With the Tamil Nadu government banning public celebrations of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival in the wake of Covid-19, the BJP and other right-wing organisations across the state have been up in arms for the past few days. On Monday, Tamil Nadu BJP president K Annamalai had issued a statement questioning the DMK government’s decision to deny permission for the Hindu festival and alleging that it was meant to appease followers of other religions.
READ | Row over Vinayaka Chaturthi celebrations in Tamil Nadu sees BJP locking horns with state govt
In the wake of the neighbouring state Kerala reporting a death due to Nipah virus infection, the Tamil Nadu government has tightened security measures in areas bordering the state. Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that directions have been issued to nine districts that border Kerala to take preventive measures.
READ | Security measures tightened up in Tamil Nadu after Nipah virus reported in neigbouring Kerala
For assistance on COVID-19-related queries and mental health support in Chennai, citizens can contact the Greater Chennai Corporation's (GCC) COVID-19 helpline 044 46122300 or 044 25384520 | Citizens can also contact the general helpline 104, the 24-hour helplines 044 29510400 or 29510500 and the 24 x 7 mobile helplines 8754448477 or 9444340496 | Citizens can find the nearest GCC-facilitated COVID-19 fever clinic here | Find the nearest GCC vaccine centre here and book your slots here | For lodging rain-related complaints and assistance during the monsoon, citizens can contact the GCC's monsoon helplines 044 25384530 or 044 25384540 or the control room 1913 (available 24x7)
Tamil Nadu reported 1,587 new Covid-19 cases taking the overall tally to 26,27,365. With 18 fatalities, the death toll reached 35,073. A total of 1,594 people got discharged and 1,60,303 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state stood at 16,180. Coimbatore (232), Chennai (179), Erode (117), Chengalpet (115) contributed to the maximum number of infections. Zero deaths were reported in 24 districts.
The Greater Chennai Corporation Wednesday said a total of 1,600 special camps would be organised on September 12 in the city to increase the vaccine coverage. In a meeting chaired by principle secretary and the corporation commissioner Gagandeep Singh Bedi, the decision was taken to conduct these camps. The corporation said as of Wednesday, a total of 43,62,753 vaccine doses have been administered. This includes 29,89,064 first dose beneficiaries and 13,73,689 second dose beneficiaries.
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A total of 600 doctors and 600 nurses are set to be deployed in this special vaccination drive on September 12.
The Tamil Nadu Assembly on Wednesday adopted a resolution urging the Centre to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act 2019 to protect and ensure unity and communal harmony and uphold the secular principles enshrined in the Constitution.
According to PTI, the resolution moved by Chief Minister M K Stalin said the CAA passed by the Parliament in 2019 "is not in tune with the secular principles laid down in our Constitution and also not conducive to the communal harmony that prevails in India."
The main opposition AIADMK's members were not in the House during its passage. They staged a walkout over issues they tried to raise during the zero hour.
Opposing the resolution, the BJP MLAs also staged a walkout and later speaking to media, the party's legislature party leader Nainar Nagendran said the CAA has absolutely nothing against Muslim people.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) will be organising a mega vaccination drive in Chennai on September 12. The drive will be conducted across 500 locations with over 3 lakh vaccines to be administered.
The drive will be conducted as a part of the state-wide vaccination drive to inoculated over 12 lakh people in 10,000 camps.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin Tuesday moved a resolution against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act, 2019 passed by Parliament in 2019. Stalin said the Act is not in tune with the secular principles laid down in our Constitution and is also not conducive to the communal harmony that prevails in India.
The legislation, which grants citizenship to illegal immigrants belonging to Hindu, Jain, Sikh, Parsi, Christian, and Buddhist communities from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan, was passed by Parliament amid vehement criticism from the Opposition that pointed out the communal agenda behind the law as it conspicuously left out Muslims.
“As per established democratic principles, a country should be governed taking into consideration the aspirations and concerns of the people belonging to all sections of the society. But, it is clearly seen that the Citizenship (Amendment) Act was passed in such a way that it does not accord warm support to the refugees considering their plight, but instead discriminates them according to their religion and their country of origin,” Stalin said.
