ஆளுமையின் அடையாளங்கள்

ஆளுமையின் அடையாளங்கள்

DINAMANI 28.08.2024

ஒருவரை மரியாதையாகத்தான் நடத்த வேண்டும் என்று எந்த சட்டத்தாலும் வற்புறுத்த இயலாது. ஆனால் நல்ல விதமான நடத்தைகள், விரும்பத் தகாத நடத்தைகள் இரண்டுமே தங்களால் இயன்ற பாதிப்பினை உண்டு பண்ண வல்லவை.

காலையில் ஒருவரைச் சந்திக்கிறோம். ''வணக்கம்''"என்ற ஒரு சொல்லுடன் கைகுவிப்பு, கை அசைப்பு, ஒரு புன்னகை உதிா்ப்பது மிகவும் எளிதான செயல்களே. இவ்வாறுதான் பலரும் இயங்குகிறோம்.

ஒருவா் நம்மை மதிக்கும்போது நாம் அடையும் இன்பத்தையே அவரை நாம் மதிக்கும்போதும் அவா் அடைவாா். இந்த அடிப்படை புரிதல் அனைவருக்கும் வந்துவிட்டால் போதுமானது. மனிதராகப் பிறந்துள்ளோா் அனைவராலும் செய்ய இயலும் இயல்பான நடவடிக்கைகளே இவை.

ஒப்பனைகளை விட நமது நடத்தையே நமது ஆளுமைக்கு அழகூட்டக் கூடியது. இவ்வாறான நடத்தையே நமது பணிகளின் துல்லியத்திற்கும் வேகத்திற்கும் நம்முடன் இயங்குவோரின் பணித் திறனுக்கு உதவக் கூடியது. , நல்லவிதமான நடத்தைகள் உடையோரைச் சுற்றிய சூழலே அவா்களுடன் இயங்குவோரையும் நல்ல விதமான நடத்தையுள்ளவா்களாக மாற்றும். அதுபோலவே விரும்பத் தகாத நடத்தையுடையோரின் செயல்பாடுகள் அவரைச் சாா்ந்திருக்கும் அனைவரிடத்திலும் அதற்கான எதிா்மறை தாக்கத்தினை ஏற்படுத்த வல்லவை.

மனிதா்கள் அங்கீகாரத்துக்கு ஏங்குபவா்கள். படிநிலைகள் தவிா்க்க இயலாத சூழலில் தனக்கு ஒரு படி முன் இருப்பவா்கள் தம்மை மதித்தால் கூட மகிழ்வா். அவா்கள் செய்ய வேண்டிய பணிகளைத் திறம்பட விளக்கிவிட்டு தேவைப்படும் நேரத்தில் மட்டும் தலையிட்டு செழுமைபடுத்தும் நிலை இரு தரப்பிற்கு பயனாக அமையும்.

உலக மயமாக்க சமூகச் சூழலில் அனைத்துப் பணிகளுமே விரைவாகவும் துல்லியமாகவும் நடைபெற குழுவாக இயங்குவது தவிா்க்க இயலாததாகிவிட்டது. இன்றைக்கு பெரும்பாலான அலுவலகங்களிலும் பணியாற்றுவதற்கான சூழல் மேம்பட்டுள்ளது. தேவையான அளவுக்கு இருக்கைகள், நாற்காலிகள், கணினி, பெரும்பாலும் குளிா்சாதன வசதி அல்லது குறைந்த பட்சம் தேவையான மின்விசிறிகள், இணையவசதி போன்றவை பெரும்பாலும் உத்தரவாதப்படுத்தப்பட்டுள்ளது.

இவ்வாறான வசதிகள் இருந்தாலும் பணிகள் நடைபெற வேண்டுமானால் அது அங்கு பணியாற்றும் மனிதா்களைத்தான் சாா்ந்துள்ளது. பணியாளா்களின் மனநிலையும் உடல்நிலையும் ஆரோக்கியமாகப் பராமரிக்கப்பட்டால் மட்டுமே பணிகள் சரியான வேகத்தில் முன்னேறும். பணியாளா்கள் உடல்ரீதியான, மனநிலை ரீதியான குறைகளோடு பணியாற்றுகையில் பணிகள் தொய்வடையவே செய்யும்.

பொருளாதார ரீதியான தேவைகள் நிறைவாகியுள்ள பணியாளா்கள் அடுத்தபடியாக, குடும்பத்தினருடன் சுற்றுலா, கேளிக்கை போன்றவற்றில் கவனம் செலுத்துவது இயல்பானதே. அது ஒருவகையில் செயல்திறனைக் கூட்டக் கூடியதுமாகும். ஆனால் அந்தந்த நாட்களுக்குரிய பணிகள் நிறைவடையாத சூழலில் அவா்கள் ஓய்வுநாட்களில் கேளிக்கைகளில் ஈடுபட்டாலும் அவா்கள் அங்கு நிலுவையிலுள்ள பணிகள் கேளிக்கையில் மனதை செலுத்தவிடாது படுத்தும். விடுமுறையை இரட்டை மனநிலையுடன் அனுபவித்துவிட்டு மறுநாள் அலுவலகத்தில் தேங்கியுள்ள பணிகளுடன் புதிய பணிகளையும் திட்டமிடத் தொடங்க வேண்டியிருக்கும்.

இந்த இடத்தில்தான் குழுவினரின் பங்களிப்பு தேவையாக இருக்கிறது. குழுவினரின் ஒட்டுமொத்த ஆற்றலும் வெளிப்பட அக்குழுவின் தலைவா் அவா்களை நடத்தும் வித்தில்தான் இருக்கிறது. அவ்வாறு நடத்தும் விதத்தில் அடுத்த மனிதா்களுக்குரிய மரியாதையை அன்புடன் கலந்து வழங்கினால் போதும், குழுவினா் தமது திறனுக்கு அப்பாற்பட்ட செயல்பாட்டிற்கும் வழி காண முயல்வா். இவ்வாறு குழுவினரை நடத்த எந்த பொருட்செலவும் ஆகப் போவதில்லை. மாறாக திறந்த மனதுடன் குழுவினா் செய்யும் செயல்களைப் பாராட்டிக் கொண்டும், அவா்களுக்குத் தேவையான உள்ளீடுகளைக் கொடுத்துக் கொண்டும், அவா்களைப் பாா்க்கையில் ஒரு சிறுபுன்சிரிப்பு கூட போதுமானது.

