பதில் அளிக்க அமைச்சர்கள் தடுமாற்றம் : சட்டசபையில் சிரிப்பலை

சென்னை: எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின் கேள்விக்கு, யார் பதில் அளிப்பது என தெரியாமல், அமைச்சர்கள் தடுமாறியதால், சட்டசபையில் சிரிப்பலை எழுந்தது.சட்டசபையில், நேற்று கேள்வி நேரத்தின் போது, அ.தி.மு.க., - எம்.எல்.ஏ., விருகை ரவி, ''விருகம்பாக்கம் தொகுதியில், உள் விளையாட்டு அரங்கம் அமைக்க, அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமா,'' என, கேள்வி எழுப்பினார். பதில் அளித்த, அமைச்சர் பாண்டியராஜன், ''மாநகராட்சியில் இடம் பெற்று தந்தால், உள் விளையாட்டரங்கம் அமைக்கப்படும்,'' என்றார்.

அடுத்து எதிர்க்கட்சி தலைவர் ஸ்டாலின் எழுந்து, ''வர்தா புயலின் போது, ஆயிரக்கணக்கான மரங்கள் வேரோடு சாய்ந்தன. அவற்றை ஆங்காங்கே, விளையாட்டு திடல்களில் குவித்து வைத்துள்ளனர். இதனால், மாணவர்கள் விளையாட முடியாத நிலை ஏற்பட்டுள்ளது; அவற்றை அகற்ற, அரசு நடவடிக்கை எடுக்குமா?'' என, கேட்டார்.இதற்கு யார் பதில் அளிப்பது என தெரியாமல், விளையாட்டுத்துறை அமைச்சர் பாண்டியராஜனும், உள்ளாட்சி துறை அமைச்சர் வேலுமணியும் தடுமாறினர். ஒருவரை ஒருவர் பதில் கூறும்படி கூறியதால், சபையில் சிரிப்பலை எழுந்தது. சபாநாயகர் தனபால், 

''இரண்டு அமைச்சர்களில், யாராவது ஒருவர் பதில் கூறுங்கள்,'' என்றார்.அமைச்சர் வேலுமணி பேசுகையில், ''டெண்டர் விடப்பட்டு, விளையாட்டு திடலில் குவித்து வைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள, மரங்களை அகற்ற, நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டு உள்ளது. மரங்கள் அகற்றப்படாமல் உள்ள இடத்தை குறிப்பிட்டு சொன்னால், உடனே நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்படும்,'' என்றார்.

ஏசி' இல்லாமல் பேருந்து இயக்கம்

சென்னை;'ஏசி' பேருந்துக்கு பதிலாக, சாதாரண பேருந்து இயக்கிய, டிராவல்ஸ் நிறுவனம், பயணிக்கு, இழப்பீடு வழங்க வேண்டும் என, நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றம் உத்தரவிட்டது.சென்னை மாவட்ட, வடக்கு நுகர்வோர் நீதிமன்றத்தில், திருவான்மியூர், செல்வ நகரைச் சேர்ந்த, ஜெயசுதா தாக்கல் செய்த மனு:
கடலுாரில் நடந்த, என் உறவினரின் திருமண விழாவுக்கு செல்வதற்காக, பெங்களூரு, ரெட் பேருந்து நிறுவனத்தின், வால்வோ 'ஏசி' பேருந்தில், பயணம் செய்ய, கோயம்பேட்டில் உள்ள, யுனிவர்சல் டிராவல்சில் முன்பதிவு செய்தேன். நான்கு இருக்கைகளுக்கு, 1,900 ரூபாய் கட்டணம் செலுத்தினேன்.திருவான்மியூருக்கு, காலை, 6:15 மணிக்கு பேருந்து வர வேண்டும்; ஆனால், 7:30 மணிக்கு, சாதாரண பேருந்து வந்தது.'ஏசி' பேருந்தில், திடீர் கோளாறு ஏற்பட்டு விட்டது. கட்டணத்தை, கோயம்பேடு அலுவலகத்தில் வாங்கிக் கொள்ள லாம் என்றனர்.மூன்று நாட்களுக்கு பிறகு, கோயம்பேடு அலுவலகத்தில் கேட்டதற்கு, கட்டணத்தை தர மறுத்து விட்டனர்.

