Latest news with #SalemCorporation
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Schools reopen after summer holidays; ministers distribute books in Salem and Namakkal
Schools reopened after the summer holidays on Monday, and Tourism Minister R. Rajendran distributed books to students in Salem. All government, aided, and private schools in the Salem district reopened on Monday after the summer holidays. Teachers welcomed students back by distributing flowers and sweets. During a ceremony at the Fort Government Boys Higher Secondary School, Mr. Rajendran presented books and uniforms to 421 students, alongside District Collector R. Brindha Devi. Speaking to reporters, the Minister stated that Chief Minister M.K. Stalin was prioritising the education and health sectors through schemes like the Chief Minister's Breakfast Scheme, Pudhumai Penn, Tamil Pudhalvan, Illam Thedi Kalvi, Ennum Ezhuthum, etc. Additionally, model schools and smart classrooms have also been provided. Of the 1,640 government, government-aided and self-financing schools in the district catering to students in Class I to Class V, 67,700 students study in Tamil medium, while 31,906 study in English medium. Among the 350 schools serving students from Class VI to Class XII, 1.16 lakh students study in Tamil medium, while 61,814 students study in English medium. A total of 6.36 lakh books have been distributed to Tamil-medium students, while 2.33 lakh books have been provided to English-medium students. Additionally, uniforms have begun to be distributed to 59,179 children aged two to five enrolled in 2,697 anganwadis. In the function, MLA R. Arul, Salem Corporation Mayor A. Ramachandran, Corporation Commissioner Elangovan, Chief Educational Officer (CEO) M. Kabir, and officials from concerned departments participated. Likewise, in Namakkal district, Adi Dravidar Welfare Minister Mathiventhan distributed books to students at the Government Higher Secondary School at Anna Salai in Rasipuram in the presence of District Collector S. Uma.
The Hindu
10-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Salem residents continue wait for Siddha Hospital in city limits
The establishment of a Siddha Hospital in Salem Corporation limits remains a dream, leaving over 10 lakh residents in Salem City without access to such a facility. Despite the presence of multiple urban primary health centres, government hospitals, and sub-health centres across the 60 wards of Salem Corporation, no Siddha hospital currently exists within the city. While allopathic medicine is predominantly used, alternative medicine—particularly Siddha—played a vital role in boosting immunity during the COVID-19 pandemic and outbreaks of chikungunya, residents said. Before 2018, the Kitchipalayam Corporation Hospital ran a Siddha Ward with a Siddha doctor. However, following the doctor's retirement, the ward has been functioning as a dispensary with only a pharmacist on duty to distribute Siddha medicines. No replacement doctor has been appointed in the past seven years. Currently, residents can only visit the Siddha doctor at the Kannankurichi upgraded primary health centre near Salem Corporation limits or at the Salem Government Hospital. Corporation officials stated that due to the new regulations, the corporation is unable to appoint a Siddha doctor. They mentioned that only existing vacancies can be filled, and no new positions can be created at this time. The Siddha ward in Kitchipalayam Corporation Hospital will continue to operate until the pharmacist retires. Additionally, the officials clarified that while the Siddha Department has the capability to establish a Siddha hospital, the corporation itself is unable to do so. Officials from the Siddha Department said that 60 Siddha doctors would be appointed across Tamil Nadu shortly. Steps to resolve the deadlock in Salem will be taken soon after consultations with the Corporation Commissioner, they assured.