பிரபல ஆங்கில் எழுத்தாளா் ஏ.ஜி.காா்ட்னா் என்பவா் ஆங்கிலத்தில் 'தயவுசெய்து என சொல்வது குறித்து' ('ஆன் ஸேயிங் ப்ளீஸ்') என்ற தலைப்பில் ஒரு கட்டுரை எழுதியுள்ளாா். மின்தூக்கி இயக்குபவருக்கும் பயணி ஒருவருக்கும் இடையில் நடைபெறும் உரையாடலிலிருந்து தொடங்கும் சுவையான உளவியல் கட்டுரை அது.

மின்தூக்கியில் ஏறியதும் பயணி, 'மேலே' என்பாா். அதாவது, தனக்கு மேல் மாடிக்குப் போக வேண்டும், மின்தூக்கியை மேலே என்பதை 'மேலே' என்ற ஒற்றைச் சொல் கட்டளையிடுகிறாா். மின்தூக்கியை இயக்குபவா், 'தயவு செய்து மேலே என கேட்கக் கூடாதா?' என்பாா். பயணி, முடியாது என்பாா். இருவருக்கும் ஏற்படும் தா்க்கத்தில் மின்தூக்கியை இயக்குபவா் பயணியை வெளியே தள்ளிவிடுவாா்.

மின் தூக்கி இயக்குபவா் ஏன் அவா் அவ்வாறு கடுமையாக நடந்துகொண்டாா் என்று கட்டுரையாசிரியா் ஆராய்வாா். அன்று அவருக்கு அவருடைய பிரிவு மேலாளா் வணக்கம் சொல்லவில்லை; மேலாளருக்கு அவரை அடக்கி ஆள நினைக்கும் அவருடைய மனைவி தன்னை மதிக்காததால் ஏற்படுத்திய கோபம்; மனைவியின் அன்றைய சினத்துக்கு காரணம், அவா்கள் வீட்டு சமையல்காரா் எஜமானி அம்மாளை மதிக்காமல் நடந்துகொண்ட விதம்; சமையல்காரரின் நடத்தைக்கு காரணம், வீட்டுப் பணிப்பெண் அவரை மதிக்கவில்லை. இப்படியாக, ஒருவரையொருவா் சிறிய அளவில் மதிக்காத நடத்தை, வரிசையாக நீளூம்.

நல்லனவும் அல்லனவும் அடுத்தடுத்த விளைவுகளை ஏற்படுத்த வல்லவை. இந்தப் புரிதலே நமது ஆளுமையின் அடையாளங்களுள் முதன்மையானது.

Dailyhunt

Govt docs oppose MMC passport demand

Govt docs oppose MMC passport demand 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai : Madras Medical College (MMC) dean has sparked a controversy by directing all doctors and paramedics to submit their passports to verify their foreign journeys taken with or without govt permission. Doctors at the medical college and govt doctors’ association have protested the move, terming it a “needless intrusion”. 

MMC dean Dr E Theranirajan had asked medical officers, nursing staff, paramedical employees, ministerial staff and other staff to furnish a copy of their passport with particulars of foreign journeys undertaken with the permission of the govt and without it. The circular issued on Aug 2 directs them to submit details to the “concerned section” on or before Aug 7. 

Hospital sources say around 250 doctors and other staff have submitted their details. Doctors who haven’t submitted argue they have been pressured by seniors to provide copies of their passports. “ They can ask for copies of passports if they suspect a person. How can they randomly ask all of us to submit passport details? Why should our document pass through so many hands,” asked a senior professor at the college. 

On Tuesday, hospital dean Dr E Theranirajan said the letter was sent based on instructions from the director of medical education, Dr J Sangumani. On June 31, deputy director of medical education (admin) K Arumugam sent a letter to all heads of medical institutions to submit details under various categories. This includes information about hospital staff with over three years of service, available positions, and unauthorised absences of doctors and paramedical staff. The letter also asked the hospital authorities to submit names of doctors who have travelled abroad with prior permission from the govt and names of doctors who haven’t, along with the action taken report. 

“I won’t be able to verify details without checking the passport. Also, I have not forced anyone to submit the passport copy,” he said. Director of Medical Education J Sangumani said, “We were collecting details a s a part of routine administration as the health secretary wanted them. But we did not ask the deans to  copies of passports.” The Tamil Nadu Government Doctors’Association, which has vehemently protested the move, has asked the DME to drop the verification process. “The circular to produce passport copy is unwarranted,” said association president Dr K S enthil. 

The DME should also ensure that the system is made less cumbersome. “It is now so difficult for doctors to get govt permission to travel on short notice. They travel abroad for seminars, conferences or personal reasons to visit a sick relative. Permission requests must be sent to the health secretary and minister through the DME,” he said.

Senior doctors struggle with patient care, urge juniors to balance agitation with work

Senior doctors struggle with patient care, urge juniors to balance agitation with work 

Sumati.Yengkhom@timesofindia.com 

Kolkata : With the junior doctors staying away from duty for over two weeks now, their seniors in govt hospitals are struggling to provide services to the patients. Even as they attend to OPD, IPD and emergency patients, doctors said most cold cases are being deferred as they have to prioritise serious cases in the face of severe manpower crunch. Heads of various departments have started appealing to the juniors to balance ceasework with hospital duty. 

