NEWS TODAY 03.01.2024

 

New NMC norms mandate reasonable work hours for resident doctors, but don’t say what’s ‘reasonable’

New NMC norms mandate reasonable work hours for resident doctors, but don’t say what’s ‘reasonable’

The fresh regulations were meant to address issues like work stress. Federation of Resident Doctors Association says several of their demands ignored, plan to appeal to health ministry.

SUMI SUKANYA DUTTA

04 January, 2024 06:02 pm IST

New Delhi: The new Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) state that medical institutions should allow resident doctors to work only for “reasonable” hours and rest for “reasonable time” in a day, without specifying what “reasonable” means.

The PGMER 2023 was notified by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Monday and published Wednesday.

The new regulations, which have replaced the Postgraduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2018, have for the first time also stipulated a leave policy for residents, which entitles them to 20 casual leaves, apart from five academic leaves every year.

The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) — India largest network of resident doctors — expressed displeasure over the NMC’s failure to define working hours for PG doctors. It also criticised the leave policy, saying that the number of leaves mentioned in the regulations is less than what was sought. FORDA plans to appeal to the Union health ministry as well as the NMC to get the norms amended.

“For the last two years, we have been petitioning the government and the NMC to incorporate our demands related to working hours, leaves, stipend and working conditions. It is disappointing that very few of those have been incorporated in the new regulations despite assurances,” FORDA president Dr Aviral Mathur told ThePrint.

The association, in its representations to the ministry and NMC, has been demanding that resident doctors not be made to work beyond 60 hours a week and be given at least 30 leaves every year apart from fixed weekly offs.

They are currently given 20 leaves per year at most institutions. Resident doctors claim that on several occasions, they are made to work 24 hours and even 48 hours at a stretch, which leads to excessive work-related burnout. Moreover, in departments such as surgery, emergency, medicine and obstetrics and gynecology, which have the highest patient load in most government hospitals, the situation is particularly bad.

Doctors say that in many cases, hospitals deny weekly offs to residents while asking them to be on round-the-clock duty for up to five days a week.

FORDA has also expressed concern over the fact that its demand to make the proposed National Exit Test (NExT) — which will replace final year exams for MBBS students and entrance tests for post-graduate courses — only a licentiate examination and not a qualifying test, has been ignored.

“The new norms just mention NExT but don’t clarify what all purposes it will solve, leaving the provision vague and confusing,” Mathur said.

The regulations state that “an all-India merit list as well as a state-wise merit list of the eligible candidates shall be prepared based on the marks obtained in NExT or NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)-PG and candidates shall be admitted to post-graduate courses from the said merit lists only”.

ThePrint reached NMC spokesperson Dr Yogender Malik over phone. This report will be updated if and when a response is received.

NEWS TODAY 02.01.2024

 

Will not intervene in DMK’s campaign against NEET: SC

Will not intervene in DMK’s campaign against NEET: SC

THE HINDU BUREAU NEW DELHI

The Supreme Court on Tuesday refused to intervene against a students’ signature campaign announced by the DMK against the conduct of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) in the State, stating that the current generation was smart enough to see through the motive and the agenda behind such moves.

“Fortunately, we now have a very informed generation. Our children are not so innocent. They understand everything and are far ahead of our generation. They understand the motive, the agenda and how it all happens,” Justice Surya Kant, heading a Bench also comprising Justice K.V. Viswanathan, said.

Advocate M.L. Ravi, president of Desiya Makkal Sakthi Katchi and the petitioner, said this was a case of the “ruling party taking advantage of children politically”. However, the court said: “Do not raise these kinds of pleas in PILs… the campaign is not going to affect anything. This kind of all-India test has to be held. That is policy.”

The petitioner said Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin had announced the signature campaign against NEET and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin had announced that 50 lakh signatures had been collected in 50 days.

“There is no permission obtained from parents to take the signature of the students. By this act, students get disturbed and later, they may have to take the NEET. The students may end up in mental agony and spoil their career,” the petition had said.

