Gullible Tamil Nadu villagers gave bank and Aadhaar details to ‘scamsters’

Gullible Tamil Nadu villagers gave bank and Aadhaar details to ‘scamsters’

TNN | Sep 16, 2020, 04.58 AM IST

SALEM: In March this year, a group of villagers of Pethanaickenpalayam near Attur in Salem district were sitting around in the village square when two men approached them. They told the villagers a new government scheme would give them Rs 2,000 every four months. “We assumed they were government staff. They asked for our Aadhaar and some people’s bank account details,’’ said T Masilamani, a villager.

The two men photographed Aadhaar cards using their phones, collected bank account details and left. Six months later, 77 of 163 PM Kisan scheme beneficiaries from Pethanaickenpalayam have come under the scanner of government agencies as ‘ineligible beneficiaries’ of Pradhan Mantri Kisan Samman Nidhi (PM – Kisan) scheme. They have been informed by panchayat authorities to return the ₹2,000 they have received under the scheme.

Even two villagers who say they don’t have bank accounts have been asked to pay up.

Villagers without bank accounts also entangled

P Kuppusamy, 53, and S Rajendran, 58, told TOI they had submitted their Aadhaar details, hoping the state would consider their names too on compassionate grounds.

“We don’t even have bank accounts. But the panchayat officials are saying ₹2,000 was credited into our accounts and are asking us to return the money,’’ said Kuppusamy. TOI could not independently verify if they had bank accounts. The list of ineligible beneficiaries on the government website had several Kuppusamys and Rajendrans from Pethanaickenpalayam.

Collector S ARaman saidthe issue of villagers without bank accounts being added as beneficiaries has come to his notice. “That is exactly the problem we are tackling. The registrations were not verified properly and the Aadhaar details were not checked if they match with the bank accounts,’’ he said.

“Thisis notjustthecasewith this village, we are coming across several such cases in other places also.Athoroughscrutinyin underwaytoweedoutsuch names which do not match with the bank account details,’’ he told TOI.

People of the village now fear police action in the wake of arrests of several internet centre owners by CBCID sleuths across the state. “Our family members are very scared. We don’t even know the name of the scheme or that there were criteria for becoming a beneficiary,’’ said V Subramani, a villager from neighbouring Yethapur.

Out of the 77 ineligible beneficiaries identified in Pethanaickenpalayam, there are nonfarmers. Some are farmers, but the lands are in the names of other family members. In some cases, the families own more than two hectares each, rendering them ineligible to receive benefits under the scheme.

Agriculture officials in the region refused to comment citing the CBCID inquiry underway.

Govt doctors issued memo for exiting from WhatsApp group

 Govt doctors issued memo for exiting from WhatsApp group

The memo was issued by the chief of the General Medicine Department, as the doctors allegedly left the group following an argument over posting them on Covid duty. 

Published: 17th September 2020 06:15 AM | Last Updated: 17th September 2020 06:15 AM 

By Sinduja Jane Express News Service

CHENNAI: Doctors of Government Erode Medical College Hospital have been issued a memo for exiting an official WhatsApp group. They have been asked to give an explanation within three days. Speaking about the development on Wednesday, the hospital dean said the doctors had given an explanation and the issue had been resolved.

The memo was issued by the chief of the General Medicine Department, as the doctors allegedly left the group following an argument over posting them on Covid duty. The dean, R Mani, said, “Whatever the issue at hand, the doctors must have first discussed it with the heads of their department.

They should not have exited the group repeatedly when added back.” According to a government doctor, the in service -doctors joined duty in the hospital recently after finishing their post graduation. “They explained saying they left the group accidently as they are using a touch phone. But, it was not so,” said Dr Mani.

The memo said, “The following medical officers are instructed to give their explanation within three days regarding their exit from officials Whats App group of Government Erode Medical College and Hospital, Perundurai, Erode, which is essential to communicate all official matters to respective individuals.” “This is not a group started for any entertainment.

It is an official group started for official communication. Now most of the meetings are happening online. Also any important discussion about a patient’s reports is also discussed on groups. I expect my subordinates to stay in the group so that I can convey certain things, as it is not possible to meet them as different people will be in different wards or elsewhere,” the dean said. “Now that they have given an explanation, the matter has been resolved.”

Stop harassment of doctors: IMA

Stop harassment of doctors: IMA

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad:18.09.2020

In a letter to Gujarat CM Vijay Rupani on Thursday, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) Gujarat chapter criticized the allegedly heavy-handed behaviour of some collectors. The members requested government intervention.

