Prepare for common entrance for UG, PG seats from 2022-23: UGC

NTA UMBRELLA

Prepare for common entrance for UG, PG seats from 2022-23: UGC

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:01.12.2021

The University Grants Commission (UGC) has written to central universities to “take appropriate measures” for conducting the Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission in undergraduate and postgraduate courses from the 2022-23 academic session onwards. It also stated that willing state and private universities too can adopt this computer-based test, which will be conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) in 13 languages.

TOI was first to report that the education ministry was finalising the procedural details of CET to be conducted in 45 central universities from 2022 onwards and that the details would be announced in December.

The UGC has also said that for PhD admissions, NET scores shall be considered, wherever feasible.

The letter sent to the vice chancellors of the central universities stated, “After detailed deliberations, it was resolved that the CET for UG and PG courses may be conducted from the 2022-23 academic session through NTA.” The plan was put on hold this year due the ongoing Covid pandemic.

The exams, envisaged in the National Education Policy 2020, are likely to be conducted twice a year. According to the NEP 2020 document: “The NTA will facilitate a single entrance exam for admissions to universities across the country. It will offer a ‘high quality common aptitude test’ like the SAT (Scholastic Aptitude Test, conducted in US & Canada), as well as specialised common subject examinations, at least twice every year.”

The CET for admissions to central universities, which includes the likes of JNU, BHU and DU, would be a three-hour test, divided into two sections — common aptitude test (50 questions) and domain specific tests (30 questions each) — and will eliminate the individual exams that many of the universities conduct presently.The UGC in its letter said: “Accordingly, all central universities are advised to take appropriate measures for the Common Entrance Test from the academic session 2022-23.”

Unarmed, ‘tiger’ mom snatches kid from leopard jaws

Unarmed, ‘tiger’ mom snatches kid from leopard jaws

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal: 01.12.2021

A tribal woman took on a leopard with her bare hands and snatched her six year-old son from its jaws in a bloody fight in a village near Sanjay Gandhi National Park in MP’s Sidhi on Sunday.

The Baiga woman chased the leopard and caught up with it just when it sat down with its ‘prey’, say sources. She came out of the fight injured, but with the child in her arms. The boy also has deep claw and fang wounds, but scars — and the memory of his unarmed mother wrestling a leopard — are all that will remain.

Kiran, the feisty mother, lives in Badi Jhiriya village in the buffer zone of the national park. On Sunday evening, she was sitting with her children next to a fire outside her hut, waiting for her husband to return, unaware that a leopard was watching them. Her youngest child, a few months old, was in her lap.

In a flash, the leopard darted out of the shadows, caught six-year-old Rahul in its jaws, and ran off. Kiran was up in a flash, too. She handed the newborn to one of her other kids and sprinted after the animal. Even in the darkness, she kept up with the spotted cat and found it sitting in some bushes. Kiran says she lunged at the leopard, grabbed Rahul and pulled with all her strength. The predator seemed taken by surprise, and she could tear Rahul from its grasp.

Unwilling to give up its prey, the leopard lashed out with its claws and cut mother and child. Kiran fought back, screaming for help. By then, villagers were already running to her aid. The pounding feet and the shouts unnerved the leopard, which scampered back into the forest. The villagers took mother and child her to hospital.

Kiran with her son in Badi Jhiriya village in Madhya Pradesh

Convicted 4 yrs ago, Mallya told by SC to appear for sentencing

Convicted 4 yrs ago, Mallya told by SC to appear for sentencing

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:01.12.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday asked fugitive businessman Vijay Mallay, sheltered in the UK despite proceedings for his extradition to India attaining finality, to appear before it on January 18 for quantification of sentence, more than four years after he was convicted for contempt of court for transferring abroad $40 million from United Spirits despite the SC barring it.

On May 9, 2017, the SC had convicted Mallya guilty of contempt of court and directed him to appear personally before it on July 10, 2017 for determination of quantum of punishment. But Mallya had already fled the country to the UK by then and never bothered to appear before the court. while contesting in various forums the Indian government’s attempts to extradite him. After he lost in resisting his extradition, he appears to have entered into “secret” proceedings with the UK government.

The MEA, through solicitor general Tushar Mehta, told a bench of Justices UU Lalit, SR Bhat and Bela M Trivedi that the extradition proceedings have attained finality but the UK government hasn’t divulged any detail of the “secret” proceedings pending qua Mallya, which is delaying his extradition.

The Justice Lalit-led bench said he was found guilty of contempt of court on May 9, 2017 and has never bothered to appear before the court. Thereafter, even though the court had directed the Centre to secure his presence before the SC, it could not be done because of pending proceedings in the UK. Adjournments and intervention of pandemic delayed hearing on quantification of Mallya’s sentence, the bench said.

“If the person wants to appear before us on January18, he can do so. Otherwise, he can be brought before court through extradition. If these options don’t happen, he can appear through a lawyer,” the bench said and appointed advocate Jaideep Gupta as amicus curiae to assist court in the matter.

6 med colleges to be set up in MP; half in tribal areas

6 med colleges to be set up in MP; half in tribal areas

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bhopal:01.12.2021

The state cabinet, headed by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, on Tuesday approved the setting up of six new medical colleges at a cost of Rs 1,547 crore. Half of them will come up in the tribal-dominated districts — Mandla, Sheopur and Mandsaur.

