‘E-visa, flights should resume’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.06.2021

As European countries take the lead to open their borders for those who are vaccinated, travel and tour operators say that India should resume scheduled international flights and start issuing e-tourist visas to encourage inbound travellers from countries with an ‘air bubble’ agreement. July/August is the season when most foreign tourists arrive in Chennai.

The move comes in the wake of a spike in demand for travel from the enquiries received from people of Indian origin looking for leisure trips and social visits as the international travel sector opens up. Chennai will benefit too as the Tamil diaspora in Europe, Canada, Malaysia and Singapore travel every year.

In 2018, 60.73 lakh foreign tourists visited the state. The state ranked first in foreign tourist arrivals for four years since 2014.

Different associations of travel agents and travel and tour operators have started to petition the union government to allow incoming travel from the countries which are allowing Indians to visit from July.

Subash Goyal, chairman, Stic Travel Group said, “A lot of countries in Europe have begun issuing of visa for Indian travellers. We should also start issuing e-tourist visas to people who are vaccinated from these countries so that the hospitality and tourism sector can revive.”

“There is an appetite for revenge travel among foreigners. This should be capitalised early on. The government should first start scheduled international flights with countries with which we have ‘air bubble’ agreement because flights are already going there and it is easy to convert them into scheduled services,” he added.

The request will soon be presented to the government through Confederation of Tourism Professionals, he said.

Travel Agents Federation of India (TAFI) has petitioned the Centre through Federation of Associations in Indian Tourism & Hospitality, a policy platform of all travel and tour associations, to resume scheduled international flights. Basheer Ahmed of TAFI said that "There should be a uniform policy of testing and quarantine across the country. Foreigners who have got their vaccines and want to come for a short visit are hesitant of our rules."

Heavy rush to fly to the US; people struggle to get visa appointments

Heavy rush to fly to the US; people struggle to get visa appointments

‘Direct Flight To The US Would’ve Helped’

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:17.06.2021

There is a big rush to fly to the US after that country resumed processing of visa applications. The demand is so high that people waiting to travel say slots for appointment for visa interviews get booked as soon as they open.

Students have to be present at the universities by the end of July or August. Since June 14, the US consulate has been offering appointments for July and August for people to submit biometrics and to appear for interviews.

As this is considered as a sign of the US trying to open its borders for international travel, people waiting to travel back have also started to apply. But, it has not been easy.

The website slows down as too many people are trying. The US Consulate in Chennai is the nearest centre for people from Kerala, Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh.

Suvarna K*(name changed), whose daughter needs to go to the US, said she was trying every morning but had not got the slots for Chennai. “I prefer Chennai as travelling to Mumbai or Delhi is not preferred now. There are too many people applying as students admitted to undergraduate and postgraduate courses and for doctoral studies have to travel soon.”

People travelling for work have been hit. Sanjeev Kumar*, who needs to join work next month in the US, said the site is down every now and then. “The slots are booked soon after they appear. I am hoping to get through soon. I have been working from home in Chennai but a project has come up which needs my presence. The company has given the green signal. But I am finding it tough to get the appointment for a visa.”

Basheer Ahmed of Chennai Metro Travels said the demand for travel was high from Chennai because students prefer US universities and many have relatives there. “This is a good sign. Only students and those returning to work are travelling now. But many who want to visit relatives are calling up travel agents. If so many people want to travel now, there will be good traffic if the US allows direct flights from India. It will help resume international travel.”

A spokesperson for US Consulate General Chennai said since June 14, thousands of students have secured visa appointments for July-August. “Thousands of appointments remain available and we will open thousands more in coming weeks. Due to the high volumes of demand, some applicants may encounter system delays. We encourage them to be patient... Applicants should remember to not refresh too often, as they may be locked out of their account.”

TIME TO REOPEN: A view of the Chennai airport. Several tour operators have said the demand for travel is high from Chennai because students prefer US universities

நெல்லை எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் உட்பட 42 ரயில்கள் பயணியர் வருகை குறைவால் ரத்து

நெல்லை எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் உட்பட 42 ரயில்கள் பயணியர் வருகை குறைவால் ரத்து

https://www.dinamalar.com/news_detail.asp?id=2785569

Added : ஜூன் 16, 2021 01:11

சென்னை:பயணியர் வருகை குறைவால், சோழன், உழவன், நீலகிரி, நெல்லை, மதுரை, ராமேஸ்வரம், ஏற்காடு எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் உட்பட, தமிழகத்தில் 42 ரயில்கள் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளன.

