What privacy? To save money, TNSTC uses papers with Aadhaar details to respond to RTI queries

What privacy? To save money, TNSTC uses papers with Aadhaar details to respond to RTI queries

Sakthivel is not the only person to have received replies to RTI queries on such sheets. RTI activist Daniel Jesudass said he too received replies from TNSTC and even the Health department on such she

Published: 20th April 2021 11:12 AM 

By S Senthil Kumar

Express News Service

COIMBATORE: Little would have TNSTC driver KP Sakthivel expected that his innocuous query would expose the callousness of the corporation in handling sensitive information of its employees and members of the public.

Sakthivel, deputy general secretary of the Tamil Nadu Transport Uniformed Employees Union, said he had filed a query under RTI Act seeking details of his service record. To his shock he received a reply from the Assistant Manager of Employees and Salary Section on a one-side paper, the reverse of which had Aadhaar details. "The TNSTC is operating under loss and is trying to minimise expenses. But this is not the way to do it. Using photocopy sheets of important documents like Aadhaar in this manner is unacceptable," Sakthivel told The New Indian Express on Monday.

According to sources,  staff of TNSTC are given the privilege of availing free travel for their families up to a prescribed kilometer limit once in a year. For this, they must produce Aadhaar details of family members. Besides, kin of employees seeking employment on compassionate grounds, employees filing IT returns, and members of the public, especially Persons With Disabilities, are required to produce Aadhaar details.

The TNSTC administration, it appears, has been using photocopies of Aadhaar as stationery. "This shows the callous attitude of TNSTC officials since there is a high chance that the Aadhaar information could be misused by anti-social elements. Last year, the State Information Commissioner Tamil Kumar warned TNSTC not to use photocopy sheets of Aadhaar as stationery, but the corporation is continuing the practice," Sakthivel said, adding, "The public information officer (PIO) of TNSTC should take responsibility for the gaffe and instruct officers working under him not to repeat it,"

Sakthivel is not the only person to have received replies to RTI queries on such sheets. RTI activist Daniel Jesudass said he too received replies from TNSTC and even the Health department on such sheets.

"TNSTC officials recently replied to my RTI query. It was on the reverse of letters sent by passengers and employees pointing out some issues. The TNSTC is procuring pen and paper for lakhs of rupees every month. Instead of using that they resort to such cheap practices. I suspect they are fudging the stationery purchase accounts," Jesudass said.

When contacted, Anbu Abraham Managing Director of TNSTC Coimbatore division, said that he will look into the issue and take steps to avoid such incidents from recurring in future.

Scam detected as dead man ‘tests negative’

Scam detected as dead man ‘tests negative’

He was startled because his wife and father weren’t tested; and his father died on September 22 last year, and his wife wasn’t in Tenkasi.

Published: 21st April 2021 04:59 AM | Last Updated: 21st April 2021 04:59 AM

By Sreemathi M

Express News Service

TENKASI: Vinoth Victor Antony, a native of Surandai in Tenkasi district and a resident of Madampakkam in Chennai, was shocked when he got a message from Tenkasi Government Headquarters Hospital on Sunday, saying his wife tested positive for coronavirus and his father negative.

He was startled because his wife and father weren’t tested; and his father died on September 22 last year, and his wife wasn’t in Tenkasi. Vinoth (30), a businessman, told TNIE he submitted a petition to the Directorate of Public Health and Tenkasi Collector GS Sameeran regarding the test results and seeking action against those who impersonated his wife and father.

In an audio clip that has gone viral, officials at the Tenkasi control room are heard verifying the names of his father, Anthonyraj, and wife, Jensi (28). Vinoth claimed there is no way they gave swab samples in Tenkasi as the last time he visited Surandai was to vote, and his wife last visited about six months ago. Sameeran said legal action would be taken against the impersonators.

“All samples taken during the past week have been collected and are now being verified with people in the region,” he said. Tenkasi Government Headquarters Hospital superintendent Dr R Jesline said giving such false information is a criminal offence.

Youngsters now at greater risk?

