Marine ambulance system modelled around ‘108’ ambulances to be implemented, says Fisheries Minister
The Hindu
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THIRUVANANTHAPURAM The State Government is planning to launch a high-speed marine ambulance system modelled around the ‘108’ ambulances to ensure speedy response in accidents involving fishing boats, Fisheries Minister Saji Cherian told the Assembly on Friday. The existing marine ambulances are unable to carry out high-speed missions. The Government has held detailed discussions with the Coast Guard on the deployment of new high-speed marine ambulances. A permanent coastal rescue system with around 300 trained youths from the fishing community is also being considered, said the Minister.
M.Vincent, MLA, said that the three marine ambulances bought after Cyclone Ockhi have been ineffective. The Minister said that the existing ambulances are not high-speed vessels, yet they have been used in 17 rescue efforts in Vizhinjam, 21 in Vypeen and four in Beypore.
Several principals of government and private schools in Delhi on Tuesday said the Directorate of Education (DoE) circular from a day earlier, directing schools to conduct classes in ‘hybrid’ mode, had caused confusion regarding day-to-day operations as they did not know how many students would return to school from Wednesday and how would teachers instruct in two modes — online and in person — at once. The DoE circular on Monday had also stated that the option to “exercise online mode of education, wherever available, shall vest with the students and their guardians”. Several schoolteachers also expressed confusion regarding the DoE order. A government schoolteacher said he was unsure of how to cope with the resumption of physical classes, given that the order directing government offices to ensure that 50% of the employees work from home is still in place. On Monday, the Commission for Air Quality Management in the National Capital Region and Adjoining Areas (CAQM) had, on the orders of the Supreme Court, directed schools in Delhi-NCR to shift classes to the hybrid mode, following which the DoE had issued the circular. The court had urged the Centre’s pollution watchdog to consider restarting physical classes due to many students missing out on the mid-day meals and lacking the necessary means to attend classes online. The CAQM had, on November 20, asked schools in Delhi-NCR to shift to the online mode of teaching.