workers of malls and markets in the city and will open them up to members of the public as well.

Deputy commissioner Vishu Mahajan said vaccination camps had been set up at 10 malls and 38 markets. “Our target is to vaccinate 60,000-70,000 employees of malls and marketplaces. We have already vaccinated around 40,000,” he said. If doses are available, others who walk in will also be vaccinated, he added. Registration will be done on the spot and data entry operators will enter all details on the CoWIN portal. Locations such as Ranganathan Street, Ritchie Street and similar crowded areas are among the 48 locations to set up camps. TNN

Applications sought for UG, PG courses on labour law

Applications sought for UG, PG courses on labour law

Chennai:

The Tamil Nadu Institute of Labour Studies has invited applications for UG and PG courses on labour management. Candidates can contact coordinator (admission) R Rameshkumar on 9884159410/044-29567885/29567886. TNN

₹9,725 crore spent so far on Covid-19 vax programme

₹9,725 crore spent so far on Covid-19 vax programme

New Delhi:24.07.2021

A total of around ₹9,725 crore has been spent so far on the Covid-19 vaccination programme including procurement of vaccines and operational cost for vaccination, the government informed the Parliament on Friday.

It also maintained that there has been no delay in procurement of jabs and that the target of delivering 135 crore doses between August and December is on track, minister of state for health, Bharti Pravin Pawar, said in response to a question from Congress MP Rahul Gandhi and TMC’s Mala Roy.

“Between August 2021 to December 2021, a total of 135 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine are expected to be available. There has been no delay in entering into purchase agreements with the domestic vaccine manufacturers. Advance payments have also been made to manufacturers for the supply orders placed with them,” Pawar said. TNN

Govt appoints 12 new VCs for central universities

Govt appoints 12 new VCs for central universities

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:24.07.2021

The government announced the appointment of vice chancellors to 12 central universities (CUs) on Friday.

“The VC appointments have been approved by the President for 12 central universities,” an ministry of education official said.

The newly appointed vice chancellors include Tankeshwar Kumar (Central University of Haryana), Prakash Bansal (Central University of Himachal Pradesh), Sanjeev Jain (Central university of Jammu), Kshitij Bhusan Das (Central University of Jharkhand), Battu Satyanarayana (Central University of Karnataka), Muthukalingan Krishnan (Central University of Tamil Nadu) and Basuthkar J Rao (Central University of Hyderabad).

Also appointed were Kameshwar Nath Singh (Central University of South Bihar); Prabha Shankar Shukla, North-Eastern Hill University (NEHU), Shillong; Alok Kumar Chakrawal (Guru Ghasidas University, Bilaspur); Syed Ainul Hasan, Maulana Azad National Urdu University (MANUU) and Lokender Singh, Manipur University.

Union minister of education Dharmendra Pradhan had on Thursday informed the Rajya Sabha that a total of 22 posts of vice chancellors in central universities are vacant, out of which appointments to 12 posts have already been finalised by the Visitor, President Ram Nath Kovind.

The 10 universities, which still continue to operate without full time vice chancellors, include Delhi University and Jawaharlal Nehru University.

Surfeit of 95%-plus scores forces CBSE result revision

Surfeit of 95%-plus scores forces CBSE result revision

Hemali.Chhapia@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:24.07.2021

The CBSE board is faced with a unique problem this year: A sudden spike in high achievers. After the board’s software pored over the data submitted by schools, it recently found the count of candidates with 95%-plus had zoomed way above the previous years’ numbers.

The board was thus forced to reject a lot of the data, and it asked schools to rework their numbers, scale down the results and re-submit them by July 25. Little wonder then that its Class X results are likely to witness a delay. Earlier, schools across India were to submit the data by June 30, the deadline for which was extended to July 5.

“After that, we noticed that some schools had not followed instructions given to them for preparing the results based on the historical data. Also, some schools committed mistakes in uploading their data. Additionally, some schools have not yet submitted their data at all,” CBSE examination head Sanyam Bhardwaj told TOI.

There are two options in the CBSE results software: One, to upload the results data, and two, to submit the same after finalisation. “Most schools have uploaded the data, but have not submitted the same yet,” a source said. In Mumbai, some schools run by coaching classes and some popular chains of institutes were all pulled up for “inflated” scores.

