Locals decry dumping and burning of waste by village panchayats along Sanganoor Canal in Coimbatore
Drill conducted in Coimbatore to assess disaster preparedness
Veterinarians attempt to tranquillise tusker near Coimbatore
National Highway works stall KochiCoimbatore cargo movement
Transit time has doubled to 89 hours, raising costs, disrupting vessel schedules, and eroding the competitiveness of Cochin Port.
KSRTCs courier venture to soon roll out door delivery & pick-up services
KOCHI: Sending parcels through KSRTCs hit courier service will soon be a much easier affair. Customers will no longer be required to deposit or pick their parcels up from the designated courier counters. Instead, the KSRTC is all set to start pick-up and door-delivery services, a long-pending demand, as part of its road map to increase efficiency, both service and in-house. To facilitate the same, the transport corporation has entrusted the courier operations to Singhu Solutions, a company based in Andhra Pradesh, on a commission basis. Well initially introduce delivery services, for which the AP-based company has been given a deadline of six months, a senior KSRTC official in charge of the parcel and courier venture told TNIE. Were striving to start the services within three to four months. Were planning to make deliveries within a 10km radius of the collection centres. The new company needs to get acclimatised to the operations and the geography here. The courier pick-up service will be provided at a later stage, he said. Currently, customers need to deposit the parcels at the designated counters and the receiving party too needs to come to the respective counter at the destination point to collect the same. Once the new services get rolling, the company officials will deliver the parcels at the doorsteps of the intended parties and also collect the parcels from the houses of customers. The KSRTC now has 46 dedicated parcel counters in the state, besides the two outstation centres of Coimbatore and Nagercoil in Tamil Nadu. The corporation has plans to start courier counters in Karnataka as well. Aims three-fold revenue The KSRTC is eyeing a three-fold increase in revenue through the parcel and courier venture by entrusting the operations to a private party. The authorities, though, rejected charges that the corporation will lose a sizable portion of the profit by doling out a commission of 19.85%to the AP company. Weve selected the company through a proper bidding process. The company is also running the courier service of the APSRTC and their annual turnover is Rs 200 crore. Though not on that level, we are eyeing a three-fold rise in revenue collection. So far, our expenses, including the staff salary, have been around 35 to 40% of the revenue. Now, the company will meet the expenses, including staff salary, the official said. Currently, the corporation enjoys an average monthly revenue of `50 lakh, with the parcel counter at Vyttila Mobility Hub the best performing one with a revenue of Rs 30 lakh per month. The KSRTC authorities refuted allegations that the entire parcel and courier service has been privatised. Weve only entrusted the operation to the private company. The software, counters, and responsibility all lies with the corporation. The only change is that the company will manage the operations and it will be paying the salaries to the staff, the official explained. Started in mid-2023, the courier service has turned profitable as the corporation promised delivery anywhere in Kerala within 16 hours. Privatisation claims The KSRTC authorities refuted allegations that the entire parcel and courier service has been privatised The software, counters, and responsibility all lies with the corporation. The only change is that the new company will manage the operations and pay salaries to the staff, said an offical
Plans to construct ramps for Gandhipuram flyover in Coimbatore put on hold
Lawyer lodges complaint against Coimbatore City Police Commissioners office
Coimbatore airports new integrated terminal building to be four times bigger
Tamil Nadu government has handed over 605 acres of land out of the 627 acres requested by AAI for the airport expansion project, said the airports Director
pediatric cardiac care in Coimbatore , offering world-class treatments that bring hope to families across the region. This remarkable success story reaffirms the hospital's mission of delivering not only cutting-edge healthcare but also compassionate support for every patient-no matter how tiny the heart or how big the battle.
140 children in Coimbatore to receive 2,000 monthly under Anbu Karangal programme
Coimbatores 24/7 drinking water supply project by Suez likely to be completed in January 2026
Vedapatti residents demand introduction of bus service to Coimbatore city
Regional-level Dak Adalat to be held in Coimbatore
Drug-Free Kovai Marathon held in Coimbatore
Black bun burgers and more at an ongoing burger festival in Coimbatore
Cafe Totaram rings in its 11thanniversary with a line up of burgers
National Karting C'ship: Rivaan Dev Preetham Dominates In Mini Max; Sets Track Lap Record
FMSCI National Karting Championship Rotax: Mumbais Krish Gupta led a double podium for Rayo Racing as he topped the Finals in the Senior category in the fourth round of the MECO-FMSCI National Karting Championship Rotax Max Classes with SIDVIN Energy Engineering as the Presenting Sponsor and MRF Tyres as the partner sponsor, which concluded at the Meco Kartopia circuit here on Sunday. One of the highlights of the weekend was the performance of Chennai schoolboy Rivaan Dev Preetham (MSPORT) who yet again wrote his own script while dominating the Mini Max category where he swept to P1 in all the sessions that included two Heats, the Pre-Final and the Finals to consolidate his top position on the leaderboard. He leads Faridabads Yatharth Gaur (Leapfrog Racing) by 32 points after four rounds. To top it all, Rivaan set a track lap record of 57.991 seconds around the 1.2 Kms circuit in the Pre-Finals session. Krish Gupta upstaged the Senior Max field that included favourite and championship leader Bengalurus Ishaan Madesh (Peregrine Racing) who finished fourth. Krish, who started the race from fifth on the grid, made places for a win and thus, picked up crucial points. In P2 was Arjun Vijay Chheda (Crest Motorsports) from Pune. Aahil Mecklai, also from Mumbai and Rayo Racing, completed the podium in a thrilling race. Until the Final, it was Ishaan Madesh who had dominated by topping both the Heats and the Pre-Finals, but the Bengalurean, having started the Finals from pole position, got involved in an incident that saw him lose track position and finish fourth. The result notwithstanding, Ishaan continues to head the points table, albeit only two points ahead of Arjun Vijay Chheda. Another Pune youngster, Arafath Sheikh (Crest Motorsports) won both the Finals and the Pre-Final to underline his supremacy in the Junior class as did