Pongal gift: Raw rice, sugar, cane

Pongal gift: Raw rice, sugar, cane

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Chennai: The state government will give 1kg each of raw rice and sugar and one sugarcane to ration card holders eligible for rice and Sri Lankan Tamil refugees in rehabilitation camps. The state government allotted 238crore to procure these items and distribute it through the ration shops.

According to the government order, the raw rice would be procured at the cost of 35.2, while the sugar will be procured at the rate of 40.6 and the sugarcane will be procured at the rate of 33 for one sugarcane. Last year, the state government gave 1,000 as Pongal cash prize. This year, it distributes only the three items ahead of Pongal.tnn

People want better bus links to Kilambakkam

People want better bus links to Kilambakkam

Vivek Narayanan /

Chennai: Ambattur resident T Mahadevan and his family, who have planned a Pongal trip to their hometown Kanyakumari, must first switch MTC buses and travel one hour to Kilambakkam before boarding an SETC bus.

“I will have to reach CMBT Koyambedu and board a bus to Kilambakkam. An uphill task with luggage and my child,” said Mahadevan.

Many passengers travelling to southern TN from the western suburbs want point-to-point buses from all depots to Kilambakkam and increased suburban train frequency between Tambaram and Chengalpet.

Experts say connectivity and other smaller issues should have been resolved earlier.

Given the poor frequency of its buses, they wonder how MTC will manage frequent services to Kilambakkam terminus. “The planning regarding operation of services from Kilambakkam is missing.

The government can either procure more buses for shuttle services or outsource connectivity aspect. But this should be monitored,” said K Kumar, former chief planner, CMDA.

MTC operates more than 4,000 trips between Kilambakkam and different areas including Thiruvanmiyur, Broadway Poonamallee, Koyambedu, Tambaram, Guindy, Vadapalani and Koyambedu.

Commuters from north and west Chennai say shuttle buses to Kilambakkam should originate at all depots and nearest railway stations.

“There are no buses from Aynavaram or Perambur to the new terminus. Besides there are no luggage racks in MTC buses,” said M Somasundaram, consumer activist.

Trains are not a feasible option now as frequency on Chengalpet route is poor and commuters have to get off at Vandalur and Urapakkam and take a bus or auto to the terminus. Frequency of trains on Chengalpet route, currently 15 minutes during peak hours, can be increased.

The other option is to alight at Tambaram and board a bus to Kilambakkam. “It’s a struggle with luggage,” said G Raguraman of Perungalathur.

MTC crew claim the promised frequency between three and 15 minutes is not sustainable. “The distance is long, and it’s a traffic prone route. It is impossible to operate at the frequency promised,” said V Dayanandam, CITU, general secretary, MTC.

A senior MTC official said frequency to Kilambakkam is currently adequate and will be enhanced, while a senior CMDA official said work on the railway station will start soon.

Soon, no ground floor houses at Tambaram

Soon, no ground floor houses at Tambaram

Preetika P /

Chennai: Having learned a lesson from the floods, the Tambaram Corporation may reject building plans that include construction on the ground floors to safeguard homes.

Officials from the town planning department, who inspected flood-affected homes in December concluded that houses on the ground floor in Perungalathur, CTO Colony, Irumbuliyur, Varadharajapuram, Keelkatalai, Pammal, and Thiruneermalai were mostly inundated. “Homes here were not only built in low-lying areas but were also close to large water bodies such as Perangalthur, Irumbuliyur, Keelkatalai, and Thiruneermalai. They are vulnerable to flooding, as surface and groundwater naturally drain into these areas,” said a town planning officer of the civic body.

To make it worse, the works on the construction of rain water drains in these areas are incomplete.

Last week, the Tambaram Corporation prepared a report to prevent inundation and improve town planning. “We will be presenting this report to the state. If they approve the plans, we will be able to stop construction on the ground floors in all new residential buildings within Corporation limit. If construction on the ground floor is unavoidable, we will ask residents to increase the height of the construction plot. It must be at least 3 feet above the road level,” said Tambaram Corporation commissioner, R Alagumeena. “No house must be constructed below the road level. If the house is not on the ground floor, then the pavement can be leveled to the road. Or, slopes must decline towards the road,” she said.