The other three will be built in Singrauli, Rajgarh and Neemuch. Announcing this after Tuesday’s cabinet meeting, home minister Narottam Mishra said, “It must be mentioned that in the Congress regime, before the BJP government with Shivraj Singh Chouhan as CM, there were only five medical colleges in the state. Today, there are 20.” P4

Death for child rape bill withdrawn

The MP cabinet on Tuesday withdrew the Criminal Law MP(Amendment) Bill 2017 that carried provision of death penalty for rape of minor girls. This was done as the Centre has passed the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act 2018 in Parliament, raising minimum punishment for rape of women from seven years to 10 years. “In 2017, because little girls were being raped, we sent a law to the Centre for approval. But the Centre, in 2018, made the law themselves. Our law which was sent for assent of the President has been sent back and the cabinet decided to withdraw the same on Tuesday,” home minister said.

Stenographer caught with ₹1 lakh bribe

Stenographer caught with ₹1 lakh bribe

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:01.12.2021

Sleuths from Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on Tuesday caught a stenographer attached with the sub-registrar’s office, Malleswaram, while accepting a bribe of Rs 1 lakh on behalf of superintendent of the same office.

According to an ACB release, Meenakshi accepted the bribe on behalf of superintendent Somashekaraiah. A complaint was filed by an association member of Bescom contractors association. “Somashekaraiah demanded the bribe to initiate proceedings into the elections of Bescom contractors association. They should have been held in 2020 but were postponed due to Covid-19. Somashekaraiah asked for Rs 1 lakh to begin the election work,” the press note read.

GP secretary trapped

The same day, ACB officials caught a secretary with Gollahalli gram panchayat in Ramanagar while accepting Rs 18,000 bribe from a land owner to carry out an official favour. The accused, S Krishnappa, had demanded Rs 20,000 from a farmer for e-khata of his land, said the ACB release. The complainant had paid an advance of Rs 2,000 and the trap was set up when he visited Krishnappa to pay the remaining amount.

K’taka to test all int’l flyers; 7-day home quarantine if -ve

K’taka to test all int’l flyers; 7-day home quarantine if -ve

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru:01.12.2021

In the backdrop of concerns over Omicron variant, the Karnataka government said on Tuesday that all international passengers will have to mandatorily undergo RT-PCR tests on arrival in Karnataka airports.

Those who test negative must remain in home quarantine for seven days; those who test positive will be hospitalized and treated separately. The state will soon issue a notification on when the new travel guidelines come into force.

After chairing a meeting of the Covid Technical Advisory Committee, health minister K Sudhakar said: “Currently, the RT-PCR test on arrival is conducted only on passengers coming from ‘at-risk’ countries notified by the Centre. Going forward, we have been instructed by the CM to test travellers from all countries.”

The state will write to the Centre seeking ban on travellers from the countries where Omicron variant has been detected. The state witnesses around 2,500 international arrivals per day, with a majority of them landing at the Kempegowda International Airport in Bengaluru and the Mangaluru international airport. “Those who are symptomatic and negative will have to undergo testing at home on the fifth day of their arrival. Asymptomatic passengers will be tested on the seventh day,” the minister said.

15 nursing students test +ve in Tumakuru

Cluster outbreaks in state educational institutions continue as 15 students in two nursing colleges in Tumakuru district tested positive. The samples of all 15 students have been sent to Bengaluru for genomic sequencing to find out the variant of the virus that they are infected with. P 4

Travel plans disrupted

While incoming passengers have to pay for the test (Rs 3,000 for the quick one), the state will deploy tech tools such as Quarantine App and Tele Medicine to track and treat them.

The government’s travel restrictions, which come ahead of Christmas-New Year season, has disrupted travel plans of thousands of Bengalureans, especially technology professionals working in the US and European countries and locals planning to fly abroad for vacation. Many would be forced to cancel or alter their travel plans fearing more restrictions in the coming weeks, thereby sending the travel and hospitality sector into a tizzy.

Sudhakar justified the restrictions, stating: “Unlike other countries which are banning foreign travelers following the fear of Omicron, we have been considerate and are telling people to undergo quarantine for a week at home. The new strain seems to be contagious. We need to take preventive action now so that we do not regret later.”

Medical teachers gear up to protest against salary cut

Medical teachers gear up to protest against salary cut

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:01.12.2021

Faculty members from six government colleges and eight GMERS colleges are planning a massive ‘Maha Rally’ next month to protest the reduction of their salaries.

“The salary cuts for professors range from Rs 25,000 to Rs 96,000 per month. The government gave dearness allowance for about five months and decided to withdraw it, and recover the money paid from the salaries of professors,” said Dr Rajnish Patel, president, Gujarat Medical Teachers Association (GMTA).

The Maha Rally will be held on December 4 to press their demands, he said.

The pay cuts have affected some 3,000 faculty members, including 360 professors at BJ Medical College.

Members of GMTA have already begun protests and plan to intensify their stir. Apart from the Maha Rally, they have planned Ram dhuns, blood donation camps and rallies at six government medical colleges, where they are expected to be joined by GMERS doctors and medical officers from every district.

A few months ago, GMTS members called off their strike when they were assured by the state government that their demands would be addressed. The demands of GMTS members included higher non-practising allowance in line with the Seventh Pay Commission recommendations. Another demand was regarding abolition of contract appointments.

