Paramedical admissions: 10k seats still vacant

Paramedical admissions: 10k seats still vacant

08.12.2020

Ahmedabad: The admission committee has decided to hold the third round of admission for paramedical courses for physiotherapy and nursing at the under-graduation level after the admission process for medical and dental courses is completed. After the second round of admission, there are 9,963 seats that have still remained vacant. There are 34 colleges offering physiotherapy and nursing courses, which have received approval while 37 colleges are still awaiting approval. The admission committee began the first round of admission for 23,207 seats in different colleges across the state. TNN

IMA to protest ‘mixopathy’ changes today

IMA to protest ‘mixopathy’ changes today

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Ahmedabad: 08.12.2020

Taking part in nation-wide demonstrations against the proposed amalgamation of allopathy with ayurveda, homoeopathy and other medicinal disciplines, members of the Indian Medical Association (IMA) will hold demonstrations at three spots in the city on Tuesday.

Dr Mukesh Maheshwari, coordinator of the media committee of IMA Gujarat, said there will be demonstrations at the IMA headquarters on Ashram Road and two other spots from noon to 2pm, where doctors will raise awareness about the issue and demand a rollback of the ‘mixopathy’ due to the proposed amendment in the IMCC Act.

“We are not against ayurveda or any other treatment procedures, but the move will dilute the essence of every discipline. It will not be in the interest of patients and thus we will be protesting against this with all Covid-19 protocols in place,” he said, adding that IMA has also called for closure of non-emergency medical services across India between 6am and 6pm on December 11.

Nurses oppose draft bill, seek removal of some categories

Nurses oppose draft bill, seek removal of some categories

Sunitha.Rao@timesgroup.com

Bengaluru: 08.12.2020

Nurses’ associations in Karnataka have raised objections to the Centre’s draft National Nursing, Midwifery Commission (NNMC) Bill, 2020 and demanded that categories like ‘nursing assistant’, ‘midwifery associate’ and ‘home-based care personnel’ be excluded from its abmit as they are not equivalent to nurses.

December 6 was the last date to file objections to the draft legislation, and the Trained Nurses Association of India, Karnataka chapter, has sent them. Karnataka is among the states with a large number of nursing colleges; at least 50,000 nurses come out of 1,200 institutions per year.

Girijamba Devi, general secretary, Trained Nurses’ Association, Karnataka chapter, said the draft bill has led to various concerns. “A midwife is a nurse, but not a midwifery associate. Similarly, a nursing assistant can’t be called nurse. If the bill continues to have such terms, it misleads the public,” she added.

“By coining these terms, we are afraid the system may end up having cheap labourers hired as nurses. A qualified nurse who deserves a better salary package will not be recruited. This can only dilute the profession,” another nurse told TOI.

These candidates have lower qualification than current nursing levels and bring down the quality of healthcare, nurses said, adding that creating the said cadres of nursing personnel creates confusion and they must be removed. The association members also say the draft bill doesn’t mention the salary package for Indian nurses. “While we are battling in the Supreme Court for a fixed salary of Rs 20,000 in the beginning of a nurse’s career, the draft is silent over the issue. Nurses are working for less than Rs 10,000 in many places,” the nurses said.

The draft bill has seen objections from across the country, including the All India Government Nurses Federation (AIGNF). “While drafting the bill, the ministry of health and family welfare should have listened to and taken the views of all stakeholders. Nearly 95% of nurses work in clinical, public health domain and their view should not be overlooked in the process of drafting the bill. A few nursing educators can’t decide the future of the whole profession in India,” say AIGNF members.

The federation in its letter of objections mentions that the patient’s welfare and steady growth of the nursing profession are missing in the draft. Though AIGNF is a big stakeholder in the nursing profession, no member was included in the committee for drafting the bill, federation members say.

The nurses added that the proposed National Nursing and Midwifery Commission, which will have no election for its members, will be totally controlled by central government nominees. “No elected members and no representation from clinical nurses and public health nurses means no democracy,” the nurses said, adding it must have elected members.

