Heavy rains prompt warnings and travel bans in many Kerala districts

Thiruvananthapuram: As rains lashed many parts of Kerala, authorities on Sunday urged people, particularly those living in hilly and coastal areas, to exercise vigil. The Meteorological Department has issued red alerts for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts for Sunday and Monday, and sounded orange alerts for four other districts, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam, Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Kerala on high alert: Heavy rains prompt warnings, travel bans in many districts

Thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds up to 40 km/h are expected in several districts. The Meteorological Department issued red alerts for Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, and Idukki districts, and orange alerts for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam. The Idukki District Collector has banned night travel in hilly areas, and mining activities have been halted in Ernakulam and Kottayam. The heavy downpour led to waterlogging in Thiruvananthapuram, disrupting normal life.

Eight arrested at Tiruchy airport for possessing passports using forged documents

TIRUCHY: The Airport police on Friday arrested and remanded in judicial custody eight passengers at Tiruchy international airport found in alleged possession of passports obtained using forged documents. Of the eight, six were about to board flights while the other two were detained by immigration authorities on arrival. All the eight have been remanded to the Central Prison in Tiruchy till May 30. The Airport police arrested A Arabi Mohammed (53), K Bose (53), K Abdul Rahim (52) and S Ruthira Pasupathy (60) all of whom hail from Ramanathapuram district, M Mariyappan (48) and N Shakul Ahamed(55) both from Tiruchy and A Arockiasamy (43) and S Mohammed (54) of Pudukkottai. Arabi Mohammed was detained while attempting to board a Sharjah-bound flight with a passport obtained by changing his name and address. Bose, who had landed from Kuala Lumpur, had altered his date of birth and fathers name. Mariyappan and Abdul Rahim were intercepted as they were about to board a Kuala Lumpur flight. Arockiasamy, caught before boarding a flight to Singapore, had forged his name and date of birth. Ruthira, Shakul Ahamed and Mohammeds passports had names and address altered. Flight to Bluru makes emergency landing in TN Tiruchy: An Air India Express flight heading to Bengaluru from Thiruvananthapuram with 143 passengers on board made an emergency landing at Tiruchy International Airport on Saturday following a technical snag. The flight (AXB934) departed from Thiruvananthapuram at 12.49 pm. The pilots detected a technical snag mid-air, following which the flight was diverted and made the emergency landing at Tiruchy at 1.40 pm, Airport Director P Subramani told TNIE. ENS

Death of APP: Sanctity of inquiry report comes under scanner

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Serious doubts have been raised about the way a fact-finding inquiry has been conducted on the suicide of Aneeshya S, assistant public prosecutor, Munsiff Magistrate Court Paravur, Kollam, and the allegations of ill-treatment she raised against her colleagues in her suicidal note. The director general of prosecution on January 23 ordered a fact-finding inquiry and deputed Sheeba K, deputy director of prosecution, as the inquiry officer. However, the family of Aneeshya and the Justice for Aneeshya Solidarity Committee which are demanding a CBI inquiry into the death have questioned the sanctity of the report. In reply to an RTI application, the Prosecution Directorate has revealed that no terms of reference were mentioned while ordering the fact-finding inquiry. And the RTI reply also revealed that No criteria were formed for recording statements from officials. It was the inquiry officer, acting on her logic, who decided to record the statements of officials in Kollam district. P E Usha who is associated with the solidarity committee, told TNIE that by not framing the terms and conditions of the inquiry, the basic right to justice has been denied. The director general of prosecution has deputed deputy director of prosecution for inquiry when one of the accused is also in the same rank. The inquiry officer recorded the statement only from Kollam while many of the officials with whom Aneeshya had shared her ill-treatment from higher authorities and colleagues were transferred to other districts. By avoiding them, the inquiry officer committed a grave mistake. The RTI reply revealed that no one had ever approached the inquiry officer voluntarily to give a statement, she said. I had sent an email from my official e-mail ID to the deputy director of prosecution, Sheeba, about my willingness to give a statement. But no reply came, Premnath, former deputy director of prosecution, Palakkad, told TNIE.The Justice for Aneeshya Solidarity Committee has alleged that the government has not taken a decision on the inquiry report but it was submitted before the High Court when the accused persons bail application was considered. In the RTI reply, it is clearly stated that the report has been submitted before the government for consideration. Then how could it be submitted before the court? It is also learned that the inquiry officer had gone through all the documents which she thought were proper. How could a fact-finding inquiry be done as per the whims and fancies of an individual? Usha asked. The Solidarity Committee on Friday met Governor Arif Muhammad Khan and submitted a representation seeking his intervention to order a CBI inquiry before evidence in the case is destroyed.

Devarajan Masters statue eclipsed by rolls of construction materials

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : At Manaveeyam Veedhi, the cultural hub of the city, stands the commemorative statue of G Devarajan, fondly known as Devarajan Master. However, this tribute to the celebrated composer is now barely visible behind huge rolls of construction pipes and other materials, thanks to the ongoing Smart City project. Once the construction works on Manaveeyam Road were completed, we thought that the materials would be removed. But its still here, covering Masters face. Such negligence towards an iconic figure is unacceptable. Either the statue must be relocated or the materials must be removed as soon as possible, said the artistic community of Manaveeyam. The communitys frustration is palpable, as they see this clutter as more than just a physical obstruction. They say it is a snub to a man who brought great cultural richness to the state. The pile of construction materials is not just an eyesore but a symbol of misplaced priorities, said Hari, a local artist. Smart City project officials have said that the materials will be cleared within a month. The Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society Ltd (ULCCS) is managing the Smart City project. A minor road cutting at Vazhuthacaud needs to be completed. After finishing the work at Manaveeyam Veedhi, the works are ongoing on the Vellayambalam road. All the work is expected to be concluded within a month. The materials stored on the road will be removed once the work is completed, said an official. As the Smart City project advances, the community hopes that the legacy of Devarajan Master will not be overshadowed by the development. They call for a balance between progress and preserving the cultural heritage that defines Manaveeyam Veedhi. The statue of Master is a reminder of the importance of honouring those who have influenced the cultural scene in the state. This respect should be reflected in the citys efforts towards development, added Hari. For years, Devarajan Square has been a focal point for many musical programmes held at Manaveeyam. The square is where annual events are held on the masters birth and death anniversaries, organised by the Devarajan Master Foundation.

Kerala: MSF secretary protests at meet chaired by edu min, held

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : MSF state secretary Noufal Kulappada, who staged a surprise protest at the meeting chaired by Education Minister V Sivankutty, was arrested by the police on Saturday. The minister had convened a meeting of youth organisations to discuss the arrangements for school reopening. Noufal waved a t-shirt at the minister, alleging a shortage of Plus-I seats in northern districts. The t-shirt bore the writings 45,530 seats are Malabars right and Malabar is in Kerala. Noufal stood up in protest immediately after the meeting began. As the minister criticised his act, members of organisations owing allegiance to the LDF forcefully took Noufal out of the hall. He then staged a sit-in protest outside the hall and was later arrested by the Cantonment Police. The minister later clarified that the government had sanctioned more seats in the northern region when compared to the previous year, adding that more seats cannot be sanctioned. Opposition parties, including the Muslim League, and various youth organisations had earlier criticised the government for the shortage of seats. The meeting was attended by office-bearers of different students and staff organisations. According to the opposition parties, the number of seats in the northern districts is inadequate to cater to the demand. Malappuram alone has a shortage of 14,000 seats.

Kerala: MP Premachandran denies role in withdrawal of 2013 Secretariat siege

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : A day after a slugfest on solar protest relating to the Secretariat siege in 2013 being called off abruptly hogged headlines, RSP leader N K Premachandran, who was then in the LDF camp, claimed that he had not held any intermediary role. Talking to reporters at RSP state headquarters in Thiruvananthapuram, Premachandran rubbished senior journalist John Mundakkayams revelations. Defending the efforts of the CPM leadership to stop the Secretariat siege, Premachandran maintained that it was quite natural of them to end the protest. He further said that this was the first time someone came forward claiming that there was some sort of a give and take on the siege. I was neither a part of any intermediary talks related to ending the solar protest nor was I entrusted to take such a role. The claims made by John Mundakkayam are baseless. When I was addressing the protesters, I got the intimation to reach AKG Centre to attend the LDF meeting as the RSP representative. By then, the LDF had taken the decision to call off the siege,, said Premachandran. Later, Premachandran along with Pinarayi Vijayan reached before the Secretariat and announced that the siege had been called off.

CM Pinarayi Vijayan returns to Kerala after 11-day foreign trip

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, accompanied by his family, has returned to the state after an 11-day private foreign trip. They landed at Thiruvananthapuram airport at 3 am on Saturday. Pinarayi was accompanied by his wife Kamalam and grandson, while his son-in-law and Minister P A Mohamed Riyas and wife Veena T are expected to return later. The CM and his family embarked on a private tour to Indonesia, UAE, and Singapore on May 6. The details of his foreign trip were kept confidential, with cabinet ministers informed at the last moment after securing approval from the Central government. In his final online cabinet meeting before departing, the CM informed ministers of his return date to be May 18 or 19.

Rise in attacks on TTEs raises security concerns in Kerala

KOZHIKODE: Attacks on travelling ticket examiners (TTEs) have become a daily occurrence in Kerala. Last Wednesday, two separate incidents of attacks on TTEs were reported. In Kozhikode, a man from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands was arrested for attacking a female TTE on the Mangalore-Chennai Mail train. On the same day, Manoj Varma from Uttar Pradesh and Shammi Raja from Thiruvananthapuram were attacked in Wadakkanchery on the Bengaluru-Kanyakumari Express. These repeated incidents are not only alarming but also raise serious concerns about the security provided to railway employees. According to railway data, there have been four reported attacks on TTEs in 2024. However, considering the frequent clashes between TTEs and passengers in Malabar region, the actual numbers could be much higher. Most of these attacks occur when TTEs question passengers who board reserved compartments with general tickets. Some of these clashes have resulted in serious injuries to TTEs and even fatalities. On April 2, 48-year-old TTE K Vinod was pushed to death from a moving train by a migrant worker. Vinods death caused significant panic among railway employees. Yet the attacks continue. On May 12, another TTE Vikram Kumar Meena, a native of Rajasthan, was attacked when he asked a passenger to produce his ticket. Meena, who suffered a blow to his nose, is currently undergoing treatment for his injuries. The railways is taking rigorous actions to address these altercations. We are trying our best to provide safety for our employees. As part of preventive measures, the railways has strengthened RPF/GRP escorts, implemented preventive checks, and is closely monitoring suspicious persons. We are also conducting extensive patrolling and passenger checks both on station premises and on board. Additionally, we are organising awareness campaigns among passengers, said an official of Southern Railway Palakkad division. Officials also stated that the railways is assisting victims in pursuing legal action against offenders. We are trying to avoid unnecessary altercations between TTEs and passengers. However, if any incidents occur, the railways will assist the victim employees in lodging complaints with the GRP or local police. In 2024 alone, four such cases have been reported in Kerala, all of which have resulted in the arrest of the offenders, the official added. Deboarding unreserved passengers from reserved coaches is the primary cause of these altercations. Increased passenger footfall during the summer vacation has led to overcrowding in general compartments. As a result, passengers try to board reserved coaches with general tickets. A TTEs duty is to restrict the entry of unreserved passengers into reserved coaches. Another issue is that in all these incidents, the accused were intoxicated, the official said. However, passengers associations said the Railways policies are the major reasons for the recurring attacks. The Railways is cutting down the number of general compartments and increasing reserved coaches to boost revenue. However, they are not providing any alternative solutions to reduce the rush in general compartments. Thats why passengers are boarding reserved coaches, leading to clashes with TTEs, said Rasheed Kavvayi, a member of the Zonal Railway Consultative Committee. Measures taken As part of preventive measures, the railways has strengthened RPF/GRP escorts, implemented preventive checks, and is closely monitoring suspicious persons It is also conducting extensive patrolling and passenger checks both on station premises and on board Additionally, awareness campaigns being prganised among passengers

Express Dialogues | If we are a little mad, anything is possible: Director Blessy

You come from a space with not much film or literary background How did the journey begin? My father died when I was three. So, I dont even have the concept of father. Mother was very protective. She died when I was 16. I was very lonely my only refuge was a theatre that was just across my home. It became an integral part of my growing up; the film bug must have bit me there. From a young age, I wanted to be a film director. My native place, Tiruvalla, was never known for any cultural or literary activities. D C Kizhakemuri had once said that the houses in Tiruvalla had only the Bible and bank passbook, and there was no serious reading (smiles). But, somehow, I got hooked on reading from a young age. On a lighter note, I can tell you a story that may explain my love for literature. My grandfather was a Menon from Ponnani. He had his name, Achutha Menon, inked on his arms. His family name was Chalappurathu. The family got converted and migrated to Tiruvalla. Writer Uroob was from Chalappuram. So I, too, can claim a great lineage (laughs out). When did you realise filmmaking was your way forward? I was a member of a film society, Sudhrishya. Later, I became its secretary at a time when the society was struggling. I grew up watching the works of famous filmmakers such as Sergei Eisenstein, Ingmar Bergman, and Jean-Luc Godard by bringing 16mm films from archives in Thiruvananthapuram, or films such as Kolangal by K G George, Utharayanam by Aravindan, and Kanchana Sita from General Pictures office in Kollam. Back then, I would take a bus to Tiruvalla with a big box carrying the film reels (smiles). Those experiences taught me the seriousness of filmmaking. K G George, who was from my town, was another huge inspiration. You were an assistant director to Padmarajan, Jayaraj, and Lohithadas. You worked with them for 18 years. Why did it take you so long? The 18-year journey didnt tire me, despite the remuneration being low. Assisting Padmarajan was a matter of immense pride, but I realised I would always be his shadow if I continued. Working with legends like Padmarajan and Lohitadas taught me several things. I always wished my first film would be as notable as Padmarajans or Bharathans. I pursued several people, including Lohithadas, for a script. As luck would have it, since none wrote a script for me, I had to write it myself (chuckles). It is said that Mammootty gave you the confidence to write the script for Kaazhcha... I had worked with Jayaraj on five films; the last one I assisted on was 4 the People. After Desadanam, Jayaraj told me that I would be directing the next film from his production house, New Generation Cinema. Desadanam was a big hit, and being asked to direct his next venture was a significant recognition. It was a shock and a great honour. However, even though my dream was to make a film, when the moment arrived, I realised that I was not prepared. I didnt have a story or script. I spent some days thinking it over, and finally, after spending two days alone, a visual came to me: a country boat with a child perched on one end, and images reflected on him. The visual surprised me, and I actually prayed, understanding that I could develop a film from it. At the same time, when I looked through a window of the house where I was staying, I noticed a business sign of a projector rental company. It was Babu Janaradhans company, which rented 16mm projectors. Interestingly, the sign had been there for the past five years, yet I had never noticed it before. All I had was these visuals. I told the concept to Jayaraj. He didnt respond positively, unsure how to develop it into a full script. Then, I told Sreenivasan, who agreed to write the script. Months later, when some financiers approached me, I went back to Sreenivasan with the idea. He discouraged me, suggesting it resembled Cinema Paradiso and would be challenging to write scenes involving characters speaking different languages. Disheartened, I shared my frustration with Murali Nagavally, a good friend. After hearing the idea, Murali encouraged me, saying films with such ideas should be made. I approached Jayaraj again. He suggested that I meet Mammootty. Although I knew Mammootty well, I was apprehensive about casting him as Madhavan, a simple man from a rural area, since he was a big star at the peak of his career. What was Mammoottys response? When I narrated the story to him, he asked me who would write the script. I suggested Lohithadas, but Mammootty felt it wasnt his style. We discussed several writers, and finally, he encouraged me to write it myself, offering to correct it later, if needed. I asked several people, including Ananthapadmanabhan and P F Mathews, to write the script. Fortunately, they were all busy. With Mammoottys dates secured and no one available to help, I was compelled to write. I then read the script to Mammootty. After listening to two pages, he asked me to leave the script with him to read the rest later. When the film was released, the script was published. Mammootty, at the launch, admitted that he had not read the whole script. After two pages, he was convinced it was very good (smiles). After Kaazhcha, you got state awards (screenplay and direction) for Thanmathra. Was it the experience gained through Kaazhcha that helped you overcome the writers block? The story of Thanmathra was there in my mind even before I wrote Kaazhcha. After reading Padmarajans short story Orma, I had discussed it with Lohithadas. He pulled out, saying the subject was too scientific and complicated. I didnt have the confidence to write. But after writing Kaazhcha, I gained confidence. Now, I like writing the scripts for my films. Aadujeevitham took a long time about 16 years for conceptualisation, shooting and release. The world changed a lot during that period. Did you try to reflect the changes in the film? No. Because it was a subject that transcended the limits of time and space. Even now, the story seems to be something very unbelievable. This is what makes the story relevant across the timeline. Hence, I never thought of changing the storyline. I started writing the script in 2015. Since then, there was no change in the basic structure of the story. However, we did make use of the advanced technologies during the post-pandemic shoot. Was Prithviraj Sukumaran the first choice to play Najeeb in Aadujeevitham? I discuss all my films with (actor) Vikram. He was keen. But when I decided to do it in Malayalam, only Prithviraj was in my mind. We have heard that you worked hard on stripping the confidence off Prithvirajs eyes to transform him completely... Prithviraj has a confident personality, which people might mistake as arrogance. The truth is his confidence stems from his vast knowledge, and it reflects in his energy levels. However, Najeeb is not such a person. So, Prithviraj had to be restrained. The film Pranayam tells the tale of a love triangle. However, in most such storylines, one of the three is painted in a bad light. That was not the case in Pranayam. How did you arrive at the idea? What is love? It is generally believed to be a creation of a relationship between a man and a woman. But I dont think about it along the same lines. I have learnt that God is love. My behaviour or the way we talk and smile are all different types of expressing love. It is only after a certain age that a person walks through the most wonderful stages of life. Your initial plan was to cast Mammootty in Pranayam. Then what happened? The concept for Pranayam came to me even before Kaazhcha and Thanmathra I had discussed the film with Mammootty during the shooting of Palunku. Mammootty suggested we do it later. In fact, I narrated the story of Pranayam to him before writing the script. I remember, S N Swami and Shaji Kailas were also present. Mammootty noted that he would be playing an elderly character. I had planned for him to play Achuthan Menon (eventually done by Anupam Kher), a character similar to my grandfather. As I started writing the script, new sequences emerged, and I felt the need to consult Mammootty about his comfort with the role. When I sought a meeting, he questioned if I had doubts about the role. I explained that he needed to understand how I had been developing his character. I met him on the day Venu Nagavally passed away, and narrated the script during our journey. After listening to it, Mammootty suggested casting someone else. I had anticipated that, and accepted the situation without any argument. Then came Mohanlal? Not really... I then approached S P Balasubrahmanyam. He loved the plot, but expressed doubts about his ability to perform the subtle acting required, and also concerns about the language. The film, focusing on three elderly characters, needed intense detailing. The search for the right actor affected script-writing. During a trip to Dubai, I visited the shooting location of Roshan Andrewss Casanovva, which starred Mohanlal. Lalettan (Mohanlal) asked about my plans, and I briefly narrated the story. The issue with casting Mammootty was about finding someone to play his younger self. This was a technical challenge. Lalettan also raised this concern. After lunch, Lalettan surprised me by offering to play Mathews, a philosophy professor confined to a wheelchair a less prominent role compared with his usual central characters. I could never have asked him to play Mathews, but his willingness energised me. After discussing with Lalettan, I decided to approach Anupam Kher for the film. Since Anupam Khers youth looks were relatively lesser known, casting another actor for his younger self was not a challenge. How would you recall the experience of directing two superstars Mammootty and Mohanlal? As a beginner, when I was working with Mammootty, I noticed that he gets disturbed when there is a crowd. Once, he asked me: What do you think? I am Mammootty, not Madhavan (character in Kaazhcha). I replied, I cant shoot the film thinking that you are Mammootty. I can only consider you as Madhavan. I still dont know where I got the courage from. Maybe its a blessing (smiles). We share a very friendly bond. He understood it. He used to tell me that I needed to be loud and should shout to lead. He has helped me a lot. While planning a project with Mammukka, one should fully convince him. He is comfortable when we clear all his doubts. Mohanlal is a different story. The location of Bhramaram was set in the remote area of Nelliyampathy, where transportation, water supply, and even generator facilities were challenging. The entire crew, including the producer and cameraman, expressed their displeasure over the location. However, all the dissatisfaction dissipated with just one response from Lalettan, who emphasised that shooting would be possible only by acknowledging the challenging conditions (smiles). Some intimate scenes in your films had stirred controversies. How do you respond to them? Controversies are triggered when someone finds it hard to digest another persons efficiency. The aim is to grab attention. I dont think every controversy needs to be addressed. There were some controversies associated with Aadujeevitham as well, including a ban in some Gulf countries and contradicting statements about an intimate scene with a goat. There was propaganda that the book [Benyamins Aadujeevitham] had been banned in Arab countries, and thats why we couldnt shoot the film in that region. Similarly, even before censoring, it was said that the film wouldnt be released in the Gulf. It was all part of some deliberate efforts. But, eventually, the film had a simultaneous release across India and the UAE. Later, we managed to release it in most Gulf centres, except Saudi Arabia and Kuwait. Marketing has become crucial these days. Whats your take? The digital revolution has opened immense possibilities to take a film to the audience. Social media offers plenty of scope to publicise a film. The market has widened, along with the number of distributors and exhibitors. But, at the same time, there is also a lot of politics within the industry. Take, for instance, PVRs recent stance on not screening Malayalam films. My film, which was running with packed audiences, was dropped without any prior notice. That is the kind of monopoly that one has to be cautious about. All the issues have now been sorted, thanks to the intervention of Lulu Groups MD, Yusuffali M A. He managed to find a solution even as the government stood helpless. The PVR group had no other option but to accept his proposal, as he owns several big malls across the country. But, unfortunately, the brief boycott took a big toll on my film. Was there loss in momentum for Aadujeevithams box office collections after this issue? We lost more than 100 screens outside Kerala for three days due to the stalemate. When the issue got sorted, things got tougher as they resumed screening my film alongside three newly released films. Obviously, those films got better showcasing. So, that caused a loss for you? Of course. How did the film Aadujeevitham influence Blessy as a director and as an individual? I feel it reflects the world that supports our dreams, as Paulo Coelho and others have said. I also wrote that life could be more beautiful than the dream if we know how to live it. The things we think are impossible can become possible. For instance, we never thought we would be able to shoot in a place like the Sahara Desert in Algeria and return alive. If death is not an issue, then there is nothing to fear. If we are a little mad, anything is possible. During your conversations, you often mention gurutvam (blessings of mentors). Who do you view as your guru? No doubt, its Padmarajan sir I experience his presence a lot during shoots. When we plan a project, before starting its shooting, the prayer in my mind is that the film shouldnt turn out to be an embarrassment for sir (Padmarajan) in my capacity as his disciple. Which are your favourite Padmarajan films? My favourite is Oridathoru Phayalvaan. You come across as a staunch believer. Do you pray often? When I am alone, I pray. I like it. I havent prayed for myself in the past three to four years. I know that God knows about me, so I dont have to pray for myself. I pray for others. Thats my spirituality. Do you feel exhausted after Aadujeevitham? Yeah. I badly need some more sleep, and some time to travel (smiles).

