This is the first Bill that has completely used feminine pronouns. All the laws in the country have always used male pronouns till now, Health Minister Veena George's office said in a release. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a first in the country, the Kerala government on Tuesday passed a law on public health that has been fully written using feminine gender pronouns in Malayalam. The law titled, Public Health Law, 2023 was enacted after collecting the opinions of the public as well as people's repr

Three persons were injured and admitted to a private hospital in Angamaly and the condition of one of the workers is critical, according to the police. KOCHI: Two persons, including a migrant worker from West Bengal, died when a sunshade slab of an under-construction two-storeyed house collapsed at Karukutti in Angamaly, in the Ernakulam district, on Tuesday. The accident happened at 8.45 am during the construction of the sunshade in a house near St. Xaviers Forane Church, Karukutti. The decease

The decision came after the Opposition decided to up the ante against the LDF government by launching an indefinite protest inside the Assembly led by five UDF legislators. THIRIVANANTHAPURAM: The budget session of the 15th Kerala Legislative Assembly was guillotined on Tuesday in the wake of continuous protest by the Opposition. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan moved a resolution to cut short the proceedings, following which the Assembly was adjourned indefinitely on Tuesday. The decision came a

Official apathy leaves capital citys 3,500 street vendors in the lurch THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Its been nine years since the Street Vendors (Protection of Livelihood and Regulation of Street Vending) Act, 2014 came into effect. However, its implementation still remains on paper, leaving around 3,500 street vendors in the capital in the lurch. Whats worse is that instead of protecting the vendors livelihood, as envisaged in the Act, the Thiruvananthapuram corporation and police are making their lives

The MLA alleged that the doctors did not stitch her wounds after an abdomen surgery and let it fill with pus. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Government Medical College Teachers Association (KGMCTA) on Monday refuted the allegations of a Pathanapuram woman that the doctors at the Thiruvananthapuram Medical College Hospital (MCH) left her surgical wound open and unhealed, and said that she was given the best treatment. According to the association, the woman was infected with a multi-drug-resistan

Nedumangad is the gateway to tourist destinations, including Ponmudi hills, Agasthyarkoodam mountains and many more. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Nedumangad is the gateway to tourist destinations, including Ponmudi hills, Agasthyarkoodam mountains and many more. And in this suburban area, you can still find a prosperous village life. Records about Nedumangad can be found n many historical documents, say historians. According to historian M G Sasibhooshan, one can trace its origin back to the 17th century

Based on existing alignment, public access to the service road will be difficult, say NHAI sources THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The construction of the proposed service bridge at Thiruvallam will get delayed as the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) --- the implementing agency of the project --- is not satisfied with the present design. As per the NHAI, the design, if implemented, will make it difficult for commuters to enter the service bridge from the approach road. The design will be reworked

Hydroponics, a technique of growing plants using a water-based nutrient solution without soil, helps cultivate pesticide-free, high-quality vegetables in limited spaces. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a technology-driven farming initiative, Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) - supported uFarms.io has extended its IoT (Internet of Things) farm automation system to Uptown Urban Farms Pvt Ltd to set up the states first and biggest hydroponic automated farm in Thiruvananthapuram. General Education Minister V Siv

The recruits will be handed appointment orders in a function at the Jimmy George Indoor stadium at 11am on Tuesday by the chief minister. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Despite their initial reluctance, the persistence of officials is set to pay off. On Tuesday, for the first time in Keralas history, 500 tribals from across the state will be appointed as beat forest officers (BFOs). The landmark move is part of an initiative by the state government to integrate tribals into the mainstream while retaining th

They pleaded before us to at least reduce the fine. PALAKKAD: Even as the Brahmapuram incident dominates headlines, three health inspectors of Palakkad municipality have shown that little things can significantly reduce waste and help ensure a clean environment. The three are senior public health inspector Riazul Rehman and public health inspectors P Satheesh and N Suresh Kumar. Pooling money out of their own pockets and through the contributions of their colleagues, the three purchased 250 pair

