Tamil nadu

Omicron sub-variant BA.5 may be the reason for the sudden rise in COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu . From only 4% in May, the sub-variant was identified in 25.2% of SARS-CoV-2 samples sent for whole genomic sequencing so far in June. Data released by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine on the emergence of BA.2.38 and BA.5 sub-variants in May-June 2022 showed that BA.5 was the third highest sub-variant identified in the samples sequenced in June so far. While the BA.2.38 Omicron sub-variant took the top spot as it was identified in about 35% of samples, BA.2, which has been in circulation for a while now, was reported in 26.9% samples. In May, along with BA.2 Omicron sub-lineage, which was identified in 36% of samples, BA.2.38 sub-lineage was detected in nearly 35% of the samples sequenced in the State. In addition, BA.4 was reported in 1.4% of samples and BA.5 in 4% of the samples. Currently, the BA.2.38 sub-variant is the predominant Omicron variant … [Read more...] about BA.5 sub-variant likely reason for rise in fresh COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu

The Tamil Nadu Health Department has initiated a probe into fertility centers in Erode district, and private hospitals in Kerala and Andhra Pradesh, after the shocking case of a minor girl allegedly raped and forced to sell her oocytes for surrogacy came to light. A 16-year-old girl from Erode district on June 2 complained that she was forced into a sexual relationship with her mother’s paramour and was made to sell her oocytes eight times. Preliminary investigations revealed that she was taken to Assisted Reproductive Technology (ART) clinics in Erode, Perundurai, Salem, and Hosur with a fake Aadhaar card. Oocyte retrieval is a procedure in which eggs are taken from a woman’s ovaries. It is one of the steps in the in-vitro fertilization process. Police have arrested the girl’s mother, S Indirani, who reportedly was a habitual oocytes donor, her partner Syed Ali, and Malathi, an intermediary involved in the selling. Indirani got Rs 20,000 for each sale and gave Malathi Rs 5,000 … [Read more...] about Going Beyond Surrogacy Act Debate, This Tamil Nadu Minor’s Oocytes Ordeal Unravels a Deeper Distress

On the occasion of International Yoga Day, a man from Tamil Nadu’s Salem district filled air for three lorry tubes through his nostrils in 9 minutes and 45 seconds to create awareness about Pranayama yoga. Nataraj, hailing from Ilampillai, Atthanur area of ​​Salem district, is a karate coach. He has performed at 97 different events, including one for the Guinness Book of World Records. He completed his 98th record on June 20, eyeing International Yoga Day today. Nataraj set the record by inflating three tubes used in lorry wheels through his nostrils to raise awareness about the key practice of Pranayama in yoga. Performed in 9 minutes and 45 seconds in the presence of judicial officers and police officers, the event was recognised and certified by the World Talent Book of Records. Nataraj also warned that this achievement was easy as he had already been involved in a series of breathing exercises. However, he said that it would be life threatening if others tried it without … [Read more...] about Tamil Nadu Man Inflates Three Lorry Tubes Using Only Nostrils, Sets World Record

In a bizarre incident, 600 mobile phone towers in Tamil Nadu has gone missing since the start of Covid-19 pandemic in 2020. GTL Infrastructure Limited, the company that set up the mobile phone towers said the towers had been stolen when it had not been under surveillance since 2017. Meanwhile, a police investigation has revealed that 600 mobile phone towers belonging to the company had gone missing. GTL Infrastructure Limited which was involved in setting up the mobile phone towers has been headquartered in Mumbai, while its regional office is located at Purasavakkam in Chennai. Reportedly, the company has set up and managed 26,000 mobile phone towers across India. In Tamil Nadu alone, more than 6,000 mobile phone towers have been set up and maintained. Earlier in 2018, the private tower service company stopped its service owing to huge loss. Thus, the network service of the mobile phone towers installed across the country came to a standstill. When these mobile towers in … [Read more...] about 600 Mobile Towers Goes Missing in Tamil Nadu as Mysterious Gang Takes Advantage of Lockdowns

A lone voice of concern against the growing influence of BJP in Tamil Nadu at the expense of its larger ally, AIADMK, has emanated from the Dravidian party, giving vent to a silent rumbling within the party ever since the political narrative shifted to a DMK versus BJP tussle in recent months. V Ponnaiyan, former AIADMK minister and long-timer at AIADMK, at a party function in which leaders such as B Thambidurai and other party cadre were present, pointed out to BJP’s growth in Tamil Nadu and how it was taking ambivalent stances across the states such as Karnataka and Tamil Nadu over the Cauvery water issue. Ponnaiyan also spoke about the need for the AIADMK’s IT wing to wake up to the political reality in Tamil Nadu and start “exposing” the BJP. Ponnaiyan’s move to sound out the shifting dynamic arrives at a time the top echelon of the AIADMK has been largely adopting a touch-and-go attitude to several issues central to the state politics. For example, state BJP president K … [Read more...] about With AIADMK Being an Inactive Opposition, How BJP is Gaining a Foothold in Tamil Nadu Politics