Unlike last year, many youngsters now have severe Covid symptoms, and this wave has so far killed about 10 young people in TN who had no comorbidities. “Many youngsters are presenting respiratory symptoms and pneumonia. Early admission may save their lives,” said RGGGH dean Dr E Theranirajan

Kovai kids falling ill

This year alone, 2,775 children in Coimbatore under the age of 14 got Covid-19, compared to 2,318 between March and December 2020

TN tracker 79,804

Active cases

99,246 more people tested

10,13,378 tally

13,205 toll

3,711 new cases, 17 deaths in Chennai

Facebook now lets users transfer their media, posts and notes to other platforms

Facebook now lets users transfer their media, posts and notes to other platforms

Check out how you can export your Facebook photos, videos, posts and notes to other services in a few easy steps.

By: Tech Desk | Mumbai

April 20, 2021 4:14:14 pm

Facebook will soon be adding transfer support for more data types. 

Tech giant Facebook has just launched a new trick that lets its users transfer their Facebook data to other sites. The service allows users to transfer data and media including all your photos, videos, posts, notes and even ad-related information from the platform to other relevant services. The feature will come in handy for people looking to quit off the platform.

The service was already available for most of users’ Facebook data. However while the earlier implementation included photos and videos, users still could not download their text posts and notes. Starting Monday, backing up these elements will also be possible.

“We designed this tool with privacy, security and utility in mind. We’ll ask you to re-enter your password before the transfer starts and encrypt your data as it moves between services, so you can be confident it will be transferred securely,” Facebook said

While media like photos and videos can be then uploaded to other services like Google Photos, Dropbox and others, the posts and notes will now be able to be backed up to sites like Google Docs, Blogger and WordPress. Facebook also mentioned that it will soon let users export more data types in the future.

How to download your Facebook data?

Users can download and transfer their Facebook data in a few easy steps using a desktop browser.

Step 1: On the Facebook home page, look for the drop dropdown arrow on the top-right portion of the screen. Clicking on this will open up more options. Choose Settings and Privacy/ Settings/ Your Facebook Information.

Step 2: Choose the ‘Transfer a Copy of Your Information’ option and re-enter your Facebook password to confirm your identity.

Step 3: A subsequent screen will ask users to choose what they’d like to transfer. Users can choose between photos, videos, posts and/or notes. While photos and videos offer more control on how much you want to download, users choosing posts and notes will have to transfer all of them.

Step 4: Choose the platform that you will be transferring your data in the dropdown. Once you select a new service, you will be asked to sign in to that service. Once this is done, click the ‘Confirm Transfer ‘ button.

Cremations at night to tackle record death surge

Cremations at night to tackle record death surge

Paras.Singh@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

With an unprecedented surge in Covid-related deaths in Delhi, the city’s main cremation ground at Nigambodh Ghat received 192 bodies on Monday. North Delhi Municipal Corporation has now issued orders to keep all the six CNG furnaces in the crematorium operational 24x7 till the present situation continues.

“Considering the emergency situation due to increase in Covid-19 deaths, the cremation capacity has been enhanced. All six CNG furnaces at Nigambodh Ghat will be functional for 24 hours on all days of the week till further orders,” an order issued by the public health department on Monday stated.

Data available shows that out of the 192 bodies that were cremated at Nigambodh on Monday, 100 bodies were of Covid victims. As many as 160 cremations were held on Sunday, 126 on Saturday and124 on Friday. In comparison, just 30 to 40 cremations were being held between April 1 and 4.

North corporation mayor Jai Prakash said to reduce the load on the biggest cremation ground of the city, the Inderpuri facility would now also cater to Covid patients’ bodies coming from Lok Nayak Hospital. “While Hindu rituals do not allow night cremations, but these are unprecedented times of a calamity and we have to accommodate these changes. If a family comes late around 8-9pm, we should not be returning them. All CNG furnaces will be available 24 hours a day,” he added.

Officials from the public health department estimate that under normal conditions, Nigambodh Ghat can process 174 bodies a day — 120 wood-based traditional funerals and 54 CNG furnace-based cremations.