Schools were asked to pick a reference year out of the past three (2018, 2019 and 2020) and stay in line with that performance. So, if a school picked 2018, when its performance was the most robust, results of 2021 had to be similar. If five students scored above 95%, then this time too, only five ought to be placed in the 95%-plus category, and so on and so forth.

“However, if a school in the reference year picked by them had two students with 95% or more, then this time they have four or five. Hence, we have asked them to streamline their results,” added Bharadwaj.

Students in Birbhum district of Bengal gather to collect their marksheets after the state declared class 12 results on Friday

TN readies to purchase 12L vaccines from private sector

TN readies to purchase 12L vaccines from private sector

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:24.07.2021

The state health department is working out plans to purchase the 12 lakh doses of anti-covid vaccines allotted to the private sector in Tamil Nadu in the next eight days utilising CSR funds so people can be vaccinated free of cost, health minister Ma Subramanian said here on Friday.

The minister held a consultation meeting with doctors and hospital administrators from122 hospitals in Chennai, Tiruvallur, Kancheepuram, Vellore, Tirupathur and Ranipet to discuss the number of vaccines they can procure under CSR funds. Earlier in the week, the minister met doctors and hospital administrators in the Western districts. Senior officials from the directorate of public health were a part of the meeting.

Since June 21, the centre has decided that it will purchase 75% of the vaccines produced in the country and allot them to the state for the free vaccination programme. The remaining 25% of vaccines are purchased by private hospitals. For July, Tamil Nadu has been allotted 72 lakh doses of the vaccine of which 17 lakh is earmarked for private hospitals. “So far private hospitals have paid money for 5 lakh doses of which they have received 2.42 lakh doses. They are still left with12 lakh doses of vaccine, which should be purchased by the end of the month. We want to ensure that we use all the vaccines allotted to the state,” Subramanian said.

Although people are willing to take the vaccine, many cannot afford the vaccine at private hospitals— ₹750 for Covishield and ₹1,400 for Covaxin, he said. Since May 1, private hospitals in the state have purchased 18.7 lakh doses of the vaccine, of which 13.3 lakh have been used. The state, meanwhile, has administered 1.8crore doses taking the dosage tally to 2crore – 16%. For the 6crore adult population, the state has to administer 12 crore doses. “While people who want to pay for their vaccines will still have the options open, those who want free vaccines can also avail them from private hospitals,” he said.

Man jumps off Napier Bridge, rescued

Man jumps off Napier Bridge, rescued

Had Chronic Illness, Could Not Bear The Pain: Cops

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:24.07.2021

Police on Thursday afternoon rescued a 31-yearold who leaped into the Cooum river off the Napier Bridge to end his life, allegedly unable to come to terms with his chronic illness.

The man, later identified as Kamalakannan of Royapuram, was being sucked in by the sludge in the river when the law enforcers arrived. They dropped a rope near him and pulled him out.

Police said the incident came to light after a passerby saw Kamalakannan climbing over a wall of the bridge and jumping in around 1.30pm. He rushed to the police outpost at the southern end of the bridge and informed the personnel.

Saminathan, a policeman attached to the Anna Square station, was present there and informed his superiors. Triplicane assistant commissioner M S Baskar said the fire and rescue services personnel were busy battling the blaze at a five-storey commercial complex off Anna Salai. “We decided to respond ourselves. A team led by sub-inspector Thilagavathi and Sakthi Ganesh arrived at the spot in the next couple of minutes,” he said.

A 50-ft-long nylon rope was dropped near the man struggling in the river, with the police team members issuing instructions directing through a temporary public address system. He was asked to tie the rope around his waist and was slowly pulled out. Alerted earlier, an ambulance of the ‘108’ service was waiting and after paramedical staff had administered first aid, Kamalakkann was rushed to the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

The police team then called the family members of Kamalakannan, a resident of Thambu Chetty Lane in Royapuram, and informed them. A police officer quoting, Kamalakannan said he had been suffering from stomach pain for a long time and that he had decided to end his life as he had lost hope of being cured of the illness. Further investigations are on.

Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on Tamil Nadu’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050.

