DMK turns right to targeted subsidies

POLITICS OF THE BUDGET

DMK turns right to targeted subsidies

Moves Away From Universal Welfare To Fix Economy

Shaik.Abdullah@timesgroup.com

14.08.2021

No more free lunches for all: That is the essence of the Tamil Nadu revised Budget 2021-22 presented on Friday in the assembly. As it slammed the AIADMK regime for “half-baked projects” that pushed TN into an economic crisis, it turned to the right for an escape route.

“What cannot be measured cannot be improved. Hence, a major initiative for smart metering for all public utilities in the state will be launched,” said finance minister P T R Palanivel Thiaga Rajan, articulating his intention to target people for subsidies — something that resonated more with the policy of his party’s ideological nemesis, the BJP. The man who sports ‘kumkum’ on his forehead in a party of non-believers declared that his government will follow a data-centric governance.

“We welcome it. It’s a step the DMK must take. Sooner or later they must follow in the footsteps of the Centre. When the Union government asked the states to make power meters compulsory for agricultural bore-wells two years ago, they opposed it. Now the DMK is forced to do it. This shows their duplicity and contradiction,” said R Srinivasan of the BJP, giving the DMK bouquets and brickbats in equal measure.

The state’s first paperless Budget was also the DMK’s first in 10 years. But the state’s financial situation didn’t suit its plans. Subsidies are being enjoyed by people from all economic backgrounds, the finance minister had complained in the white paper on the state’s finances released on Monday.

Those who use more electricity get more subsidies. At least ₹18,000 crore in electricity bills were under-recovered in 2020-21, he said. He also faulted unmetered water supply in Chennai.

“This was unfair and regressive as most of these connections were enjoyed by huge houses and mansions,” the minister said.

In the guise of boosting capital expenditure to provide economic stimulus during the pandemic, the previous government had sanctioned several “half-baked and ill thought out projects in the last minute” in the highways and irrigation sectors and for urban local bodies, Rajan said in his Budget presentation.

“We have made a careful analysis of such projects. Only genuinely beneficial projects justified based on detailed cost benefit analysis will be implemented,” he said”

Numbers told the story: TN’s fiscal deficit for 2020-21 was ₹92,305 crore (4.43% of GSDP). Each family had a public debt of ₹2,63,976. The average revenue deficit for all states and UTs was 0.1% of GDP in 2017-18 and 2018-19. It was 1.5% and 1.4% of GSDP in Tamil Nadu.

DMK MP T K S Elangovan called it a temporary measure. “We still believe in subsidy for all. The party will not deviate from its ideology. It’s only a short-term diversion, a temporary phenomenon because of the challenging economic circumstances created by the pandemic. We may revert to universalisation of benefits even in the next Budget if the situation improves,” Elangovan said.

The party’s friends on the Left seem to agree.

“The difference is in the intention. The BJP’s approach is to help corporates profit more. They want to reduce subsidies and help corporates get a bigger share of the public money. But the DMK’s egalitarian social ideology is to give subsidies to all those who deserve it. It’s a path-breaking Budget as it would increase the allocation for the poor based on data. The Budget would expand the scope of the schemes and take them to more people,” CPI leader C Mahendran said.

Biryani ad using Hindu saint image sparks row

Biryani ad using Hindu saint image sparks row

Belagavi:14.08.2021

Hindu organizations are outraged after a famous hotel here specialising in biryani released posters containing the image of a Hindu saint appreciating the meat and rice dish. The hotel chain across the city had to be shut and police deployed from Thursday evening to prevent any violence.

‘Niyaz Hotel’, which owns many restaurants in the city, had released the posters on social media where a Hindu saint was seen asking his devotees to give him biryani instead of ‘Balidaan’ (sacrifice).

The poster also contained the caption “Guruji after tasting Niyaaz”.

The caption to the post on social media said, “Our Biryani to all other Biryanis-Aham Brahmasmi (I am divine)”.

The post went viral and Hindu organizations were up in arms over the advertisement. They claimed that the hotel management has insulted Hindu saints and Hindu traditions. Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal leaders met the Police Commissioner and submitted a memorandum against the hotel management.

Local BJP leaders gave a call to Hindus to come forward and register their protest.

Niyaz hotel management later took down the controversial poster and apologised for hurting religious sentiments of the Hindus. IANS

Guv rejects 3 Alagappa V-C candidates

Guv rejects 3 Alagappa V-C candidates

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.08.2021

Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Wednesday rejected the three shortlisted vice-chancellor candidates for Alagappa University saying that none of the candidates were found suitable for the V-C post. "Governor-chancellor has interviewed three candidates from the panel submitted by the search committee of Alagappa University at Raj Bhavan on August 11. The governor found that none of the candidates was suitable for the post of vice-chancellor of Alagappa University," a letter from governor secretary Anandrao V Patil to the registrar of the universiy said.

"As per the section 13 (1) of the Alagappa University Act, 1985, as amended in the Tamil Nadu Universities Laws (Amendment) Act, 1992, governor-chancellor has not approved any of the persons in the panel recommended by the search committee as vice-chancellor of Alagappa University," he said in the letter adding that the governor ordered that another search committee be formed to give a fresh panel of three different names. The letter further asked the registrar to form a new search committee for selection of vice-chancellor of Alagappa University, Kariakudi, at an early date.

TN extends maternity leave for govt employees

TN extends maternity leave for govt employees

Team TOI

Chennai:14.08.2021

Tamil Nadu has enhanced the period of maternity leave for women government employees to one year from 9 months as promised in the DMK's election manifesto.

Finance minister Palanivel Thiagarajan announced the extension of leave on the floor of assembly during his maiden budget speech on Friday.

The scheme will be restricted to women with less than two surviving children with effect from July 1, he said, amid applause from his cabinet colleagues and other members.

The policy will help the state’s target of increasing the number of babies being exclusively breastfed in the first six months of life, help them receive vaccinations and care for their nutritional status. The maternity leave will help mothers get back to good health in a short period of time, said officials from the social welfare department.