As medical college teachers are barred from private practice, an allowance is paid to them as compensation.

GMTA had also demanded that medical college teachers be allowed to start private practice after 10 years of regular service. Citing a government resolution of 2017, GMTA also sought an increase in the cap on the maximum monthly salary. Promotions of many faculty members at GMERS colleges have also been pending for a long time. “We called off our protest after we were promised that our demands would be met. The government has gone back on its word, giving us a pay cut instead. We will continue our protest till our demands are fulfilled,” said Patel.

The pay cuts have affected about 3,000 faculty members, including 360 professors at BJ Medical College

Do you really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day?

Do you really need to drink 8 glasses of water a day?

Stop overthinking and ditch the calculations. Drink only when you’re thirsty — it’s that simple

You’re often bombarded with encouragements to drink more water. The purported benefits of excess water consumption are seemingly endless, from improved memory and mental health to increased energy to better complexion. “Stay hydrated” has become a new version of the old salutation “Stay well”.

But what, exactly, does “stay hydrated” mean? “When lay people discuss dehydration, they mean loss of any fluids,” said Dr Joel Topf, a nephrologist and assistant clinical professor of medicine at Oakland University, US.

But that interpretation “has been completely blown out of proportion”, said Kelly Anne Hyndman, a kidney function researcher at the University of Alabama, US.

From a medical standpoint, Topf said, the most important measure of hydration is the balance between electrolytes such as sodium and water in the body. And you don’t need to chug glass after glass of water throughout the day to maintain it.

How much do I really need to drink?

We’ve all been taught that eight glasses of water per day is the magic number, but that notion is a myth, said Tamara Hew-Butler, an exercise and sports scientist at Wayne State University, US.

Unique factors such as body size, outdoor temperature, and how hard you’re breathing and sweating will determine how much water you actually need, she said. A 200-pound person who just hiked 10 miles in the heat will obviously need to drink more water than a 120-pound office manager who spent the day in a temperaturecontrolled building.

The amount of water you need in a day will also depend on your health. For most young, healthy people, the best way to stay hydrated is simply to drink when you’re thirsty, Topf said. Those who are older, in their 70s and 80s, may need to pay more attention to getting sufficient fluids because the thirst sensation can decrease with age.

Do I have to drink water to stay hydrated?

Not necessarily. From a purely nutritional standpoint, water is a better choice than lesshealthy options such as sugary sodas or fruit juices. But when it comes to hydration, any beverage can add water to your system, Hew-Butler said.

One popular notion is that drinking beverages with caffeine or alcohol will dehydrate you, but if that’s true, the impact is negligible, Topf said. A 2016 randomised controlled trial of 72 men, for instance, concluded that the hydrating impacts of water, lager, coffee and tea were nearly identical.

You can also get water from what you eat. Fluid-rich foods and meals such as fruits, vegetables, soups and sauces all contribute to water intake.

But drinking more water, even when I’m not thirsty, will improve my health, right?

No. Of course, people with certain conditions, such as kidney stones or the more rare autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease, may benefit from making an effort to drink a little more water than their thirst would tell them to, Topf said.

In the most extreme case, drinking too much water in a short period of time could lead to a condition called hyponatremia, or “water intoxication”. “This is very scary and bad,” Hyndman said. If the sodium levels in your blood get too low, it can cause brain swelling and neurological issues such as seizures, coma or even death.

— THE NEW YORK TIMES

City CBSE schools can suspend exam

City CBSE schools can suspend exam

Board Order After Rain Floods Exam Centres & Schools

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has allowed schools in Chennai to suspend the term 1 exams for Classes X and XII if their campuses and surroundings areas are inundated by the recent rain. The objectivetype exam for Class X students started on November 16. For Class XII, the exam will start on December 1. “The board has allowed schools to decide whether to conduct or suspend the exam. But schools must convey their decision to the board with proof and justification,” a CBSE source said.

“In some places, exam centres may be safe but the neighbourhood may be inundated. Schools must take a call considering the safety of students,” the official said. Principals, however, said that many schools may not cancel the exam as the CBSE has not said anything about holding re-exams for these subjects.

New cyclone may end rain in TN, city

Northeast monsoon’s first cyclonic storm may form over the south Andaman Sea later this week, but it is likely to bring dry spells to TN as the system may block the steady flow of easterlies over TN coast. Meteorologists said there will be a significant decrease in rainfall in the city from Wednesday. P 6

Students eager to write exam despite rain, floods

On November 18, a handful of schools suspended the exam. But only two city schools suspended the exam on Tuesday,” a principal said.

Many parents and students are eager to write the exam despite the rain and flood.

“Though our school is not flooded, some surrounding areas got flooded in recent rain. Most students, however, turned up for exam as some parents shifted to hotels to help their children prepare for the exam,” said Susan George, principal, Hindustan International School, Padur.

Class XII students will start object type exams with sociology paper on Wednesday.

Pranay, a Class XII student from Semmencherry, said his apartment building is inundated but his preparation is not affected as his school is sending study materials online.

“My English paper is on December 3. If the water has not drained by then, I will use a fisherman’s boat to reach the main road. My school vehicle will pick me up from there,” he said.

Vasanthakumar, a parent from Varadharajapuram, collected the hall ticket for Class XII term 1 exam on Tuesday. “Our street was flooded on Saturday and Sunday. As the rain eased, water has drained. If it rains more during the exams, I plan to shift to a safer place to ensure my son writes the exams without any difficulty,” he said.

