Regional

By Arun Lakshman
Chennai, Sep 17 (IANS) The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET), the all-India examination for admission to MBBS and allied courses, is turning into a reason for committing suicide in Tamil Nadu. Ever since NEET was introduced in the country, there was stiff objection in Tamil Nadu and students protested against its implementation.


The protest turned violent when a Dalit student, Anitha from Ariyalur in Tamil Nadu committed suicide in 2017 after she failed to crack NEET even after securing good marks in the Class 12 examination. The death of Anitha turned into a major political issue in Tamil Nadu on whether the state required NEET or it could revert back to the old system of admission to medical colleges in the state through the marks in the qualifying examination.

Since Anitha committed suicide, the number of students committing suicide has been on the rise with 12 students taking their lives after failing to clear NEET.

In 2018 and 2019 also two students committed suicide after the results of NEET came out. According to data available with the state crime records bureau, the majority of students who have committed suicide were aspirants who were appearing for the exam for the second or third time.

The year 2020 also saw two students committing suicide in the state but the year 2021 led to the death of twelve students. The Tamil Nadu government moved a bill in the state legislative assembly against NEET and the assembly passed the bill unanimously that the state does not want NEET for admission to MBBS and allied courses. The BJP legislators however walked out of the assembly.

The bill was sent for Presidential assent after the Tamil Nadu governor kept it for a few months and later forwarded it to the President.

In 2022, when the NEET results came out, a 19-year-old girl, Lakshmana Swetha from Tirumullavayal in Chennai committed suicide after she failed to clear the NEET. Her mother told police that the girl was found hanging in her room.

The Tamil Nadu government has set up a counselling centre for NEET aspirants and even before the results are out, counsellors speak to the students who have taken the exam.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 17 (IANS) Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday alleged that communal forces who had no role in the integration of Hyderabad State into Indian Union are trying to divide Telangana society by spreading hatred.

Without naming the BJP, he said the disruptive elements were trying to distort Telangana's history by giving it a communal colour for their narrow political interests.

The Chief Minister was addressing the 'Telangana National Integration Day' celebrations organised to mark accession of erstwhile Hyderabad State with the Indian Union.

He said certain divisive forces who had nothing to do with history and developments of the past are trying to pollute the bright history of Telangana and derail its development with petty politics.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, hoisted the tricolour and addressed the gathering at Public Gardens a couple of hours after Union Home Minister Amit Shah unfurled the national flag and reviewed a parade in the city at an event organised by the Union Culture Ministry.

While the Union government organised official celebrations as 'Hyderabad Liberation Day', the Telangana government celebrated the occasion as 'Telangana National Integration Day'.

Union Culture Minister G. Kishan Reddy had invited the Chief Ministers of Telangana, Karnataka, and Maharashtra for the celebrations. Maharashtra Chief Minister Eknath Shinde attended the celebrations while Karnataka was represented by its Transport Minister B. Sriramulu. KCR, however, stayed away and no one was present from the state government.

Hyderabad State, which comprised Telangana and parts of Maharashtra and Karnataka, acceded to the Indian Union on September 17, 1948 following India's military operation codenamed 'Operation Polo'.

KCR voiced concern over the attempts to spew venom and create communal divide in the country and in the peaceful and progressive state of Telangana.

He said that if religious fanaticism grows, it will destroy the very life of the nation and result in deterioration of human relationships. "For their narrow interests, they plant thorns in societal relations. They are spreading hatred among people with their venomous comments. This kind of division between people is in no way justified," he said

KCR cautioned people against the designs of the communal and divisive forces. He said people of Telangana should remain alert and foil the designs of those who want to create hatred.

Stressing the need for people to remain cautious, he said that Telangana itself is an example to understand how things would take a bad turn if the people are unmindful. "Telangana has lived a cursed life for 58 years due to a mistake that happened in the past," he said in an obvious reference to the merger of Telangana with then Andhra State to form Andhra Pradesh. He said that people had to sacrifice lives and languish in jails to achieve a separate state.