Victim had to file a complaint with the DCP to get case registered THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Yet another major lapse of the police in ensuring womens safety in the capital city has come to light. Though the police were informed about the assault on a 49-year-old woman in the middle of a road at Vanchiyoor, they failed to act swiftly even after the victims daughter alerted the Pettah police immediately. Instead of nabbing the attacker, the police insisted on the complainant appearing before officials a

Sangh attacking nations constitutional institutions, says Wayanad MP KOZHIKODE:In the first public appearance after a police team visited his New Delhi residence to question him for claiming that women were still being sexually assaulted, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday said he will not stop speaking against RSS no matter how many times the sleuths are sent to his house. Sending police to my house or slapping cases on me wont stop me from speaking against RSS ideology of hate and its assa

He is not Scheduled Caste: HC | Submitted docu complied with legal formalities, says Raja KOCHI: The Kerala High Court on Monday declared void the election of A Raja of the LDF from Devikulam, a reserved assembly constituency in the Idukki district. Justice P Somarajan observed that Raja is not a member of Hindu Parayan within the state of Kerala and is not qualified to be chosen to fill a seat in the assembly reserved for Scheduled Caste. Hence, the election of Raja from the Devikulam is declar

They train abandoned or injured elephants that are brought to the sanctuary. THRISSUR:Bomman and Billie, the tribal couple who were featured in the Oscar-winning documentary The Elephant Whisperers, offered prayers at the Sree Krishna temple, Guruvayur, on Monday. After darshan, Bomman and Billie said they used to visit Guruvayur temple every year and Sree Krishna is their favourite deity. Sharing their happiness over getting global recognition through Oscar, the tribal couple said the visit was

Lotteries dept planning to make trade transparent; FB, Insta, Twitter handles to be made lively THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state lotteries department is planning a social media plunge to make the trade more transparent. It would be a big intervention through shorts, reels, posters and trolls to create awareness on various processes associated with lotteries - from printing to drawing and prize distribution. Flagging malpractice like virtual trade of tickets and debunking myths related to draws are

Bishop Inchananiyil said he will support any political party that tries to address their concerns. KOZHIKODE/KANNUR :The uproar triggered by Thalassery Archbishop Mar Joseph Pamplany was further amplified on Monday with his fellow prelate Remigiose Inchananiyil of Thamarassery coming out openly in support of him. Meanwhile, visuals have emerged of a meeting between Pamplany and local BJP leaders days before the bishop made the controversial remarks. Pamplany had said on Saturday that if the Uni

The woman first reported the incident to her family members waiting outside ICU. KOZHIKODE: Police on Monday arrested an attendee working at Kozhikode Government Medical College Hospital, based on a complaint lodged by a woman on Saturday alleging that she was sexually assaulted by a man while she was in the intensive care unit of the hospital. The woman was admitted to the hospital for thyroid surgery. The accused has been identified as Sasidharan M M, 55, a native of Vadakara.Sasidharan was a

The woman, who arrived at 1pm along with her husband, was allegedly made to wait till 3.30pm outside the deputy registrars office. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Eight days after giving birth, a woman employee of Kerala University (KU) was forced to appear in person before the deputy registrar to get her maternity leave sanctioned. The incident triggered protests from a section of employees who termed the officials action as inhuman. The employee who was abroad on long leave for the past many months return

Interestingly, the two Bills received the assent a day before Khan and Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan are set to meet at the Raj Bhavan for presentation of the Kerala Puraskaram awards on Tuesday. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan has given his assent to two of the eight Bills passed by the state legislature. While one Bill intends to repeal a law that entrusted State Waqf Board appointments to the PSc, the other is regarding the merger of Malappuram District cooperative Bank with

The award selection process had three levels - a secretary level preliminary screening committee, scrutiny committee and the award committee. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Governor Arif Mohammed Khan will present the maiden Kerala Puraskaram awards at the Raj Bhavan on Tuesday. Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan will preside over the function to be held at 4 pm. The Kerala Puraskaram awards instituted by the state government are on the lines of the centres Padma Awards. The top honour, the Kerala Jyothi will

The court noted that it was disheartening to see that some news channels are in the habit of publishing sleaze more than news. KOCHI: No person, be it the media or governmental agencies, has the right to peep into the private lives of citizens without a valid reason, the Kerala High Court held recently. The court also observed that certain media personalities' so-called crusade for truth and justice or personal vendetta cannot be excuses for impinging the right to privacy of the general public.