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Kangana Ranaut’s Thalaivii is all set to release in theatres this Friday. Featuring Kangana in the titular role, the film is based on the life of cine icon and former Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa. To get into the skin of the actor-politician, Kangana had a ‘spiritual’ and ‘psychological’ approach.
According to the 34-year-old actor, more than anything, she needs to understand the psychology of a character to play it efficiently. Also, she believes it is important to “fall in love with the character and their deepest, darkest truths”. In a recent interview, Kangana explained her prep to essay the role of Jayalalithaa.
"It’s a very personal process that I wouldn’t recommend for anyone but the psychology of a character is very important to me. To know the missing link in their psyche. To figure them out. To put the dots together. What were their deep desires and what were their weaknesses? What were the soft points and strengths? It’s a very psychological approach to begin with and it leads to the traits that are dominant in their personality,” Kangana Ranaut told Film Companion.
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Petrol and diesel prices were steady across the country for the third consecutive day on Wednesday, September 8, 2021. The prices of the key auto fuels were last revised on September 5 when petrol and diesel prices were cut by 15 paise per litre each in the national capital.
In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs. 98.96 per litre and diesel costs Rs. 93.26 per litre.
With the Tamil Nadu government banning public celebrations of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival in the wake of Covid-19, Chief Minister MK Stalin Tuesday announced Rs 5,000 as financial aid to 3,000 artisans who make Ganesh idols.
Stating that the ban on public celebrations of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival had affected the idol makers, Stalin announced financial assistance in the state assembly. He was responding to BJP legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran’s request to allow the festival in the state.
Stalin said that the government had already provided Rs 5,000 to around 12,000 potters who were unable to earn a livelihood during the monsoon season. “Among them, around 3,000 make Ganesh idols. Keeping in mind that the idol makers lost their livelihood during this time, the government has decided to provide them Rs 5,000 as financial aid,” he said.
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A total of 205 hoardings and 584 flex boards were removed across Chennai by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Tuesday as a part of the civic body’s poster removal campaign.
Here are the details:
North Chennai
Central Chennai
South Chennai
Thanking Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin for his decision not to waste the school bags and other stationery materials containing the photographs of former Chief Ministers, the late J Jayalalithaa and another, the Madras High Court on Friday told the State to take extreme care and caution to ensure that public funds are not expended for publicity purposes of political leaders, including in hoardings and other materials.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu gave the direction while closing a public interest writ petition from Ranjan Oveyam praying for a direction to the authorities concerned to continue to use the unused stocks of text-books and other stationery materials like crayons, colour pencils and school bags, which carried the photos of former Chief Ministers, including that of Edappadi K Palaniswami.
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The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced a hike of Rs 500 for the retail sales personnel of liquor vends run by it, effective from April 2021. Announcing fresh initiatives for his department in the State Assembly, Excise Minister V Senthil Balaji said that 25,009 employees, who are assigned the task of retail sales, are working on consolidated pay in liquor shops across the state.
Such retail shops are run by the government owned Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC). Of the 25,000 plus personnel, 6,761 are supervisors, while 15,090 are salesmen and 3,158 sales assistants. For these workers, the monthly consolidated pay would be increased by Rs 500 and the hike would be implemented from April 2021, entailing an additional expenditure of Rs 15.01 crore per year, he said.
The Minister said district-wise awareness campaigns and special camps would be conducted against alcohol consumption and driving vehicles after consuming alcoholic drinks and Rs four crore would be allotted for the purpose. Also, he announced a Rs five crore fund for rehabilitating reformed people who have been released from prisons after serving sentences for prohibition offences like brewing illicit liquor. (PTI)
The Madras High Court on Tuesday held that shortage of a few days for the prescribed age qualification need not be an obstacle for an intelligent student seeking admission or writing exams like the NEET.
Citing an order of a division bench of the Andhra Pradesh High Court, headed by Justice V Ramasubramanian in 2019 in a similar case, the present bench of Justices Pushpa Sathyanarayana and Krishnan Ramasamy made the observation, Tuesday.
It, however, refused to allow a minor girl to write the NEET.
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The Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday announced a welfare board for journalists, an increase in financial support to families of press, media persons who die in harness and funding higher education of young, eligible scribes in journalism schools.
Making announcements on new initiatives for his department, Information Minister M P Saminathan announced institution of “Kalaignar Ezhuthukol Award” for journalists making exemplary journalistic contributions towards social development and the uplift of marginalised people.
