It isn’t for leisure or exercise, but for the 80-year-old to earn a living.

This 80-year-old cycles 20 kms daily, has plenty of ‘fans’ but only one supporter - his wife

Kunji thapatham and his wife Vasantha (76) have been making and selling palm-leaf hand-fans for the past 40 years.

Published: 31st January 2021 05:02 AM 

Kunjithapatham and his wife Vasantha make palm-leaf hand-fans outside their house in T Palur village of Ariyalur district. They sell each for about `15 |

 EXPRESS

By P Thiruselvam

Express News Service

ARIYALUR: Every morning begins with a 20-km cycle ride for R Kunjithapatham, of T Palur village near Jayamkondam. It isn’t for leisure or exercise, but for the 80-year-old to earn a living. Kunji thapatham and his wife Vasantha (76) have been making and selling palm-leaf hand-fans for the past 40 years.

He first rides his cycle to source the palm leaves, and then to places such as Udayarpalayam, Jayakondam, Ariyalur and Kumbakonam to sell the fans. He usually receives Rs 15 for each.

“I used to work as a daily-wage labourer, and since I couldn’t afford a fan, I used a hand-made one. That’s when I realised I could make them for a living,” Kunjithapatham recalled. He learned to make palmleaf hand-fans at his cousin’s house, and it eventually became his primary source of income for more than four decades.

“After collecting the palm leaves, I dry them, and make fans with the help of my wife. They are still popular in many places. Due to our age, we can only make 10-15 fans a day, and I sell them only once or twice a week.”

The couple have no children or family to depend on, and live in a thatched hut, for which they pay a rent of Rs 500 per month. The bicycle Kunjithapatham rides is often damaged but he can’t afford a new one.

“We receive senior citizens’ pension. Despite that and selling these fans, I find it hard to make ends meet. We were severely affected during the lockdown last year, and once it was relaxed, I went from village to village on my bicycle seeking to earn an income. My wife is my strength and gives me the motivation to continue to work hard,” said Kunjithapatham.

Given anesthesia at private hospital, five-year-old dies

Given anesthesia at private hospital, five-year-old dies

As the boy, Naveen, was suffering from foot-corn issues, his parents sought medical care from V-Cure Hospital in Pallikaranai, police said.

Published: 30th January 2021 06:01 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: The father of a five-year-old boy has filed a complaint against a private hospital in Pallikaranai for allegedly providing wrong treatment and causing the death of his son. However, the hospital management has denied the al legat ion and blamed the parents for allegedly breaking the preoperative fasting rule and concealing the information.

As the boy, Naveen, was suffering from foot-corn issues, his parents sought medical care from V-Cure Hospital in Pallikaranai, police said. As part of the treatment, a surgery was scheduled by doctors on Thursday evening. After administering anesthesia, the boy went into an unconscious state, his father Sridhar claimed in the complaint.

When taken to another hospital, he was declared brought dead, said Sridhar, a college lecturer and a resident of Pallikaranai. Police sources said that based on the complaint, an FIR has been registered under section 174 of the Criminal Procedure Code (suspicious death) and an investigation is on.

A staff of the hospital told Express that the parents were clearly instructed to keep the child in preoperative fasting four hours before the surgery. “But, they fed the child and failed to inform us. Had we been informed, we would have dropped the surgery plan,” the staff said. The body was sent to a government hospital for postmortem examination.

Chennai's Stanley Hospital provides free orthotics equipment to differently abled kids

Chennai's Stanley Hospital provides free orthotics equipment to differently abled kids

Children from poor backgrounds who may need this equipment can reach out to the hospital’s District Early Intervention Centre, said Dr J Ganesh

Published: 30th January 2021 02:07 PM 

In the first phase, ten pieces of equipment worth Rs 50,000 were distributed to the children in the presence of their parents on Saturday (Photo | Special arrangement)

By Omjasvin MD

Express News Service

CHENNAI: The Stanley Government Medical College Hospital would be providing up to 40 pieces of orthotics equipment to physically challenged children free of cost in a phased manner.

Orthotics are externally worn devices, custom-made for individuals, which help them to correct biomechanical foot issues and walk, stand and run.

On Saturday, in the first phase, Dean of the hospital Dr P Balaji distributed 10 pieces of equipment worth Rs 50,000 for differently abled children. The initiative is being done in association with NGO Masusa Foundation.

“We have decided to provide free orthotics to children who may need it. It would take some days to measure the leg of the child and place orders. We will be providing up to 40 pieces in a phased manner,” said Dr J Ganesh, Director of Institute of Social Pediatrics.

He said that children from poor backgrounds who may need this equipment can reach out to the hospital’s District Early Intervention Centre.

Set up under the National Health Mission, the DEIC aims to identify children with birth defects and deficiencies and provides treatment for them.

Chennai book fair to be held from Feb 24

Chennai book fair to be held from Feb 24

“We will ensure all Covid protocols are in place including creating wider pathways.

Published: 31st January 2021 06:00 AM 

By Express News Service

CHENNAI: Much to the joy of book lovers in the city, the annual Chennai Book Fair will be held from February 24 until March 9 at the YMCA grounds, according to members of the Book Sellers’ and Publishers’ Association of South India (BAPASI), that holds the event every year.