இதனால, மன உளைச்சலுக்கு ஆளானேன். எனக்கு டிக்கெட் கட்டணத்துடன், இழப்பீடும் வழங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு மனுவில் கோரியிருந்தார்.விசாரணையில், 'சில கட்டுப்பாடுகளுடன் தான், பயண டிக்கெட் முன்பதிவு செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதன்படி, பயண கட்டணத்தை திரும்ப கொடுக்க வேண்டியதில்லை.'பயணியின் மீதுள்ள நல்லெண்ணத்தில், 400 ரூபாய், அலுவலகத்தில் வாங்கிக் கொள்ள தெரிவித்தோம்; வந்து, வாங்கவில்லை. வழக்கை தள்ளுபடி செய்ய வேண்டும்' என, டிராவல்ஸ் நிறுவனம்வாதிட்டது.

இந்த வழக்கில், நீதிபதி ஜெ  யபாலன், நீதித்துறை உறுப்பினர் கலையரசி பிறப்பித்த உத்தரவு:டிராவல்ஸ் நிறுவனம், உரிய சேவை வழங்காததால், மனுதாரர் சிரமப்பட்டுள்ளார்.டிக்கெட் கட்டணம், 400 ரூபாயுடன், இழப்பீடாக, 10 ஆயிரம் ரூபாயும், வழக்கு செலவு, 5,000 ரூபாயும், ஆறு வாரத்திற்குள் வழங்க வேண்டும்.இவ்வாறு உத்தரவிடப்பட்டது.

Railway authorities shelve the proposal to provide them an express train service to Chennai

It has been third time unlucky for the commuters using 13 railway stations between Tiruchuli and Sengottah that the railway administration has shelved its proposal to provide them an express train service to Chennai by extending bi-weekly Chennai Egmore- Manamadurai Silambu Express up to Sengottah.

Madurai railway division announced running of the extended train on Pongal day. The administration even released the timings for each station. With an additional running of less than five hours, the train was scheduled to provide train connectivity to 13 more stations, covering over 180 km in Virudhunagar and Tirunelveli districts.

However, the administration quickly shelved the proposal without citing any reason. “After I represented the case, the train was extended up to Sengottah on a trial basis for six months. But, it is not run now despite a huge demand for it,” said former Virudhunagar MP B. Manicka Tagore.

He said the demand or the lack of it was not an issue. “That the ruling party with 50 MPs is not able to bring railway facilities to Tamil Nadu is what makes the difference,” he said.

Pothigai Express has been the only express train connecting Sengottah with Chennai ever since Virudhunagar-Rajapalayam broad gauge section was inaugurated in 2003. This section includes industrial towns such as Rajapalayam and Sivakasi, and the pilgrimage town of Srivilliputtur.

When the demand for a second express train was made by the commuters, railway administration came forward to extend Silambu Express. In 2015, the announcement was delayed on the claim that the proposal would be implemented after the fourth line at Sengottah railway station was laid.

According to railway sources, Sengottah now has infrastructure to handle the second express train with four running lines and two stabling line. The timing of the extended Silambu Express suited the limited-time operation of trains in Virudhunagar-Sengottah section, the sources said.

It can also help tourists from far and near to reach Courtallam during monsoon.

Besides, the extension would serve the people from the eastern parts of Virudhunagar district such as Narikudi, Tiruchuli and Aruppukottai who, otherwise, have to travel all the way to Virudhunagar for the nearest rail link. “They lose time and money on road travel. The rural masses have to spend additional money on road to get railway concessions extended to senior citizens,” a railway official said.

Pudhucherry-Kanyakumari Weekly Express is the only express train running via Aruppukottai-Virudhunagar section.

S. Sundar

‘Writing NEET has become a traumatic experience for many’

SPECIAL CORRESPONDENT

: Tamil Nadu on Tuesday became the first State to introduce Bills in the Legislative Assembly to exempt aspirants from appearing for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) to get admission into medical and dental colleges.