“Tamil Nadu provides cash benefits, free vaccination and nutrition supplement for mothers and babies. But several mothers are not able to care of themselves and their babies because they don’t have the time,” said a senior social welfare department official. “This will change, with longer maternity leave,” she said.

Flight cap to UK hiked to 60 services per week

Flight cap to UK hiked to 60 services per week

New Delhi: 13.08.2021

The Ministry of Civil Aviation (MoCA) has increased the cap on special flights that operate between India and the UK from 30 to 60 flights per week from August16onwards.

The ministry's decision has come five days after Sanjeev Gupta, Secretary, Inter-State Council Secretariat, Union home ministry, had complained on Twitter that an economyclass ticket on Delhi-London flights of British Airways, Air India and Vistara for August 26 was priced between Rs 1.2 lakh and Rs 3.95 lakh.

After Gupta's post, Vistara had said on Sunday that pricing is always a function of supply and demand.

"There are only 15 flights a week allowed currently on India-UK route for Indian carriers and when there is relaxation and more capacity allowed, it will automatically bring down prices," the carrier had said. PTI

Resident doctors’ strike: All barring a few join duty

Resident doctors’ strike: All barring a few join duty

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:13.08.2021

The deadlock between resident doctors and the state government was resolved on Thursday as the majority of striking doctors resumed duty or promised to do so. Sources privy to the development said a faction of doctors is still not in favour of a truce, but the majority of the doctors across the state accepted the offer of the state government.

Resident doctors in Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara, Jamnagar and Bhavnagar resumed duty, whereas in Ahmedabad, senior resident doctors agreed to the proposals. The Junior Doctors Association (JDA) office bearers could not be contacted despite several attempts to know their stance.

On Thursday, the state health department issued a GR where they mentioned that the senior residency (SR) years of resident doctors would be considered as part of the bond period in the ratio of 1:1. They will also get deputation at district or sub-district hospitals and would only get stipend for it, sans DA or other perks.

‘The doctors on bond will have to complete the period according to the new arrangements. The arrangement is only for the 2021 batch and won’t serve as a precedent for the future. Senior residency provisions will remain the same,’ the GR states. The GR also revoked the order to doctors to vacate hostels.

This cab is ‘booked’: Driver, teacher set up mobile stalls

This cab is ‘booked’: Driver, teacher set up mobile stalls

Srikkanth.D@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.08.2021

A little more than a year ago, Michael Crichton, Robert Ludlum, Jeffrey Archer, Dan Brown were names that Gopalan and Nageswaran (names changed) couldn’t care less about. Now, pandemic-induced salary cut and restriction in transport services have forced them to become sellers of old and used books. They now have sufficient knowledge about the bestselling paperbacks.

One is still a physical education teacher at a private school; the other a cab driver. While they were not acquainted with each other previously, both have set up mobile book stalls in their cars along busy Lake View Road in Madipakkam.

“My grandfather used to sell old books in the Moore market which was destroyed in a fire in1985. After the initial months of lockdown when cab services were allowed, there was no brisk business and the few who came about were also Covid patients. Since I had a little knowledge about this, I took it up,” says 50-year-old Nageshwaran. Every morning, he loads his cab with books from his house in Perumbakkam and then stations outside an apartment complex in Mambakkam. In the evenings, he sets shop along the Madipakkam lake.

Ganesan’s salary as a physical education teacher at a private school was cut due to the pandemic, forcing him to take up the side job. “My elder sister’s family is in the business. When I explained my situation, they suggested I take this up. Since I have my own car, I used it as a stall instead of opting for a rented stall or store,” says the 40-year-old.

Ganesan, who has been a PET for16 years, never foresaw this situation. “In the initial days, I was more embarrassed about selling books in a public place. Over time, it has come down. Now, even if management restores salary, I think I will try and continue this mobile stall.”

ALTERNATE MEASURES: After his salary as a physical education teacher at a private school was cut due to the pandemic, Ganesan decided to sell books to add to his income

Velachery bus terminus in bad shape

Velachery bus terminus in bad shape

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.08.2021

The bus terminus at Velachery, frequented by thousands of commuters every day, lacks basic amenities and ongoing flyover work has worsened the waiting area too.

Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC) operates buses along a dozen important routes from Velachery to other areas in the city like Ambattur (D70), Perambur (29N) and Thiruporur (568B). But the bus terminus is able to accommodate only four buses at a time. Therefore, passengers are forced to wait for buses under extreme heat or rain.

Some of them wait under treesa few yards away, and run when the buses reach the terminus. There are sign boards showing list of buses which are expected to arrive or depart from the terminus. The public address system too is defunct most of the times, complain regular MTC bus commuters.

Senior citizens and students, who arrive at the terminus, also don't have shelters while they wait in long queues to get concessional or free passes renewed. In the opposite side (towards Tambaram), the bus stand has been completely dismantled.

S Kumara Raja from the Federation of Velachery Welfare Association said that the ideal location to shift the bus terminus would be the Mass Rapid Transit System premises (located diagonally opposite to the existing terminus location) so that people getting down from the local train can easily board buses to their respective areas or vice-versa.

If the discussion between the Union and state governments is not fetching any results, MTC should start looking at other possibilities. There is a 1.75-acre vacant plot, which belongs to Dhandeeswarar temple, on Taramani Road. Right now, private omni buses are using this facility. MTC can pay or take this land for lease to construct a terminus, he added.

S Vignesh of Madipakkam said even the approach roads towards the terminus are lying battered for years and traffic congestion worsens every day during peak hours.

An MTC official in response said the highways department, which is constructing the flyover, has promised to finish it by December end and only then a decision can be taken whether to develop the terminus at the existing location or to shifting to a new location.

Driving through Royapettah clock tower junction? Pray

Driving through Royapettah clock tower junction? Pray

Ayyappan.V@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.08.2021

If you are stuck in the traffic at Royapettah clock tower junction in the evenings, be ready to wait endlessly as vehicular movement in the stretch is chaotic and often unregulated.

