Latest news with #C.RobertBruce
The Hindu
5 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli MP appeals to Minister to restore benefits of Anna University Regional Office staff
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has appealed to Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan to restore the suspended benefits to the non-teaching staff and the consolidated pay workers of Anna University's Tirunelveli Regional Office while regularising the services of the latter. In the memorandum submitted to the minister, Mr. Robert Bruce said 54 non-teaching staff working in the Anna University Constituent Colleges in Tirunelveli, Nagercoil and Thoothukudi, who were getting 6th Pay Commission Pay with all other benefits since 2008 are not given benefits like earned leave, medical leave, maternity leave, annual increment etc. since 2016 after the Anna Universities in Tirunelveli, Tiruchi and Coimbatore were annexed with Anna University, Chennai. Even though the Sheela Balakrishnan Committee had recommended in favour of continuing these benefits and their service registers were re-checked for reinstating these benefits, there is no further progress in this process. Hence, the suspended benefits should be given to them. The MP said 53 persons – 29 in Tirunelveli, 8 in Thoothukudi and 16 in Nagercoil - were working as sanitary workers, office assistants, junior assistants, technical assistants, assistant librarians and physical education trainers under then Anna University in 2011. After being posted as 'daily wage workers in 2011, they were given consolidated pay from 2012 with incentive. After the Anna University was annexed with Anna University, Chennai and the entity at Tirunelveli was rechristened as 'Anna University Regional Office' without regularising the services of the consolidated pay workers. To make things worse, they are being given break for 5 days after serving for 6 months and posted again after getting fresh applications from them so that they would not have any legal backing to claim rights for permanent post. Hence, the Minister should considering regularising their posts as most of them cannot go for any other work at this age, Mr. Robert Bruce said.
The Hindu
07-08-2025
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli MP seeks more stops for trains in Nagercoil-Tirunelveli section
Tirunelveli Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce of the Congress has appealed to Railway Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw to improve passenger amenities at four railway stations and provide stops for trains in Melapalayam, Nanguneri, Valliyoor, and Panagudi stations in Tirunelveli-Nagercoil section. The MP said in a memorandum that several trains, including Nagercoil-Comibatore Express Train, used to stop at Melapalayam and Kaavalkinaru on Nagercoil–Tirunelveli section prior to COVID-19 outbreak as patronage was good. After the lockdown was lifted, these trains did not have a stop at these stations causing hardship to passengers from the region. Hence, Kaavalkinaru, Melapalayam and Panagudi stations should be made a stop for trains, he said. Nanguneri, a connecting point for 64 villages with 2.25 lakh population, should be a stop for Kanniyakumari–Rameswaram and Madurai–Punalur Express. It would help devotees visiting Vaanamaamalai Perumal Temple, one among the 108 Sri Vaishnava 'Divyadesams', the MP said. The Kanniyakumari–Howrah, Nagercoil–Chennai Egmore Weekly, Punalur–Madurai, Thirukkural Super Fast, Nagercoil Junction–MGR Chennai Central Weekly Express should have a stop at Valliyoor, another major town in this section, he said. Mr. Bruce said the railway officials concerned should be instructed to improve passenger amenities in Melapalayam, Nanguneri, Valliyoor, and Kaavalkinaru stations as hundreds of passengers used them daily.
The Hindu
25-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Plea to rescue fishermen stranded in Iran
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has appealed to Minister for External Affairs S. Jaishankar to take immediate steps to rescue 33 fishermen from Idinthakarai village in the district who were now stranded in Iran. In a memorandum to the Minister, Mr. Robert Bruce said 33 fishermen from Idinthakarai were working in the mechanised boats of Iran for the past several months. After the Iran – Israel war, the families of these fishermen cannot contact their breadwinners and hence the families were worried. Hence, the Ministry of External Affairs should take immediate steps for ensuring their safe return to their native place, Mr. Robert Bruce said. The MP has also sent a similar appeal to the Ambassador of India to Iran at Tehran seeking his intervention in rescuing the stranded Idinthakarai fishermen.