The first Bill — The Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Bill 2017 — said: “It has been opined that the uniform entrance examination has become a traumatic experience for the parents and children, as it appears to determine at one stroke the future of the child. The Higher Secondary Examination itself is a serious examination of merit casting a high burden on students, and is [in] itself very much an entrance test to get admitted to higher level and professional courses; this obviates the need for any separate uniform entrance examination thereafter,” it has been argued.

Moreover, the syllabus, methodology and the content for NEET was based on the syllabus prescribed for by the Central Board of School Education (CBSE), which was different from the syllabus prescribed by the Board of Higher Secondary Examination in Tamil Nadu.

As for the admission to post-graduate medical programmes, the Bill (the Tamil Nadu Admission to Postgraduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry Bill, 2017) tabled in the House stated that the present system of admissions ensured quality healthcare to people of Tamil Nadu, especially those living in rural, remote and hilly areas. Currently, over 50% cent of the seats are filled on the condition that that they (those on government service) serve till superannuation or (non-service doctors) serve the government for at least two years.

If NEET were to be conducted, the scheme being followed by the State government in regard to admission to such courses “would be thrown out of gear, and the avowed objective of providing quality healthcare to the rural and needy people would be defeated,” it stated.

PMK praises move

Meanwhile, PMK founder Dr. S. Ramadoss has welcomed the move to pass a law that would exempt Tamil Nadu from NEET.

Fake Rs. 2,000 notes have 50% of security features

Counterfeit currency seized on Bangladesh border is hard to detect

Counterfeiters have expertly replicated half of the security features of the new Rs. 2000 notes, a consignment of fake Indian currency notes (FICN) seized on the Bangladesh border recently reveals.

he Border Security Force (BSF) and the National Investigation Agency (NIA) intercepted four consignments of Rs. 2000 notes between December 2016 and January this year from areas near Malda district.

With the quality of the fakes improving over time, the seizure has set alarm bells ringing for intelligence agencies and security forces.

“The notes have copied the geometric patterns and the colour scheme both on obverse and the reverse side including watermark, and the exclusive number pattern of the Rs. 2000 currency. Unlike samples seized elsewhere which were scanned or colour photocopies, these have been printed using sophisticated dyes,” a senior security officer said.

More than half of the 17 RBI-listed security features have been replicated. In genuine currency, there are 13 features on the front (or obverse) side including two for visually impaired and four on the reverse.

Logo, watermark

The samples show that the four features on the reverse side, a motif of Chandrayaan, language panel, Swachh Bharat logo and year of printing, have been copied. On the obverse, the see-through area, denominational numeral in Devnagari, guarantee clause with RBI Governor’s signature, and water mark are replicated.
The fakes, however, do not match on paper quality, and the magenta dye used is a little darker, experts said. The features for visually impaired on fake notes are not usable.

The agencies are apprehensive that more hard-to-spot fake currency may be smuggled in, since over half the features were copied in three months.

“After demonetisation, FICN counterfeiters have focused on Rs. 2,000 notes. They have not been fully successful, but they are beginning to copy a few features,” P.S.R Anjaneyulu, IG, South Bengal Frontier, BSF, told The Hindu .

BSF and NIA arrested Mohammad Ashraful and Ripon Sheikh from Malda district with the notes, earlier this month.

Some Rs. 500 fake notes have also come, where the printing is inferior but paper quality and colour closely match the original.

During 2013-2016 FICN with a face value of Rs. 6.6 crore was seized.

