Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Meets Kerala Cleric Kanthapuram, Receives Award
Malaysian PM Anwar Ibrahim Meets Kerala Cleric Kanthapuram, Receives Award
Eiffel Tower and Indian Orthodoxy in the Shadow of the Supreme Court
ON THE NEW YEAR OF 2019, from the northern tip of Kerala to the southern end of Kerala stretching over 620 kilometres, half a million women of Kerala stood holding their hands as a human chain which was described as Mahila Mathilugal (womens wall) demanding gender equality which also wanted access to the Sabarimala temple to worship the Lord Ayyappa who is adorning the temple. It was stated that the women during their menstruation cycle are not allowed to enter Sabarimala because it is considered menstruation will pollute and disturb the celibacy of the Lord who is considered as a Brahmachari . The women were demanding implementation of the judgment of the Supreme Court delivered on September 28, 2018 which ruled that keeping the menstruating women out considering that they were impure and had the effect of polluting the place was nothing but untouchability hit by Article 17 of the Constitution. The news of the women's human chain got hardly reported in spite of the fact that it was a unique agitation involving several thousands women. The majority of the five-judge bench held: Article 17 is the constitutional promise of equality and justice to those who have remained at the lowest rung of a traditional belief system founded in graded inequality It has been placed on a constitutional pedestal of enforceable fundamental rights, beyond being only a directive principle, for two reasons. First, untouchability is violative of the basic rights of socially backward individuals and their dignity. Second, the Framers believed that the abolition of untouchability is a constitutional imperative to establish an equal social order. Its presence together and on an equal footing with other fundamental rights, was designed to give vulnerable people the power to achieve collective good. Article 17 is a reflection of the transformative ideal of the Constitution, which gives expression to the aspirations of socially disempowered individuals and communities, and provides a moral framework for radical social transformation. But the demand of these women was never implemented in spite of the fact that there was a judgment in their favour and the State was supposed to implement the order under Article 144 of the Constitution. However, what prevented them was that a Review Petition was not only entertained, but also referred to a larger bench of 9 judges which took almost 8 years to hear the case for days together, whose verdict is awaited. However, what was shocking was that the bench never fixed any time limit for arguments of the counsels and they went on for more than three weeks. More shocking was that the counsels were willing to put forth arguments which were based on ancient texts and discarded over the years. Some arguments sounded similar to the ones which were advocated before the Privy Council in the beginning of the 20th century about the time tested practice and belief of the Hindu sect which should not be altered by any notions invented over the period. Little do they realise that by the 42nd amendment to the Constitution of India (1976), fundamental duties were introduced and Article 51-A makes several duties on the citizens and the sub-clause (e) specifically directs them to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. While the women fight for their self-respect and dignity in the court, a group of Sanyasis belonging to the Swaminarayan sect calling themselves Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha (BAPS) recently went to Paris to attend the consecration of their temple in the outskirts of the city. The said group also wanted to have site-seeing in the city, one unavoidable place being the Eiffel Tower situated in the middle of the city. They intimated their tour operators that they should ensure that during their visit there should not be any interactions with the women working in the Tower. In essence, they wanted the women staff of the Eiffel Tower to be kept away from their eye contact. The management also attempted to implement the said request which led to a woman protesting against such crude discrimination and leading to the strike of the Eiffel Tower staff on September 7. In India, we may be accustomed to such blatant discrimination, but in Paris and other places it gave rise to a wide range of protest. The Mayor of Paris, Emmanuel Gregoire was quoted saying Equality between women and men will never stop at the foot of our historical monuments, nor anywhere in this country. It must be applied everywhere, for everyone. The Indian Express quoted a spokesman of the Ministry of External Affairs as saying, We are aware of the opening of a temple by the BAPS Sanstha in the Paris area. As to the particular issue pertaining to the Tower, this is a matter purely between the entities concerned. Thus the Indian Government washed off its hands instead of reacting to the conduct of the group of Sadhus who went abroad and did something contrary to the spirit of India, that too in a country where three centuries ago in a revolution overthrowing the monarchy, people raised slogans of Liberty, Equality and Fraternity which prominently finds a place in the preamble to our Constitution. To add a caveat, however, Dr. Ambedkar said that he was inspired to include these words after being inspired by the teachings of Lord Buddha who was his master. India and the Promise of Article 15 Notwithstanding the fact that the Constitution assures equality before law and Article 15 specifically prohibits any discrimination by the State on grounds of sex and other reasons set out therein. Even during the debates while framing the Constitution and when the Constituent Assembly called for responses from the general public, there were several representations received from the Hindu orthodoxy that religious rituals, such as funerals or menstrual cycles of women, rendered certain persons temporarily untouchable. To criminalise the practice of untouchability, they argued, constituted direct interference with religion.