The Hindu
30-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
MP's plea to give up plans to merge Anna University's Regional Office with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College
Member of Parliament C. Robert Bruce has appealed to the Minister for Higher Education Govi Chezhiaan not to merge the Anna University's Regional Office here with the Tirunelveli Government Engineering College considering the welfare of the rural students of this region and the teaching and non-teaching staff working there. In a memorandum submitted to the Minister recently, Mr. Bruce said the government was contemplating to merge the Anna University's Tirunelveli Regional Office, which is now offering five courses and Master of Business Administration programme to 393 students, with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College. Though late Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi established it as separate Anna University in 2007 for providing quality education to the rural students with low cut-off marks from southern State, it was later transformed into a 'Regional Office' of Anna University with its headquarters in Chennai by the AIADMK government. Moreover, the AIADMK government also scrapped the postgraduate and the Master of Computer Application courses offered by Anna University's Regional Office. Consequently, 185 students were denied the opportunity of doing their postgraduate programmes and MCA. If this Regional Office is merged with Tirunelveli Government Engineering College, it will badly affect the students being trained under the Chief Minister's 'Naan Mudhalvan' scheme. Moreover, the merger will also affect 70 non-teaching staff working in the Regional Office now. Above all, the 33 research guides of Anna University's Regional Office including 20 women will have to be transferred to some other colleges and it will deny the students, especially the women, hoping of doing their Ph.D. in Tirunelveli. Hence, the State government, should allow the Anna University's Regional Office to function here as separate entity and reintroduce the MCA and other postgraduate programmes, Mr. Bruce appealed.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Tirunelveli MP seeks introduction of additional overnight train to Chennai
C. Robert Bruce, MP, has appealed to the Southern Railway General Manager R.N. Singh to introduce a shadow Nellai Express train to connect Tirunelveli with Chennai as the existing service, which is serving the people for more than 50 years, has a heavy rush every day. Moreover, the MP has also reminded the General Manager of the earlier promise of extending the Bengaluru – Madurai Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli. In a petition submitted to Mr. Singh at the MPs meeting in Madurai on Thursday, Mr. Bruce said that due to unavailability of accommodation in Nellai Express, people are forced to travel in omni buses which collect a hefty fare. Hence, a second overnight train should be operated on the Tirunelveli -Chennai route. Moreover, the tri-weekly Shencottai – Tambaram and Nagercoil – Tambaram tri-weekly express trains should be operated every day as the existing train services operated from Nagercoil and Shencottai to Chennai are generating a huge revenue to Indian Railways with good occupancy. During his visit to Tirunelveli on September 20 last, the General Manager had promised to extend the Madurai – Bengaluru Vande Bharat Express to Tirunelveli, which is yet to be fulfilled. Besides the extension, this train should skip Tiruchi so as to enable the passengers to reach Bengaluru three hours in advance. Since the Tambaram – Tiruchi – Madurai – Tirunelveli – Nagercoil section has become fully electrified double line, the Tiruchi – Thiruvananthapuram Intercity Express may be extended to Tambaram with minor adjustments in timings and increased speed. The Ernakulam – Okha bi-weekly train should be extended to Tirunelveli or Thoothukudi via Shencottai for serving the passengers of Tenkasi, Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi districts. In the wake of consecration of Tiruchendur Lord Subramaniya Swami Temple to be held in July 2025, the Southern Railway should create more amenities in Tirunelveli and Tiruchendur railway stations besides operating additional trains of Kollam – Tiruchendur via Punalur, Shencottai and Tirunelveli; Thiruvananthapuram North to Tiruchendur via Nagercoil and Tirunelveli; Palani to Tiruchendur via Tirupparankundram; and Tiruttani to Tiruchendur via Villupuram, Swamimalai and Tirupparankundram. Weekly circular trains may be operated to connect all six abodes of Lord Muruga for the benefit of devotees. The Madurai – Punalur Express should be extended to Karaikal via Dindigul, Tiruchi, Thanjavur, Tiruvarur and Nagapattinam so that pilgrims from southern districts can easily reach Tirunallar Saneeswaran Temple, Velankanni Church and Nagore Dargah. The Thiruvananthapuram – Tirunelveli Train via Nagercoil, which was discontinued in mid-1980s, should be revived with revised timings. The Kanniyakumari – Chennai Central Express, which was operated via Katpadi, Jolarpet and Salem prior to gauge conversion, is now being operated via Tiruchi and Vriddhachalam. Hence, this train should be revived and the railways must upgrade the weekly Chennai Central – Nagercoil Express as a tri-weekly service via Madurai, Dindigul, Namakkal, Karur and Salem without touching Tiruchi. Since the air-conditioned buses being operated by the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation between Nagercoil and Tirunelveli enjoy 100% occupancy round-the-clock, MEMU services should be operated between Thiruvananthapuram and Tirunelveli via Nagercoil, the petition read.