Shiv Tummala (Peregrine Racing) from Bengaluru in the Micro Max category. The Round-4 performance helped Arafath to move within 30 points of leader Eshanth Vengatesan (MSPORT) from Chennai who finished fourth in Pre-Finals and fifth in the Finals. In second position on the points table is Kozhikodes Shonal Kunimal (Birel Art India). The Championship leaders, Rivaan Dev Preetham (Mini Max), Eshanth Vengatesan (Junior Max) and Ishaan Madesh (Senior Max) have been nominated for the RMC Grand Finals to be held at the Shakir circuit in Bahrain from November 29 to December 6. Results: Senior Max (Finals 18 laps): 1. Krish Gupta (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (16mins, 57.541secs); 2. Ajun Vijay Chheda (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (16:58.849); 3. Aahil Mecklai (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (17:00.784). Pre-Final (16 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (13:17.191); 2. Arjun Vijay Chheda (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (13:19.777); 3. Aahil Mecklai (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (13:20.993) Junior Max (Finals 16 laps): 1. Arafat Sheikh (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (15:18.506); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (15:20.876); 3. Kairav Roberson (Chennai, MSPORT) (15:29.883). Pre-Final (14 laps): 1. Arafat Sheikh (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (13:17.485); 2. Kiaan Shah (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (13:23.874); 3. Rishik Rohit Reddy (Bengaluru, MSPORT) (13:24.370). Senior Max (Finals 18 laps): 1. Krish Gupta (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (16mins, 57.541secs); 2. Ajun Vijay Chheda (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (16:58.849); 3. Aahil Mecklai (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (17:00.784). Pre-Final (16 laps): 1. Ishaan Madesh (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (13:17.191); 2. Arjun Vijay Chheda (Pune, Crest Motorsports) (13:19.777); 3. Aahil Mecklai (Mumbai, Rayo Racing) (13:20.993) Also Read: LIVE Cricket Score Micro Max (Finals): 1. Shiv Tummala (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (12:21.437); 2. Shiv Neel (Coimbatore, MSPORT) (12:22.231); 3. Rudra Pratap Singh (Gurugram, Leapfrog Racing) (12:24.640). Pre-Final: 1. Shiv Tummala (Bengaluru, Peregrine Racing) (12:13.427); 2. Shiv Neel (Coimbatore, MSPORT) (12:16.613); 3. Arshi Gupta (Faridabad, Leapfrog Racing) (12:16.703). Article Source: IANS
Avinashi Road flyover in Coimbatore city to be inaugurated in October
Uneven manhole covers on Coimbatore roads raise safety concerns
Banned items seized from 8 passengers at Coimbatore airport
Naan Uyir Kavalan road safety awareness campaign launched in Coimbatore
Coimbatore Corporation plans Public-Private Partnership projects to enhance urban infrastructure
Coimbatore man gets 20 years jail term for sexual assault on minor girl
Winners of The Hindus Maya KannanJanmashtami contest felicitated in Coimbatore
Justices N. Sathish Kumar and D. Bharatha Chakravarthy, however, add a rider that they would monitor the project continuously and issue appropriate directions if any harm is caused to the pachyderms
The pilot project is aimed at reducing pollution and odour caused by untreated sewage inflow
Special tax collection camps in Coimbatore on September 13 and 14
Man arrested for stealing 20 sovereigns of jewellery in Coimbatore
Non-confrontational, rooted in RSS: C P Radhakrishnan begins new chapter as Vice President
NEW DELHI: Named after first Vice President S Radhakrishnan and strongly rooted in the RSS and the BJP, Chandrapuram Ponnusamy Radhakrishnan brings with him a rich political and administrative experience as the 15th vice president of India, which his supporters believe will also prove handy in his role as the ex-officio chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. Seen as a soft-spoken and non-confrontational leader, the 67-year-old Radhakrishnan took oath on Friday . He succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, who resigned as vice president on July 21, taking everyone by surprise. Radhakrishnan is the third leader from Tamil Nadu to occupy the coveted post. Dhankhar was known for his frequent run-ins with the Opposition, and had even faced an impeachment notice from them. Described as a 'Pachai Tamizhan' (true-blue Tamil) by well-wishers, Radhakrishnan was serving as the governor of Maharashtra when he was named as the vice presidential nominee of the BJP-led NDA. On Tuesday, when he was elected as the vice president, his mother Janaki Ammal fondly recalled the story behind his name. When my son was born, the then President Radhakrishnan was in office. He was a teacher, and I too was a teacher. In his memory, I named my son after him. At that time, my husband looked at me and asked, 'are you giving this name because you want your son to become the President one day?' After 62 years, just as my husband had said, it has come true, she had told reporters in Tamil Nadu. Radhakrishnan on Tuesday described his election to the second-highest Constitutional post as a victory of the nationalistic ideology and vowed to work towards making India a developed nation by 2047. He won the vice presidential election by bagging 452 votes, while the opposition candidate, B Sudershan Reddy, polled 300 votes. The other side camp (opposition alliance) said that this (election) is an ideological fight, but from the voting pattern, we understand that the nationalistic ideology has emerged victorious, Radhakrishnan said in his first public remarks after the win. It is a victory for every Indian; we all have to work together. If we have to develop Viksit Bharat by 2047, which means we should not do politics in everything, now we will have to concentrate on development, he had said. CP Radhakrishnan elected Vice President of India; know all about him A two-term member of the Lok Sabha from Coimbatore during the tenure of prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee, Radhakrishnan came close to becoming a Union minister, but had to lose out to fellow Tamilian Pon Radhakrishnan in 1998 after some confusion over his name by the then floor managers of the BJP. Radhakrishnan joined the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a teenager and rose through the ranks in the organisation and later in the BJP, gaining acceptability in the party and the state. A member of the socially dominant and economically prosperous Kongu Vellalar Gounder community, he became the secretary of the BJP's Tamil Nadu unit in 1996 and served as the party's state unit president between 2003 and 2006. An avid sportsperson, Radhakrishnan was a college champion in table tennis and a long-distance runner. He also enjoys cricket and volleyball. Radhakrishnan is considered an untainted leader with rich political and administrative experience for the vice president's office and this