The seniors said that even as they backed the agitation, the absence of junior doctors was hampering patient services. The surgery department in IPGMER has six units. Earlier, each unit would conduct 10-14 surgeries a day. The number has now dwindled to just around five. In addition to assisting in the surgery, the PGTs were the ones who monitor patients post surgeries. 

“The agitation has crossed two weeks and the cold cases might aggravate now. Patient services are getting affected though the protest is legit. We request the junior doctors to make a roster so that some of them work while others are on protest,” said Seraj Ahmed, assistant professor of general surgery at IPGMER. The faculty members and other senior medical officers are putting in more than 12 hours at present to tide over the situation. Despite their ef forts, OPD footfall is still nowhere close to what it used to be even a month back. At Calcutta National Medical College, 13 senior doctors are managing the 200-bedded gynaecology department, which is generally attended to by 48 PGTs, 12 senior residents along with six house staff and some interns. The manpower crunch here is 66 now. 

“This was one of the most heinous crimes on a female colleague. We strongly support their cause. At the same time, patients who come to govt hospitals cannot afford treatment in private facilities. Devising a way to carry on with the agitation while returning to work could be a way out,” said Pranab Biswas, gynaecology head at CNMC.

RG Kar seminar hall crowd video goes viral. Outside cordoned crime scene, say cops

RG Kar seminar hall crowd video goes viral. Outside cordoned crime scene, say cops

Times of India 

Kolkata : A 43-second video that went viral on social media purportedly showing some close confidants of former RG Kar Medical College & Hospital principal Sandip Ghosh as well as police at the seminar hall after the body of a PGT doctor was found on Aug 9 morning triggered allegations about laxity in securing the place where the crime had occurred. Kolkata Police later clarified that though the site of the video was indeed the seminar hall where the crime had occurred, the spot where the people had assembled was beyond the 40-ft section that was cordoned off. The rape-mursecure beyond the view-cutter, cops said. 

However, an officer said the police had arrived at the scene 40 minutes after the body was found at 9.30 am “There was a 40-minute delay in alerting police. The moment we came to know, our officers ran upstairs and cordoned off the place with white curtains that are used in a hospital as view cutters,” said another officer at Lalbazar. Among those visible in the video are forensic medicine & toxicology department demonstrator Debashis Som; lawyer Santanu De who is a close associate of then principal Sandip Ghosh (De has claimed that he was present at the outpatient department and went to the spot after he heard the news) and CNMC data entry operator Prasun Chattopadhyay, also known to be close to Ghosh. 

At Lalbazar on Monday evening, DC central Indira Mukherjee said while all of them were present in the seminar hall, it was beyond the section that had the body and had been cordoned off to prevent contamination of crime scene. “The seminar hall is a 51ft × 32ft room. When the body was discovered, hospital curtains were used to cordon off a 40ft × 32 ft area. The only persons allowed here were investigators, forensic experts, cops, forensic photographers, men assigned to shift the body, victims’ parents and a relative. 

All who can be seen in the video were standing in the remaining 11 ft × 32 ft area. The place of occurrence where the body was found wasn’t tampered at all,” she added. According to her, among those present outside the cordoned zone included hospital officials, policemen, junior doctors, Ghosh’s lawyer and the victim’s family members. “This area was segregated in the conference hall as junior doctors were not letting the body to be taken out. They wrote multiple demands while standing in the hall and we made room for them to write down the demands which kept changing from time to time. We also called the medical officer from the emergency to the hall where he issued the death certificate'' said Banerjee. 

According to police, only one of the eight doors through which the seminar hall can be accessed was open that day. Cops said the parents first came to the hospital around 12 noon and sat at the office of HOD. “Around 1pm, one of our officers went outside and was told that they were there. We called them and made them sit within the 11 feet area. They wanted to see the body but then forensic officials were inside the cordoned area. So we made them wait for seven minutes after which they went inside. They sat on a chair in front of the body near the second view cutter for two minutes. They then came out and sat within the 11 feet area again for next three hours,” said the officer. The victim’s father contested this. . He said they were made to wait elsewhere and not in a part of seminar hall for three and a half hours after they reached hospital around 1 pm. “When we were allowed to enter the crime scene around 3.30 pm, there were no barriers,” he said.

27.08.2024

 

40% who passed Class XII in city didn’t opt for higher edu

 40% who passed Class XII in city didn’t opt for higher edu

 CAUSE OF CONCERN

 Preetika.p@timesgroup.com 

Chennai : At least two out of five students in Chennai who passed Class XII this year haven’t enrolled for higher studies, as per school education department data. While 5% of those who have not been admitted to higher institutions are still awaiting admissions for various courses including medicine, dental, paramedical and allied health sciences, 5,626 of 16,061 students haven’t applied anywhere, officials said. Over the last few weeks, school authorities have updated data about those who paased Class XII on the educational management information system portal of the school education department.

 Data show that 6,584 of the 16,061 students who completed Class XII this year, have not yet pursued any form of higher education. Only 958 candidates among them have applied to higher institutions. Additionally, 1,316 students failed their exams, and 1,213 were absent. “We have asked the authorities of various schools to contact parents and sensitise them about the need for higher education,” said member -secretary of model schools R Sudhan. 

The govt hopes to push more students into colleges before admissions for 2024-25 academic year close. School management committees will organise career guidance camps and help students navigate the application process for colleges or skill development courses, he said. Such camps will be rolled out in phases across the state until Sept. Soon, more than one lakh students will be mapped to the University Management and Information System (UMIS) to track their progress after graduation. A month-long skill development programme will begin in Sept. This programme will offer short-term training in specific sectors, equipping students with practical skills that can enhance their employability, he added.

 Teachers said many economically backward students were unable to study further. “While boys are asked to find a job, girls are frequently pressured into early marriages. So, they don’t study further,” said Shanthipriya D S, a govt school teacher from Saidapet. “We will encourage them to study or work. We will coordinate with alumni to provide information and support to make informed decisions about their future,” she said.