அதன் விபரம்:*சென்னை எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., சென்ட்ரல் - ஐதராபாத் இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப் படும் ஐதராபாத் சிறப்பு ரயில்;

சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - ஈரோடு இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப்படும் ஏற்காடு சிறப்பு ரயில்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - திருச்சி; சென்னை எழும்பூர் - கேரள மாநிலம் கொல்லம் இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்கள்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - தஞ்சை இடையே இயக்கப்படும் உழவன் சிறப்பு ரயில்;

சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - கேரள மாநிலம் ஆலப்புழா இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்

*சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - மேட்டுப்பாளையம் நீலகிரி எக்ஸ்பிரஸ்; சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - கேரள மாநிலம் திருவனந்தபுரம் இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - -மன்னார்குடி; தாம்பரம் - நாகர்கோவில் எக்ஸ்பிரஸ் சிறப்பு ரயில்கள்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - ராமேஸ்வரம்; நாகர்கோவில் - கோவை; மதுரை - கேரள மாநிலம் புனலுார் இடையே தினமும் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்கள்

*திருவனந்தபுரம் - மதுரை சிறப்பு ரயில் இந்த ரயில்கள் எல்லாம், இன்று முதல், ஜூலை 1ம் தேதி வரை ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன. இந்த ரயில்கள் அனைத்தும் இரு வழியிலும் ரத்தாகி உள்ளன.

வாராந்திர ரயில்கள்

*சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - மதுரை இடையே, வாரத்தில் மூன்று நாள் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - நாகர்கோவில் வாராந்திர சிறப்பு ரயில்

*தாம்பரம் - நாகர்கோவில் இடையே, வாரத்தில் மூன்று நாட்கள் இயக்கப்படும் சிறப்பு ரயில்

*சென்னை எழும்பூர் - மதுரை இடையே, வாரத்தில் மூன்று நாட்கள் இயக்கப்படும் ரயில்இந்த ரயில்கள் எல்லாம் இன்று முதல், ஜூலை 1ம் தேதி வரை ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளன

*சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் - கோவை வாராந்திர சிறப்பு ரயில், கோவையில் இருந்து, 18, 25ம் தேதிகளிலும், சென்ட்ரலில் இருந்து, 19, 26ம் தேதிகளிலும் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது

*கேரள மாநிலம் திருவனந்தபுரம் - சென்னை சென்ட்ரல் இடையே இயக்கப்படும் வாராந்திர எக்ஸ்பிரஸ்,

*திருவனந்தபுரத்தில் இருந்து, 19, 26ம் தேதிகளிலும், எம்.ஜி.ஆர்., சென்ட்ரலில் இருந்து, 20, 27ம் தேதிகளிலும் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டுள்ளது

*புதுச்சேரி - கன்னியாகுமரி வாராந்திர சிறப்பு ரயில், புதுச்சேரியில் இருந்து, 20, 27ம் தேதிகளிலும், கன்னியாகுமரியில் இருந்து, 21, 28ம் தேதிகளிலும் ரத்து செய்யப்பட்டு உள்ளது.

Huge shortage of bodies for medical study

Huge shortage of bodies for medical study

Sangamesh.Menasinakai@timesgroup.com

Hubballi:16.06.2021 

Medical Council of India (MCI) norms state 10 MBBS students should have access to one cadaver to dissect and study, but authorities say the ratio has fallen to one cadaver for every 25 students as body donations have been hit due to the pandemic.

Authorities fear that if the trend prevails, there won’t be any cadavers for students next year. The overarching fear is spread of the cornonavirus through cadavers, but experts say ICMR or the government should draw up guidelines so that donations can resume.

