தேஜாஸ் போர் விமானத்தை புகழ்ந்த சிங்கப்பூர் அமைச்சர்

Added : நவ 29, 2017 07:09 |

  கோல்கட்டா: ‛தேஜாஸ் போர் விமானத்தில் பறந்தது காரில் பயணிப்பது போல இலகுவாக இருந்தது' என சிங்கப்பூர் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அமைச்சர் எங் ஹென் தெரிவித்தார்.

இந்தியா, சிங்கப்பூர் இடையே கப்பல் போக்குவரத்து தொடர்பான ஒப்பந்த பேச்சுவார்த்தை டில்லியில் இன்று நடைபெற இருக்கிறது. இதற்காக இந்தியா வந்துள்ள சிங்கப்பூர் பாதுகாப்புத் துறை அமைச்சர் எங் ஹென், மேற்கு வங்கத்தில் உள்ள கலைகொண்டா விமானப்படை தளத்துக்கு சென்று நேற்று பார்வையிட்டார். பின் இந்திய தயாரிப்பான தேஜாஸ் போர் விமானத்தில் பயணித்தார். சுமார் ஒரு மணி நேரம் அவரது பயணம் நீடித்தது.

பின் ‛தேஜாஸ்' குறித்து அவர் தெரிவிக்கையில், ‛தேஜாஸ் விமானத்தில் பயணிப்பது போர் விமானத்தில் பயணிப்பது போல் தெரியவில்லை. காரில் பயணிப்பது போல் இலகுவாக உள்ளது. இதனை சிங்கப்பூருக்காக வாங்க விரும்புகிறோம்' என்றார்.

Time for self-financing institutions to do some reflection: Sunil Paliwal 

Staff Reporter 
 
Coimbatore, November 29, 2017 00:00 IST

It was time for self-financing higher education institutions to do some reflection and see if they are on the right path, Principal Secretary, Higher Education, Sunil Paliwal said here recently.

Addressing participants at the Association of Self-Financing Arts, Science and Management College of Tamil Nadu’s Avanteach 2017, he said self-financing colleges had no doubt helped in proving the gross enrolment ration in the State - 44.3 %, which was one of the highest in the State.

From 20-odd universities, 200 colleges and two lakh students a year in 1947, the country now had 800-plus universities, 40,000 colleges and over 3.50 crore students. Tamil Nadu played a major role in this as it had around 750 self-financing or private arts college institutions, as many colleges of education and over 500 engineering colleges.

But there was a social factor to the development as well. Many students, after Plus Two, parked themselves in colleges because they could not get employment. The reason was that though five to six million students passed out of colleges, only two million of those got employment, Mr. Paliwal said.

B.S. Ponmudiraj, Deputy Advisor and Coordinator, Northern Region, NAAC, urged colleges to participate more by way of sending feedback to formulate new assessment methods. Private colleges should also encourage faculty to undergo orientation programme or refresher courses.

The Association president A.M.M. Khallel wanted the State Government to ensure parity between arts and science colleges and engineering colleges in faculty qualification. While engineering colleges admitted candidates with post graduation - M.R. or M.Tech. or the former had to ensure that they recruited candidates with Ph.D. or NET/SLET or both.

He sought Central and State government to give research grants to private institutions.

Dead fish wash ashore for second day 
 Deepa H. Ramakrishnan 
 
CHENNAI, November 29, 2017 00:00 IST



Victims of pollution:Dead fish found along the coast at Besant Nagar.R. Ragu
Activists cite untreated sewage as reason

For the past two days, thousands of dead fish have been washed ashore along the coast at Besant Nagar or found floating in the estuary of the Adyar near the broken bridge. Fishermen of Urur Kuppam, who have been removing fish from the water and throwing them on the shore, wonder whether the deaths are due to lack of dissolved oxygen in water.