Some schools like Alwin Memorial Public School in Tambaram are planning to use buses to pick up students from houses in flooded areas. “We don’t want any student to miss the exam due to rain. Parents and students are eager to write the exam as they do not want marks to be based on weightage system like last year,” said N Vijayan, senior principal, Zion and Alwin group of schools.

College directed to return original papers to student

College directed to return original papers to student

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Tirunelveli:01.12.2021

The permanent lok adalat in Tirunelveli district on Tuesday directed a private college to return the original certificates to a student who had discontinued her studies.

M Saranya, a resident of Tuticorin district had filed a petition before the permanent lok adalat.

The petitioner had joined BE computer science course at PSN College of Engineering and Technology in Tirunelveli district during the academic year 2019-2020. But, she had to discontinue her studies due to poverty.

When the petitioner sought the college to return her certificates, the college had stated that it would be returned only if she pays ₹67,600 towards arrears of tuition and mess fees.

Chairperson and district judge of the lok adalat, S Sameena recalled that time and again the Madras high court had held that a college is not entitled to withhold the original documents submitted by a student at the time of admission for the reason that the student did not pay the tuition fees.

The college in its reply stated that the petitioner has stayed in the hostel for three-and-a-half months and she has to pay the fees for availing the facilities.

The chairperson directed the college to return the original documents and certificates to the petitioner on payment of ₹3,000 towards mess and hostel fees. It is also made clear that the college shall not insist the petitioner for payment of the tuition fees at the time of handing over of the documents.

The petitioner was forced to discontue studies and when asked the college to return her certificates, the college wanted her to first pay ₹67,600 fee arrears

Does your vehicle sputter? It’s the rainwater in petrol

Does your vehicle sputter? It’s the rainwater in petrol

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

Flooding on Chennai streets has affected the quality of fuel sold at petrol pumps in the region.

Despite precautionary measures, the surface runoff water had entered the underground storage tanks at a few retail outlets, particularly those in flooded suburban areas.

On Monday, motorists, who refilled fuel tanks in Thiruvallur, were shocked when they found out that petrol mixed with water was sold to them. This also led to a verbal brawl.

K Murali, president of TN Dealers Association said, "This is why we requested petroleum companies to stop supply of ethanol-mixed-petrol temporarily during the rainy season". Not all petrol pumps are equipped to prevent entry of rainwater. So, when runoff leaks through the manholes of underground storage tanks in bunks during rains, water gets mixed with ethanol in the fuel, said Murali.

Manikandan, a mechanic from Madipakkam, said that people usually don't suspect fuel adulteration.

ADULTERATION: A motorist shows diluted petrol at a fuel bank Thiruvallur

No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

No respite from inundation for Iyyapanthangal residents

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.12.2021

About 5000 residents in Iyyappanthangal village panchayat have been under four feet deep water for over two weeks now, thanks to a private person who encroached upon a canal that takes excess rainwater from Porur lake to Adyar river. The panchayat administration has done little to resolve their flooding issues that they are facing for over ten years now.

Close to 45000 people reside here and about 10000 live in flood-hit areas alone such as EVP Prabu Avenue, Dhanalakshmi Nagar, Sri Sai Nagar, Kumaran Nagar, Maduram Nagar. They have to walk through hip deep water every time they need to purchase essentials or go for work. Boats have been deployed but not everyone can access them. The residents have been cut off from the main roads for the last two weeks with water level showing no signs of receding.

Pattabiraman, Vice president of Maduram Nagar welfare association said that excess water from Chembarabakkm lake when let out comes to the area via a canal and reaches Porur lake. Once this lake is filled up, the water must go to Adyar river via various disposal points. However, there is a reverse flow from Porur lake causing heavy inundation in the area due to blocked canals.

“A culvert that was an outlet from the lake on the eastern side has been blocked which is why our area is getting flooded now. We didn’t have any problem in 2008. The surplus water from Porur lake would exit at 13.895 km from Perungalathur NHAI toll road. This was not functional as a private person from Moulivalkam village sealed the outlet on both sides with cement concrete. The canal that goes up to Kundrathur road is enchroached. Multistoried buildings have also been built upon canal path,” he said.

Senthil Kumar, an RTI activist, said that while it was true that the area is low-lying, it had enough canals and drains carrying excess rainwater to Porur lake. “Why should residents pay the price for government inaction on encroachment,” he said.

The panchayat residents have also opposed the government’s decision to join it with Mangadu municipality. “We are not even half a kilometre away from Chennai corporation. We should be added to the corporation. Only then, our civic woes will reduce,” said Senthil.

An official said that the public works department had constructed a check-dam to store water from Porur lake.

MONSOON EFFECT: Residents use makeshift boats to move around in Dhanalakshi Nagar near Iyyappanthangal where water has not receded for the last two weeks

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Tamil Nadu resident docs to go on strike today

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:01.12.2021

Protesting the delay in NEET PG counselling and admissions, residents doctors at medical college hospitals in Tamil Nadu will be withdrawing from outpatient department services on Wednesday. New doctors are unable to join hospitals because of the delay in counselling. As a result, the existing batch of resident doctors are overburdened and are made to work up for 18-hour long shifts and without adequate leaves. The primary reason for the delay in NEET PG counselling is the union government's indecision over the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) seats. The counselling was originally scheduled to begin on October 25. But the government recently told the Supreme Court that it has decided to postpone the PG admission process by another four weeks as it was reconsidering the Rs.8 lakh annual income criteria for EWS quota seats.