The award includes a cash component of Rs 5 lakh and a certificate of appreciation, he said.
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Pulamaipitha, a renowned Tamil poet and loyalist to former Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa passed away Wednesday owing to ill health.
Expelled AIADMK leader V K Sasikala had visited the poet at the hospital on Tuesday.
Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M K Stalin Tuesday moved a resolution in the Tamil Nadu Assembly, urging the Centre to repeal the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA), 2019. Stalin urged the Centre to ensure unity and uphold the principles of secularism as envisioned in the Constitution.
"The Citizenship Amendment Act was enacted to discriminate against refugees on the basis of their religious affiliation and nationality, regardless of their status", ANI quoted Stalin on Anti-CAA resolution in the state Assembly.
Two fishermen from Vedaranyam in Nagapattinam district sustained injuries as a Coast Guard vessel allegedly hit their fishing boat. The injured fishermen returned to the shore on Tuesday morning. While the Coast Guard in Chennai said that an investigation has been launched into the matter, official sources said there appears to be "no collision".
Earlier, four fishermen belonging to Pushpavanam hamlet near Vedaranyam ventured into the sea in a fiberglass boat on Monday afternoon. Around 11:30 in the night, a Coast Guard vessel that happened to pass through that area accidentally hit the edge of the fishing boat, the injured fishermen claimed.
In the impact, two fishermen Mahalingam (60) and Selvamani (30) slipped into the sea from the boat. The engine portion of the boat sustained damage, they claimed. While Mahalingam managed to board the boat shortly, Selvamani struggled in the water for over two hours before being rescued by another fishing boat that happened to pass through that way.
All the fishermen reached the Vedaranyam shore on Tuesday morning. Mahalingam and Selvamani were rushed to the Vedaranyam GH and their condition is stable.
Officials of Coastal Security Group police, Q Branch, and fisheries welfare department are enquiring into the issue. Meanwhile, the Coast Guard said "investigation has been undertaken to analyse the situation." Official sources, while claiming that there was "no collision", said fishing nets in the boat must have got entangled with the CG vessel and in the impact the fishermen must have fallen into the sea. They did not elaborate. (PTI)
The period when sections of government employees struck work and faced suspension during the previous AIADMK regime would be regularised, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the Assembly on Tuesday.
The retirement age of chefs and kitchen assistants at the state-run nutritious meal centres would be increased to 60 from 58 benefitting a total of 53,713 such employees, he said.
Making announcements related to government employees, the Chief Minister said many employee associations have submitted representations in respect of strike and suspension periods. They have requested regularisation of periods, during which they struck work and faced “temporary suspension” in 2016, 2017 and 2019 for protest against the then government (the previous AIADMK regime), he said.
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Tangedco has announced a power cut in parts of Chennai today from 9 am to 2 pm for maintenance work.
Here are the affected areas:
Porur: Parts of Porur, Moulivakkam, Madha Nagar, Tharaipakkam, Gerugambakkam, RE Nagar, Kurunji Nagar, Kundrathur Main Road, Sathiyanarayanapuram and surrounding areas.
Tambaram:
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The enhanced Dearness Allowance to government employees and pensioners would be advanced by three months and it shall be implemented with effect from January 1, 2022, Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the Assembly on Tuesday.
In the revised budget (2021-22), the increase in DA for employees and pensioners was announced from April 1, 2022, he said. However, considering representations received from associations of government employees, the DA hike would be implemented for them and pensioners from January 1, 2022 despite serious fiscal constraints, the Chief Minister said.
The move would benefit 16 lakh government employees and pensioners and the advancement of the DA hike would entail an additional expenditure of Rs 1,620 crore for three months and for a year the expenditure shall be Rs 6,480 crore.
An office-bearer of a government employees association said that the DA is expected to be raised on par with the Centre's announcement of 11 per cent in sync with the practice so far. "Usually, the state government announces the DA hike soon after the Centre's announcement. This is the first time we are witnessing such a scenario," he told PTI.