‘Doctors - who are treating Covid-19 patients even at the cost of their lives for past six months — are facing coercion and intimidating behaviour by collectors of Bhuj, Gondal, Gandhidham, Gir Somnath, Jamnagar, Botad and Godhra. IMA condemns it in the strictest of words,’ states the letter.

The letter added that such behaviour with the doctors is putting lives of the citizens of Gujarat in danger.

‘If such behaviour and activities are not stopped, members of Gujarat chapter of IMA would be forced to protest,’ the letter states.

Dr Chandresh Jardosh, president of IMA Gujarat chapter, told TOI that they got the complaints that doctors are expected to admit patients at hospitals and work there and also offer their services at government-run hospitals.

AHNA RAISES ISSUE OF MEDICINE SHORTAGE:

The private hospitals of the city have raised the issue of Remdesivir and Clexane availability with the authorities. Dr Bharat Gadhvi, president of Ahmedabad Hospitals and Nursing Homes Association (AHNA), said that some member hospitals have not got adequate stock. “We are keeping an eye on the issue. Remdesivir, an antiviral, and Clexane, an anti-coagulant, are necessary in Covid-19 treatment,” he said. TNN

Rly to charge ‘user fee’ at busy stations, tickets may cost more

 Rly to charge ‘user fee’ at busy stations, tickets may cost more

Dipak.Dash@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:18.09.2020

The Indian Railways will soon start levying a “token user fee” from passengers taking trains from busy stations, which will result in marginal increase in the total fare. The user fee, which will be collected for redevelopment of railway stations and modernsation of station infrastructure, will be included in the ticket as it is done in the case of air travel.

“We are going to keep a very small amount for the user charge. We will issue a notification for the user charge for stations including where existing ones are being redeveloped and also those which are not being redeveloped. When the redevelopment of the stations gets completed the user fee will go to the concessionaires and till then the collected user fee will be utilised by railways for providing better facilities to passengers across stations,” railway board CEO and chairman V K Yadav said.

He added the charge will be affordable and won’t pinch the passengers. Yadav said it was important as the Indian Railways is focusing on providing world class facilities.

Responding to a specific question whether this fee will be collected at all railway stations, Yadav said there are about 7,000 stations on the Indian Railways network and the user fee will be levied at barely 10-15% of the stations where the footfall is projected to increase in the next five years. Going by that calculation, the number of such potential stations would be between 700 and 1,000.

Earlier, railway officials had told reporters at several press meets that the user fee would be charged only at developed stations.

A ministry spokesperson said, “The value of the benefits will outweigh the minimalistic user fee when paid.” He added this will be done in a phased manner and bringing 10-15% stations under this scheme is the final possibility.

In a written reply, Union railway minister Piyush Goyal had told Lok Sabha on Wednesday, “A Group of Secretaries (GoS) was constituted for redevelopment and modernisation of railway stations to provide better safety, passenger amenities and services. The GoS interalia suggested the levy of a nominal user fee for redevelopment of stations, which is presently under consideration.”

Full report on www.toi.in

Concessions to senior citizens suspended to stop unnecessary rail travel, HC told

The Southern railway has informed the Madras high court that ticket fare concession to senior citizens was suspended to discourage unnecessary travel in view of the pandemic. It further submitted that between 2016 and 2019, it had incurred Rs 5,475 crore revenue loss providing concessions. “The element of concession extended was varying from 10% to 100% depending upon the category. However, in view of Covid-19, a lot of train services were cancelled ... and it was decided to grant concessions only for four categories – disabled passengers, 11 categories of patients and students,” said counsel for the railways PT Ramkumar. TNN

Salaries from savings illegal: DU principals

Salaries from savings illegal: DU principals

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:18.09.2020

Expressing “hurt” and disappointment with the statement of deputy CM Manish Sisodia on colleges funded by Delhi government not using their funds to pay salaries, the Delhi University Principals’ Association (DUPA) hit back at the government on Thursday saying Sisodia’s suggestion of using the institutional savings to pay salaries was “an illegal idea”.

In a statement, DUPA said it was “dismayed by the immature and misleading press statement of the deputy CM, wherein he made unsubstantiated allegations against the administration of Delhi government-funded colleges, charging them with misappropriation of funds and not paying salary from students’ society account.”

The principals said the needs of the 12 government-funded colleges stood at Rs 270 crore for the 2020-21. “Ideally, 75% of the grants, that is Rs 202 crore, should have been released before July. But only Rs 37.5 crore have been released. This is a violation of the Pattern of Assistance communicated to us on January 8 by the Directorate of Higher Education,” the principals’ body said.