( Assembling Indias Constitution , Rohit De Ornit Shani, Penguin Random House, 2025, p. 56) The very same book which gathered this information from the archives of the Constituent Assembly also referred to several exercises made by the Hindu orthodoxy to preserve the tradition and practice of the religion. Notwithstanding these sectarian approaches, the Constituent Assembly unanimously introduced Article 14 , 15 , 16 and 17 of the Constitution and wanted to remove any kind of discrimination practiced against women. Added to this is the fundamental duty provided under Article 51-A(e). The Government of India is also party to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination of Women (CEDAW) (June 25, 1993). Article 11 of CEDAW, to which India is a party, requires State parties to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in the field of employment. In its General Recommendation No. 19 (1992), the United Nations Committee on CEDAW further clarified that equality in employment can be seriously impaired when women are subjected to gender-specific violence, such as sexual harassment at the workplace. Indias commitment to protection and promotion of womens constitutional rights as well as respect for its obligations under various international treaties is unequivocal. However, in the matter of providing equality and non-discrimination against women, however progressive the government may be, it was the judiciary which gave its peculiar interpretation, especially interpreting Article 15 of the Constitution which bans discrimination based on sex. Saurabh Kirpal, commenting on this wrote: Chief Justice M.C. Chagla [who] held that personal laws could not be challenged as violating any fundamental right guaranteed under the Constitution. This was on the basis that the definition of the term law (under Article 13 ) in the Constitution did not include personal laws in its purview. Justice P.B. Gajendragadkar, who went on to become Chief Justice of India, agreed with Chief Justice Chagla, and explained the position in starker terms. He ruled that the rules prescribed for marriages are determined by the social and economic condition of the society. In dealing with these rules, it is also necessary to remember the obvious natural differences between the sexes themselves and considerations which may legitimately arise from these differences. In his view, Article 15 of the Constitution prohibited discrimination against women if it was based on the ground of sex only. This use of the word only, as per the learned judge, implied that if there was some other ground to differentiate between men and women, other than sex alone, the legislation would be upheld. ( Who is Equal? , Saurabh Kirpal, Penguin Random House India, p.187-88) That the Indian judiciary is still in the learning process was recorded in the case of Gwalior Judge in which Indira Jaisings intervention was described by a lawyer with a phrase which was completely misogynist. Justice J.S. Khehar observed: Every day is a matter of learning there is a lot to be learnt, from what she innocuously conveyed. Her sensitivity to the issue, one may confess, brought out to us, a wholly different understanding on the subject. It is therefore, that we have remarked above, that the evaluation of a charge of sexual harassment, would depend on the manner in which it is perceived. It took 8 years for the Supreme Court to issue a Hand Book on Combating Gender Stereotypes (2023). Writing the preface for the book, Chief Justice Dhananjay Chandrachud wrote: Our oath as judges mandates that we perform the duties of our office without fear or favour, affection or ill-will. The oath demands that we discharge our functions with impartiality and objectivity, applying the law to every case before us. A judges oath demands rejecting improper attempts to influence their decision-making. The oath also requires a judge to put aside any preconceived notions about the parties before the court. Relying on predetermined stereotypes in judicial decision-making contravenes the duty of judges to decide each case on its merits, independently and impartially. In particular, reliance on stereotypes about women is liable to distort the laws application to women in harmful ways. (Handbook on Combating Gender Stereotypes, Supreme Court of India, 2023) No sooner Chief Justice Surya Kant took over, he dismissed the book as too Harvard-oriented and said that it may not be understood by the rape survivor, her relatives or commoners. He said that judges should receive practical training on the issue, directing the National Judicial Academy, Bhopal to frame fresh guidelines , rather than sermonise High Court judges from the Supreme Court. But what is happening in the country is quite different. There was a Hindu Swamiji from South who told the women to stay at home and take care of the children and if they want to earn some amount, they can prepare kumkum or pappad at home. This trait is not confined only to Hindu swamijis . An Islamic scholar from Kanthapuram in Keralam, A.P. Aboobacker Musliar apparently advised women to remain confined to their homes because their public appearances led to great destruction. When a journalist Aparna Kurup questioned and criticized the view, she got death threats. When she approached the police for her protection, a case was booked against her which is still going on. Four women judicial officers were terminated by the Madhya Pradesh High Court; they approached the Supreme Court. When the matter came up before Justice Nagarathna she got furious and even at the admission stage remarked: I wish men had menstruation, then only they would understand. Finally allowing all the four applications and setting aside those termination orders, she emphasized that the only way such discriminations will disappear is that women should enter the field in large numbers and ultimately have positions where the decision-making will be in their hands. She said : To holistically understand womens effective participation in the Judiciary, it is important to look at three main phenomena: (I) the entry of women into the legal profession; (II) the retention of women and growth of their numbers in the profession; and (III) the advancement of women, in numbers, to senior echelons of the profession. Many have stressed that increased diversity within a judiciary, and ensuring judges are representative of society, enables the judiciary as a whole to better respond to diverse social and individual contexts and experiences. It is a recognition of this fact that a greater representation of women in the judiciary, would greatly improve the overall quality of judicial decision making and this impacts generally and also specifically in cases affecting women. Ultimately, whether any case will be filed against those BAPS sadhus is not known. Since their newly consecrated temple may attract many devotees and tourists from Europe, the French govt. may not attempt any such exercise. But theoretically if any case is instituted in India, what will be the outcome, is anybodys guess? Since Article 15 (2) is qualified by the word only and in the absence or conditions of sex plus theory is applied in all probabilities the Sadhus may escape by saying that the religious right will exclude an application of discrimination theories. Ultimately, the nine-judge bench will decide, of which Justice B.V. Nagarathna is also a part of the key answer. If they decide that the Hindu Sadhus cannot dictate as to who should be the Eiffel Tower staff and what should be their sex identity, it will be well and could and on par with the civilized world. If they decide otherwise, then the Prime Minister shouting on all platforms about Nari Shakthi will only become a mirage.
