Boathouses to be revamped - Muttukad Boat house

Chennai: Though water sports have not taken off in a big way in the state, boating seems to be increasingly patronised by visitors, mostly families. Taking into account the increasing footfalls at the boating yards and also the heartwarming arrival of winged visitors, the Tamil Nadu Tourism Develo­pm­ent Corporation (TTDC) has plans to refurbish the Mut­tukadu and Mudaliark­up­pam boathouses.

In addition to offering bo­at rides, these boating yards are soon set to transform into bird-watching spots. The Pelicans characterised by long beak and large thr­oat pouch, have become regular visitors to the Mutt­u­kadu boathouse over the last four years and since last year the tall, pink wading birds with thick downturned bills – the Flam­ingos too have started frequenting this place.
The Flamingos’ slender le­gs, long, graceful necks and ability to fish grab the atte­ntion of onlookers.

These birds are prominently seen from November to February in a year and those taking a boat ride slyly slither towards the birds and settle down for a photo and video session. As bird-watching has become an added attraction here, the TTDC has proposed to establish a watch tower to facilitate the visitors to get a better view of the avian friends. A binocular is likely to be provided at the wat­chtowers.

Week-ends are the busiest days at the boating yards. On an average about 5,000 persons visit Muttukadu boathouse on Sundays and 2,000 on Saturdays. Besides about 800 to 1,000 persons visit the boathouse on a da­ily basis from 9 am to 6 pm, a senior TTDC official said.

Apart from refurbishing the existing facilities, the tourism corporation would take up a beautification drive also with the funds obtained from the Asian Development Bank. A parking lot, illumination, drinking water and sanitation facilities, among others, will also be provided in order to upgrade amenities.

BSNL waives installation charges

BSNL Chennai Telephones has waived installation charges for new connections booked under landline, broadband and combo plans.

The waiver amounts are Rs.250 for broadband, Rs 750 for urban landline, Rs.550 for rural landline, Rs.500 for urban combo plan and Rs.300 for rural combo plan. This concession is applicable only for customers booking under annual payment option, a press note said.

Booklet on insulin to be distributed

To create awareness among diabetics and medical practitioners about the right way of using insulin injections, a booklet on guidelines will soon be distributed in the city.

Addressing presspersons on Tuesday, C.R. Anand Moses, treasurer, Diabetes Association of India, said one-third of diabetes patients are insulin dependent. But several of them have psychological barriers against using insulin injections or do not know the right practices.

Awareness needed

A. Sundaram, advisory member of FIT India, and one of the authors of the booklet, said several people use wrong techniques and inject in the same place. They must rotate injection spots for effective blood sugar control.

The booklet provides detailed description on the use of insulin techniques. It is also available online atwww.fit4diabetes.com/ india, said A. Paneerselvam, DAI co-chairman.

Compiled by a team of 14 doctors, the booklet has been released by the Forum for Injection Technique India, an autonomous body formed to promote safe injection practices.

January is observed as insulin injection month as the first insulin injection was administered on January 11, 1922 in Canada.

Several diabetics have psychological barriers against using insulin injections or

do not know the right practices

Food business: no more extension of dates for registrations, licences

Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) has warned food business operators across the country that the deadline for obtaining licences and registration under Food Safety and Standards Act, 2006, will not be extended again.

When the Act was notified and implemented from August 5, 2011, businesses were given an initial deadline of a year to register.

It was extended from August 4, 2012 to February 4, 2013 and again to February 4 this year, R. Kathiravan, Designated Officer of Tamil Nadu Food Safety and Drug Administration Department (Food Safety Wing), told The Hinduhere on Tuesday.

Following this directive, food safety officials have launched an awareness campaign urging all food businesses ranging from road side eateries and canteens to star-category hotels and restaurants to either register or obtain licence.

The Act provides for imposing a fine of up to Rs. 5 lakh besides imprisonment up to six months on food businesses operating without licences.

The Designated Officer estimated that there must be around 22,000 food businesses in Coimbatore district. Till now, 2,658 food business operators have been issued licences and another 6,636 issued registrations, totalling 9,264.

Firms with annual turnover below Rs. 12 lakh will require registration and those above have to obtain licences.

“The process had been simplified and can be done completely online within a couple of hours. They can even post the documents to the Food Safety Office,” he said.

The benefit for consumers was that all licensed/registered food outlets and dealers will have had their kitchens and storehouses inspected by the officials at least once a year besides being subjected to random checks. They would also be trained on the proper storage of various food materials and identification of expiry dates in food product packs.

They would have legal responsibilities that would prevent them from selling adulterated and non-branded products, Dr. Kathiravan said.

Even anganwadi centres of Integrated Child Development Services, noon meal centres in Government schools and Amma Canteens must obtain licences/registration. All the 1,434 fair price shops in the district have already obtained licences.

The Food Safety Act mandated all food manufacturers, packers, distributors, importers, 100 per cent food export-oriented units, restaurants, canteens, transporters and food processors to get registered or obtain a licence.

The FSSAI was created under this Act as a statutory body under the Union Health Ministry to lay down science-based standards for food articles and regulating manufacturing, processing, distribution, sale and import of food.