DUPA explained that the government gave grants under two heads: plan and non-plan. “It is clearly mentioned in every sanction letter that funds cannot be transferred from one head to the other, the statement said. Jaswinder Singh, principal, SGTB Khalsa College and president of DUPA, emphasised, “The students’ society fund and development fund are collected by colleges governed by University Grants Commission regulations and are used for organising student activities, never to pay salaries.”

The DUPA meeting on Wednesday, attended by over 30 college principals, resolved to meet CM Arvind Kejriwal to express their concern at the government’s view. Poonam Verma, principal of Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies, was hurt that “our deputy CM comes and praises us in the college and then says that our college is corrupt”.

Refuting gover nment allegations about the colleges not holding governing body election and obstructing audits, Singh claimed the “democratic process” of forming GBs would be “completed soon”, while clarifying that “no college has any audit pending”.

The six colleges accused to not completing the audit process are Deen Dayal Upadhyaya, SSCBS, Bhagini Nivedita, Aditi Mahavidyalaya, Keshav Mahavidyalaya and Maharshi Valmiki College of Education. However, DU Academic Council member Naveen Gaur contested this, saying that “while Delhi government must release funds unconditionally, all colleges do not get an audit done, contrary to DUPA’s sweeping statement”.

In response, a Delhi government official reiterated that some colleges “are depositing their funds in fixed deposits and incessantly demanding money from Delhi government. According to the pattern of assistance, these colleges need to meet all their expenses from the funds they get from various other sources and only in case of shortages after that will they be compensated by Delhi government.” The official said that when the government asked for the accounts related to sources of income, the colleges demurred. “If the colleges do not disclose how they have spent their money, on what basis can the Delhi government release funds?” the official asked.

AN OFFICIAL SAYS

If the colleges do not disclose how they have spent their money, on what basis can govt release funds?

Fate of three flyovers hangs in the balance

Fate of three flyovers hangs in the balance

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

18.09.2020

The fate of flyovers in Velachery, Medavakkam and Madippakkam Koot Road continues to hang in the balance. They have been idling for a long time, inconveniencing residents and road users.

Work on the three flyovers at Kilkattalai junction (Madippakkam Koot road), Velachery and Medavakkam has been delayed by at least a year, officials said.

The Velachery flyover work kickstarted in 2015 and was supposed to be wrapped up by September 2018. Officials said contractors were terminated in two years and it took another six months to identify the next contractor. “When the work began, the pandemic hit, further delaying the project,” an official said. Work was also halted due to land acquisition issues, officials said.

The Kilkattalai flyover project, work on which began in 2016, was to be completed in two years. Officials said it got delayed because the original contractors were replaced. The flyover is expected to be completed by January 2021. Highway department officials said one side of the flyover at Kilkattalai junction, running from east to west, will be ready by November and the one from west to east will be ready by January next year.

Work on the Medavakkam flyover started in 2018 and was supposed to be wrapped up by September, 2020, but got shelved due to pandemic. It is expected to be completed by January 2021, officials said.

“Delay in completing these flyovers defeats the purpose for which they are being built,” said a road user in Velachery.

Jeyaraj & Beniks deaths: HC denies cop bail, says there’s enough to prove his role

Jeyaraj & Beniks deaths: HC denies cop bail, says there’s enough to prove his role

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:18.09.2020

Observing that prima facie materials are available to prove that suspended Sathankulam police inspector S Sridhar had instigated his fellow policemen to assault P Jeyaraj and his son J Beniks, the Madras high court on Thursday dismissed his bail plea.

The court was hearing the bail plea of Sridhar, one of the 10 policemen arrested in the twin custodial deaths case. Justice V Bharathidasan observed that it is a case of alleged custodial torture where two precious lives were lost. From the materials available on record, Jeyaraj was taken to the police station by the petitioner, a sub inspector Balakrishnan and a constable Muthuraja. Thereafter, when Beniks came to the police station and inquired about the reason for his father’s arrest, there was a petty quarrel between him and Balakrishnan. The judge said the petitioner came out of his room and directed the police personnel to close the main gate and instigated the other accused to beat Beniks.

The judge noted that the materials available on record would show that the petitioner repeatedly instigated the other accused to beat both deceased. “Brutality continued throughout the night,” observed the judge. The judge added that at least eight witnesses spoke of Sridhar’s involvement in the above said occurrence and that the post-mortem report states that the duo died of complications due to blunt injuries sustained.

Being a policeman, there is reasonable apprehension that he is likely to tamper with witnesses, especially personnel working in the police station. Furthermore, investigation is yet to be completed and it is in a crucial stage, the judge noted and said he is not inclined to grant bail to the petitioner.