At 6.45pm on Thursday, at least ten two-wheeler riders were seen jumping the signal and driving in different directions in a span of around five minutes.

The junction appears gridlocked as traffic from Bharati Salai is allowed into General Patters Road. This set of vehicles intersect with those from Whites Road to Bharati Salai and vehicles from GH side to Bharati Salai. This criss-crossing traffic does not move in accordance with the traffic signals. The problem started soon after authorities opened General Patters Road for two-way traffic almost two years ago, said a regular commuter on the stretch.

Motorists, especially twowheelers, routinely jump signals even though a traffic police post is located close by. Signal violations are not penalised.

Mohammed K, who runs a shop near the junction, said that there are no traffic blocks but people violate the red signals and drive into different streets often coming close to collision. “They just drive away,” he said. The police sometimes crack down on parking and often tow away motorcycles and regulate the autorickshaws, he added.

Darshan V, a local resident, said, “You will need to drive carefully to prevent from getting hit by a two-wheeler. They appear to be coming from every direction. There is no order at all.”

The intersection that connects traffic from Mandaveli to Anna Salai and Royapettah and Beach and vice versa gets congested on weekends.

A traffic policeman on duty said that the two-way system is not the problem. “The traffic signal pattern that regulates flow of vehicles from each road needs to be changed. This will prevent motorists from trying to drive across. This will be tried out in the coming days.”

Space below three flyovers in city to be turned into leisure places for the public

Space below three flyovers in city to be turned into leisure places for the public

Komal Gautham@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.08.2021

The space under flyovers is either used for dumping construction debris or as illegal parking space for street hawkers. This is set to change in the next few months, as the civic body has launched a drive to identify and beautify these spaces.

The first three flyovers in the pipeline are the Gandhi Mandapam flyover, G K Moopanar flyover and Pantheon Road flyover.

Under the chief minsiter’s Singara Chennai project, the civic body is teaming up with Chennai metro rail and the state highways department to beautify these idle spaces with water fountains, flowering plants, art work and seating arrangements.

A joint inspection was also held on Thursday when the civic body finalized the Koyambedu junction for the next renovation project along with the CMRL. The work at Kathipara flyover is nearing completion.

Gagandeep Singh Bedi, corporation commissioner, said they review the beautification work every 15 days, and recently decided to redesign spaces under flyovers. The corporation alone won't be executing these projects, as metro rail, highways and other departments will also be involved in the process.

Four stretches maintained by CMRL— Koyambedu to Alandur, Tondiarpet to Wimco Nagar, Saidapet to Airport and Alandur to St Thomas Mount will be revamped. Fourteen flyover spaces by state highways department, including Vysarpadi flyover, are also on the revamp list. In total, there are 35 flyovers and about 150 bridges that will be revamped.

The civic body has already set up vertical gardens at the IIT-M flyover, but they now plan to add a small garden, water fountains and seating arrangements. It will be a place where people can hang out. These will be undertaken using CSR funds and some work will be taken up under capital expenditure, said an official.

FACELIFT: The civic body plans to add a small garden, water fountains and seating arrangements at the IIT-M flyover

One-shot Sputnik Light all set for rollout in Sept

One-shot Sputnik Light all set for rollout in Sept

Mumbai:13.08.2021

India’s immunisation plan against Covid-19 may get a shot in the arm soon with the rollout of Russian singledose vaccine Sputnik Light, which will be locally manufactured in September, reports Rupali Mukherjee.

Panacea Biotec, which had earlier partnered Russian Direct Investment Fund (RDIF), has submitted the dossier for seeking emergency-use authorisation to India’s drug regulator recently, sources told TOI. The vaccine is expected to be priced around ₹750. Shortage in supply of the two-dose Sputnik V could be resolved as early as the month-end, with Dr Reddy’s, RDIF’s exclusive distribution partner for India, ramping up supplies, sources added.

Around 5L doses of imported Sputnik vax could be rolled out in India soon

The full rollout of the Sputnik V vaccine was put on hold and is hence lagging, as its imports from Russia were impacted in June. Around five lakh doses of Sputnik V’s component 2 vaccine, which have been imported, could be rolled out in India soon.

“We are also working closely with our partners in India for manufacturing readiness. We expect that locally manufactured doses are likely to be available from the September-October period”, a Dr Reddy’s spokesperson said.

Sputnik Light, developed by Russia’s Gamaleya Institute and backed by RDIF, received emergency use authorisation in Russia in May. It is perceived by experts as more ‘suitable’, given the task of vaccinating a large population even as a possible third wave looms. The Sputnik Light jab has demonstrated nearly 80% efficacy, according to analysed data taken 28 days after the injection was administered in a trial in Russia, an RDIF statement said.

Univs close 102 engineering courses as demand stays low

Univs close 102 engineering courses as demand stays low

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.08.2021

Following poor admissions in the past few years, 14 deemed universities in Tamil Nadu including top institutes have closed 102 engineering courses including 62 postgraduate courses from 2021-22, according to data released by All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE).

The discontinued courses vary from traditional engineering courses to highly specialised courses such as civil engineering, electrical and electronics engineering, electronics and instrumentation, power electronics, automobile engineering, nano science and technology and VLSI design and architecture among others.

Around 50 engineering colleges closed 97 engineering courses in Tamil Nadu including 17 colleges which have closed civil engineering course this year, the data showed. As many as four engineering colleges including three in Coimbatore region have got the permission for progressive closure from the technical council from 2021-22. An official from the deemed university which closed postgraduate and undergraduate courses said the main reason for closure of courses was poor enrolment in the past few years.

"The simple reason for closing postgraduate courses is they have no takers. AICTE software is calculating the faculty ratio for all approved courses and showing deficiency for the course which is not offered due to no enrolment. To avoid faculty deficiency, the institutes have closed many postgraduate courses," said S Vaidyasubramaniam, vicechancellor of SASTRA.