Stating that Telangana made all-round progress during the last eight years, KCR said some forces were trying to vitiate the peaceful environment in Telangana and create unrest in the state which is marching ahead on the path of progress and prosperity.

KCR, who earlier paid tributes at Telangana Martyrs' Memorial, recalled the sacrifices made by freedom fighters of Telangana. He said people unitedly fought against the autocratic rule to usher in democracy.

--IANS
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New Delhi, Sep 17 (IANS) The Andhra Pradesh government has moved the Supreme Court against the high court verdict declaring Amaravati as the only capital, in a bid to revive its plan to have three capitals.

The Andhra Pradesh government has filed the appeal in the apex court through advocate Mahfooz Nazki. On March 3 this year, the high court had directed that the state government should construct and develop Amaravati capital city and region within six months.

The state government was also directed by the high court to develop the reconstituted plots, which belonged to the farmers who gave away their lands for the capital city. The high court said the state government should provide drinking water, approach roads, electricity, drainage etc. within three months. The high court is likely to take up the matter in October.

The AP government, in its appeal, in the apex court said the issue had become infructuous since the impugned legislations had been repealed. It contended that under the federal structure of the Constitution, every state has an inherent right to determine where it should carry out its capital functions from. The state government further added that to hold that the state does not have the power to decide on its capital is violative of basic structure of the Constitution. And, the judgment is violative of doctrine of separation of powers since it preempts the legislature from taking up the issue, argued the AP government.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 (IANS) After a year of successful operation of the Kozhikode Breast milk bank, the Kerala health department on Saturday announced that similar banks will be set up at the Women and Children hospitals at Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

State Health Minister Veena George on Saturday after visiting the Kozhikode breast milk bank said this bank has been a huge succour to many mothers and kids.

The whole purpose of this state-of-the-art breast milk bank is to promote breast feeding and to give all the support to kids and new mothers. The Kozhikode breast milk bank since its opening a year back has so far helped 1,813 kids with 1,397 mothers donating breast milk to the bank. So far 1,26,225 ml of breast milk has been collected and 1,16,315 ml has been distributed," said George.

This bank provides collected milk to the needy babies, after all the mandatory tests are conducted at the state of the art laboratory attached to the Kozhikode Medical College hospital.

George said similar banks will very soon open at Thiruvananthapuram and Thrissur.

--IANS
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Kolkata, Sep 17 (IANS) An explosion took place on the roof of a school in West Bengal's Titagarh on Saturday while classes were on, but there were no injuries.

At around 1 p.m., the teachers and the students of the Titagarh Free India High School heard a massive explosion, prompting them to rush out of the building. They also witnessed smoke from the roof.

The Barrackpore City Police, under which Titagarh comes, were informed and senior officials immediately reached the spot.

Bomb splinters were recovered from the roof.

The police are yet to ascertain whether the blast was from a bomb stocked on the roof or if anyone hurdled bomb an explosive from outside.

"Fortunately, the explosion took place on the roof of the school building and hence no one was injured. Had the explosion taken place anywhere else within the school premises, there would have been major casualties," said an officer of the Barrackpore City Police.

Meanwhile, political mud-slinging has started between the ruling Trinamool Congress and the opposition BJP over the incident.

"Crude bomb and unauthorised arms are the only industrial sectors flourishing in West Bengal. A reign of terror has been established in the entire state by the ruling party," said BJP Lok Sabha member Locket Chatterjee.

The local MP from Barrackpore Lok Sabha constituency, Arjun Singh, who recently joined Trinamool Congress from BJP, said that the BJP leaders do not miss a single opportunity to malign the state and the state government.

"However, I condemn the incident since a major mishap could have happened. I would request the new commissioner of Barrackpore City Police, Ajay Kumar Thakur to handle the matter seriously, identify those behind this explosion and arrange for their punishment," Singh said.

--IANS
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Kalaburagi, (Karnataka) Sep 17 (IANS) Kalyan Karnataka region popularly known as the Hyderabad-Karnataka region celebrated Amrit Mahotsav on Saturday with fervour and geity.

The region attained freedom one-year after rest of the country attained Independence from the British.