This leaves the new batch of 4,500 resident doctors in a lurch as they will not be able to join the state's health force anytime soon. And the existing resident doctors, who are already under severe stress and fatigue in the middle of the pandemic, must continue work without adequate breaks.

These doctors, who have worked without juniors, claim to do the bulk of work in medical college hospitals. They prepare case sheets, investigate patients in wards, perform bedside duties, dressings, assist surgeries in operation theatres and ready health insurance related documents.

Soon, the final year students will also be leaving the colleges. So, the workload will fall on the single batch of PG students, said V Vignesh from TN Resident Doctors' Association. "Covid-19 has taught everybody to take doctors for granted. There is no respite for us. With inadequate sleep and fatigue, our health has taken a beating," he said.

At present, 80% of the resident doctors are in conventional treatment wards and the rest are assisting covid patients. This could change if the new variants of the virus are detected here. So, TNRDA has requested the state health department to take up the issue with the union government and stress to get the new batch of doctors on duty at the earliest possible.

Resident doctors in other Indian states have already begun the strike stressing similar demands.

The doctors, who will withdraw from outpatient services on Wednesday, are protesting against delay in NEET PG counselling, admissions

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல் 1,500 பஸ்கள் முடக்கம்

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:29

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தில் 'பேட்டரி' இல்லாமல், 1,500 பஸ்கள் நிறுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளன.

தமிழக அரசு போக்குவரத்து கழகங்கள் பெரும் நிதி நெருக்கடியில் சிக்கித் தவிக்கின்றன. இதனால், ஊழியர்கள், ஓய்வூதியர்களுக்கான பணப் பலன்களை வழங்குவதிலும், பஸ்களை பராமரிப்பிலும் பெரும் சிக்கல் நிலவுகிறது. குறிப்பாக, உதிரி பாகங்கள் வாங்க பணம் இல்லாததால், பழுதடைந்த பஸ்களில் இருந்து கழற்றி மாற்றும் நிலை உள்ளது.

ஆனால், காலாவதியான பேட்டரிகளை அதுபோல மாற்ற இயலவில்லை. ஒவ்வொரு பணிமனையிலும், ஒன்றிரண்டு பஸ்கள் என பேட்டரி இன்றி, தமிழகம் முழுதும் 1,500க்கும் மேற்பட்ட பஸ்கள் முடக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இது போன்ற பிரச்னைகளை சரி செய்து, 100 சதவீத பஸ்களை இயக்க, பட்ஜெட்டில் நிதி ஒதுக்க வேண்டும் என, ஊழியர்கள் வலியுறுத்தி உள்ளனர்

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

சென்னை டூ- சிங்கப்பூர்; மீண்டும் விமான சேவை

Added : நவ 29, 2021 23:27

சென்னை : சென்னை - சிங்கப்பூர் இடையேயான விமான சேவை, ௨௦ மாதங்களுக்கு பின் மீண்டும் துவங்கியுள்ளது.

கொரோனா தொற்று பரவ துவங்கியதும், 2020 மார்ச் 25ல், சர்வதேச நாடுகளுக்கான விமான சேவைகள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டன. பின், அதே ஆண்டு மே 9 முதல், சில குறிப்பிட்ட நாடுகளுக்கு மட்டும், 'வந்தே பாரத்' திட்டத்தின் கீழ், மீட்பு விமானங்களும், சிறப்பு விமானங்களும் இயக்கப்பட்டு வருகின்றன.

இந்நிலையில், டிசம்பர் 15 முதல், அனைத்து சர்வதேச விமான சேவைகளும் இயங்க, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி அளித்துள்ளது. அத்துடன், சிங்கப்பூர் - இந்தியா இடையேயான விமான சேவைக்கும் அனுமதி தரப்பட்டுள்ளது. இதையடுத்து, சென்னையிலிருந்து சிங்கப்பூருக்கு நேற்று முதல் தினசரி விமான சேவையை, சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும், இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் நிறுவனமும் துவக்கி உள்ளன.

சிங்கப்பூர் ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், இரவு 10:00 மணிக்கு சிங்கப்பூரிலிருந்து சென்னை விமான நிலையம் வந்து சேரும். மீண்டும் இரவு 11:15 மணிக்கு சென்னையிலிருந்து புறப்பட்டு சிங்கப்பூர் செல்கிறது.இதேபோல, இண்டிகோ ஏர்லைன்ஸ் விமானம், சென்னை சர்வதேச விமான நிலையத்திலிருந்து, இரவு 9:45க்கு சிங்கப்பூருக்கு புறப்படுகிறது.

தற்போது, 20 மாதங்களுக்கு பின், சென்னை -- சிங்கப்பூர் - இடையே, நேரடி பயணியர் விமான சேவை மீண்டும் துவங்கி உள்ளது.இந்த விமானங்களில் பயணம் செய்யும் பயணியருக்கு, இரண்டு தவணை தடுப்பூசி செலுத்தியதற்கான சான்றிதழ் மற்றும் 48 மணி நேரத்திற்குள் எடுக்கப்பட்ட கொரோனா நெகடிவ் சான்றிதழ் அவசியம்.