The Hindu
09-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Salem Corporation fixes licence fees for spas, massage parlours and beauty parlours
The Salem Corporation has fixed the annual licence fee for spas, massage parlours and beauty parlours and instructed them to pay the fee or face stern action. The Tamil Nadu Urban Local Bodies Rules 2023, has provided guidelines to issue licences for spas, massage parlours and beauty parlours with partitions or rooms or saunas or bathing facilities. As per these rules, the facilities should not function without obtaining a licence issued by the Corporation Commissioner. The applicant of a spa or massage parlour should possess a degree from any recognised university in the following subjects: Bachelor of Physiotherapy with four years duration and six months compulsory internship; in Occupational Therapy or in Occupational Therapy; or Diploma in Physiotherapy with three years duration. Similarly, the Commissioner should inspect the place and issue a licence he/she is satisfied that all conditions of the rules are met. The licence issued shall be valid for a period of three years from the date of issue and may be renewed for a further period of three years. Based on these guidelines, the Salem Corporation has fixed the licence fee annually. The minimum fee for spa, massage parlour and beauty parlour functioning in a small space will be ₹.2,000 annually; outlets with medium space should pay ₹5,000; and those with large spaces should pay ₹15,000 annually. Corporation officials said that the civic body will issue licences only based on the no objection certificate issued by the city police. Till now, most of the spas or massage parlours have not obtained licences from the Corporation. Within the next 15 days, the Corporation will issue notice to these parlours to pay the licence fee. The licence certificates, along with trade licence certificates, should be displayed at the entrance of the parlours and the owners should install CCTV cameras at the entry and exit of the parlours and compulsorily maintain details of the customers. Stern action would be taken against the erring parlours, officials added.
The Hindu
04-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Doctor from Animal Husbandry Department to be part of ABC programme in Salem Corporation
A doctor from the Animal Husbandry Department will be part of the Animal Birth Control (ABC) programme, which was halted for three months, in Salem city. Salem Corporation has two ABC centres at Shevapet in the Suramangalam zone and Ponnammapet in the Ammapet zone. Four vehicles are used and 20 trained Corporation staff are involved in capturing stray dogs. The sterilisation of dogs was stopped in Salem Corporation during the COVID-19 pandemic. It resumed in 2022 and 750 to 1,100 dogs were sterilised through an animal welfare charity at the Ponnammapet ABC centre on Veeranam Main Road every month. The Corporation spent ₹1,650 per dog (₹200 for capturing and ₹1,450 for works related to sterilisation). The contract period with the charity ended on January 31 and following this, the ABC centres remained closed. Councillors raised this issue at the Corporation council meeting and demanded the Corporation to resume the sterilisation programme at the ABC centres. The Corporation, through the District Collector, asked the Animal Husbandry Department to allocate doctors to resume the ABC programme. Based on that, a doctor from the Animal Husbandry Department was allocated for the ABC programme. Corporation Commissioner M. Elangovan said the civic body would spend ₹1,000 per dog, including capturing the dog and providing required medicines. Within a week, the ABC programme would resume, he said.
The Hindu
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Salem Corporation deploys 700 DBC workers to fight dengue
The Salem Corporation has intensified anti-dengue measures, and Domestic Breeding Checkers (DBC) have been deployed on daily wages across four zones in the city. The Corporation has appointed one DBC worker per 300 houses as part of its anti-dengue measures to control Aedes mosquitoes, which involve identifying and destroying mosquito breeding sources and raising public awareness. A total of 700 DBC workers were initially appointed for a three-month period from 1 January to 31 March 2025 in four zones under the Corporation's jurisdiction. With the onset of summer rains and increased water storage by residents during the season, the risk of mosquito larvae breeding in containers has heightened. To counter this, the Corporation reappointed the workers for a further 89 days, from 1 April to 28 June. The 700 DBC workers are members of the women self-help workers and earn per day ₹550, including ₹473 as daily wage and ₹77 as Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Employees State Insurance (ESI). Corporation officials said 100 DBC workers each have been deployed Suramangalam, Hasthampatti, Ammapet, and Kondalampatti zones, besides 70 DBC workers (14 teams) each for the Suramangalam and Hasthampatti zones and 80 DBC workers (16 teams) each for the Kondalampatti and Ammapet zones for special duty as rapid team workers and to carry out anti-dengue measures at public places, commercial establishments, government offices, and disease hot spots. So the Corporation will spend ₹83.25 lakh each for Suramangalam and Hasthampatti zones and ₹88.11 lakh for Ammapet and Kondalampatti zones. The expenditure will be drawn from the general fund belonging to the concerned zone, officials added.