would also prove useful as the chairman of the Rajya Sabha. Thiru CP Radhakrishnan Ji has rich experience as MP and Governor of various states. His Parliamentary interventions were always incisive. During his gubernatorial tenures, he focused on addressing challenges faced by common citizens. These experiences ensured that he has vast knowledge of legislative and Constitutional matters. I am confident he will be an inspiring vice president, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had said after the NDA chose Radhakrishnan as the vice presidential candidate. The Tamil Nadu leader is said to be held in high esteem across party lines in his state, resulting in the BJP giving him multiple gubernatorial assignments in Jharkhand, Telangana, Maharashtra and Puducherry. Radhakrishnan's candidature also seeks to disarm the Opposition of a key political narrative, as he is the first OBC leader from South India to be named for the vice-president's office. An official profile circulated by the NDA projects Radhakrishnan as a leader who is eminent, knowledgeable and untainted by any legal accusations. Radhakrishnan's political innings started with his association with organisations such as the RSS and the Jan Sangh. He took up student politics and has since used politics as a medium to serve the people. Radhakrishnan's track record of holding electoral, organisational and constitutional responsibilities shows that he is set to create history as the vice president of India. He was sworn in as the governor of Maharashtra on July 31, 2024. Before this, he served as the governor of Jharkhand for nearly one-and-a-half years. Born on October 20, 1957, at Tiruppur in Tamil Nadu, Radhakrishnan has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration. Starting as an RSS swayamsevak at the age of 16, he became a state executive committee member of the Bharatiya Janasangh in 1974. Between 2004 and 2007, Radhakrishnan served as the Tamil Nadu BJP president. In this role, he undertook a 19,000-km 'Rath Yatra' that lasted for 93 days. Congress reminds VP-elect of impartiality, recalls Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan's 1952 warning on democracy
DVAC seizes 1.93 lakh in unaccounted cash from Singanallur Sub-Registrar office in Coimbatore
Raw material exhibition takes off in Coimbatore
Coimbatores beloved traffic thatha passes away
Fondly called as Sulthan Thatha, the octogenarian died after a brief illness.
Facilitator and road map meet for Nan Uyir Kaavalan campaign held in Coimbatore
Coimbatore Man Drags Ailing Father At Hospital After Staff Denies Wheelchair | Video
In Coimbatore, a man had to drag his ailing father at Coimbatore Medical College Hospital after staff denied a wheelchair and demanded money for the service.
Three kumkis stationed near Coimbatore for operation to capture wild tusker
Coimbatore Corporation installs over 400 solar-powered cameras to curb open waste disposal
Rally taken out in Coimbatore to promote electric vehicles
District Collector instructs Coimbatore Corporation to expedite restoration of city roads
Solar energy expo in Coimbatore on September 11, 12
CP Radhakrishnan elected Vice President of India; know all about him
Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan, the ruling NDAs nominee, was on Monday elected as the Vice President of India after securing 452 first preference votes in the Electoral College. Announcing the results, Rajya Sabha Secretary-General PC Mody said that Radhakrishnan defeated Opposition candidate Justice (retired) Sudershan Reddy, who polled 300 first preference votes. Radhakrishnan, a senior BJP leader from Tamil Nadu and two-time Lok Sabha MP, will now assume charge as the 15th Vice President of India. He succeeds Jagdeep Dhankhar, whose term ends shortly. The election comes 50 days after Dhankhar resigned from his post on July 21, citing health reasons. The Vice President is also the ex-officio Chairperson of the Rajya Sabha. #WATCH | Delhi: PC Mody, Secretary-General, Rajya Sabha says, NDA nominee and Maharashtra Governor C.P. Radhakrishnan got 452 first preference votes. He has been elected as the Vice President of India... Opposition's vice-presidential candidate Justice Sudershan Reddy secured pic.twitter.com/hW7dUY0yfi ANI (@ANI) September 9, 2025 Born on October 20, 1957, in Tiruppur -- the knitwear capital of India in Tamil Nadus Kongu belt -- Radhakrishnan was drawn to the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) early. At just 17, he joined the Bharatiya Jan Sangh, the political forerunner to the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). A founding foot soldier of the BJP since its inception in 1980, Radhakrishnan has held multiple key roles in the party's Tamil Nadu unit, including State President (200407). His 19,000-km, 93-day Rath Yatra across Tamil Nadu during this period spotlighted issues ranging from river-linking and counter-terrorism to social reform and anti-drug campaigns. He later led two more padayatras for separate causes. Radhakrishnan entered Parliament from Coimbatore in 1998 and retained the seat in 1999. He contested the same constituency multiple times, finishing strong even in 2014 when the BJP went solo, with nearly 3.9 lakh votes. During his time in Parliament, he served as Chairman of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Textiles and was a member of panels on PSUs, finance, and the stock exchange scam. Beyond politics, Radhakrishnan holds a BBA and made his mark as an entrepreneur. Between 1985 and 1998, he pioneered the export of 100% cotton knitted fabric to Bangladesh and developed textile links with countries across Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. In administrative roles, he was Chairman of the Coir Board (20162020) and later BJPs Kerala in-charge (202022). His appointment as Governor of Jharkhand in February 2023 marked a transition from party politics to constitutional office. In his first four months as governor, Radhakrishnan toured all 24 districts. He briefly held additional charges as Governor of Telangana and Lt. Governor of Puducherry. Since July 2024, he has been Governor of Maharashtra. Known for his grassroots connect and political adaptability, Radhakrishnan has maintained cordial relations across party lines including recent gestures such as visiting Tamil Nadu Chief Minister MK Stalin to inquire about his health. Though he has remained outspoken on national issues, Radhakrishnan ruled out any return to active politics. An advocate after becoming a judge cannot go back to being an advocate... I don't think about returning to active politics, he said in a recent interview, drawing a parallel with his gubernatorial responsibilities. A tireless campaigner, a disciplined ideologue, and a seasoned parliamentarian, Radhakrishnans elevation to the Vice-Presidency marks a symbolic coming-of-age for the BJP in Tamil Nadu, a state where the party still seeks a significant electoral breakthrough.