It will be “cruel and disadvantageous to the people of Tamil Nadu” to implement the National Education Policy (NEP)- 2020 since the State has already achieved a Gross Enrolment Ratio (GER) of 51.4% as against the target of 50% proposed to be achieved across the country through the new education policy by 2035, the State government has said. In a counter affidavit filed before Chief Justice Munishwar Nath Bhandari and Justice N. Mala who were seized of a public interest litigation petition, the State government said, Tamil Nadu had achieved highest GER of 51.4% as against the national average of just 27.1% as per the All India Survey on Higher Education (AISHE) Report 2020. “In this purview, Tamil Nadu is 15 years ahead of India. Out of the 38 States, 18 scored below the national average. Hence, Tamil Nadu education system has proved to be the best and ahead of NEP-2020 by 15 years. Thus, insisting a State which had shown better results to implement the NEP would be cruel,” the … [Read more...] about It will be ‘cruel’ to implement National Education Policy in Tamil Nadu, State tells HC

The Public Distribution System in Tamil Nadu is a success story, in its coverage as well as its pricing. Each family, whether below the poverty line or not, is entitled to 20 kg of rice at Re. 1 a kg. The State Government opted for universal coverage for both practical and good political reasons. Effective targeting of Below Poverty Line (BPL) families was felt to be an administratively difficult task, and there was a genuine risk of the people most in need of food security being left out. The State is now deservedly held up as a model for effective implementation of a comprehensive food security system. When the DMK Government took office in 2006, one of its first steps was to supply rice through the PDS for Rs.2 a kg. This was a key election promise of the party. In September 2008, the PDS price was reduced to Re.1 a kg of rice. From May 2007, in addition to rice, kerosene, and sugar, Tamil Nadu has been issuing wheat, wheat products, pulses and palmolien to cardholders — under … [Read more...] about Behind the success story of universal PDS in Tamil Nadu

A month after a Thevar boy was allegedly killed by a Scheduled Caste boy in a Government Higher Secondary School, fear was still palpable in Adaichani, a quiet village in the picturesque Ambasamudram Taluk of Tirunelveli district. The houses in the Dalit neighbourhood of the village in Tamil Nadu, which are lined with tiled roofs, are basic. Most of the residents are labourers with modest means. They hope that the younger generation will get a shot at a better life. They equally dread the possibility of an explosion of caste violence. The incident occurred on April 25. M. Selva Suriya, a Thevar boy studying in Class 12, was allegedly attacked by a teenager belonging to the Arundhathiyar community along with two Muslim boys of Class 11. While the Thevars are a socially and politically dominant Other Backward Classes community, the Arundhathiyars are among the most disadvantaged within the SCs spread across western and southern Tamil Nadu. Selva Suriya, who had suffered a serious … [Read more...] about In Tamil Nadu, assertion of caste identity has peace hanging by a thread, even in schools

Fifty-six out of 61 candidates, recruited for the post of assistant local pilots (ALPs) and kept in waitlist by Railway Recruitment Board, Chennai, have been appointed in Southern Railway. Taking credit for their appointment, Madurai MP Su. Venkatesan, said that his intervention in stopping the attempt to fill the posts of ALP by candidates from outside had helped candidates from Tamil Nadu and Kerala get the jobs. He recalled that he had raised objection in September 2021 to Indian Railways for its move to fill vacancies with candidates selected through RRB of North Eastern Railway. Following his objection, Indian Railways had withdrawn its order of appointing those from North Eastern Railways. After appointing 17 candidates of RRB, Chennai, Southern Railway has now appointed another 39 candidates. "Since, the validity of the medical examination of five candidates had expired, those candidates would be subjected to fresh medical examination," he said. The present move had … [Read more...] about 56 candidates from Tamil Nadu, Kerala appointed in Southern Railway

Chennai has become the ganja capital of Tamil Nadu and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin does not have the capability to address the problem, which is destroying an entire generation of youngsters, Tamil Nadu BJP president K. Annamalai alleged in Chennai on Sunday. Speaking at an event to explain the achievements of the Narendra Modi-led Central government in the past eight years, Mr. Annamalai said the party was requesting the Tamil Nadu police department to work for the citizens of the State and prevent drug abuse, murders, rapes, chain snatching and other crimes ‘instead of working for the DMK’. Mr. Annamalai claimed that the Chief Minister wanted to become a “kutty Modi” [miniature version of Mr. Modi]. “But to become like him, you need to work tirelessly like him, be honest like him, think about the common citizens and more importantly work individually without your family,” Mr. Annamalai said. Stating that crimes had increased since the DMK came to power in the State, Mr. … [Read more...] about Chennai has become ganja capital of Tamil Nadu, claims Annamalai