Students and faculty of DU medical college oppose Covid care facility

Students and faculty of DU medical college oppose Covid care facility

Shradha.Chettri@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:14.09.2021

Students and faculty members of University College of Medical Sciences (UCMS), a medical college under Delhi University, have written to the President of India and the Delhi government against the building of a proposed Covid care facility on the campus. They say the area is a designated space for a playground for the medical students of the college. It is also a designated bird diversity hotspot, they claimed and urged the government to relocate the facility.

On Monday, the students and faculty members along with several staff of Guru Teg Bahadur Hospital protested against the proposed facility and held placards with slogans like “Save Central Field”, “Don’t leave the campus peeled” and others.

In a letter sent to different authorities, the teacher’s association stated, “We appreciate and support this initiative of developing Covid-dedicated infrastructure in east Delhi. However, we find that the proposed site of the building will damage the rich biodiverse green area of the complex, when in fact there is availability of land (under Delhi govt) in the nearby areas. The proposed site is already a playground, which is an essential feature of a medical educational institution.”

Satendra Singh, vice-president of the association, said, “UCMS is the only medical college, which has a playground for the students. It is an important guideline of the medical council so we don’t want the students to be deprived of it. The area also houses a nursery, which has some rare cacti. We are worried that building the facility will also compromise on the safety of women nursing students.”

Ramansh Bandhu Gupta, the students’ union president, said, “We support the making of a Covid-dedicated hospital in the area, but request the government to consider the biodiversity loss and medical recognition of the college. We urge them to relocate the hospital.”

The protesters said a Covid management facility near Ramlila Ground is under-utilised.

Deputy chief minister Manish Sisodia’s office has forwarded the letter to the directorate of higher education for appropriate action.

HEAR US OUT: The site is a designated bird diversity hotspot, they claimed and urged the government to relocate the proposed facility

Fake marksheet racket busted, kingpin arrested

Fake marksheet racket busted, kingpin arrested

Indore:14.09.2021

Crime branch and Tilak Nagar police arrested prime accused of a gang involved in making fake marksheets and certificates.

The accused had made Rs1.5crore by making fake 554 marksheets.

Acting on a tip off, Satish Goswami, 32, a resident of Juni Indore, was arrested during a search.

A case under section 420, 467, 468 of IPC for fraud, and forgery of documents was registered against him, the police said. The police also recovered seven monitors, two computers along with two printers, 14 fake marksheets, blank papers and one mobile phone from him.

Police said that a special crime branch team got input of a man involved in making fake marksheet and certificates in Tilak Nagar area. Based on it, the police raided the spot and arrested Goswami. Police also recovered two registers with 554 names of people, whose fake certificates were made by the accused. The accused, during inquiry, said that he had been involved in making fake marksheet and certificates for the last five years and made certificates of standard tenth, twelfth, and graduation.

The marksheets were of Maharashtra board of higher secondary education, Rajasthan board, William Kerry University, Mewar University, Sunrise University, Shanghai university, DRCB Raman University, police said. TNN

Put up details of nursing colleges on website: HC

Put up details of nursing colleges on website: HC

Bengaluru:14.09.2021

To clear the position vis-a-vis nursing institutions, the Indian Nursing Council (INC) has to WebHost the full order of the Supreme Court in Civil Appeals No.12759-12761/2017 and the link to the website hosted by the state government, containing the list of recognized institutions.

The high court passed this order recently while disposing of a petition filed by Karnataka State Association of the Management of Nursing and Allied Health Science Institutions and four nursing colleges.

Justice PS Dinesh Kumar said in the Civil Appeals the SC held INC has no authority to grant recognition to institutions imparting nursing courses and it has been restrained from publishing the material indicated therein on its website. The judge, however, added that in view of the admitted position that inspection can be conducted by INC, its right, to be placed in public domain, the institutions inspected by it, can’t be curtailed.

“It would be appropriate for the INC to web-host the clear position emerging from the order passed by the Supreme Court. This can be achieved by directing the INC to first show the entire list of institutions recognised by the government on its website,” the judge added. The petitioners had moved court seeking removal of a list from INC website depicting as ‘recognised Institutions by the Karnataka State Nursing Council’ for 2019-20 and 2020-21. TNN

Pay via UPI in 10 more countries

Pay via UPI in 10 more countries

Mumbai:14.09.2021

The international arm of National Payments Corporation of India has partnered with Liquid Group to enable QR-based UPI payments’ acceptance in 10 countries across north and southeast Asia. Singapore-headquartered Liquid Group brings together payments companies that enrol merchants in Singapore, Malaysia, Thailand, Philippines, Vietnam, Cambodia, Hong Kong, Taiwan, South Korea, and Japan. Its technology will allow merchants who accept QR payments to accept UPI payments as well. TNN

Stalin, EPS engage in verbal battle over NEET

Stalin, EPS engage in verbal battle over NEET

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Holding the previous AIADMK regime responsible for introducing NEET in Tamil Nadu, chief minister M K Stalin on Monday said 15 students, including Dhanush of Salem, had ended their lives apprehensive about the entrance test.

The state government had kept this in mind while introducing the bill to provide admissions based on class 12 board examinations. Later, Leader of opposition Edappadi K Palaniswami told reporters that DMK was responsible for the suicide of the NEET aspirant in Salem.

The assembly saw heated exchanges between Stalin and Palaniswami before the bill was introduced.

EPS pointed out that NEET exemption was DMK’s poll promise and the party had promised to fulfill it soon after assuming charge. “The students could not prepare for the competitive exam with DMK leaders making continuous assertions about NEET exemption,” the former CM said, before walking out in protest along with AIADMK legislators. Certain remarks by EPS on the Salem student’s suicide were expunged by the speaker.