Several institutes have closed the part-time degree programmes.

R W Alexander Jesudasan, pro-vice-chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science in Chennai, said, the deemed universities will try to revive some of these courses with different course curriculum which will appeal to students and with different nomenclature.

"Higher education system is evolving one. There will be some programmes which will lose their importance and charm and other programmes will gain prominence. The deemed universities and autonomous colleges have freedom to close and introduce new courses depending upon the number of admissions," he added.

MKU to HC: Acting on job panel’s advice

MKU to HC: Acting on job panel’s advice

Madurai:13.08.2021

Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU) on Thursday informed the Madras high court that it was acting on the recommendations of the highlevel committee, which was constituted to probe the irregularities in the appointments of teaching and non-teaching faculty made in 2017-18 without following UGC norms. The university also informed the court that the reports of the selection and scrutiny committees would be placed before the syndicate of the university for a decision to be taken with regard to these appointments. Taking cognizance of the submissions, a division bench of justices M Duraiswamy and K Murali Shankar directed MKU to submit the reports before the court. The judges also sought the decision of the syndicate to be placed before the court. TNN

Eleven medical colleges in Tamil Nadu inspected

Eleven medical colleges in Tamil Nadu inspected

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.08.2021

The National Medical Commission completed inspections of all the eleven new medical colleges on Thursday.

“Tamil Nadu will add 1,650 seats to the undergraduate seat matrix taking the tally to 5,200 MBBS seats across government medical colleges in the state if all 11 colleges get the sanction from the apex medical body,” health minister Ma Subramanian said.

In addition, the state has applied for 100 more seats in Coimbatore medical college. “We have asked the centre to consider starting admissions to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Madurai this year itself,” he said.

As a part of the national mission to increase the number of medical colleges across the country, the centre granted permission to Tamil Nadu for commencement of 11 new medical colleges in districts in Namakkal, Krishnagiri, Tirupur, Dindigul, Ramanathapuram, Virudhunagar, The Nilgiris, Ariyalur, Nagapattinam, Kallakurichi and Tiruvallur.

The panel of inspectors appointed by the apex medical body verified the infrastructure and human resources facility required to admit students for the first year MBBS course in these newly constructed colleges.

“Inspections are now over. The teams will send in their reports to the committee. Based on the report, the apex body will grant the letter of permission for medical admissions,” said Director of Medical Education Dr R Narayanababu.

New MTC bus routes to help commuters reach offices soon

New MTC bus routes to help commuters reach offices soon

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:  13.08.2021

The Metropolitan Transport Corporation has launched services along nine new routes to help people reach work places faster. It also revived services along 14 routes that were stopped due to poor patronage.

After the inauguration on Thursday, transport minister R S Rajakannapan said 30 buses will ply along the routes regularly. Buses will be operated from Saidapet and Tondiarpet, connecting southern and northern suburbs with the core city.

State government employees from Todd Hunter Nagar, usually have to change bus two buses to reach the Secretariart, Ezhilgam and other government offices along Kamarajar Salai (Marina beach road). “Direct buses have now been made available from Todd Hunter Nagar to these areas,” said Ma Subramanian, Saidapet MLA and health minister, who was present.

Hundreds of people from Theedeer Nagar, Gotha Medu and Kottupuram along the Adyar were resettled in Kannagi Nagar, Ezhil Nagar and Perumbakkam, but most still have shops in and around Saidapet. A new route (5S) has been launched to help them, said Subramanian.

S Kavi Priya, who works at Olympia Tech Park, is happy more buses will ply from Ekkattuthangal. “Right now, we are left with no other option but to take metro trains to reach Koyambedu or Central from where we can get buses to reach our homes,” she said. MTC revived services along three old routes from Ekkattuthangal to Toll Gate, Broadway and Sunguvarchatram.

NEET could prove to be govt's most troublesome test

NEET could prove to be govt's most troublesome test

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

13.08.2021

In its first 100 days, the DMK government took two major decisions in education. One was to conduct reexam for more than 4.25 lakh engineering students who appeared for a proctored online test in February. Second, when a majority of parents and teachers wanted the Class XII state board exams to be held, CM Stalin decided to cancel them based on views of medical experts.

Academics called the first move regressive. Anna University was the only state university in the country to come up with proctored online tests to conduct a semblance of an exam during the pandemic. Instead of helping other state universities develop such online assessment tools and improve assessment standard, the state brought down the standard of Anna University exams to the level of other universities.

The second decision had to be taken in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. The government had to come up with a weightage system keeping in mind the interests of rural and urban students and gave 50% weightage to Class X board exam marks. It affected the top scoring students as there was little difference between them and others. A majority of students and parents, however, were happy in the end.

There are many positives in the approach of the new government. It appointed a committee headed by Justice A K Rajan to study the impact of NEET in medical admissions and another headed by Justice D Murugesan to study the representation of government school students in professional courses.

Now, with schools and colleges set to reopen physical classes, more challenges await the government. They include bringing back dropouts, preventing child marriages and retaining students in government schools. More than 2 lakh children moved to government and aided schools from private schools. Government colleges and state universities are crippled with faculty shortages and financial crises. At least three state universities are on the verge of collapse. Education will be one of the key parameters in which the success or failure of the DMK government will be rated.

Rs 311 crore: Onam bonus for Kerala govt employees

Rs 311 crore: Onam bonus for Kerala govt employees

In April, weeks before the assembly elections, the government had allotted Rs 4,850 crore for implementing pay revision.

Published: 12th August 2021 04:40 AM 

By M S Vidyanandan

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as lakhs of people are struggling to cope with the economic crisis induced by long spells of lockdown and a few of them resorting to suicide, the LDF regime in the state has decided to give government employees more and turn a blind eye to the growing demand for providing social security allowance to those who had lost their jobs.

On Wednesday, Finance Minister K N Balagopal announced Onam bonus and festival advance to 5.2 lakh state government employees who were granted a hefty pay hike only four months ago. The cash-strapped government has set apart Rs 311 crore for the purpose.