Meat ban a basic rights issue, says U’khand HC

Meat ban a basic rights issue, says U’khand HC

Prashant.Jha@timesgroup.com

Nainital:24.07.2021

In a country where 70% of the population eats nonvegetarian food, the matter of banning meat is one that pertains to the fundamental rights of citizens and isn’t a majority versus minority issue, the Uttarakhand high court said on Friday while hearing two petitions against a ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar.

The bench of Chief Justice R S Chauhan and justice Alok Kumar Verma said, “The issue is not minority versus majority. The issue is very simple. What are the fundamental rights of the citizens of India?”

The court has now asked the petitioners to amend their pleas in a week as none of them pleaded that such a ban violates the right to privacy of a citizen. The court remarked that the petitions have not been drafted with “whole-heartedness” that is required in challenging “seminal constitutional issues”.

The pleas filed by some residents of Haridwar had alleged that a ban on slaughterhouses in Haridwar discriminated against minorities as many areas in the district had a substantial Muslim population.

Bench cited surveys on food habits of Indians from 2018 and 2019

On Friday, the bench cited surveys on food habits of Indians from 2018 and 2019. “It’s very glaring data that in Uttarakhand 72.6% of the population is non-vegetarian. In totality, 70% of Indian population is non-vegetarian which busts the myth that the majority of the population is vegetarian,” the court said.

In its previous hearing, the bench had said that a ban like the one in Haridwar calls into question the extent to which the state can determine a citizen’s choices. “The issue is whether a citizen has the right to decide his own diet or will that be decided by the state,” it had said. The court had also said that a civilisation is judged only by how it treats its minorities. “Democracy does not only mean rule by majority but, most importantly, democracy means the protection of the minority,” it had said.

In March, Uttarakhand had declared all areas in Haridwar “slaughterhousefree” and cancelled no objection certificates issued to slaughterhouses. The two petitions in the high court challenged this on two grounds — a blanket ban on meat of any type is unconstitutional, as was the section the Uttarakhand government had inserted into the UP Municipalities Act, 237A, to give itself power to declare an area under a municipal corporation, council or nagar panchayat a “slaughterfree” zone. The court has also asked the petitioners to amend the plea to challenge the constitutional validity of the amendment made to the UP Municipal Corporation Act.

Boost for Chennai transport: MTC adds over 17 buses in 12 routes

Boost for Chennai transport: MTC adds over 17 buses in 12 routes

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation recently resumed and introduced over 17 buses in 12 routes in Porur, Nanganallur and suburban areas of the city.

Published: 23rd July 2021 03:51 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Metropolitan Transport Corporation recently resumed and introduced over 17 buses in 12 routes in Porur, Nanganallur and suburban areas of the city. The buses were recently flagged off by Transport Minister RS Raja Kannappan in presence of Rural Industries Minister TM Anbarasan.

Services on old routes, that had been stopped since last year, were resumed. The routes are 52K (Nanganallur-Broadway), 70N (Nanganallur-CMBT), M18C (Kilkattalai-T Nagar), 166 (Iyyapanthangal-Tambaram), 88C (Thandalam-Broadway), 188C (Kundrathur-Broadway) and 566 (Kundrathur-Thiruporur).

The newly introduced routes are 576 (Mount Metro-T Nagar), S40 (KavulBazar Indra Nagar-Pallavaram), S 165 ( Kovur EB-Pallavaram), S166 (Porur-Manimedu) and 188A (Kundrathur-T Nagar), said a statement from MTC.

Speaking to reporters, Kannappan said about 1.42 crore women travelled in women special ordinary buses between July 12 and 17 without paying ticket fare. “About 60 per cent of women travelled in ordinary services as against the projection of 40 per cent a day. As many as 1.1 lakh persons with disabilities and 17,500 transpersons also availed free travel.”

Govt seeks to tweak law on states’ OBC lists

Govt seeks to tweak law on states’ OBC lists

Subodh.Ghildiyal@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:

The Centre has moved a proposal to amend the 102nd constitutional amendment Act to overturn the May 5 Supreme Court judgment and restore the rights of states to identify the OBCs for the “state list” of castes eligible for Mandal reservations in education and employment under state governments.