Stalin said many students, including Anitha, had ended their lives during the AIADMK regime. A bill passed unanimously under the previous regime to exempt the state from NEET was rejected too. “The AIADMK government hid the rejection of the bills by the President. The leader of opposition was the CM then. The student, Dhanush, could not pass NEET twice when you (EPS) were the CM,” Stalin said.

The CM said the AIADMK was an ally of the NDA government at the Centre and could have laid down a condition to its ally that it would support the CAA and farm laws only if the state was exempted from NEET. The AIADMK did not have the courage to do it. “Had it been done; the state could have been exempted. But the AIADMK maintained a stony silence when students were coming suicide,” Stalin said.

In the afternoon, when the bill was taken up for consideration and passage, Palaniswami said the party welcomed the legislation. The present bill only additionally mentioned justice A K Rajan committee’s recommendations and the minister should explain whether the state could pass a bill against the Centre’s legislation, EPS said. The Supreme Court already passed judgments against NEET, he added.

NEET abolition: State can demand, Centre can reject

NEET abolition: State can demand, Centre can reject

TN Can Enact Law As Edu On Concurrent List

A.Subramani@timesgroup.com

Chennai:14.09.2021

Tamil Nadu’s renewed battle to scrap NEET is neither impossible nor easy, for it is as much political as constitutional.

Political, because it would need the Union government’s consent and presidential assent. Constitutional, because education, after the 42nd amendment, is on the concurrent list where the Centre and the states have equal power to enact laws.

“As long as education is on the concurrent list, the state government can enact a law,” said Justice D Hariparanthaman, who retired as a Madras high court judge. He, however, added that the law will not come into force till the Centre gives its nod. In 2017, the AIADMK government made a similar attempt, but it did not pursue it. The President rejected it. There are several state-specific laws concerning concurrent list subjects that Tamil Nadu enacted and got the presidential assent.

For example, in 2006 Tamil Nadu did away with the entrance examination for professional courses. Tamil Nadu Admission in Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006, received presidential assent in March 2007, and in March 2011, the Supreme Court upheld the state law. Similarly, it was a Tamil Nadu-specific amendment to the Hindu Marriages Act which enabled a Hindu in the state to marry without following the rituals. Section 7(A) was inserted in the act by the C N Annadurai government. No other state has this provision.

In 1977, the MGR government inserted Section 2(A)(2) in the Industrial Disputes Act, enabling an individual workman to raise a dispute without the government’s reference. Though the subject is jointly occupied by the Union and state governments, and when even Left bastions like Bengal and Kerala did not have such a law, the Centre gave its assent for the Tamil Naduspecific amendment.

Jallikattu is the most recent Tamil Nadu law which got the presidential assent though it differed from the Centre’s stand. In January 2017, by amending the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act (a subject on the concurrent list), Tamil Nadu ensured that jallikattu was exempted from the list of banned performances by animals.

In 1994, the Jayalalithaa government did a Houdini act when Tamil Nadu, with just 39 MPs, mustered a two-thirds majority in the 534-member parliament to include its 69% reservation law in the Ninth Schedule, thereby insulating the state law from judicial review. “Just as now, even then the issue was as political as constitutional. It was a quid pro quo by the Jayalalithaa government for its support to the PV Narasimha Rao government to pass the Panchayati Raj Act in Parliament,” said Justice Hariparanthaman.

The possibility of the law being rejected by the Union government does not mean Tamil Nadu should not demand its right guaranteed by the Constitution. “It is a limited constitutional power, but if Tamil Nadu does not enact a law as per its stated policy, it will amount to giving up its right,” he said.

IN THE PAST: In 1977, the MGR government inserted Section 2(A)(2) in the Industrial Disputes Act, enabling an individual workman to raise a dispute without the government’s reference; Jallikattu is the most recent Tamil Nadu law which got the presidential assent though it differed from the Centre’s stand

Udhayanidhi nominated member of AU syndicate

Udhayanidhi nominated member of AU syndicate

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Anna University's Syndicate on Monday got a high profile member as the assembly nominated the DMK MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin to the highest decision making body of the university. The Chepauk-Thiruvallikeni MLA will replace R Nataraj, retired IPS officer and former Mylapore MLA at the syndicate.

While releasing the names of MLAs appointed as members of syndicates of various state universities on Monday, speaker M Appavu said the election was not needed as the applications and number of vacancies were equal. Egmore MLA N Ezhilan and Maduravoyal MLA K Ganapathy appointed as members of Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University. Villivakkam MLA A Vetriyazhagan, Tiruvallur MLA VG Rajendran, Ambattur MLA Joseph Samuel were appointed as the members of Madras University Senate.

TN to release 700 life convicts on Sept 15

TN to release 700 life convicts on Sept 15

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

The state government has decided to release 700 life convicts on September 15 to mark the birth anniversary of former chief minister C N Annadurai.

Making the announcement in the state assembly, chief minister M K Stalin said the convicts, who have been serving sentences for many years, were being released on humanitarian grounds.

Meanwhile, Stalin on Monday said the government would set up a new police commission to find out the demands and needs of police personnel. “A police commission will be constituted again to recommend ways to strengthen the relationship between police and public, to initiate some essential schemes and roll out new training programmes for police personnel,” the chief minister said, while replying to the demand on grants for the home department.

The Madras high court had recently directed the government to reconstitute the commission set up by the AIADMK regime in 2019, headed by retired bureaucrat Sheela Priya, with a retired judge of the high court as head and a social worker, a public representative, retired and serving police officials and civil servants as members.