In April, weeks before the assembly elections, the government had allotted Rs 4,850 crore for implementing pay revision. It may be recalled that the state has witnessed 28 suicides owing to job loss and debt burden in the last seven weeks and there has been no word so far from the government on any assistance to struggling private sector employees and traders.

Of the 5.2 lakh government employees, around one lakh will get Rs 4,000 each as Onam bonus while the rest will get Rs 2,750 each as festival allowance. In addition, 5.3 lakh service pensioners will get Rs 1,000 each. All employees are also eligible to avail a festival advance of Rs 15,000, which should be repaid in five monthly instalments.

Kerala’s total workforce is 1.27 crore as per the estimate of the state planning board. During the first lockdown, 73 lakh of them were rendered jobless, according to a study by the board. That means Rs 260 crore of the tax payers’ money is being spent for the welfare of 4% of workforce who haven’t lost a single day’s wage owing to lockdown.

“This is atrocious. The government’s indifference to what is happening around is writ large on this decision. How graceful a gesture it would have been had the government used this money to pay Rs 500 each at least to those who have lost jobs?” asked Jose Sebastian, economist and former director of Gulati Institute of Finance and Taxation.

FM urges staff to donate generously to relief fund

“In fact, this magnanimity is a gesture of appreciation for the organised class of government employees who had stood with the government loyally,” he said.Though the Opposition did not protest against the decision, Balagopal urged the employees to generously contribute to the Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund (CMDRF). When the government had appealed for donation to CMDRF during the 2018 floods, a section of employees had questioned it. Only 17% of aided college teachers — one of the highly paid employees — joined the 2018 contribution drive. As in the previous years, employees on contract basis and those working in various government schemes will also be eligible for the festival allowance, said Balagopal.

About Rs 150 crore will be spent for these people, most of them falling in the low-income category. They will also be eligible for a festival advance of Rs 5,000. As per the revised budget estimates for 2020-21, the state had spent 30% of its revenue receipts for salary payment and 21% for pension payments.

As on January 1, 2021, the number of state government employees was 5,22,223 who draw salaries in the range of Rs 23,000 to Rs 1.66 lakh.

5.2 lakh is the total strength of government employees in Kerala

Latest ‘attraction’ in Madurai-Chennai Tejas Express leaves commuters drenched

Latest ‘attraction’ in Madurai-Chennai Tejas Express leaves commuters drenched

As the passengers began to move about frantically, panic spread among a section of passengers that they could get electrocuted as the rainwater passed through electric cables in the roof.

Published: 12th August 2021 03:35 AM 

Tejas Express 

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Rainwater leaking through the roofs of two coaches during travel left passengers in shock and outrage in the Madurai-Chennai Egmore Tejas Special Express on Tuesday. Water began dripping from the roof of an AC chair coach when the Chennai-bound train was running between Virudhachalam and Villupuram, while it was heavily raining outside, said passengers.

“Initially many of us did not notice that water was seeping through the coach floor. Suddenly, water began leaking through the roof causing panic inside the coach. A few women passengers were frightened and screamed upon seeing the water. Immediately we all moved our luggage,” said a traveller who did not wish to be named.

As the passengers began to move about frantically, panic spread among a section of passengers that they could get electrocuted as the rainwater passed through electric cables in the roof. This led to chaos in the coach for some time. Travel ticket examiners pacified the passengers and shifted them to other coaches.

“The Railway charges Rs 900 to Rs 1,300 per ticket for Tejas Express. Shoddy maintenance of coaches is unacceptable for whatever reasons. The railway should refund our ticket fare,” demanded another passenger.

As the rainwater leakage was also reported in another AC chair coach, the Chennai division of Southern Railway has sent both the coaches to the Integral Coach Factory for repair works. Tejas rake was manufactured by the ICF and handed over to Southern Railway in November 2018.The coaches were provided with advanced features such as talk back facility, which enable the passengers to call loco pilots through microphone, vacuum toilets, personalised infotainment system, GPS LED destination board and electronic reservation chart.

“Both the coaches are being examined. They were produced using advanced electrical technology and it has to be maintained by a team comprising both electrical and mechanical engineers,” said an ICF official.

Sasikala bribery case: ACB raids residence of Hindalga prison SP

Sasikala bribery case: ACB raids residence of Hindalga prison SP

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Belagavi:12.08.2021

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) sleuths raided the official residence of Krishna Kumar, superintendent of police, Hindalga prison, in pursuance of the 2018 bribery case related to V K Sasikala, close aide of late J Jayalalithaa, the then chief minister of Tamil Nadu.

In 2018 ACB filed an FIR after the then deputy inspector general of prisons D Roopa had filed a complaint alleging corruption against the then director general of prisons H N Satyanarayana Rao.

Roopa had alleged that Rao has received money in exchange for offering VIP treatment for Sasikala in Parappana Agrahara prison. Krishna Kumar was in charge of Bengaluru prison when Sasikala was serving the jail term.

The ACB on Wednesday raided the house of Krishna Kumar and searched the premises for several hours. However, they could not find anything and left saying the officer should cooperate in further investigations. According to sources in the ACB, there are suspicions that Krishna Kumar benefitted in the deal to ensure VIP treatment to Sasikala in prison.

Sources further said they have received information about Krishna Kumar having bought assets with the same money and hence the search was conducted. Kumar is also a witness in the case as he was reporting to Satyanarayana Rao.

When contacted, Krishna Kumar told TOI that the raid was a routine legal procedure as a case was filed against the former DGP. “I am a very honest man and so the ACB could not find anything in my house even after a detailed search,” he said.

He further said the raid was related to a 2018 case filed against former prison DGP and he is one of the witnesses.

According to sources in the ACB, there are suspicions that superintendent of police Krishna Kumar benefitted in the deal to ensure VIP treatment to Sasikala in prison

IAS topper couple officially divorced

IAS topper couple officially divorced

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Jaipur:12.08.2021

Popular IAS couple, Tina Dabi and Athar Amin Khan, whose romance and wedding had taken social media by storm in 2018, was granted divorce by a Rajasthan court on Tuesday.

