TN This Week: COVID-19 Restrictions Eased, Schools set to Reopen on Nov 1

Considering the dip in COVID-19 cases in the state, the DMK government has eased the restrictions with schools set to open and places of worship accessible all days of the week ahead of Diwali. Tamil Nadu added 1,245 new cases and 16 more deaths on October 15.

With Diwali round the corner, chief minister MK Stalin wrote to his counterparts in other states urging them to reconsider the blanket ban on firecrackers. The firecracker industry is concentrated in Tamil Nadu’s Sivakasi district, where eight lakh workers are dependent on the industry.

Meanwhile, Stalin, who visited the Raj Bhavan on October 13, is said to have persuaded the governor to get the President’s nod for Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021, which seeks to do away with the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Many districts in southern and western Tamil Nadu received heavy rainfall with thunderstorms this week while northern and central districts received moderate rains. The same weather is said to prevail over the next couple of days as the low-pressure area over Southeast Arabian sea off Kerala coast is expected to move inland. The impact of these rains on agriculture and other sectors is yet unknown.

COVID-19: SCHOOLS TO OPEN FOR ALL CLASSES 

In a big move towards easing the COVID-19 protocols, Stalin announced that playschools, kindergarten classes and Anganwadis would reopen from November 1. Two weeks ago, the state had allowed students of classes I to IX to start attending schools beginning from the same date.

Stalin also announced that all places of worship would be open on all days of the week, and shops and hotels will operate till 11 pm with effect from October 14.

When the BJP held protests demanding that temples should remain open on weekends as well, the state government said that the party should provide a circular from the Centre permitting huge gatherings at public places. Although no such permission was granted by the Centre, the state eased COVID-19 restrictions at places of worship.

Nearly, 22.50 lakh people received their first dose at the fifth mega vaccination camp held last Sunday. Only 11.02 lakh persons received their second dose due to vaccine shortage and 25,00,000 people still await the first jab With the rise in demand, vaccine frauds have also shot up.

POLICE USE FORCE ON PROTESTING FARMERS 

The police allegedly used force against farmers protesting on behalf of the United Farmers Front in Mayiladuthurai on October 16 and detained more than 200 protesters. All India Kisan Sabha (AIKS) district secretary S Durairaj was severely injured was hospitalised.

AIKS state secretary Shanmugam said, “BJP members have provoked this brutal attack. I insist the Tamil Nadu government take action against the policemen involved.”

BIG WIN FOR DMK IN LOCAL BODY POLLS

The DMK-led ruling front swept the rural local body elections held in nine districts this week. Although the results are yet to be officially declared by the state Election Commission, the DMK secured 89.54% of the seats in the district council while the opposition AIADMK bagged 1.31%. The Congress managed to secure only 5.23% of all district council seats. Read more

‘SEXUAL ASSAULT’ ON SANITATION WORKER

A 28-year-old sanitary contract worker in Chennai tried to commit suicide by consuming rat poison on October 11 after an alleged sexual assault by her supervisor. When she complained to the company, the victim was apparently threatened by her senior. 

The Red Flag Sanitation Workers Union, affiliated to CITU, has demanded from the Chennai Corporation and the Urbaser Sumeet company to take action against the supervisor and to ensure a safe workspace for women.

TENSE SITUATION AFTER DALIT MAN’S MURDER

A 23-year-old Dalit man was murdered in Kumbakonam Taluk last week for allegedly being in a relationship with an upper-caste Hindu girl. The kin of the deceased accepted the decomposed body of the man on October 15 after resisting for several days. They demanded that the police arrest the accused.

TNUEF Tanjore district leader Chinna Pandian said, “We have gathered testimonies against the third accused, whom the police are reluctant to arrest, and will submit it to the authorities. The situation was very tense last night with the Vanniyar community gathered to attack a Dalit locality.” Read more

UNIVERSITY WORKERS OCCUPY CAMPUS

Madurai MP Su Venkatesan addressing the protesting workers.

Around 350 consolidated wage employees at the Madurai Kamaraj University have occupied the campus demanding wage hike and job regularisation. The workers have sent their letter of demands to minister of higher education K Ponmudi and Virudhunagar MP Manikkam Tagore.

After holding several hunger strikes and sit-in protests over the past many years, the workers have declared an indefinite protest.