Toll hike from Sept 1 to push up travel costs

Toll hike from Sept 1 to push up travel costs

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

Chennai : Starting September 1, travelling by car from Chennai to Bengaluru or southern and western districts of Tamil Nadu will cost more, with tolls increasing by ₹30 to₹115 at over 25 plazas across the state. National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) has revised toll rates, raising the cost for a trip from Chennai to Bengaluru from ₹430 to ₹460. This annual revision comes in the wake of growing demands to remove toll plazas, particularly those within urban limits. 

Despite a request from state highways minister E V Velu to the NHAI, an agency under the Union Road Transport Ministry, no action has been taken. Transportation activist S Kamal criticised the hike as an “unnecessary burden” on the public, citing incomplete road widening projects and damaged stretches on highways, especially around Chennai. “As the monsoon approaches, essential repairs including patchwork to fix potholes remain unfinished. “In areas such as Red Hills on the Chennai-Tada Kolkata highway, incomplete stormwater drain construction has previously cau sed severe traffic gridlocks during monsoon,” he said. S Ganesh, a resident from Singaperumalkoil, raised concern about the lack of basic infrastructure such as adequate lighting on accident-prone stretches of Chennai-Trichy highway. 

Despite numerous complaints, these issues persist while tolls continue to be collected without significant reinvestment on road maintenance. NHAI data reveals that toll collections in Tamil Nadu amount to at least ₹4,221 crore annually, with the Thopur plaza alone collecting ₹269 crore. Traders have cautioned that the toll hike will have a cascading effect on the prices of essential goods, while private bus operators are likely to hike ticket fares in response. 

Toll operators claim that despite a decade of operation, they still haven’t recovered 40% of costs spent on road construction and maintenance, necessitating the toll hike to cover expenses and ensure employee wages.

Centre withholds ₹573cr school fund for TN rejecting NEP

Centre withholds ₹573cr school fund for TN rejecting NEP

 Ragu.Raman@timesofindia.com

Chennai : The Union govt has withheld the first instalment of ₹573 crore under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA) scheme to Tamil Nadu for not accepting the provisions of National Education Policy (NEP). The state is particularly opposed to the three-language formula in the PM Schools for Rising India (PM SHRI) scheme. The project approval board has allocated ₹3,586 crore under SSA for 2024-2025 to Tamil Nadu. Of this, the Union govt’s share is ₹2,152 crore (60%), while the share of the state govt is ₹1,434crore (40%). The Union govt is to release its share in four instalments. The first instalment for 2024-25 should have been received in June.

However, Centre is yet to respond to letters and reminders from Tamil Nadu on releasing the funds. This means that around 15,000 teachers may not get their salaries next month. The reimbursement of fees for students enrolled in 25% quota under RTE act, transport and escort facilities for children in remote areas, teachers training and self-defence training for girls of Classes VI to XII are also likely to be affected. 

MoUs excluding NEP. 

 State signs MoU excluding NEP guidelines; gets rejected by Centre An official said, “SSA scheme has been running in the past few months with the share of funds from Tamil Nadu government. However, going forward, it will be challenging to run the scheme without Centre’s contribution.” During review meetings in July in New Delhi, it was emphasised that the MoU for the establishment of PM SHRI schools must be signed to release the fund. “Tamil Nadu govt has sent the MoU to the Union ministry of education for approval by excluding the provision that mandates adherence to the guidelines of NEP in PM SHRI schools. And this request has been declined,” the official added. 

Besides the three-language formula, the MoU has some specific provisions like 5+3+3+4 curricular structure and the introduction of vocational education from Class VI as per the NEP. Tamil Nadu state has been following a two-language formula following anti-Hindi agitation in 1965. Tamil Nadu govt also formed a panel headed by Justice D Murugesan, former chief justice of Delhi high court to frame the State Education Policy (SEP). In its recommendations, the SEP panel rejected the three-language formula and recommended sticking to the existing 10+2 curricular structure. 

It also opposed common exams for Classes III, V and VIII. Like Tamil Nadu, some other states such as Kerala, West Bengal, Delhi and Punjab are also yet to sign the MoU for implementing PM SHRI schools. “SSA is supposed to be the top welfare scheme in children’s education. Under no circumstances it can be treated like this. It is a very unfortunate development as it could affect lakhs of children from poor backgrounds,” said Krishna Kumar, former director of National Council of Educational Research and Training (NCERT). “Samagra Shiksha and PM SHRI are two different schemes of the Union govt. There is no justification for the Centre withholding SSA funds till the state govt accepts NEP,” said educational activist P B Prince Gajendrababu. Tamil Nadu MPs should raise the issue in Parliament, he said.

Velankanni gets ready for fest

Velankanni gets ready for fest

The Basilica of Our Lady of Good Health at Velankanni where the annual festival will be held from August 28 to September 8. M. MOORTHY

Amenities such as drinking water, sanitation, resting halls and cloakrooms are made available to pilgrims and a 24-hour help centre will function till the festival concludes on September 8; police make tight security arrangements in the town

The Hindu Bureau

TIRUCHI

The Nagapattinam district administration and church authorities have stepped up arrangements for the annual festival of Our Lady of Good Health in Velankanni, which will commence on Thursday with flag hoisting.

The church expects over 10 lakh pilgrims and devotees from all over the country to attend the first-day litany, benediction, and the Holy Mass in Tamil. The festival will commence with a flag procession followed by the blessing and hoisting of Our Lady’s Flag by Most Rev. T. Sagayaraj, Bishop of Thanjavur Diocese.

Services will be held in Tamil, English, Marathi, Konkani, Malayalam, Telugu, Kannada, and Hindi. They will be conducted in the Basilica from morning to evening and Holy Mass in Tamil at Our Lady’s Tank at 6 a.m. during the festival days. Amenities such as drinking water, sanitation, resting halls, and cloakrooms are made available to pilgrims. A 24-hour help centre will function to address the queries of the pilgrims.