Dabi, a graduate of Delhi’s Lady Shri Ram College, shot to limelight after she became the first Dalit to top the prestigious civil services examination in 2015 in her first attempt. Khan ranked second that same year. The duo met in Mussoorie during training and fell in love. Their wedding in 2018 drew much public attention.

They were both allotted Rajasthan cadre. Dabi is now posted as joint secretary in the finance department in Jaipur while Khan is on deputation in his home state of Jammu & Kashmir.

The couple had petitioned the family court in Jaipur for divorce in November last year. The couple said there were irreconcilable differences and the divorce petition be disposed of early.

Chennai again has most new Covid cases at 243

Chennai again has most new Covid cases at 243

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:12.08.2021

Tamil Nadu reported 1,964 new cases on Wednesday when Chennai grabbed the slot of district with the highest number of cases for the first time since May 25. The city reported 243 new cases, 34 more than 209 cases it logged on Tuesday. Its neighbours - Chengalpet reported 140 cases compared to 105 cases on Tuesday and Tiruvallur reported a rise from 79 to 98 new cases.

Overall, the state added 71 more cases than its fresh cases tally on Tuesday. Coimbatore, which reported the second highest number of cases in the state, recorded 229 new cases compared to 224 on Tuesday. A total of 24 districts reported an increase in cases.

Increase in cases in Chennai came from clusters identified by the Greater Chennai Corporation over the last three or four days. For instance, there were 23 cases identified from the Varadhammal Garden Street at the Secretariat Colony in Kilpauk. Officials said the source of the cluster was religious festivals organised in the area. “A 43-year-old woman with diabetes died two days after she tested positive. She had not taken the vaccine so far,” said health secretary J Radhakrishnan, who inspected the area with senior officials from GCC. “We found that many people in the area have not taken the vaccine,” he said. The woman showed symptoms of Covid on August 2 and was tested for the viral infection three days later. When her results returned positive on August 7, she was admitted to the Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. She died on August 9.

While the civic agency announced that it will organise special drives in low vaccination areas, officials say that people must continue to follow covid appropriate behaviour. “Mask and social distancing must be followed at all times. There are breakthrough infections despite vaccination. While people vaccinated may not have severe disease, they can pass on the infection to those who are not vaccinated,” he said.

INSPECTION TIME: Health secretary J Radhakrishnan visited Varadammal Garden Main road and side streets along with Greater Chennai Corporation officials

Cobra swallows rat snake, gets stuck in drain

Cobra swallows rat snake, gets stuck in drain

Cuddalore:12.08.2021

A cobra, which could not move after swallowing its prey - a rat snake - and got stuck in a four-inch hole in a drain, was rescued by a selftaught snake catcher in Cuddalore district. The cobra spat out its prey while being rescued.

V Selvam alias Chellaa, 36, who has been rescuing snakes that venture into human habitation, received a call from security personnel at Cuddalore Sipcot Industrial Estate on Tuesday that a cobra was found swallowing a snake in a drain on the estate premises. “I reached the industrial estate in 30 minutes and found a six-foot-long cobra struck in a four-inch drain. The security guards said they saw the cobra swallowing a snake. The mobility of a snake will be affected after swallowing its prey. The bigger the prey, the tougher the mobility,” said Chellaa.

Chellaa caught the cobra using a simple hook and stick. “When I rescued the cobra, it started spitting out its dead prey. Cobra had swallowed a four-and-half-foot rat snake. I will release the cobra along with a dozen snakes caught in the past two days in a nearby forest,” he said. TNN

AIIMS still a non-starter as Centre clueless about work

AIIMS still a non-starter as Centre clueless about work

Madurai:12.08.2021

More than 135 days after the governments of India and Japan inked a memorandum of understanding (MoU) for sanctioning 22.9 billion yen (around ₹1,537 crore) in March 2021 as a loan for the construction of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Madurai, the date of commencement of construction is not available with the Union government.

This was stated by the ministry of health and family welfare in replies to RTI questions raised by activist A Pandiaraja, who has been tracing the status of the major healthcare project that would benefit the southern and central districts of TN. “The date of start of construction work is not available,” it said and added that “The revised date for completion of AIIMS Madurai has not been approved yet.”

Only the Expression of interest for engaging the project management consultant for AIIMS Madurai has been floated, the reply stated. TNN

Negative RT-PCR must for students of govt med colleges

Negative RT-PCR must for students of govt med colleges

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:11.08.2021

RT-PCR negative report will be mandatory for students joining government-run medical, dental and para medical colleges scheduled to reopen on August 16.

Students won't be permitted to attend classes or stay in hostels without a negative certificate, a circular from the Directorate of Medical Education Dr R Narayanababu sent to college administration said. Students who haven’t taken the test can get it done at the respective institutions, he said.

College administrators must sanitize classrooms, libraries, laboratories, hostel mess, hostel, college and hospital premises as per the standard protocol. Hand washing stations with liquid soap and sanitizer dispensers must be made available on campus, it said. Students with symptoms will have to be quarantined and treated as per standard protocol, he said.

Students won't be permitted to attend classes or stay in hostels without a negative certificate, a circular from the Director of Medical Education Dr R Narayanababu to college administration said

‘DMK’s claim on OBC reservation will not benefit T.N. students’

‘DMK’s claim on OBC reservation will not benefit T.N. students’

Centre places contention before HC

11/08/2021

Legal Correspondent CHENNAI

The Centre on Tuesday claimed that increasing the percentage of reservation for Other Backward Classes (OBCs) from 27% to 50% in all India quota medical seats, as being demanded by the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK), would not benefit students from Tamil Nadu in a big way and that a majority of those seats would end up being garnered by OBCs from other States.