The associations of government employees have been demanding a 11 per cent DA increase. Effective July 1, 2021, the Centre had announced a 11 per cent increase (17 per cent to 28 per cent) in DA and Dearness Relief to Central government employees and pensioners respectively. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu recorded 1,544 positive cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday, bringing the state tally to 26,25,778. Among these, Chennai reported 194 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,45,352. The state recorded 19 deaths on Tuesday, putting the state toll at 35,055. 17 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 1,576 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,74,518.
As of Tuesday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 16,205. Till date, 15,33,075 males, 10,92,665 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 4,34,28,075 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,55,210 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 292 Covid-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 223 are private facilities.
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, weather, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.
Tamil Nadu on Tuesday reported 1,554 new Covid-19 cases taking the overall tally to 26,25,778. With 19 fatalities, the death toll reached 35,055. A total of 1,576 people got discharged and 1,55,210 samples were tested in the last 24 hours. The number of active cases in the state stood at 16,205.
Coimbatore (217), Chennai (194), Erode (115), Chengalpet (112) contributed to the maximum number of infections. Zero deaths were reported in 25 districts.
Earlier on Tuesday, State Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian wrote a letter to Union Minister Mansukh Mandaviya seeking one crore Covid-19 vaccines for the state to conduct the mega vaccination drive planned for September 12 to cover unvaccinated eligible population above the age of 18 years. Subramanian also asked the Union government to facilitate the state with an equal number of 0.5 ml of AD syringes or 1ml/2ml in addition to the already committed 1.04 crore vaccines to government Covid-19 vaccine centres.
Subramanian said that at present, the state has been vaccinating about five lakh people per day for the past seven days and considering the pace of vaccinations, the current supplies are adequate for only three to four days making it difficult to cover the planned eligible left-out population. He added that 3.44 crore people are due for their first dose of vaccine and the persons due for their second dose are about 18.89 lakhs.
Recalling a recent meeting the Union minister, Subramanian said, “Considering the continued higher positivity and rising number of cases reported daily in the neighbouring state of Kerala, when I mentioned the issue of vaccinating all eligible persons in the bordering districts during the interactions, you also had emphasized and highlighted the issue and asked the state to aim and ensure 100 per cent vaccination for all the left-out unvaccinated eligible population on priority basis in all the nine bordering districts including Coimbatore, Dindigul, Kanniyakumari, Tenkasi, The Nilgiris, Theni, Tirunelveli, Tiruppur and Virudhunagar in the State. It is estimated that 65. 76 lakh population in the nine districts have to be given first dose of vaccine."
The minister had earlier said that the government would hold 10,000 vaccination camps on September 12 to inoculate 12 lakh people.
During the debate for grants session in the legislative assembly, Egmore MLA Paranthaman Tuesday placed a demand to name Egmore station after former chief minister and DMK patriarch Kalaignar Karunanidhi.
As Tamil Nadu toes neighbouring Kerala in ensuring seating arrangement for the salespersons in shops and establishments, the CITU which was instrumental in impelling the government to bring about a Bill in the Assembly, says the move will secure a healthy environment for the working class.
Apart from sparing them the drudgery of standing constantly even when there are no customers to attend to, it will go a long way in improving their health, opines A Soundararajan, president of Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), Tamil Nadu committee.
The issue however did not appear to go well with the industry association and activists who claim that it may not be feasible to provide seating arrangements for all the employees due to paucity of space.
On Monday, Minister for Labour Welfare and Skill Development C V Ganesan introduced a Bill to amend the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947, making it mandatory for shops and establishments to provide seating arrangements for employees working in shops and commercial establishments. (PTI)
Eight Bangladeshi nationals were Tuesday arrested in Tamil Nadu for staying without valid documents, news agency PTI reported.
The Supreme Court Tuesday denied bail to the accused in the Sathankulam custodial death case. According to Puthiya Thalaimurai, the top court bench said they do not want to issue orders against the Madras High Court, which has denied bail to the accused.
AIADMK leader O Panneerselvam Tuesday expressed his gratitude to President Ram Nath Kovind, who, in a letter, had extended his condolences over the demise of P Vijayalakshmi, the wife of the Tamil Nadu leader.
Vijayalakshmi died at a Chennai hospital after a cardiac arrest on September 1. She was 66.
With the Tamil Nadu government banning public celebrations of the Vinayaka Chaturthi festival in the wake of Covid-19, the BJP and other right-wing organisations across the state have been up in arms for the past few days.
