Urgent steps needed to increase beds:

Urgent steps needed to increase beds:

Stalin

‘Be open in sharing details with us’

08/05/2021

Special CorrespondentCHENNAI

Chief Minister M.K. Stalin said on Friday that his government had to take measures on a war footing to increase the number of beds and check the spread of COVID-19. He asked officials to ramp up bed capacity and the availability of oxygen and medicines.

At his first meeting with the Collectors, police officers and medical experts, he said experts projected that cases in the State, which now averaged 25,000 a day, were likely to go up in the next couple of weeks. “Only if the spread of the virus is contained, will we be able to reduce the number of deaths and the load on medical infrastructure. Our government has come to power at a time when we are facing severe challenges, and we have a responsibility to protect the lives and livelihood of the Tamil people,” he said.

The Chief Minister said he had a responsibility to support the officials fighting the pandemic. Doctors, nurses and other medical professionals were working hard to save lives. “Chennai city, Kancheepuram, Tiruvallur, Chengalpattu, Coimbatore, Madurai and Tirunelveli are seeing a high case load. This has to be controlled; only then will the number of deaths come down. Officials working in these areas must work diligently and ramp up medical infrastructure,” he said.

Mr. Stalin also asked the officials to increase the rate of vaccination, especially in these districts. He advised those aged above 45, who were at an increased risk of hospitalisation and death, to come forward and get themselves vaccinated.

He advised officials to make sure that all details were shared with the government so that issues could be resolved. “Be transparent in sharing information about needs, shortcomings, what the government needs to do. Only if we face the truth, we can find solutions to issues,” he said.

Rush at usury dens

Rush at usury dens

08/05/2021

Ms. Jyothi is not alone in being faced with a financial crisis due to the pandemic, which has hit several thousand families. For these desperate families, who have no other source, gold has become the mythical Sanjeevani (panacea) to raise the much-needed funds for medical treatment.

Similar is the story of Yalamanchili Ramu (name changed) from Gayathri Hill who sold 30 tola (one tola equals 10 grams) of family jewellery for the treatment of his mother, daughter and himself who were admitted to a corporate hospital in Secunderabad. After a week, Ramu ran out of cash and had no other option but to dispose of the gold. “Selling land is a long process and gold has come to the rescue of my family. We paid more than ₹10 lakh for treatment of three persons,” he said.

Enquiries with pawnbrokers and gold loan companies reveal there is a steady footfall of desperate people to pledge their gold ornaments. “Yes, for the past one month there is a steady increase of people who are pledging gold ornaments for treatment. When they say they want money for treatment, I’m giving money at a very low rate of interest,” said a jeweller from Secunderabad

Irai Anbu made Chief Secretary; 4 Secretaries to assist CM

Irai Anbu made Chief Secretary; 4 Secretaries to assist CM

Shilpa Satish to handle grievance redressal system

08/05/2021

V. Irai AnbuHANDOUT_E_MAIL

T. UdhayachandranJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

P. UmanathJOTHI RAMALINGAM B

M.S. ShanmugamHANDOUT_E_MAIL

Anu GeorgeRAGHUNATHAN SR

Dennis S. Jesudasan CHENNAI

On its first day in office on Friday, the DMK government named senior IAS officer V. Irai Anbu as its Chief Secretary, replacing incumbent Rajeev Ranjan. It also named four IAS officers — T. Udhayachandran, P. Umanath, M.S. Shanmugam and Anu George as Secretaries I, II, III and IV respectively to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin.

The State government also appointed IAS officer Shilpa Prabhakar Satish to head the grievance redressal system that will look into petitions received during the election tour undertaken by Mr. Stalin.

Mr. Anbu, a 1988-batch officer, was until recently, the Director of the Anna Institute of Management, a State-run institution to encourage youngsters to take up a career in civil services. Known in IAS circles for being honest, simple and a lover of books, Mr. Anbu has authored several books. He holds two doctorates — one in management concepts found in Thirukkural and one on the comparison between Thiruvalluvar and Shakespeare.

While in Madurai, he contributed a weekly series, ‘Random thoughts’ in The Hindu Metro Plus, which was also brought out as a special publication with three reprints.

Soon after he received the S.P. Adithanar Literary Award from Prime Minister Narendra Modi during the platinum jubilee celebrations of the Tamil daily Dina Thanthi in November 2017, Mr. Anbu donated the cash prize of ₹2 lakh to the Adi Dravidar Hostel for Men in Mylapore. He has been Collector in many districts and the Commissioner of Economics and Statistics, and is known for efforts in boosting tourism in the State.