“This is the breeding season for fish and they enter the estuary in large numbers. As the rainwater has pushed a lot of sludge towards the sea, the water at that point is polluted leading to these deaths. It happens almost every year. But this year, it looks like thousands of fish are dead. Some of them have turned black. Some are quite big in size, which is a sad thing,” said Karunakaran of Urur Kuppam.

Fishermen have collected some of them and salted them to be used as dry fish ( Karuvaadu ).

G. Sundarrajan of NGO Poovulagu Nanbargal said the loss of fish at this time would mean a reduction in production in the area next year.

“Already fish production is on a downward trend due to acidification of the oceans. The government needs to ensure that sewage treatment plants function well even during rains. Untreated sewage might have caused the deaths,” he said.

Veteran ophthalmologist E.T. Selvam no more 

Special Correspondent 
 
Chennai, November 29, 2017 00:00 IST



Dr. E.T. Selvam

He is credited with conducting the most number of eye camps during his tenure at Dr. MGR varsity

Eminent ophthalmologist E.T. Selvam died on Tuesday at the age of 93.

Dr. Selvam, former superintendent of the Government Ophthalmic Hospital and Regional Institute of Ophthalmology, Egmore, is regarded by his students as a surgeon who transformed the hospital.

Dr. Selvam, who was awarded the Doctor of Science by the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, is credited with conducting the most number of eye camps during his tenure.

His students’ memories are laced with respect and admiration for his skill.

“Dr. Selvam was my teacher when I was doing my MBBS in Madras Medical College. He had the passion to not only be a great clinician but also superb teacher. He was also heading Dr. Agarwal’s Eye Hospital once he retired from the government hospital. A great man whom all will miss,” said Amar Agarwal, chairman of the hospital.

Mohan Rajan, chairman of Rajan Eye Care Hospital, recalled his association from his younger days when his father was deputy superintendent of the Government Eye Hospital. “He was the icon of ophthalmology. He held the post of superintendent and my father N. Rajan was the deputy superintendent. The years 1977 to 1982 were a golden period for the hospital as they brought in lots of reforms. He was a specialist in the older technique of cataract surgery,” Dr. Mohan said.

Former director of the Government Eye Hospital K. Vasantha was not only his student but also his assistant for three years. “At that time there were no sub-specialities. He was an expert in glaucoma, cataract and retinal surgeries,” she said. “We heard that actor Sivaji Ganesan had imitated him in a movie where he played an eye doctor. We all watched the movie,” she recalled.

“One could learn a lot just by watching him perform surgeries. I am proud to say I was his student,” she added. Son of Sir A.T. Pannirselvam of the Justice Party, Dr. Selvam was the recipient of many oration awards.

The Tamil Nadu Opthalmic Association has instituted an annual quiz programme in his name. The All India Opthalmic Association has instituted the best poster award in his name. His students and family have created an annual endowment lecture in his name at his alma mater for the last 15 years.

M.K. Stalin, working president of the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, termed Dr. Selvam’s death a great loss.

74 flights delayed, 5 divertedas fog envelops B'luru airport

DH News Services, Bengaluru, Nov 29 2017, 1:02 IST 

 

Early morning fof at the Kempegowda International Aiport in Bengaluru on Tuesday. DH Photo.

Five flights were diverted to Chennai and 74 took off late as dense fog affected visibility early on Tuesday morning.

This is the first time so many flights were disrupted this winter, an official at the Kempegowda International Airport said.

According to the India Meteorological Department, visibility dropped to 150 metres, making it difficult for aircraft to take off and land.

Five international flights were diverted to Chennai. Cars and taxis lined up to pick up and drop passengers, causing a traffic jam.

Passengers had to wait at least an additional hour to board their flights.

Fog is common during winter, and poor visibility in the early morning hours may continue for two or three days, according to Sunder M Metri, director in charge, IMD
Bengaluru.

Tamil Nadu: After talks, government nurses decide to call off protest 

DECCAN CHRONICLE. | SHWETA TRIPATHI
Published Nov 29, 2017, 2:00 am IST

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan also called on around 20 representatives from the association to discuss their demands.