Rain, thunderstorms likely in Delhi today; heavy rain alert in 10 states
IMD has forecast another spell of rainfall in the capital, with isolated heavy showers likely through September 17; Gujarat, Odisha, Kerala and parts of the northeast also under heavy rain alert
Civil works of Vattiyurkavu junction development project in Keralam to take off on September 14
The works, which have been contracted by the Kerala Road Fund Board to the Uralungal Labour Contract Cooperative Society, involve construction of roads, culverts and retaining walls as well as shifting of utility lines
Kerala Youth Arrested at Mumbai Airport with
A 22-year-old from Kerala was arrested at Mumbai Airport with nearly 5 kg of hydroponic weed valued at 1.73 crore. Kerala Youth Arrested at Mumbai Airport with 1.73 Crore Worth of Hydroponic Weed
An MBBS internship in India, officially designated as the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) or Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI), is a mandatory 12-month hands-on clinical training period that every medical graduate must complete after passing their final MBBS professional examinations. Governed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), it serves as the final practical bridge between being a medical student and a licensed, independent primary care physician. Why Internship? The Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) is mandatory for MBBS students in India for several vital reasons, ranging from practical clinical readiness to legal requirements. Here is exactly why this internship year is an absolute necessity in the Indian medical education system: The Bridge from Theory to Real-World Practice 1. For four and a half years, MBBS students primarily acquire theoretical knowledge and observe cases from a distance. The internship is their first opportunity to shift from classroom learning to active clinical action. Hands-on experience: It teaches them vital practical skills that textbooks cannot, such as drawing blood, putting in IV lines, passing catheters, and suturing wounds. Decision-making: It builds clinical judgment, teaching them how to prioritise patients, manage emergencies, and make split-second decisions under pressure. 2. Legal Requirement for Licensing In India, completing the 12-month internship is a statutory legal requirement. You cannot get a permanent registration number from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or State Medical Councils without a valid internship completion certificate. Without this registration number, an MBBS graduate cannot legally practice medicine, prescribe drugs, or work as a Medical Officer in India. 3. Preparation for Diverse Indian Healthcare Demands India has a massive, highly diverse population with major differences between urban and rural healthcare availability. The internship includes a mandatory 3-month posting in Community Medicine (rural health centres). It exposes young doctors to grassroots healthcare challenges. It teaches them how to manage public health programs, treat tropical diseases, and handle cases with limited resources in rural setups. 4. Specialisation Exploration (Choosing a Career Path) Before the internship, students often do not know which branch of medicine suits them best. Rotating through every major department (Medicine, Surgery, OB-GYN, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, etc.) acts as a trial period. It helps graduates figure out which speciality they want to pursue for their post-graduation (MD/MS) based on their aptitude and interest. 5. Development of Soft Skills and Professionalism Being a doctor requires much more than medical knowledge. The intense internship year forces students to develop critical soft skills: Communication: Learning how to explain diagnoses to patients, break bad news to families, and counsel anxious relatives. Teamwork & Stress Management: Learning to work with nurses, senior residents, and hospital staff while managing long 24-to-36-hour shifts. When Internship? In the context of Indian medical education, there is only one true internship period: the 12 months following your final year exams. It is a mandatory, legally enforced bridge that transforms a medical student into a licensed, practising physician. The Human Element: Demographics, Grind, and Grit : Behind the clinical rotation tables lies the raw, human reality of the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI). For an intern, this year is less about academic reading and entirely about surviving the high-stakes, high-pressure environment of Indian public healthcare. 1. The Age Factor: Young Minds, Massive Responsibilities The Age Bracket: The vast majority of medical interns in India are 23 to 25 years old. The Transition: At an age when most of their peers in engineering or corporate sectors are navigating entry-level office jobs, medical interns are thrust into life-or-death situations. They go from being protected students who memorize textbook definitions to frontline workers breaking bad news to grieving families, assisting in emergency resuscitations, and managing chaotic casualty wards. 2. The Hardwork and The Grind The sheer volume of physical labor expected from an MBBS intern in India is notoriously gruelling. The Brutal Shift Timings: A standard day is rarely just 8 hours. Depending on the department, interns routinely pull 24-hour to 36-hour continuous shifts with little to no sleep. The Scut Work: Because Indian public hospitals are chronically understaffed, interns function as the backbone of daily operations. Beyond clinical learning, a massive portion of their energy goes into administrative laborwheeling patients to radiology, running blood samples to laboratories, manually filling out endless paperwork, and tracking down patient case sheets. 3. The Psychological and Environmental Factors The environment of a government hospital medical college shapes an intern's resilience through extreme trial by fire: Overwhelming Patient Footfall: Indian public hospitals handle an astronomical volume of patients. An intern on a single emergency night shift might screen hundreds of patients, testing their clinical reflexes and patience to absolute limits. The NEET-PG / NExT Shadow: Perhaps the most unique and stressful factor for Indian interns is the dual burden of time. They must survive physically exhausting 100-hour workweeks while simultaneously preparing for one of the toughest competitive exams in the worldNEET-PG or NExT. Balancing active hospital duties with late-night textbook revision leads to chronic sleep deprivation and burnout. Emotional Detachment vs. Empathy: Facing severe trauma, systemic resource shortages, and patient mortality daily forces these young doctors to mature rapidly. They must quickly learn the delicate balance of maintaining emotional empathy for patients while building a thick skin to prevent psychological exhaustion. Where Internship? According to the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations set by the National Medical Commission (NMC): The Same Institute Rule: For Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs), the rule is strict: you must complete your 12-month internship at the exact same medical college hospital from which you completed your MBBS course. The older practice of ransferring or externing to a different hospital in another city or state for internship is no longer casually permitted. The Approved Hospital List: For Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs)students who completed their MBBS abroad and passed the screening examthe internship must be completed in NMC-approved government or private medical colleges within India, often allocated through centralized state counselling processes. Rural Postings: A portion of the internship (specifically under Community Medicine) cannot be done in the main city hospital. Interns must live and work at Primary Health Centres (PHCs) and Community Health Centres (CHCs) in rural areas for up to two months to understand grassroots public healthcare. The Reality Checklist: Conditions of the Internship Places The conditions of the hospitals where MBBS students undergo their internships vary wildly depending on whether they are in a massive government facility, a rural village, or a corporate private hospital. 