CM to Centre: Draft PG medical edu rules undermine state role

CM to Centre: Draft PG medical edu rules undermine state role

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai:01.08.2021

Tamil Nadu chief minister M K Stalin on Saturday wrote to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya objecting to the draft Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations on the grounds that they sought to undermine the role of states.

The role of states in the admission of students under their own state quota is sought to be unilaterally removed, Stalin said. "It is unfortunate that such draft regulations have been formulated without a proper understanding of the current predominant role of state governments in this domain. The union government and the National Medical Council need to appreciate the fact that it is only the states which have heavily invested their own resources to create most of the PG seats," he said.

The CM pointed to Section 11.2 of the draft, which attempts to centralize and designate the directorate general of health services, ministry of health and family welfare, government of India, as the designated authority for counselling for State quota seats. This section is clearly contrary to the provision in the Section 15 of the Main NMC Act, 2019, which explicitly mentions that “the designated authority of the State Government shall conduct the common counselling for the seats at the state level”, he said.

Further, Section 10.1 and the sub-clauses under it are an attempt to introduce licentiate examination for enrolment in medical registers and making it serve as a NEET for admission to PG Courses.

"I am of the firm view that the status-quo should be maintained on the admissions for State quota PG admissions seats. I once again strongly reiterate our opposition to the draft Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2021, which hit at the very root of federalism," Stalin said.

The role of states in the admission of students under their own state quota is sought to be unilaterally removed, Stalin said in his letter to Union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya

Apple adds UPI, RuPay, net banking for App Store payments in India: Report

Apple adds UPI, RuPay, net banking for App Store payments in India: Report

Apple has finally added new payment modes for Indian users (Bloomberg)

1 min read . Updated: 31 Jul 2021, 07:31 PM IST

Livemint, Edited By Vivek Punj

Indian users will now be able to employ domestic payment methods along with the international ones while adding funds to their Apple's stores

Apple has added new payment methods for Indian users purchasing applications and games on the App Store. These new payment modes include homegrown United Payments Interface (UPI) and RuPay cards, as well as net banking.

The move will allow Indian users to employ domestic payment methods along with the international ones while adding funds to their Apple's stores. The balance can also be used to pay for streaming services like Netflix and Amazon Prime, and Apple's own services like Apple Arcade and Apple One.

Telegram now allows up to 1000 people to join a group video call

Telegram now allows up to 1000 people to join a group video call

By IANS On Jul 31, 2021

Image Credits: IANS

San Francisco: Encrypted messaging app Telegram has expanded its group video calling feature that now allows up to 1,000 people to join a group video call.

The company said that its group video call allows up to 30 users to broadcast video from both their camera and screen — and now 1,000 people can watch anything from online lectures to live rap battles.

“Group video calls now have up to 1,000 viewers, video messages record in higher quality and can be expanded, regular videos may be watched at 0.5 or 2x speed,” the company said in a blogpost.

“We have also added screen sharing with sound to all video calls, including 1-on-1 calls — and much more,” it added.

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The company said that it will keep increasing this limit until “all humans on Earth can join one group call and watch us yodel in celebration (coming soon)”.

“To start a group video call, create a voice chat from the info page of any group where you are an admin — then turn your video on,” the company said.

According to the blogpost, tapping on an expanded video message pauses it and allows you to fast forward or rewind the message in case you missed a word.

To record a video message, tap the Screen sharing that has been added to 1-on-1 calls as well, and now includes the sound from your device when broadcasting in any video call.

When switching on video during any call, you can swipe to choose a camera or share your screen instead — and use the video preview to make sure that everything is perfect before going live, the company said.

Onam 2021: Avoid crowds, Kerala health minister urges people as Covid cases surge

Kerala Health Minister Veena George (ANI)

 Updated: 31 Jul 2021, 08:45 PM IST

Onam 2021: Amid surge in Covid cases, Kerala Health Minister Veena George on Saturday asked people to avoid crowds and if possible, even events, celebrations during Onam festival. She also urged people not to visit relatives to reduce the risk of Covid infection.

Kerala has been reporting more than 20,000 fresh Covid infections for the last few days, highest by any state in the country. Fearing the further surge, the health minister said that people should strictly avoid crowds and follow Covid protocols while organising and attending events and celebrations during Onam.

The minister also said that if possible, people should avoid going to any events or celebrations. Visits to relatives and family should also be avoided as much as possible especially if there are small children in the family, George said.

For the fifth consecutive day, Kerala recorded more than 20,000 fresh Covid cases on Saturday. It, however, saw a decline in fatalities and a fall in the Test Positivity Rate (TPR) to 12.31 per cent.

The state had recorded 100 deaths on Friday, while the TPR was 13.61 per cent. On Saturday, Kerala registered 20,624 fresh cases, pushing the infection caseload to 33,90,761, while 80 more deaths took the toll to 16,781.

As many as 16,865 people have recovered, taking the total number to 32,08,969, leaving 1,64,500 active cases. Malappuram was the worst affected district, logging 3,474 cases, followed by Thrissur (2693), Palakkad (2209), Kozhikode (2113), Ernakulam (2072), Kollam (1371), Kannur (1243), Alappuzha (1120),Kottayam (1111) and Thiruvananthapuram (969).

