NEWS TODAY 30.10.2024

 

Lifestyle changes a major cause for stroke among young people, say doctors

Lifestyle changes a major cause for stroke among young people, say doctors

Resident Medical Officer S. Saravanan speaks at the World Strokes Day awareness programme conducted at Government Rajaji Hospital in Madurai on Tuesday. G. MOORTHY

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 30.10.2024

Stroke among young people is rising due to various lifestyle changes such as intake of food rich in saturated fat,lack of physical activities, sleep disorder, said P.K. Murugan, Head, Department of Neurology, Government Rajaji Hospital. Speaking at a public awareness meeting organised at GRH on the occasion of World Stroke Day on Tuesday, Dr. Murugan, attributed these negative factors to a sedentary lifestyle because of the youth’s job nature and location.

He highlighted the role of alteplase, a clot dissolving drug that could significantly improve recovery outcomes when administered to patients within 4.5 hours of symptom onset. “By using this treatment, patients have a better chance of clot dissolution and recovery,” he said.

S. Saravanan, Resident Medical Officer, said students and people of all professions should make it a habit to exercise every morning. “Those who cannot spare time in the morning should at least exercise or play any game in the evening. Everybody must devote at least an hour for physical reading of a book. This will help prevent most of the non-communicable diseases,” he said.

While sleep disorder leads to diabetes, blood pressure, obesity, etc., practising physical exercise and reading could help in getting a good sleep, Dr. Saravanan said. Stroke does not come suddenly. It gives warning signals. So, by taling these precautionary steps, it could be prevented, he added.

Ph. D scholar presents petition to Governor during convocation

Ph. D scholar presents petition to Governor during convocation

The Hindu Bureau 30.10.2024 

TIRUCHI 30.10.2024 

A Ph.D research scholar F. Israel Inbaraj, 51, presented a petition, complaining about the treatment meted out to research scholars, to Governor R.N. Ravi on the dais during the Bharathidasan University convocation on Tuesday. Mr. Inbaraj presented the petition to the Governor while receiving the degree from him, causing a flutter.

Speaking to reporters after the ceremony, the Chennai-based management professional said he had a passion for teaching and had earned six degrees. “I applied for a Ph. D in Human Resource Management at BDU in 2017, but was able to get my degree only after six years. There are many others like me who have been suffering. I decided to present a petition to the Governor-Chancellor to inform him about the treatment meted out to research scholars at the university,” Mr. Inbaraj told The Hindu.

He said that paperwork delays by the university had created many procedural problems.

He had petitioned the Governor for a more humane treatment of research scholars and clear guidelines on submissions. He had complained about the arbitrary rejection of journal publications because of frequent changes in the University Grants Commission-Consortium for Academic Research and Ethics (UGC-CARE) list.

“My petition was made on behalf of all the aspiring research scholars,” he said.

How the media covered the launch of ADMK and subsequent developments

How the media covered the launch of ADMK and subsequent developments

1 of 2 Landmark events: M.G. Ramachandran’s fans taking out a procession after garlanding the statue of C.N. Annadurai in Madurai on October 15, 1972. At right, MGR addressing a huge gathering from a special rostrum erected at the foot of the Anna Statue on Anna Salai, Madras, hours after he was sworn in as the Chief Minister on June 30, 1977.The Hindu Archivesprevnext

While carrying a substantial number of reports concerning the ADMK on the pages meant for the State, The Hindu, however, published prominently on the front page atthe time of key developments — be it the suspension of MGR from the DMK, or the formation of ADMK, or its spectacular success in the 1973 Dindigul Lok Sabha by-election

T. Ramakrishnan

The extensive media coverage of the maiden State-level conference of Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK), led by actor Vijay, has spurred interest among the intelligentsia in how the press fared at the time of the inauguration of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (AIADMK), which was established by veteran actor and former DMK treasurer M.G. Ramachandran (MGR) in October 1972.

The Hindu’s approach towards vividly capturing the political events of Tamil Nadu can be evident from its coverage of developments leading to the formation of the AIADMK in 1972 and the events until after the party was voted to power in June 1977. A search in the newspaper’s internal archival system for the term, ADMK (Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, which was how the party was called until September 1976), threw up 756 entries for reports published from October 1972 to December 1973.