Keralas oldest theatre club to celebrate 75th anniversary

ALAPPUZHA: Kerala Peoples Arts Club (KPAC), the oldest theatre organisation in the state, is all set to celebrate its 75th anniversary. KPAC secretary A Shajahan said that the club has decided to arrange year-long celebrations as part of its platinum jubilee and also to commemorate the 100th birth anniversary of playwright Thoppil Bhasi. On the occasion, KPAC will re-launch the drama Olivile Oormakal which was penned and directed by Bhasi. Director Adoor Gopalakrishnan will inaugurate the programme at Karthika Thirunal Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday. Headquartered at Kayamkulam in Alappuzha, KPAC was very influential in popularising the Communist movement in the state. During the past 75 years, KPAC has staged 66 dramas. Its dramas were performed on 2.5 lakh stages across the world including the USA, Canada and Gulf countries. The first drama of KPAC was Ente Makananu Sheri (My Son is Right).It is said that KPAC was formed in the 1950s by a group of law students -- N Rajagopalan Nair, G Janardhana Kurup, Isaac Thomas, and S Prabhakaran Nair. They decided to stage Fyodor Dostoyevskys Karamazov Brothers in Malayalam. Though a public notice was printed in the name of Kerala Peoples Arts Club, nothing came out of it and the name KPAC was later fixed when the four met at Ernakulam for the production of the same play, said Shajahan. However, he added that the origin of KPAC has been a topic of endless debates and discussions. According toO N V Kurup, Rajagopalan Nair, G Janardhana Kurup, Rajamony, Sreenarayana Pillai and O N V together sought Prof M P Pauls advice and assistance to form a theatre and they decided to stage a drama, and later the name KPAC emerged at a discussion at CP SathraminThiruvananthapuram. Yet another version subscribes the naming of KPAC to a project report submitted bywriter Kottayam Sreeni to the Kerala State Committee of the Communist Party of India. Shajahan said. The deep friendship between N Rajagopalan Nair and Janardhana Kurup also saw them coming together tocreate the playEnte Makananu Sheri. Janardhana Kurup, MLAs N Rajagopalan Nair and T A Mytheen Kunju, M P Kuttappan, K S George, Sulochana and Janaki acted in it. Kottayam Sreeni was the troupe convenor and Poojappura Krishnan Nair was its manager. The play was inaugurated at VJT Hall, Thiruvananthapuram, in 1951 and it marked the beginning KPACs saga of success, Shajahan said.

Year-long celebrations to mark 75th anniversary of KPAC and birth centenary of Thoppil Bhasi

Celebrations to begin with a programme at Karthika Thirunal Theatre in Thiruvananthapuram on May 22 which will be inaugurated by filmmaker Adoor Gopalakrishnan

Bengaluru-Bound Air India Express Makes Emergency Landing In Tamil Nadu Due To Technical Glitch

The Thiruvananthapuram-Bengaluru service encountered the issue mid-air, prompting the safe landing, according to sources at the airport

5 months after hit-and-run, Kerala Police trace driver in Telangana

Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Police team at Mundakayam police station in Kottayam district has won accolades for its perseverance in solving a hit-and-run case which happened on December 15, by tracing the vehicle to Telangana. Pradeep Chandran, SHO at Mundakayam police station who was part of the probe team, told IANS that they registered the case Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Kerala to receive heavy rains; IMD issues red alert in some districts for May 19, 20

The IMD issued the red alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam and Idukki districts of the state for May 19 and 20. Additionally, an orange alert was issued for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, and Ernakulam for those two days. The weather department further issued an orange alert in nine districts for May 21 and said some of them were likely to receive rains similar to that of a red alert.

CM Vijayan returns to India after cutting short three-nation private trip with family

CM Vijayan returns to India after cutting short three-nation private trip with family Thiruvananthapuram: Amid the controversy surrounding his private three-nation trip, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and his family returned to Kerala in the wee hours of Saturday, cutting the tour short. The furore over the trip began as there was no official intimation [] The post CM Vijayan returns to India after cutting short three-nation private trip with family appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Pumped up with enthusiasm for health and fitness

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: After the lockdown was lifted, there was a noticeable shift in fitness trends, especiallyamong women. People flocked to gyms, tired of being stuck at home during the slump period. And no, it wasnt just a fad. Even now, according to trainers, gym memberships are on the rise. Among this diverse group, homemakers stand out, with brimming enthusiasm. They are trying everything, from boxing to Kalari, and yoga, and thus breaking stereotypes. They make a statement by all this, making time for their own well-being and finding joy in the process. Fitness is not just about building muscles; it is about increasing flexibility, stamina, balance, and mental well-being, says Joseph Lawrence, owner of Zero Fitness Performance Studio. Our programme offers a comprehensive approach, incorporating weightlifting, yoga, Kalari, animal flow, martial arts, outdoor workouts, and meditation. After completing our training, people will feel fully fit. As the body changes, so does the mind joints become stronger, muscle tightness decreases, and a sense of peace and confidence will be there. Women are now understanding the actual benefits of gym workouts beyond just weight loss, he adds. They are enjoying the process and forming a supportive community. If someone misses a day, others enquire about their well-being, says Joseph. Joyce Varghese, 54, concurs. I have two young grandchildren, yet I make it a priority to go to the gym every day because the joy I find there cannot be described, she says. Nowadays, many women are turning to fitness. I believe people are prioritising health more. Women of my age understand that staying active is important. There used to be a stigma over women going to gyms, but times have changed, and people have evolved. Maryam John, 60, a retired engineer from the irrigation department, echoes similar views. I never had any connection with the gym, but I have always been conscious about my fitness. I used to go for walks and maintain a balanced weight throughout my life, she says. My son helped me understand the benefits of working out. I have noticed a significant difference in myself. I dont go to the gym for weight loss, but for holistic wellness. Now, my friends notice how active I have become and ask me about it. I think my journey has inspired some of them to start working out. Rebecca Fenn, 25, says she finds more women than men at the Zero Fitness Studio where she trains. Training to feel strong, independent, and capable is empowering, she adds. It is great to see more women coming to the gym to experience such vitality and vigour.

A hilltop refuge for solace & soul searching

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Forests and their allure form epic storytelling. They remain as spaces of freedom, of naked beauty of nature, and of soul searching. Probably why meditation retreats and shrines sought the silence of the wilderness. From the early 20th century, Thiruvananthapuram had a space that matched all the above descriptions. It was cut away from the crowd of the city of the early 1900s, stationed in a jungle tract high up a hill in Nettayam. It is here that the majestic stone-built Sri Ramakrishna Ashram stands, as both an architectural marvel and as a tranquil place sought after by reclusive seeker souls. The five acres on which the ashram stands was a gift in 1915 from Arunachalam Pillai who owned 300 acres in that jungle tract. It was given to Swami Nirmalananda, born Tulsicharan Dutt in Bagh Bazaar, Calcutta, who was one of the direct disciples of Sri Ramakrishna. Swami Nirmalananda received the gift deed in the name of the Kolkata-based Sri Ramakrishna Mission that had sprouted on the serene banks of the Hooghly in Belur. The Nettayam ashram was the fourth ashram of the mission in Kerala, established in 1916. According to the book Swami Nirmalananda, His Life and Teachings, which carries a vivid account of the setting up of the ashram, the facility was built with help from distinguished residents of the city. A few noteworthy names are Padmanabhan Thampi and his brother Dr Raman Thampi, Padmanabha Pillai, K Sankara Menon, P G Govinda Pillai, M R Narayana Pillai, and Rama Warrier. Money was collected as donations and the construction expected to cost just thousands went up to a lakh of rupees then. The effort was to make a structure that would stand for generations as a torch bearer of spiritual peace and a landmark of the ideals that the Sri Ramakrishna-Vivekananda order stood for. The construction of the main building was completed in March 1924. The place had a serenity akin to the room of Sri Ramakrishna in Dakshineswar near Kolkata. Here, too, the backyard that runs parallel to the shrine has a verandah that opens to the spread of a forest tract, now cleared to a great extent and filled with constructions. The trees, creepers and silence that permeates the environs make it an ideal meditation space, and, hence, the Nettayam ashram is often visited by people from within the city and even from the rest of the country. The entire ashram is done in raw granite and has rooms enveloping a sprawling central hall. Carvings of 43 lotus motifs on the stone structures and the verandah render a unique charm to the architecture. There were timely additions to the core structure. More land was procured by the ashram in the later years, says Swami Mokshavratananda, the current adhyaksha of the citys Sri Ramakrishna Mission. About two acres were allotted by the state government for a rural development project of the Central government. As part of the project, we set up the Sri Sarada Colony for Harijans, and also organised sanitation and medical projects in five rural centres in the city. Notably, the ashram activities had in 1937 itself extended to Sasthamangalam, where an allopathic hospital was set up. It was, in recent years, refurbished with state-of-the-art facilities. The Nettayam ashram still holds its heritage value for the residents of the city though there are also efforts to utilise the space for socially relevant causes. The Gadadhar Abhyuday Project provides free coaching and nutritious food to the underprivileged children of the area. Now, the two acres that housed the activities of our rural programme are being used for setting up a nursing college, says Swami Mokshavratananda. Whatever is being done is with care not to disturb the overwhelming peace that fills the ashram space. The forest tracts destiny was to become the enclosure of tranquility and inner search, and so it should remain, says Sankaran G, who comes to spend time at the ashram whenever work allows him to. The Nettayam ashram has kept that intact over the past 109 years of its existence. There & then Weekly column on historic, iconic places in the city. Send suggestions to cityexpresskoc@ newindianexpress.com

Muthalapozhi harbour action-taken report is incomplete: Minority panel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Against the backdrop of the increasing number of accidents and deaths at Muthalapozhi harbour , the Kerala State Minority Commission held a special sitting on Friday to take stock of the situation. The commission expressed dissatisfaction with the reports submitted by the deputy director of the fisheries department, the executive engineer of the harbour engineering department, the Anchuthengu coastal station officer on behalf of director of the fisheries department, the secretary of fisheries and the port department, the district collector and the chief of coastal police. Rise in boat accidents sparks safetyconcerns at Muthalapozhi harbour in Kerala Around seven studies were conducted on the rising number of accidents and deaths at Muthalapozhi since the establishment of the harbour. We sought to know about action taken by the fisheries department and other government agencies based on those reports. They submitted an incomplete report, a commission official said. The commission also found grave discrepancies in the number of deaths reported by coastal police and fisheries department. According to the fisheries department, there had been 27 deaths at the harbour, while the number with the coastal police authorities is 23, the official added. Observing that the reports are partial and incomplete, commission chairman A A Rashid directed the concerned departments to come up with a comprehensive report before the next sitting on May 28. The panel had taken up suo motu the perilous situation at Muthalapozhi harbour. The state government had roped in Pune-based Central Water and Power Research Station to conduct a detailed study of the situation at Muthalapozhi harbour and come up with solutions. The agency proposed a `164-crore project, including extension of the breakwater at Muthalapozhi. Though the state government submitted the report to the Centre for approval under the Pradhan Mantri Matsya Sampada Yojana (PMMSY) scheme, no response has been forthcoming.

Kerala health minister evaluates health situation in districts, urges caution

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : Highlighting the potential risks of communicable diseases due to the heatwave and subsequent summer rains, Health Minister Veena George has laid emphasise on effective collaboration between all the departments. She stressed on conducting thorough cleaning operations with the assistance of local bodies, ensuring sanitation in public areas and hostels as mandated by the Kerala Public Health Act, cleaning wells and drinking water sources. There will be strengthened focus on food safety checks and ensuring clean water in schools, the minister said. Treatment protocols must be strictly adhered to. Special fever clinics in hospitals will be started while also increasing isolation-bed capacity, Veena said. Hospitals have been instructed to monitor drug stocks and inform authorities if supplies fall below 30%. The minister issued the directives at a high-level meeting of district officials. Action will be taken against those who do not comply with the Kerala Public Health Act. It is the duty of those responsible to keep public water sources clean. Hence, they should be chlorinated at regular intervals. People with jaundice should rest for six weeks to avoid secondary infection. It was also directed to strengthen the awareness activities. Campaigns should be organised to create awareness among the public, the directives said. At the meeting, district medical officers issued updates on the situation in their respective districts and on preventive measures adopted. Jaundice cases have been mostly reported in Ernakulam, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Thrissur, Kannur, Pathanamthitta, and Palakkad. A list of dengue hotspots will be published. The minister called for the proper observance of dry days with the coordination of local bodies and public participation to destroy mosquito breeding grounds. The meeting called for precautions against rat fever. It also discussed bird flu prevention activities in Alappuzha, Kottayam and Pathanamthitta districts.

Kerala: Violation of humanity, says brother of victim

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In May 2014, Sreejeev was arrested by Parassala police for theft. The suspect died in hospital a few days later. Although his family claimed that he died of custodial torture, police officers held that Sreejeev had consumed poison. Cash-for-query case: Jai Anant Dehadrai asked to appear before CBI on Jan 25 A Police Complaint Authority inquiry in 2016 concluded that the official account was false and that it was a case of custodial death. Despite initially refusing to take up the case, the CBI conducted a probe following a subsequent government request. The central agency findings seconded the state police version: Sreejeev had indeed consumed pesticide crystals he had kept hidden in his underwear. Sreejith, Sreejeevs brother, has been protesting for more than six years against what he terms a flawed investigation Sreejith says he wont stop until he gets clarity on the CBI probe. My mother and I were made to believe that the CBI had taken over the case in 2018, but it was just a tactic to silence us. If the officials had genuinely taken over the case, they should have initiated primary legal action. It was a scam. Has justice been served yet? Many of our supporters were silenced by officials, he alleged. They announced a CBI probe but did nothing, making it seem like my efforts to seek justice for my brother were just a gimmick. The police are the true criminals in this case, and its clear the case is skewed in their favour. They kill people, bury the evidence, and continue to live their lives comfortably. I discovered this because my brother was a victim. This is a gross violation of humanity. The worst part is that those who suffer the most are economically disadvantaged, without political influence, often targeted either for petty crimes or out of revenge, Sreejith said.

150 expat children clear Class X equivalency exam in Malayalam

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A success rate of 96.15% was recorded in Malayalam Missions Neelakurinji senior higher diploma course certificate exam for Class X equivalency, conducted by Pareeksha Bhavan, for children of Malayali expatriates. Of the 156 candidates who registered for the exam from the first batch of the course, 150 passed the exam and earned Class X equivalency. This included 48 boys and 102 girls. While 26 candidates secured an A+ grade, 42 candidates passed with an A grade and 38 were placed in B+grade. It is a historic moment as children from the expatriate world are earning Class X equivalency in their mother tongue. Its a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, remarked Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan who announced the results here on Friday. Malayalam Mission, under the Culture Department, promotes learning of Malayalam and familiarisation of Kerala culture among expatriate children undergoing formal education in other languages. In addition to Neelakurinji, Malayalam Mission offers three other courses in Malayalam: Kanikkonna (certificate), Sooryakanthi (Diploma) and Aambal (Higher Diploma). Of these, Neelakurinji is conducted as a public exam by the state Pareeksha Bhavan under the General Education Department. In 2019, the government issued orders declaring Neelakurinji as a Class X equivalency course. It is the only language equivalency course recognised by PSC. Neelakurinji has been recognised by PSC as the language proficiency course for the purpose of declaring probation fornewly inducted government employees.

AI Express strike: Minister Sivankutty seeks Centres aid for victims family

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Minister for General Education and Labour V Sivankutty has written to Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia seeking his intervention in ensuring monetary compensation to redress the loss suffered by Amrita, who could not meet her husband owing to the Air India Express strike, and her family. Kerala woman couldn't see her husband before death due to Air India strike In the letter, Sivankutty said Amrita, a nursing student residing at Karamana in Thiruvananthapuram, had booked a seat to Oman in the Air India Express flight on May 8 to see and bring back her husband Rajesh, who was in a critical condition in Oman hospital. She reached the airport to commence her travel, but the flight was cancelled due to the flash strike of the crew of Air India. She requested the authorities for an alternate arrangement, but all her efforts were futile. Unfortunately, her husband breathed his last on May 13 and Amrita couldnt see her husband for the last time. Rajesh has left behind two kids who are in KG classes. The callous and irresponsible actions of Air India Express have not only deprived Amrita of the chance to bid farewell to her husband but have also caused immeasurable anguish and suffering to her and her family, Sivankutty said. In this time of profound grief, they deserve compassion, empathy and humanitarian consideration, Sivankutty said and urged the Ministers intervention in the matter.

Scribe reignites ado over secretariat siege in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Congress leader and then home minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan had reached out to the CPM to end the LDFs 2013 secretariat siege over the solar scandal, said Congress leader Cherian Philip, who was part of the Left camp at the time. Even as the state witnesses a fresh political debate over who took the initiative to settle the solar agitation, Cherians revelation has added a new twist to the entire saga. The new revelations over LDFs secretariat siege seeking the resignation of the then chief minister Oommen Chandy, were made by senior journalist John Mundakkayam, in his book on the solar scam, which is being serialised by Samakalika Malayalam Vaarika, a sister publication of The New Indian Express. How CPI (M) brokered a deal with ruling Congress in Kerala to withdraw its Secretariat siege against then CM in Solar scam In its latest issue, the article indicated a clandestine operation by the CPM to settle the agitation. It was John Brittas - heading the CPM-run Kairali television channel - who took the initiative and reached out to settle the agitation, the article says. Mundakkayam claims that Brittas, on behalf of the CPM, rang him up, seeking to settle the siege. The abrupt ending of the massive siege which had paralysed the functioning of the secretariat, had triggered many discussions and suspicions at the time. However, Brittas flatly denied the allegation, terming it mere fiction. Theres half-truth in what the article said. The then home minister Thiruvanchoor (Radhakrishnan) had got in touch to find a solution to the agitation. He called Cherian Philip, who handed me the phone. Thiruvanchoor said the government was ready for any kind of compromise, said Brittas. Meanwhile, Thiruvanchoor endorsed Mundakkayams revelations. There is nothing controversial in the new revelations. We held discussions with everyone to find a solution. The demand was the chief ministers resignation. The UDF was not ready for it. Later when they wanted to settle the agitation, we responded positively, said Radhakrishnan, adding that UDF had the satisfaction of getting the expected result. Even as the political slugfest continues, Cherian, who was part of the Left camp in 2013, came out with a clarification which could put the Congress in an embarrassing position. He said it was Thiruvanchoor who initiated talks and called him up to settle the strike. The decision was taken at an LDF meeting led by V S Achuthanandan. While I was at the Kairali TV office, Thiruvanchoor called me up asking how the strike could be settled. Following this, Brittas and I went to Thiruvanchoors house together, said Philip. Allegations of settling solar case protest baseless Kannur: CPM state committee member and Kannur district secretary M V Jayarajan has dismissed senior journalist John Mundakkayams allegations that CPM leaders intervened to settle the solar case protest. Addressing a press conference in Kannur on Friday, Jayarajan labelled the allegations as propaganda against the CPM. He asserted that the party had no reason to settle the protest.

