Absence of juniors mounts pressure on Tamil Nadu’s medicos

Absence of juniors mounts pressure on Tamil Nadu’s medicos

Seniors working longer hours as PG NEET counselling delayed

Published: 13th December 2021 03:33 AM 

By Sinduja Jane

Express News Service

CHENNAI: There has been no respite for Dr Sangeetha* from her tiring work schedule for more than a year now. The 26-year-old is among the many second year post-graduate students in the State’s government medical college hospitals, who have lost their sleep as they still don’t have any juniors to share their burden. The delay in the counselling for PG NEET 2021 has meant that these students, who are obliged to work in hospitals as part of the course, have a hectic life at the start of their careers.

“My emergency duty started at 7.30 am on Saturday and I finished around 12.30 pm on Sunday. My next shift starts at 6 pm. I am physically and mentally exhausted, and have lost my personal life. I don’t even have time to attend to my mother’s phone calls,” said Sangeetha.

Sangeetha said once during her first year, she started her duty on a Saturday and got relieved only on Tuesday evening. “This is still continuing. Even though I am in the second year, I still do basic works in wards, which are supposed to be done by first year students,” she said. First year PG doctors have to follow-up patients, admit them, take their history, check their blood pressure before surgeries, and get clearance from specialist doctors for the surgery of patients with comorbidities. Post surgery, they have to check on the patient’s condition, Sangeetha said.

Dr Keerthy Varman, a second year PG doctor at the Government Stanley Medical College Hospital, said, “Our work has only doubled since the pandemic. Now, non-Covid services have also resumed. Then there were the medical camps during floods, and Covid vaccination duty. We have to do all these.” The doctors rued that the busy hours have left them with very little time for their studies. “There is no time for our peripheral postings to other departments such as cardio-thoracic, where we learn their specialities. When will I study my lessons or learn new things when I am still busy doing routine ward works,” asked Dr Keerthy Varman. He added that they were compensating for about 2,000 PG first year students (including diploma) in government medical colleges, who are yet to be let in.

A second year PG student at the Royapettah Government Hospital said, “If juniors are there, they can take care of ward duties on the days we go for peripheral duty. But now if we leave and go for peripheral duty, no one is there to do routine works.” The doctors said they are still uncertain on until when the situation would continue. The PG counselling was temporarily suspended due to a case on the EWS quota seats, which is pending in the Supreme Court.

The doctors association had recently met Health Minister Ma Subramanian and requested the State Government to pressurise the Union Government, and request the Supreme Court to finish the hearing quickly and conduct the counselling. It had demanded contract extension for doctors recruited for mini-clinics, and posting them in hospitals under the Directorate of Medical Education till the first year PG students come. It had also asked for the service of Covid medical officers who were temporarily recruited during the Covid second wave, to compensate the manpower shortage. Meanwhile, the Union Health Ministry has issued a plea to fast track the court hearing.

*Name changed

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian writes to Centre seeking approval for Diabetology course

Tamil Nadu Health Minister Ma Subramanian writes to Centre seeking approval for Diabetology course

Tamil Nadu was the first State in the country to start a full-time, two-year diploma in Diabetology at the Institute of Diabetology at Madras Medical College, in 1986.

Published: 13th December 2021 03:33 AM |

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Health Minister Ma Subramanian on Friday wrote a letter to Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya requesting approval for starting a new course on MD Diabetology, Nutrition and Metabolism in the State.

“We propose and request the National Medical Commission to Include MD (Diabetology, Nutrition and Metabolism) degree course nomenclature in the NMC schedule, thus enabling us to upgrade diploma seats in Diabetology to MD degree, and to start the course in other institutions in our State,” Subramanian said in the letter.

Tamil Nadu was the first State in the country to start a full-time, two-year diploma in Diabetology at the Institute of Diabetology at Madras Medical College, in 1986. Converting the diploma seats to MD degree seats will help in creating more number of teaching faculties in the speciality as per NMC norms, the minister said.

This will help in the successful implementation of the State’s and Centre’s policy of creating diabetes-care units across the country. This will also help in creating diabetes-care units in all the district peripheral hospitals in TN, Subramanian wrote.

Tamil Nadu: Colleges question Health Minister’s direction barring entry to unvaccinated

Tamil Nadu: Colleges question Health Minister’s direction barring entry to unvaccinated

The colleges are worried that if unvaccinated students are not allowed inside campuses, it will become difficult to complete the syllabus on time.

Published: 13th December 2021 03:37 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Health Minister’s proposed direction on allowing only vaccinated students to enter college campuses has not gone down well with managements of many institutes. The minister had asked the higher education department to direct all the college managements on the decision, in the wake of 10 students from Anna University’s Alagappa College of Technology testing positive for Covid-19.

The colleges are worried that if unvaccinated students are not allowed inside campuses, it will become difficult to complete the syllabus on time. Many college administrations have said as they are continuing in-person classes, it will be difficult for them to conduct online classes partially for unvaccinated students.