Meanwhile, the district police have deployed as many as 1,108 local policemen, 200 home guards, 300 armed reserve police force, 500 special police battalion at various places in Velankanni for security and about 380 traffic police, including 19 inspectors, 50 sub-inspectors, and 311 police personnel, for traffic management during the festival days.

As many as three Additional SPs, 16 DSPs, 93 inspectors, and 212 sub-inspectors would coordinate the security arrangements for the 11-day festival on a shift basis. The police have installed 23 high surveillance towers and 150 CCTV cameras around the shrine to intensify monitoring. Six drones will be used for aerial monitoring, particularly around the coastal area.

Diversion posts have been set up in six locations to conduct round-the-clock vehicle checks and regulate traffic movement. Face recognition systems and a crime team of 25 police personnel are put in place to identify and keep check on habitual offenders. As a precautionary measure, rescue teams consisting of firefighters and expert divers, and a bomb detection squad have been kept ready. As many as 150 personnel from the coastal security group have been deployed.

The coastal area has been barricaded to restrict public access to the beach. Three rubber boats and life jackets are kept ready to meet emergencies. Local fishermen would be engaged in any emergency sea rescue operations.

Parking lots

As many as 60 parking lots have been created near the shrine to ensure the free flow of traffic.

Medical camps will be set up in more than 10 locations with doctors and staff to provide round-the-clock service to pilgrims. Ambulances will be stationed at the venue. The deployment has been put in place, anticipating a large turnout of devotees for the festival which ends on September 8.

Employees, pensioners in Punjab and Haryana dismiss UPS, call for implementation of OPS

Employees, pensioners in Punjab and Haryana dismiss UPS, call for implementation of OPS

Government employees from across the country gathered at the Ramlila Maidan to demand the restoration of the OPS. File photo

Vikas Vasudeva

CHANDIGARH  27.08.2024 

Several State government employees and pensioners in Punjab and Haryana, who have been demanding restoration of the Old Pension Scheme (OPS), have dismissed the Union government’s latest Unified Pension Scheme (UPS)

In Punjab, where the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) government announced the restoration of the OPS in 2022, its implementation is yet to see the light of day.

As the delay in the release of standard operating procedures (SOPs) following the OPS notification continues, employees and pensioners under the banner of the Old Pension Scheme Restoration Sangharsh Committee have expressed their anguish on different occasions. With the Centre’s UPS announcement, employees have only grown more anxious. Employees currently under the National Pension System (NPS) have asked the State government not to consider implementing the UPS, and instead, implement the OPS in Punjab without further delay.

‘Not in our interest’

“We are against the Centre’s UPS as it is not in the interest of the employees or pensioners. We urge the AAP government to not consider the UPS. In fact the Punjab government had in 2022 announced the restoration of the OPS, but we are still waiting for its implementation. The State government issued the OPS notification in 2022. Later, it constituted a committee to formulate the SOPs for implementing the OPS, but it’s going to be close to two years now and yet the Punjab government has not come out with the SOPs or details about the scheme,” Jasvir Singh Talwara, State convener of the joint employee-pensioners’ front, told The Hindu.

“To step up our struggle, we will stage a march towards Punjab State Assembly on September 3, during the ongoing session of the Assembly. We want the AAP government to immediately implement the OPS,” Mr. Talwara said.

In neighbouring Haryana, where the Assembly election is due on October 1, the restoration of OPS for government employees has emerged as a key poll issue. Members of the Pension Bahali Sangharsh Samiti (Haryana) are travelling across the State in support of their demand to restore the OPS. They too have dismissed the latest UPS.

“We are against the UPS and it’s only the OPS that we want to be restored. We are going across the State in a phased manner with our OPS Tiranga march and are urging people and political parties to extend support to our demand of restoring the OPS,” Vijender Dhariwal, president of the front, said.

NMR portal registration leaves doctors confused

NMR portal registration leaves doctors confused

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI 27.08.2024 

The Health Ministry’s National Medical Register (NMR) portal launched recently is creating confusion among doctors about whether they need to re-register themselves in the new system to be able to work in the country.

The Union government, as per the latest provisions, has said that all MBBS doctors who are already registered on the Indian Medical Register (IMR) must register again on the NMR of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

“To start the registration, the doctor needs a digital copy of the Degree (MBBS) Certificate, the Registration Certificate of the State Medical Council/Medical Council of India, where the doctor got first-time registration. The doctor must also have the Aadhaar number ready to start the process,” noted the Ministry.

Speaking to The Hindu, Indian Medical Association (IMA) president R.V. Asokan said: “Yes, they want us to enter our data anew, but we don’t know if it’s called re-registration. I had a talk with NMC and the only benefit seems to be that we can obtain a licence to practise in more than one State. What the Central government is asking us to do is registration, and the registration in the State council is called licence. ”

Explaining the need to bring in NMR, the Ministry maintained that data on doctors has been stored in a scattered form and needed urgent revision. “Till date, there was a lack of comprehensive data that could provide a detailed and holistic picture of aspects like total numbers of doctors in the country, those that have left the country, those who have lost their licence to practice, or the numbers and details of doctors that have lost their lives. The launch of the NMR will ensure the provision of data of its more than 13 lakh doctors,” the Ministry maintained.

Ex-Dean of Thanjavur Medical College, G.M. Yahya, turns 100

Ex-Dean of Thanjavur Medical College, G.M. Yahya, turns 100

27.08.2024 The Hindu 

Former Dean of Thanjavur Medical College, G.M. Yahya, celebrated his 100th birthday on Saturday. Dr. Yahya, the maternal uncle of the Prince of Arcot, Nawab Mohammed Abdul Ali, is physically well and active. He was a professor in the pharmacology department of Government Stanley Medical College and Hospital. Many of today’s eminent doctors were his students, a press release said. The Nawab praised the doctor for his simplicity and sober nature. “Many prominent invitees from different walks of life and different communities attended the felicitation function and offered shawls and bouquets to him and sought his blessings on the occasion. Former Governor of Tamil Nadu and Punjab, Banwarilal Purohit, extended his best wishes to Dr. Yahya,” the release said.