Of the new cases, 98 are health workers, 112 had come from outside the state and 19,487 were infected through contact, with the source of contact being not clear in 927 cases, the release said. In the last 24 hours, 1,67,579 samples were tested and the TPR was found to be 12.31 per cent.

Earlier in the day, the state health minister said that the state was not yet free from the second wave of Covid and therefore people should be extra cautious and vigilant against transmission of the infection to prevent a third wave from occurring.

HC seeks reply to plea on Jamia VC appointment

31.07.2021 

Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the Centre, CVC and Jamia Millia Islamia on a plea challenging the appointment of the varsity’s current VC Najma Akhtar. The court issued notices to UGC and VC and asked the authorities to file their replies while listing the matter on September 22. PTI

Medical fraternity should collectively get Bharat Ratna: CM

Medical fraternity should collectively get Bharat Ratna: CM

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

New Delhi:31.07.2021 

Chief minister Arvind Kejriwal demanded in the assembly on Friday that the Indian medical fraternity be collectively given the Bharat Ratna. While recommending the same, the assembly also unanimously passed a resolution recommending that doctors and paramedical personnel in the city who have served during Covid-19 be nominated by Delhi government for the Padma awards.

“We all have seen how not just our country but the entire world has been suffering because of the pandemic. During this period, our doctors and paramedic staff put their lives at stake to serve the nation. We are aware of how some doctors could not visit their homes for six-odd months and served humanity without caring for their families and themselves,” Kejriwal reiterated his demand during a discussion on a motion moved by AAP legislator Saurabh Bharadwaj for the Padma awards. “In such a time, it is the duty of the whole society to thank the medical community,” the CM said.

Bharadwaj underlined that the doctors couldn’t be thanked enough for their contribution.

Kejriwal highlighted Delhi government had provided doctors with five-star quarantine accommodation. It also honoured frontline workers with Rs1-crore compensation in case of their death, he added. “It assured them that if by chance something happens to them, Delhi government is there to support their families.”

The government has already asked people to nominate doctors and paramedics for the Padma awards. “We have received 2,100 nominations of doctors as of now. We will screen all these names and send a list to the Centre,” Kejriwal said.

Supporting the demands, leader of the Opposition Ramvir Singh Bidhuri said, “The Padma awards should also be given to safai karamcharis, police personnel, teachers and others who have lost their lives in the line of duty. Around 300 corona warriors have died in the line of duty and they all should be paid the compensation.”

2 k  NAMES OF DOCTORS SENT TO DELHI GOVT TILL NOW

How injured braveheart foiled bank heist

How injured braveheart foiled bank heist

Sandhya.Nair@timesgroup.com

Mumbai:  31.07.2021 

Sheer courage and presence of mind of ICICI Bank’s Virar (East) branch cashier Shraddha Devrukhkar helped nab the accused, Anil Dubey, who was fleeing with over Rs 3 crore worth cash and valuables from the bank on Thursday evening. Despite seeing her colleague lying in a pool of blood and being grievously injured herself, the 32-year-old pressed the security alarm that alerted locals on the busy road.

Devrukhkar and her colleague, deputy manager Yogita Vartak (34), were working till late when Dubey (35), a former manager in the same bank, barged in and threatened the two women. He forced them to open the lockers and emptied out lockers of gold and cash. When the women tried to raise an alarm, he slashed them with a razor. Hearing Devrukhkhar’s screams for help, two women and a man, who saw Dubey flee with two bags, immediately nabbed him. He was then handed over to the police.

While Dubey told the police his accomplice had escaped, Devrukhkar, who is recuperating at Sanjeevani hospital in Virar, told police he had come alone. His car was found at a distance from the bank.

During interrogation, Dubey confessed he had committed the crime as he had taken loans of over Rs 1 crore from three banks. He had to pay a monthly instalment of Rs 1.2 lakh. Dubey had worked at the ICICI Bank branch between January 2019 and August 2020. He joined as branch head of a private sector bank in Naigaon in August 2020, but was terminated from his job on Friday.

Dubey knew the two women and was aware they would be working till late due to monthend accounting work. He had planned to threaten the women and escape with the cash and valuables. But when Vartak resisted, he pulled out a razor and slashed her neck. She collapsed on the floor. Dubey then charged toward Devrukhkar and slashed her on the neck as well. While Vartak succumbed, Devrukhkar is recuperating in hospital. Mira Bhayander Vasai Virar Commissionerate commissioner Sadananad Date, who visited Devrukhkar, applauded her for her courage.

Vartak, a resident of Phoolpada in Virar (east), had been with the Virar branch for the past few years. Police said hours before the crime, Dubey had called her up to inquire about work. Vartak is survived by her husband and a seven-year-old son. Dubey has been booked for murder, attempt to murder and robbery. He has been remanded to police custody for a week.

Despite seeing her colleague lying in a pool of blood and being grievously injured herself, Shraddha pressed the alarm that alerted locals on the busy Mumbai road