1. Public / Government Medical Colleges (The High-Volume Zones) The vast majority of Indian medical students train in state or central government hospitals. The conditions here are characterised by extreme intensity: Infrastructure Deficits: These places are often overcrowded and under-resourced. Interns regularly work in wards lacking central air conditioning, facing broken fans, or short on basic ward supplies (like gloves, specific syringes, or proper patient trolleys). The Patient Influx: Public hospitals are flooded with hundreds of patients every day. While this means the infrastructure is chaotic, it provides unmatched clinical exposure. An intern here will see rare diseases and perform dozens of basic procedures (like drawing blood, putting in IV lines, or suturing wounds) daily. Hygiene and Security Challenges: Wards can be highly congested. Security is a major concern, as overcrowded emergency rooms frequently witness friction between emotionally distressed patient relatives and under-staffed medical teams. 2. Rural Health Centres (The Grassroots Postings) During the mandatory rural rotation, the environment shifts completely: Basic Living Conditions: Interns are usually required to live in residential quarters on-site at a village PHC or CHC. These accommodations can vary from decent to highly compromised, with issues like erratic electricity, poor internet connectivity, and basic plumbing. Limited Diagnostic Tools: Unlike tertiary hospitals, there are no advanced MRI machines or rapid lab results here. Interns must rely purely on basic clinical examination skills, managing snakebites, basic maternal deliveries, and infectious diseases with minimal backup. 3. Private Medical Colleges / Corporate Hospitals For students studying in private institutions, the setting is vastly different: Superior Infrastructure: The working conditions are physically comfortable. Hospitals are clean, fully air-conditioned, technologically advanced, and well-staffed with nurses and ward boys. Lower Administrative Workload: Because these hospitals have dedicated staff for running lab samples or filling paperwork, interns face much less non-clinical scut work. The Downside (Patient Privacy): Because patients pay high fees, they rarely allow a young intern to perform procedures on them. Private hospital interns primarily observe senior consultants rather than getting the intense hands-on experience that their government counterparts get. Ultimately, the place where an MBBS internship is done determines a doctor's initial clinical competence. Government hospitals present brutal physical conditions but elite medical learning, while private institutions offer comfortable conditions but limited independent practical exposure Why Internship Stipend? The question of why MBBS intern students deserve a fair and uniform internship stipend has become a central debate in medical education. After completing four and a half years of rigorous academic study and clearing their final professional exams, MBBS graduates enter a mandatory one-year rotating internship. This period is not just a continuation of their education; it is a transition into full-time clinical service where interns form the backbone of public healthcare delivery. Here is why a robust, standardised internship stipend is a necessity, not a luxury, for MBBS interns. 1. Payment for Essential Clinical Labour MBBS interns are not mere observers; they are frontline healthcare workers. In most government and charitable medical colleges, interns work gruelling shifts that frequently extend from 12 to 24 consecutive hours, sometimes totalling over 80 to 100 hours a week. They manage emergency wards, conduct preliminary patient examinations, dress wounds, draw blood, and assist in major surgeries. Without their labour, the daily operations of major public hospitals would heavily falter. A stipend is the rightful financial compensation for this intense physical and mental labour. 2. Financial Independence and Relief By the time a medical student reaches their internship, they are usually 23 to 25 years old. Dependence on Parents: After a lengthy and expensive education, expecting young adults to continue relying on their parents for basic living expenses (food, rent, utility bills, and books) is unfair and financially draining for families. Loan Repayment: Many students take out substantial educational loans to fund their MBBS. A fair stipend allows them to begin managing their financial obligations and daily expenses independently. 3. Boosting Morale and Mental Well-being Medical internships are notoriously stressful, characterised by high patient loads, sleep deprivation, and exposure to critical trauma. When interns are underpaid or not paid at all, it breeds resentment and severe burnout. Financial anxiety compounded by physical exhaustion severely impacts an intern's mental health. Providing a fair stipend acts as a vital morale booster, making students feel valued by the healthcare system they serve. 4. Preventing Exploitation and Ensuring Equity Currently, there is a massive disparity in stipends across different states and institutions. While interns in some central government institutions receive a substantial amount, their peers in certain state government colleges or private institutions receive a fraction of that, or sometimes nothing at all, despite doing identical work. Mandating a fair, uniform stipend prevents private management from exploiting young doctors as cheap labour. It ensures equity, guaranteeing that a student's compensation is determined by their work, not by the geographical location or funding type of their college. The Current Landscape vs. The Need of the Hour The National Medical Commission (NMC) and various court rulings have repeatedly emphasised that all interns must be paid a stipend fixed by the respective authorities. However, implementation remains uneven. Medical interns are the primary link between patients and senior doctors. Denying them a fair stipend undermines the dignity of the medical profession. Providing a justifiable stipend is an investment in the healthcare system, ensuring that the next generation of doctors is motivated, financially secure, and focused entirely on saving lives. What Internship Stipend should be paid? To enhance and standardise the stipend amount for MBBS intern doctors, both the central and state governments must adopt a coordinated policy framework. Currently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandates that interns be paid, but leaves the specific execution and financial liability to individual states and institutions. This creates massive regional disparities. The Supreme Court of India has repeatedly reprimanded defaulting institutions and the NMC, emphasising that medical internships are a matter of right and denying fair compensation is akin to onded labour. A comprehensive policy roadmap should be implemented to ensure fair remuneration. 1. Central Government & NMC Action Plan As the overarching regulatory bodies, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the NMC must set the national benchmark. Establish a National Minimum Stipend Floor: The NMC should amend the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations to establish a statutory National Minimum Stipend Floor (e.g., 25,00030,000 per month) indexed to inflation. No medical collegegovernment or privateshould be legally allowed to pay below this baseline. Strict Enforcement and Penalties: The NMC must continuously monitor compliance through its mandatory disclosure portal. Institutions failing to pay or delaying stipends should face swift disciplinary actions, including hefty financial penalties or the freezing of seat allocations. Reactivate Regular Central Revision Cycles: The Central Government should resume its strict biennial (two-year) revision cycle for central institutions like AIIMS and central university hospitals. This sets an immediate upward benchmark for state governments to emulate. 2. State Government Action Plan Because public health and state medical colleges fall under provincial jurisdiction, state governments must fix systemic local issues. Implement Equal Pay for Equal Work Across Sectors: State policies must mandate private and minority medical colleges to match the stipend amounts paid by government medical colleges within that state. An intern's clinical duties remain identical regardless of whether a hospital is state-run or privately owned. Automatic Inflation Indexing: State health departments should implement a policy where intern stipends automatically increase by a set percentage (e.g., 5-10%) every two years to account for the rising cost of living, bypassing the need for students to launch mass protests or strikes to seek adjustments. Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) Systems: To prevent private management from coercing or shortchanging students, states should mandate that all internship stipends be disbursed via a Direct Benefit Transfer system linked directly to the intern's bank account, ensuring complete audit transparency. Rahul Gandhi's vision on internships Rahul Gandhi's vision on internships revolves around the idea that fair compensation and structured training are legal rights for the youth, rather than privileges or cheap labor. As the Leader of the Opposition (LoP), his philosophy shifts the narrative from ad-hoc stipends to a legally enforceable structural framework. This vision can be analyzed through two distinct lenses: his broader national policy for all graduates and his specific stance regarding medical (MBBS) intern doctors. 1. Broad National Vision: The Right to Apprenticeship During his election campaigns and policy announcements, Rahul Gandhi introduced a flagship economic model for young graduates known as the Pehli Naukri Pakki (First Job Guaranteed) scheme. Legally Guaranteed Internships: Modelled after the rights-based approach of MGNREGA, his vision proposes a statutory Right to Apprenticeship Act. This would make it legally mandatory for both government offices and private corporations to take in college graduates and diploma holders under the age of 25 for a one-year internship. National Minimum Stipend Baseline: A core component of this vision is a guaranteed financial floor. He proposed a fixed stipend of 1 lakh per year (equivalent to 8,500 per month) to be transferred directly via DBT into the accounts of the interns. Criticism of Existing Models: Gandhi has frequently criticised current central government internship schemes. He argues that a low-stipend infrastructure results in high refusal rates (claiming up to 90% of youth reject them) because meagre payouts fail to match basic living costs. 2. Emerging Stance on MBBS Intern Doctors The broader philosophy of fair pay for professional work has directly intersected with ongoing medical agitations. Direct Appeals from Medical Interns: Protesting MBBS and BDS internsspecifically highlighted during recent statewide strikes in places like Jammu and Kashmir demanding a stipend hike from 12,300 to 30,000have formally approached Rahul Gandhi to champion their cause on a national stage. Dignity of Labour over Exploitation: Within his political framework, the gruelling 12-to-36-hour shifts clocked by medical interns without timely or adequate compensation align with what he labels administrative exploitation. The core of his vision supports the idea that medical interns are professional healthcare workers whose compensation must mirror their immense clinical responsibilities. Treating Health and Life Insurance as a Non-Negotiable Labour Right: Within his core political philosophywhich views interns as vital frontline workers rather than cheap student labourproviding free health, accident, and disability insurance is a natural extension. In high-risk clinical environments where medical interns face continuous exposure to blood-borne pathogens, needle-stick injuries, and infectious diseases, his vision treats institutional insurance coverage as a primary safety net that the hospital must guarantee. State-Sponsored Group Premium Models: Rather than forcing financially strapped medical students to buy private out-of-pocket policies, the framework aligns with a fully government-funded group welfare model. Similar to the way he has pushed for direct-to-beneficiary safety net expansions (like the 25 Lakh health insurance model in Kerala), his internship vision implies that state and central governments must completely absorb the premium costs for comprehensive medical student insurance during their 12-month rotation. Institutional Protection Against Legal & Negligence Vulnerabilities: Medical interns operate under constant high-pressure clinical supervision. Gandhis rights-based approach supports insulating young doctors through compulsory institutional professional indemnity insurance. This ensures that trainee doctors are protected against potentially crippling personal legal liabilities or allegations of negligence while managing overcrowded public emergency wards and casualties . (The author is pursuing his M.Tech in Power Systems and Control and is a worker of Congress's student organisation, NSUI. Feedback at: fahadpeer07@gmail.com)
Migrant worker found dead in Perumbavoor, colleague in custody
Opposition States Skip BRICS Meet, Six BJP Chief Ministers Join
Chief Minister VD Satheesan of Kerala, Tamil Nadu's Vijay, Karnataka's DK Shivakumar, Revanth Reddy and Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu skipped the meeting.
Kochi Corporation to roll out nutrient kits under TB eradication drive
Nutrient kits will be provided to those diagnosed with TB by tapping into Corporate Social Responsibility funds. Camps will be organised within Kochi Corporation limits to trace TB patients and extend treatment to them and their contacts during the first three months after detection.
CPI(M)s extended Keralam State committee meet begins in Kozhikode
Open debate on a draft report prepared by the State committee on the problems plaguing the party gets under way
Over 6,000 kg of rice, wheat allegedly diverted from ration shops seized in Keralam
Acting on a tip-off, Food and Civil Supplies department officials, with the assistance of the police, searched a locked house in Karali, Parassala, and recovered the grains, allegedly meant for sale on the black market
Youth allegedly assaulted, robbed near Aluva railway station
MalaysianPrime Minister Anwar Ibrahim meets Kanthapuram
The Prime Minister, who arrived in Kozhikode after attending the BRICS summit in New Delhi, held discussions with Kanthapuram on issues including global peace, education and social development
KLE Law College wins Al Ameen national moot court competition
Historic Cochin gymnasium rejects Corporations rent proposal
The Corporation secretary has been asked to hear the gym authorities before taking a decision on the matter, says Mayor V.K. Minimol.
Historic Cochin gymnasium rejects Corporations rent proposal
The Corporation secretary has been asked to hear the gym authorities before taking a decision on the matter, says Mayor V.K. Minimol.
MP: CM Yadav slams Congress leadership while highlighting Ladli Behna benefits
Digital Desk | Agar Malwa (Madhya Pradesh), Sep 13 (IANS) Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister Mohan Yadav on Sunday strongly criticised the Congress leadership, including Rahul Gandhi and the Nehru-Gandhi family, while addressing a large gathering during the distribution of funds under the Ladli Behna Yojana in Agar Malwa. Yadav said a leader was coming to the state bringing an echo of lies. He alleged that neither Rahul Gandhi nor his mother, grandfather, maternal uncle, nor the entire family had ever done any good for the country, yet he now sought to speak for the people and the youth. The Chief Minister claimed the public knew the truth well and questioned why Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Indira Gandhi, Rajiv Gandhi and later leaders never contested elections from Delhi. He said they avoided Delhi because people there knew them too well, choosing Raebareli and Amethi instead, and that Rahul Gandhi had now moved to Wayanad. Yadav mocked the decision, saying people joked he went to Kerala only because the sea stopped him from going further. He accused the Congress of pointing fingers at the judiciary and the armed forces, while claiming that Indias democracy and technological advances, including the Election Commissions systems, had earned global recognition, with even US President Donald Trump referring to Indias ID card model. Turning to the scheme, Yadav said the government had transferred more than Rs 55,000 crore into the accounts of beneficiaries under Ladli Behna Yojana despite earlier Congress hollow claims that the scheme would fail due to lack of funds. He said that around four lakh women in the state were now setting up small and medium enterprises, evolving from self-help group members into entrepreneurs, Namo Didis and Lakhpati Didis. Highlighting local development, the Chief Minister said Agar Malwa had transformed from an area of scattered houses and poor roads under previous Congress rule into a developing urban centre. He mentioned improved connectivity allowing travel to Ujjain in 40 minutes, upcoming four-lane roads and a Rs 4,000 crore potato-based industry. Over 10,000 sisters from Agar alone were benefiting from the scheme, he added, and announced a law college building in the area linked to the Baba Baijnath shrine. Yadav also recalled the BJP governments success in eliminating Naxalism in Balaghat and the dacoit menace in the Chambal region under previous BJP chief ministers. He maintained that the government was working continuously for the welfare of women, farmers, youth and the poor.