Kurichi-Kuniyamuthur water supply improvement scheme reaches final stage in Coimbatore
Multi-level car parking facility at R.S. Puram in Coimbatore remains unused due to lack of bidders
Built at an estimated cost of 40.78 crore on a 2.87-acre site, the facility was completed in 2022; it is designed to accommodate 373 cars
European themed cafe opens in Coimbatore
Spinning mill damaged in fire in Coimbatore
Bhutha Earthen Architecture Studio creates homes based on climate-responsive building practices
Coimbatore photo studio documents the first 48 hours of a babys birth
BabyTrails Photography has tied-up with Kovai Medical Center and Hospitalin the city to document the first 48 hours of a new born and the drama than unfolds in front of the labour room
Witness the lunar eclipse 2025 through telescopes at a guided session in Coimbatore
Mango Educations session on the lunar eclipse is set to unfold at the PSG-GRD Museum of Science and Technology
MSMEs in Coimbatore demand reduction in GST
Raw material exhibition in Coimbatore from September 11 to 13
Lessons beyond books: Honouring teachers and their unique teaching methods
For centuries, we have had an indigenous education system in Gurukuls, where worldly knowledge and life lessons were imparted at an individual level. Here, a tailor-made approach to education was followed by combining academic learning and personalised guidance. Gurus like Dronacharya, after whom we have a National award, and Shah Waliullah, who advocated for a balanced approach blending Islamic scriptures and scientific studies worked towards holistic growth. This was the norm for decades. In 1835, Lord Macaulay played a pivotal role in the foundation of the modern, English-based education system in India. His Minute on Indian Education urged English language, Western science, and literature to be learnt by the people of the subcontinent they ruled. This move from the British was to supply their Government with English-educated Indian servants. Though the purpose was different, notable figures like Savitribai Phule, the first female teacher in India, Fatima Sheikh, the first Muslim woman teacher, Gijubhai Badheka, who introduced Montessori to the Indian education system, and many others, were pioneers who revolutionised our education system. Post Independence, the approach shifted to interpreting old knowledge and beliefs in the light of new needs and discoveries. From forming committees to understand the needs in education, to framing curricula that are on par with international standards, the Indian education system has evolved from guru-shishya tradition to international boards, blackboard to digital whiteboard, and history to AI. At the heart of all these advancements are teachers who stood rock solid and delivered time and again. This Teachers Day, we celebrate their adaptability to ever-changing technology, its lessons, and recognise their efforts in producing easy and creative methodologies catered to every individual student. Here are four such educators from across Tamil Nadu, who teach subjects the way a child wants to learn. Sumathi Nataraj Graduate teacher (English) Sumathi Nataraj from Tiruppur pursued her education in Tamil medium initially and then moved on to English medium. This shift was significant. But the challenges I faced are vastly different from todays context. Back then, resources were limited to books and teachers, she admits. Taking inspiration from her own difficulties, Sumathi took up a bilingual method of teaching a foreign language. In her classes, she uses Tamil as a medium of instruction to teach English. She notes, This method of teaching would certainly lay a foundation to understand the language. Learning a foreign language through ones mother tongue is like sensing the gentle breeze sitting on the mothers lap. Sumathi follows this method up to the primary level. Once they understand the basics, they would stop translating the thoughts into English; instead, they would only try to imbibe the concept and express themselves in the limited vocabulary, she says. Creating tunes to teach memory poems and using storytelling and mnemonic devices to teach other concepts, as they enhance understanding and retention, are some methods she uses. Aiding her in the journey is the British Councils Action Research Monitoring Scheme (ARMS) programme. Sumathi shares, The programme empowered me to refine language strategies and explore bilingual methods, enhancing my teaching effectiveness. In her view, research-based teaching methods like ARMS and storytelling share a common goal: to make learning engaging and effective. And bilingual instruction has proven effective in illuminating students understanding and boosting their communication and retention, she adds. The ultimate goal of this approach is to empower students with fluency in English and confidence in communication. I firmly believe that bilingual methodology can achieve dual objectives enabling students to express themselves effectively and accurately in diverse contexts, she says. Ibson T Head of school, TIPS Globeducate, Coimbatore Rote learning might get marks, but it doesnt always prepare children for the real world, says Ibson T. Many schools and educators have realised this, and are working towards