BJP promises blueprint for development of local bodies in Kerala
A report card will be presented to the people every year to outline development works already undertaken and those in the pipeline, says Rajeev Chandrasekhar
Hospital authorities ought to also ensure that, along with the discharge summary, all investigation reports pertaining to the treatment too have to be handed over to enable patient to maintain proper records, says Division Bench of the High Court
Kerala YouTuber booked over allegations against senior police officer
Kerala HC rejects anticipatory bail plea of businessman charged under PMLA
They do not vote for us: Kerala BJP chief on lack of Muslim ministers; announces outreach push
Kerala BJP president Rajeev Chandrasekhar stated the absence of Muslim ministers in the Union cabinet reflects electoral mandate, not exclusion, as Muslims do not vote for us. He emphasized the party's ongoing efforts to build trust and counter decades of misconception-driven narratives through outreach, asserting BJP's commitment to constitutional values and democracy.
Kerala local body elections 2025: 33,711 polling stations getting ready in Kerala
Postal ballots will be issued only to officials on election duty, says State Election Commission
Kerala local body polls: Development key poll plank in Kalamassery
Kerala native held with methamphetamine in Coimbatore
Kerala mulling review petition on SC ruling on setting up primary schools: Minister
Minister says Kerala is much ahead of northern States when it comes to educational facilities. Government and aided schools function within a radius of 1-2 km of the majority of the populated areas in the State
Kerala local body elections 2025: A shawl, a snapshot, and a swift return
Youth Congress leader Akhil Omanakuttan firmly maintains that he never joined the BJP, despite a photograph doing the rounds that shows him smiling with a saffron shawl draped around his shoulder
The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Wednesday opposed the pleas to defer Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in Kerala. Senior Advocate Rakesh Dwivedi, representing ECI, told a bench comprisingChief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi that 99% of voters have been supplied with the enumeration forms, and 50% of the forms have been digitised. The Kerala government had earlier filed petitions to postpone the revision of electoral rolls as the local body elections are scheduled to take place on December 9 and 11, and conducting an SIR revision simultaneously would lead to administrative difficulties. According to the SIR schedule, the enumeration forms have to be submitted by December 4 and draft rolls will be published on December 9. Earlier, the Kerala High Court declined to intervene in the matter and directed the state to approach the Supreme Court instead. Kerala SIR: List of over 1 lakh untraceable voters to be out The State Election Commission and the Election Commission of India are collaborating with each other. There was a meeting with the officials of various districts. There's no problem; we just need a small section of BLOs. The Commission is not finding any difficulty. The SEC also said our work is not hampered, Dwivedi submitted, according to LiveLaw. The bench directed the ECI to file a status report on the SIR process in Kerala by next Monday (December 1) and posted the matter for hearing on December 2. SIR of electoral rolls in Kerala has been challenged by Indian Union Muslim League General SecretaryPK Kunhalikutty, KPCC President Sunny Joseph and CPI(M) Secretary MV Govindan Master. The Kerala governments petition did not challenge the SIR notification; it only sought a postponement of the process until after the local body elections.
Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy | RuthlessRahaneorchestrates Mumbais thumping win
The former skipper smashes a belligerent half-century as the defending champion runs over Railways; ton-up Kunnummal and Samson make merry in Keralas romp against Odisha
Electoral Rolls SIR Wasn't Held Earlier Not Ground to Challenge: SC
The top court, meanwhile, also fixed the schedule of hearing on several pleas specifically challenging SIR in Tamil Nadu, Kerala and West Bengal
HR88B8888: Indias Most Expensive Number Plate Sold In Haryana For Rs 1.17 Crore
HR88B8888 set a national record in Haryana, auctioned for Rs 1.17 crore. Keralas Venu Gopalakrishnan had bought number plate 'KL 07 DG 0007' for Rs 45.99 lakh in April.