In a month, meter autos for women, by women

City commuters have wholeheartedly welcomed autorickshaws running on meters. And now, there’s more good news.

Next month, over 100 autorickshaws, exclusively for women and driven by women, will be launched in the city by a private operator.

These vehicles will also be fitted with tabs that will telecast TV shows.

“It will be like TV on wheels. We want to ensure the safety of women and also keep them entertained during the commute,” said Mansoor Ali Khan, co-founder of Makkal Auto, which is behind the novel service.

The tabs will telecast daily soaps, reality shows and documentaries on successful women, said Mr. Khan, who had earlier co-founded Namma Auto — autorickshaws that ran on meters before the government enforced the rule.

The tabs in the women-only autorickshaws will have an emergency button, front and rear cameras and calling facility. “When the button is pressed, video footage of the crime or accident will be sent to a call centre, and a call will be made to the nearest police station,” said Mr. Khan.

Besides, the autorickshaws will have WiFi connections and printers.

The vehicles will operate on government-approved rates from 6 a.m. to 8.30 p.m.  

“GPS and panic buttons, announced by the State government, have failed to take off in the autorickshaws plying on city roads. But we have efficient technology from a Singapore firm to ensure help arrives when needed,” said Mr. Khan.

Women can contact a call-centre (66777777) for booking the autos. “We are also working on an app that will let them select an auto based on its driver details. The app will also enable a family member to track the journey of the passenger, particularly if she/he is old,” said Mr Khan.

In the initial phase, 100 women-only autos will be rolled out. “We are training another 400 women drivers who will be out on the road in the next three months,” said Mr. Khan.

They will also have tabs that will telecast TV shows

Organ donation gets tech savvy with mobile apps

A measure of how popular organ donation has become in the State and city is how it has entered the technology zone – personal technology, mobile phones and social media. 

It cannot be dismissed as mere coincidence that two mobile apps for organ donation have been launched this week in Chennai. Mohan Foundation’s e-donor app was launched on Sunday. Initially on the Android platform, and subsequently, on iOS, this app, gives you a notification that you are a donor after you have signed up to donate organs. Organs can be harvested in the event of brain death of the donor.

“Once you register, a red heart symbol will be displayed prominently on the mobile phone, indicating that you are a donor,” says Sunil Shroff of Mohan Foundation. That’s even better than wearing your heart on your sleeve – wearing it on your phone. 

Eventually, he says, a list of the hospitals where both eyes and other organs are harvested and transplanted will be available on the app, soon to be downloaded from the Apple and Google Play stores. 

Vasan Eye Care is now taking eye donation formally on to social media platforms. Anand Parthasarathy, medical director, Vasan Eye Care, says the idea is to make organ donation more popular.

Apart from the hospital’s website, there is now an option to log on to Facebook and pledge your corneas.

“There is a huge gap between demand and the number of corneas that are available today,” Dr. Parthasarthy explains. Taking the campaign onto FB will be the ideal way to take it to a larger young group that uses social media extensively, and may not be aware of organ donation yet.

Once someone pledges eyes online, the hospital will send a card to the donor.

When the eyes are ready to be donated, relatives can call the hotline: 044-43400000

Snake Bite - Go to GH

Though the number of snake bite cases treated by the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has come down drastically over the years, doctors say that awareness among public on such treatment is still less.

Speaking to News Today, Dr S Ragunanthanan, Professor of Medicine at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital, said that on average, the hospital sees three to five snake bite cases per day.

The hospital treated 445 cases in 2011, 534 in 2012 and 380 cases till October this year, he said.

There is adequate stock of anti-venom drug available in the hospital and good treatment is offered. So the public should not get panic if they have been bitten by a snake as 70 per cent snakes are non-venomous. Only 30 per cent are venomous, he added.

About snakes, Ragunanthanan said there are only four snakes (called as big snakes) that are commonly present in India, which are poisonous -  Common Krait (Kattuveriyan), Cobra (Nallapambu), Russel Viper (Kannadi Veriyan) and Saw Scale Viper (Suruttai Pambu). And also main poisonous snake is Hump Nosed Viper (Komberi Mookan).

Poisonous snakes might cause neurological problems, some of the symptoms being grooping of eye lids, difficulty in swallowing, speech and neck muscle weakness. It also can cause respiratory problem, paralyse the victim, he added.

Saying that 50 per cent people bring the snake that bit them to the doctor, he said this really would not help the treatment. So the patient need not get panic as the amount of venom injected into the body of a person involves other circumstances as well. For example the snake carries maximum venom only when it is on the hunt for prey. And post hunt, the venom is lost. So when the snake bit a person post hunt, it might turn as non-venoumous, he added.

Ragunanthanan further said that the victim should not cut the wound part using blade. Do not attempt to suck the blood. Do not tie rope on the attacked portion. Give rest to the patient as straining the body might spread the venom in blood fast. So the 'RIGHT' approach will help (that is, R-Reassurance, I- Immobolisation, GH- Go to Hospital and T-tell what has happened).

The doctors at the hospital will administer Poly Valent Anti-Snake injection, if the patient shows any symptoms of present of venom in the body. So there is nothing to worry, as it can be cured under the observation of a doctor in the hospital, he said.