“Students’ ability to understand and grasp subjects has reduced a lot during the pandemic and it is necessary to have in-person classes. It will be very stressful to take both online and offline classes simultaneously,” said a senior lecturer of a college in Chennai.K Prakash, a lecturer, said majority of the first year students are unvaccinated.

MG Ragunathan, principal of Guru Nanak college, said they are yet to receive any Government Order regarding the direction. “Such an order will definitely create a problem for us. We will have to make arrangements again for online classes. The government should give a clarity on the issue,” said Ragunathan.

Even the students are worried. “I am 17 years old, and not eligible for vaccination. How am I going to understand subjects if I am not allowed to the attend classes? I completed my class 11 and 12 through online mode,” said T Ashok , a student in Anna University.

Compassionate-ground appointee cannot be deprived of job: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

Compassionate-ground appointee cannot be deprived of job: Madurai Bench of Madras High Court

Hearing a petition filed by one S Chinnadurai in 2017, Justice SS Sundar quashed the dismissal order and directed the government to accommodate the man in any Class IV posts.

Published: 13th December 2021 03:57 AM 

Madras High Court

By Express News Service

MADURAI: The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently came to the rescue of a man, who was appointed as surveyor on compassionate grounds but dismissed from service for not completing the mandatory departmental test. Hearing a petition filed by one S Chinnadurai in 2017, Justice SS Sundar quashed the dismissal order and directed the government to accommodate the man in any Class IV posts.

The judge referred to several judgments which said a person appointed on compassionate ground cannot be deprived of his employment simply because he has not completed the departmental examination or has not undergone training. “Even if a person is unable to complete the departmental test, his service cannot be terminated and the authorities should accommodate the petitioner in Class-IV post,” he added. However, the petitioner is not entitled to back wages for the period when he was terminated from service, the judge clarified.

He directed the Assistant Director of Survey and Land Records to appoint the petitioner in the post of office assistant or field assistant within six weeks. “Even if no vacancy is available under Class-IV post, the authority should create a supernumerary post to accommodate the petitioner,” he added and disposed of the petition.

TTD issues Government Order on use of Tamil, then flouts it

TTD issues Government Order on use of Tamil, then flouts it

They mention several names of officials in English despite the mandate that all the names and initials in the government documents must be only in Tamil.

Published: 13th December 2021 04:13 AM 

By S Kumaresan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: It was on Thursday that the Tamil Development Department (TDD) issued a Government Order (G.O.) mandating that State government departments use only Tamil names and initials on documents. Going by the DIPR statements issued since then by various departments, it seems the government itself is flouting that order.

Several DIPR statements shows names of ministers PK Sekar Babu, N Kayalvzihi, KN Nehru, MRK Panneerselvam and MPs SR Parthiban, AKP Chinraj and KRN Rajeshkumar with English initials, a stark contrast to the order.

According to the G.O., two earlier orders — one in 1978 and another in 1998 — and a government letter issued in 1997 on the same matter, too, had not been properly implemented. The new G.O. was supposed to be implemented to the letter from the date of its issue.

After the TDD G.O., the Department of Information and Public Relations (DIPR) released press statements mentioning names with English initials. The number of the press releases that had the English initials are 1313, 1314, 1319, 1323 and 1325.

They mention several names of officials in English despite the mandate that all the names and initials in the government documents must be only in Tamil. It must be noted that the DIPR statements are considered to be government officials’ documents as messages are conveyed to the public through these statements.

As per the order, Minister KN Nehru’s name must have the Tamil initials ‘Kaa Na’. But, the press note merely had the Tamil letters pronounced in English letters: ‘KN’. Likewise, most of the ministers, elected representatives and other names mentioned in the DIPR statements are in violation of the TDD order.

Similarly, since Friday, the Greater Chennai Corporation also issued various press releases, of which, the press releases 347, 349 and 350 have names with English initials. This is a blatant violation of the G.O by government departments.

Commenting on the violation of the order by government departments, a retired officer of the department, told TNIE, on condition of anonymity, “There is no accountability in the implementation of the G.O.s to ensure Tamil as an official language. The government didn’t take action against officials for this violation despite repeated complaints raised by the TDD.”

He added, “As per the powers vested with the TDD authorities, we can only inspect government offices for usage of Tamil; whether authorities sign in Tamil and prepare files and send messages in Tamils. But we can’t take any action against the authorities even if we find them guilty.”

He also said, “To take action, we have to write to the district collector and only the collector can initiate action through their department head. Hence, none have been punished so far. Earlier G.O.s on the matter have also been left without implementation.”

‘No action taken despite TDD plaints’

A retired official said, “There is no accountability...to ensure Tamil as an official language. No action was taken against errant officials despite repeated complaints from the TDD.”

UK returnee tests positive for Covid in Kolkata, genome sequencing underway for Omicron variant

UK returnee tests positive for Covid in Kolkata, genome sequencing underway for Omicron variant

Top officials of the health ministry informed a parliamentary panel that there are 23 cases of the omicron variant across the country, and authorities are closely monitoring the situat

Published: 10th December 2021 03:53 PM 

By PTI

KOLKATA: A woman, who returned from the UK, tested positive for COVID-19 here on Friday, a senior official of the West Bengal Health Department said on Friday.