East Delhi Municipal Corporation has also decided to keep its Karkardooma and Ghazipur facilities operational 24x7.

HC: Can We Ask Patients Needing Oxygen To Hold On Till April 22?

HC: Can We Ask Patients Needing Oxygen To Hold On Till April 22?

Says Industries Can Wait, Directs Centre To Divert Oxygen For Covid Relief

Abhinav.Garg@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

With several major Delhi hospitals just hours from exhausting their oxygen supplies, Delhi High Court ordered the central government on Tuesday to immediately stop industries from using oxygen and divert the gas to Covid-19 patients.

“Industries can wait, need for oxygen in hospitals is now and any delay will lead to loss of precious lives. We, therefore, direct the central government to implement decisions to bar industries from using oxygen forthwith. We see no justification for implementing the order from 22nd of April,” a bench of justices Vipin Sanghi and Rekha Palli noted in an order passed after a marathon hearing of over three hours.

The court underlined that economic interests could not override human lives and advised the government to consider reducing production in steel and petroleum production to divert oxygen to hospitals. “Shortage is now. You have to ban now. Look into taking some oxygen from steel and petroleum industries. They have big pockets and big lobbies, but tell them if they have to cut production, then they can cut production. Lives have to be saved,” the bench said wondering why the Centre is waiting till April 22 to ban industrial use of oxygen.

“Can we ask patients needing oxygen to hold on till April 22?” the high court remarked, adding that if nothing was done, then “we are heading for a bigger disaster as we might end up losing nearly a crore of people. Are we willing to accept that?”

During the hearing, the court also asked the Centre to ensure allocation or diversion of resources and medicines, such as Remdesivir, is based on the needs and situation of each state, cautioning that otherwise “people will have blood on their hands”.

The bench was unhappy with the non-application of mind in allocation and diversion of resources and medicines, after examining the government’s affidavit. “We will be doomed,” it told additional solicitor general Chetan Sharma. “The long and short of it is that Remdesivir is in short supply,” the bench said, while hearing a plea by advocate Rakesh Malhotra seeking to revive court monitoring of the issue.

The observations by the bench came after perusing the Centre's affidavit which said there was presently no gap in oxygen supply to Delhi and that industrial use of oxygen was banned with effect from April 22. The health ministry submitted that there had been an inordinate increase of 133% in the projected medical oxygen required as on April 20, between the initial estimate of 300 metric tonnes and revised estimate of 700 metric tonnes submitted by Delhi.

The court also grilled the Centre on allowing wastage of vaccines. “Wastage of vaccines, which is life-saving, is a criminal waste. We direct the government to look into the situation to permit full utilisation of vaccines,” the justices said, citing news reports that 44 lakh of 10 crore vaccines were wasted. “We are now losing young people. Why can’t the vaccine not be given to those below 45 in these 10 days till May 1? If vials are opened and those registered don’t turn up, let others take it, why is there wastage of even one dosage?”

It asked the Centre to consider updating its vaccine registration app to accommodate those in the 18-45 years category. “This update will ensure that all doses are fully utilised. Such flexibility is available in other countries such as the United States of America,” the high court noted.

Referring to shortage of important drugs, the court said the Centre or the drug controller should not hesitate to invoke their power under the Patent Act to go for generic medicines since the lives of the people are being lost at a very fast pace and the lives of people should be taken on 'priority' over everything else.

SC stays Allahabad HC order locking down 5 cities in UP

SC stays Allahabad HC order locking down 5 cities in UP

Dhananjay.Mahapatra@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:21.04.2021

The Supreme Court on Tuesday stayed operation of Allahabad high court's Monday order directing the state to enforce week-long complete lockdown in five major cities — Prayagraj, Lucknow, Kanpur, Varanasi and Gorakhpur — to control spiralling Covid-19 cases during the second surge of the pandemic.