State Health Minister Veena George had ordered an inquiry and sought a report from the Director of Medical Education. KOZHIKODE:An employee of the Government Medical College Hospital here was arrested on Monday for allegedly sexually assaulting a woman patient two days ago, police said. The woman, who underwent surgery at the hospital, was allegedly sexually assaulted by an attendant after she was shifted to the post operative facility on Saturday, they said. The arrested Grade II attendant, Sas

Faris, who is a Chennai-based real estate businessman, has been summoned to appear for interrogation KOCHI: The investigation wing of the Income Tax department raided the offices and residence of businessman Faris Aboobacker in Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra and Karnataka as part of the probe into alleged tax evasion and black money hoarding behind real estate deals by his companies. Faris, who is a Chennai-based real estate businessman, has been summoned to appear for interrogation. The raids

At the beginning of the question hour itself, opposition members armed with placards, raised slogans inside the House. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The proceedings of the Kerala Legislative Assembly was disrupted on Monday too when the session resumed after two days' break. Opposition Leader VD Satheesan alleged that Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has been following the footsteps of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who had sent the Delhi Police to Rahul Gandhi's house. At the beginning of the question hour

The government and private companies are deceiving the public in the name of technology, Renjith told TNIE. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Even as the LDF government is marching ahead with its plans for waste-to-energy (WTE) plants in Kerala, a former member of the Supreme Court-appointed committee on waste management, Renjith Devaraj, warns that besides highly toxic dioxins and furans expelled by such plants, the solid waste generated in the state would not have enough calorific value to produce energy. A

The marathon held in the early morning was flagged off by former Indian cricketer Tinu Yohannan. It included three categories 21km, 10km and 3km of the run. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Over 3,000 people, representing all ages, genders, and professions, took part in the marathon organised in Thiruvananthapuram by GTech, the industry body of IT companies in the state, adding momentum to the governments Drugs-Free Kerala campaign. The marathon held in the early morning was flagged off by former Indian cr

Payden, the deputy WHO representative to India, praised the state for its intervention in emergency medicine. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Emergency Medicine Summit (KEMS 2023), a three-day international summit aimed at strengthening emergency trauma care in the state, concluded in Thiruvananthapuram on Sunday. Payden, the deputy WHO representative to India, praised the state for its intervention in emergency medicine. She was particularly impressed by the emergency and trauma care system at T

Deadline for e-tender submission extended by 15 days due to the non-completion of survey proceedings THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The e-tender submission deadline for the construction of the proposed Outer Ring Road (ORR) project in the capital has been extended by 15 days due to the non-completion of the survey proceedings. The original last date for the submission of the tender was March 16. Since the survey proceedings are yet to be completed in some areas, including Puthusserrykonam, it has been deci

Papers show that entire structure of waste mgmt project is riddled with several loose ends KOCHI: As the search to find whos accountable for the Brahmapuram dump yard mess continues, the documents in possession with TNIE show that the entire structure of the deal for the Solid Waste Management project is riddled with several loose ends. Going by the documents, its difficult to pin the blame on any particular entity. The result: the blame game would continue. As per the March 2020 government orde

During the term of the 13th KLA [Oommen Chandy government], which met for 234 days, only seven adjournment motions were declined out of 191. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior Congress leader Ramesh Chennithala has urged Speaker A N Shamseer not to deny the Opposition its rights in the assembly. While recalling the history of the assembly in a three-page letter, he cautioned the speaker against becoming a spokesperson of the government. Listing the number of adjournment motions made in the history of th

