SABHAS GET COOKING ON SEASON SAAPADU

Ragam Tanam Margazhi

SABHAS GET COOKING ON SEASON SAAPADU

Canteens return with fewer covers, signature dishes and traditional recipes

Priya.Menon@timesgroup.com

15.12.2021

It’s early in the morning, but Venkatesan Krishnan is up and about. At 7.30am, he opens the doors to his sabha canteen in Mylapore Fine Arts. And as the crowd trickles in and swells to a packed house by lunch, he feels a satisfaction he hasn’t experienced in a long time.

“Serving at sabhas is something that I look forward to,” says Krishnan, who runs Sastha Catering Services in Porur. “Last year, I did run a canteen for the same sabha, but this year, it’s more vibrant.”

While Covid-19 saw sabhas conduct online performances in 2020, a few of them have opened their doors to live performances this year. And where there are sabhas, can food be far behind? That’s why they have got their favourite caterers to run their canteens for rasikas who are delighted to feast on the elaborate ela sappadu, delicious kasi halwa, and crispy keerai vadas followed by a cup of freshly brewed filter coffee.

“We serve a kalyana sappadu with 26 dishes and a different menu every day for lunch. And on January 1 and 2, we will have a special New Year saapadu that will be a mix of TN, Kerala and AP cuisines,” says Krishnan. Their signature dishes include elaneer payasam, palada pradhaman and chakka pradhaman.

“The canteen is open till January 3, 2022. People can pre-order and book through WhatsApp. We are also available on food delivery apps,” says Krishnan.

K Srinivasan, one of the proprietors of the Mountbatten Mani Iyer canteen, is happy to be back on the sabha circuit. They have been running the canteen at Parthasarathy Swami Sabha from 2000 to 2019 but were forced to take a break last year due to the pandemic.

“This year, we won’t be serving breakfast on weekdays, though tea and coffee will be available. On weekends, we may serve breakfast,” says Srinivasan. “The ela sappadu will continue, and in the evening, we will serve tiffin items like bajji, bonda and vada.”

Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels has tied up with Karthik Fine Arts to conduct the Grand Gana Sabha festival from December 16, 2021, to January 13, 2022. “Performances will be held in the hotel lobby from 7pm to 8.30pm,” says Elango Rajendran, senior general manager, Grand Chennai by GRT Hotels, adding that live performances will be held only on weekends, though sabha food will be available on all the days.

“We are also inviting residents to attend and experience the concerts and the food,” says Elango.

Sabha food, with a twist, will be served at their restaurant J.Hind. “We want to take traditional food to youngsters. It doesn’t surprise me when they ask what’s kambu dosa, or kuzhi paniyaram,” says Elango, adding that they also explain the origins of each dish. “For example, Ashoka halwa originated in Thiruvaiyaru, a panchayat town in Thanjavur district. It is a popular dish prepared during the month of Margazhi.” Other dishes include mullaikangal keerai vada, and banana flower fritters with chunky mustard and tomato.

The sabhas have also ensured safety measures are in place. “People have to show their vaccination certificates before entering the canteen,” says Krishnan.

Srinivasan says they plan to seat two people at a table instead of three. “It’s a challenge but we are glad to be back,” he says.

Chennai: 72-yr-old dies after fall from train’s top berth

Chennai: 72-yr-old dies after fall from train’s top berth

TNN | Dec 14, 2021, 03.45 AM IST

CHENNAI: A 72-year-old-man died after slipping and falling in his sleep from the upper berth of an express train to Chennai on Sunday night. A Government Railway Police (GRP) team, which examined the body at Tambaram station, found his spectacles broken and blood around the left ear.

The deceased, Narayanan of Karaikudi, was part of a 20-member group which was on a pilgrimage to a temple in Vadakara in Kerala and planned to start from a temple in Chennai’s Mannady (Parry’s). The group boarded S2 coach in Silambu Express (Sengottai to Chennai Egmore) on Saturday. After dinner, Narayanan took the upper berth. He is believed to have slipped and fallen to the floor of the coach at Maraimalai Nagar, but the others in the group failed to notice it immediately. After 10 minutes, some people found him lying on the floor bleeding from the ear. His co-passengers tried to help him, as he was unconscious. The authorities were alerted. At Tambaram station, the railway health staff who reached the compartment declared Narayanan dead. The Tambaram GRP registered a case and sent the body to the Chromepet GH for postmortem. Doctors there told police they found blood around the left ear and that a piece from the broken spectacles may have pierced him. He had removed his spectacles and placed them in the pocket on the left side of his shirt, police said.

Police said he was allotted berth 57 (lower), but slept on berth 60 (upper). “We suspect he could have swapped seats with someone and slept on the upper berth from where he slipped while he was asleep,” said an investigating officer.

Fake degrees scams busted in Rajkot

Fake degrees scams busted in Rajkot

TNN | Dec 13, 2021, 04.10 AM IST

RAJKOT: Two rackets of making and selling fake educational degree certificates and markets were busted in Rajkot with the police arresting three persons including a woman.

The degree certificates were made for students who were aspiring to go to Canada for further studies or immigrate.