Besides preventing the inundation of homes, the new proposals will also ensure a continuous supply of clean water.

Officials from the town planning teams found dirty water in the water sumps of several houses. “We could not use the water for several days. It had a weird smell, and we spent a lot of money on getting the sump and overhead tank cleaned and disinfected,” said Venkat Rao, a resident living in Keelkattalai. The report has also proposed to ask residents to increase the height of the sump wall to prevent contamination of drinking water.

Meanwhile, residents living in low-lying houses are already making temporary fixes. Some residents of Thiruneermalai have built a makeshift slope with gravel so that the chances of water accumulating around their homes are reduced.

CM to inaugurate 47th edition of Chennai book fair

CM to inaugurate 47th edition of Chennai book fair

Chennai: The 47th Chennai book fair — the annual event every book lover in the city looks forward to — will be inaugurated by chief minister M K Stalin at YMCA, Nandanam, on Wednesday

As many as 915 stalls will display books, both fiction and non-fiction, predominantly in Tamil as well as English till January 21.

Apart from the regular publishers, 27 new members of booksellers and publishers association of South India (Bapasi), have also been allocated stalls this year, while non-members who approached Bapasi have also been accommodated.

Much like the previous year, the prison department will have a stall where people can donate books to the library in Puzhal central prison.

Bapasi anticipates demand for Sahitya Akademi award winning books as is the usual trend, apart from historical novels.

Devibharathi's ‘Neervazhi Paduum’ won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2023. “Since it is the Kalaignar centenary year, we expect high sales of his books,” said M Palani, who was part of the Bapasi committee last year.

Chief minister M K Stalin will honour writers and publishers with Muthamizharignar M Karunanidhi Porkizhi awards, while school education minister Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi will also be present at the inauguration.

Literary events have been planned on all days of the festival.

Meanwhile, the Chennai International Book Fair, which was held along with the annual book fair last year, has been shifted to Nandambakkam this year and will be held on January 16 to 18 at the Trade Centre.

High court seeks report from magistrate who gave bail to Periyar University VC

High court seeks report from magistrate who gave bail to Periyar University VC

Chennai: Madras high court has called for a report from the magistrate who granted interim bail to Periyar University vice-chancellor R Jagannathan, who was arrested by Salem police on charges of floating a private company without prior consent of the government and for offences punishable under SC/ST Act.

Justice P Dhanabal passed the interim order on a plea moved by Salem police seeking to cancel the interim bail.

The issue pertains to an order passed by judicial magistrate II of Salem by rejecting the remand of Jagannathan who was arrested under Sections 294(b) (obscene acts), 120B (criminal conspiracy), 420 (cheating), 460 (trespass), 409 (criminal breach of trust) r/w.511, 506(1) (criminal intimidation) and 3(1)(r) and 3(1)(s) of SC/ST (POA) Act.

According to the prosecution, the magistrate observed that the offences are punishable within 7 years and thereby, as per the judgment in the Arnesh Kumar and Satender Kumar Antil case, the procedures under section 41 of CrPC have to be followed.

But the magistrate failed to note that the offences punishable under section 409 is up to life and life means not less than 20 years. Since the offences under section 409 r/w 511 is punishable up to 10 years, the observation of the magistrate is erroneous, the prosecution said.

“The magistrate failed to consider the mandatory provisions of section 15-A of SC/ST (POA) Act. As per Section 15-A (3) of SC/AT (POA) Act, the victim or his dependent shall have the right to reasonable, accurate, and timely notice of any court proceeding including any bail proceeding,” they added.

Recording the submissions, the court said, “In this context, the magistrate has recorded in the order that there is no allegation in respect of cheating or misappropriation and thereby the magistrate has not considered the section 409 r/w 511 IPC.”

Further the order was passed by the magistrate under section 59 of CrPC and as per section no person who has been arrested by a police officer shall be discharged except on his own bond, or on bail, or under the special order of magistrate, the court said.