Fee at 25 toll plazas to be hiked from September 1

Fee at 25 toll plazas to be hiked from September 1




INBRIEF

The National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) will revise the fee at 25 toll plazas in Tamil Nadu from September 1. The hike will range from 5% to 7%, sources said. An NHAI official said that the utilisation fee for the highways was collected at 67 toll plazas, and a revision was done for 36 toll plazas from June 1. Normally, the toll fee is revised in two tranches in April and September every year. However, in view of the Lok Sabha election, the first tranche of the revision was done in June. Now, it has been proposed to revise the fee at 25 toll plazas in areas covering Sriperumbudur, Wallajabad, Villupuram, Vikravandi, Ullundurpet, Tiruchi, Madurai, and Samayapuram. The hike will be in the range of ₹5 to ₹150 for various vehicle categories.

HC imposes costs on T.N. govt. for filing frivolous appeals

HC imposes costs on T.N. govt. for filing frivolous appeals

From Page One

27.08.2024 

However, the approval was recalled the next day, which was challenged in court in 2020.

While the petitions were pending, the Director of Collegiate Education, Chennai, cancelled the orders passed by the Joint Director of Collegiate Education, and the orders of approval were reaffirmed. Recording it, the petitions were disposed of by the court with directions in 2021. However, the writ petitioners were granted a monthly salary only from July 2022.

These petitioners approached the court seeking the disbursement of salary from 2009 to July 2022. The government had told the Single Bench of the court that the funds they were receiving were sufficient only to satisfy the salary of professors. Therefore, they were unable to pay the arrears, and were awaiting a special grant. As and when it was received, the arrears would be disbursed. The Single Bench directed the payment of salary for the period during which the writ petitioners had worked in the approved posts of assistant professors. The court observed that an attempt was made to cancel the approval and put up a stage-managed show to deny salary.

At the intervention of the court, the cancellation of approvals was recalled. Even after that, the Department did not pay the salary of the writ petitioners. The court directed that in each appeal, ₹25,000 should be paid to the writ petitioner, and the remaining ₹25,000 to the Cancare Foundation, Chennai.

Demand for pay parity with Central govt. doctors

Demand for pay parity with Central govt. doctors

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI 27.08.2024 

The Legal Coordination Committee (LCC) for Government Doctors has urged the National Medical Commission (NMC) to insist that the Tamil Nadu government pay government doctors in the State on a par with Central government doctors, in keeping with the principle of “equal pay for equal work”.

In a statement, the LCC said that the NMC had instructed that government doctors across the country be paid salaries equivalent to All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) level. In the light of this, the State government should immediately fulfil the salary demands of government doctors.

MBBS, speciality and super-speciality doctors in Tamil Nadu are paid ₹40,000 less than MBBS doctors in other States. The association demanded that government doctors in Tamil Nadu be paid salaries equivalent to Central government doctors. Alternatively, as per G.O. 354, pay band-4 should be given in 12 years of service.

HC imposes costs on T.N. govt. for appeals

HC imposes costs on T.N. govt. for appeals




The order was passed in a case involving the non-payment of salary for assistant professors.

The Hindu Bureau

MADURAI 27.08.2024

Dismissing a batch of appeals preferred by the State, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court imposed a cost of ₹50,000 on each appeal. A Division Bench of Justices R. Subramanian and L. Victoria Gowri observed, “All these 10 writ appeals are frivolous appeals arising out of the atrocious game played by the State of Tamil Nadu on its citizens.”

The court said, “We hope that this order will at least serve as a deterrent, and the government will avoid filing such writ appeals at least in the future. It is open to the government to recover the cost from the officers responsible for filing them.”

The petitioners were appointed as assistant professors. Though the appointments were made as early as 2009, the Joint Director of Collegiate Education, Tirunelveli Region, approved them only in 2020, with effect from 2009.

Posters in med colleges target ‘north Bengal’ lobby for WB healthcare mess Docs Involved Deny Such Claims, Say People With Vested Interest Misleading Case

Posters in med colleges target ‘north Bengal’ lobby for WB healthcare mess Docs Involved Deny Such Claims, Say People With Vested Interest Misleading Case 

Sumati.Yengkhom@timesofindia.com 

Kolkata : Posters alleging the existence of a “health syndicate” were seen on the walls of several medical colleges in Kolkata this weekend, accusing a group that has come to be known as the “north Bengal lobby”. The syndicate allegedly includes RG Kar Medical College’s former principal Sandip Ghosh, who is under court and CBI scrutiny following the rape-murder of a postgraduate resident doctor at RG Kar hospital on Aug 9. The posters claim that the syndicate comprises a few doctors exerting control over the Bengal health department, manipulating transfers, promotions, and recruitment. Sources said the main figures in “lobby” are alumni of North Bengal Medical College. 

This syndicate has allegedly embraced Ghosh. TOI reached out to four doctors named in the posters. While one did not re spond, others did. “Some people with vested interest are misleading about a syndicate or a lobby which does not exist. I deny being part of such a lobby. I am more concerned about justice for the child who has been murdered,” said Sudipto Roy, MLA and president of West Bengal Medical Council (WBMC). WBMC vice president Sushanta Roy responded: “I don’t know about any health syndicate.

 It is a democratic country where people might say anything but it doesn’t necessarily mean it’s true.” According to Birupaksha Biswas, member of WBMC’s ethics committee, the posters were circulated by organisations of doctors who lost in the previous council elections. “A few doctors from IMA Bengal, apprehending defeat in the upcoming elections, are desperately trying to spread such rumours. All of this is a collective effort to politicise entire case. I am just another doctor demanding justice,” Biswas said. “The health department is completely under the control of this syndicate, run by a group of doctors. Not a single file in the health department moves without their nod. They control transfers, promotions, and recruitment. And there is aprice to everything,” alleged Sajal Biswas of Service Doctors’ Forum. 