Inquiry into misbehaviour by Air Force officials begins

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Southern Air Command headquarters has opened an inquiry into the incident where four Air Force officials were arrested by the police for engaging in an affray with employees of a city-based hotel. The Air Command in a statement said they have taken serious cognizance of the incident and an inquiry is on to ascertain facts by the Air Forces policy of zero-tolerance to cases of misdemeanour in public places. The Pettah police had registered a case against four Air Force officers attached with Akkulam Southern Air Command and an unspecified number of employees of a hotel near Venpalavattom after the two groups engaged in an affray outside the hotel over petty issues on Wednesday night. The police said some of the staff of the Imperial Kitchen and the Air Force men had an altercation inside the hotel over providing seats to the latter. The Air Force men wanted to have nearby seats, but the hotel staff did not entertain their request, leading to an altercation. This finally transformed into a street brawl outside the hotel premises by 10.30 pm. The two groups lodged police complaints against the other following which both were booked under bailable sections.

Divorced 14 years ago, Alappuzha couple reunites for daughter

ALAPPUZHA: Amid rising divorce cases, dowry deaths and atrocities against women in the state, an estranged couple from Alappuzha has decided to unite after 14 years of divorce. Subrahmanian and Krishnakumari of Sanathanapuram in Alappuzha decided to re-register their marriage after getting the divorce order issued by the Alappuzha Family Court annulled. They took the decision to reunite for the wellbeing of their only daughter Ahalya. Subrahmanian S, of Aswathi Nivas, Sanathanapuram, Alappuzha, an office assistant at Thiruvananthapuram Medical College married Krishnakumari P, of Radha Nivas Kuthirapanthi, on August 31, 2006. In 2008 Krishnakumari gave birth to a daughter. Later family issues cropped up and they filed a petition in the Alappuzha Family Court seeking divorce. The court allowed divorce on March 29, 2010. The legal battle of the couple did not end with divorce. Krishnakumari again approached the family court demanding alimony to nurture her daughter in 2020. The court issued an order directing Subrahmanian to allot Rs 2,000 as alimony. However, he was not ready to allot money to Krishnakumari and her daughter. The reason that an agreement was signed by the couple at the time of divorce was that all issues were settled and nobody demanded any amount for maintenance. That clause helped him file an appeal in the High Court. However, the High Court ordered to allot maintenance and the case again reached the Alappuzha Court. During the court case, Sooraj R Mainagapally, counsel of Krishnakumari, told the judge that the two parties were ready to reunite for their daughters sake. Judge V S Vidhyadharan asked the duo to undergo counselling and it ended up positively, said Sooraj. After their divorce, Subrahmanian and Krishnakumari had not thought of remarriages. As they were single, it was easy to reunite them. Their daughter also wanted her father and mother to reunite, he said. The couple filed a joint application in the family court on Thursday to cancel the divorce order of the family court and register their remarriage.

Kerala under-reports illnesses related to heat: central expert

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as Kerala sweltered under a hostile summer, the state significantly under-reported heat-related illnesses, National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) health and climate resilience lead Abhiyant Tiwari has said. In an exclusive interaction with TNIE , Tiwari said only 25% of public healthcare institutions in the state reported such incidents to central authorities. Gujarat, at 95%, leads in reporting of such cases while Telangana comes second with 83%, he said. A leading climate resilience and health consultant, Tiwari was part of the development and implementation of the first Heat Action Plan (HAP) of South Asia in 2013. Kerala should strengthen its heat and health surveillance system, he said, on the sidelines of a workshop on Impact of Extreme Heat on Kerala organised by the Kerala Union for Working Journalists (KUWJ) in collaboration with ASAR in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. The National Programme on Climate Change and Human Health (NPCCHH) under the Ministry of health and Family Welfare has been collecting heat-related health illness and mortality data from every state since 2018-19 to come up with policies and programmes to review the impact and to increase national level preparedness. Heatwave sparks surge in waterborne diseases in Kerala I was surprised that the cases in Kerala were under-reported. Only 25% of the public sector health facilities report data to NPCCHH. Kerala, being a pioneer in the health sector, could do better. The state did a wonderful job during the pandemic and the overall public awareness is much better compared to any other state in the country. But the state is still not at par with our expectation when it comes to heat-health surveillance, Tiwari said. Abhiyant Tiwari The state should set an example by coming up with technical solutions. I am sure heat health is something (for which) Kerala can set an example, he added. An effective early warning system could help reduce mortality rate due to disaster by eight times, he pointed out. What Kerala and any other state should be doing is to come up with strategies and policies to mitigate disasters and increase preparedness. The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is preparing strategic policies and new frameworks for various sectors like agriculture, fishing and many more that can be adapted by the states for better preparedness and mitigation, he said. The 15th financial commission has allocated special funds for disaster risk mitigation and the NDMA wants the states to come up with projects and policies to tap these funds, he said. This is besides the national disaster response fund. Instead of claiming funds for the deceased, the state should be ideally tapping funds for prevention and mitigation of disasters, and come up with proactive measures to deal with the climate crisis, Tiwari added. KSDMA to revise Heat Action Plan Thiruvananthapuram: Given the extreme heat situation, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority is gearing up to revise and update the Heat Action Plan (HAP) to increase heat-related preparedness. Hazard analyst Fahad Marzooq of KSDMA said heat clinics will start functioning at public healthcare institutions in the state from next year. He was speaking at the media workshop on Impact of Extreme Heat on Kerala organised by the district committee of Kerala Union for Working Journalists (KUWJ) in collaboration with ASAR in Thiruvananthapuram on Friday. Cusat Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research director S Abhilash said that land use pattern and rapid urbanisation has led to heat island effect in Kerala, aggravating hot and humid weather. He pointed out that the temperature at night has also increased. A total of 1,441 heat-related health incidents were reported in the state in the past three months, said National Programme for Climate Change and Human Health nodal officer for the state M S Manu.

Kerala: Congress A group steps up fight against Sudhakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Escalating its fight against the state Congress chief, the A group, with the tacit support of a section in the I group, has decided to approach the party high command against K Sudhakarans autocratic style of functioning. Kerala: Sudhakaran cancels lifting of Latheefs suspension The move comes in the wake of Sudhakaran revoking interim Congress state president M M Hassans decision to reinstate A group leader and then KPCC secretary M A Latheef, who was suspended from the primary membership of the party. Latheef said he would soon approach AICC general secretary (organisation) K C Venugopal. Ive been waiting for the last two years for the party to reconsider my suspension. I did not ditch the Congress and join another party. After Hassan was given charge, I made a representation requesting him to reconsider the disciplinary action. Before that, I had met K C Joseph and Benny Behanan. The letter informing me of my re-induction into the party came by post two days after the polling (for the Lok Sabha election), he told TNIE. Latheef said he decided to approach the KPCC leadership after meeting Venugopal and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan. M M Hassan exceeded brief, say leaders close to Sudhakaran Later, I tried to meet Sudhakaran, but he was not interested, Latheef said. The A group has been for long demanding the revocation of Latheefs suspension. Former chief minister Oommen Chandy had tried to intervene, but poor health prevented him from taking matters forward. A group leaders say a consensus to review the suspension was reached at a meting they had with Venugopal and Satheesan. This has been breached by Sudhakaran , an A group leader said. Sudhakaran and the coterie around him are taking it as an ego issue. How can he overrule a decision taken by the former KPCC president without the consent of the leadership? Hassan decided with the consent of both Satheesan and Venugopal, he added. However, leaders close to Sudhakaran accused Hassan of exceeding his brief in reinstating Latheef. He was given the charge on a temporary basis. He should not have acted like the KPCC president. His role was to manage the campaigning for Lok Sabha polls, they claim.

Honey-trap victims accounts being used to move swindled money

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Unearthing a startling new pattern in cyber crime, the police have found that scamsters have started using honey-trapping methods to get hold of their victims bank accounts and transfer the swindled amount through them. The new modus operandi came to the fore during a probe into the case in which Rs 3.65 lakh was swindled from a Thrissur native. Police had earlier detected that Cambodia-based financial scamsters were behind the operation, which was reported by TNIE. The police had arrested two people -- Mufliq and Vishnu -- in connection with the case. During a subsequent probe, it was found that the swindled cash was transferred through several bank accounts to throw investigators off the trail. Two bank accounts involved in the transaction were identified and during further probe, it was found that one of them was that of a Keralite. The investigation revealed that the account holder, hailing from Varkala in Thiruvananthapuram, was befriended by a female operative of the cyber crime racket. The woman, suspected to be a Keralite working in the scamming firm based out of Cambodia, sweet-talked the man and used his bank account to transfer part of the booty to another account. An officer privy to the probe said Rs 1 lakh was deposited to the Varkala natives account by the woman, who then transferred the whole amount to a third account. The woman lured the man into letting her do the transaction via his bank account. He was not part of the racket and knew nothing about their operation. But as his bank account is involved in the crime, he has been arraigned as an accused, said the officer. Another account used for transactions was found to be that of a Cuddalore native. Police on Friday reached his place to record his statement. However, police sources said they cannot comment on how mans bank account was obtained to circulate the swindled cash. We can come to a conclusion only after taking his statement, said an officer. Earlier, the cyber wing had uncovered the identity of around 50 Keralites, including women, who were working for Cambodia-based operators running online financial rackets. It was also found that some of the companies were owned and operated by Chinese nationals, who employ Keralites to target fellow compatriots. Those associated with these firms mostly fell in the 20-30 age bracket and were responsible for collecting details of potential victims, procuring Indian SIM cards, and luring the gullible into investing money in fraudulent schemes. The modus operandi of the scamsters had emerged during the interrogation of 22-year-old Mufliq. He was found to have helped the Cambodia-based handlers access Indian SIM cards. Based on his statement, a mobile shop owner, Vishnu, was arrested for having provided large number of SIMs procured by fraudulent means to Mufliq. Global link The new modus operandi of scamsters came to the fore during probe into the case in which Rs 3.65 lakh was swindled from a Thrissur native Police had earlier detected that Cambodia-based financial scamsters were behind the operation Two people -- Mufliq and Vishnu -- were arrested in connection with the case

Vigilance swoops on food safety offices in Kerala, major irregularities found

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Vigilance and Anti-Corruption Bureau has detected serious irregularities in the functioning of the state food safety department during the statewide raids on its offices on Thursday. Some offices were found giving free training, which is meant for staff of small-scale hotels, to employees of upscale hotels. Irregularities detected in vigilanceraid in offices of food safety department in Kerala Irregularities were also detected in the levying of penalties on firms selling substandard products. Those firms were also given time by certain officials to withdraw their products from the market, while reports were filed late to help them escape prosecution. The irregularities were detected during raids at the offices of the assistant commissioners in Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Thrissur districts and circle offices at Nedumangad, Kuravilangadu, Manjeri, Kalpetta, Mananthavady, Irikkur, Taliparamba, Thalassery, Mattannur and Udma. It was found that in many places, large food producers were given registration instead of a license. As per rules, those firms having an annual sale of above Rs 12 lakh should be issued a license, whose fee is high. Contrary to the rule, many of them were issued registration, which is meant for small-scale firms, resulting in a huge financial loss for the government. Such irregularities were detected in Kanjirapally, Thrissur, Alathur, Ollur, Manjeri, Kalpetta, Payyannur and Mattannur offices. In Angamaly, Pattambi and Sultan Bathery offices, records on food licences and registration were not maintained properly. Offices in Chathannoor, Konni, Pala, Changanassery, Angamaly, North Paravur, Panampilly Nagar, Thrissur, Guruvayur, Ollur, Tirur, Vallikunnu, Manjeri and Elathur were found giving free training meant for staff of small-scale hotels to employees of upscale hotels. In Angamaly and Mananthavady circles, it was found that free training was given to people working outside their areas of jurisdiction. In Thodupuzha office, the office attender was found to be receiving payments from hotel and resort owners. The Ranni office was found closed when the vigilance came for inspection. In Malappuram, Kottakkal, Tirur, Manjeri, Sultan Bathery, Nileshwaram and Kasaragod, hotels were found operating without valid license. In Ernakulam's assistant commissioners office, food samples were kept in a refrigerator that was not working. In the Palakkad assistant commissioners office, the lab reports of 516 samples collected between 2021 and 2024 were yet to be obtained. Favour games Free training meant for staff of small-scale hotels given to employees of upscale hotels Irregularities were also detected in levying of penalties from firms selling substandard products

Custodial deaths in Kerala is a failure of system

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If Article 21 of the Constitution states that no person can be deprived of their life or personal liberty unless in accordance with the law, the saga of custodial torture in the state speaks of a deep-seated infringement of basic human rights and dignity. From being spread-eagled in dark rooms and thwacked relentlessly using batons or sticks, to rolling heavy pipes over bodies and beatings with cloth-wrapped iron objects ... the horrors dont stop there. The torture and mental anguish, that only those who have endured it can totally comprehend, open a window to the custodial highhandedness of law enforcement that frequently leads to loss of life. Police can keep a suspect in detention for up to 24 hours or with the courts permission, for 15 days. And it is distressing that the excesses are played out in this short span of time. Shameer, Rajkumar, Sreejith, Vinayakan, P P Mathai, Ranjith Kumar, Suresh to the most recent case involving Tamir Jifri: the names of victims may vary, but the tale remains hauntingly familiar. When persons are booked for any offence they are placed in state custody. And the state and its machinery are responsible for their safety throughout the legal process. How then can law enforcement act as both judge and arbiter of fate? The counter is often: Dont teach us the law. While statistics may document deaths, there is no measure of the trauma inflicted by torture. For victims, it can seem like a death sentence -- each passing day more brutish than the last as they await their fate, removed from the rest of the world. The experience is equally agonising for their families at a physical, emotional, and psychological level. Custodial deaths are heinous crimes. People taken into custody are the responsibility of the state. It is the primary duty of the police to ensure the safety of the person in their custody. It is deeply disturbing that the number of cases is rising, says former chief justice of Patna High Court and former chairman of State Human Rights Commission, Justice J B Koshy. The National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data tabled in the Lok Sabha last August shows that there were a total of 16 custodial deaths reported in Kerala between 2016 and 2024. The first Pinarayi Vijayan government, which took office in 2016, took severe flak over incidents of custodial torture, which showed the home department, which oversees the police force, in poor light. The incidents were spread out, with no set pattern. While two cases were reported in 2016-17, there were none in 2017-18. This was followed by three cases in 2018-19, and two in 2019-20. This dropped to one in 2020-2021, before a spurt of six cases in 2021-22. Between 2022 and 2024, two cases were reported. People become unnecessary targets and channels for officialdom to vent their frustration. To maintain control, an effective director general of police (DGP) is essential. However, police associations at times hinder their duties. With the backing of the ruling dispensation, these associations often suppress cases. Another problem is the absence of a committee to address police concerns. They face excessive political pressure, financial constraints, and a shortage of civil police officers (CPOs), leading to increased workload and frustration. This unfortunately spills out into the public. While not justifiable, these are the underlying reasons, Justice Koshy points out. This poses a key question: who will investigate criminal cases against law enforcement? Thorough probes into custodial deaths have been far and few in between and convictions have been even sparse. There were over 40 injuries on the body of 31-year-old Shameer, who died on October 1, 2020, at a Covid quarantine facility following an alleged assault by police. Six jail officials were arrested by a crime branch special squad. But after posting bail, each of them were allowed to return to their jobs. Rajkumar, 49, of Nedumkandam, Idukki was subjected to police torture for four days in June 2019. Among the torture methods employed was falanga, which involves repeated beatings on the soles of the feet or the palms of the hand. The CBI charged nine police officers. An appeal filed with the Kerala Administrative Tribunal (KAT) ensured that they were not even fired. An autopsy conducted on 26-year-old Sreejith, from Varapuzha, who died in April 2018 reportedly as a result of abuse in custody, revealed injuries to the abdomen that resulted in multiple organ failure and his eventual death. Ten police officers were suspended. They were all reinstated in December 2018. Mathai of Chittar was found dead in a well after being taken into custody by a forest official in 2020. It is being probed by the CBI. CBI charges 4 police officers with murder in Tanur custodial death Jifri, 30-year-old, one of the five youths caught by the Tanur police in a drug trafficking case, died last August 1. The postmortem report revealed 21 wounds on his body and swelling in his lungs. The body also had many problems connected with regular drug use. On August 2, eight policemen including the sub-inspector of Tanur police station were suspended pending inquiry. A week ago, four police officers were arrested. Not all deaths in custody should be labelled as custodial deaths. Some die by suicide, others succumb to heart attacks due to panic, while some are highly intoxicated upon arrival in custody and experience withdrawal symptoms leading to death. In comparison to states like UP, Bihar and Maharashtra, Kerala reports significantly fewer custodial deaths. In many instances, there is no evidence of police torture, says Alexander Jacob, former jail DGP. When those entrusted with upholding the law resort to behaving like goons, it not only undermines the very foundation of justice.

Southern Air Command institutes enquiry on alleged altercation involving IAF personnel

Thiruvananthapuram: The Southern Air Command on Friday said it has instituted an enquiry based on media reports about an altercation involving Indian Air Force personnel here two days ago. Headquarters Southern Air Command has taken serious cognisance of the incident and the same is being enquired thoroughly to ascertain the facts, in accordance with Indian Air Force policy of zero-tolerance to cases of misdemeanour, especially in public places, a Defence release said here. It was reported that 18 Air Force personnel who went for dinner at a restaurant here on May 15 allegedly manhandled its staff for asking them to wait when they requested seats for all of them together. According to media reports, the hotel staff asked them to wait as almost all the seats were occupied.

Kaloor Stadium gets yellow card!

KOCHI: While cricket reigns supreme in India, football has long been the lifeblood of Kerala. Introduced by British officers stationed in Malappuram during the pre-independence era, football rapidly gained popularity throughout the state. Today, the Jawaharlal Nehru International (JNI) Stadium in Kaloor, Kochi, stands as the epicentre of football passion in the state. However, the establishment, known best for hosting Kerala Blasters FC (KBFC) matches, has come under scrutiny of late after a viral video showed the concrete stands shaking during celebrations. Concerns about the safety and maintenance of the building, which was opened in 1996, were raised, with fans and critics accusing the government of neglecting infrastructure development. The recent announcement of Public Works Minister P A Mohamed Riyas that the government is mulling setting up an international stadium in Kozhikode, overlooking the much-needed upgrade works of Kaloor stadium, only added fuel to the fire. Here, TNIE examines the three-pronged problem ailing one of Kochis grand structures weak infrastructure, poor maintenance, and the heated discussions over what sport should take precedence here. Weak infra The JNI Stadium is the home ground of KBFC, which competes in the Indian Super League (ISL) and possesses one of the highest fan bases in Asia. Sadly, the building is in dire need of proper maintenance and timely upgrades. Public anxiety peaked after a widely shared video showed concrete stands shaking while KBFC fans celebrated home goals. The video, shot from the third tier in the East Stand where the Blasters famed fan club Manjappada gathered, was termed dangerous, shocking, scary and pathetic. T Gokul Raj, a die-hard KBFC fan who regularly attends the matches with friends, says, We always worry about incidents during the chants and dances of the huge crowd. The vibrations of the stands and the leakages on the roof add to our stress. Last year, during one of the matches here, an alarming incident occurred when a piece of concrete fell from a deteriorating stadium structure, causing minor injuries to a fan. Datuk Seri Windsor John, the general secretary of the Asian Football Confederation, had warned that the present state of the stadium is a recipe for disaster. However, GCDA officials, responsible for overseeing the stadiums functions and development, dismissed these concerns, citing remarks from Javier Ceppi, the tournament director of the Under-17 World Cup held in India, that some stadiums, like those of German Bundesliga side Eintracht Frankfurt and Argentinas Boca Juniors, are designed to shake during matches. Officials have also opposed claims of administrative negligence and unresolved safety issues. The stadium was built and maintained to FIFA Under-17 standards. We regularly monitor maintenance and infrastructure development. Although the actual seating capacity is 80,000, we reduce it to 35,000 on match days to ensure safety and security, states an official. Meanwhile, Manjappada, the official fan army of KBFC, has remained conspicuously silent on these issues. Poor maintenance Improper and infrequent maintenance work is another major problem plaguing Kaloor stadium. The building, which opened in 1996, was only renovated twice - in 2000 and 2017. Officials say that tender procedures are completed for another round of renovation and repair works, but the work is yet to begin. Lack of funds is cited as the main roadblock. However, critics argue that the urgent upgrades could be funded by the rent collected from shops operating in the stadium. Now, almost all of the maintenance of the stadium is carried out by KBFC, says Hidayath Razi, the former manager of the club. The franchise is also running around for obtaining safety permissions from various departments. He contrasted this with his experience as the team manager of Odisha FC, where the state government handles ground maintenance, and provides international facilities, and even sponsors the club. Cricket vs football The ongoing disagreement between football and cricket fans also impacts the stadiums prosperity. JNI Stadium, which hosted numerous international cricket and football matches, including an India-Iraq football match in 1997 attended by approximately 1,00,000 spectators, has not hosted cricket matches since 2014 due to ISL. Cricket lovers have regularly protested this, and some within the Ernakulam District Cricket Association (EDCA) too have lambasted this omission. Kaloor stadium is capable of hosting both sports. Once, it was used for several cricket matches, including international ones. It stopped only because of utility factors and schedule clashes with ISL and other cricket matches, says an official of EDCA. He adds that turning Kochi into a single-sport destination would not benefit the citys economic growth. However, Sachin Tendulkar, the man dubbed the God of Cricket in India, has calmed the clash between fans and praised the growing football culture around Kochi. Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor, who is also an ardent cricket fan, was also in support of the #SaveKochiTurf movement. The turf laid [at JNI Stadium] is apt for top-class football. To hold a cricket match, it would have to be dug up, he wrote on social media, adding that a cricket-ready stadium in Thiruvananthapuram, was lying idle. A dearth of quality grounds Despite being capable of hosting 72-80 international matches annually, the JNI Stadiums gates are open for just 12 to 13 ISL matches a year. The stadium remains locked for the rest of the year, burdened by the regular maintenance of the turf and premises. There is a dearth of quality grounds in Kochi. This impairs the grooming of young talent. Vimal T R, the trainer of the football club United FC Cochin, says, The availability of playgrounds is fundamental for football development. Out of 100 players, only 2-3 have access to appropriate facilities for quality development. Besides certain college grounds, there are few environments for elevens tournaments. Vimal adds that using Kaloor Stadium for state-level matches would improve the quality of the players. Interestingly, the latest notification from GCDA reveals that the stadium will soon be rented out to hold non-athletic events. This, GCDA believe, will bring in much-needed money for repairs and upgrades. Assuaging concerns about the treatment of the international-level maintained turf, officials point out that Wembley Stadium in London, considered the cathedral of football, also hosts non-athletic events. Final say Whatever the case may be, sports infrastructure in the city should be ramped up. Thats not all. Whats the point in building and maintaining a crores-worth project if it is not utilised properly? The concerned departments should also see to it that there are enough sports activities all year round. Not only does this augers well for the stadium, but also helps nurture future stars, and see Kochi truly deserving of its football fandom. Is cricket leaving Kaloor for good? Kerala Cricket Associations (KCA) lease agreement validity over the JNI Stadium has long been an unsettled question among sports lovers. The KCAs decision to skip conducting cricket matches and leave the multi-purpose stadium to KBFC has intensified these doubts. Although KCA maintains an operational office in the building, it is mulling constructing a new stadium solely for cricket elsewhere in the city. The KCA is looking to build a new stadium near the Kochi airport (only site identification is done). The proceedings are in the primary stages at the governmental level, says Jayesh George, KCA president. Now, we are concentrating on getting permission to acquire excess land from the government for our upcoming project, a cricket stadium at Kollam. We are also seeking an exception to the government order that organisations are only allowed to possess a maximum of 15 acres, Jayesh adds.

