School headmaster ensures pick-up and drop of children
His initiative has seen the dropout rate go down
23/09/2019, K. SRINIVASA RAO,VIZIANAGARAM

Safe ride: The autorickshaw provided to the students of Jammu Mandal Parishad School. Special Arrangement

Vizianagaram district in Andhra Pradesh is known for migration of its people in search of livelihood, leaving behind their children in the elders’ care. But the senior citizens bent with age are often unable to take their grandchildren to school. This is one of the major reasons for children dropping out of school.

The Jammu Mandal Praja Parishad School, located on the outskirts of Vizianagaram, used to face the same problem. But now it has a decent strength of 120 students. Thanks to the initiatives of the school headmaster Mantri Rammohana Rao.

He arranged one auto-rickshaw for the safe transport of children from their homes in nearby villages and colonies to the school and back. He pays around ₹4,500 a month from his pocket for the transport facility. Over 30 more students have joined the school recently with the availability of transport.

In fact, the school was in a dilapidated condition five years ago and cyclone Hudhud did the rest. Without waiting for help from the government, Mr. Rao approached the alumni and local residents for funds. With a kitty of ₹10 lakh, the school’s compound wall and other infrastructure were rebuilt. Now the school premises resembles a park.

After seeing Mr. Rao’s commitment, Shirdi Saibaba Seva Sangham executive member Kurivella Harigopal came forward to supply breakfast for all students.

Woman teacher alleges harassment by college
Officials claim she is unwell
23/09/2019, SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT ,CHENNAI

A faculty of a private dental college in Chennai on Sunday uploaded a video on Facebook alleging harassment by the college authorities and appealed for help.

The college authorities, however, claimed that she was in a state of depression.

The woman, working as an assistant professor in Tagore Dental College, affiliated to the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, claimed in the video message that she was being subject to frequent “abuse and torture”. She said she had been living on the campus for over a year-and-a-half and was being threatened by the senior faculty.

“When I go to the staff room, they push me out in front of the students.” She claimed that she had been locked up in a room without food for two weeks and without water for two days. She, however, did not give any reasons for the alleged harassment.

A senior college official said an inquiry had been instituted.

Legal consultant of the college M. Deivanandam claimed the woman showed signs of depression. Recently, she posted a photo of a self-inflicted injury on WhatsApp. According to him, the college authorities advised her to remove the photo and warned her of disciplinary action if she repeated such acts. “Her attendance is also very poor,” he said.

11 days after Subasri’s death, Jayagopal yet to be arrested

Activists want former AIADMK councillor to be declared an absconding offender

23/09/2019, VIVEK NARAYANAN,CHENNAI

S. Jayagopal

It has been 11 days since R. Subasri was run over by a water tanker in Pallikaranai, after an illegal banner fell on her. But S. Jayagopal, a former AIADMK councillor, who had put up the banners for his son’s wedding, is yet to be arrested.

While senior police officers say they are still searching for him and that he has been booked under Section 308 of the IPC that could put him in jail for seven years, social activists want the police to declare him an absconding offender.

They wonder how the AIADMK functionary has remained elusive for 11 days.

While the driver of the water tanker was immediately arrested, Mr. Jayagopal has not been arrested, though he was named in the first FIR.

Senior police officers say the St. Thomas Mount traffic investigation wing has registered a case against him under Section 308 of the IPC (attempt to commit culpable homicide).

Seven years in prison

“We had initially registered a case under Section 336 of the IPC (act endangering life and personal safety of others). Under Section 308, he will be behind bars for seven years, once arrested,” said a police officer. Meanwhile, human rights’ activists want the police to declare him an absconding offender and proceed with the case.

“There is no need for custodial investigation in the case. They can file a charge sheet based on witness statement and get him conviction,” said advocate Sudha Ramalingam. She felt the police had the wherewithal to arrest him, but this was not happening due to lack of political will. “Police personnel continue to succumb to political pressure,” she charged.

Jayaram Venkatesan, convener, Arappor Iyakkam, wondered why the police were not able to track him despite extensive CCTV installation in the city. “It either shows the police do not have the skill or that they are colluding with the politician,” he alleged.

A few days after Ms. Subasri’s death, banners and cutouts were found in Kannagi Nagar.

“The Chennai Corporation gave a complaint, but no FIR has been registered. In Madurai, an ordinary citizen was arrested for putting up posters. The police will not touch politicians,” he said.

Activists say people will lose hope in the judicial system and the police if Jayagopal is not arrested.

When asked for a reaction, a senior police officer said: “His phone is not reachable, we are tracking him using all possible methods.”