Keralam CM VD Satheesan thanks Pawan Kalyan for choosing state for treatment
The News Mill
Keralam explores various options to tide over power shortage: Minister
Sunny Joseph says it is difficult to specify how long the power shortage will continue. Reduced availability of power amid deficient rainfall and a sharp increase in consumption have contributed to the crisis
Keralam considers costlier power purchases amid electricity shortage
The News Mill
Honour for man who drove Tirurs last bullock cart
77-year-old Ahmed Bava Thekkepeediyekkal drove bullock carts for nearly four decades, carrying essential goods through narrow roads and village paths around Tirur
High ranges of Kottayam mobilise against proposed ESA tag
IISER Thiruvananthapuram assistant professor found dead
The police are yet to ascertain the cause of death
Vallasadya season to conclude at Aranmula
Admit Chandrasekharan murder as an irreparable mistake, K.K. Rema demands CPI(M)
Her remarks come against the backdrop of CPI(M)s extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode, convened to review the partys political and organisational shortcomings
Fireworks dealers in Keralam demand action against unauthorised sales
Senior Keralam CPI(M) leader Baby John dies at 74
John served as the Thrissur district secretary and State secretariat member of the party, and was a key organiser of the Left movement in the district
Two held in alleged robbery bid
Search on for two others suspects who escaped from the spot
Keralam troupe showcases Paava Kathakali in Tiruchi
Keralam troupe showcases Paava Kathakali in Tiruchi
One killed as car crashes into bus stop on MannuthyWadakkancherry highway in Keralam
One killed as car crashes into bus stop on MannuthyWadakkancherry highway in Keralam
The seized ganja is estimated to have a market value of around 1 lakh, say the police
The seized ganja is estimated to have a market value of around 1 lakh, say the police
New initiative to guide Tavanur students towards careers
The project to provide guidance on higher education, competitive examinations, professional courses, career choices, and employment opportunities
Drug trafficking: two more nabbed from Noida
Police sources say one of the arrested was a major supplier who procured drugs in large quantities from Delhi and supplied them to Keralam through hired carriers and peddlers
Keralam Allocates Rs 551.50 Crore for Sabarimala Pilgrimage Preparations
The latest allocation of Rs 551.5011 crore is higher than the amount earmarked for Sabarimala preparations in the previous two financial years
CPI(M) Keralam State committee to directly address local organisational issues
CPI(M) Keralam State secretary M.V. Govindan says there is a dire need to change the behaviour of a section of leaders, their conversational styles, and functioning
Kerala High Court prescribes timelines for speedy disposal of bail applications
Kerala High Court specifies that regular bail applications should be disposed of within two weeks and anticipatory bail pleas within six weeks
House break-in attempt: Assam native held in Keralams Thrissur
Police say 22-year-old broke into a house near Manathala Block Office and attempted to steal valuables
House break-in attempt: Assam native held in Keralams Thrissur
Police say 22-year-old broke into a house near Manathala Block Office and attempted to steal valuables
Kerala PSC faces legal dilemma over Crime Branch summons in Planning Board exam scam
Commission seeks legal advice on whether itschairperson and members should appear before Crime Branch in connection with the alleged irregularities in a Kerala State Planning Board recruitment examination
Forced Doping of Student-Athletes To Be Investigated: Keralam Minister
The allegations were reportedly made by a parent of an affected student-athlete against a coach in Palakkad
Kapil Sibal calls for 10-year ban on politicians switching parties mid-term
Legislators changing political parties mid-term weakens their accountability, both to the citizens and within parties, Kapil Sibal said
Ambulance Drivers Strike Cannot Be Allowed in Keralam: K Muraleedharan
He was referring to the strike announced by Kaniv-108 ambulance drivers and employees across the state over their wage demands
Revised design clears hurdle for Pavangad ROB approach road
The Kerala State Electricity Board had served a notice to the Public Works Department directing it to stop piling work after 110-kV and 11-kV underground power cables were found passing through the site where the approach road was being constructed
M.A. Baby blames creation of false perception for CPI(M)s debacle in Keralam
We should have been more alert in exposing and defeating the narrative, M.A. Baby said while opening the partys three-day extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode
A Kerala consumer commission ordered Bank of India to pay compensation. The bank delayed releasing a deceased woman's savings to her elderly husband. This delay caused significant hardship and mental agony for the complainant. The commission found deficiency in service and unfair trade practices by the bank. The bank must now pay Rs 10,000 compensation and Rs 5,000 litigation costs.
Keralam govt allocates Rs 551 crore for Sabarimala pilgrimage preparations
Kerala Chief Minister V D Satheesan said the government has allocated 551.5 crore to the PWD for preparations for the upcoming Sabarimala pilgrimage season, up from 377.8 crore in 2025-26 and 326.97 crore in 2024-25.
Kerala government allocates Rs 551.50 crore for Sabarimala pilgrimage preparations
The News Mill
Poothrikka panchayat bypoll triggers speculations as Twenty20 downplays BJP bonhomie
While the move has raised questions over the stability of the alliance, insiders from both the parties claim it as a sheer pragmatic approach
Kanthapuram Says Samastha Decrees Cannot Be Altered for Individuals or Parties
The circular drew criticism, with several political leaders including Keralam Chief Minister VD Satheesan speaking out against it
Leopard Spotted on Retaining Wall Near Bannari Amman Temple
Every day, thousands of devotees from various parts of Tamil Nadu and the neighbouring states of Kerala and Karnataka visit the temple.