classrooms where, beyond boards and chalks, the students see colourful charts with illustrations, equipment laid down to understand concepts, and videos viewed to bring lessons alive. Terming this a big shift, Ibson says, I see classrooms becoming more interactive, discussion-driven, and project-based. Students will no longer be passive listeners; in fact, theyll become active contributors. He cites an example where while teaching math, they bring in a real-life budgeting activity. This way, syllabus goals are met, but life skills are built at the same time, adds Ibson. The school follows experiential learning, inquiry-based projects, peer collaboration, and differentiated instruction that make concepts come alive. One of their initiatives is the Well-being Program, which aligns with the institutions core priority of emotional, social, and mental health in their learning programmes. In our first well-being session, Words That Hurt and Words That Heal, students learned through interactive games, videos, and group discussions, the importance of using kind, respectful, and thoughtful language, shares Ibson. The result of the session was that children became noticeably more mindful of their word choices, showing greater empathy toward peers. In his classroom, Ibson also uses role play, visual aids, digital simulations, gamification, and hands-on experiments. For example, teaching fractions through a pizza-making activity is both fun and unforgettable! he notes. This method of learning also lets students respond with curiosity and ownership. Instead of dreading subjects, they get excited about them, he points out. Ibsons message to other teachers would be: Curiosity is contagious; if you model it, students will catch it. Show them that you too, are learning, questioning, and excited about the world. That spark will spread. Induja Arul Private teacher, Cholan Kalvi Koodam, Kumbakonam In class 7, Induja Arul visited nearby schools, made students, along with her cousins, sit in a circle, and taught them English phonics, solved math problems, and explained complicated science concepts. This habit fuelled her to enrol in the governments teacher training course and become a teacher. She worked in a school for a year and eventually quit the job. It is better to work by yourself than to work for a brand. So, I moved out and started my own educational institute, she says. Established in 2010, Cholan Kalvi Koodam has trained more than 7,500 students. Here, she has individualised learning methods for each student. Each student has unique learning capabilities, so I use different Activity-Based Learning (ABL) for each one, she says. For instance, numbers are taught using beads. For Tamil phonics, she uses salt paper and cotton and moulds them into letters. These activities are important because they build a childs foundation. More than memorising, when they learn via touching, seeing and feeling, the remembering capacity is higher, she notes. Once the students are familiarised with the letters, she makes them form words, using the same tools. When she started out teaching in a small blue-painted room with books and charts, blackboard and monitors, and chalks and pencils, she wanted to make the syllabus easy. If not a teacher, I do not know what I would have become, she concludes. R Sheela Teacher for class 1, Government Welfare Primary School, T.Bomminayakkanpatti, Andipatti block, Theni A teacher who is not addressed as maam, miss, or teacher, but as amma. That is what R Sheela is for more than 250 students in her school. My students call me Sheela amma, and I am okay being one, says the teacher at Government Welfare Primary School, Theni. She did not aim to become a teacher, but her family situation turned over and she ended up being one. Known for her special education awareness and remedial teaching methods in the academic circle today, Sheela is recognised as a changemaker who turns classrooms into inclusive spaces of learning and hope. My motto is to turn every classroom into an inclusive one. Just because a kid is autistic or is slow in learning does not mean the student has to bear the mockery by fellow students or sit quietly in a class, she notes. Fun takes precedence in her classroom. Sheela says, My children have lots of fun in my class. They do not even know that I am teaching them a lesson from the book. Most of her classes include everyday occurrences as examples to help kids understand the concepts and how the world works. To teach simple ideas, such as what is hot and cold, she would explain it in 10 different ways. Some of them include A vessel taken out from the refrigerator and removed from the stove, the flask I carry my coffee in, and the water in my water bottle. Sheela says she comes up with these ideas on the spot. Not everyone will learn in the first go, some learn after making the same point again, some after three times, and some after 10. And, I put in the same effort to teach the children the first and the tenth time. My only goal is for the child to remember the concept lifelong, she notes. Beyond books, Sheela teaches her students craft, dance, moral values, safe and unsafe touch, and many more. Because for her, every conversation with every child counts, and the lessons truly matter.
