T.N. decision cancelling arrear exams not right’

T.N. decision cancelling arrear exams not right’

G.O. declaring all students as passed without an assessment is against Act: AICTE

01/10/2020

Mohamed Imranullah S. CHENNAI

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has told the Madras High Court that an order issued by the State government on August 26, cancelling the arrear examinations for all arts and science, engineering and MCA students except those pursuing the final year of their course, was not in accordance with its guidelines.

In a counter-affidavit filed in response to a public interest litigation petition preferred by professor and former vice-chancellor of Anna University E. Balagurusamy, the AICTE said, “The Government Order declaring all the students as passed without an assessment by way of examination is against the AICTE Act.”

The counter, served on the litigant’s counsel, E. Vijay Anand, went on to state that the AICTE is a statutory body which has to lay down norms and standards for technical courses, curricula and physical as well as instructional facilities. It also prescribes the staff pattern, their qualifications and the assessment pattern for students.

“A degree cannot be awarded to a student who has failed in a large number of courses. This is not acceptable to industry too.

‘Against guidelines’

In view of the said G.O., all students, even those who have paid fees for arrear examinations, have been declared as passed, which is totally against the guidelines,” read the counter-affidavit signed by M. Sundaresan, southern regional officer of AICTE, on behalf of the council.

In his affidavit, Mr. Balagurusamy stated that he had chosen to file the PIL petition to save the quality of education, the future of students and the reputation of universities.

He said the government’s decision had demoralised meritorious students who had cleared all papers without any arrears.

“The G.O. will definitely lower the educational standards of students and universities,” Mr. Balagurusamy said.

Railway Board approves operation of 7 special trains

Railway Board approves operation of 7 special trains

Four will be intra-State, while three will go to Kerala

01/10/2020

Special Correspondent CHENNAI

After getting approval from the Railway Board on Tuesday, Southern Railway will operate four intra-State and three inter-State trains on a daily basis from Friday.

In a press release, Southern Railway said it would operate Nellai Express (Egmore-Tirunelveli), Podhigai Express (Egmore-Sengottai), Tejas Express (Egmore-Madurai) and Rameswaram Express (Egmore- Rameswaram).

Nellai Express will begin its first trip from Tirunelveli on October 2 and from Egmore on October 5. Podhigai Express will be operated from the city on October 3 and from Sengottai on October 4.

Similarly, Tejas Express will start from Egmore on Friday with the return trip slated for 3.15 p.m. the same day.

Rameswaram Express will start on Friday from Rameswaram railway station.

Southern Railway will also operate three inter-State trains to Kerala. These will be the Alappuzha (Alleppey) SF Express (Central-Alapuzha), the Ananthapuri Express (Egmore to Kollam) and the Karaikal-Ernakulam Express.

All of the trains, except the Tejas Express, have been proposed to be run on a daily basis.

‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ in State from Oct. 1

‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ in State from Oct. 1

01/10/2020

The Tamil Nadu government is set to launch the Centre’s ‘One Nation, One Ration  Card’ scheme on Thursday. The scheme will allow  ration cardholders to collect their monthly entitlements from any public distribution system (PDS) outlet  in the State.

Neonatal screening is a must to rein in deafness, say doctors

Neonatal screening is a must to rein in deafness, say doctors

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

30.09.2020

Nearly 6,000 children in Tamil Nadu have been given cochlear implants to help replace a damaged inner ear free of cost. But several children continue to be deprived of the treatment due to delayed screening and parents consulting quacks.

Cochlear implants are provided under the Chief Minister’s Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme in the state.

Dr Mohan Kameswaran, senior ENT consultant and managing director of Madras ENT Research Foundation, said all hospitals that deliver babies must have compulsory screening for newborns.

Mandatory screening will identify 95% of cases who need a cochlear implant. “The test is simple and hardly takes five minutes. It can also be done by the hospital nurse,” he said.

The state has set up six satellite centres in rural areas so that families don't need to relocate to the city to get their child treated for hearing loss.

Senior officials from the health department also said that they have been raising awareness about the importance to screen babies within a month after they are born.