Appearing before Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P.D. Audikesavalu, Additional Solicitor General K.M. Nataraj contended that on July 20, 2020, a Bench led by the then Chief Justice A.P. Sahi had only ordered that OBCs would be entitled to reservation in all India quota and the Bench did not rule that the State reservation policy of 50% should be applied while filling such quota. The ASG pointed out that all India quota was basically a creation of the Supreme Court and that it was filled up without any reservation until the Supreme Court in 2006 ordered reservation for the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes. Subsequently, the SC/STs were provided 15% and 7.5% respectively as per the central reservation policy.

Pointing out that Tamil Nadu follows the 69% reservation policy of providing 50% to OBCs, 18% to SCs and 1% to STs, Mr. Natraj said the State government never objected to the quantum of reservation when it came to SCs and STs and was now wanting the State specific reservation policy to be followed when it came to implementing reservation for OBCs. “Even assuming their argument is accepted, Tamil Nadu students won’t get those seats. They are arguing to the detriment of their own students and the State as well,” the ASG said.

Canada’s new norms little relief for pupils

Canada’s new norms little relief for pupils

Manju V & Hemali Chhapia TNN

Mumbai:11.08.2021

Though Canada has granted an exemption to fully vaccinated passengers who no longer have to undergo a three-night hotel stay in a stopover country, the change was of little solace to travellers, especially students, from India. The Canadian government hasn’t yet done away with the requirement under which passengers from India have to undergo an RT-PCR test in a third country, await a negative report before they can board the onward flight to Canada. All this meant students spend close to Rs 2 lakh on airfare and hotel accommodation.

On Tuesday, Canada said it will extend the ban on flights from India till September 21. India contributes 34.5% of Canada’s total international students. Maria Mathais, a counsellor who works with Canadian universities, said, “Students are paying three times the normal fare.” However, anxiety among students is a lot less as varsities clarified they can join the campus as and when they can travel.

NEET MDS 2021 Counselling From August 20 To October 10, 2021 :Centre Tells Supreme Court

NEET MDS 2021 Counselling From August 20 To October 10, 2021 :Centre Tells Supreme Court: The Union of India on Tuesday informed Supreme Court that it h

Breaking: Lok Sabha Passes Constitutional Amendment Bill To Restore States' Power To Identify SEBCs

Breaking: Lok Sabha Passes Constitutional Amendment Bill To Restore States' Power To Identify SEBCs: Lok Sabha passed the Constitution (One hundredth and twenty-seventh amendment) Bill 2021 to restore the power of State Governments to identify and specify Socially and Economically Backward...

ஓ.பி.சி., இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி

ஓ.பி.சி., இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழக்கு உயர் நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி

Added : ஆக 10, 2021 23:15

சென்னை:'அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களை, மத்திய அரசுக்கு வழங்கிய பின், தமிழக இட ஒதுக்கீடு முறை எப்படி பொருந்தும்?' என, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் கேள்வி எழுப்பி உள்ளது.

அவமதிப்பு வழக்கு

'மருத்துவ படிப்புகளில், அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீடு இடங்களில், இதர பிற்படுத்தப்பட்ட வகுப்பினருக்கு, இடஒதுக்கீடு வழங்குவது குறித்து, குழு அமைத்து முடிவெடுக்க வேண்டும்' என, 2020 ஜூலையில், மத்திய அரசுக்கு, சென்னை உயர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது.'இந்த உத்தரவை அமல்படுத்த நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கவில்லை' எனக்கூறி, தி.மு.க., தரப்பில், உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தில் அவமதிப்பு வழக்கு தொடரப்பட்டது.

இந்த வழக்கு, தலைமை நீதிபதி சஞ்சீப் பானர்ஜி தலைமையிலான அமர்வில், விசாரணைக்கு வந்தது. அப்போது, தி.மு.க., சார்பில் வாதாடிய மூத்த வழக்கறிஞர் வில்சன், ''அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களுக்கு, 27 சதவீத இட ஒதுக்கீடு வழங்குவதாக, மத்திய அரசு தெரிவித்து உள்ளது. ''இந்த இட ஒதுக்கீடு என்பது, மத்திய அரசு கல்வி நிறுவனங்களுக்கு மட்டுமே பொருந்தும். தமிழக கல்லுாரிகளுக்கு பொருந்தாது,'' என்றார்.

அப்போது, 'அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீட்டு இடங்களை, மத்திய அரசுக்கு வழங்கிய பின், தமிழக இட ஒதுக்கீடு முறை, அதற்கு எப்படி பொருந்தும்?' என, நீதிபதிகள் கேள்வி எழுப்பினர்.

இட ஒதுக்கீடு

மேலும், 'மத்திய அரசு தான் இது குறித்து முடிவு செய்ய முடியும். தமிழக இட ஒதுக்கீடு முறையை அமல்படுத்த கூற முடியாது. அந்த இடங்கள், மாநிலங்களுக்கு திரும்ப வழங்கப் பட்டால் மட்டுமே, தமிழக அரசு இட ஒதுக்கீட்டை பின்பற்ற முடியும்' என்றும் நீதிபதிகள் தெரிவித்தனர்.

மத்திய அரசு சார்பில், வழக்கறிஞர் நடராஜன் வாதாடியதாவது:மருத்துவ படிப்புகளில், அனைத்து மாநில மாணவர்களும் பயனடைய, உச்ச நீதிமன்ற உத்தரவுப் படி, அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீடு கொண்டு வரப்பட்டது. தகுதி அடிப்படையில் மட்டுமே, அந்த இடங்கள் நிரப்பப் பட்டன.

கடந்த, 2007 -- 08ம் ஆண்டு முதல், ஆதி திராவிடர் வகுப்பை சேர்ந்தவர்களுக்கு, 15 சதவீதமும், பழங்குடியினருக்கு, 7.5 சதவீதமும் இட ஒது க்கீடு வழங்கப்பட்டு வருகிறது. அகில இந்திய ஒதுக்கீடு என்பது, தேசிய கொள்கை என்பதால், அகில இந்திய இட ஒதுக்கீட்டிற்கு தான் பொருந்தும்; மாநில அரசு இட ஒதுக்கீடு பொருந்தாது.இவ்வாறு, அவர் வாதாடினார்.இரு தரப்பு வாதங்களும் நிறைவடையாததால், வழக்கை, 17ம் தேதிக்கு, தலைமை நீதிபதி தள்ளி வைத்தார்.