No streetlights on key stretches of Mettupalayam and Avinashi roads in Coimbatore
Commuters put to risk due to poor visibility; in several spots, drivers cannot spot pedestrians, making crossing dangerous
Madras High Court judges inspect proposed fencing in Coimbatore Forest Division
V.O.C. remembered on his 154th birth anniversary in Coimbatore
Customs officials seize smuggled drones at Coimbatore airport
Kattoor Police Station named the best in Coimbatore city for 2023
These areas of Coimbatore city to face power cut on Saturday
Coimbatore industries welcome GST rate revision
Wrong-side driving rampant on several roads in Coimbatore
Cyber Crime Police register case over hoax bomb threat emails to Coimbatore Collectorate
Nalam Kaakkum Stalin camps in Coimbatore help over 8,000 people with health check-ups
IIT Madras tops NIRF rankings again; Anna University, Coimbatore colleges shine in Tamil Nadu
IIT Madras also bagged top slot in the innovations category and the newly introduced Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) institutions category
NEW DELHI: IIT Madras has secured the top spot in the overall category for the seventh year in a row in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) rankings of higher educational institutions in the country announced by the Education Ministry. The No. 1 rank for the best engineering institute has also been secured by the premier institution, an honour it has achieved annually since the inception of these rankings in 2016. Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan on Thursday released the India Rankings 2025 for Higher Educational Institutions at Bharat Mandapam. A total of 14,163 universities competed for the top spots in 17 sections. IIT Madras was rated the best in the Innovation Institutions and Sustainable Development Goals (SDG, a new introduction this year) categories, while it stood second in the Research category with the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, edging past it. IISc Bengaluru took the second rank in the 'Overall' category. Apart from beating IIT Madras to the top spot in the Research category, it has also been ranked the Best University in the country. The National Law School of Indian University (NLSIU) in the garden city was ranked the best Law college in India. A couple more reputed institutions add to Bengalurus honour list the Indian Institute of Management Bangalore was voted the second best management institute as well as the third best institute for Innovation. The only other institution in Karnataka to make it to the top three ranks is the Manipal Academy of Higher Education at Manipal, ranked the third best university in the country. IIT Bombay, which took the third spot in the overall ranking category, also bagged the third rank in the Engineering discipline as well as the second rank in the Innovation category. IIM Ahmedabad tops in the Management Institution category while IIT Roorkee takes the top spot in the Architecture and Planning category. Delhis performance AIIMS Delhi has been ranked the best for Medical Education as well as Dental while IIT Delhi is the top institute for Research. Two second ranks belong to Delhi the National Law University has been ranked the second best law college in the country while the Indian Agricultural Research Institute has been ranked the second best in SDG institutions. IIT Delhi is ranked the third best in the Research category. Delhi has six colleges figuring among the top ten in the country Hindu College (1), Miranda House (2), Hans Raj College (3), Kirori Mal College (4), St Stephens College (5) and Atma Ram Sanatan Dham College (7). Two Kolkata based colleges RamaKrishna Mission Vivekananda Centenary College (6th) and St Xaviers College (8th) find a place in the top ten. Surprisingly, two Coimbatore-based colleges PSGR Krishnammal College for Women PSG College of Arts and Science take the 9th and 10th slots. These are the rankings in the Open University category 1. Indira Gandhi National Open University, Delhi 2. Karnataka State Open University 3. U.P. Rajarshi Tandon Open University at Pragyaraj. The rankings are based on the National Institutional Ranking Framework launched in September 2015. The parameters assessed were Teaching, Learning & Resources; Research and Professional Practice; Graduation Outcome; Outreach and Inclusivity and Perception.
The untreated sewage has led to foul odour spreading across the airport and nearby residential areas, a matter that has been repeatedly raised with civic officials.
An Onam odyssey beyond borders
On the streets of Nagercoil, the days before Thiruvonam once meant hurried visits to crowded shops to buy Onakodi (Onam outfit). Writer Nanjil Nadan, who grew up in Nanjil Nadu, recalls that set- mundu or silk was beyond their means. We wore manja mundu (yellow dhoti). Most people were farmers, and we could not afford silk. Even getting three meals a day was a struggle, he says. Still, new clothes marked the festival, however modest. For us, Onam was always more important than Deepavali, he adds. That personal memory is reflective of how Onam travelled across borders and state lines. Nanjil Nadu, once part of Travancore, became part of Tamil Nadu only in 1956 after years of political struggle. Its people carried their Malayalam culture with them food, worship, language, and festivals. Onam endures as a marker of that history, still celebrated in border districts with a distinct flavour. Looking back into the history of Onam is a bit tedious, as there is no specific origin to this festival mentioned in history notes. Sociologist AM Kurup writes in The Sociology of Onam , The earliest known reference to Onam is found in Madurai Kanji, a Sangam poem from the 2nd century CE. It describes seven days of celebration in Madurai oblations to temples, duels and games, feasting, and a royal assembly where warriors, poets, and chieftains received gifts. Later inscriptions reveal how local assemblies institutionalised the festival. By the 16th century, travellers like Bartolommeo noted that Onam, celebrated over eight days, was dedicated to securing prosperity for the year, with people putting aside old pots, donning new clothes, and sharing food. Over time, power shifts transformed its religious landscape. Saivite sites gave way to Vaishnavite temples, and the presiding deity of Onam came to be identified with Vishnu. Kanniyakumari: A grandeur For Uma Sudhir, daughter of KT Sudhir who was once the president of Kanyakumari Malayali Samajam, Onam has become quieter with time. She recalls her childhood memories that involved gathering at her grandmothers house in Ernakulam, cousins laying pookalam together before the sadhya . Now, Onam is celebrated in individual homes. At the Samajam, we mark it on a convenient day, with competitions for schoolchildren, cultural programmes in Malayalam, and sometimes Pulikali on the streets. We also usually order in sadhya . Especially after Covid, things have become laid back. If there arent children at home, the pookalam is often skipped, she says. For Nanjil Nadan, Onams deep-rooted cultural connections remain strong through food. These days, everyone in Tamil Nadu just calls it payasam . But for us, its pradhaman . Ada Pradhaman, Paal Pradhaman theres always some kind of pradhaman . We dont make just any dessert for Onam. Also, we dont make non-veg for Onam, but we make it for Deepavali, he shares. Celebrations also spilled into the community. Under the tamarind trees, swings made of thick coir rope carried children and grandmothers alike. That marked the beginning of the festival. During Onam, theyd show some great