On Tuesday, replying to BJP legislative party leader Nainar Nagendran’s request to allow the festival in the state, Chief Minister M K Stalin said in the Assembly that the Union Home Ministry had advised state governments to take suitable measures to prevent the spread of Covid-19, including preventing large gatherings, till September 30. The festival falls on September 10.
“After Kerala government allowed people to gather during Onam and Bakrid festivals, there has been a surge in infections. In Tamil Nadu, we haven’t completely eradicated the virus. Hence, considering the safety and welfare of the public, the government has put restrictions in place for all festivals till September 15, including Vinayaka Chaturthi. The government has already said that restrictions are only for public celebrations. Individuals can celebrate the festival following Covid-19 guidelines in their homes,” he said. Read More
In the wake of the neighbouring state Kerala reporting a death due to Nipah virus infection, the Tamil Nadu government has tightened security measures in areas bordering the state. Health Minister Ma Subramanian said that directions have been issued to nine districts that border Kerala to take preventive measures.
Subramanian clarified that that public transportation between Kerala and Tamil Nadu has not been suspended. The government in its previous directions had said that people coming from Kerala through any mode of transport has to be fully vaccinated or carry an RT-PCR negative certificate taken 72 hours prior to departure.
Coimbatore Collector GS Sameeran Monday also issued a clarification stating that no case has been identified in the district after a false report emerged on social media. Speaking to indianexpress.com Sameeran said the district administration has intensified the screening at check-posts along the Tamil Nadu-Kerala border and is implementing all the safety guidelines that are issued to prevent the spread of vector-borne infectious diseases.
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Petrol and diesel prices remained steady across the country for the second consecutive day on Tuesday, September 7, 2021. On September 5, petrol and diesel prices were cut by 15 paise per litre each in the national capital..
In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs. 98.96 per litre and diesel costs Rs. 93.26 per litre.
Shankar Jiwal, the Greater Chennai Police Commissioner has issued a statement, extending the order prohibiting gatherings (social, cultural, political, religious, academic, sports, entertainment) in open and closed spaces till 6 am on September 15, in a bid to curb the spread of Covid-19 in the city.
Anyone found to be violating the order will be prosecuted under the IPC.
The Madras High Court on Monday ordered notice, returnable by four weeks, on a public interest litigation petition praying for a direction to the authorities concerned to include the names of the mothers’ too in all certificates and documents.
The first bench of Chief Justice Sanjib Banerjee and Justice P D Audikesavalu, before which the PIL from advocate B Ramkumar Adityan of Tiruchendur came up for hearing Monday, ordered the notice to the Union and State government authorities. The matter will be taken up for hearing after six weeks, the bench said.
The petition prayed for a direction to the Union Ministries of Home Affairs, Law and Justice and the Women and Child Development in New Delhi and the TN State Chief secretary to direct all the ministries/departments and offices to create a column to write the names of the mothers in addition to the names of the fathers in all forms, certificates, applications and licenses. It should be made mandatory to furnish the mothers’ names in addition to the fathers names in all deeds, affidavits, government, education, courts and official documents, applications, certificates and Licenses too, petitioner said.
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A total of 136 hoardings and 443 flex boards were removed across Chennai by the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) on Monday as a part of the civic body’s poster removal campaign.
Here are the details:
North Chennai
Central Chennai
South Chennai
Though payment of compensation cannot restore the lost lives, it will certainly serve as a balm to the pained hearts, the Madras High Court observed on Monday and directed the authorities to disburse a total sum of Rs. 25.31 lakh between the parents of two families, whose minor sons had drowned in an abandoned quarry in Vellore district in 2017.
Justice R Mahadevan, who issued the directive, also told the Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary to issue appropriate instructions, as are necessary, to the district Collectors and other authorities in the state to ensure that after the expiry of the lease period, the lease holders must fence the site and provide other safety parameters so that no such untoward incident will recur.
The judge was allowing two writ petitions from the parents praying for a direction to the government to pay Rs 25 lakh each for the death of their sons at an abandoned government quarry in Pallikuppam village in Anaicut taluk, Vellore district on May 15, 2017.
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A special committee would be set up to look into registration of fake documents in the past and based on its report, action under criminal law would be taken against those responsible, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P Moorthy announced on Monday in the Assembly.