Well placed sources said the social justice ministry has moved the Cabinet note. The swift move implies that the bill can be brought in the ongoing monsoon session itself. If so, it could be part of a strategy to break the blockade of Parliament proceedings by the opposition over the Pegasus snooping scandal.

Given the sensitivity of the issue and the rights of states involved, neither Congress nor regional parties can afford to block the bill. It may thus restore normalcy in the Parliament. However, the larger political aim of the Centre is to assure OBCs that their rights, as under state lists, were not being undermined. The move comes after Prime Minister Narendra Modi placed emphasis on the OBC representation in the recent Cabinet reshuffle along with women, SCs and STs.

It is learnt that the proposal has suggested specific changes to be made to the Act to clarify that state lists and central list of OBCs are separate and under the jurisdiction of respective governments — as had been the case before the SC judgment. The apex court also rejected a government appeal against the order earlier in July.

While upholding the said Act (102nd) in the Maratha reservation case, the SC held that its provisions implied that OBCs for states and Central lists both were to be identified by the President (Centre) on the recommendations of the national commission for backward classes.

ஓ.பி.சி., சான்றிதழை தாமதமின்றி வழங்க மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல்

DINAMALAR

பொது செய்தி

தமிழ்நாடு

ஓ.பி.சி., சான்றிதழை தாமதமின்றி வழங்க மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தல்

Added : ஜூலை 21, 2021 22:22

சென்னை:இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கான ஜாதி சான்றிதழை காலதாமதமின்றி வழங்க, அதிகாரிகளுக்கு அறிவுரை வழங்கும்படி மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அறிவுறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

தமிழ்நாடு பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர், மிக பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோர் மற்றும் சிறுபான்மையினர் நலத்துறை முதன்மை செயலர் கார்த்திக், வருவாய் துறை கூடுதல் தலைமைச் செயலர் மற்றும் மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்களுக்கு அனுப்பி உள்ள கடிதம்:மத்திய அரசு பணி நியமனம்; மத்திய அரசு கல்வி நிறுவன மாணவர்கள் சேர்க்கையில், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்டோருக்கு, 27 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்கப்படுகிறது.

இதன்படி, தமிழகத்திற்கான இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினர் பட்டியல், மத்திய அரசால் வெளியிடப்பட்டுள்ளது.கடந்த, 1993ல் நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்ட பெற்றோரின் ஆண்டு வருமான வரம்பு, 1 லட்சம் ரூபாயில் இருந்து, படிப்படியாக அதிகரிக்கப்பட்டு, 2017ல் 8 லட்சம் ரூபாயாக நிர்ணயிக்கப்பட்டு நடைமுறையில் உள்ளது.

இவர்களுக்கான வருமான வரம்பை கணக்கிடும்போது, ஊதியம் மற்றும் வேளாண் வருமானத்தை சேர்க்கக் கூடாது என்ற வழிகாட்டு நெறிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றி, இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு, ஜாதி சான்றிதழ் வழங்க வேண்டும். இருப்பினும், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பு ஜாதி சான்றிதழ் பெறுவதில் சிரமம் இருப்பதாக, அரசின் கவனத்திற்கு எடுத்து வரப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இதனால், மத்திய அரசின் 27 சதவீதம் இட ஒதுக்கீட்டின் கீழ் பயன்பெற இயலாத சூழ்நிலை ஏற்படுகிறது.எனவே, மத்திய அரசின் வழிமுறைகளை பின்பற்றி, இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினர் ஜாதி சான்றுகளை, காலதாமதமின்றி வழங்கும்படி, ஜாதி சான்று வழங்கும் அலுவலர்களுக்கு, மாவட்ட கலெக்டர்கள் தகுந்த அறிவுரைகள் வழங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு அதில் தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Madurai: Biriyani offer misfires, crowd gets out of hand

Madurai: Biriyani offer misfires, crowd gets out of hand

What was planned to encourage numismatics ended up in chaos as scores of biriyani lovers thronged a restaurant at Sellur, violating Covid protocols on Wednesday.