Malayalam movies, he recalls. It was a rare chance for us. Thats how we got to see films like Oru Vadakkan Veeragatha . Music also filled the houses. We sang Maveli Naadu Vaanidum Kaalam , he adds. Today, the writer lives in Coimbatore. Ive lived here for 36 years. Onam is such a joyful festival. The citys diversity shapes its celebrations. About 35% of the people here are Malayalis, and the remaining are Telugu and Tamil speakers. So, its pretty cosmopolitan. Its not a distinctly Malayali festival. Basically, everyone celebrates it. Coimbatore: A porous border Artist Jitha Karthikeyan sees Onam in Coimbatore as inseparable from Kerala. From here, Valayar is just half an hour away. People go to Palakkad even for lunch, if they crave a Kerala meal, she says. The proximity keeps the culture alive in everyday life, not just during Onam. Now, she is struck by how porous the festival has become. I see Tamil and Telugu households making pookalam . Hotels are full with sadhya bookings from people who arent Malayalis. Festivals are no longer confined everyone celebrates what they find beautiful. Palakkad: A floral memory On the other side of the border, in Kalpathi, Palakkad, postmaster MN Lathadevi remembers the colours of the flowers that dominated houses. We used to put poochedi poovu , mukkutti poovu , thumbappoo , chembarathi , roses, and nithyakalyani . From Atham , we put pookalam for ten days. On Pooradam , we made matheru (small conical clay idols), on Uthradam three matherus , and on Thiruvonam we placed Maveli, she says. Each stage carried meaning. Pooradam is childrens Onam, Uthradam the elders, Thiruvonam everyones, and Avittam is for the married daughters who return to their homes. Today, marigolds from Tamil Nadu dominate, filling the absence of native blooms. Chennai: The many Onams In Chennai, Onam unfolds through associations and apartments. Pankajam Jayaram, who moved from Kannur 50 years ago, sees the contrast. We have to buy flowers and ingredients here. My mother made everything herself in Kerala, but in Chennai, we often order sadhya . Still, we share payasam with our neighbours. For businessman Manoharan Nambiar, the festival is a community stage. We celebrate in our apartment complex with about 50 Malayali families. Theres pookalam judged by celebrities, Mahabali goes around all the towers with chenda melam, and there are plays in English. We also serve free food to our housekeeping and security staff, he says. Meanwhile, Kudumbashree member Rejani Manohar recalls, Since ours is an all-women team, we made a woman Mahabali. In her household, Thalassery roots mean that the second days meal includes chicken biryani and date pickle served on banana leaves. Functionally, Onam plays a prominent role in the social integration of Keralites, irrespective of caste or creed. The rulers and the ruled, the employers and the employees, the landlords and the serfs, the high and the low all endeavour to achieve a common goal, share a common dream, and reflect the same aspirations, writes Kurup. Perhaps thats why Onam never sat still. It reappears in new places. For Jitha, what endures beyond geography or ritual is a shared ethos. Basically, it is about welcoming whether its a king in the legend, or simply a guest at the door. You may live in a tiny house, but you still clean the entrance, lay flowers, and serve food. That is our culture of hospitality. Let us take the spirit of oneness from it and celebrate, she concludes.
Awareness camp on bulk waste management in Coimbatore on September 12
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Personnel of special units in Coimbatore City Police get vests
DMK criticises Centre over US tariffs, warns of crisis in Tiruppur industry
DMK has questioned the BJP-led Centres silence as US tariffs disrupt Tamil Nadus textile exports, especially from Tiruppur and Coimbatore. With Rs 12,000 crore exports at risk and nearly five lakh jobs threatened, the party has demanded urgent relief measures and a special package to safeguard industries in the western region.
Pickleball craze peaks with gala tourney in city
The past weekend saw Thiruvananthapuram host a unique sporting event that nudged an already growing trend a step higher. The TrivandrumPickleballOpen, a world ranking 50 event, drew over 100 national-level players to the city. Visakh VS Among the competitors were Visakh V S, India No 4 in the 35+ category and winner of multiple PWR 100 titles, and Vineet R Nair, a semi-finalist at the CoimbatorePickleballOpen. Several local and state players also vied for the Rs 66,000 prize money and vouchers. The tournament reflects how fastpickleballhas caught on in the city in just a couple of years. Around six or seven courts now exist, and a high-profile one is coming up at Golf Links, Kowdiar, tipped to be among the most scenic in India. The players are from all age groups, but the above-35 crowd dominates. Its an easier version of tennis and badminton, demanding less physical strain while offering similar health benefits. Maybe thats why its becoming popular, says Ajay Thomas, co-founder of Spinz Academy. The Spinz, opened earlier this year, is one of the new spaces dedicated to the sport. In Kochi, too, this is growing fast, Ajay adds. Visakh, a city resident and vice-president at a Hyderabad-based MNC, is ranked four among Indianpickleballplayers and has represented India at the Asian Open in Thailand. When he picked up the game in 2021, few had heard of it. Post-pandemic, I was playing at Trivandrum Tennis Club when some US players introduced it. At first it was just a leisure activity on weekends. Soon, around 50 of us were playing on makeshift courts. That led me to represent India, which gave the game a push here. TTC then built an exclusive court, and now the city has about seven, including one at Kowdiar for residents of that locality, says Visakh, who also serves as state secretary of thePickleballAssociation of Kerala. From here, it spread to other parts of Kerala. Today there are 25 courts across the state, expected to touch 40 next year. Pickleballoriginated in the US in the 1960s, its quirky name linked to a family dog called Pickle who chased balls. The sport blends elements of badminton, tennis, table tennis and squash. Its addictive. People pick it up in minutes and begin hitting flashy shots, which gives a quick sense of achievement. That keeps them coming back, Visakh says. Its universal appeal also lies in accessibility. Even those in their 60s can compete and win. Unlike sports demanding peak fitness in your 20s,pickleballoffers longevity, he adds. The flagship Saturday event drew 130 entries across categories, including participants from neighbouring states and 1520 women. It was akin to the ATP tours in tennis, and we plan to hold more such tournaments here, says Jayamurali V, secretary of the Trivandrum DistrictPickleballAssociation. Family teams also turned up. There were husband-wife pairs, siblings it shows how accessible the game is. You can even set up a court at home, says Visakh, who was recently elected to the executive board of the IndianPickleballAssociation, now recognised by the Sports Authority of India and the Ministry of Sports and Youth Affairs. The sports surge is hardly confined to Kerala. Across India, tennis players, especially Davis Cuppers, find they adapt quickly. Celebrities too have caught the bug, from Saina Nehwal to actor Shahid Kapoor and his wife Mira. In Thiruvananthapuram, cricketer Sanju Samson has taken to it, while Prince Aditya Varma has become a patron. It wont be long beforepickleballenters schools, and maybe even the Olympics, Visakh concludes.