Girijamba Devi, general secretary, Trained Nurses’ Association, Karnataka chapter, said a midwifery assistant may have done a skill-based course but should not be mistaken for a nurse, who deals with patients in the best interest of public health

Rajinikanth visits city for brother’s blessings

Rajinikanth visits city for brother’s blessings

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 08.12.2020

Superstar Rajinikanth briefly visited Bengaluru on Sunday night to meet his elder brother. Though the actor had plans to stay for a day, swelling crowds in front of his brother’s house prompted him to cut short his trip and leave for Chennai early Monday.

According to sources, the 69-year-old star reached the city by road at 9pm on Sunday and went straight to his elder brother Sathyanarayana Rao’s residence off Mysuru Road near Nayandahalli. A media contingent spotted Rajinikanth in the back seat of a black SUV as he pulled into Rao’s residence.

Rajinikanth waved at people gathered in front of his brother’s house as he walked in. It is said the superstar made the journey from Chennai to meet his brother to seek his blessings before starting his political career. However, there was no independent confirmation of this. It is also said that Rajinikanth had come to seek Rao’s blessings ahead of his 70th birthday (December 12).

Earlier in Chennai, the actor had announced his decision to reveal the name of his political party on December 31and commence party work from January 1.

As the news of Rajinikanth arriving in Bengaluru spread, his fans started gathering outside his brother’s residence. Around 11pm, the actor made a brief appearance on the balcony of the building, much to the delight of the group waiting patiently despite the drizzle.

He left the city by road in the early hours of Monday and returned to Chennai. He is expected to join the sets of his upcoming Tamil film Annaatthe, said sources.

SIBLING BOND: Rajinikanth with his brother Sathyanarayana Rao in Bengaluru on Sunday night

Sources said Rajinikanth had planned to stay here for a day and meet some of his close friends, but later decided to return to Chennai as crowds began to increase through the night. Around 11pm, he made a brief appearance on the balcony of the building

Memu, Demu trains resume, but crowds missing on Day 1

Memu, Demu trains resume, but crowds missing on Day 1

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Bengaluru: 08.12.2020

In a move that could benefit thousands of daily passengers travelling between Bengaluru and nearby districts, South Western Railway (SWR) on Monday resumed Memu and Demu train services. However, ridership was low due to reasons like the work-fromhome arrangement, virus scare and poor awareness about timings.

SWR is operating 12 short-distance passenger trains connecting Bengaluru to all directions (Mysuru, Hassan, Hindupur, Hosur, Marikuppam/Bangarpet) till December

17. The services are likely to be extended thenceforth. It’s among the few railway zones in the country to resume unreserved passenger trains after the lockdown. The first train was 06558 Mysuru-Bangarpet Memu which departed from Mysuru at 5.50am, arrived at KSR Bengaluru City station at 8.44am and reached Bangarpet at 10.40am.

The train was received by Bengaluru Central MP PC Mohan at City railway station and Kolar MP S Muniswamy at Bangarpet. Tumakuru MP GS Basavaraju flagged off another train from Tumakuru to Yeshwantpur.

Railway officials distributed masks and sanitisers and interacted with passengers to sensitise them about precautions to be taken to prevent spread of Covid-19. SWR is taking preventive measures like conducting thermal screening and ensuring social distancing at stations.

Many passengers welcomed the resumption of train services. “This was long awaited. These trains are cheaper and faster than buses. I could reach Bangarpet in two hours from KSR Bengaluru City. It will take more than three hours by bus,” said Madhav S, a daily-wage worker.

Rajiv R, another passenger, said: “These non-AC coaches are safer than Metro. The service is useful for commuting towards Whitefield. Passengers are screened at stations and seats have markings. They could introduce more trains so more people can benefit.”

Bengaluru divisional railway manager (DRM) Ashok Kumar Verma said: “These are special trains for a short period so season tickets and concessional ones for senior citizens and children will not be issued. Tickets can’t be booked through UTS mobile app.”