New Nungambakkam bridge nears completion

New Nungambakkam bridge nears completion

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

Construction of the foot overbridge across the Nungambakkam subway to the burial ground service road near Loyola College is nearing completion.

The ₹5 crore project to build the 24-metre-long and five-metrewide bridge was awarded in December 2020 by the Greater Chennai Corporation and is to be completed by February 2022. “The steel girders have been assembled and the work will be completed soon,” said an official.

Motorists going from Anna Nagar to Nungambakkam and T Nagar face huge traffic jams at the subway entrance and at the Loyola College junction because commuters who get down at the Nungambakkam railway station usually cross the road at these points. The bus stands opposite Loyola college connects rail passengers to the rest of the city.

“We just wanted to give the railway passengers an easy way to cross the road. Right now, there is no median on Nelson Manickam Road, but once the foot overbridge is constructed we will build one to stop jaywalking. The burial ground compound wall has been shifted as well,” said chief engineer, Rajendiran, in charge of roads and bridges.

MUCH NEEDED: The foot overbridge, being built at ₹5 crore cost, will help commuters exiting the Nungambakkam railway station

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

Civic polls in 9 TN dists on Oct 6 and 9

14.09.2021

Local body elections in nine newly-created districts of Tamil Nadu would be held in two phases on October 6 and 9, state election commissioner V Palanikumar said Monday. Elections will be held in 39 unions on October 6, while the remaining 35 will go to polls on October 9. Palanikumar said the code of conduct would come into immediate effect in the districts of Kancheepuram, Chengalpet, Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur, Villupuram, Kallakurichi, Tirunelveli and Tenkasi where the polls would be held. In 28 other districts, elections would be held on October 9 for 789 posts in the local bodies, which are lying vacant, said the state election commissioner. Filing of nominations will begin on September 15 and continue until September 22. Counting will be held on October 12. TNN

Over 76.5L voters to exercise franchise in two-phase polls

The elections would be held for 27,003 posts, including those of 140 district panchayat ward councillors, 2,901 village panchayat presidents and 22,581 village panchayat ward councillors, the commissioner said.

A total of 76,59,720 voters would exercise their franchise in the two-phase polls. Each voter would cast four votes to elect the district panchayat ward councillors, panchayat union councillors, village panchayat president and village panchayat ward councillors. Ballot paper would be used, the officer said.

Polling will take place from 7am to 6pm. Covid-19 patients and persons with symptoms would be allowed to vote from 5pm to 6pm. “We will appoint a micro observer and videograph the proceedings in sensitive booths,” said the commissioner. He noted that 40,000 police personnel would also be roped in for election duty.

As many as 1.10 lakh government employees would be engaged for poll duty. The commission would engage an IAS officer as an election observer for each district.

“We have taken all precautionary measures to conduct the polls in a free and fair manner. The arrangements have been made after holding a meeting with representatives of political parties,” said Palanikumar. The polls would be held as per the standard operating procedure and in compliance with Covid-19 norms, he added.

The Election Commission has commenced preparatory work to hold elections for urban local bodies too.

TN assembly passes bill to nullify NEET, BJP walks out

TN assembly passes bill to nullify NEET, BJP walks out

It Also Gives 7.5% Quota To Govt School Students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:14.09.2021

In a near-unanimous motion, the Tamil Nadu assembly on Monday passed a bill for admission to medical courses only on the basis of Class XII marks in board examinations. The bill also provides for 7.5% horizontal reservation in medical courses for students of government schools.

“Admissions to medical education courses are traceable to Entry 25 of List III, Schedule VII of the Constitution. Therefore, the state government is competent to regulate the same. So, I am moving this bill,” chief minister M K Stalin said, evoking loud thumping of desks in the treasury. The bill seeks to circumvent NEET and, instead, have only Class XII marks as criterion for admissions to MBBS, BDS, Indian medicine and homeopathy courses.

While opposition parties like the AIADMK and the PMK, besides DMK allies, supported the bill, the BJP members walked out of the assembly in protest.

A high-level committee, headed by Justice A K Rajan, former judge of the Madras high court, set up by the DMK government in June, reported to the government that NEET had undermined the diverse societal representation in MBBS and higher medical courses, favouring the affluent groups, while thwarting the dream of pursuing medical education by the underprivileged sections.

Constitutional and political tussle

TN’s bid to do away with NEET is as much political as constitutional, reports A Subramani. Political as it would need the Centre’s consent and presidential assent. Constitutional as education, after the 42nd amendment, is on the concurrent list where the Centre and the states have equal say to enact laws. P 5

Allot 1% seats to def personnel’s wards: HC

The Madras high court has said that it expects the TN government to allocate at least 1% medical seats for wards of serving defence personnel from the next academic year and recognise their selfless service to the nation. P 5

Wrong to say NEET improved medical exam quality: CM

The most-affected were students of government schools, those having parental income of less than ₹ 2.5 lakh a year and that of MBCs, SCs and STs.

The committee said the NEET neither seemed to ensure merit nor standard of students being offered MBBS. The Justice Rajan committee received views from 86,342 people both offline and online and submitted its report on July

14. “The committee has recommended that the state government pass an act, like Tamil Nadu Admission in Professional Educational Institutions Act, 2006 (Tamil Nadu Act 3 of 2007),” Stalin said.

Following the recommendations, the state set up another committee of secretaries led by chief secretary V Irai Anbu on July 15. The committee of secretaries recommended the same route to nullify NEET.

The CM said it was wrong to say NEET improved the standard of medical examination. TN had one of the highest number of medical and dental institutions even before 2017. The standard of medical and dental professionals from these institutions was high.