While carrying a substantial number of the reports concerning the ADMK in the pages meant for the State, the newspaper, however, published on page 1 reports of key developments — be it the suspension of MGR from the DMK, or the formation of the ADMK, or its spectacular success in the 1973 Dindigul Lok Sabha by-election.

Start of the showdown

Even though the showdown between MGR and the DMK leadership began in the first week of October 1972 with his famous speech at Thirukazhukundram, there was an indication on September 29 that year that members of the MGR Mandrams (fans’ clubs) were planning a body of their own when they put up at a busy locality of Tirunelveli town a separate flag with the figure of a lotus in crimson hue at the centre. Till then, the leader’s fans had only the DMK’s flag for their Mandrams. This development was captured briefly in a report on page 12 of the edition dated October 1, 1972.

On October 8, MGR, in his speech at Thirukazhukundram, about 75 km from Chennai, urged town, taluk, and district secretaries of the DMK to make public the details of their assets. Sensing the political significance of the speech which was made a few days before the scheduled meetings of the party’s executive and general council, the newspaper carried a box report on his speech at the bottom of the front page the next day.

Two days later, when the DMK leadership announced its decision to suspend MGR from the party, a report was published on the right top of the front page on October 11, 1972. On page 12, an account of the reaction of rickshaw-pullers, women from slums, small-scale traders, and hoteliers was presented in two reports from Tiruchi and Madurai.

ADMK announced

On October 19, the newspaper published at the lower bottom of the front page a report based on MGR’s interaction with journalists the previous day wherein he had announced the formation of the ADMK. On November 10, MGR, along with his party colleagues and representatives of his allies — the Communist Party of India (CPI) and the Republican Party — took out a “mammoth procession” over 10 km to the Raj Bhavan at Guindy. This event was captured in a three-column report that was carried in the middle of the front page on November 11, 1972, with a four-column photograph below.

Six months later, the ADMK’s resounding victory in the byelection to the Dindigul Lok Sabha constituency was captured in a seven-column report at the top of the front page on May 22, 1973. The report carried a profile picture of the winning candidate, K. Maya Thevar. On February 27, 1974, the newspaper had another lead story, spanning over four columns, on the ADMK-CPI combine securing an absolute majority in the Puducherry Assembly election. The heading of the report also mentioned, “DMK Routed.”

On the same page, there was a report on the ADMK’s victory in the byelection to the Coimbatore (West) Assembly constituency, besides a couple of more on ADMK and CPI candidates leading over their nearest rivals — the Congress and Congress (Organisation) candidates — in the by-elections to the Puducherry and Coimbatore Lok Sabha constituencies. In March 1977, when the Lok Sabha elections were held, the coalition comprising the AIADMK (by then, the ADMK’s nomenclature got two more letters — AI or All India), the Congress and the CPI bagged 34 out of 39 seats. On March 21, 1977, there was a report at the bottom of the front page with the heading, ‘Sweeping Success for Cong.-AIADMK Alliance.’

Absolute majority for AIADMK

Three months later, the Assembly elections were held. On June 15 and 16, 1977, the newspaper carried on the right top portion of the front page reports on the victory of the AIADMK, which had, among others, the CPI (Marxist) and the Muslim League as partners. On the first day, the item had a single column photo of MGR, too, as he was declared elected. Below his picture was that of his colleague, Nanjil K. Manoharan, who also emerged victorious. The next day, the same slot had an item, titled ‘AIADMK Gets Absolute Majority’. The top middle portion had a box item which referred to the ADMK becoming the single largest party in the Puducherry Assembly election. MGR was sworn in as the Chief Minister on June 30, 1977, and the next day (July 1), almost one half of the front page was devoted to the event with two stories and two pictures — one displaying MGR addressing the crowd on Anna Salai after the swearing-in and the other showing a section of the crowd.

Report on press conference

In addition to the report on the swearing-in, the newspaper had reported on MGR’s press conference wherein he had stated that the government would maintain cordial ties with the Centre (which was headed by the Janata Party, which had aligned with the DMK in the 1977 Lok Sabha election). On the remaining columns, there were stories on the Assembly commencing its session on July 4 and the AIADMK Ministry assuming office in Puducherry on July 2.