The doctors’ unions alleged that the lobby interfered in students’ affairs as well. Some members were reportedly seen at a meeting with Ghosh on Aug 9 after the trainee doctor’s body was found even though none are officially associated with the college. “This is the lobby that has been trying to save Ghosh from all his misdeeds in connivance with a few officials in the health department,” alleged a senior govt doctor, who wished not to be named. 

NEW SPECULATIONS: The posters claim that the syndicate comprises a few doctors exerting control over the Bengal health department, manipulating transfers, promotions and recruitment. The syndicate allegedly includes Sandip Ghosh

Snake remains hidden inside victim’s clothes until cremation

 Snake remains hidden inside victim’s clothes until cremation 

‘THE LURKER’ Manoj.Chaurasia@timesofindia.com 

Patna : In a bizarre case, a deadly snake, believed to be a Russell’s Viper, remained hidden inside the clothes of a man in Bihar’s Begusarai for nearly 16 hours after biting him, eventually leading to his death. The snake was only discovered when the body was laid on the funeral pyre and lit by the man’s 10-year-old son.

 Dharmveer Yadav was collecting fodder Thursday in Cheria-Bariyarpur’s Kumbhi village when he was bitten and collapsed. Noticing telltale signs of snakebite like frothing at the mouth of the 41-year-old, his relatives initially rushed him to local exorcists for venom removal. When Yadav’s condition worsened, he was rushed to a local hospital when he died on the way. All this while, the snake lay coiled beneath his clothes. On Friday, as Yadav’s body was being cremated, the snake finally emerged when the pyre was lit by his son Shiv Shankar.

 The villagers then beat the snake to death. Russell’s Viper, named after Scottish herpetologist Patrick Russell (1726-1805), is known for its tendency to stay hidden, a trait reflected in its genus name derived from a Hindi word meaning “the lurker”.

Anna univ’s exam fee hike put on hold: Ponmudy

Anna univ’s exam fee hike put on hold: Ponmudy 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

 Chennai : A day after Anna University’s announcement of the exam fee hike for engineering students by 50%, higher education minister K Ponmudy on Sunday said that the fee hike has been put on hold following requests from students. After a long gap, the university has increased the semester exam fees per paper from ₹150 to ₹225, project work thesis from ₹300 to ₹450 and postgraduate theory paper from ₹450 to ₹675. It also increased the consolidated statement of marks fee, degree certificate fee from ₹1,000 to ₹1,500 “The exam fees for engineering students increased up to ₹600 per semester. 

Students from rural areas and from poor backgrounds requested to withdraw the fee hike. So, we are permanently putting the fee hike decision by Anna University on hold,” Ponmudy told reporters here. The university postponed its decision to hike exam fees based on the higher education department’s direction last year. On students paying hig her exam fees in autonomous colleges, Ponmudy said, “Exam fees should be uniform in affiliated and autonomous colleges. W e will issue a circular on this issue to all colleges.” Sources in the university said exam fees had not been hiked since 2014 and the cost including paper and other materials increased by 200% during the period. 

Following the increase in more autonomous colleges, the university’s revenue also has been on the decline for the last few years. “This fee hike could have helped the university generate a substantial revenue,” the source added. The university may come up with a plan to hike the exam fees marginally in a periodic manner to reduce burden on students and parents. When asked about the action taken against the engineering colleges which had shown fake faculty members, the minister said the three member committee has been preparing a report on this issue. “We will not spare any college which had indulged in wrongdoing,” Ponmudy added. The university had sent notices to 295 engineering colleges over the duplication of faculty members.

 

‘State should revoke contributory pension scheme’

‘State should revoke contributory pension scheme’

The Hindu Bureau

Madurai 26.08.2024 


The Contributory Pension Scheme Abolition Movement has demanded the State Government to fulfil its poll promise of revocation of contributory pension scheme and replacing it with the old pension scheme.

Talking to reporters here on Sunday, its coordinator, M. Selvakumar, said Finance Minister Thengam Thennarasu on April 26, 2023 had said that the State would take a call on reintroduction of old pension scheme after looking into the report of Somanathan Committee constituted by the Centre on the New Pension Scheme.

The Centre has decided to introduce the unified pension scheme based on Somanathan Committee report, he said and added that it was now the State’s turn to fulfill its promise.

‘Faulty’ hiring: Kerala Governor Arif Khan seeks Calicut University V-C’s explanation

‘Faulty’ hiring: Kerala Governor Arif Khan seeks Calicut University V-C’s explanation

The Hindu Bureau

Kozhikode 26.08.2024 

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has sought an explanation from P. Raveendran, Vice-Chancellor, University of Calicut, over a complaint seeking recovery of money from officials for the losses incurred to the institution due to “faulty recruitment” of faculty members between 2019 and 2022.

The complaint was filed by Joshin Joseph, one of the applicants, and a differently-abled person. The university had appointed 56 assistant professors, 16 associate professors, and 13 professors as per the job notification issued in 2019. However, it was later alleged that reservation norms were flouted. After another applicant legally challenged the recruitment process, the Kerala HC and the SC found merit in the allegation.

Health officials refuse to provide information on suspicious postmortem reports

Health officials refuse to provide information on suspicious postmortem reports

S. Vijay Kumar

CHENNAI 26.08.2024

State health authorities have refused to disclose the identities of doctors who conducted postmortems in 57 medico-legal cases at the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, wherein the reports were found to be nearly identical.

A petitioner, seeking information under the Right to Information (RTI) Act, 2005, on the action taken over suspected irregularities in the postmortem reports, claimed that his petition was being passed around between various medical authorities without a proper response.

‘Cut, copy, paste’

The issue pertains to a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) petition that came up before the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court in 2020. Referring to a report of Scientific Officers, the court noted that between April 1 and 15, 2019, 178 postmortems were conducted at the hospital. Of these, 57 reports suggested that they were produced using a “cut, copy, paste” method.