NBE 23,09,2019

Showers send snakes into homes
Oppili.P@timesgroup.com

Chennai:23,09,2019

Intermittent rain in the city has pushed our reptilian friends out of their burrows, increasing the rescue phone calls to wildlife office. The wildlife headquarters range office in Guindy has been receiving eight or nine calls a day to rescue snakes, including cobras, that entered houses, said a wildlife official. There were three or four calls earlier.

Herpetologist V Kalaiarasan said burrows of snakes get inundated during rain, forcing the reptiles to look for alternative sites. “They usually try to take cover under rocks, at houses where people stack bricks or tiles,” he said.

In Chennai, one can come across cobras in many areas, Kalaiarasan said. “Other venomous serpents such as Russell’s viper, sawscaled viper and krait, though found in the city, are not commonly found entering homes,” he said. Russell’s viper can be seen in Velachery and its surroundings as they are found in the Guindy National Park.

Irula tribal Rajendran said in many areas, rat snakes enter houses. “Their length usually creates panic among people. Many are unaware that the species is non-venomous.”

Records show that around 3,000 people die due to snake bites in Tamil Nadu annually. This is mainly due to lack of proper secondary treatment, says S Paulraj, executive chairman of Chennai Snake Park Trust. “By and large, snake bite victims are able get proper initial treatment. But not thereafter,” said Paulraj. The trust is conducting snakebite awareness programmes for school and college students, especially those living on the outskirts of the city. They are the ones who frequently encounter snakes and hence the awareness drive is focussed on them, he added.

HEAR THAT HISS?

More rain in store for city, says Met

Chennai: The city is expected to get more spells of rain in the coming days as Met department has forecast light to moderate rain in some areas. Nungambakkam received 1.2cm rain and Meenambakkam received 5.4cm rain on Sunday afternoon, leaving several roads flooded. Private weather Pradeep John termed it as “noon burst” and that it was the spell of the year in terms of high intensity in short period. “The rain rates at some places are 150 to 200 mm/hr, though it rained only for a short period,” he added. Guindy received 4cm, OMR area 1cm, Ambattur 3.6cm, Mogappair 3.3cm and Anna Nagar and ECR area 2cm each. TNN

Bank strike: ATMs in TN may run dry

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:23.09.2019

Around 20,000 automated teller machines (ATMs) in Tamil Nadu might run out of cash coming weekend because of a nation-wide strike called by bank officers’ unions.

According to All India Bank Officers Confederation (AIBOC), more than 40,000 bank officers are expected to participate in the strike on Thursday and Friday (September 26 and 27). This will have a direct impact on transactions worth ₹6,000 crore in Tamil Nadu, said R Sekaran from AIBOC, adding that ATMs might run dry as refilling cash is mostly done only under bank officials’ supervision.

Cash refilled in ATMs on Wednesday will hardly be sufficient till Friday morning, he added. “Though we don’t want to cause any inconvenience to members of the public, we are forced to strike because of government’s unilateral decisions.” While banks will remain open, officials will abstain from work.

Operations of 2.12 lakh ATMs and transactions worth ₹48,000 crore are expected to be affected across the country. The strike is against mergers and amalgamations in the banking sector and to press for wage revision, adequate recruitment, reduction of service charges for customers and immediate introduction of fiveday week in full.

Tamil Nadu’s delay may cost Anna University special status

Ragu.Raman@timesgroup.com

Chennai:23.09.2019

Though ministry of human resource development (MHRD) sought a letter of commitment to release Tamil Nadu’s share of funds within a week, six weeks later, the state government is yet to reply to get the Institute of Eminence (IoE) status for Anna University. Any further delay is likely to result in Anna University losing the coveted status to other state/central universities lobbying for IoE.

The status would get Anna University up to ₹1,000 crore funding while giving full freedom to run new courses and admit foreign students.

“A letter from MHRD dated August 6 urged the state government to decide on allotting state’s share to Anna University after getting Institute of Eminence status within a week. But, even after several weeks, no decision has been taken,” sources said.

The university has sought ₹2,500 crore to become a global institution in five years. After perusing the proposal, the MHRD’s empowered expert committee shortlisted Anna University as one of the 10 public institutions for IoE status.

When asked, M K Surappa, Anna University vice-chancellor, said he has written to the higher education department requesting them to issue the letter of compliance on priority basis. He said he is expecting “a positive response from the government.” However, former vice-chancellors urged the state government to take a decision urgently.

“If we miss it, then universities such as Savitribai Phule Pune University may get the status. It is a great honour for TN to have a world-class university and the state government should take a decision as soon as possible,” said E Balagurusamy, former vice-chancellor, Anna University.

“If the state government cannot fund its share for developing infrastructure under IoE status, then they can demand full grant from the Centre,” he said.