The UP government, which had announced its decision not to comply with the order, got an appeal prepared overnight and through solicitor general Tushar Mehta requested and got an urgent hearing before a bench of Chief Justice S A Bobde and Justices A S Bopanna and V Ramasubramanian. Mehta said the government respected the intent behind the HC's order, but maintained it was a clear encroachment into the executive's domain. He said the order, despite its best intent, could cause confusion, panic and massive disruption of supplies to other parts of the state during these difficult times.

The SG said the UP government had issued several directions to contain the spread of Covid-19 and was taking adequate precautions on its own. He said though the HC maintained that its directions "are nowhere close to a complete lockdown", they were as rigorous as a complete lockdown.

Accusing the HC of encroaching into the executive’s domain by passing lockdown order for five cities, the UP government said, "There was no empirical data before the HC to compel it to arrive at a conclusion that lockdown/total curfew for a week was the only way to break the chain of Covid infection."

The SC bench said, "Until further orders, there shall be an interim stay of the impugned order passed by the HC.” However, it asked the state government to immediately report to the HC about the steps it has taken and proposes to take in the immediate future within a period of one week in view of the current pandemic. The bench also appointed senior advocate P S Narasimha as amicus curiae to assist the court as the HC had passed the order in a matter initiated suo motu.

UP govt: HC encroached upon executive domain

The Uttar Pradesh government has welcomed the SC’s decision to stay Allahabad HC’s directive to impose lockdown in five districts of the state. In its special leave petition (SLP) in SC on Tuesday, the government stated it had already imposed several curbs, but apart from saving lives it also had to think of saving livelihoods. The SLP said the high court order had ventured into governance by “breaching the statutory principles of separation of powers between judiciary and executive”. TNN

புதுடில்லி:கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி மருந்தை வீணடித்ததில், நாட்டிலேயே தமிழகம் முதலிடத்தில் உள்ளது.

DINAMALAR

21.04.2021 

புதுடில்லி:கொரோனா தடுப்பூசி மருந்தை வீணடித்ததில், நாட்டிலேயே தமிழகம் முதலிடத்தில் உள்ளது.

கொரோனாவை கட்டுப்படுத்த, தற்போது, 45 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்டோருக்கு, தடுப்பூசி போடப் பட்டு வருகிறது. வரும், 1ம் தேதி முதல், 18 வயதுக்கு மேற்பட்ட அனைவருக்கும் தடுப்பூசி போட, மத்திய அரசு அனுமதி வழங்கியுள்ளது. இந்நிலையில், வீணடிக்கப்பட்ட தடுப்பூசி விபரங்களை கேட்டு, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சகத்துக்கு, தகவல் அறியும் உரிமை சட்டத்தின் கீழ், விவேக் பாண்டே என்பவர் மனு கொடுத்திருந்தார்.

இதற்கு, மத்திய சுகாதாரத்துறை அமைச்சகம் அனுப்பியுள்ள பதிலில் கூறியிருப்பதாவது:நாடு முழுதும், 11ம் தேதி வரை, 10 கோடியே, 34 லட்சம் தடுப்பூசி டோஸ்கள் பயன்படுத்தப்பட்டு உள்ளன. இதில், 44 லட்சத்து, 78 ஆயிரம் டோஸ்கள் வீணாகியுள்ளன.தமிழகத்தில் தான் அதிக பட்சமாக, 12.10 சதவீத டோஸ்கள் வீணடிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளன. ஹரியானாவில், 9.74 சதவீதமும்; பஞ்சாபில், 8.12 சதவீதமும்; மணிப்பூரில், 7.8 சதவீதமும்; தெலுங்கானாவில், 7.55 சதவீதமும் வீணாகியுள்ளன.

கேரளா, மேற்கு வங்கம், ஹிமாச்சல பிரதேசம், மிசோரம், கோவா ஆகிய மாநிலங்களிலும்; டாமன் - டையு, அந்தமான் மற்றும் நிக்கோபார், லட்சத்தீவு ஆகிய யூனியன் பிரதேசங்களிலும், ஒரு டோஸ் கூட வீணடிக்கப்படவில்லை. இவ்வாறு அதில் கூறப்பட்டுள்ளது.