Making announcements on fresh initiatives for his department for 2021-22, Moorthy said the proposed panel would make a comprehensive study of lapses during the past in the Department of Registration. It would identify areas that led to a loss of revenue to the government and those related to registration of fake documents, and submit its report to the government.
Based on the report, lapses would be set right and action, including under criminal law, shall be taken against those responsible, he added.
The initiative would entail a non-recurring expenditure of Rs 80 lakh during 2021-22 and a recurring expenditure of Rs 2.20 crore per annum, he noted. (PTI)
The schedule for election to the rural local bodies in nine districts including Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu would be announced soon, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission said in Chennai on Monday.
During deliberations with representatives of recognised political parties in Chennai on Monday, the panel said it apprised them that the electoral rolls for rural civic bodies have been prepared on the basis of Election Commission’s current Assembly segment-wise data.
Opinions of parties would be considered and in line with its undertaking in the Supreme Court, the poll schedule for such districts would be announced soon and this was conveyed to the party representatives, the TNSEC said in an official release.
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This year too, the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department will take care of the idols kept in small temples and at doorsteps after poojas at homes for disposal, the Madras High Court was informed on Monday.
Advocate-General (AG) R Shanmugasundaram said this when a PIL from advocate K Gopinath of Tiruppur, also president of Hindu Munnetra Kazhagam, came up on Monday.
In view of the Covid-19 pandemic situation, the government has banned public celebrations of Vinayaka Chaturthi or immersion of the idols in water bodies after taking them in procession.
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In a step that would benefit thousands of salespersons working in textile, jewellery and other commercial establishments across the state, the Tamil Nadu government Monday tabled a Bill in the state Legislative Assembly seeking to provide mandatory seating facilities for them during working hours.
State Minister for Labour and Skill Development CV Ganesan introduced the Bill seeking an amendment to the Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 by adding a sub-section that makes it mandatory for establishments to provide seating facility to all employees.
Noting that staff members are often made to stand throughout their duty hours which triggers several health issues, the proposed Section 22-A of the Act reads, “The premises of every establishment shall have suitable seating arrangements for all employees so that they may take advantage of any opportunity to sit which may occur in the course of their work and thereby avoid (being) on their toes… throughout the working hours.”
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Tamil Nadu Minister for Medical and Family Welfare Ma Subramanian Monday said the government will hold 10,000 vaccination camps on September 12 to inoculate 12 lakh people. Briefing reporters after inspecting a camp in Chennai, he said additional vaccination camps will be held in nine districts bordering Kerala.
"On September 12, we plan to conduct 10,000 camps. Though they are to be held in all the 38 districts, officials are advised to organise additional camps in the nine districts," he said.
During his visit to New Delhi recently, Subramanian said he had requested Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandviya to allot additional doses for all the residents of the nine districts that border Kerala which was seeing high infection rate. Subramanian said based on the request, the Centre released 19,22,080 vaccines on Sunday. "Till date, we have vaccinated 3,53,93,780 people. The vaccination commenced on January 16. On Saturday, 6.20 lakh people got the jab on a single day," he said.
Subramanian said the health department has infrastructure for the 10,000 camps and asked the teaching fraternity to assist healthcare workers. "Teachers, too, should create awareness and ask members of the public to get vaccinated," he said. (PTI)
The recent Madras High Court order, directing the police to refrain from harassing LGBTQIA+ activists, NGO and members of the community has set yet another milestone for the court and members of the queer community, say activists in Tamil Nadu.
Last week, the Madras High Court became the first court in the country to pass an order asking that a specific clause be added in the Police Conduct Rules providing that any harassment by them to the persons belonging to the LGBTQ+ community and/or to the activists and NGO workers, will be treated as misconduct and will entail punishment for the same.
The directive has been welcomed by activists and members of the LGBTQIA+ community in Chennai, who all heaped praises on Justice N Anand Venkatesh. The same judge had scripted history in June this year, when he had passed an order banning conversion therapy in the state.
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Tamil Nadu recorded 1,556 positive cases of Covid-19 on Monday, bringing the state tally to 26,24,234. Among these, Chennai reported 169 positive cases, bringing the city’s total to 5,45,158. The state recorded 18 deaths on Monday, putting the state toll at 35,036. 17 of them had succumbed due to comorbidities. A total of 1,564 patients were discharged following treatment, taking the total number of recoveries to 25,72,942.