Walking for a lake

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: It is where the sultry heat that gripped the capital some days ago melted away into a misty chill. As dawn breaks on the Vellayani lake every day, walkers can be seen matching pace with the shrill chirp of morning birds. The verdant paddy fields around with the lilting flow of Karamana together create an ambience for a perfect morning. This is heaven for regular morning outers who drive down from the city to fill their lungs and minds with the freshness of the green stretch, enveloped by paddy fields and vegetable farms, the water strip called the Kannukali chaal made by the Irrigation Department that drains excess water from the lake into the Karamana river, and the lake itself. The main attraction here is the Punchakkari paddy fields, the hub of migrating and native birds, making it an important stop for nature photographers. The place also gets several visitors from as early as 5 in the morning, to catch the glory of the rising birds and to see the vivid sky from near the Kireedam paalam made famous by the 1989 superhit flick Kireedam. All these might soon change, says Binu Punchakkari, a native who shot to fame as the one-man army against the waste dumping on the lake. In another 10 years, the Punchakkari may turn another Parvathi Puthanar, the once-waterway-turned-drain that runs through the city. Vellayani, Keralas second-largest freshwater lake, spread over 7.5 acres supplying water to five panchayats around, is in a sorry state, infested with coliform bacteria and microplastic deposits. I have myself scooped out around 1,200 kg of plastic waste from the lake, he says. The stretch from the Kireedam palam (bridge) to Madhu paalam is full of waste. And the walkers bund we speak about as a haven for moning walkers is near the Kireedam palam, he adds. The walkers bund is now slush-filled, he explains. The current state of the walkway The rain has further added to the woes, making a slurry of the soil dumped on the bund from the panchayat pond nearby. The pond was recently cleaned. The slaughterhouse waste that was dumped in the pond is also in the soil, making the entire place messy, Binu says, adding there was no proper response from the authorities when they were alerted of the issue. We took up the case as part of the Punchakkari Walkers Association, which was formed exclusively by regular walkers of the Kannukali chaal, and alerted the Biodiversity Board. They have asked the panchayat for the reason for the lack of action so far, says Hari Raghunathan, president of the association. The Walkers Association is a recent formation to take on the ills bogging the Kannukali chal and the walkers area. There is always the issue of plastic waste and the African payal clogging the Kannukali chal, says Nisha Hameed, the associations treasurer. The walkers yearning to make a difference, if not solve the complex issues that Vellayani faces, culled out the forum from a WhatsApp group and formed a collective of 150 members. We want to prepare a proper walkway for the regulars and set up lights and benches in the tourist area nearby. There are even plans for an open gym, explains Hari. The waste collection machinery of the local bodies was not doing much good in removing the plastic waste, according to Nisha. Repeated pleas were also not yielding results. The need for the forum came about from such lapses. There was a need to set things right for not just the walkers but for some difference to the ecological health of the area, says Nisha. To start with, the association has so far sourced funds to set up concrete benches, dust bins, and solar lights. Garbage collected kept for pick up It also organised awareness sessions such as Save Vellayani Lake Walkathon on the need to preserve the lake and canal area free from waste. Regular cleaning of the area is also being taken up by the association. We are coordinating with government departments towards this. We also have plans to join hands with groups such as Adani to utilise their resources to remove the tonnes of waste dumped in the area, says Hari, about the future plans. There are also efforts to develop mangroves and grow side trees along the walkway so that the Vellayani ecosystem gets a stronger backup. We are trying to coordinate with industries that could use the African payal as raw material for their produce. That way, the waste scooped out could be put to good use, Hari says. Status check In 2023, the state government had greenlighted a project worth Rs 96.5 crore for the rejuvination o teh Vellayali lake. Schemes were also planned as part of tourisdevelopment to create facilities such as walkways here. District Panchayat president Adv D Suresh Kumar says the local body had planned a similar poroject, which was withdrawn when the state government introduced the three-phase plan. Meanwhile, the walkers association say they had presented their request to Minister V Sivankutty. The offiials said they will look into it after the June , said Hari Ranganathan.

I love you, 3000! Surya Kavi pens glowing tributes to sun

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The sun has fascinated people for ages. For K S Jayadevan, the fascination has led him to spend the last eight years crafting nearly 3,000 poems only about the sun. Known as Surya Kavi, his poems capture its magnificence, power, and impact on our lives through simple words. The poet says this unique hobby came into being quite unexpectedly. Before 2008, the Chengannur natives priorities were more about landing a job. My life took an unexpected turn, much like the character Cuba Mukundan from the movie Arabikkatha, he quips. I was a party member. In 2008, I landed a job in Dubai. It was a period of struggle. The job, food andlanguage didnt quite fit well for me. During that time I got a chance to meet Iqbal Kuttippuram, the writer of the movie Arabikkatha. Wanting to express my gratitude, I penned four songs for him. Though they were not well received, his direct feedback sparked something within me and encouraged me to begin writing regularly. When the recession hit Dubai, Jayadevan returned to his roots and continued his writing. As social media platforms like Facebook gained prominence, he began to post four-line poems regularly as good morning messages. One day, I ended a poem by thanking the sun. It then struck me that the best thing to talk about in the morning is the sun itself. From thereon, thesun became a constant in my works, he says. In June 2021, he bagged a world record recognised by the Universal Record Forum for writing the most poems on a single subject. He also published a book containing 1,001 poems about the sun, which he claims is the worlds first. The book received recognition from the India Book of Records as well. Additionally, the International Tamil University honoured him with a doctorate. He published a book containing 1,001 poems about the sun. The book received recognition from the India Book of Records as well. I start my day at 3 in the morning and begin writing a poem. I believe theres always more to talk about the sun. Afterwards, I tune the lines. Once it is shared on social media, many people start their day reading my lines. Some even sing it and post the audio in the group. His next plan is to organise the poems in a structure similar to that of Ramayana, dissecting each section according tovritham, like Manjari and Kakali, etc. This way, he plans to create many sections with 1,00,000 lines in total. He aims to publish the work by next April. I believe in nature, and to me, the sun is the god we can see. It has been blazing for 4.5 billion years. Throughout history, many poets have lived, and written aplenty on the moon, rain, wind, and flowers, I feel not much attention has been given to the sun. My writing is a way to show gratitude. Interestingly, many have now begun to show interest in the subject, says Jayadevan, who also teaches people to write poems in the traditional format.

Two-hour downpour inundates Thiruvananthapuram, residential areas marooned

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The heavy rainfall that lashed the capital on Thursday afternoon marooned many residential areas and triggered waterlogging on all major roads. The SS Kovil Road near Thampanoor was the worst hit as the extreme showers that lasted for more than two hours caused waterlogging, disrupting vehicle movement. The overflowing waters flooded many houses in the stretch leaving the residents at the receiving end. The stretch continues to face flooding despite the city corporation spending crores of rupees on stormwater drain construction. Earlier, only the roads used to get waterlogged. But now, water is entering the houses in the region also. The government has spent several crores to prevent waterlogging on the SS Kovil Road. However, the issue remains unresolved, said former councillor C Harikumar. Many stretches where the smart road works are progressing also faced waterlogging and traffic congestion. Some of the houses in the Kunnukuzhy area were flooded following the heavy rains. Kunnukuzhy ward councillor Mary Pushpam said that drainage networks are clogged and have become narrow because of unscientific construction. She said many residents in the Kannamoola region have been living under constant fear, ever since the advent of the rain. Its a nightmare for them and hundreds of families were displaced because of the flash floods that lashed the area a few months back. People fear that if it rains overnight, the same situation will repeat. Pre-monsoon sanitation activities are not proper. The irrigation department is just removing the sands and sediments from the Kannamoola canal and dumping them on the banks instead of removing them from the site. After every rain, they are flowing back to the canal, said Mary Pushpam. Many byroads, residential, and low-lying areas faced severe waterlogging for a couple of hours, disrupting normal life during the afternoon. An official with the corporation said that the situation is under control. We received a call from the traffic police regarding waterlogging on the SS Kovil Road and our teams immediately pressed into action, said the official. An official with the District Disaster Management Authority said there is no alarming situation in the capital. We are reviewing the situation and directions have been given to the departments concerned, including the PWD and local bodies, to work jointly and complete the pre-monsoon sanitation drives as soon as possible. We are closely monitoring all these activities, said the official.

Skill development centres in colleges soon to ease 4-year UG course transition

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The government will set up skill development centres in all colleges in Kerala in the run-up to the transition of all arts and science undergraduate programmes into the four-year mode this year. Higher Education Minister R Bindu announced this on Thursday during the state-level inauguration of an orientation programme on the Four Year Undergraduate Programme (FYUGP) for Plus Two students. The event, organised by the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC), was held at St Marys Higher Secondary school in Thiruvananthapuram. Similar orientation sessions will be held in other districts in the coming days to spread awareness on FYUGP. Bindu said the foundation segment of FYUGP includes a number of skill development courses and the proposed centres will benefit undergraduate students. Lack of skills is the reason for the huge gap between education and vocation. The four-year programme is helpful in effectively bridging that gap, Bindu said, adding that pursuing skill development courses will not only keep students up to date with the latest requirements in the job market, but the coursework associated with it will also earn them valuable credits. Bindu said experiential learning is the hallmark of FYUGP, which follows a student-centric approach. Students have the freedom to select courses of their choice not only from their college but also from other institutions as well as via online mode. The academic bank of credits will allow students to store credits earned in a digital repository and transfer or use it later. On the occasion, Bindu also released the Hand Book on FYUGP prepared by KSHEC. Rajan Varughese, member-secretary, KSHEC, presided over the meeting. Fr Nelson Valiaveetil, principal, St Marys HSS, Vanaja P S, registrar, KSHEC, and school PTA president Sunil Kumar were present. Sudhindran K, KSHEC research officer, conducted the orientation session, which was attended by around 200 students, parents and teachers.

Teachers from Engineering college in Thiruvananthapuram attend world summit

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A team of five teachers from the College of Engineering, Muttathara, who emerged victorious in the Hydrogen Hackathon, attended the World Hydrogen Summit, which was held in The Netherlands from May 13 to 15. C Srikanth, Anas S R, Binu Mary Panicker, Abhilash R S, and Shalini M Venugopal, were adjudged winners of the hydrogen hackathon held in February this year, following which they were invited to the summit in Rotterdam. The hackathon focused on fostering innovation in hydrogen technology solutions. Anas said the summit offered a chance to showcase their ideas to government representatives and top companies in the green hydrogen sector at the India Pavilion, set up by the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy, and learn about funding opportunities. The teachers are gearing up to collaborate with Impact Hydrogen, a prominent company in sustainable hydrogen projects. Significant advancements in green hydrogen are crucial for sustainable development as they address the issues caused by severe climate change, said Srikanth. He said their participation in the summit highlighted the necessity for further progress in this field. The team intends to hold discussions with leaders from Impact Hydrogen, who are scheduled to visit the state in October.

FIR misses cyber terrorism against RCC: experts

Thiruvananthapuram, May 17 (UNI) Terming the cyberattack on the Regional Cancer Centre (RCC) as an act of cyber terrorism, cyber experts have opined that the FIR filed on the case by Kerala Police was facilitating the evasion of Chinese criminals and whitewashing the crime for the benefit of terrorists. Referring to Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi... The post FIR misses cyber terrorism against RCC: experts first appeared on Central India's Premier English Daily .

Rain set to intensify, orange alert in several districts in Kerala from May 18 to 20

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The pre-monsoon showers, which brought much-needed relief to the people grappling with the scorching summer, are likely to intensify over the next few days. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has forecast heavy rain ranging from 7cm to more than 20 cm in a span of 24 hours across Kerala from May 18 to 20. It has issued orange alert for Palakkad and Malappuram on May 18; for Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha and Idukki on May 19, and for seven districts Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Kottayam and Ernakulam on May 20. Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts are likely to receive extremely heavy rain (over 20 cm in 24 hours) on May 20, while in the other five districts which will also be under orange alert the rainfall will be below 20cm. Meanwhile, the IMD has issued yellow alert for Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam, Idukki, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad on Friday, with rainfall in the range of 7-11cm likely in these districts. Yellow alert has also been sounded for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Alappuzha, Idukki and Kozhikode districts on May 18, and for Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Palakkad, Malappuram and Lakshadweep Island on May 19. The Met Department has also forecast thunderstorm with lightning accompanied by gusty winds at one or two places in the state till May 20. Meanwhile, Kerala received widespread rain on Thursday, with the Urumi automated weather station (Kozhikode district) recording a maximum rainfall of 10cm. Ranni recorded a rainfall of 6cm on the day.

Kerala police take action against 243 criminals during special drive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Two days into its statewide special drive against criminal gangs and drug peddlers, the state police have so far initiated legal action against 243 people. As per the statement issued by the police, action was taken against 90 people, who were involved in a slew of criminal cases, and 153 others, against whom arrest warrants have been pending. About 53 men have been taken into preventive detention, while five men were booked under the stringent Kerala Anti Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA). On the second day of the special drive, the state police chief met other senior officers and reviewed the law and order situation in the state. The zonal IGs and range DIGs and the district police chiefs were told during the meeting to go strict against the criminal elements. The police officers were also told to take immediate legal action in cases pertaining to violence against women and children and to personally conduct follow ups in sensational cases as well as in cases connected to grave offences. The police have also decided to intensify action against drug peddlers and the intelligence and cyber wing have been told to monitor the cyber space to identify people, who are into the drug trade. The operation against gangsters and drug peddlers was launched on Wednesday following a surge in such cases in the state.

Relatives stage protest with body of deceased expatriate at AISATS office in Thiruvananthapuram

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The relatives of Nambi Rajesh, a 40-year-old expatriate whose wife could not meet him in Oman before his death, owing to the Air India Express strike, staged a protest against the airline carrying his body here on Thursday. Woman unable to see hospitalised husband before his death due to AI Express flight cancellations The protest was held in front of the office of Air India SATS (AISATS), a joint venture of the Tata Group that owns Air India Express, at Enchakkal after his body was flown in to Thiruvananthapuam international airport at 7am on Thursday. Rajesh, who underwent an angioplasty procedure for heart ailment at a hospital in Muscat last week, breathed his last on Monday shortly after he was discharged. His wife Amrita, a nursing student from Karamana, had tried twice on May 8 and 9 to board an Air India Express flight to Muscat to join her husband. But the flight was cancelled on both days on account of strike by the airline crew. According to Rajeshs father-in-law Ravi, who flew from Muscat with Rajeshs mortal remains, the protest was held as the family believes the airline is squarely responsible for Amrita not being able to meet her husband before his death. After his discharge, Rajesh, an IT engineer with Indian School in Muscat, needed care and attention which his wife could not provide as her flight got cancelled due to the strike.

Nepotism, graft charges land Kerala TV awards in soup

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Raising major allegations of corruption and nepotism in the State Television Awards, former secretary of the Kerala State Chalachitra Academy Mahesh Panju and senior filmmaker Sasi Kumar Ambalathara have moved the High Court against the Chalachitra Academy. Complaints were made against the State Television Awards 2022, announced on March 6. The case is expected to come up before the High Court for hearing next week. The petition was filed on April 12 against the academy, academy secretary, award jury chairman, other members and the recipients of the award in dispute. The petitioners sought intervention from the High Court to reevaluate the awards given to various categories including general documentary, biographical documentary, scientific-environmental documentary and best director categories. The petitioners have urged the court to stay the awards until the case is settled. Former secretary Mahesh Panju alleged irregularities and violation of the existing regulations in the process. As per norms, the general category award for best screenplay should be given for a work that is related to Kerala. However, the documentary titled Lost in Transit about the indigenous people displaced in the 1920s from the Andaman Islands was given the award. There is no connection to Kerala, alleged Mahesh Panju. Filmmaker Sasi Kumar Ambalathara said that his documentary film -Give Me a Little Land .. A loving Shore for the Sea Turtles- was also unfairly ignored by the jury. I have been in the industry for the past 30 years and this documentary is a very special work which I submitted for the environmental category. I worked day and night for weeks to come up with such a work that focuses on the Olive Ridley turtles. I had many exclusive visuals of the turtles coming to the shore and laying eggs. But they just ignored my work and gave the award to some documentary on waste management, said Sasi Kumar. Responding to the allegations, Kerala State Chalachitra Academy secretary Ajoy Chandran said the matter is in the court and the academys standing counsel is looking into the legal matters. He refused to further comment on the issue. The case was filed around a month ago and our standing counsel is looking into the matters at the court, he said.

Kerala: Two more claimants in Left front for Rajya Sabha seat

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The imminent vacancies to Rajya Sabha from the state seem to be posing a major challenge to the ruling Left front. The ruling front will be able to win two seats while the Opposition UDF will get the third one. Of the two seats, the CPM is likely to take one seat while Left allies CPI, Kerala Congress and RJD have raised demands for the second seat. Both the CPI and KC(M) feel they have a legitimate claim for the RS seat, as their seats are among those falling vacant. Meanwhile, the Rashtriya Janata Dal too raised a claim for one of the two seats. Party secretary general Varghese George said the demand has already been made. The party is of the view that since it has not been getting Lok Sabha seats to contest, the claim for an RS seat cannot be rejected. In a fresh headache to the front, one more party came forward on Thursday raising claim for the seat. NCP is the latest to join the bandwagon, as the party has plans to field its state chief P C Chacko. Speaking to TNIE, NCP leader and Forest Minister A K Saseendran confirmed that the party will raise the demand before the LDF. All parties in the Left front have the right to raise such a demand. Nothing wrong in the party raising the same. A decision will be taken after holding discussions in the front, said Saseendran. NCP national leadership is also keen to send P C Chacko to the upper house. The NCP points out that while other parties have ditched the front often, the NCP remained with the Left front, and hence has a right to demand an RS seat. Earlier even when the party had demanded so, a Lok Sabha seat was not given. The front has often promised to consider the demand later. Now we are hopeful of getting an RS seat, said party sources. Three seats will fall vacant in July as three senior Left leaders - CPM central committee member Elamaram Kareem, CPI state secretary Binoy Viswam and Kerala Congress chief Jose K Mani - will complete their tenure.

Tax revenue influx relieves cash-strapped Kerala government

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The influx of tax revenue has offered a temporary relief for the cash-strapped state government, as revenue collection deposits have enabled the state treasury to emerge from overdraft status. Prior to this development, the treasury had been operating under overdraft conditions for almost a week. Despite moving out of overdraft, the treasury is still facing a deficit. As a result, certain restrictions remain in place to limit the outflow of funds. Notably, cheques and bills above Rs 5 lakh require ways and means clearance or prior sanction from the finance department. The crisis is expected to alleviate only upon receiving the central governments approval for open market borrowings. Typically, the Centre grants borrowing sanction for the first nine months of a financial year in May. Previously, the state had requested ad hoc sanction for borrowings amounting to Rs 5,000 crore. But the state was only sanctioned Rs 3,000 crore, which has been utilized. The gross borrowing limit for the current fiscal year stands at Rs 37,500 crore for the state.