'திருமணமான பெண்ணுக்கு காதல் கடிதம் தருவது குற்றம்'

'திருமணமான பெண்ணுக்கு காதல் கடிதம் தருவது குற்றம்'

Added : ஆக 10, 2021 20:58

நாக்பூர்:'திருமணமான பெண்ணுக்கு காதல் கடிதம் தருவது அவரதுகண்ணியத்தை சீர்குலைப்பதற்கு சமமானது' என ஒரு வழக்கில்மும்பை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தின் நாக்பூர் கிளை நீதிமன்றம் தீர்ப்பளித்துள்ளது.

மஹராஷ்டிராவின் நாக்பூர் நகரில் பலசரக்கு கடை வைத்துள்ள ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணா தவாரி என்பவர் கல்யாணமான 45 வயது பெண்ணிடம் காதல் கடிதம் கொடுத்தது தொடர்பான வழக்கில் மாஜிஸ்திரேட் நீதிமன்றம் அவருக்கு 40 ஆயிரம் ரூபாய் அபராதம் விதித்தது.இதை எதிர்த்து ஸ்ரீகிருஷ்ணா தவாரி மும்பை உயர் நீதிமன்றத்தின் நாக்பூர்கிளை நீதிமன்றத்தில் மேல்முறையீடு செய்தார்.

அந்த மனுவில் மளிகை சாமான் பாக்கியை கேட்டதற்கு அந்த பெண் பொய் குற்றச்சாட்டு கூறியுள்ளதாக தெரிவிக்கப்பட்டிருந்தது.இந்த மனுவை விசாரித்த நீதிபதி அளித்த தீர்ப்பு: திருமணமான பெண்ணுக்கு காதல் கடிதம் கொடுப்பது அவரது கண்ணியத்தை இழிவு படுத்துவதற்கு சமமானது.

மனுதாரர் காதல் கடிதம் கொடுத்த மறுநாள் அந்த பெண்ணிடம்ஆபாச சேஷ்டைகள் செய்துள்ளார்.அத்துடன் கடிதம் குறித்து யாரிடமும் தெரிவிக்கக் கூடாது என மிரட்டியுள்ளார். அவ்வப்போது அந்த பெண்ணிடம் வாயை சுளித்து கண்ணால் காமவலை வீசியுள்ளார்.

எனவே ஒரு பெண்ணிடம் கண்ணியக் குறைவாக நடந்த குற்றத்திற்காக மனுதாரருக்கு விதிக்கப்பட்ட அபராதம் 90 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயாக உயர்த்தப்படுகிறது.அதில் 85 ஆயிரம்ரூபாயை அந்த பெண்ணிற்கு வழங்க வேண்டும். மனுதாரர் 45 நாட்கள் சிறையில் இருந்ததால் அது கணக்கில் எடுத்துக் கொள்ளப்படும். அவர் திருந்துவதற்கு வாய்ப்பு அளிக்கும் வகையில் அபராதத்துடன் விடுவிக்கப்படுகிறார்.இவ்வாறு தீர்ப்பில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.

Airfares skyrocket as UAE opens borders, puts Malayali expats in spot

Airfares skyrocket as UAE opens borders, puts Malayali expats in spot

DGCA asks int’l pax to check rates on airline websites as search engines at times do not reflect actual prices

Published: 11th August 2021 06:43 AM |

By Dhinesh Kallungal

Express News Service

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Soon after the UAE opened its borders for the Indian diaspora, airline companies jacked up the ticket fares six- to seven-fold on main routes. Further, the popular flight ticket booking sites quote the highest fares for tickets even on transit flights. As the issue became grave, the aviation regulator asked the international air passengers to book tickets preferably from the websites of airlines as the search engines at times do not reflect actual prices.

According to MakeMyTrip, a ticket on Indigo or Etihad flight to Abu Dhabi on Thursday will cost the passenger Rs 72,264 even as the journey will take 20 hours. Another connecting flight by Indigo to the same destination via Mumbai and Kochi as on Thursday will cost Rs 41,502 for a journey that will take 37 hours and 10 minutes.

Similarly, a Qatar Airways flight to Kochi from Abu Dhabi via Doha will cost the passenger Rs 1,57,559, while a direct flight to Kochi by Ettihad from Abu Dhabi cost the passenger Rs 58,993 on Thursday. Similarly, flights on most of these routes have started charging exorbitant rates from passengers since the travel restrictions were eased by UAE authorities. If this is the situation ahead of Onam which is hardly two weeks away, the expats’ plans to reach home for the occasion will be a costly affair.

Meanwhile, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) has issued an advisory asking passengers travelling to international destinations to check the fares preferably on the websites of the airlines concerned as the meta search engines at times do not reflect the actual point-to-point fare and do make combinations of multiple airlines and show an exaggerated figure.

IATA Agents Association of India national president Biji Eapen said, “The DGCA’s advisory is mainly related to transit flight tickets offered jointly by two airlines in which the ticket fares of both airlines are combined showing an unbelievably exaggerated price. But the prices in general on the West Asia routes are ruling high after the UAE opened its borders,” he said.

The airfares had peaked well ahead of the festival season. Since there is a demand for tickets, airlines are exploiting the situation in the name of market dynamics, said Babu Paul, head of Speedwing Tours.

“When the complete lockdown was in force in Kerala, a private chartered flight arrived in Kochi from the UAE with 19 passengers. Each passenger had to pay Rs 3.5 lakh per seat. Despite the restrictions being eased, there is no significant change in the industry and the government has not taken any decisive steps to stop the fleecing of passengers hit by the Covid impact,” he added.