A scrutiny of the treatment of all these events shows the newspaper’s adherence to high standards of professionalism

Doctors stress healthy lifestyle and regular check-up to prevent strokes in young adults

Doctors stress healthy lifestyle and regular check-up to prevent strokes in young adults

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 29.10.2024

Sedentary lifestyle, hypertension and diabetes, and substance abuse are some of the key factors leading to rising incidence of stroke among young adults, said doctors from Kauvery Hospital at a webinar, part of The Hindu’s Wellness Series, held on Monday.

Explaining the issue, Sivarajan Thandeswaran, senior consultant, stroke and neurovascular medicine, Kauvery Hospital, Chennai, said 23% of all intracerebral haemorrhages and 16% of all subarachnoid haemorrhages occurred in people aged between 15 and 49. He said diabetes and hypertension were both common risk factors. Many adults who have high blood pressure do not know they have it, and monitoring and keeping blood pressure levels in check is one of the easiest ways to prevent a stroke, he pointed out. Obstructive sleep apnea and stress were the other factors, both of which should not be ignored, he emphasised.

“Women have a slightly higher risk of stroke compared to men,” Dr. Thandeswaran said.

G. Jos Jasper, head of brain and spine surgery, Kauvery Hospital, Tiruchi, said the COVID-19 pandemic lockdowns had contributed to an increase in sedentary lifestyle and eating unhealthy food, the effects of which still lingered. On the surgical management of strokes, he said nearly 80% of patients only needed medical management and did not require surgery. Dr. Jasper said that surgery was done only in cases of very large blocks, in young patients, worsening clinical status despite medical management, and bleeds even after administration of clot-dissolving drugs.

S. Senthil Babu, senior consultant, neurosurgery, Kauvery Hospital, Tirunelveli, gave an overview of the surgical management of haemorrhagic stroke.

To watch the full webinar, visit: https://bit.ly/48riYav

Airfares on Chennai, Bengaluru sectors soar in festival season

Airfares on Chennai, Bengaluru sectors soar in festival season

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 29.10.2024

If people had a last minute plan to come to Madurai for Deepavali celebrations and return to Chennai or Bengaluru, they would have to pay through their nose for both airfares and private bus fares. Only those who were lucky can manage to get tatkal tickets for train travel for the next few days.

Despite a good frequency of flight services between Chennai and Madurai — eight flights a day by Indigo and one service by Air India — airfare for the journey from Chennai to Madurai is ₹15,000 on October 29 and ₹12,000 to ₹18,000 on October 30.

“Only business class tickets are available in Air India and it will cost around ₹33,000,” said N Sriram, a travel agent. Airfare for Bengaluru-Madurai is around ₹12,400 on Tuesday and ₹16,500 on Wednesday.

Madurai has got four flight services to and from Bengaluru daily.

The airfares for the return journey from Madurai on both the routes are also on the higher side.

“This is only because Indigo is flying only ATR flights, which can accommodate only 72 passengers,” said another travel agent, B.S.G. Mustafa.

Madurai has been the highest revenue-generating sector for the airliners in the entire country.

“Despite the longer distance between Chennai and Mumbai, the airfare on that route is only a little over ₹5,000. Airline operators do not want to lose the revenue during the festival season and make the most of the demand,” he added.

The travel agents, however, said introduction of Vande Bharat expresses from Bengaluru and Chennai to/via Madurai had given a good option to travel during festival season. The fare is only ₹1,200 for chair car and ₹2,300 for executive chair car.

A railway official said some 144 seats were available till Monday evening in Chennai Egmore — Tirunelveli Vande Bharat train for October 30. “Southern Railway has introduced several special trains to clear extra passengers. But, all the trains, besides the regular trains, are full,” he added.

Even the train on demand had got good patronage.

The only option available before the passengers was tatkal and premium tatkal tickets for relatively cheaper travel, when compared to omni buses which are charging up to ₹4,200.