The special operations group (SOG) sources said that over a dozen bogus MBA certificates were seized from the accused during the raid that was conducted by the cops a fortnight ago. The cops said that further investigations may lead to more arrests in the case.

The SOG sleuths had nabbed Paras Khajuria near his house on Vidyanagar Road after they received a tip-off that he was selling bogus degree certificates. When his two-wheeler was checked, the investigators found 11 degree certificates of MBA and marksheets. The degrees were from Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University in Agra and Allahabad University.

“We sent the degrees to the respective universities to ascertain if they were genuine. On Saturday, we got the reply from the universities that the degree certificates were fake following which we arrested Khajuria,” said deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Manoharsinh Jadeja. Khajuria is a visa agent and helps aspiring students to immigrate to Canada.

Apart from providing service to genuine clients, Khajuria used to look for the aspirants who wanted to immigrate but didn’t have an MBA degree that helps in getting more points for permanent residence (PR) in Canada. He was engaged in the racket of making bogus degrees for the last six years. When asked how he managed to get fake degrees, Khajuria said that Darshan Kotak, a resident of Ahmedabad, used to send him the degrees,” Jadeja added.

Khajuria used to charge anywhere between Rs 70,000 to Rs one lakh per degree from the aspirants. He used to keep half the money and send the rest to Kotak who too has been booked by the police for fraud.

Police also booked Vaibhav Patadia, Apurva Patel and Viral Goradia in whose names the seized certificates were issued. Khajuria has been sent to one day of police custody by the court. Vaibhav, who was looking to get more points in PR, too has been arrested.

In a separate case of bogus certificates, a 35-year-old woman too has been arrested from the city. Dharmishta Makadia, a resident of Sadhu Vasvani Road, was making fake MBA degrees for the last one year. Police seized five bogus degrees and seven photocopies from her. “The fake degrees were in the name of William Carey University based in Meghalaya. She used to charge Rs 70,000 per degree certificate,” Jadeja said.

Police said was earlier booked in Maharashtra too for the similar crime.

Makadia told the investigators that a Delhi-based man Prakash Yadav, who was her Facebook friend, used to send her fake degrees. She claimed that Yadav gave her the idea of how to execute the racket. Police also booked Malti Trivedi and Maulik Jasani, in whose names the bogus certificates seized from Makadia, were issued. She has been remanded to one day of police custody by the court.

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

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.”

Footboard travel of students: Who will take responsibility?

Footboard travel of students: Who will take responsibility?

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:53 AM 

School students travelling on footboard at Vepery in Chennai | P Jawahar

By Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam

Express News Service

MADURAI: Sample this: There is enough room inside, but most of the youth prefer to put their lives at risk by hanging on to the railings of the footboard, clutching their lives in their hand. Their reason is simple: To impress girls.

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

“Usually the girls sitting inside the bus would turn back and notice the boys travelling on footpath. It gives us courage and confidence to speak to the girls when they come out of the bus,” he said.

G Arun, a college student who travels from Villapuram to Tallakulam daily said: “From class X onwards, I am a ‘footboard traveller’. I prefer to travel on the rear footboard only when the speed of the bus is too much. If the speed is higher, there is always a chance to fall down. We the footboard travellers have two benefits. One, we will be able to see the girls inside the bus and those waiting in each and every stop. On each step, six boys can travel. In total, 18 boys can stand on the footboard freely,” he said.

Chief Educational Officer R Swaminathan said he will send a circular to all the school heads to spread awareness among students about the dangers of footboard travel.

“I will urge the heads to monitor, depute teachers in each and every bus stop to curb this,” he said.

Speaking to TNIE, TNSTC CITU District Secretary, A Kanagasundar, said bus drivers or conductors alone cannot end the footboard travel.

“Though no driver or conductors received notice or fine in the district, penalty of Rs 100 was slapped on bus drivers and conductors in other districts. The penalty is adding to their stress,” he said.

Speaking to TNIE, Joint Transport Commissioner Pon Senthilnathan said, “A Whatsapp group will be created by each RTO with the school heads, TNSTC staff and traffic police personnel in their respective jurisdiction in a bid to put an end to this issue.”

B Veeranan, a student studying in a private matriculation school in Anna Nagar residing in Karuppayurani, said the students prefer to travel on footboard mainly to make the girls notice them.

In a first, Centre gives nod for PG seats at Omandurar MCH

In a first, Centre gives nod for PG seats at Omandurar MCH

With this, the number of PG medical seats in government medical colleges has increased to 1,992 from 1,964.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:37 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Government Omandurar Medical College Hospital (GOMCH), which was started in 2015 with 100 MBBS seats, got approval from the Union Health Ministry for starting a Postgraduate medical course with 28 seats, said Health Minister Ma Subramanian.

Speaking to reporters on Monday after inaugurating various facilities announced in the budget session at GOMCH, the Health Minister said the college got approval for PG seats for the first time.

