Students told to apply for educational loan in website 

Staff Reporter 
 
ERODE, May 25, 2018 00:00 IST

Students of engineering, medicine and other courses pursuing higher studies who wish to obtain educational loan need not approach nationalised banks in person as they can apply in the portal,https://www.vidya

lakshmi.co.in/Students/

The Central government had launched the Vidya Lakshmi portal, which provides single window for students to access information about various loan schemes provided by the banks and submit applications for loans.

The portal, developed and maintained by NSDL e-Governance Infrastructure Limited (NDSL e-Gov) under the guidance of Department of Financial Services, Department of Higher Education and Indian Banks Association also helps students to track the education loan applications to banks.

Students must register on the portal and fill-up the Common Education Loan Application Form by providing all the necessary details and apply for the loan. This single form helps the students to apply for loan with multiple banks as it is accepted by all the banks. After processing the application, the bank will update the status of the application on the portal and students can view the status. Collector S. Prabhakar in a press release has asked the students to use the facility for accessing various educational loan schemes of the banks.

PG medical aspirants told to surrender ‘State’ seats by today

Special Correspondent 
 
Chennai, May 25, 2018 00:00 IST

Failure to do so will attract a hefty continuation fees

The Selection Committee of the Directorate of Medical Education has instructed candidates wishing to discontinue the course they joined through allotment made by the committee between May 19 and 23 that they can do so before May 25.

Such candidates will not be permitted to attend the subsequent phase of counselling for admission to PG degree/diploma courses in government colleges and government quota seats in self-financing medical colleges.

Candidates who discontinue the course allotted under the State quota after May 25 will have to pay the discontinuation fees of Rs. 15 lakh for PG degree courses and Rs. 10 lakh for PG diploma courses.

Changing quota

If a candidate who has joined the course under the State quota takes a seat under the management quota in a self-financing medical college then the seat held by the candidate will be automatically surrendered to the State quota, selection secretary G. Selvarajan has said.

Of the 1,376 candidates called for counselling on Thursday, including 593 for management quota seats in MDS, 23 were allotted seats in government colleges and 224 candidates were allotted seats in self-financing colleges. Of the 738 candidates who attended the counselling, 490 have been waitlisted.

Candidates who decide not to take the seats, allotted under the State quota, after May 25 will have to pay the discontinuation fees

Elderly should have dignity in death: Shanta 

Nandika B. Madhusmitha 
 
Chennai, May 25, 2018 00:00 IST

Highlights changing attitudes of society towards old people

“Elderly persons should receive respect in life and have dignity in death,” said V. Shanta of the Cancer Institute at an event held to mark the 20th anniversary of the Prasanthi Old Age Welfare Home here on Thursday.

As innovative and advanced medical technology increased life expectancy, changing social beliefs and attitudes pointed towards abandoning the old in society. Dr. Shanta said good habits could only reduce the ill-effects of old age up to a point, but could not prevent them altogether.

Website launched

Saidai S. Duraisamy, founder of Manithaneyam IAS Academy, launched the website of the old age home.

The home’s souvenir was released by O. S. Manian, Minister for Handloom and Textiles.

He lauded its founder Rajagopala Balaji for being considerate to the people staying there.

Nalli Kuppusamy Chetty, industrialist, and Latha Rajendran, relative of the late M.G. Ramachandran, were present.

The foundation also gave out cash prizes to three students who had passed their Plus Two exams.

Unsafe boat rides continue in Pulicat 

Vivek Narayanan 
 
CHENNAI, May 25, 2018 00:00 IST



No safety:Fishermen say they get a decent income during holidays and weekends.B. Jothi RamalingamB. JOTHI RAMALINGAM
A ban had been imposed after 22 people died in December 2011

Despite a ban on joy rides on the Pulicat lake by the Tiruvallur district administration, a section of fishermen continues to take tourists on their boats without any safety measures.

Boating in the lake was banned after 22 people died while taking a ride in December 2011. Every New Year, the Tiruvallur district administration warns fishermen against taking tourists on boat rides.

However, tourists at Pulicat approach fishermen for boat rides. “We will take tourists up to the estuary. They spend some time on the sands, bathe in the sea, have some snacks and return. The cost per head is around Rs. 200. When a group takes our boat, it pays around Rs. 1,500,” said Sikandar, a fisherman.

