Covid spared kids, but it made them eat more snacks, irritable

Covid spared kids, but it made them eat more snacks, irritable

95% Parents Said Pandemic Impacted Their Kids: Study

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Mumbai:13.11.2021

While children have largely been spared severe Covid infection, the pandemic-induced lockdown changed their life in multiple ways, resulting in more screen time, lesser physical activity and higher irritability, found a survey in Mumbai.

Conducted ahead of Children’s Day to gauge the emotional and nutritional impact of the pandemic on children, doctors from the three Fortis Hospital at Mahim, Mulund and Vashi interviewed 7,670 parents. They found that half of the parents were worried about their children’s reduced attention span and more than a third about their child’s weight gain and unhealthy snacking habits. Only parents of children in the five to 18 age group were interviewed.

Overall, 95% of the parents interviewed said the pandemic impacted their child’s “physical, emotional and social growth”. A research paper in medical journal JAMA Network, on October 1, underlined a correlation between children’s mental health and their physical activity and screen time. The study surveyed 1,000 school-aged children in the US.

PEEK-A-BOO: Doctors from three Mumbai Hospital had interviewed 7,670 parents

Over 60% of the parents felt their children had become ‘clingy’

It found that children who were engaged in more physical activity and less screen time had better mental health outcomes. The Fortis Hospital survey found the balance between screen time, physical activity and mental health couldn’t be maintained by many. The ‘work from home’ culture resulted in parents being in close physical contact with children, but unable to pay attention to them.

“Parents worked from home, but they were not accessible to their children. We came across cases where the children were locked away in a different room so parents could work. This must have impacted young children’s emotional makeup,” said Dr Sameer Sadawarte.

Six out of 10 children had become agitated and irritated during the lockdown periods. Over 60% of the parents felt their children had become “clingy” and demanded that parents spend time with them.

During the first wave in 2020, the lockdown was so stringent that children were not allowed to go to the playground or even the housing society’s garden to play.

Pediatrician Jesal Sheth said, “Children show more resilience as compared to adults, but the fact that their growth process was disrupted for a long period by physical inactivity is a matter of concern. As life limps back to normalcy, we must try to involve our children in physical activitiesand help them socialize.”

Close shave for 2,300 as boulders fall on train in TN

Close shave for 2,300 as boulders fall on train in TN

13.11.2021

Around 2,350 passengers on board Kannur-Yeshwantpur Express had a narrow escape after boulders fell on it in Dharmapuri district of Tamil Nadu in the early hours of Friday. Seven coaches derailed between Sivadi and Muttampatti in the Omalur-Bengaluru section of Bengaluru division around 3.50am on Friday. No casualties or injuries were reported. There were 2,348 passengers on board the train which left Kannur in Kerala at 6.05pm on Thursday.

Rlys issues order to drop ‘special train’ tag, revert to pre-Covid fares

Rlys issues order to drop ‘special train’ tag, revert to pre-Covid fares

New Delhi:13.11.2021

Under pressure from passengers over hike in fares, the Indian Railways on Friday issued an order to discontinue the ‘special’ tag for mail and express trains and revert to pre-pandemic ticket prices with immediate effect.

Since the coronavirus-triggered lockdown was eased, the railways has been running only special trains. It started with long-distance trains and now, even short-distance passenger services are being run as special trains with “slightly higher fares” to “discourage people from avoidable travels”.

In a letter to the zonal railways on Friday, the railway board said trains will now be operated with their regular numbers and fares will revert to normal pre-Covid prices. Ticket prices of special trains and holiday special trains are marginally higher.

“In view of the Covid-19 pandemic, all regular mail/express trains were being operated as MSPC (mail/express special) and HSP (holiday special). It has now been decided that the MSPC and HSP train services, included in the Working Time Table, 2021, shall be operated with regular numbers and with fares as applicable for the concerned classes of travel and type of train, as per the extant guidelines. “This issues with the concurrence of passenger marketing directorate of railway board,” the order dated November 12 said.

In another order, the railway board clarified that the second class of such trains shall continue to run as reserved except for any relaxation permitted in a special case. It also said that for tickets booked in advance, no difference of fare either is to be collected by railways or any refund shall be permitted. Neither order however specifies when the zonal railways are required to revert to their pre-Covid regular services. PTI

Toll collection at 2 ECR plazas stops due to stir over wage cuts

Toll collection at 2 ECR plazas stops due to stir over wage cuts

Ram.Sundaram@timesgroup.com

Chennai:13.11.2021

User fee collection came to a temporary halt at two toll plazas on East Coast Road (ECR) on Friday after contractual staff went on a flash protest against unannounced salary deductions.

Vehicles travelling along the ECR had a free ride at the toll plazas in Uthandi and Mahabalipuram as staff abstained from work for almost an hour.

The staff, roped in by an agency on behalf of Tamil Nadu Road Development Corporation (TNRDC), are deployed to collect user fee and manage traffic along toll lanes for ₹10,000 as monthly salary. But they did not receive their entire salary amount. “Every month, ₹1,000-₹5,000 is deduced,” said one of the affected workers, requesting anonymity.

Authorities attributed these cuts to losses incurred by TNRDC in the toll collection process. As per guidelines, these staff can exempt ambulances, fire tenders, judges, convoys of the President/Prime Minister/governor/chief minister and MPs.