Sajan Prakash: Indias First Swimmer to Qualify Directly for the Olympics
Sajan Prakash, born in Kerala, becomes Indias first swimmer to qualify directly for the Olympics, marking a significant milestone in Indian sports. Sajan Prakash: Indias First Swimmer to Qualify Directly for the Olympics
Manipal Hospitals scouts for acquisitions in Andhra, Keralam, Delhi-NCR
Manipal Health Enterprises Ltd is setting its sights on expansion in various states, including Telangana, Keralam, and Delhi-NCR, while pivoting towards a physical plus digital healthcare model driven by Artificial Intelligence (AI). The healthcare major is actively evaluating strategic opportunities in Telangana, Keralam, Andhra Pradesh, and Chhattisgarh to selectively deepen its presence in identified markets, Manipal Health Enterprises said in its annual report for FY26. Manipal Hospitals continues to evaluate inorganic growth opportunities across Karnataka; Maharashtra and Goa, including the Mumbai-Pune economic corridor; and Eastern India, comprising West Bengal, Odisha, Jharkhand and Sikkim, it said. A key pillar of its upcoming infrastructure is the greenfield project in Juhu, Mumbai. The group recently completed the acquisition of the remaining land and building for this project for a total consideration of Rs 495 crore, of which Rs 130 crore is payable subject to the ...
Manipal Hospitals scouts for acquisitions in Andhra, Keralam, Delhi-NCR; bets on AI-led healthcare
Manipal Health Enterprises plans significant expansion across several Indian states. The company is adopting a digital-physical healthcare model driven by Artificial Intelligence. Strategic acquisitions and a new greenfield project in Mumbai are underway. Investments focus on AI-enabled nursing and patient monitoring systems. The healthcare major aims to add over 2,400 beds by the year 2030.
CPI(M) extended state committee to conduct post-poll review from today
Digital Desk | Kozhikode, Sep 13 (IANS) The CPI(M)s extended Kerala State Committee will begin a three-day meeting in Kozhikode on Sunday to conduct a comprehensive political and organisational review following the partys major defeat in the recent Assembly elections. CPI(M) General Secretary M.A. Baby will inaugurate the meeting at the AKG Auditorium attached to the partys district committee office. The deliberations are expected to examine the political, ideological and organisational factors that contributed to the electoral setback and identify measures needed to rebuild the party. The meeting comes at a crucial stage as the CPI(M) attempts to regain political direction, strengthen its grassroots machinery and reconnect with voters. The leadership is expected to undertake a critical and self-critical assessment of the partys functioning, extending beyond the immediate reasons for the defeat to the deeper weaknesses exposed during the election. The discussions are also likely to focus on the partys political messaging, campaign strategy, organisational coordination and ability to understand changing public expectations. Corrective measures aimed at improving communication between the leadership, party units and the public could figure prominently. As many as 307 delegates will participate in the meeting. Kerala-based Politburo members M.A. Baby, Pinarayi Vijayan, M.V. Govindan and A. Vijayaraghavan will attend. Five other Politburo members -- K. Balakrishnan, B.V. Raghavulu, Ashok Dhawale, Viju Krishnan and U. Vasuki -- will participate as observers. Central Committee members from Kerala, State Secretariat and State Committee members, district secretariat members and office-bearers of affiliated organisations will also be present. Unlike its conventional review process, the CPI(M) began its assessment from the grassroots after the election results. Usually, the State Committee prepares the initial review and circulates it among lower committees for discussion. This time, however, the party first collected the views of organisational units at different levels. The CPI(M) also sought direct feedback from members of the public to understand the reasons behind its defeat and perceptions about the partys performance. Those responses, internal discussions and guidelines issued by the Central Committee were incorporated into the review report. The State Committee subsequently examined and approved the document. It was then circulated among party units for further discussion. The final report and feedback gathered during that exercise will form the basis of the three-day deliberations in Kozhikode.
Don't agree with all his views, says Anwar Ibrahim on eve of meet with Kerala cleric
Devaswom begins wall construction at Madayipara to keep vehicles out
A stone boundary wall is being constructed along the road from Eripuram towards the Naval Academy to prevent vehicles from entering the ecologically preserved Madayipara
No one can silence scholars on matters of faith: Kanthapuram
PM SHRI scheme rollout, IUML Opposition test Kerala CM
Kerala Chief Minister VD Satheesan faces challenges implementing the central PM SHRI school scheme. His ally, the IUML, has raised objections, delaying the decision-making process. A cabinet sub-committee was formed to discuss the scheme's implementation, but it has not yet met. The Union Education Ministry has urged the state government to decide on the scheme's adoption. Satheesan is now consulting allies and other Congress-ruled states for guidance.
Kochi airport launches robot for enhanced passenger assistance and cultural promotion
In the first phase, the robot has been deployed at Kalangan, the art museum located in the domestic security hold area
Russians cast votes for Duma polls in Keralam capital
Russians cast votes for Duma polls in Keralam capital
Murali wants ESMA invoked to stop ambulance workers strike
Health Minister writes to Home Minister seeking steps to prevent strikes and ensure smooth operation of ambulance services. The Kerala State 108 Ambulance Employees Union has announced a 24-hour strike from 8 a.m. on September 17.
Murali wants ESMA invoked to stop ambulance workers strike
Health Minister writes to Home Minister seeking steps to prevent strikes and ensure smooth operation of ambulance services. The Kerala State 108 Ambulance Employees Union has announced a 24-hour strike from 8 a.m. on September 17.