The required specimens were collected and sent for genome sequencing to ascertain whether she had contracted the new omicron variant, which has been classified as a highly transmissible virus of concern, he said.

"A patient from the UK is found positive for COVID-19. She was initially sent to the Beliaghata IDBG Hospita, Later she chose to get admitted at a private hospital for institutional quarantine," the official said.

Her condition is stable, he added.

Top officials of the health ministry had on Thursday informed a parliamentary panel that there are 23 cases of the omicron variant across the country, and authorities are closely monitoring the situation.

Delhi University collects Rs 9.5 crore exam fees, twice than 2020

Delhi University collects Rs 9.5 crore exam fees, twice than 2020

With the help of this portal, the university has been able to ensure checks and balances as earlier several colleges would not entirely transfer the exam fees to the university.

13.12.2021 

By Express News Service

NEW DELHI: As fees for the ongoing examinations, the Delhi University has managed to collect Rs 9.5 crore from around 1.4 lakh students, almost double than last year. This was revealed by the central government's Samarth portal which helps the university maintain transparency.

With the help of this portal, the university has been able to ensure checks and balances as earlier several colleges would not entirely transfer the exam fees to the university. "Samarth has made exam fees collection a centralised process. Earlier, colleges would collect money but many wouldn’t pay to the university in full. It was difficult to keep track of the number of students and the corresponding fees from various colleges under the university," said an official from the university.

The university has been conducting open book exams for students since last year due to COVID-19 and the semester exams began on November 30.A minimum examination fee of Rs 500 is levied per semester on each student while he/she has to pay another Rs 200 for each practical exam. Ex-students appearing for re-exams need to pay an additional Rs 500.

"Another issue was that several colleges used to collect examination fees at the time of the student's admission itself and hence it would not be clear what papers the student would opt for. So, it was quite a possibility that either the student was paying higher or lower than the exact amount," he said.

DS Rawat, Dean, Examinations, said it took the university more than three months to upload details of nearly 1.4 lakh students on Samarth. 

Reducing traffic congestion: Tambaram railway ROB to be extended to link Shanmugam and GST roads

Reducing traffic congestion: Tambaram railway ROB to be extended to link Shanmugam and GST roads

At the Shanmugam Road-GST intersection, there is a fruit and flower market, the Tambaram pedestrian subway and Foot Over Bridge.

Published: 13th December 2021 04:25 AM 

By B Anbuselvan

Express News Service

CHENNAI: A decade after being built, one arm of the railway Road Over Bridge (ROB) at Tambaram on Grand Southern Trunk (GST) Road is set be extended, to link Shanmugam Road with GST. A government order sanctioning Rs 30 lakh for preparing detailed project report was issued recently by the State Highways Department.

The ROB was opened in February 2011 replacing the level crossing near Tambaram railway station. It connects Velachery Main Road, GST and Mudichur Road. The ROB has four arms on GST (two each towards Guindy and Chengalpattu) and one each on Mudichur Road and Velachery Main Road.

The ROB’s ramp that extends towards Guindy ends at the intersection of Shanmugam Road and GST. The portion is 0.6 metre high from the road level. As a result, motorists from Perungalathur are forced to take a detour via Rajaji Road which is 100 metre away from the joining point of Shanmugam Road and GST, to enter Shanmugam Road and other parts of Tambaram. The detour leads to huge vehicular pile up in both directions of GST.

The linking of Shanmugam Road with GST has been one of the long-pending demands of Tambaram locals and traders. At the Shanmugam Road-GST intersection, there is a fruit and flower market, the Tambaram pedestrian subway and Foot Over Bridge.

According to official sources, the project has two components. The width of the pedestrian subway’s entry and exit points need to be widened to 10 metres. Secondly, the ramp of the ROB towards Guindy on GST Road should be extended further so as to facilitate direct passing of vehicles from GST to Shanmugam Road.

“We are yet to assess the quantum of land required for extending the ramp and widening the subway. We are yet to assess the number of buildings that need to be demolished for the project. The DPR is being prepared,” said a State highways official.

A section of traders and locals with whom TNIE interacted claimed that, when the proposal for ROB was first made in early 2008, the ramp of the Guindy arm was to be 30 to 40 metres longer than the present one.

“The highways department initially planned to link GST with Shanmugam Road. But the proposal required land parcels at the intersections and a group of influential traders strongly resisted any moves to demolish their buildings. So the project was altered. Now, more than a decade later, the government is once again planning to link the roads,” said a resident of West Tambaram.

Passengers stranded for 10 hours after 2 SpiceJet planes suffer snag

Passengers stranded for 10 hours after 2 SpiceJet planes suffer snag

Panaji: 12.12.2021

In a harrowing experience for SpiceJet passengers bound for Mumbai, two of its aircraft suffered technical snags within a short span of 10 hours at Goa International Airport. The incident left more than 100 passengers stranded and led to cascading delays for the private airline.