He said that they get a decent income during the summer holidays and weekends when tourists flock to Pulicat. “Some tourists consume alcohol sitting on the boat and on the sands near the estuary. They just come to enjoy,” he said.

Other fishermen said the rides are risky.

“The boats are built for fishing. They can handle 500 kg but can topple easily. This is the reason why boating was banned after the 2011 incident,” said Durai Mahendran, secretary, Tiruvallur Maavatta Paarambariya Aikiya Meenavar Sangam.

Extra money

He said the fishermen who take tourists on boat rides are not affected by the fishing ban like those who go to the sea. “They are doing this for some extra money,” he added.

The fishing community, therefore, wants the government to develop the place like Muttukadu. “The Tourism or Forest Department can introduce boat rides and employ the fishermen. They can specify conditions such as safety and distance to be travelled etc. This will not only provide an income for fishermen, but also check illegal boat rides,” Mr. Mahendran said.

A senior official from the Forest Department said if the Tourism Department submitted a detailed proposal about the boat rides, it would be discussed by senior officers and a decision would be taken.

“However, we cannot permit house boat type of rides as it would pollute the lake and affect the birds,” said an official.

UGC allows online degrees 

Vikas pathak 
 
NEW DELHI, May 25, 2018 00:00 IST

With the University Grants Commission approving the UGC (Online Courses) Regulations, 2018, in its meeting on Thursday, higher educational institutions can now offer certificate, diploma and degree programmes in full-fledged online mode in line with their regular programmes.

An official release said only those disciplines in which qualifying institutions have already been offering the same or similar programmes/ courses at the undergraduate level in the regular mode (of classroom teaching), or in open and distance learning mode, approved by the statutory councils as applicable, and from which at least one batch has graduated, are eligible. A minimum National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) score of 3.26 on the 4-point scale is required.

‘Forward messages on Nipah only after checking authenticity’
…say experts on the adverse impact of social media forwards

Anjana.George@timesgroup.com 25.05.2018

Panic is palpable, especially in the northern parts of Kerala. People have been abandoning fully ripe jackfruits and mangoes that they have been waiting to relish. Some who had consumed a few are having sleepless nights. As the toll because of the till-now-unheard-of Nipah virus reached double digits in Kozhikode and Malappuram, a kind of fear psychosis has set in among ordinary citizens.

While the health department and health professionals have been striving to contain the new disease from spreading to other areas, some who are ‘share happy’ have been doing a disservice by disseminating falsehoods and halftruths through the social media.

“If we go by the forwards and posts that are doing the rounds on Facebook and WhatsApp, we will simply die of fear,” says Sajina Rakesh from Kozhikode who lives near the medical college. Besides forwards and videos, even trolls are trying to cash in on the situation that seems straight out of a Hollywood movie like Contagion that revolves around the sudden spread of a virus, throwing society into extreme panic.

“It is a crucial time for us. Instead of spreading panic, this is the time to be alert and join the fight against Nipah,” says Dr Jineesh P S, a member of Info Clinic, a social media group started by 32 doctors to debunk fake health news.


‘Think of the social media implication before sharing Nipah forwards’

“We can use social media productively or to spread wrong information. It is unfortunate that those who are using it productively have less reach and those who are misusing it are receiving a lot of attention. Today, we found a video posted by a person named Mohanan Vaidyar which shows him consuming fruits that are supposedly eaten partially by bats, gaining thousands of shares within hours. In Kerala, there are a total of 56 species of bats where six of the species are fruit bats. Just because he is unharmed after eating a fruit partially consumed by bats, it doesn’t mean that there is no such virus. It is a precautionary measure to not eat fruits that are bitten by bats. So, isn’t it unfair to disseminate such false information when we are supposed to join the fight against the unexpected virus attack,” asks the doctor. “The government must take strong action against people who are creating and spreading similar misleading information at a crucial juncture like this,” he adds.

Jineesh, whose team has approached the authorities to stop people from circulating inaccurate information, goes on to add that it is equally wrong for anybody to start killing the bats, which feed on moths and mosquitoes. ‘“If bats are eliminated, these pests will thrive and more diseases will pop up next year. It is also wrong to blame migrant labourers for the spread of the virus.”