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Adhere to guidelines from WHO to the letter: V Irai Anbu

Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat.

Published: 30th November 2021 06:58 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Secretary V Irai Anbu on Monday held detailed discussions with collectors, health officials, and police through a video-conference call from the Secretariat. The chief secretary urged the collectors and other departments to strictly adhere to the guidelines issued by the World Health Organisation (WHO) with regard to Omicron. Since vaccination is the best weapon to counter the virus, the collectors were told to intensify measures for spreading awareness on vaccination.

Though Omicron is yet to be detected in Tamil Nadu, RT-PCR test is being done at international airports in the State on those coming from South Africa, European countries, Botswana, Hong Kong, China, Israel, New Zealand, Zimbabwe, Singapore, Brazil, Bangladesh, and Mauritius.

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in home quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another RT-PCR test and continue to monitor their health for another week. If any passenger tests positive, further tests will be done to find out which variant it is. Whole genomic sequencing of samples taken from those arriving from other countries is also being carried out.

Passengers note!

Those who test negative in the RT-PCR test are advised to be in quarantine for a week. After that, they have to undergo another test and continue to monitor their health for another week

NEET-UG 2021 : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Rigging Of OMR Sheets, Discrepancy In Final Results

NEET-UG 2021 : Supreme Court Issues Notice On Plea Alleging Rigging Of OMR Sheets, Discrepancy In Final Results

Shruti Kakkar29 Nov 2021 3:59 PM

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice in a writ petition preferred by 6 NEET-UG candidates who allege rigging of their OMR sheets after the publication of the answer keys by the National Testing Agency.

Alleging widespread discrepancies in NTA's scoring process, the petitioners challenge their marks and ranks secured in the test which was conducted on September 12, 2021 by the National Testing Agency.

The matter was listed before the bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and AS Bopanna.

It has been argued that there was a huge difference between the marks which the petitioners had calculated based on the answer keys published by the NTA and the final marks declared by the NTA on November 1, 2021. One of the petitioners allege that his score as per the answer key was 584 but the final result showed 164. According to another petitioner, his score based on the answer key was 675 but the final result showed 52 marks. Another petitioner's final score was zero, though his estimate as per the answer key was 545 marks.

"It appears that to be massive rigging in the screening of the OMR sheet soon after the publication of the answer keys and consequent uploading of OMR sheet for self assessment and before the actual declaration of result and score card on NTA's website which has resulted in glaring discrepancy in the marks obtained by the petitioners," the petition states.

Referring to the comparative tabulation of marks, the petitioners have contended that it is "manifestly evident" that there has been a huge margin in the scores obtained by them.

It has further been averred that something is utterly wrong on NTA's part which needs to be addressed by instituting investigations against the authority.

Petitioners in their petition have referred to the news for leaking the question paper and criminal conspiracy to sabotage the fair process of exam in regards to which several FIR's were registered at different places in India.

The sum and substance of the initial investigation in these FIR's had established rampant use of unscrupulous means and unfair practices to manipulate the results for benefiting the rich and non merit candidates, the petitioners have stated.

In light of this background it has been stated in the petition that,

"There are malpractices and corrupt practices which are undergoing on at the levels which the innocent, deserving and meritorious petitioners cannot imagine which has resulted in arbitrariness and rejection of meritorious candidates and as such is violative of their rights under Article 14 of the Constitution of India."

The matter will be next heard on December 13, 2021.

Senior Advocate Manoj Swarup with Rajan Kumar Singh (AOR) and Rakesh kumar Singh Advocate appeared for the Petitioners

The petition is filed through Advocate on Record Ranjan Kumar Singh.

Case : WP(C) 1286/2021

Expert: Covishield, Covaxin may offer protection against Omicron

Expert: Covishield, Covaxin may offer protection against Omicron

Umesh.Isalkar@timesgroup.com

Pune:30.11.2021

Covishield and Covaxin jabs can prevent hospitalisation and death of patients infected with the new Botswana variant Omicron (B.1.1.529), novel coronavirus’s most mutated version as yet, a noted infectious diseases expert has said.

“Theoretically, it is possible that the new variant of concern (Omicron) may challenge vaccines’ efficacy. But, we know that our vaccines prevent hospitalization and death, and the same may be potent against the Omicron variant. People must take two doses of the vaccine — either Covishield or Covaxin — and adhere to Covid-19-appropriate behaviour, especially that of wearing a mask, to ward off infection from such variants,” said senior scientist Raman Gangakhedkar, former head of the epidemiology and communicable diseases division of the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR).

Gangakhedkar is one of the 26 members of the WHO team appointed to examine the origins of pathogens such as SARS-CoV-2 that cause pandemics. “There is not enough data yet to understand Omicron’s ability to evade vaccine or a natural infection-induced immune response. Hence, we should continue to enhance coverage in vaccine rollout, so that hospitalisation does not increase. Unvaccinated people must take two doses of the vaccine and those who have taken one dose must take the second dose at the earliest,” Gangakhedkar said.

The second dose boosts not only virus-specific antibodies but also the T cells (T-lymphocytes), which are memory cells and part of the broader immune response against the virus, Gangakhedkar said, advising strict adherence to the two-dose regime.

Disease-causing properties of this variant, like transmissibility, potential to cause severity and immune evasion either from vaccination or previous infection with other variants, are unclear as yet.