LEVEL PLAYING - `NEET traumatic for parents, students'





State health minister C Vijayabaskar on Tuesday moved two bills in the state legislative assembly to exclude Tamil Nadu from the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to undergraduate and postgraduate medical and dental courses.In 2016, the Supreme Court mandated a uniform entrance test for admissions to medical courses. This will be conducted by the CBSE for undergraduate courses. Although the state-run institutions were exempted from the examination last year, it has been made mandatory for 2017.
The proposed laws ­ the Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Act, 2017 and the Tamil Nadu Admission to Post Graduate Courses in Medicine and Dentistry Act, 2017 ­ will need approvals from at least two Union ministries, health and law, before it is sent to the President for assent. Until now, admissions to undergraduate medical courses were done based on merit and rule of reservation as per the Tamil Nadu Regulation of Admission in Professional Courses Act, 2006, and the admission to PG courses was based on an order.
On Tuesday , Vijayabaskar said, “the state government has taken a policy decision to continue the present procedure of admissions to MBBS and BDS courses on the basis of the marks obtained in the higher secondary examination (class XII).“ For students coming from other boards, the state government will use the “normalisation“ procedure to ensure level playing, as prescribed in the 2006 legislation. For instance, if the highest mark scored in chemistry is 90 for CBSE and 100 in the state board, both will be taken as 100. After the normalisation, the state will prepare a common merit list and allot seats through centralised counselling by applying the rule of reservation.Counselling will be done for all seats in the state-run colleges, barring the 15% seats it surrenders to the Centre. In addition, the state will arrive at a consensus with self-financing colleges affiliated to the state university to surrender 65% of seats in case they are non-minority and 50% in case they are run by minorities.
Most of the students who appear for the uniform examination come from rural areas who have little or no access to equip themselves for the examination, due to their economic conditions.
The minister said the state government's objective to provide quality healthcare to rural and needy people would be thrown out of gear if it followed the common entrance for admission to PG courses.

NEET bill unlikely to have smooth sailing

A Subramani

Chennai:





Long Way To Go After It Is Passed In Assembly

Emboldened by the presidential assent for its new jallikattu law in double quick time last week, the Tamil Nadu government has now tabled a bill to keep MBBSBDS seats under government quota off the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).Unlike jallikattu which made its re-entry with an ordinance, the state's NEET Bill has to be first passed by the assembly , then go to the Centre where the ministries concerned must vet and forward it to the President with recommendations for assent. Until the entire exercise is gone through, it will not take effect.
With Marina Beach in Chennai and other prominent meeting areas across TN lying empty -unlike the week preceding the jallikattu ordinance when lakhs of youths came out to protest -the Tamil Nadu Admission to MBBS and BDS Courses Act, 2017 may not have a safe passage.
The new bill, which will most likely be unanimously passed in the state assembly on Wednesday , in spirit goes against the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 under which NEET was introduced. Just as the jallikattu law, since medical education too falls in the concurrent list, Tamil Nadu's efforts would go in vain without the indulgence of the Union ministries concerned. The Centre, which first came out with the common entrance scheme, and then earned a negative order before the bench of then chief justice of India Justice Altamas Kabir, before it got overturned comprehensively last year by a member-judge of the same bench, is unlikely to part with any share of the success. There are rumours that Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh too may follow Tamil Nadu and bring their own laws to sidestep NEET. There are indications that the Tamil Nadu government might promulgate an ordinance to keep its postgraduate medical courses also off NEET, this year.
Jurists are not amused by TN's decision to restrict the latest legislation only to MBBSBDS seats under government quota. “While NEET is for all MBBSBDSaspirants, in the wake of the SC judgment, why allocate 50% of available seats to managements? Why is the bill silent about deemed universities? Private universities have been left untouched,“ said Justice D Hariparanthaman, former Madras high court judge.
The states' lack of legis lative competence has already been discussed in the SC, and yet this piece of legislation might sail through, as there is collusion at the highest level, said a jurist. “This law seeks to insulate at least 50% of seats retained by managements of these colleges and universities from external disturbance. It amounts to vesting half the seats under private enterprise. This law regulates private business, not abolish it,“ he said.
The bill is also seen as a missed opportunity , as it does not clarify if NEET in TN's context will be a mere eligibility or mandatory requirement for a common rank list. Last year, due to the urgency and ambiguity surrounding the SC-imposed NEET regimen, TN was able to have government quota admissions without NEET and, at the same time, treat NEET as eligibility . Unlike some other states, TN never saw a common rank list for admissions to private colleges. This bill could have given the practice some sanctity by making it clear it will continue to be an eligibility , by relegating NEET to a secondary importance as compared to Class XII marks.