SpiceJet accommodated the passengers on another scheduled flight later in the afternoon, but not before irate passengers protested at the departure terminal. The ordeal for passengers began in the early hours of Saturday when flight SG476 was set to depart for Mumbai at 5.25am.

After the passengers had boarded the aircraft and the flight was cleared for take-off, the pilots detected a snag and the aircraft, a Boeing 737-85R, was brought back to the apron. The passengers were asked to disembark and wait in the departure lounge till a replacement aircraft could fly in.Several flights operated by SpiceJet witnessed delays across the country, particularly Chennai, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bagdogra. TNN

TTD to construct new ghat road to Tirumala

TTD to construct new ghat road to Tirumala

Existing Road Was Damaged In Recent Rains

Sandeep.Raghavan@timesgroup.com

Tirupati: 12.12.2021

The Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) trust board on Saturday resolved to construct new ghat roads and a pedestrian route to Tirumala from Kadapa district as the existing ghat roads and pedestrian routes from Tirupati were severely damaged in the recent rains causing hardship to devotees.

TTD trust board chairman YV Subba Reddy told media after the board meeting that the temple body had thoroughly discussed the necessity for an alternative ghat road and a pedestrian route to Tirumala from Rajampet mandal in Kadapa district, popular as the Annamayya marg.

“We have proposed to develop alternative routes to Tirumala along the Seshachalam hills. Our engineering department will soon come up with the estimates for the proposed ghat road and pedestrian route,” he said.

The TTD board also resolved to take up repair and renovation works at all the temples that were damaged in the recent floods in Rajampet mandal.

It decided to establish a state of the art children’s superspecialty hospital in Tirupati. The board identified suitable land for establishing the hospital on a permanent campus. The TTD has so far performed 11 complicated surgeries on children from the economically poor background free of cost.

The annual Vaikunta Ekadasi and Dwadasi festival will be celebrated on a grand note for 10 days from January 13. The temple body will soon seek the permission of the state and central governments to remove curbs on pilgrim footfall due to Covid-19.

He said on the request from the Srisailam Devasthanams, the TTD will take up gold plating works of the Sivaji Gopuram at Srisailam temple.

HC junks MBBS students’ plea on exam pattern

HC junks MBBS students’ plea on exam pattern

HC Refuses To Grant Five Grace Marks

SagarKumar.Mutha@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 12.12.2021

Justice B Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana high court dismissed a batch of petitions filed by MBBS first year students who were failed in their annual examinations and hence were retained in the first year.

Students in their pleas contended that the National Medical Commission (NMC) changed the pattern of examinations from 2019 onwards and according to this new pattern, a portion of the questions should be in the form of multiple choice questions (MCQs). As many students could not cope up with the online class mode, the authorities should have included MCQs in the question paper. But unfortunately, the university authorities chose to skip MCQs and went in for complete descriptive mode, they said.

“They did the same thing in the annual exam and also in the instant exam resulting in a huge failure percentage,” they alleged.

The judge, however, did not agree with this line of thinking. “To give MCQs or not is the discretion of the university. Even the guidelines on the pattern of question paper issued by the Medical Council of India, now known as the National Medical Commission (NMC), are only advisory and not mandatory. Hence, we cannot direct the university to conduct a second supplementary exam for the failed candidates,” the judge said.

Agreeing with Gorantla Pujitha, counsel for NMC, who said that the students came to court only after failing in the main and instant exams as an afterthought, the judge said that the failed candidates should have come to court immediately after they found that the pattern was not in tune with NMC guidelines.

The judge also described skipping MCQs as a minor deviation. “It is not the case of the students that the questions given were not from the syllabus,” the judge said, while stressing the point that the students should be able to answer questions regardless of their form.

The court also refused to give any direction to the university to grant five grace marks to each of the students.

After victory march, farmers leave for home

After victory march, farmers leave for home

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:12.12.2021

They assembled on Delhi’s borders over several months, their numbers swelling with each passing day. It, however, took them only a couple of days to pack up and leave for their villages in Punjab and Haryana. After a victory march on their tractors and trolleys in the morning, the farmers at Singhu began the journey back home on Saturday. Amidst, slogans, songs and sword dances, there was a twinge of pain in their hearts as they left what has been their home and friends behind. It will take two days for the police to remove heavy barricades and open the highway.

At Tigri border, however, things moved fast. By 12 noon, 90% of the tents had been removed as farmers left in a convoy amid a shower of petals. The authorities wasted no time in clearing the road. A makeshift cement wall, four layers of barricades created with cemented bollards, containers, fences and trolleys got removed one by one with the help of cranes. P13'

After a year-long protest, farmers start heading home from the Singhu border on Saturday

Guv accuses Kerala govt of political agenda in choice of VCs

Guv accuses Kerala govt of political agenda in choice of VCs

Thiruvananthapuram: 12.12.2021

Kerala governor Arif Mohammed Khan reiterated on Saturday his observations that political interference plagues the higher education sector as the state government’s political agenda outweighs academic merit when vice chancellors were chosen.