“More studies are needed to delineate whether previous exposure to the Delta strain or currently available vaccines will shield us against severe illness due to Omicron,” infectious diseases expert Sanjay Pujari, a member of the National Covid Task Force, told TOI. India’s advantage lies in the knowledge that a majority of the population has encountered the virus and acquired immunity, senior clinical epidemiologist Amitav Banerjee said.

Omicron: wary world slams doors shut

Omicron: wary world slams doors shut

New cases in Portugal and Scotland may point towards local spread of the variant, fear officials

30/11/2021

Warning bells: People waiting to be transported to a quarantine facility after arriving at an airport in Japan. AFP

Associated Press Brussels

Taking an act-now-ask-questions-later approach, countries around the world slammed their doors shut again to try to keep the new Omicron variant at bay on Monday as more cases of the mutant coronavirus emerged and scientists raced to figure out just how dangerous it might be.

Japan announced it would bar entry of all foreign visitors, joining Israel in doing so just days after the variant was identified by researchers in South Africa. Morocco banned all incoming flights. Other countries, including the U.S. and European Union members, have moved to prohibit travellers arriving from southern Africa.

Travellers infected with the new version have turned up in a widening circle of countries over the past few days, including Spain, and cases in Portugal and Scotland have raised fears that the variant may already be spreading locally.

“Many of us might think we are done with COVID-19. It’s not done with us,” warned Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, director-general of the World Health Organization.

The infections have underscored the difficulty in keeping the virus in check in a globalised world of jet travel and open borders. Yet, many countries are trying to do just that, against the urging of the WHO, which noted that border closings often have limited effect and can wreak havoc on lives and livelihoods. Some argued that such restrictions could provide valuable time to analyse the new variant.

“This time the world showed it is learning,” said EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, singling out South African President Cyril Ramaphosa for praise.

“South Africa’s analytic work and transparency and sharing its results was indispensable in allowing a swift global response. It no doubt saved many lives.”

Late last week, Ms. von der Leyen successfully pushed the 27-nation EU to agree to ban flights from seven southern African nations, similar to what many other countries are doing.

Cases had already been reported in EU nations Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands before Portuguese authorities identified 13 Omicron infections among members of the Belenenses professional football team. Authorities reported one member had recently travelled to South Africa.

Spain also reported its first confirmed case of the variant. It was detected in a traveller who returned on Sunday from South Africa after making a stopover in Amsterdam. And after Scotland reported its first six cases, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon warned that “there might already be some community transmission of this variant”.

Taking no chances, Japan, which has yet to detect any Omicron cases, reimposed border controls that it had eased earlier this month. “We are taking the step as an emergency precaution to prevent a worst-case scenario in Japan,” Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said. The new measures begin on Tuesday.

26k students bought PINs for medical and allied courses

26k students bought PINs for medical and allied courses

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:30.11.2021

The Admission Committee for Professional Undergraduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) on Monday said it has completed the registration process for state quota in medical, dental, homeopathy and Ayurveda courses for the academic year 2021-22.

The committee has also completed the registration process for self-financed Ayurveda and homeopathy courses for 15% All India Quota, it said. A total of 26,186 candidates have purchased the personal identification number (PIN), according to a media statement. Of these 5,453 are from the open category.

All candidates qualifying NEET (UG) - 2019 are eligible for All India Quota and other quotas under the state governments/institutes, irrespective of the medium of the examination, subject to other eligibility criteria.

The admission committee started online registrations for medical, dental, homeopathic and Ayurveda seats from November 17.

There are 30 medical colleges in the state with 5,550 MBBS seats, 12 dental colleges with 1,255 seats, 2,242 seats in 33 Ayurveda colleges and 36 colleges having a total capacity of 3,710 seats. In all there are 12,707 seats for which the Admission Committee for Professional Under Graduate Medical Educational Courses (ACPUGMEC) will undertake the admission process this year.

Clarity on Omicron awaited: WHO

Clarity on Omicron awaited: WHO

30/11/2021

Staff Reporter HYDERABAD

The constant flow of information about Omicron has left people wondering about the efficacy of vaccines against the new variant of concern, the rate of transmission, concerns about a third wave of coronavirus and severity of infection caused by the variant, among other aspects.

On Sunday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) communicated all that is currently known about its transmissibility, severity, effectiveness of test and vaccines and treatment required. For a majority of the aspects, however, WHO stated that clarity is yet to be gained. In their communication titled ‘Update on Omicron’, WHO said it is not yet clear whether Omicron is more transmissible and causes more severe disease compared to infections with other variants, including Delta. To gain better understanding of Omicron, WHO is coordinating with researchers from across the world.

Not a cause for panic: Biden

Not a cause for panic: Biden

30/11/2021

 Agence France-Presse Washington

President Joe Biden on Monday told Americans not to “panic” over the new COVID-19 variant Omicron and said he does not foresee new lockdowns or extending travel restrictions for now.

The variant “is a cause for concern, not a cause for panic”, Mr. Biden said.

He stressed that the United States was in a good position to control Omicron’s spread without having to resort to lockdowns or more travel bans beyond restrictions already imposed on eight southern African countries.

“We have more tools today to fight the variant than we’ve ever had before,” he said, adding that his chief medical adviser Anthony Fauci expects current vaccines to work against the new variant, with boosters enhancing protection.