The data at KGDC would be generated by sequencing samples from a variety of sources, including humans, animals, plants, and environmental samples. KOCHI: The newly-announced Kerala Genome Data Centre (KGDC), a high-capacity data centre to enable harnessing the power of genomic data and the rich bio-diversity of Kerala, when fully established, will be the first such centre in the world. Though there are many Genome Data Centres in the world, they all are focused on human genetic data. Data on oth

According to protocols, prior sanction from the Legislative Assembly secretary is required to probe incidents that occurred inside the House. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Paving the way for further legal action in the assembly scuffle case involving nine MLAs, the Museum police have sought the nod from the Legislative Assembly secretary to start its proceedings. According to protocols, prior sanction from the Legislative Assembly secretary is required to probe incidents that occurred inside the House. Th

Govt may give in to adjournment motion demands | Peaceful resumption of session Oppns aim, says Satheesan THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: ComingMonday, attention will shift to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan, and the possibility of the two attempting to facilitate the smooth functioning of the assembly. If the rumour mills are to be believed, the two could hold talks in the morning to end the stalemate that marred the sessions in the second half of last week. The rulin

The report, accessed by TNIE, says preventing sexual abuse in schools is a complex issue that requires a multi-pronged approach. KOCHI: In a move to check the sexual abuse of students in schools, an expert committee, constituted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to deliberate on issues pertaining to prevention-oriented programmes on sexual abuse in the school curriculum, has mandated that students, teachers and staff of schools be sensitised to understand what sexual abuse is, i

It does not come as a surprise as the existing 13 self-financing ISM colleges in the state have struggled to fill their seats. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The low demand for ayurveda, unani and Siddha courses has stalled the growth of self-financing colleges following the Indian systems of medicine (ISM) in Kerala. In the last three years, there have been no applications for setting up new colleges even when other states, including neighbouring Karnataka, have ramped up their numbers. The stalemate come

A KDHP spokesperson told TNIE the system of segregating waste at source has been practised successfully in all 92 divisions of Munnars tea estates for the past 10 years. IDUKKI: The sleepy tea plantations of Munnar make the case for the segregation of waste at source. And, this assumes greater importance at a time when the massive fire at the Brahmapuram dump yard, in Kochi, has kicked up a statewide debate on the way forward on waste management, especially in urban centres. The labour quarters,

Three sections in Kollam, one in TPuram being widened at a total cost of Rs 11,207.8 crore THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Moving into south Kerala, four NH-66 widening works in two districts Thiruvananthapuram andKollam are progressing at varying paces. In all, a 108.6-km-long stretch, most of it in Kollam, is being widened at a total cost of Rs 11,207.8 crore. Work on the NH-66 stretch from Kazhakoottam to Kadampattukonam on the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam border is progressing swiftly. The National Highw

The commissions belated fiat was flayed by a section of parents as exams have already begun. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In view of the soaring mercury levels, the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights has asked the Director of General Education to allow students of classes one to nine, whose final exams are scheduled in the afternoon session, to come to schools and study for the tests in the morning. However, the fiat has not gone down well with teachers who termed it impractical. The

The union was awaiting the second round of talks with Raju to decide their next course of action. Earlier, they had mulled going on strike based on the outcome of the talks. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala State Road Transport Employees Association, affiliated with the CITU, will hold talks with Transport Minister Antony Raju to discuss the uncertainty over salary payment on Monday. The union was awaiting the second round of talks with Raju to decide their next course of action. Earlier, they had mul

He also rued the UDFs hesitancy to ramp up protests against the ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF), especially on the matter of the hike in fuel cess. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Revolutionary Socialist Party (RSP) state secretary Shibu Baby John has lashed out at the leadership of the United Democratic Front (UDF), a coalition in which his party is a constituent, for the latters failure to hold regular internal consultations. He also rued the UDFs hesitancy to ramp up protests against the ruling Left D

