S Rly cancels 50 trains until month-end

S Rly cancels 50 trains until month-end

Chennai:09.05.2021

Southern Railway has cancelled 28 trains within the state and 22 inter-state trains till the end of the month due to poor occupancy.

The cancelled trainsintrastate are: 

Egmore-Karaikudi from May 8 to 31, 

Karaikudi-Egmore from May 9 to June 1, 

Egmore-Madurai and Madurai-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Madurai from May 9 to June 1, 

Madurai-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Trichy from May 9 to June 1, 

Trichy-Egmore from May 8 to 31, 

Egmore-Madurai from May 14 to 30,

 Madurai-Egmore from May 13 to 29, 

Chennai Central-Erode from May 8 to 31, 

Erode-Central from May 8 to 31,

 Central-Coimbatore from May 8 to 31, 

Coimbatore-Central from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Madurai from May 10 to 28, 

Madurai-Central from May 11 to 30, 

Egmore-Nagercoil from May13 to 27, 

Nagercoil-Egmore on Fridays from May14 to 28, 

Tambaram-Nagercoil from May 8 to 31, 

Nagercoil-Egmore from May 9 to June 1, 

Central-Jolarpet from May 8 to 31, 

Jolarpet-Central from May 9 to June 1, 

Tambaram-Nagercoil from May 9 to 31, 

Nagercoil- Tambaram from May10 to June1.

The inter-state trains are: 

Central-Trivandrum, Trivandrum-Central from May 8 to 1, 

Tirunelveli-Palakkad from May 8 to June 1, 

Trichy-Palakkad Town from May 8 to June 1, 

Central-KSR Bangalore from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Mangalore from May 9 to June 1, 

Nagercoil-Mangalore from May 9 to June1, 

Egmore-Puducherry from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Tirupati from May 8 to 31, 

Central-Nizamuddin from May15 to 29, 

Nizamuddin-Central on Mondays from May 17 to 31. TNN

Govt to consider free bus travel for transgenders

Govt to consider free bus travel for transgenders

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:09.05.2021

A day after the newly elected DMK government announced free travel for women in ordinary (whiteboard) town buses, chief minister M K Stalin said his government would consider extending the scheme to cover transgenders. The chief minister responded to a tweet by a journalist requesting him to include transgenders in the scheme as many from the community struggle financially.

Stalin, in his response to the tweet, said the DMK has always been considerate towards the welfare of transgenders and that they would take a decision on the matter at the earliest. His response was lauded by members from the transgender community, who said providing free travel would make it easier for them to travel long distances for work and work-related opportunities.

Jaya, general manager of trans rights NGO Sahodaran, was confident of a positive decision from the government. “The DMK was a pioneer in implementing welfare projects for transgenders, we are sure they will implement this scheme too,” she said.

Grace Banu, a trans activist and founder of the Trans Rights Now Collective, said it is important to include transgenders in this scheme during the pandemic as many do not have jobs and are struggling with little financial aid. “This could be the first and positive step to help the community,” she said.

A journey of 70 km to get vaccine

A journey of 70 km to get vaccine

09/05/2021

M. Soundariya Preetha Coimbatore

For 47-year-old Raghu (name changed on request) a resident of Tiruppur district, taking the first shot of the COVID-19 vaccine turned out to be challenging, as private hospitals had run out of stocks and there was a rush at the Tiruppur Government Hospital.

Since Raghu has to often travel on work to other districts and did not want to take a risk with his health, based on a suggestion from a relative, he decided to try getting the vaccine at a rural primary health centre.

He decided to drive down to a rural areas.

He stopped at a PHC near Dharapuram, over 70 km from Tiruppur. There was no one there except the doctor and a healthcare worker and vaccines were available. He gave his Aadhaar card, registered and got his first dose.

Many like Raghu in Coimbatore and Tiruppur are travelling to villages for the vaccine, mainly due to lack of availability in some towns and to get vaccinated at a centre where there is no crowd.

Some large companies are enquiring in different locations where they have plants, for the vaccine, for their employees.

Vaccine shortage

However, this trend worked only for a week or 10 days when vaccination was opened for those aged above 45. Now, people face problems of crowding and vaccine shortage in rural areas too, says a textile sector entrepreneur in Coimbatore.

In some of the PHCs and hospitals located close to the Kerala-Tamil Nadu border in Coimbatore, many are coming in from the border areas of both States to take the vaccines.

“There is a huge rush and people who come for a short visit get restless when they are told that there is no vaccine stock as they have waited for hours,” says the doctor at a hospital.