Kerala: Change of guard no cakewalk for Sudhakaran detractors in party

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The change of guard in state Congress would not be as easy as detractors of K Sudhakaran think. As discussions over organisational revamp are centred around a change of guard in the KPCC and lack of Christian representation, especially of the Roman Catholic community, the leaders who support Sudhakaran warn about a possible backlash in south and central Kerala where Ezhava and non-Catholics play a key role in electoral politics. There is dissatisfaction in the Sudhakaran faction over how a section of KPCC leaders tried to foil his return. Many leaders in the south had only excelled in table talk politics while Sudhakaran had fought endangering his life for Congress growth in Malabar, a leader close to the KPCC president told TNIE. Some leaders (reference to M M Hassan) insulted him by not seeking his opinion before revoking the disciplinary action Sudhakaran had initiated against a leader based on a complaint filed by Adoor Prakash, he said. It is learnt that the KPCC president will call a meeting of office-bearers and DCC presidents after May 23. He will leave for New Delhi on Friday for campaigning and will be there till May 23. In the May 4 meeting, it was decided to evaluate the poll at the mandalam level before May 20. Hence the office-bearers meeting was cancelled,he said. Congress brass not keen to reinstate Sudhakaran as partys Kerala chief Congress leaders pointed out that whenever the Congress came to power, it had swept the seats in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha. In 2001, when A K Antony-led UDF was elected with 100 seats, these districts played a major role in the sweeping victory. However, the disruption of the community equation that was sustained in the Congress for long affected partys poll performance in the latter years. The strong support of Latin Catholics and Ezhava community through the SNDP Yogam helped Congress win many seats. However, the interplay of non-Catholic factors was often ignored by the Congress leadership. After the demise of Oommen Chandy, there were no leaders from the Orthodox Christian Community in Congress, a senior leader said. The Congress should try to bring in more non-Catholic leaders to its leadership. The LDF made Veena George, who is from Malankara Orthodox Christian community, a minister thus reducing the distance between the CPM and the community, he said. The leaders who oppose a leadership change in KPCC point out that it was non-Catholic elements that played a major role in the last Lok Sabha and assembly elections. According to them, in the Pathanamthitta Lok Sabha constituency, there was only a small segment of Catholic votes, especially in Aranmula, Adoor, Konni and Ranni barring Poonjar, Kanjirapally and Tiruvalla segments. In the assembly elections held in Vaikom, Ettumanoor, Kottayam Kanjirapally constituencies in Kottayam district, the winners were from non-Christian communities. In Idukki, in the five constituencies except Thodupuzha and Idukki, non-Christian leaders from LDF won in three constituencies, even though UDF fielded four Christian candidates. In its heydays, the Congress had leaders like C V Padmarajan, Kadavoor Sivadasan and Prathapa Varma Thampan- all representing the Ezhava community in Kollam. In Alappuzha also there were leaders like D Sugathan, C R Jayaprakash and N K Hemachandran. In Kottayam, SNDP Yogam president N Sreenivasan became a candidate with Congress support. Slowly the representation of the community in Congress came down as leaders ignored the community equilibrium that helped it reap success. Now they are fielding leaders like M Liju and Bindu Krishna in seats where they cannot win, political analyst Ajith Sreenivasan said. Sudhakaran faction dissatisfied There is dissatisfaction in the Sudhakaran faction over the way a section of KPCC leaders tried to prevent his comeback It is learnt that the KPCC president will call a meeting of office-bearers and DCC presidents after May 23. He will leave for New Delhi on Friday for election campaigning and will be there till May 23

The Turf project provides children at Kerala government homes with ample recreational space

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The woman and Child Development Department is setting up turfs to provide safe and engaging spaces to promote recreational activities and sports among children residing in government institutions. As per a survey, around 60% of the children residing in institutions have behavioural issues. The project aims to attend to the children grappling with such problems and self-esteem challenges. The children coming and staying at these institutions have a lot of issues, especially behavioural issues. Some of them tend to show violent behaviours, and engaging them in sports activities can bring about a drastic change in their nature. We are doing a lot of activities, including yoga, arts, drawing and more. However, outdoor activities are crucial for the mental and physical rehabilitation of these children. We normally take them to nearby school grounds. Now they can utilise the turf on their premises for all physical activities, said a senior official of the women and child development department. The department is planning to implement the project in three districts -- Kannur, Malappuram and Thiruvananthapuram -- having enough space to set up turfs. The first turf under the project has been established in Kannur at a cost of Rs 18.91 lakh. There are around 21 institutions in the district. The second turf, set up at a cost of Rs 32 lakh in Malappuram, has already been completed and is awaiting the official opening, said an official. An official of the institution in Kannur said the response has been overwhelming. According to officials, the work on the third turf at the government home in Poojappura will take off soon. The project is expected to cost around Rs 29.78 lakh. The department has roped in PWD to execute the project in Thiruvananthapuram. Every year, we conduct inter-district sports competitions for our children and now we can host these events on our own turf, the official added.

Kerala government keen to rekindle kinly ties of care-home kids

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a bid to prioritise the well-being of children who fall foul of the law and those in need of care and protection, the state government has launched a comprehensive five-year action plan aimed at reducing the number of residents in its child-care institutions by 50%. According to official data, Kerala has witnessed a substantial decrease in the number of child-care institutions in recent years, from around 800 facilities housing 50,000 children eight to nine years ago to 515 centres with approximately 11,100 occupants at present. As per the Juvenile Justice Act, institutionalisation must be the last resort and every decision should be taken in the best interest of the child. The Women and Child Development Department has tied up with Unicef as a consultant for implementing de-institutionalisation and alternative-care programmes in the state. Children land in care homes owing mostly to issues ranging from finances, lack of access to education, and addiction of parents, besides as orphans. A process to profile the children in our care homes has been initiated. We need to identify their specific issues and find solutions. We will gather information on how many of these children have both parents, single parents and kin who can take care of them. Around 60% of the over 11,000 children residing in care homes have a family background and identifying the issues and finding solutions and strengthening these families will help keep the children in the family environment, said the official. Government Childrens Home for Boys in Poojappura, Thiruvananthapuram According to sources, there were nearly 24,000 children in care homes prior to the outbreak of Covid-19. A family-oriented environment is key for the well-being of these children. The pandemic saw the introduction of strict restrictions and we had to send many of the children home. Then we launched a pilot campaign in three districts -- Pathanamthitta, Ernakulam and Thiruvananthapuram -- to ensure the children dont return to institutions. Our team visited and assessed individual family situations. Many children are sent to care homes because of their financial situation and for education. If we can support them financially many of these children can remain at home, said the official. Follow up reviewing to ensure the safety of children sent back to families not happening in the state, says a child rights expert However, many child-rights activists feel that de-institutionalisation alone will not help ensure the well-being of the children. Former member of Child Rights Commission J Sandhya notes that increasing crime and sexual attacks against children is the fallout of the de-institutionalisation programme in the state. These children are vulnerable and they come to care homes for protection and care. A lot of children are going through a lot of atrocities including sexual exploitation because we are sending them back home. There needs to be a system to review and regularly follow up on these children which is lacking. Along with de-institutionalisation, the government should take same efforts to ensure the safety of these children at their home, said Sandhya. The strategic action plan of the department aims at exploring alternative care options such as foster care, family reunification and adoption. The ministry of women and child developments Mission Vatsalya scheme, launched in 2022 for the protection of children, also gives thrust to alternative care. These children need to be integrated into society and they deserve a normal future. There are limitations when these children are raised in an institution. The restrictions are not ideal for a child growing up. So, if an alternative care option exists it should be tapped in the best interest of the child, pointed out K V Manoj Kumar, chairperson of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights (KeSCPCR). He opined that adoption and the existing schemes and programmes for child welfare should be popularised. More financial aid from the Centre and state is required, stressed officials. For promoting family-based care for vulnerable children, the central and state governments pay Rs 4,000 and Rs 2,000 per month respectively to beneficiary families as child support. Last year, the state government granted funds to around 1,000 children while the Centre allotted grants to around 730 children. In 2018, the women and Child Development Department came up with the Balanidhi/Juvenile Justice Fund for the rehabilitation of marginalised children. But the initiative, which aims to mobilise funds from the public, has yet to gain traction. Recently, the central government hiked allocation for its sponsorship programme but the state government is yet to respond in kind. Support via UPI The Balanidhi/Juvenile Justice Fund to rehabilitate marginalised children, aims to mobilise funds from the public. An official associated with it said they have a Balanidhi website through which public can make contributions. They have also tied up with SBI and plan to introduce a QR code to enable UPI transactions.

Man held for attacking wife in Thiruvananthapuram

Handle with care

KOCHI: Ramachandran (name changed) moved away from the harsh summer sun into the spacious hall of the senior living facility where he stays with his wife in Thiruvananthapuram. Its unusually hot this year; we are not used to this, he says, launching into a soliloquy on the climate of Canada, from where he returned two months ago. His son is settled there. Ramachandran was a banker before he retired to the comfort of his family home at Sasthamangalam. We have given it on rent now and moved in here. We cannot maintain a house like that, and we need support. Since our only son is abroad, this is the best arrangement, he says, recollecting the memories that he left behind in that 80-year-old home that nurtured two generations of his kith and kin. Families dispersing is a very painful thing, yet it seems to be the season here. Keralas complex and diverse family structure has been the topic of several studies worldwide. The matrilineal joint family homesteads; the Brahmin households, with patriline at its core; the family systems followed by the tribespeople; the pattern of families that existed among the migrants, which was a mishmash of whatever was brought in and whatever existed here. Kerala was a crucible, where the social fabric was intact because the units, though complex, were firm and extended their foundations to social structure, architecture, inheritance laws, womens rights, etc. The cracks in this structure probably began with the entry of land reforms, says Prof M S Mahendarakumar, head of anthropology department, at Kannur University. Collective sharing of resources gave way to individual aspirations, which led to the breakage of joint family systems. The nuclear ones that were formed did have more space for individuals but also did some dismantling of the ecosystem that organically sustained many aspects of life and nature. Yearly projects undertaken by his department to study families in different communities have shown a marked decrease in joint family units, which are about 5 per cent of the total units analysed. The impact of the breakdown of family units went parallel with the rise in individualisation among the members of the units, and it has reached a proportion when the number of cracks in the family system is more than evident, notes senior psychiatrist Dr C J John, who is a member of the State Mental Health Authority. We have proceeded one more step ahead from nuclearisation. Now, people are becoming islands under one roof, he says. Many can be seen glued to their worlds on social media, and even pleasantries or unpleasantries are both exchanged via the networking platforms even if under one roof. Microworlds are created within the family. This erodes communication between the members. Many parents dont know what is happening with their own kids. A tragic example was the recent infanticide case in Ernakulam, where the family members did not know that their daughter was pregnant. Free expression is hindered, and the families do not even meet their mandate. The structure and functionality of the family suffers. Mutual respect and regard erodes, roles get diffused, and the outcome is often violence and abuses rising during conflicts in families. The resultant mental health issues are seen to be on a rise, Dr John adds. The other results of this trend is rise in behavioural disorders, faulty relationships, and substance abuse which grow to unforeseen proportions because they did not get treated properly at the nascent stage at home by responsible family members. Individualisation thus hampers handholding of senior family members, too. As per state government records, there are over 48 lakh people in Kerala aged over 60, and an estimated 24 lakh Keralites live in various countries. These are conservative figures as per the Kerala Migration Survey, 2014. A decade has passed; the numbers would have soared. The outcome is the increase in senior living facilities, both luxury and economical. My daughter has been in New Zealand for the last 20 years, she is retired, her family well-settled, yet she wont be back. She has her world there and feels out of place here. I have been staying alone after my wife passed away. Kudumbasree members help me with food and other essentials, says 87-year-old Giriraj Sundar. The migrated population are also not keen to return due to better quality of life outside and also the inherent conservatism in Kerala, believes D Dhanuraj, chairman of Centre for Public Policy Research in Kochi. Our 2023 study on youth migration showed that the majority of the students interviewed did not want to return, he says. Our ongoing survey among women who have migrated also tells the same story. While lack of jobs and low pay are cited as reasons, the women especially spoke about the conservative mindset of the society, which did not allow them as much freedom as they experienced outside the state. Besides migration, individualisation is also being reflected in the attitude of the youngsters who claim that they would rather be single than move towards a family setup conforming to societal norms. Family brings its own set of responsibilities. And then there are unreasonable curbs, says a 24-year-old woman who shifted out from her home in Malappuram to be away from her family that wanted her to marry young and follow the norms of the religion she was born into. Even if we want to share our life with someone, it should be on terms that are equal, lenient and democratic. Dhanuraj believes the prevalent social structure is to be blamed for the evident streak of individualism in society. The paradox is that even while we claim high levels of literacy, our school education system remains ill-equipped to prepare children for society and family living, he says. Gender parity, for instance, is not effectively drilled in. We have to admit we are still a conservative society. The younger lot do not get the right direction, and they tend to rebel. The result of such changes is that the dependent population suffers most. Not just elders, the problems among the children are also on the rise. It is one of the fallouts of urbanisation, says Dr John. Holistic development of the upcoming generation hangs in balance. Our social structure is slowly turning fragile. Unhealthy parenting, ranging from over-involvement to total neglect, does not bode well for society. The idea of family might change with the times. But the core concept will remain paramount. We need to preserve families, much like nature, says Dr John. Origin & theme It was during the 1980s that the United Nations began focusing on issues related to the family. After much deliberation, in December 1989, the General Assembly proclaimed The International Year of the Family. However, it was after four years, i.e. in 1993, that the UN decided to observe May 15 as The International Day of Families. And this year marks the 30th family day. Today, one of the major challenges the organisation faces is the effects of climate change. It hugely impacts the health and well-being of families through increased pollution. At the same time, extreme weather events exacerbated by climate change, such as hurricanes, droughts and floods, lead to forced displacement and loss of livelihoods for families and individuals. That is why this years theme for the day is families and climate change.

Kerala mayors council decides to improve governance

KOCHI: A mayors council meeting was held in Kochi on Wednesday under the leadership of Kochi Mayor M Anilkumar. Mayors of Kannur, Thrissur, Kozhikode, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram corporations attended the meeting which discussed measures to improvingmunicipal governance and efficiency. At the meeting, fourissues came up for discussion. They included monsoon cleaning, waste management, funding forvarious projects, and otherissuesrelated to the corporation.It wasunanimously decidedto implement the states pre-monsoon cleaning activities and comprehensive sanitation and waste management projects across all municipalities with active public participation, said Mayor Anilkumar. Project funding and treasury issues The council addressed the issue of pending bills from the 202324 municipal project funds that are included in the treasurys queue list. The local self-government minister has agreed to discuss the matter with the finance minister and the office-bearers of the mayors council, Municipal Chairmens Chamber, and the Grama Panchayat Association to expedite the release of funds. The council urged the state government to take steps to avoid delays created by the moral code of conduct in next years project activities and the current spillover list. Professionalism in municipalities The mayors council emphasised the need to make the functioning of municipalities more professional. The council decided to request the state government to appoint qualified professionals in key positions such as finance officer, town planner, legal advisor, environmental engineer, and mechanical-electric engineer without imposing additional financial burdens. Detailed discussions on the powers and responsibilities of local self-government institutions were held, with plans to present these suggestions to the state government and the Urban Commission. Efficiency in plan fund utilisation Comprehensive discussionswere heldto enhancethe efficiency of plan fund guidelines and theutilisation of funds.The formulated suggestions will be submittedto the LSG Minister and the Planning Board. These decisions reflect the councils commitment to improving municipal operations and addressing critical issues efficiently. The next mayors council willbe heldin Thiruvananthapuram in June.

A journey through world cinema

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Banner Film Society is set to fascinate movie enthusiasts with an array of contemporary world cinema at their upcoming monthly film festival, set to begin on Sunday at the Vazhuthacaud Lenin Balavadi. We aim to highlight a specific theme through our film screenings every month, emphasises R Biju, Secretary of Banner Film Society. This month, our focus is on contemporary cinema. The Banner Film Society is dedicated to providing a platform for introducing world cinema to our audience in the capital city. Our commitment to this mission remains as we celebrate our 20th year. People are coming to our screenings because of the carefully curated selection of movies. The acclaimed Iranian film World War III, directed by the filmmaker Houman Syedi, will kick off the festivities at 9.30 am. Released in 2022, the film had won accolades at the Venice Film Festival. The Bhutanese film 'The Monk' and the 'Gun', directed by Pao Choyning Dorjee and released in 2023, will be screened at 11.30 am. In the afternoon, the festival will screen Michael Goorjians 'Amerikatsi', an Armenian film released in 2022. The journey culminates in the evening with the screening of 'Atlantique', a French film directed by the filmmaker Matty Diop. Screenings at Lenin Balavadi are free to attend

Kerala police resume special drive to nab criminal gang members

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Goaded by a surge in violent crimes fuelled by drug abuse, the state police on Wednesday launched the next phase of Operation AAG and D-Hunt. Operation AAG has been launched to crackdown on the criminal gangs operating in the state, while D-Hunt will target drug offenders. The police sources said the special drive will continue for 10 days. Both the drives have been launched after several incidents of violence were reported in the state in the recent past, including the murder at Karamana. The murder was committed by the accused under the influence of drugs. So, a strong interplay between drug abuse and heinous crimes is evident, said a senior cop. As part of the drives in Thiruvananthapuram city, raids were held in various places, including Karamana, Nemom and Kovalam. One person each, who has connections with criminal gangs, was arrested from Nemom and Kovalam police station limits. The raids were also held in Melarannoor, Karamana, and Kaakkamoola areas on Wednesday. The police target pre-identified crime hotspots for inspections. Habitual offenders, who are now on bail, were summoned by the Station House Officers (SHO) to check their current status. The police have also prepared a list of criminals to be detained under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities (Prevention) Act (KAAPA). Deputy Commissioner Nidhinraj told TNIE that the operation is a comprehensive effort to identify and apprehend troublemakers and their associates. Action Against Gunda (AAG) aims to dismantle the networks supporting these criminals, including their funding sources and supply chains, and identify associated individuals. Though AAG has been operational for quite a while, the recent spike in gang attacks necessitated immediate action. We have arrested Akhildev, a habitual offender, under KAAPA and are currently investigating his connections and areas of influence, said Nidhinraj. On Tuesday night, a four-member goonda gang at Amboor in Vellarada attacked three persons in a span of just two hours. The gang, including a minor, attacked a pastor, a woman employed at Consumerfed and her husband. The 17-year-old accused has landed in police custody. The cops are in search of the minors brother and their friend Jithu. The incident took place around 9 pm. Local residents have alleged that the police did not intervene in the attacks though the violence lasted for two hours. Four persons, who came in three bikes, blocked the road and attacked those who travelled on the stretch. Last week, an armed gang hacked to death Akhil, a fish vendor in Karamana, owing to a gang war. Raids held at houses of habitual offenders In Thiruvananthapuram, raids were carried out by a 250-member team at the residences of about 60 habitual offenders. According to the statement issued by the City Commissioner, weapons and drugs were recovered from some of the houses. Akhil Dev of Kalliyoor, who is a habitual offender, was arrested for moving in to his native place flouting rules. He was arrested and remanded in judicial custody. Sreejith and Sajad, two habitual offenders, were arrested from Vizhinjam and Beemapally, respectively.

Pinarayi Vijayan to return soon from his foreign trip

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan is likely to cut short his foreign trip and return to the state on May 18 or 19. In the online cabinet meeting held on Wednesday, CM told his cabinet colleagues that he would be physically present for the special cabinet meeting to be held on May 20. There will be the usual cabinet meeting to be held on May 22 also. There are indications that once he is back, he will attend the funeral of Believers Eastern Church Metropolitan Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan (Dr K P Yohannan) on May 21 at Tiruvalla. Pinarayi Vijayan, wife Kamala and grandson had embarked on a private foreign visit on May 6 from Kochi airport. His son-in-law and minister P A Mohamed Riyas and wife were also with the CM during the tour. The tour in the middle of the Lok Sabha election had kicked up a controversy with the opposition Congress alleging that even after being the lone Left CM in the country, Pinarayi had not campaigned for the left candidates in West Bengal. Governor Arif Muhammad Khan had also criticised that he was not informed about the tour.