The government decided to enact a law to ensure social justice, uphold equality and equal opportunity, protect all vulnerable student communities, and ensure a robust public health care in the state, especially in the rural areas, Stalin said.

In the afternoon, when the Bill was taken up for consideration and passage, BJP floor leader Nainar Nagendran said his party opposed the Bill. He said 57,219 out of 99,610 students, who wrote NEET, cleared the test last year.

Violation of UGC norms on PWDs under the scanner

Violation of UGC norms on PWDs under the scanner

TNIE had highlighted the struggles faced by M Kamaraj, a disabled rights activist, in getting admitted to Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy for MPhil in 2016-17.

Published: 13th September 2021 03:33 AM 

Kamaraj, who fought for the rights of disabled students, is now pursuing MPhil in Tiruchy | Express

By Sowmya Mani

Express News Service

TIRUCHY: Following an article published in TNIE on Saturday titled ‘Disabled activist’s fight against varsity a win for all students’, State Commissioner for Persons with Disabilities Johny Tom Varghese has decided to take up the matter in the court of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities.

TNIE had highlighted the struggles faced by M Kamaraj, a disabled rights activist, in getting admitted to Bharathidasan University in Tiruchy for MPhil in 2016-17. Despite being eligible, Kamaraj was not admitted as several universities do not follow the University Grants Commission (UGC) norms.

Varghese on Saturday wrote to the Department of Welfare of Differently Abled Persons regarding the non-compliance with the UGC recommendations, and said the matter would be taken up suo motu in the court of the state commissioner for persons with disabilities.

The Higher Education department and educational institutions will be directed to adhere to the UGC recommendations, he stated. “We will ask the Higher Education department and universities why the UGC norms are not being followed... We will give a notice and recommendations at the hearing on Tuesday,” Varghese added.

Collector's timely help saves TN boy from missing NEET exam

Collector's timely help saves TN boy from missing NEET exam

Collector Amar Kushwaha’s timely help saved a NEET aspirant from missing the entrance examination on Sunday.

Published: 13th September 2021 03:49 AM 

Collector Amar Kushwaha dropping a NEET aspirant at the exam centre in Yelagiri Hills on Sunday | Express

By Express News Service

TIRUPATHUR: Collector Amar Kushwaha’s timely help saved a NEET aspirant from missing the entrance examination on Sunday. The Collector was on his way to the Yelagiri Hills, when he saw 17-year-old Vediappan waiting for a vehicle at the foothills near the Ponneri check post.

Kushwaha was going to inspect one of the NEET centres set up at the hills in the district. It was already 1.15 pm and all the special buses had already left for the centre. Candidates had to report to their centres at 1.30 pm, 30 minutes before the test.

“I stopped at the check post to monitor the arrangements made to regulate traffic. Only special buses and private vehicles were allowed uphill,” the Collector told TNIE. At that time, I got to know Vediappan was stuck there, he added.

A resident of Vettavalam in Tiruvannamalai, Vediappan boarded a bus from his village in the morning, went to Vellore and then came to the district. The roundabout journey reportedly caused the delay. “He seemed nervous but I gave him a lift and dropped him at the centre 20 minutes before the test. After frisking and other procedures were over, he was allowed to enter,” added Amar Kushwaha. The district had two NEET centres.

NEET exam: Physics section most difficult, say candidates

NEET exam: Physics section most difficult, say candidates

This year’s NEET paper had new elements like match the column and assertion-reasoning questions

Published: 13th September 2021 04:44 AM 

NEET candidates at Asan Memorial Senior Secondary School in Chennai on Sunday | P Jawahar

By KV Navya

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Amid opposition from political parties and a section of the public, the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) was conducted on Sunday. At least 1,10,971 students were scheduled to appear for the test from across the State. Most of the students TNIE interacted with found the Physics section the most difficult and time-consuming among all the three sections — Biology, Chemistry, Physics.

“The paper was tough compared to last year. In Physics, numerical questions were lengthy and I had to move to other sections to score marks. Ideally, one question must be solved in one minute. But Physics questions took way more time than that,” said one of the candidates, S Anuradha, at Velachery.

This year’s NEET paper had new elements like match the column and assertion-reasoning questions. Subject experts said Biology questions were the easiest, and Chemistry ones were moderate. “Biology section had questions mostly from the textbook but Chemistry and Physics sections had numerical and conceptual questions. Nearly 40 per cent of the questions in the Physics section were moderately difficult.

Last year, it was about 30 per cent. This may have an impact on the cut-off level,” said K Bhargav, a tutor at a NEET coaching centre at T Nagar. According to the parents, the online classes played spoilsport for the students. “Problem-solving questions are best explained offline. Subjects like Maths and Physics are very difficult to teach online. Students also lacked practice due to uncertainty around NEET in the State,” said one of the parents at Taramani.

1,10,971 Total number of students scheduled to appear from TN

17,992 Students scheduled to appear from Chennai

Exam time: 2 to 5 pm

Covid SOP followed

Covid code of conduct, including wearing masks, using sanitisers, and ensuring social distancing, were followed in most of the NEET centres in the city. Though there was little crowding at the beginning, police officials and staff at the exam centres ensured social distancing. Many exam centres arranged separate lunch rooms on the premises and had microphones to make important announcements

‘All parties in one tone to do away with neet’

Tiruchy: Minister for School Education Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi on Sunday said that all the parties in the State assembly, including the BJP, had shown consensus to do away with NEET. We will continue to protest against it and with the help of all parties, hopefully do away with NEET, he added. He was speaking on the sidelines of inaugurating a ration shop near Katur in Cauvery Nagar at `16.25 lakh sourced from MLA fund. Tiruchy Collector S Sivarasu was also present.