Khan wrote to CM Pinarayi Vijayan on Wednesday, expressing his willingness to withdraw as chancellor of state universities. He told reporters in New Delhi that he was forced to write the letter as he had run out of options to ensure autonomy and integrity of universities. “The governor was made chancellor with an objective to ensure transparency,” he said.

Khan said he tried to avoid a confrontation, but the state government refused to get along. The governor alleged that the government tried to tie his hands during selection of VCs. Citing the instance of the government giving him a single candidate for the VC’s post in Sanskrit University, Kalady, he said he “could have selected the person best suited for the job” had there been more names.

The governor has advised the CM to lawfully assume the role of chancellor. TNN

Man fined for filing 11 bail pleas in 1 year

Man fined for filing 11 bail pleas in 1 year

New Delhi:  12.12.2021

A Delhi court has imposed a fine on a man for filing 11 bail applications in one year, noting that the pendency of such “frivolous” pleas floods the dockets of the courts and wastes the precious judicial time.

Additional sessions judge Ravinder Bedi slapped the accused with a fine of Rs 25,000 in a cheating and conspiracy case after noting that he filed the bail plea for the eleventh time without there being any change in circumstances.

The judge noted that the tenth bail plea of the accused was dismissed on November 29, 2021. The sixth plea, seeking interim bail, was junked with a cost of Rs 10,000, ASJ Bedi said. The accused is in judicial custody since November 27, 2020. PTI

Keep close watch on dist-level Covid clusters: Govt to states

Keep close watch on dist-level Covid clusters: Govt to states

‘Check Areas With 10% Positivity Rate, 60% Bed Occupancy On O2 Support’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:  12.12.2021

The Centre has asked states and UTs to strictly monitor and implement measures at district level clusters of new Covid-19 cases, with a particular focus on areas reporting over 10% positivity rate or over 60% bed occupancy on either oxygen support or ICU.

The health ministry has also raised concern over districts with high positivity rate in three states — Mizoram, Kerala and Sikkim. The three states have eight districts reporting more than 10% positivity.

Besides,19 districts in Kerala, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradesh, Puducherry, Manipur, West Bengal and Nagaland have been reporting positivity rates between five and10% in the last two weeks. “Thus, these 27 districts need to be monitored very closely,” health secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter to states and UTs on Saturday.

“In case of any district reporting a surge in cases, or rise in positivity rates, intensive action and local containment as per the containment framework must be initiated,” Bhushan said.

The Centre suggested specific containment measures to ensure there is no sudden surge in cases and healthcare systems are not burdened.

The government maintains that at present the health systems are not burdened due to Omicron. However, there are clusters where cases are increasing rapidly. While Delta continues to be the dominant variant, the Centre has stressed on states to continue genome sequencing of positive samples.

“The strategic containment interventions in identified areas with test positivity rate of over10 per cent or over 60 per cent bed occupancy on either two oxygen-supported or ICU beds, include night curfews, restricting intermingling of people, prohibition of congregations (social, political, sports, entertainment, academic, cultural, religious, festival-related), curtailment of attendees in marriages and funerals or last rites, etc,” Bhushan said.

Testing and surveillance interventions include ramping up testing and active case search, testing of influenzalike illness (ILI) and severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) cases through rapid antigen tests (RAT) and retesting by RT-PCR of symptomatic RAT negative tests.

Delhi HC: Teacher’s conduct to be blemish free

Delhi HC: Teacher’s conduct to be blemish free

New Delhi:12.12.2021

The conduct of a teacher as a Head of the Department, who is required to be involved in various activities including interacting with students, needs to be “blemish-free”, the Delhi High Court has observed while dismissing a DU professor’s plea aggrieved over nonappointment as the HoD following a sexual harassment complaint. The high court said Ordinance XXIII of the Delhi University makes it very clear that it gives discretion to the vice-chancellor to appoint a Head of the Department (HoD). PTI

ICMR focus on two-dose vax, is fine with current Covishield gap

ICMR focus on two-dose vax, is fine with current Covishield gap

Nisha.Nambiar@timesgroup.com

Pune:  12.12.2021

The Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) has advised against suddenly introducing a third Covid vaccine dose or recommending any change in the time gap of Covishield shots in the wake of Omicron cases.

Dr Samiran Panda, head of ICMR’s epidemiology department, told TOI that as of now the apex biomedical research body would underscore the importance of attaining greater coverage with two-dose vaccination. “With Omicron cases being mild not only in India but the world over, there should not be any knee-jerk reaction like introducing a third dose or recommending any change in the interval of Covishield doses,” he said.

“A decision on whether a third dose would be required for immunocompromised individuals would be taken later,” Dr Panda said.

He said scientific evidence of booster dose for the Indian terrain was being evaluated and the technical advisory group would make an announcement regarding it. Dr Panda said public health focus should be on double vaccination and completing the adult immunisation programme now because the two-dose vaccine strategy seemed to be working well in the Indian context.