As of Monday, the number of active Covid-19 cases in Tamil Nadu is 16,256. Till date, 15,32,198 males, 10,91,998 females and 38 transgenders have tested positive for the virus in the state.
According to a bulletin released by the Health and Family Welfare Department of Tamil Nadu, 4,32,72,865 samples from the state have been tested till date, with 1,55,609 samples having been sent yesterday. There are 290 Covid-19 testing facilities in the state, out of which 69 are government and 221 are private facilities.
Vanakkam Chennai!
Welcome to today’s live blog. We bring to you the latest news on Covid-19, politics, features, entertainment, sports, weather, art and culture from across Chennai and Tamil Nadu. Follow our live blog and @ie_chennai to stay up to date with what’s happening in the state.
The schedule for election to the rural local bodies in nine districts including Kanchipuram and Chengalpattu would be announced soon, the Tamil Nadu State Election Commission said here on Monday.
During deliberations with representatives of recognised political parties here on Monday, the panel said it apprised them that the electoral rolls for rural civic bodies have been prepared on the basis of Election Commission's current Assembly segment-wise data.
Opinions of parties would be considered and in line with its undertaking in the Supreme Court, the poll schedule for such districts would be announced soon and this was conveyed to the party representatives, the TNSEC said in an official release.
The meet was chaired by TNSEC chief V Palanikumar and representatives of the ruling DMK, main opposition AIADMK, Congress, BJP, the Left parties participated besides others. (PTI)
A special committee would be set up to look into registration of fake documents in the past and based on its report, action under criminal law would be taken against those responsible, Minister for Commercial Taxes and Registration P Moorthy announced on Monday in the Assembly.
Making announcements on fresh initiatives for his department for 2021-22, Moorthy said the proposed panel would make a comprehensive study of lapses during the past in the Department of Registration.
It would identify areas that led to a loss of revenue to the government and those related to registration of fake documents, and submit its report to the government.
Based on the report, lapses would be set right and action, including under criminal law, shall be taken against those responsible, he added. (PTI)
A Bill was introduced in the Tamil Nadu Assembly on Monday to ensure arrangements like a chair to sit for those employed in shops and other establishments.
The statement of objects and reasons for the Bill said that persons employed in shops and establishments are made to stand throughout their duty time resulting in varied health issues.
"Considering the plight of the employees who are on their toes throughout their duty time, it is felt necessary to provide seating facility to all the employees of the shops and establishments."
The subject of providing seating facility to employees was placed in the State Labour Advisory Board Meeting held on September 4 and the same was unanimously approved by the Board members and the government has come up with the Bill to give effect to the decision. (PTI)
Tamil Nadu reported 1,556 new covid cases, 1,564 recoveries, and 18 deaths today. With today's numbers, the state's total active toll has reached 16,256. While Coimbatore registered the highest number of cases with 206 people testing positive, Chennai saw 169 cases.
Three students of a government higher secondary school in Coimbatore district tested positive for Covid-19 on Monday though they showed no symptoms, said sources in the Department of Health. After sending the students to a hospital, the department disinfected the school premises to prevent further spread of the infection and declared a holiday for the institution, they said.
Sri Lankan woman who allegedly made an illegal bid to cross over to that country from here was held here on Monday, police said.
According to PTI, she had arrived in India in 2018 on a tourist visa and had stayed back after meeting with her relatives in Chennai, police said. Upon expiry of her visa, she had decided to take the sea route to return to Sri Lanka through illegal means and had arranged for a boat from there, which subsequently did not arrive. Later, she took a boat from here to travel to Sri Lanka but was dropped mid-way and was spotted by a patrol team of the Marine Police which rescued her and brought her here for further interrogation, police added
In a step that would benefit thousands the sales persons working in textile, jewellery and other commercial establishments across the state, the Tamil Nadu Government Monday tabled a bill in the state legislative assembly making it mandatory for establishments to provide seating facility to all the employees.
State Minister for Labour and Skill Development, CV Ganesan, introduced the bill seeking an amendment to Tamil Nadu Shops and Establishments Act, 1947 by adding a sub-section to provide the staff seating facility in their work premises.