Agence France-Presse London

30/11/2021

Agence France-Presse London

All adults in Britain will now be eligible for a third COVID-19 jab, the Government said on Monday, as concern mounted about the spread of the Omicron variant. The move, backed by a scientific advisory body and Health Secretary Sajid Javid, comes as Ministers scramble to react swiftly to the new variant.

Until now, only adults aged 40 and above were eligible for a booster dose six months after their last. But that time-frame will now be halved to three months, alongside the programme’s expansion to all over-18s, with priority given to older people.

“These measures will protect more people, more quickly and make us better protected as a nation,” Mr. Javid told MPs. He noted it was “a huge step up” for the vaccination scheme, which was launched last December, almost doubling the number of people eligible for a booster.

Positive samples of foreign travellers to be tested for Omicron

Positive samples of foreign travellers to be tested for Omicron

Directorate of Public Health designates 12 laboratories to do the test

30/11/2021

Health Minister Ma. Subramanian and Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan at a genome sequencing lab.B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

The samples collected from all foreign travellers who test positive for COVID-19 shall be subjected to genomic sequencing, the Directorate of Public Health has said.

The tests will be done at 12 designated government RT-PCR laboratories that are equipped with the World Health Organisation-recommended Thermo TaqPath RT-PCR testing kits to identify the new variant, Omicron, designated as B.1.1.529. According to the Directorate’s notice issued on Monday, most diagnostic tests could detect the variant.

The variant exhibits a deletion of certain spike protein positions, similar to the Alpha variant. The laboratories have been instructed to prioritise such specimens for sequencing to confirm the presence of Omicron. A proxy test for the variant, known as Thermo Fischer TaqPath Assay, could be used, pending genome sequencing confirmation, the notice said.

The government laboratories identified for the assay include the State Public Health laboratory; the King Institute of Preventive Medicine; Madras Medical College; Kilpauk and Stanley Medical Colleges in Chennai; Coimbatore Medical College; and ESI Medical College, Coimbatore; and the Government Medical Colleges in Tiruchi, Salem, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Kanniyakumari. Eight categories of samples have been identified for testing.

The samples of the following segments should be subjected to genome-sequencing, if they have tested positive for COVID-19. They are international travellers since October 15; reinfected persons; those infected after vaccination; those who are part of community clusters or an unusual transmission event; those who are part of family clusters; children testing positive; and young adults with severe lung involvement or an unexpected disease or severe illness.

Under the new guidelines, all positive samples referred from government and private RT-PCR laboratories should be sent to the State Public Health Laboratory in the city for genomic sequencing. The Deputy Director of Health Services in the districts should coordinate the process through their epidemiologists and microbiologists.

The protocol should be followed for all inbound international travellers with symptoms of influenza-like illness.

The samples will be screened for S gene dropout using the Thermo TaqPath kit by the government RT-PCR laboratories, Director of Public Health T.S. Selvavinayagam has said.

The Health Department will appoint assistant project officers at the four international airports in the State to oversee the sample collection, Health Minister Ma. Subramanian has said.

“On Wednesday, senior health officials will accompany me to Madurai where we will inspect the airport. Later, we will travel to Tiruchi and Coimbatore. We will also apprise the officials of the procedures to be followed on arrival of passengers. Along with Health Secretary J. Radhakrishnan, I will be supervising how the instructions are carried out,” the Minister said, after inspecting the genome sequencing unit on the Directorate of Medical Services premises here on Monday.

According to him, 95% of the COVID-19 samples tested at the sequencing unit had returned positive for the Delta variant.

At a review meeting, Chief Secretary V. Irai Anbu asked officials to follow the WHO guidelines for tackling the new variant and directed the Collectors to drive home the point among people that vaccination was the only defence against the severity of the disease.

Bodies of 2 COVID-19 victims found in mortuary after a year

Bodies of 2 COVID-19 victims found in mortuary after a year

Their families were told that bodies had been cremated

30/11/2021

Special Correspondent Bengaluru

In a shocking incident, the decomposed bodies of two COVID-19 patients, who died during the first wave in 2020, were found in the mortuary of the ESIC Model Hospital in Rajajinagar here.

The bodies were found on Friday evening when the housekeeping staff went there for cleaning.

The families of the victims, who were earlier told that the bodies had been cremated, are stunned at the turn of events.

Sources in the hospital said the bodies were identified as that of Durga S., 40, a resident of Chamarajpet, and Muniraju, 35, a resident of KP Agrahara in Bengaluru, with the help of tags. They were admitted to the ESIC Model hospital for COVID-19 treatment in July 2020. After their death, their bodies were shifted to the mortuary to be handed over to the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) for cremation.

As per COVID-19 protocols then, the civic body had the responsibility of cremating the bodies of the victims and the bodies were not given to the families.

Sources in the hospital said the two bodies were “forgotten” in the mortuary as the hospital authorities were under the impression that the BBMP personnel had taken away the bodies.

V. Vijayanath, Head of the Department of Forensic Medicine at ESI Hospital, refused to comment.

Protest held

However, Hospital Dean and Director Jithendra Kumar said he had ordered an internal enquiry. “The bodies were handed over to the police. The families of both deceased were called to the Rajajinagar police station on Monday to hand over the bodies,” he said.

The negligence has evoked sharp criticism. A group of organisations staged a protest in front of the hospital on Monday.

"How could they not notice the bodies? This is shocking,” a family member of Muniraju said.