Silver ornament makers in Salem struggle to get biz

Silver ornament makers in Salem struggle to get biz

Senthil.Kumaran@timesgroup.com

30.09.2020

The shine of Salem’s silver ornament-making industry seems to have worn off during the pandemic-induced lockdown with orders dwindling, the economy taking a nosedive and less dispensable money in the hands of buyers.

The units in Salem employing nearly 80,000 people directly and indirectly have been facing financial issues for the past six months. “We usually get orders from New Delhi, Kolkata, Maharashtra, Gujarat, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala, but since the lockdown we have hardly been getting any orders,” said M Govindan, one of the ornament manufacturers in Shevapet. The kuthuvilakku (lamps), kumkuma chimil (kumkum holder), silver pot, ankle chains, hip chains, metti (toe rings) are their usual bestsellers.

More than 1,500 silver ornaments manufacturing units have been functioning in Tirumalaigiri, Sivadapuram, Vedukathampatty, Panangkadu and its surrounding villages while more than 800 units are functioning at Shevapet, Annadhanapatty and Maniyanur areas in Salem. All these units have not got any orders since March 25. “Every day, each unit faces losses of up to ₹10,000,” said T Manikandan, another manufacturing unit owner from Sivadhapuram.

One of the workers, A Venkatesh, 38, said he used to earn nearly Rs10,000 a month, but has been without work for the better part of the year. “My income was zero during the lockdown period,” he said. With no other skills, Venkatesh had to take up a job as a construction worker to make ends meet when construction work was allowed in June. Though Venkatesh wishes to return to his silver ornament-making work once again, his employers have asked him to wait for another month. “I don’t have any other choice until normal work resumes at my unit,” he said.

According to Salem district silver ankle chains manufacturers, nearly five tonnes of silver trade was affected because of this lockdown and pandemic. “There’s no transport facilities to travel to other states and they also don’t have any option to reach Salem,” said M Parandhaman, a manufacturer, who said the present option of hiring a vehicle or taking flights will hike their production costs. The manufacturers have appealed to the state and Union governments to take steps to operate inter-state buses and trains so that trade can resume again

NOT ALL GLITTER: A file photo of workers at a manufacturing unit in Salem. Several such units have not received orders in past six months

Hospital closed after 6 medical staff test positive

Hospital closed after 6 medical staff test positive

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Coimbatore:30.09.2020

Avinashi Government Hospital (GH) has been closed by the Tirupur health department department after six medical staff, including the chief medical officer, tested positive for Covid-19. The medical officer’s result came on Monday, prompting officials to close the hospital from Monday evening itself. However, outpatient services are being offered by the hospital in a neighbouring building with another doctor and a couple of nurses.

The six staff who tested positive include the 43-year-old chief medical officer, four nurses and a lab technician. All of them tested positive on the same day. The health department has now taken nasal swab samples of 34 other medical personnel working in the hospital, said a Tirupur health department official. The hospital was closed by the Avinashi Town Panchayat officials.

TNSTC told to pay ₹24.2L to clerk wrongly dismissed

TNSTC told to pay ₹24.2L to clerk wrongly dismissed

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:30.09.2020

A labour court in the city has directed the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) to pay back wages of ₹24.2 lakh to a clerk, who was reinstated into service after wrongful dismissal. The petitioner stated that he had availed medical leave for treatment for tuberculosis, but was terminated from work.

According to K Ravi, he joined the transport corporation in 1990 as a junior clerk and was working from Vandavasi depot. In 2012, Ravi was affected by tuberculosis and had availed medical leave for two months after informing the branch manager.

However, TNSTC initiated disciplinary action against him and passed dismissal order on April 1, 2014. The petitioner pointed out that the deputy commissioner of labour had cancelled the dismissal order in December 2018, which deems him to be in service and hence, eligible for backwages.

In response, TNSTC contended that a memo was issued to him and since he did not respond despite sufficient opportunity, he was dismissed.

After perusing the documents, the labour court held that the petitioner was eligible for back wages for the period between April 2014 and December 2018 and directed the transport corporation to pay ₹24.2 lakh to the petitioner.