Published: 22nd July 2021 04:38 AM |

By Lalitha Ranjani

Express News Service

MADURAI: What was planned to encourage numismatics ended up in chaos as scores of biriyani lovers thronged a restaurant at Sellur, violating Covid protocols on Wednesday. As an inaugural offer, Akshaya Prabhu (25), the owner of Suganya’s Biryani, had announced to give biriyani packs to everyone in exchange for 5 paise coin.

Prabhu, a numismatic and a antique collector, herself and an antique collector, said that she zeroed in on the '5 paise biriyani offer’ for the launch of the restaurant’s second branch at Sellur to cheer up coin collectors, especially at the time when artifacts are being unearthed from Keezhadi and the like.

She told TNIE that she thought not too many would possess the old 5 paisa coin and that not many would be willing to part with their collection even if they had. “We expected only about 50 persons to turn up with the coins. But, much to our surprise, due to overwhelming response, 120 parcels of biryani were sold in just 10 minutes. And the crowd grew bigger during the peak lunch hours. We had to turn many away, despite they coming with the old coins,” she added.

Sources said that flouting Covid protocols and physical distancing norms, scores of the people thronged the shop. “As the crowd began to swell, police had to be deployed to disperse the crowd and the shop was shut soon after,” they said.

A police official from Sellur station said that the hotel management had informed them about the inauguration one day prior and a policeman was deployed on the spot. “The rest of the team was diverted to mosque premises on account of Bakrid. The shop owners had drawn circles for social distancing but the unexpected crowd went out of control,” he added.

Honorary fellowship for Hyd doctor

Honorary fellowship for Hyd doctor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:22.07.2021

Dr P Raghu Ram, Padma Shri awardee and founding director, KIMSUshalashmi Centre for Breast Diseases was conferred with an honorary fellowship of the Association of Surgeons of Great Britain and Ireland (ASGBI) this week. The ASGBI is an organisation that represents the surgical fraternity in United Kingdom and Ireland.

Mr Neil Welch, president of ASGBI bestowed the honour upon Dr Raghu Ram during the 100th centenary annual general body meeting of the association.

“Raghu Ram is the first surgeon of Indian origin to have this honour conferred on him and we are delighted to welcome him as honorary fellow of ASGBI,” he said announcing the honorary fellowship.

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

AICTE directs colleges not to insist on payment of full fees

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:22.07.2021

After receiving several complaints from students concerning the collection of full payment of fees in one go, the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has directed colleges to not insist on payment of full fees amid pandemic, and instead collect in three or four instalments.

The council also directed the colleges to display the fee payment schedule on the notice board and also communicate the same through email. “AICTE is in continuous receipt of grievances from students regarding insistence by institutes for paying the full year in one go. Upon considering the current state of the country during an ongoing national emergency due to the second wave of Covid-19 outbreak, guidelines are being reissued by the AICTE for strict compliance by all colleges/institutions,” read a release from AICTE.

The council also directed the colleges not to terminate any faculty without enough disciplinary ground and due process of redressal. “Salary and other dues to the faculty/staff members should be released monthly on time. The terminations made during the lockdown, if any, should be withdrawn,” the circular added.

The faculty working in technical colleges, meanwhile, said AICTE should ensure that guidelines are strictly followed by the colleges. “The council has been issuing circulars, but the same is not strictly implemented. During the pandemic, scores of them have been terminated and colleges are not paying salaries. Not many colleges are providing an option to pay fees in multiple instalments,” said A Santosh Kumar, president, Telangana School’s Technical Colleges’ Employees Association.

Chennai has vaccinated most people with both doses among top 5 metros

Chennai has vaccinated most people with both doses among top 5 metros

Siddharth.Prabhakar@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  22.07.2021 

This southern metro has vaccinated the highest percentage of eligible population with two doses of Covid-19 vaccine, compared to other top metropolitan cities like Mumbai, Bengaluru, Delhi, and Hyderabad, an analysis done by the GCC based on data collected from Co-Win portal showed. As on July 20, 9.11 lakh people have received both doses of Covid vaccine in Chennai. This forms 15% of the eligible population

(59.45 lakh) and 12% of the total population (78.53 lakh).

In comparison, in Mumbai, the corresponding figures of eligible population and total population vaccinated with both doses are 11% and 8%, respectively.