Another myth that Jineesh wants to debunk is the claim by some that modern medicine has no cure for Nipah virus. “This isn’t right at all. When we say that there is 70 per cent mortality rate, we should also know that it can be cured up to 40 to 60 per cent using the available technology and medicines. Some alternative medicine practitioners are trying to make a fast buck by claiming that they have remedies. People have to remember that only when they approach the hospitals can the professionals do the needful. All we could do right now is to maintain hygiene and support the rest,” he says.

Law academician Veena Rohan from Kochi agrees that it is high time authorities cracked down on those who misuse social media. “As we all know, it is not possible to lay down how much and what kind of information can be passed over the social media.”

However, as responsible citizens, we should have some ethics not to create unnecessary panic by sending unauthorised information via social media. The authenticity of the information should be checked before sharing or disseminating it. While we have right to information, there are reasonable restrictions also. The one who passes wrong information can be punished. Practitioners of fake cures can be punished under the Drugs and Magic Remedies (Objectionable Advertisements) Act, 1954. It regulates advertising of drugs in India. It prohibits advertisements of drugs and remedies that claim to have magical properties and makes doing so a cognisable offense. The penalty carries a maximum sentence of six months imprisonment with or without fine on first conviction. In case of any subsequent conviction, the term may be up to a year,” she says.

Meanwhile, it is learnt that Kerala Police chief Loknath Behra has instructed the cyber police to file cases against people spreading false news about Nipah virus. P S Rajashekaran, Deputy Director, Police Information Centre, Thiruvanathapuram explains that the group admins of Whatsapp should scrutinise the information dispersed in their groups. Also, every individual has to take a personal responsibility to verify the authenticity and social implication of the messages before passing them on. “There was a social media post saying that there are travel restrictions in Kerala. This is completely false. There is no advisory to curb travel. Kerala is perfectly safe. All we have asked is to take precautions. Strict action will be taken against those sharing or posting such messages. Kerala Police has started the enquiry and cases will be filed under IT Act and IPC,” he says.

Dr Jineesh concludes: “Though Kerala boasts of a high literacy rate, this shows that we still lack a scientific outlook. With a lot of hard work, we had eradicated communicable diseases like malaria and diphtheria but thanks to the anti-MR vaccine campaign by certain sections through social media, we diagnosed a child recently as having diphtheria. If people work against the campaigns by the health departments, epidemics will return,” he says. 


Family members of the patients admitted at the Kozhikode Medical College

Flyers’ bugbears: Flight delays, refunds top list

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi: 25.05.2018

Flight delays are the biggest bugbears for air travellers in India, according to the grievance redressal forum of an online portal (Air-Sewa) launched by the aviation ministry in November 2016. In the almost 1.5 years since then, most complaints received about airlines are regarding flight delays and fare refunds.

The number of complaints received on AirSewa are, at best, a minuscule percentage of the actual number of flyers facing these problems but they show what issues trouble passengers the most. Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) data for January-December 2017 shows 13.8 lakh domestic passengers faced flights delays of over two hours.

The aviation ministry earlier this week released a draft set of passenger charter that, among other things, seeks to penalise airlines for delays. But airlines are quick to point that the major reason for delays is the failure to add airport infrastructure as air traffic exploded in the last few years.

“Mumbai is the most constrained airport in India where hovering for 30 minutes on an average is common on good days and gets much worse on bad weather days. Getting clearance to take off on time from Mumbai is very rare. Delhi is severely constrained and in peak arrival times, we have to hover for long time to get a chance to land,” said a senior commander.

Travel industry insiders say the government draft may lead to improvement in airfare refunds but issues related to airport infra that directly impact airlines — like on time performance of airlines or condition of overcrowded and choked terminals — cannot change much till India gets airports big enough to meet its requirements.

“Airlines are sought to be penalised for flight delays. The reason for majority of these delays is failure to augment airport infra as traffic grew,” said an airline official.

A senior aviation ministry official said the yawning gap in airport infra available and required was caused by the over 20% growth in air traffic in last 3-4 years. 



DISCOMFORTING DELAY