Dr R Jayanthi, Dean, GOMCH told TNIE that the permission was granted for six seats each in MD in General Medicine, MD in Paediatrics, MS in General Surgery, three seats each in MD in Anaesthesia and MS in Orthopaedics, and four seats in MS Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

The students will be enrolled from this academic year, the Dean said.

With this, the number of PG medical seats in government medical colleges has increased to 1,992 from 1,964. The minister further said the Union Health Ministry also gave approval for 50 additional MBBS seats at the Coimbatore Government Medical College. With this, the State has received 1,500 additional MBBS seats this year.

‘No Omicron cases yet’

So far, 25 international travellers from ‘at risk’ and ‘non-risk’ countries have tested positive for Covid-19 in Tamil Nadu.

Of samples sent to InStem in Bengaluru for genome sequencing, the four results that came back had Delta variant and not Omicron.

So, there are no Omicron cases in Tamil Nadu yet, said Subramanian. Earlier, the minister inaugurated five facilities at the GOMCH — Cognition Rehabilitation and Day Care Centre, Emergency Care and Rehabilitation Centre, Internet De-addiction Centre, Post Natal Depression Counselling and a Newborn Hearing Special Screening facility.

Chennai book fair from January 6-23 at YMCA Grounds; Stalin to inaugurate event

Chennai book fair from January 6-23 at YMCA Grounds; Stalin to inaugurate event

BAPASI, which organises the fair, said all Covid-19 protocol stipulated by the State government will be followed and the fair will be used as a platform to create awareness on safety.

Published: 14th December 2021 02:40 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Chief Minister MK Stalin will inaugurate the 45th Chennai book fair at the YMCA Grounds in Nandanam from January 6 to 23. During weekdays, the fair will be open from 3 pm to 8:30 pm and on weekends and government holidays including Pongal, from 11 am to 8:30 pm.

SK Murugan, secretary of BookSellers’ and Publishers’ Association of South India (BAPASI), which organises the fair, said all Covid-19 protocol stipulated by the State government will be followed and the fair will be used as a platform to create awareness on safety.

“We are discussing with officials the possibility of having a vaccination camp within the premises and we will also make sure to intensify awareness campaigns,” Murugan said. Masks and sanitisers will be distributed at the venue.

The programme schedule and details will be available by the first week of January, said Murugan.

In 2021, the fair was conducted in late February which resulted in organisers and publishers losing out on the Pongal holidays that usually brings in a large number of visitors.

In addition, several city residents had moved out of the city to their hometowns due to the work from home option.

When usually an average of 12 lakh people visit the fair, only eight lakh people had turned up and the revenue dropped around Rs 2 crore from the usual average. Political parties’ functionaries, who are usually regular visitors of the fair, had also given it a miss due to election work.

Four seniors booked for ragging Tamil Nadu MBBS student

Four seniors booked for ragging Tamil Nadu MBBS student

Incident in Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital came to light after the ‘assaulted’ junior attempted suicide

Published: 12th December 2021 05:42 AM 

By Express News Service

DHARMAPURI: Four students were booked on Saturday for allegedly ragging a second-year MBBS student, who attempted to die by suicide last week, in the Dharmapuri Medical College Hospital (DMCH) premises. According to sources, following the last week’s incident, the college administration’s Anti-Ragging Committee conducted a probe and the DMCH dean Amudhavalli registered a complaint against four third-year students.

In the complaint, the dean has mentioned that over two weeks ago, the second-year student from Rasipuram had visited the outpatient wing with throat pain. Doctors who diagnosed him found visible injuries and upon inquiry, the student reported that he was physically assaulted by four senior students. Following this, a complaint was filed with the Anti- Ragging Committee. Further, a Faculty Committee (FAC) was formed and the four were removed from the hostel. The complaint also mentioned that the student attempted to die by suicide due to psychological trauma. When contacted, the college administration refused to comment saying a police probe is underway.

Inspector D Ammadurai, the investigating officer in the case, said, “We have also received reports and evidence from the FAC. However, arrests have not been made yet. We need to receive a statement from the victim and cross-examine the witnesses. As the victim has been sent home for recovery, we will resume the investigation after he rejoins the college.”

(Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TN’s health helpline 104 and Sneha’s suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

Narikkuravar family row: Three TNSTC staff reinstated

Narikkuravar family row: Three TNSTC staff reinstated

A bus driver, conductor and a senior officer of Thiruvattar depot have earlier been suspended over allegedly forcing a Narikkuravar family get down a bus.

Published: 12th December 2021 05:43 AM 

By Express News Service

NAGERCOIL: Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) has revoked the order suspending three employees — a bus driver, conductor and a senior officer of Thiruvattar depot — over allegedly forcing a Narikkuravar family get down a bus.

Sources said soon after the Narikkuravar family comprising an elderly man, a woman and a child got on to the bus heading to Tirunelveli from Vadassery bus stand, the woman and the man started arguing over some issue. “The conductor forced the family to get down the bus after the irritated fellow passengers asked him to do so,” they said.

All the three employees have been asked to join duty on Sunday. A senior official of TNSTC said the corporation is giving counselling to drivers and conductors at bus stations and depots, after the incident in Colachel where a dry fish seller was forced to get down from a bus.

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