Bengaluru is second best after Chennai, with 15% of eligible population and 10% of the total population vaccinated with both doses. The corresponding figures for Delhi are 10% and 7%, while Hyderabad vaccinated 8% and 6%, respectively.

A senior official from Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) said this was because of dedicated measures taken by the civic body. “Through our tele-counselling centres, we called up those who were due for their second dose. Fever survey workers also visited vulnerable citizens to inform them about their second dose. Special camps were held for those whose second dose was due,” the official said.

However, in Bengaluru, 60% of the eligible population has been vaccinated with a single dose, while in Chennai this figure stands at 45%.

Dr Subramanian Swaminathan, infectious disease expert, said this shows the level of awareness about vaccination in an urban centre like Chennai. He said the TN government must work harder to have similar success in rural parts of the state.

Dr Swaminathan said we are nowhere near where we need to be. “We must go faster. Moreover, there is a sharp drop in the number of people coming to vaccination centres in Chennai. Authorities must change their approach to vaccination awareness now,” he said.

Bengaluru comes second with 15% of eligible population and 10% of the total population vaccinated with both doses

New cashless med cover for govt staff

New cashless med cover for govt staff

BV.Shivashankar@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:22.07.2021 

After the 11 per cent hike in dearness allowance (DA), the state government plans to provide a new cashless insurance scheme with broader coverage to its employees. The Karnataka State Government Employees’ Association said that the proposal for the new scheme, Arogya Siri, was in the advanced stage and might be approved during a cabinet meeting on Thursday.

The health cover will benefit 24 lakh people, including the dependents of staffers. “The government has told us that the departments of law and finance have cleared the proposal. We expect that the scheme will be implemented shortly after the cabinet clears it on Thursday,” said the association’s secretary, JG Patil.

There are about 6 lakh government employees, 4.5 lakh pensioners and 3 lakh workers of boards and corporations. Arogya Siri will cover all severe and minor diseases, unlike the current Jyothi Sanjeevini scheme that includes only tertiary treatment and emergency care for broad specialities such as cardiovascular diseases, cancer, renal diseases, neurological conditions, burns, polytrauma cases and neonatal cases.

“Currently, if employees or their family members have any condition apart from these, they have to pay from their pocket and claim reimbursement later under Jyothi Sanjeevini. At most, they get back 50 per cent of what they spend. There is no such burden in the new scheme, which makes the treatment of all diseases cashless without any financial cap. We welcome it,” said the association’s president, CS Shadakshari.

The present scheme allows employees and their dependents to seek treatment at around 500 empanelled hospitals.

The new one permits them to get treatment in any hospital, be it government or private.

According to a senior official in the finance department, the burden on the exchequer is estimated to increase by at least four times, and the government is getting quotations from various hospitals to work out the costs.

Employees, meanwhile, have urged the government to switch back to the old pension model from the National Pension Scheme (NSP). Association members say that NPS is not beneficial as it also requires employees to contribute a portion of the basic salary towards the pension fund. In the old scheme, only the employer was required to contribute.

“The government invests the pension fund in the share market and the amount a retired employee gets is marketlinked. There is a risk in this. There have been instances in which an employee entitled to get Rs 30,000 received only Rs 3,000. Also, the NPS does not have the provision for inclusion of the revised dearness allowance,” Patil said.

24 lakh  People scheme will benefit

Medicos protest over unpaid allowance

Medicos protest over unpaid allowance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:22.07.2021 

Members of the Karnataka Resident Doctors’ Association (KRDA) sported black armbands at workplaces to protest non-payment of Covid-19 risk allowances. The protest has been going on since Monday.

During the second wave, the government had passed an order providing a sum of Rs 10,000 per month as Covid risk allowance. The order kicked in from April.

Dr Namratha C, president, KRDA, said when they ask medical colleges authorities, they pass the buck to the government saying they have no funds to pay. “It’s more than three months since the order was passed,” Dr Namratha said. “While the government says colleges have to pay the allowance from their stipend fund, colleges say it is the government’s responsibility.”

According to the state government’s order dated May 5, a total 5,427 medicos working in government medical colleges are eligible for the allowance. This includes 327 junior residents, 910 senior residents, 2307 post-graduates and 1730 interns.