Aspirant with error in hall ticket allowed to write test -

Aspirant with error in hall ticket allowed to write test -

The Times Of India

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:13.09.2021

Madras high court at a special sitting on Saturday night permitted a female medical aspirant, who received her admit card with a male candidate’s photograph and signature printed on it, to appear for NEET.

Petitioner S Vengatesan of Madurai, a goods vehicle driver, said his daughter Shanmugapriya had secured 92.8% marks in Class X and 91.54% in Class XII and has been preparing for NEET for two years determined to become a doctor. She had applied for the test by uploading her details online. However, on Saturday, they were shocked to see the photograph of a male candidate called Alex Pandian and his signature on the admit card she downloaded.

Justice R Suresh Kumar observed that all details such as her name, roll number, gender, category, application number and father’s name have been printed correctly as uploaded by the petitioner’s daughter, but for the photo and signature which were strangely of a male candidate. This shows that it is her admit card. Such a mistake could not have emanated from Shanmugapriya but only at the side of NTA, the judge said. Taking into account that she was a bright student, the judge passed the interim order directing NTA and authorities at the exam centre to permit the girl to appear for NEET without raising any objection. Following the court’s direction, Shanmugapriya was allowed to appear for the exam at a centre set up at Solamalai College of Engineering in Madurai

OVER 95% OF 16L ASPIRANTS TAKE NEET

OVER 95% OF 16L ASPIRANTS TAKE NEET

Times of India Delhi Edition

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) 2021 conducted on Sunday recorded one of the highest attendances in the past five years with over 95% of the 16.1 lakh aspirants taking the exam, reports Manash Gohain. The high level of attendance can be gauged from the photograph of aspirants queueing up outside a NEET centre in Vellore, Tamil Nadu. The last time the medical entrance exam logged 94% attendance was in 2017 when 11.4 lakh students had registered. The all-time high of 97% was recorded in 2018. ‘We are yet to receive reports from all the centres. But the trend so far, based on majority of the centre reports we have received, is over 95% attendance,’ said Vineet Joshi, director general, National Testing Agency. Two cases of impersonation — one each in Allahabad and Bangalore — have been detected so far. ‘We are looking at other doubtful cases. The numbers could be around 10,’ said Joshi. Three Covid-positive candidates were allowed to take the exam in isolation in Kerala.

NMC to relook at draft PG regulations, allow improvement of NEXT score every year

NMC to relook at draft PG regulations, allow improvement of NEXT score every year: New Delhi: The upcoming National Exit Test (NEXT), the gateway to PG medical admissions as envisaged by the National Medical Commission (NMC) will allow candidates to appear for improvement...

Advisory warns pensioners against online frauds

Advisory warns pensioners against online frauds

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:13.09.2021

In a bid to protect pensioners from online frauds, the district administration has issued an advisory for them. It has been found that many times fraudsters making fake calls to pensioners for online updation of their life certificate.

The district pension officer said that cyber conmen make a call to a pensioner with his complete data, date of appointment, PPO number, Adhar number and date of retirement, thereby giving an impression as if the call is genuine for online updation of life certificate.

Cases of senior citizens getting duped after sharing OTP has become quite common these days. Fraudsters, who impersonate as staff of the pension directorate, often make calls for updation of life certificates. Once a pensioner shares OTP with the fraudster, the latter gets direct access to the pensioner's bank account and thus money in the account is siphoned off. The official said that pensioners need to remain vigilant and cautious, as the pension directorate never makes a phone call to anyone for online updation of life certificate.

Senior citizens, pensioners on cyber criminals’ radar

Senior citizens, pensioners on cyber criminals’ radar

Over 24 Such Cases Being Reported Every Month In Bhopal

Sudeept.Mishra@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:13.09.2021

In the last few months, there has been a steady rise in cyber-fraud cases involving senior citizens and retired government officials. Every month around two dozen such cases are being reported in the city in which the elderly are targeted by online fraudsters, said cops.

The fraudsters posing as telecom company executives or bank officials send links to the victims and ask them to download remote access apps on their smartphone on the pretext of paying a meagre amount of Rs 10 for completing the SIM verification or KYC update and hack their phones to access their bank accounts.

The Bhopal cyber-crime branch has recently registered a number of such cases in which elderly people were duped by online fraudsters. Police have been issuing advisories regularly to spread awareness among senior citizens and pension account holders.

In on such case, victim Arif-Ur-Rehman Khan, 78, a resident of Aditya Avenue Colony on Airport Road, received an SMS on his mobile phone that his SIM card KYC had expired. Few minutes later, he received a call on his mobile phone on which the caller introduced himself as an executive with BSNL and took details apparently to update his KYC online. The accused told him to give the OTP received on his mobile number.

The senior citizen fell in the trap and gave the OTP received on his mobile number to the fraudster. The accused siphoned Rs 74000 from his bank account in three transactions.

In another case reported around a week ago, complainant Jai Kishan Sharma, 70, a resident Katara Hills, told police that an unidentified fraudster called on his wife’s mobile phone on September 1, and introduced himself as an executive of a telecom company. The accused lured the victim in his net stating that the KYC of her SIM card needs to be updated and sent a link to download an application. He took the code and hacked her mobile phone. However, due to a glitch he couldn’t siphon money through the app so he asked her OTPs making various excuses and siphoned Rs 1.9 lakh from her bank account.