Mr. Udhayachandran, who was until recently the Commissioner of Archaeology, is known for his genuine interest in Tamil literature, history and archaeology. It was during his tenure as Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Public Service Commission that it incorporated technology into conducting exams for candidates.

As Madurai Collector, the 1995-batch officer was credited for his efforts to successfully conduct local body polls after a decade in Pappapatti, Keeripatti and Nattarmangalam village panchayats, where caste Hindus had refused to accept Dalits being elected as panchayat presidents.

Helping fight COVID-19

Mr. Umanath, who was the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation (TNMSC), is credited for efficiently planning ahead for building the oxygen capacity in hospitals and getting testing kits and drugs in time to help combat COVID-19 better. He was also the Coimbatore Collector when the erstwhile DMK government held the World Classical Tamil Conference in 2010.

Mr. Shanmugam was posted as the Director of Museums. During his stint as the Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu FibreNet Corporation Limited, he refused to allow political interference in his functioning.

As Managing Director of the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board, he ensured that law and order problems in the Perumbakkam tenements were resolved.

An alumna of the Jawaharlal Nehru University, Ms. George was the Collector of Ariyalur district and the Joint Secretary (Protocol) in the Public Department during the AIADMK regime under then Chief Minister Jayalalithaa. Ms. George has also served as the Commissioner and Director of Industries and Commerce.

Ms. Satish was earlier Tirunelveli Collector and was in the news when she chose a government-run anganwadi for her child. She has worked as Deputy Commissioner (Education), Greater Chennai Corporation.

Doctors exhausted

Doctors exhausted

08/05/2021

Special Correspondent Virudhunagar

Continuous work without adequate break unlike given in the first wave of COVID in 2020 has created a sense of desperation among doctors.

“Besides treating patients continuously by putting our lives at risk, we are forced to face the angry public who shout at us for lack of adequate doses of vaccines,” a senior medical officer of a Government Hospital said.

The State government could have recognised their services with an incentive for fight against the COVID at least during the peak period.

“An incentive for a couple of months will keep the fighting spirit of the medical officers and paramedical staff high to continuously work in the COVID wards,” he added.

The doctors were demoralised as no hotel accommodation and food were given to them for the quarantine period as in 2020.

The hotel accommodation helped to quarantine themselves after a week of duty in COVID-19 ward for a few days before going back home. “Now, we are putting the lives of our family members in danger,” the officer said.

Earlier, a RT-PCR test negative report was made mandatory for doctors and other health staff to go home after quarantine. “But now, in the absence of hotel accommodation and mandatory RT-PCR test, the doctors walk straight into their homes from the COVID-19 wards,” said Virudhunagar district secretary of Tamil Nadu Government Employees’ Association, R. Varaivan.

Doctors complain that a judicious deployment of doctors with due rotation in COVID ward and in non-COVID duty will help medical officers and paramedical staff fight fatigue.

“The district administration has called for recruitment of doctors and paramedical staff to be employed on contract basis. We will have to wait for more time to get a break,” the officer said.

Irai Anbu to fine tune TN administration?

Irai Anbu to fine tune TN administration?

Anbu has also served as the coordinator for all committees during the eighth World Tamil Conference at Thanjavur in 1995.

Published: 08th May 2021 04:42 AM 

IAS officer V Irai Anbu who assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary, on Friday paid a courtesy call on Chief Minister MK Stalin at the secretariat

By T Muruganandham

Express News Service

CHENNAI: Senior IAS officer V Irai Anbu (58), a multi-faceted personality, who has authored many books on self improvement, and a motivational speaker, assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary to the Tamil Nadu government on Friday. As a strict disciplinarian and an officer known for his integrity and straightforwardness, Anbu is expected to fine tune the State administration.

Anbu superseded 12 Chief Secretary-grade IAS officers under the government to the post. He was promoted to the grade on February 27, 2019. After his appointment to the top post, Irai Anbu called on Chief Minister MK Stalin at the secretariat and presented his book Vaiya Thalaimaikol to the latter.

Born on June 16, 1963 in Salem district, Irai Anbu holds multiple degrees and doctorates in the fields of agriculture, literature, psychology, administration, etc. When he took the civil services examination for the first time in 1980s, he secured 227th rank. In his second attempt, he got 15th place at the national level. His elder brother V Thiruppugazh is also an IAS officer, who is famous for his significant works in Gujarat.