Driving schools in Kerala withdraw strike after talks with minister

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Driving schools in the state called off their strike following a meeting with Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar on Wednesday. The minister announced that the motor vehicle department (MVD) will take steps on a war footing to clear the pending 2.5 lakh-odd applications. Also, candidates will now be able to extend the validity of their learners licence for a nominal charge. Ganesh Kumar also announced plans to open KSRTC driving schools. Talks fail, driving schools in Kerala plan to move court against new licence test provisions Various associations of driving schools resorted to a strike earlier this month protesting against the revised format for driving tests introduced by MVD. On Wednesday, Ganesh Kumar said the department will relax some of the regulations, for a limited period, considering practical difficulties. A commission would be appointed to study unification of the charges levied by schools across the state. Slack for test vehicles The minister said motorcycles with foot-operated gear levers will be made mandatory for two-wheeler tests only after three months. M80, the two-wheeler widely used by schools, can to be replaced thereafter. Schools will be allowed to use four-wheelers with additional clutch and brake until the government provides new vehicles for tests. The expiry of the validity of test vehicles would be extended from 15 to 18 years. The current system of conducting road tests after the H-track test will be continued. Four-wheeler driving tests will be recorded using cameras, which would capture the visuals from inside the vehicle, besides the drivers front view. The cameras will be provided by MVD. The visuals will be stored on the departments servers for three months. These will help to process complaints. Test track design revision The minister said the driving test track design introduced by the MVD would be revised. The present design, devised as per the norms of the Union transport department, would consume about 50 cents. Driving schools had raised concerns. We have asked them to submit alternate proposals requiring fewer areas. But they should contain all parameters of the original design like reverse/parallel parking, zigzag or riding on ramps, he said. Driving tests by all MVD offices will be shifted to government premises in phases. Twenty-one properties owned by the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) have been identified. KSRTC driving schools The minister said the KSRTC will launch ten driving schools in the initial phase. These will offer quality coaching with the help of modern equipment like simulators. Expert drivers of the corporation will take classes. Candidates from SC and ST categories will receive fee concession. 40 tests can be conducted per day MVD to take steps on a war footing to clear pending 2.5 lakh-odd applications. 40 tests can be conducted by a Motor Vehicles Inspector per day. MVIs in the enforcement wing will be deputed for practical tests to clear the backlog. Learners licence past six months can be renewed by paying a nominal fees Terms & conditions apply Driving school instructors should have completed five years after obtaining licence Motorcycle with gear for two-wheeler test only after 3 months Four-wheeler test vehicles with additional clutch and brake to continue Four-wheeler tests to be video-recorded Road test only after H-track test The design of new testing track to be revised Tests to be shifted to government facilities in phases KSRTC to open driving schools Modern training with simulators Expert drivers to take classes Fees concession for SC, ST categories

Kerala: Sudhakaran cancels lifting of Latheefs suspension

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : M A Latheef, Thiruvananthapuram-based Congress leader who was suspended from the post of KPCC secretary and reinstated by former Congress president in-charge M M Hassan, has again been suspended by K Sudhakaran. The second suspension circular which came into effect on Wednesday states that right from booth level to constituency level, workers, leaders and DCC office-bearers have expressed their strong displeasure over revoking Latheefs suspension. The latest order suspending Latheef was issued by T U Radhakrishnan, KPCC general secretary (organization). Radhakrishnans circular states that there was strong opposition to Hassan s revocation of suspension where the party has received numerous complaints. It also states that the cancelled order had technical and factually wrong elements. Latheef was taken back to the party on April 27 by Hassan after he gave a letter to him informing him of revoking the expulsion. There were allegations that the suspension was unilaterally revoked by a section of leaders, including Hassan. Later when Sudhakaran resumed charge as Congress state president on May 8, he informed the media that certain decisions, including lifting of Latheefs suspension, would have to be cancelled.

Localised weather info can save fishers lives: Study

KOCHI: Localised marine weather information can complement forecasts to make traditional fishing safer, a new study by the Cochin University of Science and Technology (Cusat), India Meteorological Department (IMD) and the University of Sussex, UK, shows. Small-grid forecasts allow fishers to launch and land boats at secure spots, fish close to the shore, avoid high-wind ocean areas and quickly return when the weather turns foul, said Prof Abhilash S, director of Cusats Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research (ACARR), a co-author of the paper and doctoral supervisor of lead author Prabhat Kurup. Further, the availability of such forecasts can limit the number of fishing days lost due to blanket warnings that may not be relevant to local areas where the fishers go, he added. IMD senior scientist Dr V K Mini, ACARR researcher Dr M Sarang, Sussex climate researcher Dr Netsanet Alamirew and Sussex visiting research fellow and faculty at the life sciences department, Christ University, Bengaluru, Prof Max Martin are the other co-authors of the paper. In Thiruvananthapuram coastal areas, around 50,000 fishermen have witnessed 145 deaths while on the job between 2016 and 2021, and another 146 have been caught in the very severe cyclonic storm Ockhi in November 2017. Fishers have been demanding better forecasts. Ocean basins, especially the eastern Arabian Sea, are warming rapidly due to climate change. This affects the lives and livelihoods of traditional artisan fishers and the coastal communities, Abhilash said. According to him, weather systems such as cyclones and deep depressions are becoming more intense. So, the fishers have to take more risks. The most effective solution is to include them in a localised, community-oriented, impact-based forecasting system and co-produce weather information, he said. Weather derivatives: A new dawn in risk management The study highlighted the diverse wind conditions prevalent on Indias southwestern coast. The wind regime along this coast is diverse, with the speed increasing towards the south in the Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu. That would call for localised, sub-regional, and cross-state-border wind forecasts that are highly relevant for artisanal fishers, the paper noted. The paper is an outcome of the Sussex-led safe-fishing research Forecasting with Fishers in Thiruvananthapuram district of southwestern India. The research was supported by UK Research and Innovation, the Sussex Sustainability Research Programme and the Royal Geographical Society. The study used a numerical weather prediction system called the Weather Research Forecasting model downscaled at a 5x5km resolution with 1-3 days lead. Test forecasts issued for south, north and central parts of Thiruvananthapuram were much sought after by traditional fishermen who collaborated in the study. Along with IMD, the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services, peoples tech firm Gram Vaani, and Radio Monsoon community weather service collaborated with local fishers in the research. We hope our work can lead to more localised weather services by the national forecaster, Abhilash said. Small-grid forecasts A new study by Cusat, IMD and University of Sussex, UK, shows that small-grid forecasts can limit the number of fishing days lost due to blanket warnings that may not be relevant to local areas where the fishers go

Adoor Prakash stakes claim for Kerala Congress presidents post

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Adding to the woes of incumbent K Sudhakaran, who has been braving threats from certain quarters, new claimants have surfaced for the coveted office of the state Congress chief. At a time when a section within the party is pushing for Christian representation in the top brass, senior leader Adoor Prakash, MP, on Wednesday made an open claim to the presidentship of the KPCC. Am I not eligible for the post (of KPCC president)? I have been working for the Congress since 1972. I have never deserted the party and have reached where I am by working my way up from the booth level, Prakash told TNIE . Noticeably, it was just the other day that Sudhakaran faced a setback from the party's high command, which instructed him to go slow on his pet project the organisational revamp. Prakashs claim for the top post came amid severe criticism for the dismal representation in the party of Ezhavas, the largest Hindu denomination in the state. There is growing resentment within the community over alleged disregard of its members when it comes to appointments to both organisational and parliamentary posts. Karunakaran last to keep community equilibrium Out of the total 21 Congress MLAs, there is only one Ezhava, political analyst Ajith Sreenivasan said. Lack of representation in the assembly has been a point of discussion in the community, he said. After R Sankar, no Congress leader from the Ezhava community has become chief minister. While his contemporaries A K Antony and Oommen Chandy could make it to the top post, Vayalar Ravi was ignored. In the KPCC, there has been representation for the community through V M Sudheeran, Mullapally Ramachandran and K Sudhakaran, Sreenivasan said. The last leader who maintained the community equilibrium was K Karunakaran. Antony too worked to keep it, he added. Meanwhile, a senior Congress leader said that the party doesnt get much electoral support from the Ezhava community. Thats one reason why there is less representation, he said. However, Prakash challenged the contention. Only when the Congress assigns more leaders from the community in key roles will Ezhavas feel that they are getting enough representation. Earlier, there was a consensus in the Congress that only leaders from a particular community would be given certain positions. This practice has been done away with of late, he added.

Kerala's four-year UG courses: Higher credit requirements could deter enrolment

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: As four-year undergraduate courses are rolled out in arts and science colleges this year, in addition to universities, the states insistence on higher credit requirements, vis-a-vis UGCs curriculum framework, and fewer exit options may deter many students from opting for the full four years of study, say academics. The UGC curriculum and credit framework for the four-year UG programme (FYUGP) has prescribed a minimum of 120 credits for the regular degree after three years and 160 credits for the honours degree after four years. In Kerala, the minimum requirement has been fixed at 133 and 177 credits, an increase of 13 and 17 credits respectively for both options. Also, the minimum number of credits in each semester is 20 as per the national framework but 21-24 in Kerala. Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) vice chairman Rajan Gurukkal defended the states stand saying the UGC has prescribed only the minimum requirement but the state enhanced it as part of raising academic standards. There is no strict mandate on credits. Given the flexibility provided to students in choosing courses, earning the required credits would not be a tough task, he reasoned The states framework that prescribes the study of three of the five courses in the seventh semester from among the minor subjects has also not gone down well with academics. This is an irrational requirement as an in-depth study of the major subject is desirable during the last two semesters. This will discourage students from attempting the honours degree, opined Arunkumar R, associate professor and former syndicate member of the University of Kerala. Academics say the insistence on studying three minor courses in the seventh semester should be reduced to one. Instead, these could be included in the fourth and fifth semesters, if required. The minor course in seventh semester could be retained as a fourth-level course. Fewer exit options Another deviation from the UGC framework is the states single-exit option after the third year. In addition to the third year, the national framework had proposed two early exit options in the form of a UG certificate at the end of the first year and diploma after the second year provided the student has the required credits. The exit option was a bone of contention with the Centre but the state stuck to its stand that the option could be exercised only at the end of the third year. The state could consider awarding UG diploma to a student who has fallen short of acquiring the minimum 133 credits for award of degree after the third year, said Sibi C Babu, member of the core committee that drafted guidelines for implementation of FYUGP at Kerala university, Such a proposal should be seen in the light of the low success rate of around 40-50% for undergraduate courses in the state, he added. According to Gurukkal, the states policy is against awarding UG certificates and diplomas just for completing various segments of the course. The academic bank of credits, through which the students can store the credits achieved and use it at a later stage for completion of the course, has been conceived primarily with this objective, he said. A student who discontinues studies temporarily can use the credits stored digitally and continue the course in the same university or any higher educational institution of his choice. This facility is available for up to seven years he explained. Research component For the four-year UG (honours with research) programmes, the role of research guides is critical. However, it is pointed out that some universities are restricting research guideship to faculty from postgraduate departments. Teachers unions have demanded that all eligible faculty members be allowed to function as research guides, without which the very structure of FYUGP would be compromised. A section of faculty members has also pointed out that the syllabi of courses of the various programmes were still not complete at the university level. The implementation of FYUGP will be in peril, given the current lack of academic preparedness of universities, they said. Government allays concerns; To hold orientation prog for students TPuram: The concerns of students over the upcoming four-year undergraduate programmes (FYUGP) will be addressed before its rollout this year in colleges, Higher Education Minister R Bindu assured on Wednesday. An orientation programme on FYUGP will be held for students who have cleared Plus-II and the general public. The statewide inauguration of the programme will be held at St Marys Higher Secondary School, Pattom at 10 am on Thursday. Senior officials of the Kerala State Higher Education Council will also attend the orientation programme. In a meeting with the minister here on Wednesday, representatives of various student unions expressed concerns over exams being held at the college level and the availability of sufficient courses to choose from. Bindu assured that the government will intervene whenever required to allay such concerns.

Kerala rolls out Green Leaf rating for hospitality sector

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala government has rolled out the Swachhata Green Leaf Rating encompassing hotels, resorts, lodges, homestays and eateries, in a move aimed at ensuring hygiene and sanitation standards at major tourism destinations. The project, rolled out jointly by the Suchitwa Mission and tourism department in the state, is part of the national flagship programme of the Union Jal Shakti and Tourism ministries. As many as 357 hospitality facilities have been identified statewide for the initial phase. Operators in the hospitality sector will be encouraged to adopt good practices for providing improved and safe sanitation facilities. The Suchitwa Mission has come up with an online portal to implement the programme and hospitality facilities will be given one, three or five green leaf ratings after verification. Suchitwa Mission set up a portal for the three-phase process orientation, voluntary declaration and verification as the number of operators is huge in our state and its impossible to carry out this process manually, an official associated with the project told TNIE . The official said the self-assessment process will be completed by May 20 and the verification by June 2. The rating declaration and certification will be given next month itself, said the official. Segregation of solid waste at source, disposal of solid waste and other waste, including biomedical waste, mattresses, rubber, metals, and e-waste, on-site management of greywater, separation of black and greywater, and recycling of treated water are among the parameters on which each institution will be assessed. The initiative aims to build a positive image and branding of tourist entities. We have constituted district-level verification subcommittees and committees. There will also be a state-level committee to review the rating, said the official. The chief secretary will chair the state-level committee which will have tourism department secretary and secretary in-charge of rural sanitation among its members. Participating entities need to score at least 50% in each head to become entitled to the Swachhata Green Leaf Verification (one, three or five leaves). In due course, the ratings will be made part of industry branding ratings by Trip Advisor, OYO, Booking.com and others to integrate safely managed sanitation. In the future, operators of such facilities should have at least a single green leaf rating. The rating may become mandatory, said the official. A district-level orientation programme has kicked off across the state. In Thiruvananthapuram, the programme will be held on Thursday. 200 marks total Marks will be awarded out of a total of 200. Of this, 80 marks each will be total for faecal sludge management and solid waste management, while 40 marks will be for greywater management.

Summer rain in Kerala brings relief to KSEB, peak demand declines by 1,500 MW

KOCHI: The summer rains that lashed the state over the past week brought respite from the sweltering heat as the daytime temperature dropped by 1 to 4.5 degrees Celsius across Kerala. However, it was the KSEB that heaved a sigh of relief. The daily power consumption which was soaring at an alarming rate, dropped by around 25 million units and the peak demand declined by 1,500 MW. As the peak demand touched 5,854 MW on May 2, the KSEB had taken steps to reduce consumption during peak hours. The board had requested public sector units, big industries, Water Authority and lift irrigation projects to re-schedule shifts which helped to reduce consumption by around 200 MW. However, the peak demand continued above 5,000 MW till May 10. With rain gods finally smiling, the daily consumption dropped to 98.89 million units on May 10. The peak demand plunged to 4,365 MW on May 14 registering a drop of 1,489 MW compared to May 2. The KSEB which was scrambling to purchase power from the Day Ahead Market and Real Time Market at exorbitant rate is relieved as the power situation has become normal. A cyclonic circulation over the southwest Bay of Bengal and adjoining south Sri Lanka and a trough that runs from this cyclonic circulation to Lakshadweep has brought rains to Kerala. Under its influence, the state is expected to receive isolated heavy rainfall from May 15 to May 19. The Southwest Monsoon is likely to advance into South Andaman sea and some parts of the Southeast Bay of Bengal on May 19. Normally the Monsoon reaches Kerala shore within 10 days after reaching South Andaman. So there are chances of the onset of Monsoon by June 1, said IMD scientist V K Mini. According to Cusat Advanced Centre for Atmospheric Radar Research director S Abhilash, there is little chance for the rise in temperature as the state will be receiving moderate rainfall for the next few days under the influence of a cyclonic circulation in the Bay of Bengal and a trough running from Sri Lanka to Lakshadweep. There are chances for the formation of a low-pressure area in the Bay of Bengal which may bring more rains, he said. Max temperature April 29/May 15 (0C)/ Drop in temperature Thiruvananthapuram: 36.2/ 33.9/ -2.3 Punalur (Kollam): 38.6/ 35.6/ -3 Alappuzha: 38.3/ 35.9/ -2.4 Kochi: 34.4/ 33.6/ -0.8 Vellanikara (Thrissur): 40.0/ 36.2/ -3.8 Palakkad: 41.3/ 36.9/ -4.4 Kozhikode: 38.1/ 35.0/ -3.1 Kannur: 36.7/ 35.2/ -1.5

Kerala's intelligence wing unmasks identity of 62 members of drug cartel

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police have unmasked the identity of 62 drug dealers, who have been operating from behind the curtains and hitherto remained unknown to the law enforcement agencies, after a 5-month long special operation conducted by the state intelligence wing. The dealers, all men and hailing from diverse social backgrounds, were identified during an operation launched by the technical wing of the intelligence with the assistance of the intelligence operatives on the ground. What makes the list so special is that the 62 men, who featured in it, had no criminal antecedents. The local police as well as the local intelligence plainclothes were clueless about the involvement of those men in drug cases. A highly-placed officer told TNIE that a special drive was launched this January to bring to light those men, who were secretly involved in smuggling drugs into the state without leaving any footprints behind. None of those 62 men were on the police radar. Overtly, they were into various professions, but covertly they were into drug peddling and that was their main source of income. They were found to be having inter-state connections and played a key role in bringing synthetic drug into the state, the officer said. The technical intelligence wing, according to the officer, painstakingly retrieved tidbits of information from various sources, including social media platforms. The contacts of those who were earlier caught by the police in drug cases were also traced to find covert members of drug rackets. The information collated by the technical wing was corroborated using the local intelligence sleuths. This helped weed out names that were wrongly included by the software. We had over 62 names. However, many were found to be included wrongly by the software. For example, two women, primarily homemakers, were on the preliminary list after the digital footprints showed they were part of drug rackets. However, the local intelligence reports gave them a clean chit and their names were removed, said another source. The list has people who operate under the garb of auto drivers, people who returned from Gulf regions, and manual labourers. The list was forwarded to the district police and six people have been so far arrested under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. Sources said the men arrested were from Thiruvananthapuram City, Kollam City, Alappuzha City, Ernakulam Rural and Kozhikode City.

Rare brain infection PAM reported from Kerala, 5-yr-old on put on ventilator

Thiruvananthapuram, May 15: A rare brain infection primary amoebic meningoencephalitis ( PAM) has been detected in a five-year-old girl who is under treatment at the Kozhikode Medical College Hospital. The child, who hails from Malappuram, was initially treated local but after her condition worsened, she was shifted to Kozhikode where she is on [] The post Rare brain infection PAM reported from Kerala, 5-yr-old on put on ventilator appeared first on The Shillong Times .

Thiruvananthapuram Corpn. to form squads to check structural stability of hoardings

All illegal hoardings installed without following civic bodys guidelines and not having hologram sticker provided by it to be removed

Kerala launches mega cleaning drive ahead of monsoon onset

Kerala launches mega cleaning drive ahead of monsoon onset Thiruvananthapuram: A massive state-wide clean-up operation has been launched in Kerala ahead of the arrival of the southwest monsoon covering all the 19,489 wards in the state. The cleaning operation is being spearheaded by the Local Self Government Institutions (LSGIs) to prevent incidences of epidemics, especially [] The post Kerala launches mega cleaning drive ahead of monsoon onset appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Congress estimates Rs 500 cr loss due to drought, demands compensation for Kerala farmers

Congress estimates Rs 500 cr loss due to drought, demands compensation for Kerala farmers Thiruvananthapuram: State Congress President K Sudhakaran on Wednesday demanded compensation for farmers who have suffered losses due to the drought and heatwave that hit Kerala in the last few months. The total loss that has been estimated is to the tune [] The post Congress estimates Rs 500 cr loss due to drought, demands compensation for Kerala farmers appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Kerala Police initiate Operation AAG to curb gang violence in state capital

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the wake of an increase in gang-related violence, the City police on Wednesday initiated 'Operation AAG,' targeting gang members in the capital district. The raids are ongoing in Karamana and Nemom in the state capital. The city witnessed a number of goonda attacks in the last week. Deputy Commissioner of Police Nidhinraj informed The New Indian Express that the operation is a comprehensive effort to identify and apprehend troublemakers and their associates. 'Action Against Gunda' (AAG) aims to dismantle the networks supporting these criminals, including their funding sources and supply chains, and identify associated individuals. Although AAG has been operational, the recent spike in gang attacks necessitated an immediate action. We have arrested Akhildev, an anti-social under the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) and are currently investigating his connections and areas of influence, said Nidhinraj. The police have decided to cover areas of Melarannoor-Karamana, Kaakkamoola-Nemom on Wednesday. Yesterday, a four member gang in Amboor, Vellarada unleashed an attack of two hours in the night. The gang, including a minor, attacked three people- a pastor, a woman employed at Consumerfed and her husband. Police have taken the 17 year old to custody. They are in search of the minor's brother, Abin Roy and their friend Jithu. The incident happened around 9pm. People of the locality complain that the police did not intervene though it lasted for two hours. Four persons, in three bikes, blocked the road and attacked those who came that way. The victims have been taken to Medical college. Last week, a gang hacked to death Akhil, a fish vendor in Karamana. The members of the gang dropped a rock on Akhil after bludgeoning his head in a gang war related murder.

CM Vijayan cuts short Singapore leg of private visit; to reach India on May 20

CM Vijayan cuts short Singapore leg of private visit; to reach India on May 20 Thiruvananthapuram: The now controversial private visit of Kerala Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan and his family was cut short and on Wednesday morning they reached Dubai, UAE. CM Vijayan had left India on May 6 for a three-nation tour of [] The post CM Vijayan cuts short Singapore leg of private visit; to reach India on May 20 appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Moms-to-be walk the ramp to celebrate Mothers Day in Thiruvananthapuram

Momsoon, a fashion show, saw 12 pregnant women dazzle on the ramp

Kick, kick hurray !