The strike by nurses demanding job permanency, enhanced pay and eight hours work shifts, entered its second day on Tuesday. Over 2,500 nurses were on indefinite strike at the Directorate of Medical Services campus in Chennai since Monday and their agitation affected health services in several government hospitals and primary health centres (PHCs) in rural areas across TN. (Photo: DC)

Chennai: More than 2,000 staff nurses, recruited through the Medical Recruitment Board Tamil Nadu from across the state, called off their two-day long protest after talks with Health Minister C. Vijayabhaskar who assured that their services will be regularized gradually.

Though the strike continued for the second day, services in the government hospitals and public health centres in the city remained unaffected as the doctors and the staff on duty worked double shifts on Monday and Tuesday to prevent disruptions in the discharge of services.

The nurses also presented the formal notice directed to the Director of Medical Services regarding the protest a month ago after officials alleged that there was no formal communication about the strike.

After two-hour long talks with the minister, the nurses called off their protest a little before 9 pm and announced that they will resume work on Wednesday. “We had placed our demands in front of the authorities more than a month ago regarding the regularization of services with a time-scale pay on an 8-hour shift basis”, S Aishwarya, joint secretary, MRB Nurses’ Empowerment Association, said.

After the protest on Monday, Director of Medical Education Dr A Edwin Joe, Director of Medical Services Dr M R Enbasekaran and Director of Public Health Dr K Kolandaswamy called on the association representative for talks. Around ten members from the association discussed the issue with the directors. Officials said the nurses were appointed based on the same regulations as it is done across the country and nurses would be eligible for a permanent post only after two years of service. “After two years of service, the services of nurses are regularised based on the availability of vacancies and seniority. The sudden demands of all nurses to be given increment in the salary and permanency in the post have been communicated to the government. However, the pay and service regularization is as per the regulations”, said Dr M R Enbasekaran.

Health Secretary J Radhakrishnan also called on around 20 representatives from the association to discuss their demands. The meeting continued till the filing of the report and nurses had not called off the agitation. However, a section of protesting nurses said they would continue with their agitation till their demands are met. They said they don't agree with the other section who have announced that they would call of the protests.

Min assures nurses to consider demands

The Health minister addressed the press on Tuesday regarding the nurses’ protest stating that the State Health Department would regularise them as per procedure. Nurses are being given the pay and regularisation is done according to the regulations set by the Government of India, he said.

The nurses are recruited by the Medical Recruitment Board after an entrance test and based on the consolidated marks, the appointment is decided. The contract based appointment is being done for all the nurses all over the India. All the nurses who were appointed through Medical Recruitment Board are given regularisation after two years of service based on seniority and vacancy available, he said.

Around 6,000 nurses who were recruited in 2015 have been regularised, whereas for the rest 200 of them, the services will be made regular within this week, Health Minister said.

Claiming that government is taking all measures to provide for the demands of all the personnel working under the State Health department, the minister assured the nurses that the demands will be considered and the nurses should see that such actions do not affect the services to the patients at the government hospitals.

Training for poll officers on November 30

TNN | Updated: Nov 29, 2017, 06:49 IST



CHENNAI: The first phase of training for election officials involved in the Dr Radhakrishnan Nagar constituency bypoll process will take place on November 30 at the Government Polytechnic College in Washermenpet.

In a statement district election officer D Karthikeyan, said 1,638 state and central government employees would be part of the bypoll process. There are 256 polling booths in RK Nagar constituency. "As many as 307 chief polling booth officers and 307 level-I, II and III officers, and 103 level-IV officers, will be in charge of poll process at the booth level," the statement said.

Following the first training session, three more sessions will be organised on December 8, 16 and 20. "The training will impart information on election rules, ballot box, inking electors' index fingers etc," the statement said. All officials are expected to participate and a failure to attend will result in action being initiated under the Representation of People Act.