ASP (Cyber-crime branch) Ankit Jaiswal said, the victims should report the cyber-crimes immediately to police, especially in cases of financial frauds. The money siphoned by the accused from the victims’ accounts remains in their bank accounts for some time before they withdraw it. If the cases are reported to police immediately, cops would contact the banks concerned to freeze the bank accounts of the fraudsters used to siphon money.

Calicut crash shows why infants at risk

Calicut crash shows why infants at risk

Manju.V@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:13.09.2021

The Air India Express Kozhikode accident has brought to the fore a long ignored issue — the safety of infants onboard flights. The Air India Express aircraft had hurtled towards the end of the table top runway from where it dropped into a deep gorge, crashed into the airport perimeter wall and broke into three. During the eventful landing, ten infants sat on the laps of their parents. Their only safety net, their parent’s arm grip. Three out of them died, another three had serious injuries.

The accident, that occurred in August last year, has highlighted the need for a ‘child safety restraint system’, the kind advocated by the International Civil Aviation Organisation (ICAO) and in use in countries like the US. A child restraint system (CRS) is a contraption of belts that a parent can fasten onto the seat back, through which the passenger seat belt can be pulled in to secure an infant safely onto the seat. But for this, the parent would need to buy a separate seat for the infant. Currently, Air India Express and some other Indian carriers do not allow the purchase of a separate seat for an infant.

Said an airline official, requesting anonymity: “Some parents might not want to spend and buy a separate seat for the infant, given that accidents are a rare occurrence. But CRS can keep infants safe during turbulence as well. Those who wish to buy a separate seat should have that option.” Directorate General of Civil Aviation Arun Kumar said: “We have just seen the AIX Kozhikode accident report. An appropriate call will be taken in due course.”

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) team collected feedback from the parent of a deceased infant. The infant — although placed on the lap — was not held firmly as the crew made no announcement of the impact. Therefore, during the frontal impact of the crash, the infant was displaced from the lap and was thrown in the cabin and, as a result, received fatal injuries, it said. Air India Express does not have provisions for child/ infant restraint system and they rely solely on lap-held infants without any supplemental restraint, it added.

US aviation regulator, the Federal Aviation Administration — in its ‘Flying with Children’ page — says: “The safest way to secure an infant or child on board an aircraft is in a state-approved CRS, in a dedicated seat... The use of CRS provides an equivalent level of safety to infants and children as that afforded to adult passengers wearing seat belts. “Proper use of occupant restraints is one of the most basic and important factors in surviving an accident, it says.

Twenty-one people were killed in the Kozhikode accident

Bhopal pani puri wallah has a girl, & you’re invited

Bhopal pani puri wallah has a girl, & you’re invited

Ramendra.Singh@timesgroup.com

Bhopal:13.09.2021

A pani puri vendor in Bhopal was so thrilled at having a girl child but also shocked by the frowns he got from certain people that he distributed Rs 50,000-worth of the spicy snacks for free on Sunday to make a point.

“I wanted to show that there should not be any discrimination between girls and boys,” Anchal Gupta, the proud father, told TOI.

“I was on cloud nine after I got the news that I was blessed with a girl child on August 17. But I was shocked by the odd reaction of several people. They pulled a face and cautioned me that I’d have to face financial burden and what not. I didn’t like it and wanted to send a message as a father. I’m proud that I have a daughter,” the 28-year-old said. He decided to celebrate it in a big way — the way he could.

“I am a small vendor with limited earnings. However, I wanted to prove that every parent should feel proud that they are lucky to have a girl child,” said Anchal.

On Sunday, he put up three stalls in Kolar locality and spread the word that free pani puri would be available from 1pm to 6pm. Hundreds turned up. Swamped by the crowd, he made repeated appeals to them to follow Covid precautions, asking those in queue to wear masks and stand at a safe distance until their turn comes. Few heeded his request in rush for free pani puri.

“This is bad. I’ve done this for a noble cause but several people refused to listen to me. I was not expecting such behaviour from them,” Anchal told TOI, looking at the jostling crowd.

Once they knew why he was distributing free pani puri, people were stunned. Many stepped forward to congratulate him, both for having a daughter and sending a message to society.

Anchal Gupta, 28, served free pani puri for a few hours on Sunday as he wanted to celebrate the birth of his daughter and send out a message that parents should feel proud that they have a girl child

NEET 2021: Physics was tough, say experts

NEET 2021: Physics was tough, say experts

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:13.09.2021

Physics was tough, while chemistry and biology sections were relatively straightforward. This was the general opinion among students who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on Sunday afternoon and experts analysing the papers.

Karnataka saw 1,09,570 students register for NEET.

Milind Chippalakatti, head of academics, Deeksha Centre, said: “Chemistry and biology papers were relatively straightforward. However, in physics many questions were tricky, calculation and multi concept based. All the questions were primarily from NCERT books. Overall, it was a student-friendly paper.”

“There was also a change in pattern. For biology, botany and zoology, questions were given in different sections, physics had a section-B with optional questions added and which was a little tougher. Chemistry had a section-B with optional questions added. The standards being set were certainly higher compared to last year,” he added.

“The paper was not as easy as it was in 2020. In physics, the questions are usually formula based or concept-based. But this time, multiple concepts were included in the same questions. In nearly 6-10 questions, multiple concepts were involved, making it slightly difficult for students,” said NM Habeeb, NEET wing head of Narayana Group (India).

Many students said the exam went without any glitches. Based on reports received from about 60% of the testing centres, NTA said attendance was above 94%.

Over 75k take NEET in Gujarat

Over 75k take NEET in Gujarat

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:13.09.2021

Over 75,000 students took the NEET that was conducted on Sunday across Gujarat. According to the students, the paper was easy and this may be a high-scoring year.