KOCHI: The football landscape in Kerala, buoyed by its fervent fan base and a reservoir of talent, is set to see a new dawn with the advent of the Super League Kerala (SLK), organised by the state football association in partnership with Unified Football Sports Development Pvt Ltd. With six inaugural teams and matches at four venues spread across the state, this mens franchise football league is, in the words of Kerala Football Association (KFA) president Navas Meeran, expected to bring the same fervour and excitement as what football fans get to experience in Latin America and Europe. A glance at the list of team owners is enough to quash any doubts regarding the scale of the league. It comprises big names such as Mahesh Bhupathi; Gowri Lakshmi Bayi, a member of the erstwhile Travancore royal family; Kaz Patafta, a former Benfica player and chairman of Australian club Brisbane Roar FC, and the whos who of the corporate world. Football commentator Sreenadh Madhukumar, who had a ringside view of the recent franchisee unveiling ceremony, attests to the leagues organisational prowess. The inauguration ceremony was amazing and touched the same standards as the Indian Premier League, he gushes. I have a very positive impression about the SLK. The organisers have already given us signs that they will market this product well. But could holding an event well translate to being able to hold and manage football tournaments? Will the league help nurture more local talent? Only time will tell. But any football is good football, and more is certainly great seems to be the logic that pundits swear by. Each team will comprise four foreign players, besides young and talented players from both Kerala and other states. According to an SLK statement, at least 100 players from the state will be part of the league. Sreenadh points out that grassroots-level development neednt be the main focus of the SLK now as there are already a plethora of initiatives steered by the KFA and the All India Football Federation (AIFF) to facilitate this. His only concern is timing. The SLK games will likely overlap with the Indian Super League (ISL) and the KFAs own Kerala Premier League (KPL), he says. But I believe this wont be a problem as SLK will most definitely glam up to catch its own audience. The Super League is slated to commence in September and will last 45-60 days. However, Navas assures that the league will be designed in such a way that fixtures dont clash with the games of ISL and I-League. Football enthusiast Unni Paravannur dismisses concerns of overlapping. Kerala Blasters, the only ISL team from Kerala, has already built a dedicated fan base for their team. SLK will not affect their following, he says. The same holds true the other way as well. Rather than ISL being a deterrent for SLK, it might well augment it as the latter can ride the Manjappada wave for better reach and TV presence. Notably, the TPuram Kombans FC and the Kochi Pipers FC will share the Nehru Stadium in Kaloor with the Kerala Blasters as their home base. The Kannur and Kozhikode teams will use the EMS Corporation Stadium, while Malappuram and Thrissur will play their home matches in Manjeri, says Mathew Joseph, CEO of SLK. Unni laments that the football infrastructure in the state, despite its longstanding passion for the game, is not comparable with other states such as West Bengal or Odisha. Thats why we dont get to see the Indian national team play in Kerala, he says. One of the persistent concerns raised by the Greater Cochin Development Authority, which manages the Nehru Stadium, is the lack of matches. While SLK is certain to soothe this ache to some extent with its fixtures, Unni maintains that its not a win, as most take it, for Kaloor stadium. More football is good, but whether that will actually translate to any credible work on refurbishment of the infrastructure remains to be seen, he adds. Unni, however, remains optimistic about SLKs prospects. Just as how ISL positively impacted how football is showcased to the audience, this league, too, will raise the profile of Kerala football, he says. Injecting money into football is indeed beneficial, but the decision to set up a new league instead of integrating with the Kerala Premier League (KPL), the associations own league and officially recognised by AIFF, puzzles Krishnan G, who hosts the Gods Own Football podcast. The current leadership won the election to the KFA super body promising to introduce this league. They could have done so in KPL itself. Instead, they went for something entirely new, he notes. The trouble or the challenge now would be how to link these extra clubs or franchises to the existing structure. We can only wait and watch. Another struggle for the KPL teams is that the talent quality available for them will go down as SLK takes precedence. Three prominent KPL teams have a tie-up with SLK sides. TNIE has learnt that Wayanad United is already mulling moving its top players to Kannur Squad, which its president Shammem Backer co-owns. A similar move is unfolding at Kovalam FC as well, which has ties to Kombans. Whats noteworthy here is that it is the top two teams of the Kerala Premier League that go on to play in the I-League division. Because SLK has foreign players, AIFF regulations mean that they are not eligible to compete in official leagues, says Krishnan. Football analyst Mishal Thanveer holds a similar opinion. The new league seems more about profit than enhancing the sports. Its the same I-League vs ISL scenario again. The KPL, with its 22-team format, is a huge platform for players to get much-needed matches. I hope SLK should in no way affect that, he says. However, Mathew, the CEO of SLK, clarifies that the league is held as per AIFF rules. The league is officially sanctioned by AIFF and KFA, he says. Meanwhile, a KFA official says the SLK is expected to meet I-League criteria a few years down the line, when more franchisees add to the current list. According to Kenny Roger Moise, a football enthusiast, sports leagues are like weddings in India. Big, loud and colourful. Every state is organising its own league. Yes, big leagues have given football the glitz and glam the game deserves, he says. But I wonder if its sustainable, and whether such leagues have a long-term vision. They focus on profit, rather than nurturing talents. Even as there is a bit of skepticism in the air, the legends are gung-ho about the new league. If India has to qualify for the World Cup, Kerala has a huge role to play. We need to produce 11 players like I M Vijayan and Jo Paul Anchery, and I hope SLK will help in doing that, says former Indian skipper Bhaichung Bhutia. Vijayan, the black pearl of Indian football, is also excited about SLK, of which he is an ambassador. During our days, there were several tournaments, and that was what propelled seven to nine players from Kerala to the national camp at one point of time, he recalls. I hope SLK brings those amazing days back. Currently, only a few players from Kerala get the opportunity to play in the Indian Super League and the I-League. If the SLK promises to open a new world for Kerala football and help aspiring local footballers develop a more professional attitude towards the sport, then we have only one thing to say: game on! Teams & owners Kochi Pipers: Mahesh Bhupathi Thrissur Roar: Kaz Patafta, CEO of Brisbane Roar FC; Benoit Joseph of Magnus Sports, Mohammed Rafeeq of Nusym Technologies Kannur Squad: M P Hassan Kunhi, director of Kannur Intl Airport Ltd; Mibu Jose Nettikadan, MD of Castle Group; Praveesh Kuzhuppilly, Asset Homes director; and Shameem Backer of Wayanad FC Thiruvananthapuram Kombans: Aswathy Thirunal Gowri Lakshmi Bayi; Dr Mohamed Ilyas Sahadulla, KIMS Hospital CMD; K C Chandrahasan, of Kerala Travels; and T J Mathews, Kovalam FC Malappuram FC: Ajmal Bismi, MD of Bismi Group; Dr Anvar Ameen Chelat, of SAT Tirur FC and Grand Hypermarkets; and Baby Neelambra, President of Saudi Indian Football Forum Calicut Sulthans FC: V K Mathews, tech entrepreneur and chairman of IBS Group

Kerala woman couldn't see her husband before death due to Air India strike

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The family of a 25-year-old woman, who could not meet her husband before his death in a hospital in Oman, owing to the recent flash strike by Air India Express crew, has said they will take legal recourse against the airline. Amrita, a nursing student from Karamana here, had booked tickets for May 8 to see her husband in Muscat, but on reaching the airport, she was told that the flight was cancelled owing to the strike. After she protested at the airport, Air India Express offered her a ticket on the same airline on May 9. However, that ticket too was cancelled due to the strike and she had to abandon her travel plans altogether. The airline refunded the full fare, which was booked through a travel agent. But Amrita could not book another flight due to the exorbitant fares of other airlines to Muscat. Amritas husband Nambi Rajesh, an IT manager, breathed his last in the hospital in Muscat and the news reached her on Monday. Except mediapersons, nobody else has visited our house. No representative of the airline has contacted us till now, said Amritas mother Chitra T. We will take legal action against the airline that left us in such a terrible situation, she added. When contacted, an official of Air India Express expressed deep condolences over the incident. After the second flight was cancelled, we offered a full refund of the fare which was accepted by the passenger. We do not know why the passenger could not travel to Muscat after May 9, the official said. The Tata group owned airline said it operates over 380 flights daily and on May 8 around 80 flights, including those from Thiruvananthapuram, had to be cancelled owing to the strike.

Two-member panel to probe standoff in Kasaragod Congress

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: State Congress leadership has intervened in the tussle between senior leader Rajmohan Unnithan and Kasaragod district Congress leadership that crossed all limits. The KPCC president has appointed a two -member committee including N Subramaniyan, member of political affairs committee, and P M Niyas, KPCC general secretary. They have been asked to inquire into the issue and submit a report to the KPCC president. The already strained relationship between the district Congress leadership and Rajmohan Unnithan worsened after a photo of Pramod Periya, Congress mandalam president of Periya, attending in a wedding reception organised by the 13th accused in the murder of two Youth Congress leaders Sarath Lal and Kripesh was widely circulated. After he was suspended by the DCC leadership, Pramod said that many Congress leaders, including KPCC secretary Balakrishnan Periya, had attended the reception along with him. Rajmohan Unnithan in a Facebook post stated that those who betrayed martyrs would not be pardoned. In response, Balakrishnan posted a photo of Unnithan with an accused in the twin murder case and said that he would leave the party, citing Rajmohans hostile stance towards him. After the intervention of the KPCC leadership, Balakrishnan deleted the posts. However, Rajmohan continued to challenge Balakrishnan to stick to his stand. He also alleged that there was an attempt to defeat him in the Lok Sabha elections.

Kerala: Milma staff call off strike after conciliation meet

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Milma milk supply was disrupted under the Thiruvananthapuram region owing to the strike by a section of employees. Supply was affected in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta from Tuesday afternoon. Employees in the lower rung of the organisation, including those working in factory, laboratory and marketing wings, are protesting against the delay in their promotions. They also tried to disrupt the interview for promotion of personnel in the officer grade. A source said milk processing and packing work was disrupted in the three units from Tuesday morning. The joint forum of the employees' organisations have put forward a charter of demands to the management. Immediate steps for promotions in the lower cadre and withdrawal of police cases against employees are the major demands. The police have registered cases against over 40 employees of the Kollam unit for attempting to disrupt promotions. According to the employees, promotions have stalled for the past four years. Meanwhile, the employees called off the strike on Tuesday evening following a conciliation meeting.

Governor to launch Thiruvananthapuram management association annual conference on May 16

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will inaugurate TRIMA, the annual event of Thiruvananthapuram Management Association (TMA) at O by Tamara on Thursday. The theme of the two-day conference is One health: All for one, one for all. Former ambassador T P Sreenivasan, TMA president C Padmakumar and secretary, Wing Commander Rajasree D Nair, will attend the inaugural session. Health Minister Veena George will inaugurate the closing ceremony on Friday. Dr Ritu Singh Chauhan, National professional officer, IHR-WHO, and A Bhuvaneswari, SBI chief general manager Dr D Sreekumar from Aravalli Veterinary Hospital-Rajasthan, Dr Prijith Nambiar from WHO, Rajeev Vasudevan from Apollo Ayurveda, Dr A V Anoop from AVA Group, Rosemary Hegde from TCS, Chethan Makam from Terumo Penpol, Dr M I Sahadulla from KIMS Health and Dr M R Rajagopal from Pallium India will be part of the event. Awards S N Raghuchandran Nair, president, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries, has been named a recipient of the TMA-Trivandrum Development Award in recognition of his contributions to the overall development of Thiruvananthapuram. IBS Software Pvt Ltd has been chosen for the TMA-Padoson CSR Award. DC School of Management and Technology will receive the TMA-NIMS Best B School Award. Asian School of Business is the runner-up. Alma, Neehara R Nair and Roshna Parveen R from CET School of Management have bagged the first prize in the TMA-KIMS Health Theme Presentation award. Govind S and Adi Narayanan from DC School of Management and Technology are the runner-up. The governor will present the awards on Thursday.

Major shortfall in Kerala's police force, says report

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state police need an additional 7,000 officers to bridge the demand gap and ensure one officer for every 500 citizens. With the strength of the police standing at 53,222 officers for a population of 3.3 crore, the force is stretched thin. A staggering 2,35,858 criminal offences were reported in 2022, according to the National Crime Records Bureau. Aam Aadmi activist M V Shilparaj from Thimiri, obtained the documents using the Right to Information Act on the issue. According to the documents, the police force falls short of the recommended police-to-citizen ratio proposed in a 2016 study by the personnel and administrative department. While the study advised one police officer for every 500 citizens, the state currently averages one officer for every 656 citizens. This disparity shows the urgent need for additional force in the department. A shortfall of 7,000 officers required to meet the recommended ratio shows that government measures proposed in 2016 are yet to be implemented effectively.

Southeast Asia to bring king fish to Malayali platter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: King fish aka neymeen, one of the most sought-after fish among Malayalis, will soon be reaching the seafood lovers platter all the way from Southeast Asia. With its availability having come down in recent times, a kilo of king fish is now priced at around Rs 1,500. Leading fish exporters and importers from the state have held talks with stakeholders in Europe and Southeast Asia to meet the demand as they feel the purchasing power of Keralites has increased. Malayalis identify king fish by several names, like surmai, seer fish, and aiykoora. Considered the most delectable of fish, it has become highly expensive over the past several months. Its price almost doubled during the period, making it unaffordable for an average Malayali family. Mathew Joseph, the brain behind Indias first digital fresh fish and meat store Fresh to Home, told TNIE that he has been involved in talks to import king fish. The landing of king fish on the Kerala coast has come down, making it a rarity in the local markets. Its price in Kerala has risen beyond the international market rate. This has led a few of us, fish exporters and importers, to seriously look into the aspect of importing king fish from Europe and Southeast Asia, Mathew said. At the same time, he said the price of imported king fish may not come down quickly as the demand among the upper middle class continues to be huge. The king fish season starts after June, pointed out Saju Ambrose who runs the restaurant Kadaloram near Vettucaud Church. Normally, king fish catch comes from the coastal areas of Kollam, Alappuzha and Ernakulam. Albeit rarely, it is spotted in Vizhinjam too. On Monday, a three-kilo king fish was auctioned off for Rs 4,200 there. My clientele wont buy fish at such an exorbitant price, Saju said. Whether imported king fish is affordable or not will be known once the first consignment reaches Kochi harbour next month. Too pricey to devour It is not only the price of king fish that has gone up but of all varieties. With Tamil Nadu and Andhra Pradesh witnessing trawling bans now, the traders from those states are making a beeline to the Kerala coast to buy fish caught here. Compared to a month ago, the price of fish has doubled, said Priya Dinesh, a resident of Jawahar Nagar in the capital. Apart from buying fish from the local vendor, Priya also buys from the Neerazhi Lane fish market at Ulloor. I usually buy fish for C1,000 to 1,200. Last week, I bought a kilo of mackerel for C397, which otherwise costed Rs 160 to Rs 180. The same was the case with big anchovy which was earlier available for Rs 200. Now, I guess buying chicken or beef is more viable, Priya said.

Cap Kerala's Plus-1 batch strength at 50 to arrest falling standards says stakeholders

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state governments decision to carry on with the policy of raising the student strength in Plus-I batches from the prescribed 50 to 60 and even to 65 to meet the increasing demand is poised to adversely impact the overall standards of the higher secondary sector. In the wake of a sharp drop in the Plus-II success rate this year, there are renewed demands to limit the higher secondary batch strength to 50. Stakeholders have suggested that the batches required could be sanctioned temporarily, as was done in previous years, to address the issue. This year, the government has decided to create close to 62,000 new Plus-I seats by effecting a marginal increase of 20% to 30% of the existing seats in most of the districts. This would offset the huge financial burden that would arise if over 1,200 new Plus-I batches are sanctioned in its place, said an official with the general education department. The financial strain on account of the appointment of permanent teachers is also cited as the reason why 178 higher secondary batches, created since 2022-23, are still being sustained as temporary batches and guest teachers appointed in them. The total number of students in these batches would add up to nearly 12,000. General Education Minister V Sivankutty has ruled out sanctioning new Plus-I batches. According to the department, the marginal increase in Higher Secondary Plus-I seats would suffice this year as close to one lakh additional seats are available across the state in VHSE, ITI and Polytechnic streams. No new Plus-I batches in Kerala this year: V Sivankutty As the cash-strapped government places fiscal prudence over academic standards, the result is a suffocating environment for students in batches with intake of 60 and 65. Overcrowded classrooms and struggle for basic facilities have become a daily affair in government schools of northern districts, especially in Malappuram. Our Plus-II curriculum has a process-oriented, learner-centred and issue-based approach and does not follow the lecture-based method followed in higher educational institutions. This means each student or group of students has to be given individual attention and their learning outcomes monitored closely, said Abdul Jaleel Panakkad, a senior functionary of the Kerala Higher Secondary Teachers Union. While admitting that a large number of schools in northern Kerala were grappling with overcrowded batches, sanctioning of additional batches should be carried out only after a proper taluk-wise study of the actual requirement, suggested Manoj S of Aided Higher Secondary Teachers Association. In some districts in southern Kerala, there are more Plus-I seats than the number of students who passed the SSLC examination this year. This imbalance in demand and supply should be scientifically addressed, he said. This year, the success rate in the Higher Secondary Plus-II examination was 78.69%, denoting a significant dip of 4.26% from last years pass percentage. Since no specific instruction was given by the General Education Department for stricter evaluation, stakeholders have attributed the sharp dip in success rate to falling academic standards. Due to the overcrowded classrooms and the added strain on infrastructure, the learning outcomes may not be properly met, admitted a senior official with the State Council for Educational Research and Training (SCERT). In such a scenario, the odds are stacked heavily against the academically weaker students who need individual attention, the official pointed out.

Kerala: Go slow on revamp, high command tells Sudhakaran

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In an apparent setback for state Congress chief K Sudhakaran, the party high command has stalled his move for an immediate organisational revamp of the party in Kerala. Party leaders as well as workers are in a holiday mood now after hectic electioneering lasting over a month. The national leadership is of the view that party revamp can wait, and senior leaders agreed to it, KPCC general secretary (organisation) T U Radhakrishnan told TNIE on Tuesday. The entire process can be set rolling once the election results are out on June 4, Radhakrishnan said. Sudhakaran returns as Kerala Congress chief, questions some decisions by Hassan After resuming charge as the KPCC chief recently, Sudhakaran, who is the Congress candidate from Kannur Lok Sabha constituency, has taken upon himself the task of organisational revamp, which is long overdue. He had called a meeting of state office bearers and district Congress committee presidents at Indira Bhavan on Thursday. District leadership of the party have been reportedly directed to prepare a list of names to be considered for the revamp. Till now, the practice was that Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan would jointly ask for the lists from DCCs as well as factions within the party. On receipt of the list, both leaders would sit together and finalise the names. But now Sudhakaran is keen to get rid of any outside intervention, including that of Satheesan. A senior Congress leader attributed Sudhakarans stubborn stand to the deliberate leaking of an audio in which Satheesan questioned him on the funds received for the Lok Sabha elections. Sudhakaran was cast in bad light which led to uncertainty over him resuming the role of party chief. He is annoyed at this, and has decided to take up tasks, including orgnaisation revamp, single-handedly, the senior leader said.

Intense Rains Hit Kerala, IMD Warns of Orange Alert in These Two Districts

Kerala is facing heavy rainfall, bringing relief after enduring a week of scorching heat. The India Meteorological Department (IMD) has issued an orange alert in two of the state's 14 districts, with eight districts under a yellow alert. Thunderstorms, along with moderate rainfall and strong winds, are expected. As Kerala experiences a welcome reprieve from the heat with heavy rains, the India Meteorological Department (IMD) has raised concerns by issuing an orange alert in two districts among the 14 in the state. Pathanamthitta and Idukki districts are under the orange alert for the day. Additionally, eight districts in the southern part of the state are on yellow alert for today. An orange alert signifies very heavy rainfall ranging from 6 cm to 20 cm, while a yellow alert indicates heavy rainfall between 6 and 11 cm. The IMD has also forecasted thunderstorms with moderate rainfall and gusty winds in specific areas of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Pathanamthitta, Idukki, Palakkad, Malappuram, and Wayanad districts. Meanwhile, the Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) has issued a warning for rough seas along the Kerala and south Tamil Nadu coastlines for today. Based on information from the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), the alert predicts rough sea conditions along the Kerala coast until 11.30 pm today, with wave heights ranging from 0.5 to 1.2 meters. Similar conditions are expected along the Tamil Nadu coast during the same period, with wave heights varying between 0.7 to 1.1 meters, according to the KSDMA. Fishermen, coastal residents, and travelers are advised to remain cautious, take necessary precautions, and avoid beach visits due to these rough sea conditions. Fatal Ambulance Fire Claims Patient's Life in Kozhikode, Kerala Kerala Nadwathul Mujahideen Opposes Reduction in Muslim Reservation Red Alert Issued as Rough Waves Hit Coastal Areas of Kerala and South Tamil Nadu

This young widows family is set to sue AI Express over the strike

Thiruvananthapuram: The Air India Express cabin crew strike last week has left a young woman called Amritha in tears forever, as she failed to be by her ailing husbands side in his final moments in Muscat. Amrithas family has decided to take legal steps against the airline. Amritha, who was seen wailing on May 8 Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Milma employees on strike; Milk supply to be disrupted in Kerala

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Milma milk supply will be disrupted under the Thiruvananthapuram region owing to the token strike by a section of employees. Supply will be affected in the districts of Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Pathanamthitta from Tuesday afternoon. Employees in the lower rung of the organisation, including those working in the factory, laboratory and marketing wings, are protesting against the delay in their promotions. They also tried to disrupt the interview for the promotion of personnel in the officer grade. A source said milk processing and packing works were disrupted in the three units from Tuesday morning. The joint forum of the employees' organisations has put forward a charter of demands to the management. Immediate steps for promotions in the lower cadres and withdrawal of police cases against employees are the major demands. The police have registered cases against over 40 employees of the Kollam unit for attempting to disrupt promotions in the officer cadre. According to the employees, promotions have stalled for the past four years. Also, they were denied pay revision benefits for the past 33 months.

West Nile fever: A new virus on the prowl?