Eight of the 12 trains recorded a combined ridership of 817; statistics for the others were not available. While KSR Bengaluru-Hosur Memu had just16 passengers, Marikuppam-KSR Bengaluru Memu ferried 289, according to officials.

First Memu train to Hosur

SWR on Monday operated the first Memu train from Bengaluru to Hosur. 06547 KSR Bengaluru-Hosur Memu left KSR Bengaluru at 7.15am and arrived in Hosur at 8.35am. In the return direction, 06548 Hosur-KSR Bengaluru Memu left Hosur at 8.45am and reached KSR Bengaluru at 10.10am.

Last month, electrification work between Byappanahalli and Hosur (48km) was completed. This will help railways operate Memu trains between Bengaluru and Hosur. Those working on Outer Ring Road and in Sarjapur, Electronics City and Bommasandra are set to benefit. Memu trains are faster, cheaper and more environmentally friendly than Demu trains.

Rail enthusiast Abhishek R, who travelled on the Hosur train, said: “It will help many people. But there were only a few commuters on board because of lack of awareness. We hope ridership will pick up soon.”

AFFORDABLE MODE: Hosur-KSR Bengaluru Memu reached City railway station at 10.10am. Many passengers welcomed resumption of services

AIIMS, WHO teams roped in to probe Eluru mystery fever

AIIMS, WHO teams roped in to probe Eluru mystery fever

U.Sudhakarreddy@timesgroup.com

Hyderabad: 08.12.2020

City-based Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology (CCMB) scientists and those from All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) have been roped in to detect the cause of a mysterious sickness that has hit Eluru, leaving one dead and more than 450 in hospital. Blood samples from patients were sent to CCMB Hyderabad and AIIMS for tests. A central three-member team is arriving on Tuesday to probe the mystery sickness, and a WHO team is also looking into the case.

“We have received the blood samples of the patients from Eluru. Doctors have not yet been able to figure it out. We will explore any infection in the samples,” CCMB director Rakesh Mishra told TOI.

It began on Saturday with 45 people from four different localities in Eluru exhibiting symptoms not connected to any known disease. People complained of seizures, sudden loss of consciousness, frothing and shivering.

“If it is a bacteria or virus or fungus, we can find out and isolate the causative. It may take a few days as the process is complicated,” the CCMB director said, adding that it was unlikely to be due to mass hysteria. “Other than in infectious disease, people don't recover so quickly. It can’t be chemical contamination or excessive use of disinfectant, water or cyclic malaria fever. We can’t conclude without the tests,” he said. Andhra Pradesh health minister Alla Nani said that so far the illness had not spread from person to person. “People from other areas, where Eluru municipality water is not distributed, have also fallen ill. People who drink packaged drinking water daily also got sick. About 22 freshwater samples were tested and the reports were normal,” AP officials said.

IN THE DARK: Patients at the district hospital in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh

Dad gives phone for e-class, teen daughter finds his affair video

Dad gives phone for e-class, teen daughter finds his affair video

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mandya: 08.12.2020

Lending his smartphone to his 17-year-old daughter proved disastrous for a rowdy-sheeter from Mandya district who was clandestinely having an extramarital affair. The girl, who chanced upon an intimate video of her father with another woman— that too a relative— told her mother who now wants to end the 18-year-old marriage.

While the wife has sought a divorce, the man is adamant to be reunited with his family. Cops and voluntary organisations have been trying to broker peace between them but in vain so far. The couple has two daughters aged 15 and 17.

The well-kept secret unravelled in October when the man gave his smartphone to his older daughter, a Class XII student, for her online lessons. While going through the phone’s contents, the teen found the video and told her mother, who approached police and women’s organisations seeking action against her husband. A non-cognizable report was subsequently filed.

Since adultery is no longer an offence, the man cannot be proceeded against on that count, as demanded by the wife, said a police officer. We have to ascertain if he filmed the video without the woman’s consent or if he forwarded it to other devices,” an officer said.