The students said that the facilities were good at centres with all Covid safety protocols in place. “Social distancing was followed, with each classroom having only a few students. Masks were also provided,” said Dhruv Darji, an aspirant.

The paper level was moderate, said students, with easy chemistry and concept-based botany sections. The physics section focused primarily on direct formulas, they added. “Overall, the cut-off is expected to be high, given the level of the paper,” said Navya Shukla, a student.

The examination was delayed by at least four months. In Gujarat, the centres were at Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Patan, Gandhinagar, Godhra and Bhavnagar among others. The exam was conducted in Gujarati, Hindi and English languages.

The students said that the facilities were good at centres with all Covid safety protocols in place

EPS blames DMK govt for NEET aspirant’s suicide

EPS blames DMK govt for NEET aspirant’s suicide

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Salem:13.09.2021 

Leader of the opposition and former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami on Sunday slammed the DMK-led state government for not taking steps to abolish the NEET examination in Tamil Nadu and blamed the government for the young NEET aspirant’s suicide. “Only because of Stalin's false promises, now, the family lost Dhanush,” he said.

Palaniswami in his statement on Sunday stated that Stalin had won the assembly election by giving the false assurance of placing his first signature to abolish the NEET examination in the state.

When questioning the steps for abolishing the examination in the assembly in June, the chief minister did not give a straight answer. “Stalin stated that steps would be taken based on the retired Justice A K Rajan committee’s recommendation,” Palaniswami said.

A petition was filed with the Madras high court that the Rajan’s committee was against the apex court’s guidelines. When answering to that case, the state government said in the high court that the committee would inquire about the NEET examination’s impact. The state government also said the committee was not formed against the apex court’s guidelines. The high court dismissed the petition after hearing the state government’s reply.

Stalin in his media statement stated that a bill would be passed in the assembly on Monday in connection with the NEET examination abolition. He conveyed his condolences to the family members for losing Dhanush and appealed to students not to take such an extreme decision out of fear for the NEET examination.

PMK founder Dr S Ramadoss appealed to the student community not to take such an extreme decision as suicide is not a solution. Head of the Tamil Manila Congress GK Vasan too expressed his grief to the family.

A service organisation founded by DMK MLA Dr Ezhilan Naganathan has moved the Madras high court seeking to get higher education transferred from concurrent to state list so as to do away with NEET and the new education policy. The PIL is likely to be taken up for hearing by the first bench.

State health minister Ma Subramaniam, who was in Tirunelveli, said the state government was making all attempts to get NEET exemption, legally and politically. "The state government will safeguard the doctor-dream of students, as promised in the DMK’s election manifesto," he said.

MLA Udhayanidhi Stalin visited Koolaiyur village on Sunday and handed over a cheque of ₹10 lakh to Dhanush’s family.

Former chief minister Edappadi K Palaniswami too visited the village and consoled the family members.

TRAGIC END: Udhayanidhi Stalin on Sunday handed over a cheque for ₹10 lakh to Dhanush’s family at Koolaiyur in Salem district

CITYLIGHTS

CITYLIGHTS

13.09.2021

From the mouth of babes

Keeping junk food away from children can be a tough task. While I was munching a packet of potato chips, the little one asked if she could have just one. After a quick thought, I showed her a couple of words on the packet, saying, "It is written, 'This is not for children'. That means no." It slipped my mind that she has begun reading and learning new words. She immediately said, “There is no N-O-T (spelling the word), there is no T-H-I-S and no I-S. Is there a spelling mistake on the packet?" Her disapproving nod told the rest, and I was left speechless! — Shanmughasundaram J

Translation woes

A transportation activist from Chennai who filed an RTI application for details on action taken against fake driving licences in Chennai Regional Transport Offices (RTOs) misunderstood a response and created confusion among reporters. One RTO, replying in English, said in the response that 1,000-odd ‘duplicate’ licences were issued. The activist thought ‘duplicate’ was the same as ‘fake’ and issued a press release to all media houses saying RTOs were issuing thousands of fake licences every year. While many reporters did not carry the news report, a few social media and TV channels carried it. The RTO had to send out explanations to his seniors — Ram Sundaram

Seating problems

Visitors to a recent function at Kalaivanar Arangam had a tough time as many plastic chairs collapsed on the slippery floor tiles. The organisers stacked one chair against the other to ensure stability, but a middle aged man pulled out a chair and sat before others could warn him. As he was speaking to a friend seated next to him, his chair gave way and he fell. As one organiser rushed in to help, people said it was the fifth or sixth such incident — Raghu Raman

Courtroom quips

A lawyer was arguing an appeal in a commercial litigation before the first bench of Madras HC headed by the Chief Justice.

Advocate: My lords, 7/11 provides for...

CJ: Please don’t mention it as 7/11 as it reminds me of the grocery store.

Advocate: Sorry, my lord. Under Order 7 Rule 11 of the Civil Procedure Code... By the way, the grocery brand is out of the country now, my lord.

In another courtroom exchange

Advocate: My lords, I hope I can build a bridge over the troubled waters through my arguments and it would end like 'The Bridge On The River Kwai'.

CJ: That wasn't a very happy ending.

Advocate: Sorry, my lord. I was about to say that it doesn't end like like 'The Bridge On The River Kwai' — Sureshkumar

Ex-revenue officials jailed for 4 years

Ex-revenue officials jailed for 4 years

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

A former deputy tahsildar and his subordinate were found guilty of graft charges by a special court in Chengelpet district. The two of them were sentenced to four years rigorous imprisonment by the special court after it held that the prosecution proved all charges against them. The revenue official had demanded a bribe of Rs5,000 from a person for carrying out his duty and the subordinate had received the amount on the official's instruction.