The Greater Chennai police have denied public entry to take part in the car procession of the annual festival at Our Lady of Good Health Churches in Chennai’s Besant Nagar. Similar celebrations would also take place at the Annai Velankanni Church in Velankanni, Nagapattinam district. The 49th flag hoisting ceremony commenced on August 29 with a special prayer that was attended by a maximum of 60 people in view of the Covid-19 restrictions. According to the release by the city police, devotees have been instructed to watch the festival on tv and through other social media platforms and not to visit the Besant Nagar beach on September 7. Public entry has been denied for Tiruvanmiyur beach as well. All shops around the church and near the beach have been instructed to shut down till September 8.
The Tamil Nadu government has decided to celebrate every year the birth anniversary of reformist leader E V Ramasamy Periyar on September 17 as "Social Justice Day," Chief Minister M K Stalin announced in the Assembly on Monday.
Periyar's ideology was all about social justice, self-respect, rationalism and equality, which laid the foundation stone for the Tamil society's growth during the last century and it would also pave the way for the future, Stalin said.
Hence, the government has decided to celebrate the leader's birth anniversary every year to serve as a symbolic reinforcement of his egalitarian principles, the Chief Minister said amid thumping of benches.
On that day every year, employees in all government offices including the State Secretariat would take pledges to follow values based on such lofty ideals which includes, brotherhood, equality, self-respect and rationalism, he said. (PTI)
The Greater Chennai Corporation Saturday opened 24×7 vaccination centres in all the 15 zones of the city. Minister for Municipal Administration and Water Supply KN Nehru inaugurated the camp at Urban Community Health Centre in Adyar.
The initiative comes after the state health department had opened such 24×7 centres in 55 medical college hospitals across Tamil Nadu. The first of these centres was opened at the DMS complex in Chennai. Read more
A total of 42,45,359 people have been vaccinated in Chennai till date, with 40,234 people inoculated on Sunday alone, according to the Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC).
Four final-year engineering students and a friend who accompanied them died Sunday after their Innova car grazed a truck before ramming into a parked trailer laden with iron rods around 2 am on GST Road near Perungalthur in Chennai.
The deceased, all in their early twenties, have been identified as Raja Harish, Naveen, Ajay, Rahul and Aravind Shankar. Naveen was driving the car. The others had recently completed a course at Hindustan University in the city. While Aravind hails from Chennai, the rest were reportedly from other districts.
Deputy Commissioner of Traffic (South) N Kumar said the youths were in Chennai for a job interview. “Two of them had their campus interview today (Monday). They had taken a room near East Coast Road and had visited some places in the city over the weekend. The accident happened on Sunday when they went for a ride,” he said.
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Puducherry Lieutenant Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan interacted with health workers at Chennai's Ashok Nagar enroute Puducherry.
The Greater Chennai Corporation (GCC) has said that 52,094 saplings have been planted till Sunday as a part of the civic body's tree plantation drive in the city. Of these, 67 were planted on Sunday alone.
Here are the details:
North Chennai - 27
Central Chennai - 40
Petrol and diesel prices remained unchanged across the country on Monday, September 6, 2021, a day after they were cut for the second time this month. On Sunday, petrol and diesel prices were cut by 15 paise per litre each in the national capital.
In Chennai, petrol is priced at Rs. 98.96 per litre and diesel costs Rs. 93.26 per litre.
Senior Congress leader and former Puducherry chief minister V Narayanasamy on Saturday urged Lt Governor Tamilisai Soundararajan to reconsider her decision to allow installation of Lord Ganesha idols in public places during Vinayaka Chaturthi.
In a video message, Narayanasamy said Covid cases would rise again if people gathered in public places.
“The Tamil Nadu government has already banned installing the idols in public places and also taking out processions on the occasion of the festival. The Puducherry government should also emulate this and the Lt governor should reconsider her announcement on permitting idols in public places,” he said.
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The owner and driver of a jeep were arrested on the charge of taking four tourists illegally on a night safari in the Singara forest range in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, forest officials said on Sunday.
They were arrested and produced before a Magistrate who remanded them in judicial custody, the officials said adding that the vehicle was seized.
The tourists belong to Coimbatore. (PTI)