On the demand from states like Maharashtra, Kerala and Karnataka to reduce the gap between the two Covishield doses, the ICMR scientist said scientific evidence from incountry reality was showing that the interval was fine.

Virologist Dr Shahid Jameel said a booster shot would increase the number of circulating antibodies and it had shown to increase the protection against symptomatic infection with Omicron. “We don’t know how well two doses continue to protect against severe disease. In the UK, those who got the AstraZeneca vaccine are getting a booster of the mRNA Pfizer or Moderna vaccine. A third dose of AstraZeneca will not be very effective because of its nature,” he said.

SAFETY PRICK

Fit to fly? Check your passports first, says RPO

Fit to fly? Check your passports first, says RPO

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Hyderabad:12.12.2021

If you are planning to travel abroad, it would be prudent to check that your passport is valid and in order, the Regional Passport Office, Hyderabad, said in an advisory issued on Friday.

“Many international travellers may not realise that having an unexpired passport is sometimes not enough to obtain visas or to enter certain foreign countries. Indian citizens travelling on passports which may expire in less than six months should renew their passports before any upcoming international travel,” said RPO (Hyderabad) Dasari Balaiah.

The RPO also urged parents to check passports of their minor children too as it is of a shorter validity period of 5 years unlike 10 years for adults.

Regarding booklets, RPO said that some countries did not accept passports which may have fewer than two pages remaining.

As a result, the passport holder should check if there are enough pages. As there is no provision of additional booklets/visa sheets, such applicants will be required to apply for re-issuance of passport. To avoid such hassles, frequent flyers can opt for jumbo passport containing 64 pages.

In case of applicants exhausting maximum number of appointments, they can approach the RPO for rescheduling their appointment, the advisory said. Applicants can also visit public enquiry counters (PECs) in Regional Passport Office between 9.30 am and 4 pm on all working days with all relevant documents for redressal of their grievances or any passport-related assistance, the RPO advisory said.

MBBS student dies by suicide

MBBS student dies by suicide

Bhopal: 12.12.2021

A 22-year-old MBBS student allegedly died by suicide at his friend’s home in Gandhi Nagar on Saturday afternoon. No suicide note was recovered from the spot, said cops.

SHO Gandhi Nagar SI Arun Sharma said that Kunal Sahu, who hailed from Sagar, was a student of MBBS 2nd year at a private medical college in Kolar and stayed in the boy’s hostel.

SHO Sharma said that on Saturday afternoon Kunal reached his friend’s home in Sumit Vihar Colony in Gandhi Nagar. She also hails from Sagar district and is a student of BDS first year. Kunal met the girl and then went to use the washroom. When he did not come out for long, his friend knocked on the door. When he did not respond, she called the neighbours and broke open the door. She was shocked to find him hanging. Subsequently, they rushed him to a private hospital where he was declared brought dead.

In another incident, a 22-year-old youth allegedly died by suicide by hanging himself at his home in Chhola locality on Friday night. Cops registered a case and started investigations.

Police said that the deceased Golu Sen, hailed from Berasia and resided here at Satyagyan Colony in Chhola with his family. He worked as a barber. He had gone to a marriage function with his family members on Thursday from where he returned home early. Later, he was found hanging in the room. No suicide note was recovered . TNN

Woman gifts liver, then kidney to her ailing son

Woman gifts liver, then kidney to her ailing son

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru:12.12.2021

In what doctors term a rare case, a 40-yearold woman has donated vital organs twice to her ailing son in Bengaluru in the past 13 years.

The first transplant was in 2008 when her son, then seven years old, was diagnosed with chronic liver disease. His mother Swapna (name changed) was found to be a matching donor and she donated a portion of her liver. She became an organ donor for the second time recently when her son, now 20, had no choice but to undergo a kidney transplant and she donated a kidney.

The kidney transplant was done on September 11, 2021 and the mother-son duo is doing fine, said Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed, senior consultant nephrology and renal transplant physician, Narayana Health. Both transplants were done in the same hospital.

Dr Ishtiaq Ahmed said retrieving more than one organ from a single living donor and transplanting it to a single recipient is rare phenomena.

Dad wanted to donate kidney but wasn’t fit: Doc

Swapna, who runs a tea shop near Basaveshwara Nagar in Bengaluru, told STOI the boy had suffered through his childhood and her decision to donate was only her duty. “My son suddenly started having swelling in the stomach and vomiting blood when he was seven. He was diagnosed with jaundice, but later it was found he had chronic liver disease and liver transplant was the only solution,” she said.

The mother was a matching donor and volunteered to donate a portion of her liver. Doctors retrieved 300gms of her liver and transplanted it in an 18-hour surgery on August 23, 2008.

Even as the family was recouping from it, the boy’s health issues surfaced again. In 2017, there was swelling in his legs as well as weakness and he was rushed to the hospital. A detailed examination revealed he was suffering from End Stage Kidney Disease, a progressive condition. Though initially his condition was managed with medicines, he had to be gradually shifted to dialysis.