The accused officials J Selvam and M Kuppusamy were working as deputy tahsildar and record clerk at Taluk officer in Uthiramerur between January 2012 and January 2013.

According to the prosecution, in the second week of December 2012, a person had approached Selvam to issue Adangal -- a type of revenue record which contains details of land, area, ownership, liabilities and other details -- for which the revenue official had demanded a bribe other than the legal remuneration.

Unwilling to pay the bribe, the complainant approached the vigilance and anti-corruption police in Kancheepuram who laid a trap and caught the clerk while collecting the chemical-soaked currency notes meant for the deputy tahsildar.

Unending queues at suburban rly stns as many counters shut

Unending queues at suburban rly stns as many counters shut

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

Suburban commuters suffer long queues to buy tickets as most of the counters are still closed, although the railways have allowed people to travel by trains. Railways have also not made additional counters for people to avoid crowding while buying suburban tickets.

People have to wait for close to15 minutes at Tambaram to buy tickets during non-peak hours on weekdays. There is also a delay because railways accept only cash and are yet to offer digital options like in metro trains. This is forcing people to crowd ignoring Covid protocols. The situation is the same on the three suburban routes.

Karthik N, a commuter, said "Only a few counters are open, and no Covid protocols are being followed. All the ticketing counters are not open, although there is a crowd even in non-peak hours. The counters accept only cash. This is also making it slow."

He said, "It took me15 minutes to buy tickets at 10.30am on Wednesday and had to stand in a jampacked crowd and that too in a wellequipped station like Tambaram."

Similar is the situation at major stations where crowding has increased. T Sadagopan, a consumer activist, said, "Halt stations continue to have non-computerised counters where return tickets are not issued. The railways could have computerised these counters at these stations on the Tiruvallur route. There used to be separate counters for season tickets and for regular tickets. These are now issued from the same counters." The UTI app is not efficient all the time as there are restrictions to book tickets on it, he added.

K Baskar, a frequent commuter, said, "In Tiruvallur, the counter at south side of the station is not operated during morning peak hours. It is open from 9am to 2pm. A large number of people come into the station from this entry. It has to be open from 6am."

Villagers around Tambaram upset with new order

Villagers around Tambaram upset with new order

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:13.09.2021

The state government’s decision formally announcing the formation of Tambaram corporation by merging five municipalities and an equal number of town panchayats has found many takers.

However, several residents from15 village panchayats in the area are a disappointed lot as the government has not formally included their villages in the new corporation limits. The government order mentions that their inclusion would be done at a later stage.

Residents in these village panchayats said the decision to postpone their inclusion is a needless delay. This is so because despite being just a few kilometres from corporation limits, facilities in these village panchayats are several years behind those in the city. A Sathik of Medavakkam village panchayat said that the decision was a setback, as they had been waiting for 10 years for the new corporation.

J Shankar of Kovilambakkam village panchayat said there are some indications that the merger of village panchayats will be announced later. “But if elections are held to the village panchayats, then it is as good as postponing the merger by another five years,” he said.

A Varadhan of Moovarasampet village panchayat said they live just near the airport, but have only one official to handle their grievances and issues, which is not enough.

According to the new order, Tambaram, Pallavaram, Pammal, Sembakkam and Anakaputhur are the municipalites to be merged in the new corporation, while Chitalapakkam, Madambakkam, Perungalathur, Peerkankarai and Tiruneermalai are the town panchayats which will be merged.

The government order states that the revenue potential is increasing from these areas are increasing, while facilities like schools and colleges have also come up, which has necessitated the formation of a new corporation.

The projected population of the new corporation will be 9.6 lakh, up from 7.2 lakh in 2011

Gym owner, 47, writes NEET to coach daughter

Gym owner, 47, writes NEET to coach daughter

A Ragu Raman & A Prathap TNN

Chennai:13.09.2021

Parents choose different methods to help their children crack competitive exams, but K Mohan went a step ahead on Sunday. The 47-year-old gym owner from Vadapalani appeared for NEET at an Anna Nagar centre not because he wants to become a doctor, but because he wants to help his daughter turn one.

When he entered the examination centre, the police personnel and invigilation staff thought he was a parent, but allowed him in after double checking the hall ticket. “I was nervous thinking whether familiar questions would appear. When I entered, young students looked at me differently. But, I was focused on the exam," he told TOI.

Mohan, who is also customs consultant for those in the export-import business, has an MA and a law degree, but doesn’t practise. He completed his Class XII three decades ago and wanted to join medicine but couldn’t. “I got the interest when I was helping my sister’s daughter prepare last year. After learning that there is no age limit for professional courses, I decided to give it a try to help my daughter’s preparation and slogged for six months,” he said.

The physics questions were tough, but those in chemistry and biology were relatively easy, he said. “I am expecting more than 550 out of 720. As of now, I am not planning to join the medicine course.”

The other family members did not welcome the idea, but his daughter and son were supportive and helped in the preparations, said Mohan, adding that he used his niece’s coaching material.

According to the National Testing Agency’s information bulletin for NEET 2021, the upper age is 25 years as on the date of examination with a relaxation of five years for those in to the SC/ST/OBC-NC category and PwBD candidates.

However, the Supreme Court, hearing petitions challenging the age limit, provisionally allowed candidates who are above 25 years in its interim order and said it is subject to the final outcome of the case. So, the NTA provisionally allowed candidates above 25 years to appear.

AGE NO BAR: K Mohan at the entrance of his test centre on Sunday