Hospital asks patient to get ventilator

Hospital asks patient to get ventilator

09/05/2021

Vignesh VijayakumarSALEM

A private hospital in Salem allegedly asked a COVID-19 patient to get a ventilator.

A 40-year-old man, working as marketing executive, was admitted to a hospital at Kondalampatti in early May.

The hospital, which was running short of beds, allegedly asked the kin of the patient to get a ventilator for further treatment. The attendants of the patient were unaware that it would not be possible to get ventilators in the open market.

Health officials said that action would be taken against the hospital.

Apollo Hospitals starts vaccination for those above 18 years

Apollo Hospitals starts vaccination for those above 18 years

09/05/2021

Staff Reporter Madurai

Apollo Speciality Hospitals in Madurai has started the third phase of vaccination for citizens aged above 18 years.

A press release from the Chief Operating Officer of Apollo Hospitals Rohini Sridhar said that the beneficiaries are required to register on the CoWIN app or Aarogya Setu app to book their appointment slot before arriving for the vaccination.

In the second wave of infections, more younger patients were getting affected and thus vaccinating everyone aged above 18 was an important precautionary measure. Till now, around 3,000 persons aged 45 and above have been vaccinated in the hospital, added the press release.

How are you monitoring private hosp treatment fee, HC asks govt -

How are you monitoring private hosp treatment fee, HC asks govt -

 The Times Of India

K.Kaushik@timesgroup.com

Madurai:

08.05.2021

The Madras high court on Thursday sought a response from the state government on the mechanism put in place to monitor strict implementation of government orders to allocate 50% of the beds in private hospitals for Covid care, and as to whether the hospitals were following the treatment cost fixed by the government.

The court was hearing a public interest litigation filed by A Veronica Mary of Madurai district, who sought the government to ensure strict implementation of treatment costs fixed by the government and sought action against hospitals that charged more. Veronica also sought the government to strictly implement a GO dated April 30, that asked all private hospitals to allocate 50% beds for treatment of Covid-19 patients.

A division bench of justices M S Ramesh and B Pugalendhi observed that the grievance of the petitioner is that though the government has fixed treatment cost, it is not followed by the private hospitals. “This court appreciates the valuable services rendered by doctors, nurses, all health workers and all other frontline workers during this pandemic. At the same time, the receipt placed before this court shows that exorbitant charges have been collected by some hospitals even during this difficult time, which cannot be permitted. The hospitals are taking advantage of the situation,” observed the judges.

The judges sought a response from the state to the following queries: Whether the maximum cost for Covid-19 treatment fixed by the government is displayed prominently in all hospitals so the public can see it, and the details of the authority to whom any complaint regarding exorbitant charges can be lodged.

The judges asked what the penal provision or penalty contemplated for violation of the GO was and which authority was monitoring the implementation of the GOs. It also asked about the number of complaints received about exorbitant treatment costs and details of the action taken, if any.

The court asked the state to inform it about the maintenance of a portal on bed availability in private hospitals along with their treatment charges. The judges sought details of Covid-19 patients who have benefited from the chief minister’s comprehensive health insurance scheme at private hospitals and whether government employees are entitled to take treatment for Covid-19 in such hospitals under the Tamil Nadu employees health insurance scheme.

Police to strictly enforce stay-at-home orders

Police to strictly enforce stay-at-home orders

Inessential travel banned, helpline 112 to assist citizens

08/05/2021

Special Correspondent Thiruvananthapuram

The police will strictly impose stay-at-home orders in the State from May 8 to May 16 to curb the rise in COVID-19 cases.

The police are poised to prioritise strict enforcement of lockdown restrictions over personal liberty during the nine-day lockdown period. They have set up a helpline (112) to rush aid to citizens in crisis.

Inessential travel is banned. There will be no public transport.

People should shun long walks, sporting activities, and exercise at home.

There is no restriction on going to vaccination centres or hospitals. However, they should carry the necessary papers. Taxis and auto-rickshaws should ferry only emergency travellers and air and rail passengers. The passengers should carry identity cards and travel documents.

People should wear two masks outdoors and confine shopping to neighbourhood stores. Persons who strayed a good way from their homes without reasonable cause risk detention and fine. The police will stop and question people, including pedestrians and motorists, randomly. They will set up checkpoints at inter-district borders.

Traditional fishers and hawkers can ply their trade.

Shops selling food, groceries, fruits and vegetables, meat and fish, and bakeries can remain open till 7.30 p.m. Places of worship will remain closed. Not more than 20 persons should attend weddings.