KOCHI: Dengue, hepatitis, leptospirosis, and murmurs about a silent Covid wave Kerala has been going through a sick phase of late. Adding to the public anxiety, one more has joined the list: West Nile fever. The state reported the first case of West Nile fever in 2011. The virus was later detected in 2013, 2019 and 2022 as well. This year, so far, at least 10 confirmed West Nile cases and two suspected deaths one in Palakkad and the other in Thrissur have been reported in the state. Nine of the 10 cases were reported in May. Experts, however, allay concerns and say West Nile fever is preventable, and treatable, if detected early. West Nile fever is transmitted by mosquitoes infected with the virus. The virus gets transmitted when mosquitoes draw blood from infected birds. When these mosquitoes bite humans or animals, the virus yet again gets transmitted, explains Dr Harikumar S, assistant director (public health), Directorate of Health Services, Kerala. However, the virus will not be transmitted from one infected person to another through a mosquito bite. Similarly, there will be no transmission by touching or coming in close contact with an infected person. The symptoms of West Nile fever, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), include: Fever Headache Tiredness Body ache Nausea Vomiting Occasionally, a skin rash (on the trunk of the body) Swollen lymph glands. Symptoms of severe disease (also called neuroinvasive disease), such as West Nile encephalitis meningitis or West Nile poliomyelitis: Headache High fever Neck stiffness Stupor Disorientation Coma Tremors Convulsions Muscle weakness Paralysis Symptoms usually appear 3 to 14 days after being bitten by an infected mosquito. Only a small number of people infected with the virus develop serious symptoms. According to data, one in 150 cases are serious, Dr Harikumar notes. About 20 per cent of people infected with the virus may develop mild symptoms that can last from a few days to weeks. About 80 per cent of people infected with the virus do not develop symptoms. However, if the infection is severe, West Nile fever may affect the brain. Early detection is crucial. Because the disease can also lead to encephalitis or meningitis, and can even lead to death, says Dr Althaf A, epidemiologist and professor of community medicine at Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram. Even if the patient survives, he or she may suffer from morbidity. Recovery from severe illness might take several weeks or months. Some effects on the central nervous system might be permanent. About 1 out of 10 people who develop severe illness affecting the central nervous system succumb. Thus, it is important to consult a doctor at the earliest once the symptoms manifest. Severe illness can occur in people of any age. However, people over the age of 60 are said to be at a greater risk for complications (1 in 50 people). People with certain medical conditions, such as cancer, diabetes, hypertension, kidney disease, and those who have received organ transplants, are also at greater risk. Consulting a doctor at the earliest is important. Among symptomatic patients, fever is the major symptom of the disease. About 1 in 5 people who are infected develop a fever with other symptoms such as headache, body aches, joint pains, vomiting, diarrhoea, and rashes. Most people with febrile illness due to the West Nile virus recover completely, but fatigue and weakness can last for weeks or months, says Dr Althaf. In case of fever, people should consult a doctor and the actual cause must be diagnosed and treated properly. If delayed, it can lead to complications and even death. As people get older, their immunity decreases and the chances of getting affected by the disease are high. Thus, the elderly population, and people with co-morbidity should be cautious. According to Dr Hari, mild symptoms usually resolve without treatment. But in case of symptoms like severe headache and confusion, the person should immediately seek treatment, he says. Pregnant and lactating mothers should consult a doctor immediately if symptoms are observed. Keralas surveillance system needs to be strengthened to prevent the occurrence of the disease, the doctors highlight. Migration, increasing travel, and climate change are factors in the emergence of new infectious diseases, says Dr Althaf, adding that comprehensive preventive strategies are vital. With the increasing migration and travel to other states/countries, possibilities of spread are high. Also, we are experiencing a climatic change. Thus, it is important to strengthen surveillance. As we are in the post-pandemic phase, we need to be more cautious. Over the years, surveillance in the state has, indeed, improved, and it has helped in the detection and prevention of the disease spread, says Dr Hari. We have new technologies and diagnostic equipment available. It has helped in the detection of the presence of the virus. It helps in early detection and prevention. People should refrain from self-medicating, he adds. Whats the West Nile story? It is named after the West Nile district of Uganda, where the virus specimen was first isolated in 1937. It was later identified in birds (crows and columbiformes) in the Nile Delta region in 1953. The virus is commonly found in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, North America and West Asia. WNV sustains in nature via a cycle involving transmission between birds and mosquitoes. Humans, horses and other mammals can be infected. Govt directive With at least nine West Nile fever cases reported in the state this month alone, the health ministry has directed the district medical officers to intensify the pre-monsoon cleaning drives and efforts to control mosquitoes with the cooperation of the local bodies.

Cop attacked during temple festival in Thiruvananthapuram; six arrested

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A policeman suffered head injuries while a car was set on fire as violence marked the celebration on the final day of the Mahadevar temple festival at Kazhakootam on Sunday night. The cop was bludgeoned with an iron rod by a group of men when the cops were trying to disperse them at Ambalathinkara after the festival. The injured cop, Riyas, is attached to the Armed Reserve Camp in Thiruvananthapuram city. The police sources said a group of men beleaguered the cops on duty and roughed them up. It was during this act cop Riyas sustained head injuries. Six people have been arrested in connection with the incident. Kazhakootam natives Sajith S, 39. his brother Ajith, 42, Vidyadharan S, 47, Sanil Satheesan, 28, Deepu R, 27, and Ambalathinkara native Vivek Vidyadharan, 26, were arrested for attacking the cop. One more person, who is directly involved in the attack, is on the run. Meanwhile, a car belonging to a group that came to watch the festival was mysteriously gutted. The passengers earlier had an altercation with a group of men and its being probed whether the incident has any connection with the tiff.

52 candidates in Thiruvananthapuram pass new driving test, says MVD

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid state-wide protests by driving schools, 117 people participated in the new format of tests, according to the Motor Vehicles Department. 52 people won the test. Driving tests were disrupted across the state for the past ten days owing to the protest by the schools against the new format. The joint forum of organisations of driving schools took out a protest march to the state secretariat on Monday. The demonstrators, under the banner of All-Kerala Motor Driving School Instructors and Workers Association, urged the government to return to the old format. The MVD conducted driving tests at different centres amid police protection. The department, however, did not release district-wise data of candidates who attended tests. In Thiruvananthapuram, unruly scenes were witnessed at the Muttathara testing ground. Protesting driving school owners and staffers shouted slogans and tried to disrupt the test. All three people who participated in the test at Muttathara failed. Of them a girl attended four-wheeler test and two others for two-wheeler test. The girl was the daughter of an MVD inspector and the protesters tried to disrupt her test citing the poor condition of the vehicle. The girl was blocked by the protestors when she arrived at the ground to attend the H-test. They alleged that the vehicle met with an accident during the road test conducted before the H-test.

Schools in Thiruvananthapuram excel in CBSE Class X, XII exams

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Schools in the district registered an impressive performance in the CBSE Class X and XII examinations, the results of which were announced on Monday. Thiruvananthapuram region tops in CBSE exams for 10th consecutive year St Thomas Central School, Mukkolakkal: Of the 263 students who appeared for the Class X exam, 205 secured distinction, 49 secured First class and nine Second class. The school toppers were: Rachel David (98.83%), Venkitesh GS (98.2%) and Abhinav Akhil (97.2%). The school presented 340 students for he Class XII exam of which 282 secured distinction, 56 first class and two were placed in Second Class. A total of 74 students secured A1 grades in all the subjects.The toppers were: Rahul Joseph Bejoy (99 % - Science), Gaurav Vimal (98 % - Commerce) and Krisalyn Alice Ajo (98.6 % - Humanities) Christ Nagar Senior Secondary School, Thiruvallam: In Class X, of the 306 students who appeared, 194 passed with distinction, 87 with first class and 25 with second class. The school toppers were S Sreyas Krishna Kumar (98%), Thejas AS (97.2%), Tritta Salter and Joel S Sam (97%). In the Class XII exam, 188 students appeared of which 140 passed with distinction and 48 with first class. Aparna Manoj (97.4% - Computer stream), Devika SN (96.8% - Biology stream) and Fisa Feroz (96.4% - Commerce stream) were the school toppers. Loyola School, Sreekariyam: In the Class X exam, of 39 students, 34 secured distinction and five secured first class. Vimarsh Kannan was the school topper followed by Allan Jopaul and Siddharth MR In class 12 of Science stream, 68 students attempted of which 60 secured a distinction and eight students secured First class. Devanandan N B was the school topper in the Science stream. In the Commerce stream, of the 17 students, 10 secured distinction and seven secured first class. Adiythyan K A was the school topper in Commerce stream. Alan Feldman School, Kazhakkoottam: In the Class X exam, of the 64 students who appeared, 94% passed with first class of which 30 students secured distinction. Adwitha Vinod was the school topper with 96% marks. In the Class XII exam, all students passed with first class of which 59% secured disctinction. The school toppers were: Ayisha S (96.2% - Commerce), Shefrin Shehraz (Science) and Durga Lakshmi (Humanities) School of the Good Shepherd, Akkulam: In the Class X exam, 71 of the 199 students scored above 90% marks while 151 students secured distinction. Devika SJ secured the first position with 97.8% marks. In the Class XII exam, 118 of the 122 students who appeared secured distnction while the remaning got first class. The toppers were: Ananthan R (99.2% - Science), Nandana Sajan (99% - Commerce) andMeera L (97% - Humanities). Sree Chitra Thirunal Residential Central School, Karakonam: In the Class X exam, of the 72 students who appeared, 45 secured distinction and 27 secured first class. Manu YS was the school topper with 97% marks. Of the 63 students who appeared for the Class XII examination, 39 secured distinction and 24 were placed in first class. The school toppers were: Sangeetha PS (99.4% - Commerce), Ashna BS (96% - Science) and Saniya GS (96% - Humanities). St Marys Residential Central School, Poojappura: In the Class X exam, 80 of the 106 students who appeared, secured distinction. Nandakishore DS was the school topper with 97.4% marks. In the Class XII exam, 62 students appeared of which 18 scored 90% and above, 57 secured distinction and five were placed in first class. The school toppers were: Anju G Nair (Commerce - 96.6%) and Medha Manoj Nair (95.6%). Saraswathy Vidyalaya, Vattiyoorkavu: In the Class X examination, of the 279 students who appeared, 253 students secured first class. 173 students secured distinction of which 70 students obtained above 90%. Aromal S emerged as topper by scoring 98.8% marks. A total of 285 students appeared for the Class XII examination,of which 281 students secured first class. 177 students obtained distinction, with 69 students scoring more than 90%. Malavika Sunitha Renjith emerged as topper in the Science stream with 99.2% marks .Neha Anoop topped Humanities Stream with 99.2 marks. Devika RS of Commerce stream secured 97%marks emerging as the topper. Arya Central School, Pattom: In the Class X examination, of the 190 students, 24 secured 95% marks and above, 39 students scored between 90% and 95% and 118 studetns secured marks above 80%. Ganga Gopan (98.6%) was the school topper. In the Class XII examination, of the 226 students who appeared in the Science stream, 20 secured 95% marks and above, 80 secured above 90% and 76 students scored between 80% and 90%. Shreya Anish and Navaneeth G Nair (98.8%) were the toppers in Science stream. In the Commerce stream, Ananya S Nath (97.4%) was the school topper.

Decision to go for LighTram Metro in Thiruvananthapuram invites stiff protest

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM : The move by Kochi Metro Rail Ltd (KMRL) to go ahead with LighTram Metro instead of a conventional one hasnt gone down well with the residents and stakeholders in the state capital. The plan to introduce a rapid transit system for the capital was conceived more than a decade ago and apart from studies and detailed project reports (DPR), the changing governments have failed to realise the project. During the previous term, the LDF government had granted administrative sanctions for the proposed light metro projects in Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. The Kerala Rapid Transit Corporation Ltd (KRTL) submitted the revised DPR of Light Metro in February 2021 soon after getting sanctions. Later, the state government decided to entrust KMRL as the implementing agency for all metro projects in the state. The KMRL then came up with the idea of implementing a conventional metro rail for Thiruvananthapuram. In a recent development, KMRL managing director Loknath Behra came out with a statement that they are exploring the possibility of implementing the LighTram Metro in Thiruvananthapuram. Following this, Trivandrum Chamber of Commerce and Industries president S N Reghuchandran Nair, in a statement issued here, alleged that KMRL is attempting to derail the metro project in the capital. Our city deserves a transportation system that is not only efficient and sustainable but also aligned with its unique needs and aspirations. Any decision regarding such crucial projects must be made transparently and with the active involvement of stakeholders, said Nair. He said the KMRL is not ready to discuss any of the developments relating to the project with the stakeholders. Behra had told TNIE recently that a conventional metro is not financially viable for Thiruvananthapuram and Kozhikode. He pointed out that getting funds will be a challenge considering the states financial situation. We are going to take this up with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan. KMRL should be focusing on transportation solutions rather than delving into the economic aspects of the state, he added. Increasing vehicle volume and inadequate transportation infrastructure have been haunting the capital for years now. It has been over a decade since the project was conceived. Several studies were done and DPRs were drawn up but nothing has happened on the ground. Our city deserves a conventional metro more than a city like Kochi, and we hope the government makes the right decision. We cannot go back to a conventional metro system after a few years, said Confederation of Residents Association (CONFRA) general secretary M Sashidharan Nair. Question of viability KMRL MD Loknath Behra recently said a conventional metro is not financially viable for Thiruvananthapuram He also pointed out that getting funds will be a challenge considering the states financial situation

A walk to remember and remind

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: There was a lot of shade last Sunday as the Tree Walk team moved from one tree to another, which were saved by veteran eco-warriors who wanted city development to progress without bringing down its rich green cover. The walk was to remember pioneers such as architect Laurie Baker, and CPI leaders Surendran Asan and Sharmaji, as well as Ambika chechi, who ran a tea shop near a rare mahogany tree that was being choked with waste dumped near it. We first went to neem tree and the pipal tree near the Ayyankali Hall that was to be axed but was saved by efforts of people like Laurie Baker, says Anitha S, coordinator of Tree Walk. The next stop was on University College premises, where there were 12 mahogany trees that were the citys landmark. Now only nine remain. They were saved by a famous protest of students and activists. The visit also was to the tree jasmine (Indian cork tree) near Saphalyam Complex. The tree, which was once mutilated, was restored by Vriksha Ayurveda few years ago. Walks like these are organised as a reminder about the need to conserve trees in urban spaces. People voice for trees in the forest. But those in urban spaces, too, are equally important, Anitha says. The effort is also to bring to the notice of the authorities the need to preserve trees as Smart City plans, including road-widening, are being implemented. For details: 6238073621

Young Indians spurs social change via campuses

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: They are a group of entrepreneurs trying to better the environment around them as they achieve their business goals. Part of Young Indians (Yi), CIIs youth wing, these game changers have been reaching out to various sectors of society aiming to make a significant impact. With a strong presence in Thiruvananthapuram, Yi has established two key verticals: Innovation and Climate Change. These initiatives target school children (Talir), college students (Yuva), rural communities, and Yi members, preparing society for upcoming technological and environmental challenges. We have always engaged in socially relevant projects, often quietly. We are not an NGO but a voluntary group of young entrepreneurs committed to societal improvement. Yi has been active nationally for about 20 years, and recently, some of our verticals have been strengthened, says Sankari Unnithan, co-chair of Yis Thiruvananthapuram chapter alongside Dr Sumesh Chandran, the chair. Yis flagship projects include Project Masoom for child abuse victims and their caregivers, road safety awareness programmes, and entrepreneurship initiatives. We have 12 verticals, Sankari says. The latest additions are Innovation, focusing on technological advancements, climate change, and accessibility to ensure facilities are usable by everyone. The Innovation vertical emphasises AI education, organising hackathons, workshops and design contests for Yuva teams in colleges. They also groom students to be industry-ready in AI and robotics upon graduation. Our aim is to introduce AI and robotics to schools and colleges through workshops, helping students understand the basics and decide if they want to pursue these fields further. We held an ideation competition nationally, involving students from premier engineering colleges in Kerala and other institutions partnering with us, says Rajasekharan, co-chair of the Yi Innovation vertical. The ideation competition, with a prize of Rs 1.5 lakh, identifies innovative talents whose ideas can be funded and developed into start-ups. A project with Kerala Startup Mission is also in the pipeline for design thinking workshops. Also, we have an array of entrepreneurs in our midst who could help with such innovative ideas, Rajasekharan says. One project was the Innove exhibition, encouraging school children to create AI and Robotics projects. A school in Adoor developed an AI-based wheelchair prototype, which we aim to develop. In addition, Yi also supports schools with Atal Tinkering Labs (ATLs), a central government initiative to foster creativity and computational thinking in students. We offer resource training and weekend workshops. We are not able to be full-time mentors because of our work commitments. Also, the funds in the ATLs are not consistent, making it challenging to pursue diverse projects, Rajasekharan explains. Another significant Yi initiative focuses on climate change, conducting awareness programmes for various stakeholders. Last years successful Kovalam marathon aimed to conserve marine life. This year, we aim to restore mangroves and ponds, like the Poovar mangrove and a city pond. We also organise nature walks, such as a recent one to Gavi, says Sankari. This years edition of the Kovalam marathon is coming up in September. The other major focus of the youth group is to make accessible the facilities in the capital city to all, especially the physically challenged. They have organised awareness walkathons and are now working with firms in Technopark and other areas to enhance accessibility. A project with a premium hotel is in the offing whereby the plan is to make the facilities there accessible to the visually impaired. For example, we are suggesting bringing out a Braille version of the menu card, says Sankari, adding that Yi is working towards Building Bharat, this years theme for the CII youth body.

Kerala police rescue AP girl kidnapped from Kumari district

KANNIYAKUMARI: A seven-year-old girl from Andhra Pradesh, who was allegedly kidnapped from Kanniyakumari on Sunday, was traced and rescued by the Kerala police from Neyyattinkara in Thiruvananthapuram on Monday. According to police sources, the incident took place when the girl along with her aunt, a resident of Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh, were selling ornaments to tourists on the Kanniyakumari coast on Sunday. After the girl went missing, the woman searched the region, but in vain. Following this, she lodged a missing complaint with the Kanniyakumari police, and the officials began a search operation. Further, an examination of CCTV footage revealed that the girl was last seen talking to a young boy on the coast, sources said. On Monday, the girl was found roaming in a temple premises in Neyyattinkara and locals, out of suspicion, alerted the Kerala police, who rescued her and informed the Kanniyakumari police, sources added. It is learnt that the youngster had allegedly taken the child to Neyyattinkara bus depot and abandoned her there. The girl will be handed over to Kanniyakumari District Child Welfare Committee, who will inquire about how she went missing and ended up in Kerala, police sources said. A search is on to find the youth.

CBSE results: Class 10 pass rate highest at 99.84

CHENNAI: In the class 10 and 12 board examination results released by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) on Monday, Tamil Nadu students registered pass percentages of 99.84 and 98.74 respectively. Notably, the states class 10 pass rate is the highest in the country. At the national level, the class 10 pass percentage stood at 93.6, a rise of 0.48 percentage points from last year; while that of class 12 saw a marginal increase of 0.65 percentage points from last year to 87.98. Among the 74,337 state students (40,325 boys, 34,012 girls) who took the class 12 boards, 73,398 (39,679 boys, 33,719 girls) managed to pass. In terms of ranking, neighbouring states of Kerala (99.91%), Telangana (99.15%) and Andhra Pradesh (98.96%) scored above TN. The Chennai region, comprising of parts of AP, TN, Telangana, Puducherry and Andaman & Nicobar Islands, registered pass percentages of 99.30 (class 10) and 98.47 (class 12) in the boards, an improvement from last years figures of 99.14 and 97.40 respectively. The region took third place, following Thiruvananthapuram and Vijayawada. While the pass percentage of girls was higher than that of boys by a margin of 6.4 percentage points at the national level in the class 12 examination, it was less so in Tamil Nadu as well as in the Chennai region. The pass percentage of boys and girls were 98.40 and 99.14 respectively in TN while it was 98.05 and 98.96 respectively in the Chennai region. Among the schools in Tamil Nadu, government-aided schools recorded a pass rate of 100%, government schools 98.46%, independent schools 98.78% and Kendriya Vidyalaya schools 98.75%. However, there are only 20 government-aided CBSE schools in the state. Govt-aided schools record 100% pass Of the class 12 state students who cleared their boards, 14,011 students were general category students, while 52,802 Other Backward Caste students, 6,218 students were from Scheduled Castes and 367 students were from Scheduled Tribes. Their pass percentages being 99.34, 98.70, 97.75 and 97.87 respectively. Among the 95,438 class 10 state students who took their boards, 95,290 (51,773 boys, 43,517 girls) managed to pass. Tamil Nadu stood first among states (excluding union territories) in the class 10 performance closely followed by Kerala where 99.79% cleared the exams. Andhra Pradesh occupied the third spot with a pass percentage of 99.66%. Once again, government-aided schools recorded a 100% pass rate, followed by private schools with 99.87%, Kendriya Vidyalaya schools with 99.55% and government schools (99.25%). Of class 10 state students who cleared the exam, 17,332 belonged to general category, 68,816 to OBC, 8,687 to SC and 455 to ST. Their pass rates being 99.91%, 99.85%, 99.70% and 99.13% respectively. We have gotten good results this year for both class 10 and 12 students, said the principal of a CBSE school.