Apart from this, they can exempt only those with Local Resident Passes (LRPs). But every day, at least 5,000 vehicles, which don't belong to any of these categories, are allowed to cross the toll without any fee, said a TNRDC official.

The contractual staff at Uthandi said that almost 75% among them were cars of local politicians, who hold some position in their parties. "If we were to stop and argue with them, it would lead to unnecessary trouble. Vehicles behind keep honking continuously and eventually it will cause traffic congestion. So, we have no other choice but to allow them," he said.

The TNRDC official in response said that they have sorted this out with the concerned agency and toll collection resumed in the afternoon. Besides contract staff, some of the full-time employees have also complained against TNRDC for improper pay deductions.

FREE FOR ALL: Uthandi toll plaza on Friday

Air travel seeing swift recovery: IndiGo CEO

Air travel seeing swift recovery: IndiGo CEO

Operating More Domestic Flights On Peak Travel Days Than Pre-Covid, Says Dutta

Saurabh.Sinha@timesgroup.com

New Delhi:12.11.2021

India is witnessing a swift recovery in domestic air travel as the pandemic subsides. The country’s biggest airline IndiGo is now operating more domestic flights on peak travel days like weekends or holidays than it did before Covid, on the back of increased connections to smaller cities. But flight tickets could soon cost more as the combined pressure of rising jet fuel prices and falling rupee has reached a point where airlines need to pass on this hike in operating cost to passengers in terms of higher fares.

IndiGo CEO Ronojoy Dutta said, “In pre-pandemic times, we had about 1,600 daily flights of which 400 to 450 were international. Currently, we have about 1,400 daily flights of which nearly 80 are international. (These numbers vary from lean to peak travel days.) The peaks are looking good. The government has allowed 100% domestic capacity and our bookings at this time are 90-95% of pre-Covid levels.”

But the incessant rise in aviation turbine fuel (ATF) or jet fuel prices and fall in rupee could now force airlines to increase fares to avoid going bust.

“Crude has gone from $43 a barrel last October to $84 now. We need some relief on taxes. Fares need to reflect higher fuel price, higher operating cost (added to by the falling rupee). Fuel is a problem and fares have to be brought higher,” Dutta said.

“Airlines around the world got some government help. We didn’t get any, which is fine. But excise on fuel (11%) and other indirect taxes in India are very high. Airlines pay 21% indirect tax and this is effectively the highest for any industry in India because we don’t get input tax credit on fuel. This needs to be softened as we are a critical infra player,” Dutta said.

Meanwhile, preparing for competition from Tata-Air India, IndiGo has ordered new “improved, softer and more comfortable seats” for its entire fleet. “The order has been placed for the new seats,” Dutta said.

IndiGo is going to start getting the Airbus A321 XLR (extra-long range) on which it will do up to seven-hour non-stops to cities like Tel Aviv, Milan and Dusseldorf. It is finalising the product for these flights that will include the new seats, ovens for hot meals and in-seat plug sockets so that passenger their keep personal electronic devices charged during the journey.

Anna University postpones orientation amid flood fury

Anna University postpones orientation amid flood fury

With rain unleashing its fury, engineering colleges in the State have postponed induction and orientation programmes scheduled for first-year students.

Published: 12th November 2021 05:17 AM 

By Binita Jaiswal

Express News Service

CHENNAI: With rain unleashing its fury, engineering colleges in the State have postponed induction and orientation programmes scheduled for first-year students. Anna University had chalked out a special induction programme this year to help students get acquainted with teachers and peers.

As part of the programme, Anna university had decided to conduct lectures on human values, yoga sessions, games and a campus tour for first-year students. However, due to the rains, the university was not able to organise any of these events.

“The induction programme was scheduled to conclude on November 13, but since Monday, we have not been able to conduct any of the activities. We are expecting the rains to stop on Friday, and then, we will have a meeting to decide when can we conduct the induction programme,” said Anna University Vice-Chancellor R Velraj.

Most of the 440 engineering colleges in TN also have plans to postpone their induction programmes. “We had plans to start classes from November 9, but rains played spoilsport. For the time being, we will continue with online classes,” said S Senthil, principal of a private engineering college in the city.

Power supply affected in central, north Chennai

Power supply affected in central, north Chennai

According to TANGEDCO data, as on Thursday noon, 44.2 lakh consumers in the city were without power supply.

Published: 12th November 2021 06:23 AM 

The Pallavaram-Thoraipakkam radial road goes under water after Narayanapuram lake fills up completely on Thursday | Ashwin Prasath

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Incessant rains since Wednesday evening resulted in power cuts in parts of central and north Chennai. As the streets were flooded, power had to be shut down as part of precautionary measures.

According to TANGEDCO data, as on Thursday noon, 44.2 lakh consumers in the city were without power supply. Minister of Electricity V Senthil Balaji inspected a few waterlogged areas on Thursday. “We have enough manpower to resume power within 24 hours. Instructions have been given and hospitals are prioritised,” he said.

Pulianthope, Perambur, West Mambalam, Velachery, Mudichur, and Madipakkam were among the worst-affected areas. “It is risky to resume power in those areas. Most of the complaints have been addressed,” said an TANGEDCO official Apart from the flooded areas, power was resumed for most of the areas by Thursday evening.