Man in custody allegedly assaults cops in Kochi
The district continues to report the highest number of influenza cases in the State, while dengue and leptospirosis cases also persist
CPI to organise protest in Ernakulam against undeclared power cut
Kerala Assistant Public Prosecutors Association gets new office-bearers
Keralam Chief Minister calls for timely legal amendments to face challenges posed by tech
The tendency to copy creative works and violate copyright has been rising with the advancement of technology, says V.D. Satheesan
Keralam Chief Minister calls for timely legal amendments to face challenges posed by tech
The tendency to copy creative works and violate copyright has been rising with the advancement of technology, says V.D. Satheesan
Electricity crisis an opportunity to find a solution, says Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
The Chief Minister says the energy crisis is on the priority list of his government and that it is high time the State formulated a modern power policy
Electricity crisis an opportunity to find a solution, says Chief Minister V.D. Satheesan
The Chief Minister says the energy crisis is on the priority list of his government and that it is high time the State formulated a modern power policy
Deadlock among rebel Congress leaders opens door for KC(M) in Pala municipality
Rebel Congress councillors, whose alliance with the LDF helped wrest control of the municipality, have failed to reach a consensus on the municipal vice-chairpersons post despite multiple rounds of discussions. KC(M), which had earlier decided against staking claim to any post, mulls fielding candidate for the September 16 election
UDF against PM-SHRI, but options being examined, says Keralam Education Minister
While the UDF government is bound to consider the agreement signed by its predecessor, it does not imply that PM SHRI will be implemented, says Samsudheen
Argument over childs assault led to double murder in Keralams Attappady: police
Provat Das, a native of West Bengal, is accused of killing a 35-year-old woman and her four-year-old daughter
M.A. Baby to open CPI(M) extended State committee meeting in Kozhikode on September 13
The meeting aims to address recent electoral setbacks faced by the CPI(M)-led LDF, alongside discussions on the EDs investigations into former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Beypore MLA P.A. Mohamed Riyas.
CPI(M), CPI deny political or legal variance on EDs attempt to target Pinarayi Vijayan
LDF will resist as one any Central agency seeking to play politics at the Centres behest, says CPI Keralam secretary Binoy Viswam
Keralam issues guidelines to remove unauthorised flex boards, initiate prosecution against offenders
The guidelines were issued based on the orders of the Kerala High Court, which has, at regular intervals, issued orders directing the complete removal of unauthorised banners, flex boards, flag decorations and similar materials installed in public places, roadsides, footpaths, handrails, centre medians and traffic islands in the State
Kerala power war turns personal as former KSEB chief hits back at Vijayan
Digital Desk | Thiruvananthapuram, Sep 12 (IANS) The political war over Kerala's worsening power crisis has taken a sharper turn with former KSEB Chairman B. Ashok launching an unusually strong attack on former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan over the cancellation of the long-term power purchase agreements. IAS officer Ashok dismissed Vijayan's criticism of the cancellation as an attempt to blame officials for decisions taken during the previous LDF regime. He said the official records relating to the agreements were available and could establish the facts. There was no lapse on the part of KSEB officials in the matter, he asserted. The exchange, however, carries a backstory that goes beyond the present dispute over power procurement. Ashok, a 1998-batch IAS officer, had a particularly contentious relationship with the previous government. He was suspended by the Vijayan government in April this year following an interview in which he was alleged to have criticised the functioning of the then LDF government. The charges against him included speaking to the media without permission and allegedly tarnishing the image of the government. He remained under suspension for about one-and-a-half months before the newly elected V.D. Satheesan government reinstated him in June. Against this backdrop, Ashok's latest broadside against Vijayan assumes an added political significance. His sarcastic reference to memory lapses and his allegation that the former Chief Minister was trying to escape responsibility by blaming officials have given a personal edge to what is otherwise a technical dispute over power contracts. Vijayan, in a detailed Facebook post, had blamed the Oommen Chandy-led UDF government for the present power crisis and rejected the argument that the cancellation of the 465 MW long-term agreement under the previous LDF government was responsible for the shortage. The present Satheesan government has blamed this cancellation for the present night blackout, which has left people fuming, as during the decade-long Vijayan rule, power outages were rare. He said the original agreement, signed in 2015 during the previous UDF government, had legal deficiencies as it was entered into without prior approval from the regulatory commission or the government. The LDF government, he said, had subsequently fought to retain the agreement and even approached the Supreme Court. Vijayan also claimed that the LDF government had managed higher peak demand of around 6,100 MW without resorting to power cuts by purchasing electricity at higher rates and entering into power-swapping arrangements with other states. Ashok, however, argued that the present crisis reflected a failure of long-term planning, particularly the absence of adequate storage systems for renewable energy generated during the day for use at night. Vijayan has alleged that the UDF government is deliberately creating a power shortage to push the KSEB into a crisis and eventually facilitate privatisation of the electricity sector. Ashok, meanwhile, has maintained that such allegations cannot conceal the actual administrative and technical issues facing the state's power sector. With power shortages and the possibility of further restrictions already causing public concern, the Ashok-Vijayan confrontation is likely to keep the controversy alive, bringing back into focus not only the disputed power contracts but also the political and administrative battles that surrounded them.
Decision on PM SHRI soon as pressure mounts on Keralam govt.
Against the backdrop of the Centres letter seeking a decision at the earliest, Education Minister says Chief Minister will make an announcement. Muslim Youth League adopts resolution urging the government not to implement PM SHRI
Fund crunch puts Kozhikode Biological Park project hanging in the balance
The growing tourism prospects of Chakkittappara village prompted the previous State government to consider establishing a tiger safari park in the area. The decision to establish the park was taken on September 27, 2023, despite protests from a section of farmers and human rights activists.
Fund crunch puts Kozhikode Biological Park project hanging in the balance
The growing tourism prospects of Chakkittappara village prompted the previous State government to consider establishing a tiger safari park in the area. The decision to establish the park was taken on September 27, 2023, despite protests from a section of farmers and human rights activists.
700 g of hashish oil seized from interstate bus in Thrissur
Youth held during Operation Toofan inspection in Peechi; police probe interstate drug trafficking network
MSF student leader assaulted by gang in Chavakkad
The police launch probe after 21-year-old reportedly beaten up.
MSF student leader assaulted by gang in Chavakkad
The police launch probe after 21-year-old reportedly beaten up.
Kochi Corporation to restrict subsidy on biomedical waste collection amid opposition protest
All except exempted categories to pay 20 per kg plus GST; subsidised rate fixed at 12 per kg, reducing Corporations subsidy component to 8 from the earlier 28