Deans of government medical colleges TOI spoke to, said the government has not yet released funds, despite assurances. “This issue has been discussed with the finance department too. If we don’t pay these incentives for the medicos, we may not have their support in managing the third wave,” said a dean.

When contacted, TK Anil Kumar, principal secretary, medical education, said the matter will be looked into. “Medicos will get their Covid allowance from April onwards,” he said.

Calls to restore MTC’s daily passes get louder

Calls to restore MTC’s daily passes get louder

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai: 22.07.2021 

Three years after the Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) had stopped issuing daily concessional passes, regular bus users have called upon the government to restore the passes. In 2017-18, citing ‘security reasons’, the state transport department had stopped distributing these passes worth ₹50 each, promising that it would be restored within months. However, till date there is no official word on resuming distribution of these passes. Back then, MTC's footfall was close to 35 lakh per day, and nearly onefourth travelled using these daily and monthly passes. But some of the commuters started taking photocopies of these passes and started selling duplicate copies in black. "We had planned to fix this issue by adding QR codes or barcode on these passes with photos of the passengers on it. But works were delayed due to the pandemic," said an MTC official, requesting anonymity.

Rama Rao from Traffic and Transportation Forum (TTF), Chennai in his letter to the government last week, reiterated the need to restore it soon as it would be of help to people who travel to four of five different locations in MTC buses for work.

Not all can afford to pay ₹15-₹20 per trip. Besides, it will also help passengers travelling to different religious places within city limit, he said. Even Chennai suburban residents demand immediate restoration of the scheme now. "Local train services are restricted to nonpeak hours. So, people residing in areas like Avadi, Tambaram, Kancheepuram and beyond depend largely on MTC buses for buying things, school/college admission and hospital visits," said T Sadagopan, a Pattabiram-based activist.

Also, with these passes there was no need to wait for conductors, who expect passengers to tender exact fare. Reintroducing these Rs 50 passes, the MTC can boost its patronage and revenue. They can even increase the rate by Rs 5 to 10 to meet their present expenses, he said. MTC is currently facing poor patronage, as less than 10 lakh people travel in 2,700 buses per day.

Professor jailed for ‘derogatory remarks’ against min Smriti Irani

Professor jailed for ‘derogatory remarks’ against min Smriti Irani

Deepak.Lavania@timesgroup.com

Agra:22.07.2021 

A senior professor at a UP college, who had allegedly made derogatory remarks against Union minister Smriti Irani in a Facebook post, has been sent to jail after he surrendered in a court in Firozabad district.

On a complaint filed by the BJP’s district vice-president and nominated municipal councillor Uday Pratap Singh, the Firozabad police had registered an FIR against Shaharyar Ali, head of the history department at SRK College, in March for an alleged “obscene” Facebook post against Irani.

Professor Ali was booked under IPC’s section 505 (2) (promoting enmity/hatred) and section 67A of the Information Technology (Amendment) act, 2008. On Tuesday, Ali had surrendered in the court of additional sessions judge Anurag Sharma and had also filed an interim bail plea.

The court, however, cancelled his bail plea and sent him to jail. Meanwhile, his college served him a suspension notice.

According to sources, the professor had posted a comment on Facebook denigrating Irani, which was later deleted.

Colleges in four TN districts to merge with Annamalai University

Colleges in four TN districts to merge with Annamalai University

He said measures will be taken to develop Annamalai University into an affiliated university soon.

Published: 21st July 2021 05:10 AM 

Annamalai UniversityAnnamalai UniversityBy Express News Service

CHENNAI: Colleges in the four districts of Villupuram, Cuddalore, Kallakurichi and Mayiladuthurai, including Dr J Jayalalithaa University started during the AIADMK rule, will be merged with Annamalai University, which will be developed into an affiliated university, said Higher Education Minister K Ponmudi.

He said measures will be taken to develop Annamalai University into an affiliated university soon. And the decision of merging colleges in four districts and JJ University will ensure better functioning of the institutes economically as well as academically.

The move holds significance as earlier it was alleged by few AIADMK leaders that a concerted effort is being made by DMK to scuttle the formation of the J Jayalalithaa University in order to settle political scores.

However, Ponmudi said AIADMK had announced the university without creating necessary infrastructure for it. “Neither funds were allocated nor registrar or any officials were appointed. The university existed only for namesake,” said Ponmudi.