A part of former kingdom of Hyderabad-ruled by Nizams, the region includes Bidar, Yadgir, Raichur, Koppal and Kalaburagi. The people of the region were subjected to unheard brutality when they raised banner of revolt against the Nizams and fought to unite into Indian nation.

Finally, the Indian Army marched into the territory ending the monarch of the Nizams. The land which attained freedom with lot of bloodshed, remains backward region totally neglected by successive governments.

Though, top leader ls such as Rajya Sabha Opposition leader Mallikarjun Kharge emerged as major player in state politics, not enough has been done to raise the standards of the region in terms of infrastructure and standard of living. Most of the districts are among most backward in the state.

Speaking after hoisting the flag on the occasion of Amrit Mahotsav of Kalyana Karnataka here on Saturday, Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai announced that existing Bidar-Ballari road will be made as four-lane Express Highway.

He said the proposed express highway will play a vital role in improving the road connectivity in Kalyana Karnataka region.

Steps have been initiated to build the airports in Raichur and Ballari. With the assistance from Central Government, a ring road has been proposed covering Yadgir, Raichur and Kalaburgi.

Bommai said more encouragement is given to set up industries in this region. The Union Government has decided to set up a textile park in Kalaburgi, and the state government has resolved to establish textile parks in Raichur and Vijayapura.

The CM opined that politicians must forget and work if they wanted for the overall development of this region.

The BJP government has given Rs 100 crore and has resolved to make Kalaburgi City like an international city by providing WIFI connect, cable connect and other advanced facilities, he said.

At a time when the whole of Karnataka is progressing, the historically backward Kalyana Karnataka must grow just like the rest of state. Through Kalyana Karnataka, Nava Karnataka and Nava Bharath must develop, he added.

--IANS
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Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 17 (IANS) The Congress in Kerala on Saturday demanded immediate intervention of the Prime Minister or the President in the ongoing tiff between State Governor Arif Mohammed Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

State Congress president K.Sudhakaran told the media in Alappuzha that all levels of decency has been breached in the war of words between the two 'heads' of the state.

"Things have reached a low and all what we hear is the tiff between the two is akin to two groups of youth taking on each other. It's high time that either the president or the prime minister intervened. Also the point raised by the Governor that there has been a threat to his life has to be taken very seriously," said Sudhakaran.

Khan has been taking on the Vijayan government and his party frequently, but it was on Friday night for the first time that Vijayan broke his silence and slammed Khan saying that his utterances does not befit the post he holds terming it "nonsense".

Backing Vijayan was CPI-M state secretary M.V.Govindan who slammed Khan and said he is deeply upset because he was expecting "something" which he did not get and hence was upset.

"It's now being doubted by many if Khan is functioning according to the rule book. He is taking cover under the media and uttering things which he should not. Now he says his life came under threat at the Indian History Congress in the company of renowned historian Irfan Habib who conspired,is really not tenable," said Govindan.

Left Democratic Front convenor and veteran CPI-M leader E.P.Jayarajan said the post of the Governor should be abolished.

"Vijayan is one Communists who calls a spade a spade and always tells things on the face. He is not one who plays behind the curtain. So Khan stops engaging in things which lowers his status," said Jayarajan.

However, coming to Khan's defence was BJP Union Minister of State for External Affairs V.Muraleedharan who said there is no point in Vijayan trying to air threats against Khan.

"If he does it, then he doesn't know who Khan is. Khan is just taking forward the policy of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's fight against corruption. Vijayan can do all such acts in his party committee's and it would be best if he keeps Raj Bhavan out," said Muraleedharan.

--IANS
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Hyderabad, Sep 17 (IANS) A TRS leader's car was vandalised allegedly by security personnel after it allegedly blocked the path of Union Home Minister Amit Shah's convoy here on Saturday.

The incident, seen as a security lapse, occurred near a hotel in Begumpet when the Union Minister was returning to the hotel after attending Hyderabad Liberation Day celebrations at Parade Grounds in Secunderabad.

The TRS leader, Gosula Srinivas Yadav, was driving the car. It was allegedly vandalized by some security personnel.