“He was required to undergo dialysis thrice a week. It was quite expensive and he was not doing well. Once again, organ transplant was the only option. His father was willing to donate but was medically unfit. This time too, the mother came forward again,” said Dr Ahmed.

The transplant, planned for early 2021 had to be postponed due to the pandemic and was done in September 2021. “Initially, we were a little hesitant, as the case was immunologically high risk given that the mother was already an organ donor. But there was no other option and she was very keen,” said Dr Ahmed.

The kidney transplant cost was over Rs 6 lakh. “We sought help from the Prime Minister’s relief fund and got Rs 3 lakh. The rest was borne by the hospital,” said Swapna. She added she was not on any medication at present and is happy to see her son recovering.

Her son, an undergraduate commerce student in a city college, had missed classes due to to health issues, will resume classes over the next few months.

Illegal sim card sales a major security threat

Illegal sim card sales a major security threat

12.12.2021

In October, city crime branch busted a network of individuals involved in selling sim cards illegally, after a man from Talod taluka in Sabarkantha was apprehended.

During his questioning, it emerged that bank accounts, digital wallets and OTT access credentials are being sold illegally.

Police personnel investigating the sim card racket, which has roots in north Gujarat, found that the fraudsters had some 500 active cards which were being used by two people simultaneously: the proper owner and the cyber crook.

It was a startling revelation as cyber crooks were earlier using inactive sim cards to dupe people.

The accused steal data on active numbers from telecom companies or banks using the dark web. They clone sim cards and use them either in call centre rackets to dupe foreign nationals or to extort money from people. They use these cards for a day or two and the real owner is usually none the wiser, said a police officer.

Apart from the threat of personal information being misused through access to the sim card, this also represents a threat to national security because calls can be made and there will be no tracks to follow.

Police came upon the racket after arresting a man from Sabarkantha

Passing the love test, man weds blind woman for whom he wrote exams

Passing the love test, man weds blind woman for whom he wrote exams

They Met Only At Exam Centres For Four Years

Bharat.Yagnik@timesgroup.com

Ahmedabad:  12.12.2021

Never in her wildest dreams had Payal Sharma thought that she would find love in an examination hall of all places! The 26-year-old, who was pursuing her MA in Sanskrit, had sought an exam writer as she was visually challenged. She met Hardik Dave, who first won her heart then convinced both their families to bless their union. And, on November 28, the two finally tied the knot.

What makes this love story unusual is that Hardik and Payal met each other over a period of four years, mainly within the four walls of the examination centres before they confessed their love for each other.

It all began with Payal looking for an exam writer. She met Hardik who has done his BA with Sanskrit as the main language and assisted blind students as an exam writer. He stayed her writer till she completed her BEd. While Hardik’s love for Payal grew every time they met during exams, Payal nurtured feelings for him too.

“It was his touch that moved me. The way he held my hand while picking me up from the bus stop and accompanying me to the exam hall or while dropping me back showed his concern for me. I was not sure of his feelings so I waited for him to make the first move,” says Payal, who was a visiting faculty member at the Blind People’s Association till recently.

Interestingly, Payal and Hardik rarely kept in touch outside examination centres, other than occasionally greeting each other during festivals.

An astrologer, Hardik says he received over 10 marriage proposals in the past. “Some of them wanted me to quit astrology and do something else for a living. I was also in love with Payal,” said Hardik, who is a year older to her.

Hardik and Payal tied the knot on November 28

‘Smitten by her will’

An astrologer, Hardik says he received over 10 marriage proposals. “They wanted me to give up my passion for astrology but Payal liked me as I was. Her warm nature and strong will caught my heart,” said Hardik, who is a year older to her. Finally, Hardik proposed to Payal in September 2020.

It took some time for him to convince their parents. He said that Payal’s parents told him that she did not do any household work. “I assured them that I will take care of everything. To my surprise, I got to know later that she cooks well,” says Hardik, who has settled in Narol with Payal.

Bombay HC allows bizmen to go abroad despite LOC

Bombay HC allows bizmen to go abroad despite LOC

Circulars Issued By MHA At Instance Of BoB

Rosy.Sequeira@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  12.12.2021

While allowing several people to travel abroad temporarily for business purposes, Bombay high court has directed that lookout circulars (LOC) issued against them at the instance of public sector banks will not come in their way.

Among those granted interim relief by a bench of Justices Gautam Patel and Madhav Jamdar on December 9 are Rihen Mehta, promoter-director of Dubaibased Global Green Bridge FZC, and son of Harshad Mehta of the Rosy Blue diamond group. The company had taken credit of AED 11 million (nearly Rs 45 crore) from Bank of Baroda’s Dubai branch and Rihen Mehta was also a personal guarantor. In 2019, he returned to India with his family. In December 2019, BoB declared the company’s account a nonperforming asset and initiated recovery proceedings. On January 13, 2020, Rihen Mehta was stopped at Mumbai airport on his way to New York.

The court heard petitions that challenged the LOC issued by the ministry of home affairs following an October 4, 2018, office memorandum (OM) where persons can be restrained from travelling if their departure is detrimental to the “economic interest of India”.