Teachers’ association appeals to Governor over non-payment of salary to temporary staff of BDU

Teachers’ association appeals to Governor over non-payment of salary to temporary staff of BDU

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 29.10.2024

The Association of University Teachers has appealed to the Governor-Chancellor of Bharathidasan University to intervene on behalf of temporary teachers and staff whose salaries have been withheld for a year.

In a letter to Chancellor R.N. Ravi, the association pointed out that 116 temporary teachers and staff of erstwhile constituent colleges have been working without salary for a year. The university ignored four directives in this regard from the Higher Education Department, said AUT president M.S. Balamurugan.

He said the genesis of the issue of constituent colleges from the year 2006 till the time the department converted constituent colleges into government colleges. When the proposal was implemented, the university absorbed 34 permanent teachers.

The government advised the university to pay salaries to 49 teachers appointed on hourly salary basis, 33 guest lecturers and 34 non-teaching staff of the 10 erstwhile constituent colleges appointed by the university when it launched courses without the government’s approval. The university, however, stopped salary payment to the 116 persons from November 2023, Mr. Balamurugan said.

The university would accept to release the salary but later cite ‘paucity of funds’ for not doing so, the AUT said.

Hearing and speech-impaired govt. engineer need not clear Tamil test, rules Madras HC

Hearing and speech-impaired govt. engineer need not clear Tamil test, rules Madras HC

The court wondered how the petitioner, suffering from 100% hearing and speech impairment, could be expected to attend a viva voce as part of the test.

Mohamed Imranullah S.

CHENNAI 29.10.2024 

The Madras High Court has come to the rescue of a Tamil Nadu Housing Board (TNHB) engineer suffering from 100% hearing and speech impairment and facing the threat of discharge from service for not having cleared the Tamil language test, which comprises a written examination and viva voce.

Justice N. Anand Venkatesh exercised the extraordinary powers of the High Court under Article 226 of the Constitution and directed the TNHB to exempt the engineer, B. Vidyasagar, serving in the technical cell at the board’s headquarters at Koyambedu in Chennai, from the language test.

The judge issued a consequential direction to the TNHB Managing Director to issue specific proceedings for granting such exemption, within four weeks. He also ordered payment of all increments and attendant benefits that had reportedly been withheld from the engineer for not having cleared the Tamil language test.

“The case in hand depicts the sorry state of affairs that prevails in society while dealing with differently abled persons,” the judge said, and lauded the petitioner for his “grit and determination” in having completed school studies in English, obtaining an engineering degree in 2003, and securing a job in the TNHB in 2014.

Since a Government Order issued on July 9, 1996 states that government servants must clear the Tamil language test and produce a certificate, and it does not grant any exemption to the physically challenged, the TNHB had informed the petitioner that he would be discharged from service unless he clears the test.

Wondering how the petitioner, suffering from 100% hearing and speech impairment, could be expected to attend a viva voce as part of the language test, the judge said that the petitioner’s efforts to get integrated into the mainstream of society should not get disrupted due to his discharge from service.

“The barriers faced by persons with disabilities go beyond just physical accessibility issues, extending to deep-rooted prejudice, stereotypes and misconceptions that pervade many aspects of society,” the judge said.

“A constitutional court must develop an understanding of the societal, attitudinal, cultural, institutional, structural, legal and environmental barriers that persons with disabilities encounter every day. The constitutional court must strive to remove these barriers through its rulings,” Justice Venkatesh said.

RTI documents cannot be marked ‘not evidence’: GIC

RTI documents cannot be marked ‘not evidence’: GIC 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 28.10.2024

Ahmedabad : The Gujarat Information Commission (GIC) has ruled against the practice of govt departments adding disclaimer stamps on documents provided under Right to Information (RTI). These disclaimers typically state, “Information provided under Section 7(9) of RTI Act in its present form cannot be considered as evidence.” In a recent order, it said that the practice was inconsistent with both state and central govt guidelines. The commission highlighted the procedural dispute after Kalupur resident Pankaj Bhatt approached the commission with documents provided by the city deputy collector (East) office, which bore the controversial stamp. Bhatt challenged the manner in which the documents were certified by a Public Information Officer (PIO) of the Ahmedabad collectorate. 