He said that the car had stopped just like that and that it was not a deliberate action. He said before he could move the vehicle, its rear windshield was smashed. He said he would speak to the police officers about the incident.

Pictures of the TRS leader sitting in the car and the damaged glass went viral on social media.

Reacting to the incident, BJP MP K. Laxman held the TRS government responsible for it. He wondered if there was a lapse in the security of the country's home minister, how the state government would protect others.

The MP recalled that a similar incident had happened during the recent visit by Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma.

A TRS leader had confronted Sarma and tried to dislodge the mike when the latter was addressing Ganesh immersion procession in the city on September 9.

During his visit to Hyderabad on Saturday, Amit Shah hoisted the national flag and reviewed the parade by central paramilitary forces at the event organised by the union culture ministry to mark erstwhile Hyderabad State's accession to India.

Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar skipped the event as the state government is celebrating September 17 as national unity day.

He hoisted the national flag at a programme organised by the state government.

--IANS
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By Venkatachari Jagannathan
Chennai, Sep 17 (IANS) The Telangana High Court has issued a notice to the Institute of Actuaries of India (IAI), The President of IAI and the Department of Financial Services on a writ petition filed by K. Subrahmanyam, retired Executive Director, Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI).



"The Telangana High Court has issued notice on Friday to IAI, Department of Financial Services and The President of IAI on a petition filed by me," Subrahmanyam told IANS.

He had filed the petition in connection with retiring four members of IAI's managing council before AGM, which in turn had reduced the Council's size to eight which is below the statutory minimum of nine.

The IAI is a statutory body created by an Act of Parliament to govern the actuarial profession.

Subrahmanyam has approached the court for an order setting aside the retirement of four IAI Managing Council members ahead of the AGM and directing the Department of Financial Services to restore the Council to its earlier position.

He has also petitioned the court to direct the Department of Financial Services to take action against AIAI President Subhendu Kumar Bal for holding the Council meeting on 10.9.2022 breaching Section 12(2)(a) of the Actuaries Act, 2006 and also set aside the notice of AGM to be held on 17.9.2022.

Subrahmanyam had told IANS that on the orders of Bal, the Executive Director Mohan Bhatia, on September 3, informed four Council Members - Abhay Tewari, K. Subrahmanyam, Pravir Chandra, and Richard Holloway - over a terse email on that they would retire from September 4.

"If the Council does not meet the requirement of Section 12(2)(a) of The Actuaries Act, it cannot do any function assigned to it under Section 13 - calling of the AGM - and other sections, as it stands dissolved," Subrahmanyam, had told IANS.

The first Chairman of IRDAI N.Rangachary told IANS that IAI was formed as a statutory body on the lines of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India so that the profession grows well and serves the insurance and other sectors.

Prior to the formation of IAI, the actuary profession was governed by Actuarial Society of India (ASI).

(Venkatachari Jagannathan can be reached at v.jagannathan@ians.in)

--IANS
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Panaji, Sep 17 (IANS) Goa Chief Minister Pramod Sawant on Saturday urged youngsters to participate in the 'No to Drugs' drive in an effort to help eradicate the drug menace and make the coastal state the country's tourism capital.

Sawant made the remarks here while addressing the 'Clean Coast, Safe Sea' programme on the occasion of International Coastal Clean Up Day.

"The Anti Narcotics Cell and police are working on it. Even youngsters should participate and show that Goa is a safe destination for everyone from around the world," he said.

"Goa is a state of Sun, Sand and Sea, which attracts tourists from all over the world. We should pledge to continue working with unity for a better, safe and sustainable future."

The Chief Minister went on to say that the people of Goa have made good use of the 104 km-long beach stretch for tourism and blue economy, adding: "We need to pass it on to the next generation."

He said that several tourists visit the beaches of Goa and hence there is a need to keep these areas clean and safe.

"There is a need for such awareness for 365 days. Goan beaches attract tourists from around the world."

Speaking about the drug menace taking place on beaches, Sawant said that 'No to drugs' initiative will be implemented all through the year.

"Goa should become the capital of tourism in India, we are trying for it."

--IANS
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