The Bench, comprising Justices K. Kirubakaran and S.S. Sundar, remarked that the postmortem certificates contained only minor variations. Additionally, closed-circuit television (CCTV) camera footage revealed that no measurements were taken from any of the bodies. “It is clear that all these 57 postmortem certificates were generated using a cut, copy, paste method,” it had said.

In May 2024, Raj Kapil, a criminology professor from Kanniyakumari district, filed an application under the RTI Act to know whether the State government had formed an inquiry commission to investigate the irregularities or the fraudulent issuance of postmortem certificates in the 57 cases. He also sought to know the identities of the doctors or police surgeons responsible for the certificates, and the action taken against them.

The Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services responded by forwarding the petition to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, claiming that the information pertained to their office. However, the latter redirected the petition to the Government Rajaji Hospital, Madurai, under Section 6(3) of the Act. The petition continued to be transferred between authorities.

Later, the Public Information Officer at the hospital forwarded the petition to Madurai Medical College. Last month, Madurai Medical College responded that the queries pertained to the Directorate of Medical Education and Research, Chennai. However, there was no indication that the petition had been referred to the appropriate authorities. In response to the question on the names and designations of those who issued the certificates, the Madurai Medical College cited Section 8(h) of the RTI Act, claiming that there was no provision to provide such details.

Dismayed at the response, Mr. Kapil said Section 8(h) typically applies in cases where disclosing an information could impede an investigation. “It is essential for citizens to know that action has been taken against the doctors involved. Moreover, identifying them will only aid in the investigation of criminal cases where the postmortem examinations were botched,” he said.

Varsity to pay salary arrears of 116 staff members in affiliated colleges

Varsity to pay salary arrears of 116 staff members in affiliated colleges

Vice-Chancellor lauds the varsity’s improvement in NIRF rankings, says it was because of better quality of doctoral projects and cooperation among affiliated colleges; Senate members express concern over delay in issue of mark sheets

The Hindu Bureau

TIRUCHI

Bharathidasan University (BDU) will process salary payments of 116 staff working in 10 affiliated arts and science colleges whose salaries are pending from November 2023 to June 2024. The decision was announced in reply to a question at the annual Senate meeting of university on Saturday.

Addressing the Senate, Vice-Chancellor M. Selvam said the university’s improved performance on the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) list could be attributed to tight quality control and cooperation among the affiliated colleges.

“We have approved over 300 applications for doctoral studies this academic year, and I believe the better quality of our doctoral projects are an important factor in our higher NIRF ranks,” said Mr. Selvam.

The meeting got off to a rocky start in the morning when K. Suriyan, professor, and head, Department of Sociology, sat on the floor to protest at being denied permission to speak about matters related to the Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe Cell in the university. He urged the Senate to facilitate the progress of dalit students in higher education.

Criticism over the delay in implementing past resolutions dominated the opening half of the meeting, with participating academics highlighting problems related to Ph. D studies.

Protest for time

V. Pari, assistant professor, Department of Tamil, Raja Serfoji Government College, Thanjavur, contended that the Senate had not clarified its stand on the condition of research article publication not being mandatory in journals approved by University Grants Commission - Consortium for Academic and Research Ethics .

“Arbitrary use of UGC-CARE list recommendations and high penalty fees for those who apply for extensions are holding up degrees for a large number of scholars,” said Mr. Pari.

Participants expressed concern over the non-issuance of mark sheets of three semesters in the current academic year.

Senate members replied that the release of B. Com. mark sheets had been completed recently, and B. Sc. scores would follow in the coming weeks.

Parents, students protest medical fee hike

 Parents, students protest medical fee hike 

Ahmedabad : A day after the fees for around 1,200 private medical, dental and paramedical colleges as well as 15 ayurvedic colleges in Gujarat were raised, parents and students protested at the fee regulatory committee (FRC) office on Saturday. The FRC announced new fees for medical colleges for 2024-25 and paramedical and dental colleges for the next three years, with increases ranging from 2% to 25%, averaging 12%. The new fee structures do not apply to the 13 medical colleges run by Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society (GMERS). 

Ayurvedic colleges have seen fees hiked by up to 80%. Protesters argued that the steep increase would push middle-class students to pursue medical education abroad as many can no longer afford local fees. A similar hike in GMERS medical colleges had already sparked protests, leading to a partial rollback. The new increases in private colleges are adding to the financial burden on families, said protestors. Demonstrators gathered at the FRC office, and left a memorandum outside as the office was closed. The memorandum demanded a rollback, stating the fee hike is unjustifiable.

Govt approves UPS, assures 50% of basic pay as pension

 Govt approves UPS, assures 50% of basic pay as pension 

Govt Contribution Up To 18.5% From 14%; DA Added

 TIMES NEWS NETWORK 

New Delhi : Bringing significant benefits to 23 lakh central govt employees, the Narendra Modi govt on Saturday announced an overhaul of the 20-year-old National Pension System, including a higher contribution by govt for a guaranteed payout of 50% of the average basic pay drawn during the last 12 months of service. With the Unified Pension Scheme (UPS), the govt sought to bring the benefits on a par with the old pension scheme (OPS) and blunt the opposition’s bid to revert to the earlier regime in the states governed by them, and mop up electoral dividends in the ensuing assembly polls. The decision also opens the doors for states to offer UPS, a contributory scheme, which will take the count to 90 lakh employees. 

The scheme — which employees will get a one-time option to switch to — introduces inflation adjustment through dearness relief. Those opting for UPS will be assured of 50% payout if they complete 25 years of service, information and broadcasting minister Ashwini Vaishnaw announced. The proportion will be lower for those who put in fewer years in any govt job. Elaborating on the “five pillars” of UPS, which will be implemented from April next year, Vaishnaw said a minimum pension of Rs 10,000 will be offered to those who work for 10 years, with family pension to the spouse pegged at 60% of the deceased govt employee’s pension