The documents bore the stamp, “Information provided under Section 7(9) of RTI Act in its present form cannot be considered as evidence”. During the hearing, state’s chief information commissioner, Subhash Soni, noted that this stamping practice contradicted the circular issued by the state govt’s General Administration Department (GAD) on Dec 29, 2015. This GAD order states that each of the pages of the documents provided under the RTI Act should bear the stamp, “Records/Information provided under the Right to Information Act.” In his order dated Oct 16, Soni said, “The PIO must rectify the stamp on all the documents in accordance with the 2015 circular, and all future RTI responses must bear the correct certification.” The order also referred to the Union govt’s department of personnel and training (DoPT) order of Oct 2015. Bhatt, who did not have the original documents during the hearing, agreed to current PIO for proper certification.  

“The copy of any govt records provided by the govt under an Act is authentic. How can any stamp exist which states that they cannot be used as evidence? It is the court of law which decides. Such stamps are illegal and contravening to the RTI Act itself,” Bhatt argued.

NEWS TODAY 28.10.2024

 

Man submits fake NEET cert at AIIMS, held

Man submits fake NEET cert at AIIMS, held 

TIMES OF INDIA 28.10.2024 

Ramanathapuram : Ramanathapuram district police have arrested a 22-year-old man hailing from Himachal Pradesh after he submitted a fake NEET certificate when he tried to join first year MBBS at Madurai AIIMS. Police said M Abhishek of Mandi came with his father Mahendra Singh and submitted documents including his score card and certificate of national eligibilitycum-entrance (NEET) for admission at Madurai AIIMS. However, as the AIIMS administration found his documents to be suspicious, it alerted Kenikarai police. On inquiry, Abhishek confessed to have failed NEET twice and scored only 60 out of 720 marks in his third attempt. Fearing his father would be disappointed, he prepared a fake NEET certificate for submission. Kenikarai police registered a case and arrested Abhishek.

DMK political enemy, BJP ideological enemy; but not a word on AIADMK

DMK political enemy, BJP ideological enemy; but not a word on AIADMK 

Reaching Out For An Alliance? 

V Mayilvaganan & Bosco Dominique TNN 28.10.2024

Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam’s maiden conference on Sunday has answered many of the questions thrown at actor Vijay, ever since he announced his political foray. Clad in his signature style untucked shirt with rolled up sleeves, cotton trousers and slippers, Vijay elucidated TVK’s ideological stand, pinpointed his party’s opponents and revealed his political strategy of stitching an alliance and giving a share in power to allies. That he would position himself against the BJP was expected given his remarks against NEET and CAA. But what came as a surprise was his hard-hitting criticism of DMK, albeit without naming the ruling party. 

“Oozhal kabadadharigal’’ (corrupt con artists), he said once referring to “those governing Tamil Nadu”. They dupe people in the name of Dravidian model govt and they go about scaremongering minorities, he said. In calling Periyar E V Ramasamy as TVK’s ideological mentor and quoting DMK founder C N Annadurai’s ‘ondre kulam, oruvane devan’, Vijay sought to send out the message that today’s DMK was far from what the party’s icons envisioned. Vijay has sought to position himself as a political opponent of the ruling party even as he wooed anti-BJP votes which DMK banks on. 

The conference has also revealed more than what was stated —that Vijay can deliver power-packed political speeches and that TVK has organisational abilities and that the speech though extempore was carefully crafted. Political analysts say Vijay was drawing parallels with AIADMK founder M G Ramachandran and Telugu Desam Party founder N T Rama Rao by referring to the ridicule they faced during their political foray. The optics too sent out subtle yet significant mess ages. One of the four functionaries on stage was a woman and she happened to be a Muslim. There was another speaker, again a woman, who was a Christian. Then came the gifts presented to Vijay, which were books on the Constitution, Bhagavad Gita, Quran and Bible. If the ramp walk and his jog back to the stage energised cadres, his warm hugs with father S A Chandrasekar and mother Shoba before his speech added an element of melodrama.