The DMK criticizes the central government's inaction regarding the impact of US tariffs on Tamil Nadu's textile industry, particularly in the Tiruppur and Coimbatore regions. Citing potential job losses and industrial unit closures, the DMK demands a special fund package from PM Modi to protect the affected industries.
Alangad jaggery in demand, farmers to scale up sugarcane production
KOCHI: With the demand for Alangad jaggery registering a sharp rise just a year after launch of production, the Alangad Cooperative Society has decided to extend sugarcane cultivation to 50 acres in a bid to ramp up production. While the jaggery brought from other states is sold at `60 to `70 per kg, Alangad jaggery costs `200 per kg. Yet, many temples and ayurveda medicine manufacturers have approached the society, demanding a steady supply of jaggery. The immediate plan is to extend cultivation to 25 acres by November from the current 15, according to society president P J Davis. Alangad, located on the banks of the Periyar, had a tradition of jaggery-making, which was discontinued around four decades ago. In 2023, the Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) contacted Alangad panchayat to revive sugarcane cultivation. The KVK brought in the CO 86032 variety, a high-yielding and disease-resistant sugarcane strain, from the Coimbatore Sugarcane Breeding Institute and the Alangad Cooperative Society came forward to support the initiative. Sugarcane cultivation was started in January that year and a jaggery-making plant was established on the society premises in 2024. The plant produces 500 kg of jaggery per day, which the society is planning to raise to 1,500 kg. Now, 24 farmers are cultivating sugarcane on 15 acres and the society planted sugarcane on three acres. Once the cultivation is extended to 25 acres, we will be able to increase production by the next Onam season, Davis told TNIE. Workers at the jaggery making unit of Alangad Cooperative Society He said the silt deposit from the Periyar over centuries has made the soil mineral-rich and the sugarcane cultivated here has low salt content. Though the price of jaggery is high, we are receiving enquiries from across the state. The bank will provide seeds, fertilisers and interest free loans to farmers, Davis said. Varghese P A, a farmer, said he has cultivated sugarcane on 1.5 acres as the bank offered support. Compared to paddy, the expense for sugarcane cultivation is low and the bank has offered Rs 8 per kg of sugarcane. We are yet to harvest it, but Im confident it will be profitable, he said. Varghese recalled that the whole area was under sugarcane cultivation in his childhood days. But the practice was discontinued around 40 years ago. We stopped paddy cultivation four years ago and the land was left fallow. With the bank offering support, I decided to take up the challenge. Now, more farmers have come forward to cultivate sugarcane, he said. KVK programme coordinator and scientist Shinoj Subramanian said they promoted sugarcane cultivation at Alangad as farmers stopped paddy cultivation citing losses. We encouraged the farmers to try crop diversification to improve their livelihood. We have partnered with the Alangad panchayat and the Alangad Cooperative Society to support the farmers. There is demand for the jaggery made here as there is no adulteration, Shinoj said. Alangad Jaggery in Numbers Production: 500 kg per day Area under sugarcane cultivation: 15 acres Price offered to farmers: L8 per kg of sugarcane Alangad Cooperative Society plans To extend cultivation to 25 acres by November To raise production to 1,500 kg per day by August 2026 Price Alangad Jaggery: L200 per kg Other jaggery: L60 to L70
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FM Sitharaman chairs textile industry representatives meet on economic challenges
CHENNAI, Sept 2: Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman chaired an interactive meeting with the representatives of the textile industry here on Tuesday in the backdrop of economic challenges affecting the sector including concerns over the US tariff of 50 per cent. BJPs Tamil Nadu state chief Nainar Nagenthiran and BJP national womens wing president and Coimbatore South MLA Vanathi Srinivasan, too, participated. Recently, Chief Minister M K Stalin had claimed that the US tariff hike to 50 per cent has [] The post FM Sitharaman chairs textile industry representatives meet on economic challenges appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Coimbatores KG Cinemas revamps movie screens for an immersive experience
The over four-decade-old KG cinemas revamps movie screens with luxury interiors, plush seats, and cutting edge projection technology for an immersive experience
Country-made pistol, 18 live rounds seized from robbery case accused at Sulur in Coimbatore
Forest Department awaits nod for capture of wild elephant nicknamed Rolex in Coimbatore
AIADMK MLA S.P. Velumani urges preventive measures against human-elephant conflicts in Coimbatore
Coimbatore District Police get eight vehicles for Quick Reaction Teams
50 crore additional fund sought for Semmozhi Poonga project in Coimbatore
Members of Marumalarchi Makkal Iyakkam stage protest in Coimbatore