The fair will go on from 11 am until 8pm. Confirming the announcement, K Nagarajan, Vice President of BAPASI said, “We will ensure all Covid protocols are in place including creating wider pathways. Other than that, everything including the ticket system will be the same.”

The announcement comes amidst rumours that the event may not be held this year due to the Covid situation since the fair is usually held in January. However, though there has been a delay, organisers have decided to go ahead with the event.

Calcutta HC judge dies of cardiac arrest

Calcutta HC judge dies of cardiac arrest

Pinak Priya Bhattacharya

Jalpaiguri:31.03.2021

Justice Ashis Kumar Chakraborty of Calcutta High Court, who was scheduled to join the Jalpaiguri circuit bench from Monday till February 12, died of a cardiac arrest at a private nursing home in Siliguri on Saturday. He was 56.

Justice Chakraborty was first taken to the district hospital in Darjeeling, where he had arrived with his family on Friday, and later to Siliguri the same night after he started vomiting blood. He was with Calcutta HC for the past five years.

CBI begins probe into Agra doc’s mysterious death

FAMILY ALLEGES DOWRY DEATH

CBI begins probe into Agra doc’s mysterious death

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:31.01.2021

A CBI team from Lucknow special crime branch reached Agra on Saturday to collect documents related to the mysterious death of a doctor, Deepti Agarwal, who was allegedly killed by her in-laws for dowry on August 3 last year.

On the plea of the victim’s father, Dr Naresh Mangla, the Supreme Court had earlier handed over the investigation to CBI. Initiating probe, the probe agency lodged a fresh FIR under charges of dowry death, causing miscarriage without the woman’s consent, criminal intimidation and cruelty against Deepti’s husband Dr Sumit Agarwal, fatherin-law SC Agarwal, mother-in-law Anita Agarwal, brother-in-law Amit Agarwal and sister-in-law Tulika Agarwal.

Dr Mangla had accused his son-in-law and his family of murdering his daughter while the Agra police had claimed that Deepti committed suicide after being tortured for dowry.

Dr Mangla said Deepti suffered two miscarriages after which the couple adopted a girl child. He claimed Deepti was often harassed by her in-laws. “About 18-19 days before she was found hanging, she was assaulted by her inlaws for dowry,” he alleged.

Deepti, a resident of Tajganj in Agra, was married to Sumit on November 3, 2014.

After she was found hanging in her flat on August 3 last year, her husband claimed that he found her hanging in the room and had to break open the door which was locked from inside.

Deepti was taken to a hospital where she remained in coma till her death on August 7.

Mangla alleged that police only arrested Sumit who also secured anticipatory bail on September 29 from the high court. Later on October 24, police hastily filed a charge sheet.

Mangla, however, approached the Supreme Court demanding fresh investigation by the CBI.

“All the documents related to the case, including the post-mortem report, had to be taken from police for which a team was dispatched to Agra,” a CBI official said.

Donate my body for teaching anatomy: Elderly’s suicide note

Donate my body for teaching anatomy: Elderly’s suicide note

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Lucknow:31.01.2021

A computer-typed suicide note with a hand-scribbled signature, neatly placed under a bundle of currency notes, was found on a table in the bedroom, where an elderly couple clothed in starched white was found hanging from the ceiling in an upscale Aliganj neighbourhood on Saturday.

The businessman, who could not pay Rs 1crore in debt, allegedly ended his life with his wife, leaving behind the note, willing that his body be donated to a medical education institute for teaching “human anatomy” and his wife be given a decent cremation with Rs 15,000 in cash kept atop the suicide note.

Identified as Mathew Joseph, 60, and Lucy Joseph, 58, the couple’s bodies for taken for autopsy from their Sector Q, Aliganj, residence. Hailing from Kerala, Josephs had settled in Lucknow in 1986 and made the city their home, but for over past few years, they were wallowing in loneliness with their only daughter settled in London, said police.

Owner of a firm dealing in electronic goods and solar panels, Mathew was struggling in his business since 2016 and had taken loans of around Rs 1 crore from several banks and private money lenders, which he couldn’t repay due to heavy losses, said additional deputy commissioner of police (ADCP), North, Rajesh Srivastava.

Bizman leaves ₹15k in cash atop suicide note for wife’s cremation

A printed suicide note had Joseph's name scribbled at the bottom, stating he was ending his life because of debt and left instructions that his body be donated to medical students and the money be used for last rites of his wife, Lucy,” said Srivastava.

Bodies in medical institutes are used to teach human anatomy to MBBS first year students. Most educational institutes are reeling under scarcity of bodies and using dummies and 3D models for teaching purpose.

“The note did not specify anything about medical education, but as it said the body should be donated to medical students, we presume that it is meant for teaching anatomy at MBBS level,” said the ADCP. “Our probe revealed the couple had been away for a fortnight and had returned two days back,” he added.

The incident came to light in the morning when the couple’s next-door neighbour, Pankaj Arora, came to their house to take Mathew along for morning walk, but did not get response to calls. Arora peeped inside and was shocked to see the couple hanging from the ceiling of the room and informed police.