Nevertheless, the speech had left a few unanswered questions as well. In the entire speech, he chose not to mention AIADMK, the second largest party in the state. In leaving out AIADMK, Vijay has set off speculations if he was reaching out to AIADMK too for an alliance. In that case, the next question was whether AIADMK would agree to be a junior partner since Vijay has indicated that he would be the alliance leader. If that was not the case, then the omission of reference to AIADMK is seen as an indication of Vijay’s aspiration to position himself as the principal rival of DMK. The speech did set off ripples. If DMK handles on social media started attacking Vijay within minutes after the speech was over, BJP welcomed it, but for certain parts such as two language policy and opposition to NEET. 

Seeman said Vijay’s ideology doesn’t align with that of NTK. Some like Puthiya Tamilagam president K Krishnaswamy lavishly praised Vijay, hinting at the trajectory TN politics might go in the coming days.

Vijay attacks DMK in 1ˢᵗ conference, says open to alliance

Vijay attacks DMK in 1ˢᵗ conference, says open to alliance 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 28.10.2024

Vikravandi : Laying down a clear political agenda for his newly launched party and identifying his main rivals, Tamilaga Vettri Kazhagam founder and actor Vijay indicated that DMK was TVK’s political enemy and BJP his ideological enemy. In a 50-minute speech at TVK’s maiden political conference at Vikravandi in Villupuram district on Sunday, Vijay said he was open to forming alliances for the 2026 assembly election and that he would share power with his allies.

 “Though we are confident of majority on our own, we will share power with our allies,” he said. Vijay made a grand entry on Sunday evening, earlier than scheduled, as thousands of TVK cadres and fans, who poured into the massive ground cheered. He walked a long ramp built right in the centre of the ground as hysterical fans and cadres threw party shawls at him. He picked up afew and draped them around his neck. Huge cutouts of Periyar E V Ramasamy, K Kamaraj, B R Ambedkar, queen Velu Nachiyar and freedom fighter Anjalai Ammal, lined either side of the stage. Vijay, in his mostly extem pore speech, said “corrupt forces are ruling TN at present”. He said TVK’s ideological enemy was the party that drives a divisive agenda and the political enemy was the party that speaks of ‘Dravidian model govt’, but practices corruption. “We can identify divisive politics as it will expose itself. But we won’t be able to spot corruption and what form it is. It will come with an ideological mask. These corrupt forces are ruling us now,’’ he said.

Adopts Periyar as ideological mentor, but drops atheist view

You always keep screaming fascism, fascism and continue scaremongering among minorities. If they are practising fascism, are you any different,” he asked in an apparent reference to DMK’s criticism that BJP was a fascist force. He said none can paint TVK with a certain colour or call them ‘B’ team of another party. “Because everyone knows who we are against when we declared our fundamental principle as ‘Pirapok kum ella uyirkum’ (all are equal by birth),” he said. To set a clear agenda, the conference highlighted the key points, including that TVK was going to function with ‘secular social justice ideology’. TVK’s action plan included women empowerment, state autonomy, twolanguage policy, environment conservation, protection of women, children and elderly, besides education, health and drinking water for all. Vijay said proportional representation in education and employment should be implemented. For that, a caste census should be conducted to ensure that everyone gets an equal share proportionate to their population. 

TVK would also advocate abolition of the governor’s post. Vijay said TVK had adopted Ambedkar, Periyar, Kamaraj, Velu Nachiyar and Anajalai Ammal as ideological mentors. The party would, however, drop Periyar’s atheist ideology and follow the rest of his principles such as women empowerment and rational thinking. “We will not adopt the atheistic ideology. We don’t concur with it,’’ he said. Vijay said he entered politics because he would be selfish if he chose only to act and earn money. Now that he has taken the leap, Vijay said there was no rethinking. He said his party would not be an alternate force. Rather it would be the primary force that would bring about a change. Vijay said rather than hate politics, he called upon cadres to practice “decency and decorum” in political discourse. “Some may say that Vijay never criticises anyone directly. We are not here to attack or disrespect anyone. We will adopt a decent approach, but it will be deep,’’ he said. 

At the beginning of the conference, he hoisted the party flag on a 101-foot-tall flag post. Just before he began his address, Vijay got blessings from his parents S A Chandrasekhar and Shoba Chandrasekhar, who attended the event. TVK general secretary NAnand, treasurer P Venkatraman, headquarters secretary R Rajasekar, and propaganda wing deputy secretary Thahira Banu sat on the dais