When he was the Assistant Collector in Nagapattinam district, he played an important role in flood relief works. During his tenure as the Additional Collector in Cuddalore, Anbu took steps to provide skill development training to inmates of the district central prison. He also took steps to provide houses for Narikuravas under the district decentralisation plan in erstwhile South Arcot district.

Anbu has also served as the coordinator for all committees during the eighth World Tamil Conference at Thanjavur in 1995. During his stint in the Information Department, he brought in many transformations. One among them was hosting the G.Os of the government departments in time on the website and making them available to the press. The departments he served in the State government include economics and statistics, pollution control board, environment, tourism, etc.

Kalloori Kaalangal

Anbu had earlier conducted Kalloori Kaalangal programme in Podhigai TV channel which ran for many hundred episodes and attracted youth

தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கு தானே கையெழுத்திட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன்

தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கு தானே கையெழுத்திட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன்

Updated : மே 08, 2021 02:23 | Added : மே 08, 2021 02:22 

சென்னை : தமிழகத்தின் புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக வெ. இறையன்பு நியமனத்தையொட்டி, பணியிடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்ட ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன், தன்னுடைய இடமாற்றத்திற்கான உத்தரவில் தானே கையெழுத்திட்டுள்ளார்.

தமிழகத்தில் நடந்த சட்டசபை தேர்தலில் திமுக தனிப்பெரும்பான்மையுடன் வெற்றி பெற்று ஆட்சியமைத்துள்ளது. திமுக தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின் நேற்று (மே.,7) தமிழக முதல்வராக பதவியேற்றுக் கொண்டார். பல்வேறு துறைகளுக்கான அமைச்சர்களுக்கும் பதவியேற்றுக்கொண்டனர். தமிழகத்தின் தலைமை செயலாளராக இருந்த ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன், தமிழ்நாடு செய்தித்தாள் கழகத்திற்கு இடமாற்றம் செய்யப்பட்டார். அவருக்கு பதிலாக புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக வெ.இறையன்பு நியமனம் செய்யப்பட்டார்.

அரசு விதிமுறைப்படி, ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்., அதிகாரிகளை தலைமை செயலாளர் தான் மாற்ற முடியும். எனவே புதிய தலைமை செயலாளருக்கான உத்தரவில் ராஜீவ் ரஞ்சன் கையெழுத்திட்டார்.

புதிய தலைமை செயலாளராக நியமிக்கப்பட்ட வெ. இறையன்பு ( ஐ.ஏ.எஸ்.) முன்னதாக, நாகப்பட்டினத்தில் சப் கலெக்டராகவும், காஞ்சிபுரத்தில் மாவட்ட கலெக்டராகவும், கடலூரில் இணை ஆணையர், நகராட்சி நிர்வாகம் மற்றும் கூடுதல் கலெக்டராகவும் பணியாற்றியுள்ளார். மேலும் செய்தி மற்றும் மக்கள் தொடர்பு துறையில் இயக்குநராகவும், முதல்வரின் செயலர், செய்தி மற்றும் சுற்றுலாத்துறையின் செயலராகவும், சுற்றுலா மற்றும் பண்பாட்டு துறையில் தலைமை இயக்குநர் (பயிற்சி) மற்றும் இயக்குநர் அண்ணா மேலாண்மை நிலையம் உள்ளிட்ட பல்வேறு முக்கிய பொறுப்புகளை வகித்துள்ளார்.

தொடர்ந்து, தமிழகத்தின் தலைமை செயலாளராக இருந்த ராஜிவ் ரஞ்சன், தமிழ்நாடு செய்தித்தாள் கழகத்திற்கு மாற்றப்பட்டுள்ளார். இதற்கான பணி நியமன உத்தரவில் விதிமுறைகளின்படி, அவரே கையெழுத்திட்டுள்ளார். அவரது பெயரில் தான் பணி நியமனத்திற்கான ஆர்டரும் வந்ததாக கூறப்படுகிறது.

Supreme Court Suggests To Include NEET PG Aspirants And Trained Nursing Students In COVID Workforce, Incentives By Way Of Grace Marks

Supreme Court Suggests To Include NEET PG Aspirants And Trained Nursing Students In COVID Workforce, Incentives By Way Of Grace Marks: 'There is no way today that we have the number of health professionals in our medical infrastruct