Unable to bear pain following sex reassignment surgery, Kerala transwoman ends life

Unable to bear pain following sex reassignment surgery, Kerala transwoman ends life

Ananya Kumari Alex, the first transgender radio jockey in Kerala, was found dead at an apartment near Edapally on Tuesday evening.

Published: 21st July 2021 06:33 AM 

Ananya Kumari Alex

By Express News Service

KOCHI: Ananya Kumari Alex, the first transgender radio jockey in Kerala, was found dead at an apartment near Edapally on Tuesday evening. Police said it is suspected to be a case of death by suicide. There were reports that she was suffering from severe physical discomfort for the last one year after undergoing sex reassignment surgery at a private hospital in the city.

Ananya, 28, was living in the apartment for the last few months. Police said the body was found hanging from the fan in the bedroom. A team from Kalamassery police station conducted the inquest and shifted the body to Kalamassery medical college for post-mortem.

Ananya, who underwent a sex reassignment surgery in June 2020, had recently come out against the hospital and the doctor complaining that she was under tremendous pain following the surgery and could not even do her routine job. She had blamed the doctor for the surgery failure. Ananya was the first transgender person to contest the Assembly elections when she became a candidate of Democratic Social Justice Party in Vengara in Malappuram district in 2021 polls. She was also a news presenter and a make-up artist.

Ananya, who hailed from Perumon in Kollam, rose to fame as a trans rights activist after facing bitter experiences from a young age. “Her death is really sad and shocking. She was in terrible pain for the last one year after undergoing sex reassignment surgery. She went for the surgery with much hope for living a life of her choice,” said Kerala State Transgender Justice Board member Anil A.

He said there was no rule to monitor sex reassignment surgeries in the state. “Many private hospitals claim to have expertise in conducting the surgery. But there are no rules to monitor it. The state needs to frame a protocol for conducting such surgeries and also put in place an ethics committee to monitor and evaluate sex reassignment surgery,” he added.

Madras Medical Mission doctors repair 91-year-old’s heart

Madras Medical Mission doctors repair 91-year-old’s heart

A reasonably healthy man, he was living alone in Puducherry till January 2021. He had no lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol levels.

Published: 21st July 2021 06:26 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: A 91-year-old man was referred to the doctors at Madras Medical Mission recently with a serious heart problem called Ventricular Septal Rupture following a heart attack that disabled him from his previous independent life.

A reasonably healthy man, he was living alone in Puducherry till January 2021. He had no lifestyle diseases like diabetes, hypertension or high cholesterol levels. He had age-related hearing loss, but was able to live comfortably till one day when he experienced a heart attack.

He was given medications rather than aggressive treatment options such as angiography or surgery, considering his advanced age. He started developing heart failure with accumulation of fluid around his lungs, one litre of which was tapped once to make him comfortable. This illness necessitated a second admission one month later for breathlessness in another hospital and medications were adjusted.

A minor improvement in his health permitted him to travel to Delhi to visit his son, though in a wheelchair, but unfortunately a second heart attack there led to a cardiac arrest, that was revived with electrical shocks, chest compressions, aggressive resuscitation, support of ventilators and he was brought back to life without any neurological insult.

The second heart attack caused a further damage to the heart and he developed a large rupture of the weakened infarcted heart muscle leading to a large hole between the left and the right ventricles of the heart. This further worsened his breathlessness and was managed with modification in medication; he then was airlifted to Chennai for interventional closure in Madras Medical Mission hospital.

Dr K Sivakumar, head of Paediatric Cardiology and senior consultant, in Madras Medical Mission identified a large ruptured hole between the two lower chambers of the heart and realised that closure of the hole is the only way to help him recover. The absence of common lifestyle problems reduced his procedural risk and he was admitted for non-surgical closure through small pin-hole punctures in the groin blood vessels, rather than an open heart surgery.

The procedure was performed in a conscious state with local anaesthesia. In an operation that lasted around one hour, the large hole was closed successfully with a device resulting in immediate improvement of his heart function. After spending a couple of days in intensive care where the large amount of fluid around his lungs was removed, he was able to return to his son at the end of 48 hours.