On Saturday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders said they had recently held discussions with a few Muslim leaders, including a League MLA, in Malappuram. KOZHIKODE: Two days after he was expelled from the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML), former state secretary K S Hamza on Sunday alleged that it was at the behest of national general secretary P K Kunhalikutty that an MLA from the party met RSS leaders. On Saturday, Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh leaders said they had recently held discussions wi

For the past few months, Arikomban has been causing disturbance in the habitation areas under the Chinnakkanal and Santhanpara panchayats of the Idukki district. IDUKKI: The mission to capture the rogue tusker Arikomban is in its final stages, as one of the four kumki elephants has already set off from Wayanad on Sunday to assist the forest officials. The kumkis name is Vikram. For the past few months, Arikomban has been causing a disturbance in the habitation areas under the Chinnakkanal and Sa

Besides the capital, the ten-member team visited Salzburg, known as a leading hub of innovation. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A team of firms led by the Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) visited Vienna this week to research investments and business opportunities as well as the Central European countrys startup ecosystem. The trip was held from March 13 to 18. Organised in collaboration with the host countrys official trade promotion organisation, Advantage Austria, and Bangalore-based Carve Startup Labs, a g

MSF state president P K Navas resigned from the convener post of the United Democratic Students Front (UDSF) on Sunday. MALAPPURAM: Upset over the non-cooperation of the Kerala Students Union (KSU) during the recent Calicut University(CU) election, the Muslim Students Union (MSF) has decided to withdraw from the common platform and contest elections separately. MSF state president P K Navas resigned from the convener post of the United Democratic Students Front (UDSF) on Sunday. The UDSF is an a

Dr Thottam Sivakaran Namboothiri will be the head priest of Guruvayur temple for six months during which period he will have to remain there and cannot go home. THRISSUR: After a Youtuber-cum-vlogger, now an authority on Kerala-style chanting of 'Jaiminiya Samaveda' is going to be the next head priest or 'melshanti' of the southern state's famous Guruvayur temple here. Fifty-seven-year-old Dr Thottam Sivakaran Namboothiri is one of the two remaining authorities of the Kerala-style chanting of Ja

While the Opposition has managed to question the impartiality of the Speaker, the LDF has been trying to reply in kind by criticising the former members for their unruly behaviour. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The dramatic incidents of the last few days in the Kerala Assembly have exposed the Left front's lack of coordination and collective leadership and its failure in initiating dialogue. For the first time since his return to power, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's reputation as a political strategist

Half of identified land marshy; govt yet to give nod to start construction on remaining land THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The much-touted International Convention Centre Complex (ICCC) proposed at Akkulam in Thiruvananthapuram remains a non-starter. The brainchild of the Kerala tourism department is likely to be shelved due to bureaucratic lethargy. Though the tourism department initiated steps to get the necessary clearances for the proposal four years ago, nothing has happened so far. The state governme

The school authorities denied admission and allegedly misbehaved with him. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The State Information Commission has imposed a fine of Rs 25,000 on a former headmistress of an aided school in Kannur for not providing information sought through a Right to Information (RTI) query filed in 2017. The fine was imposed by Information Commissioner K L Vivekanandan on K Molly of St Theresas School in Kannur based on an appeal petition by one Biju Santhosh. Biju had approached the school fo

Prof. Biswajit Das, founder director of the Centre for Media Studies and Governance, Jamia Milia Islamia Central University, chaired the session. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:Media theoretician Mark Deuze has stated that the everyday life of humans has become mediatised, and it is better to embrace this reality. He made these remarks while delivering the keynote address at the two-day international media seminar organised by the Department of Journalism and Mass Communication of Mar Ivanios College, which

The loan amount will range between Rs 25 lakh and Rs 2 crore. THIRUVANANTHAPURAM:The Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) has sanctioned a loan of Rs 101 crore under the Chief Ministers Special Assistance Scheme (CMSAS). A total of 64 entrepreneurs benefited from the scheme launched for MSMEs/Startups/Micro Enterprises & NRKS. The scheme aims to start 1,500 MSMEs in five years. At least 200 loans will be sanctioned per year. The loan amount will range between Rs 25 lakh and Rs