Dr Mahantesh Ramannavar, anatomy lecturer and founder of Dr Ramannavar Charitable Trust that spread awareness on cadaver donations, said he was disappointed as 52 pledged bodies could not be donated in North Karnataka since last year.

“Not a single cadaver was accepted in any government or private medical college in the state due to the pandemic,” Dr Ramannavar said. “Only some private medical colleges accepted a few bodies when the first wave receded. ICMR and WHO have suggested not to embalm Covid bodies. But most colleges have extended that caution to non-covid bodies too.”

Dr AS Nagalikar, assistant professor, anatomy department, BIMS, Belagavi, said bodies can’t be taken for dissection without proper safety measures. “State-run medical college mortuaries are under stress since deaths have increased. A dedicated cold storage is needed for 4-6 bodies. Despite bodies being asymptomatic, chances of infectivity are high. So, RTPCR tests must be conducted before handing over the body to the anatomy department.”

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HC asks Bar Council to explain how it intends to rein in unruly advocates

HC asks Bar Council to explain how it intends to rein in unruly advocates

Sureshkumar.K@timesgroup.com

Chennai:16.06.2021

Lawyers defying law-enforcers beware. Madras high court has redflagged the ‘practice’ of lawyers picking up fight with police and other law enforcing agency personnel, and has directed the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry to explain what mechanism did it have in place to rein in unruly advocates.

“It is a harsh reality that instances of such nature by the members of the legal fraternity are on the increase,” said Justice M Dhandapani, directing the Bar council to file a report within two days, explaining the mechanism that is in place for taking action against lawyers who misbehave in public place with officials on duty.

The judge was hearing an anticipatory bail pleas of a woman lawyer, Tanuja Rajan alias Tanuja Kanthula, and her law student-daughter, who apprehended arrested in connection with a case registered against them for having quarrelled with and threatened policemen enforcing lockdown protocol a couple of weeks ago.

It is the Chetpet police case that on June 6, cops on duty stopped Preeti’s car for lockdown violation, but a while later Tanuja Rajan came in another car, abused them and threatened them of dire consequences.

Noting that such behaviour in public demeaned the legal profession, Justice Dhandapani impleaded the Bar council suo motu, and said: “Though, for unruly and indiscipline behaviour, other persons who work for one or other arm of the government, mechanism of disciplinary action is contemplated under the relevant Acts and rules governing the service, when it comes to legal fraternity, the initiative and control vest with the Bar Council of Tamil Nadu, to take appropriate action against such unruly advocates who involve themselves in these kinds of acts, which demeans the profession.”

Disapproving of some high-handed activities indulged in by lawyers against members of law enforcing agency, Justice Dhandapani said the present anticipatory bail pleas had a larger ramification with regard to the conduct of the members of the legal fraternity vis-a-vis officials of the government, and the Bar Council’s responsibility to take action against its members.

Medical university refuses to register thirteen students

Medical university refuses to register thirteen students

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:16.06.2021

Tamil Nadu Dr MGR Medical University has turned down registrations for at least 13 students who have joined five self-financing medical colleges in 2020 after the state selection committee raised a red flag over procedural violation overlooking merit. The directorate of medical education will ask the college to discharge these students and seek explanation for illegal admissions, officials said.

The selection committee under the directorate of medical education, which allots students to medical colleges – government or private – hands over vacant seats to respective self-financing college at the end of the counselling session. As as per guidelines from the Supreme Court of India the committee also gives them a list of ten students drawn from the merit list for every vacant seat. Managements of self-financing colleges must use students from this list and complete admissions within a specific date.

During 2020 admissions five medical colleges – six students Karpagam Faculty of Medical Sciences and Research Hospital, four students from Madha Medical College & Research Institute and one student each from Panimalar Medical College Hospital and Research Institute, Melmaruvathur Adhiparasakthi Institute of Medical Sciences and Research and Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital – had admitted students whose names did not figure in the list of students given by the medical council. Although all the students had cleared NEET and qualified for admissions, several others with better scores may have been denied a seat.

When the selection committee secretary Dr P Vasanthamani red flagged the admissions, health department advised her to follow norms laid down by the National Medical Commission and state medical university. “Students admitted to the college had marks much below the list we had sent,” said Dr Vasanthamani.