In the present case also, the police have arrested the accused and then produced before the magistrate and thereby, the magistrate has passed the order under CrPC and not by invoking the SC/ST (POA) Act, the court added.

Since the magistrate has passed the order in detail, it is appropriate to call for a report from the magistrate and also to hear the police as well as the victim , the court said in its order.

5 New ways to use UPI payments as 2024 begins with these rule changes

5 New ways to use UPI payments as 2024 begins with these rule changes

By HT News Desk

Jan 01, 2024 03:10 PM IST

Several changes are set to be introduced in how you use UPI payments. Take a look at them here.

As we enter the new year, it's essential to take note of the UPI rules that have been changed. These new regulations are set to bring a substantial improvement to your online banking and payment transaction experiences.UPI representative image.(Mint file photo)

5 UPI rules that are changing in 2024

1. National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) have instructed payment apps to deactivate inactive UPI IDs after one year. Users of platforms like Google Pay and PhonePe must verify and ensure their UPI IDs remain active, also reviewing associated phone numbers for inactivity.

2. NPCI announced the upcoming launch of 'UPI for Secondary Market' in its Beta phase. The collaborative effort involves key stakeholders, allowing limited pilot customers to block funds, debited upon trade confirmation during settlement, with payouts processed by Clearing Corporations on a T 1 basis.

3. Reserve Bank of India has raised UPI transaction limit for hospitals and educational institutions from ₹1 lakh to ₹5 lakh. This change, post a monetary policy committee meeting, facilitates higher online payments for education and healthcare purposes.

4. RBI plans nationwide introduction of UPI ATMs, allowing cash withdrawal by scanning a QR code. Hitachi Payment Services has already introduced 'the country's first-ever UPI-ATM’ as a White Label ATM (WLA) in association with NPCI.

5. RBI proposes a 4-hour time limit for users making first payments over ₹2,000 to new recipients. This window allows users to reverse or modify transactions initiated with someone they haven't transacted with before, adding an additional layer of control and security.

UPI Transactions: New Regulations And Changes That Come Into Effect From Today

UPI Transactions: New Regulations And Changes That Come Into Effect From Today

To enhance the scope of UPI payments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announcedsome measures and changes that will be applicable from January 1, 2024.

Feature Edited by Ritu Singh

Updated: January 01, 2024 11:33 am IST

There will also be a 1.1 per cent interchange fee on certain merchant UPI transactions above ₹ 2,000

The Unified Payments Interface (UPI), used for immediate money transfers through mobile devices, has become the fastest-growing payment mode in the country. Since its launch, the volume of digital transactions in India has increased exponentially. To enhance the scope of UPI payments, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) announced some measures and changes that will be applicable from January 1, 2024.

Notably, The National Payments Corporation of India (NPCI) has asked payment apps such as Google Pay, Paytm, PhonePe, etc., and banks to deactivate the UPI IDs and numbers that have not been active for more than one year. The daily payment limit for UPI transactions shall now be ₹ 1 lakh maximum, as per NPCI. However, RBI raised the transaction limit for UPI payments to hospitals and educational institutions to ₹ 5 lakh on December 8, 2023, to broaden the use of UPI payments.

There will also be a 1.1 per cent interchange fee on certain merchant UPI transactions above ₹ 2,000, made using prepaid payment instruments (PPI) like online wallets.

To curb rising instances of online payment fraud, a four-hour time limit would be applicable each time a user initiates the first payment exceeding ₹ 2,000 to another user with whom they have not previously transacted. UPI members will be able to soon go live with the UPI ‘Tap and Pay' functionality.

Additionally, RBI in collaboration with the Japanese company Hitachi, will now roll out UPI ATMs all across India wherein you can scan a QR code to withdraw cash from your bank account.

Notably, the Unified Payments Interface (UPI) is a real-time payment system in India that allows seamless, instant transactions between different banks using smartphones.

In August 2023, UPI achieved a remarkable milestone by crossing 10 billion transactions. A top official from the National Payments Corporation of India said that the country has the potential to do 100 billion Unified Payments Interface (UPI) transactions a month.