The OM allows the chairman of State Bank of India, and managing directors and CEOs of all other public sector banks to request the issue of an LOC.

The common complaint of the petitions is because an individual or corporate identity is indebted to a public sector bank, LOCs have been issued restraining their travel overseas. While some petitioners have civil or recovery proceedings pending and others criminal proceedings, the bench said none “can be said to be absconding or fugitive” evading an arrest or a warrant”. While some petitions challenged the LOC, two questioned the Centre’s power to issue such an OM, saying curtailing fundamental rights must be by statute or constitutional amendment and not by an executive order.

Additional solicitor general Anil Singh, with advocate Rui Rodrigues, said it is for each bank to justify its action in requesting an LOC. “The fact that a particular bank may have been wrong in making that request will not vitiate the office memorandum itself,” said Singh, adding there is no reason to question the power to issue such an OM.

He also said the OMs address security concerns, are not a blanket infringement of fundamental rights and have inbuilt safeguards. Since there is a complete challenge to even the first OM of October 27, 2010, the judges posted the hearing on February 4.

In individual orders, they directed the petitioners to give their exact itinerary with contact details to the court.

The HC will not grant them further travel permission unless they return to India. Immigration authorities at all points of departure will permit the petitioners to depart the country “without regard to any Look Out Circular issued at the instance of the bank”.

Why you should stop worrying about what people think of you

Talk it out  12.12.2021

Why you should stop worrying about what people think of you

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

I easily get affected by the opinions of others, which I shouldn’t. What should I do to keep these thoughts away from my mind?

— Anonymous

Try not to let the behaviour of others steal your joy. Focus on being the best and happiest that you can be — that’s where your energy should go. Set the best example you can and spend time and energy on people who lift you higher. You need to understand that your emotions are wholly your responsibility — a result of your own cognition and thought process. So, the moment you begin to have control over them, you will no longer feel perturbed by other people’s opinions and actions. Hence, every time you experience an upsetting emotion, take responsibility for it. In short, the moment you start blaming somebody else for your emotions, you are bound to feel even more upset. Accept that the real power resides in you. Understanding that you are the only person who is in charge of what can and cannot happen to you can make a world of difference to your well-being.

I am in class 11 and study commerce. I take all my decisions on my own. There’s nobody to advise me about whether the things I am doing are right or not. Is it okay to do what I think is right or should I find someone who will advise me on these things?

— Anonymous

Most people care about the opinions of their loved ones. Sure, you don’t automatically do everything your family or friends suggest, but you do carefully weigh their guidance when trying to make a decision. Sometimes, the reason we don’t take advice is pure stubbornness. We want to do things our own way — even if it’s not working! Other times, we avoid advice out of fear. The truth is that hearing out advice and listening to it are two different things. By listening to someone and actually taking their advice, you not only get good results but also get to contribute to the joy of another person. Be willing to take advice. Life is so much simpler when you involve the strengths and expertise of others. The advice is out there. People want to help you. Allow yourself to receive help and the quality of your life will soar.

I am a student preparing for the UPSC exam. I have a younger sister who doesn’t respect me because I am always trying to teach her what is right or wrong. I think it’s a duty of every brother to stop his sister if she is doing bad things in her life. My relationship with her is very toxic. She loves to spend her time with her friends, and not with me. I feel neglected. These things affect my studies and mental health. Please help.

— Anonymous

You might have some irrational anger to work through, or you might be projecting something onto her. It’s so easy to regress back into how you fought while in your growing years, or to dredge up old family drama and jealousies. Try to remember all the good times you’ve had with your sister, and why you would want to repair that relationship. Don’t try to change her. A lot of times, your fights arise when one person is critical of the other’s life choices. Even when you think you have her best interests at heart and you’re not purposely being judgmental, it’s just not your place to direct her life or try to “save” her from her own decisions. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a deep breath and let go of whatever she did to upset you. It can be helpful to set boundaries in your relationship with your sister, to protect yourself and treat each other with respect and courtesy.

I am 29. My brother and I started a business venture but due to Covid, we suffered terrible losses and had to close down. My father lost his lifelong savings. He then told me about his friend’s business and took a loan to invest in it for me. Due to lack of options, I agreed to join it but now I feel guilty and disconnected because it is not my area of interest. I wish to restart my previous business, but my parents and brother are not in favour of it. I’m mentally shattered and frustrated. Please help.

— Anonymous

Frame painful experiences as lessons on how to be stronger and how to better navigate bad situations. Do not let them make you angry or bitter but use them to make you better and move on. Holding on to pain does more damage to you than to the other person. Learn to let things go, make more room for joy, spirit, relaxation and happiness. Try to strengthen your connections as it will help you develop resilience. Try to be goal oriented — when you have a purpose or goal in life, you have a sense of direction. The moment you have something to look forward to, your emotions turn significantly positive and you begin working towards attaining your goals. While having a goal makes your life more meaningful, bear in mind that the goal must be realistic and have a rational perspective. If you are struggling, please get help from a therapist.