IIT-Madras develops and deploys Indias first indigenous Vessel Traffic Management System for ports
This system has already been implemented at Vizhinjam International Seaport Limited (VISL) in Kerala
West Bengal CM says SIR exercise is putting BLOs under stress, expresses solidarity with them
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Wednesday, once again, slammed the Election Commission of India (ECI) over the plights of Booth Level Officers (BLOs) engaged in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls exercise in the State. Mamata, while delivering her speech in a state government programme to commemorate the Constitution Day on Red Road in the city today, said, BLOs have died in Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Bengal. The ongoing SIR exercise in nine states and three Union Territories has landed a large number of BLOs, the main workforce in the electoral rolls revision drive, in stress and strain. 'How many more need to die for SIR?': Mamata attacks EC after another BLO dies by suicide in Bengal They had to wait for 48 hours at the CEO's office to get themselves heard. Why so much arrogance? BLOs are dying. Wont they speak out? How can a work that requires three years be completed in two months? the Chief Minister asked. Her crusade against the ECI remained unabated as the national poll panel wrote a strong letter to Manoj Agarwal, Commissioner of Police, Kolkata, expressing serious concern with the safety and security of the state CEO, Manoj Agarwal, other senior officers and staff in his office at B B D Bag. A section of agitating BLOs backed by her party, Trinamool Congress, gheraoed Agarwals chamber for about 30 hours since Monday afternoon, protesting against the inhuman workload generated by the SIR-related duties like distributions and collections of enumeration forms during door-to-door visits. ECI expresses concern over security of officers, staff at Bengal CEO's office; seeks action taken report Trinamool Congress is attributing many of the Bengal deaths to suicides driven by SIR-related stress. On Tuesday, an assistant teacher in Uttar Pradeshs Jaunpur district, serving as a BLO in Khempur gram panchayat, died by suicide. Last week, Mamata wrote to the chief election commissioner, Gyanesh Kumar, urging him to stop the SIR exercise in Bengal. She had claimed that 28 lives, including three BLOs, have already been lost in the State due to work pressure and stress caused by the SIR drive. Now, we must protect the valuable guidance that the Constitution provides, especially when democracy is at stake, when secularism is in an endangered situation, when federalism is being bulldozed, at this critical time, Mamata wrote on her X. On this sacred day, we reaffirm our commitment to the core democratic values enshrined in our Constitution. Voting rights are being snatched. Communal and social divisions are being encouraged. All rights are being snatched. We have to fight against this together, she said. Nearly 14 lakh SIR forms identified as 'uncollectable' so far in West Bengal BJP trying to implement CAA through SIR in border areas, alleges West Bengal CM at Bongaon rally
SIT records statements of Sabarimala priests in gold theft probe
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Sabarimala gold theft case has recorded the statements of Sabarimala priests Kandararu Mohanararu and Kandararu Rajeevararu. The two were questioned about their role in moving the gold-coated copper sheets from the temple premises to outside. They told the SIT that they had no role in deciding to send the gold sheets to Chennai for repair. That decision, they said, was made by the Travancore Devaswom Board (TDB), and they were only asked to grant approval as the temples chief priests. The board had informed them that the gold sheets would be handed over to Unnikrishnan Potti for transport outside the state for repair work, the duo testified, according to sources. The SIT also sought details of Unnikrishnan and his conduct while he worked as an aide to a junior priest in Sabarimala. The thanthris said they had known him since his appointment in 2008. They told investigators that he had forged friendships with several affluent devotees and had brought sponsorships for various temple needs. They added that they had no financial dealings with him and interacted with him only because he was a regular pilgrim and had worked for eight years as an assistant to a junior priest. The SIT also inquired about how Unnikrishnan was appointed at the shrine. Some of the accused arrested earlier had told investigators that the thanthris had given their approval to take the gold sheets from the dwarapalaka idols and the sreekovil doorframe out of the temple. Based on those statements, the SIT recorded the priests testimonies.
Vigilance court sends former TDB chief to SIT custody in Sabarimala gold case
KOLLAM: The Vigilance Court here on Wednesday sent former Travancore Devaswom Board president A Padmakumar to the custody of the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the alleged misappropriation of gold-plated artefacts meant for Sabarimala. He will remain in SIT custody till 5 pm on Thursday. The prosecution sought his custody, stating that crucial information still needed to be extracted from him. The SIT also informed the court that the investigation report would soon be submitted to the Kerala High Court and that questioning Padmakumar was essential at this stage. However, the defence argued that custody was unnecessary as Padmakumar had been cooperating with the probe. The prosecution countered that he had ignored three notices to appear before the investigators. The court accepted the prosecutions argument and granted custody. Shortly after the order, BJP workers blocked the vehicle transporting Padmakumar for medical examination outside the court complex. Police removed the protestors, and the vehicle later left the premises. Padmakumar has been lodged in judicial remand at the District Sub Jail in Thiruvananthapuram following his arrest last week after hours of questioning at the Crime Branch office in Enchakkal. The SIT has named him the eighth accused in the second case related to missing gold from the Sreekovil door frames.
Kerala Lottery Result Today, November 26, 2025: Dhanalekshmi DL-28 Winning Numbers
Kerala Lottery Result Today, 26-11-2025: Heres full list of winning numbers for Dhanalekshmi DL-28 lottery for Wednesday, November 26.
Kerala HC temporarily restores revenue rights to Munambam residents after 410-day agitation
KOCHI: In a major relief to the residents of Munambam, the Kerala High Court on Wednesday granted temporary restoration of their revenue rights, ending more than 410 days of uncertainty and agitation. A single bench of Justice C Jayachandran directed the state government to accept land tax from the 610 affected families until the court delivers its final verdict in the long-running dispute over the lands status. The order was issued while hearing a batch of petitions, including one by the Munambam Land Protection Council, which sought a directive for revenue officials to resume accepting land tax. The state government also backed an early hearing, citing an earlier judgment that had dismissed the Waqf Boards claim to the land. The interim relief follows a landmark judgment delivered on October 9, 2025, by a Division Bench comprising Justices Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Syam Kumar V M. The bench had held that the disputed 1950 endowment deed did not amount to a permanent religious dedication and therefore could not be considered a valid waqf deed under the Waqf Acts of 1954, 1984 or 1995. The endowment deed of 1950 never intended to create any permanent dedication in favour of the Almighty God, but was simpliciter a gift deed in favour of Farooq Management and therefore could never qualify as a waqf deed, the court had observed. The Division Bench had also ruled that the Kerala Waqf Boards 2019 decision to declare the land as waqf property was bad in law due to unreasonable delay and violation of statutory provisions. The dispute began nearly five years ago when the Waqf Board laid claim to large tracts of land in Munambam, Cherai and Pallikkal in Ernakulam districtareas along the northern coast of Vypeen that together account for about 1,000 land titles and house more than 600 families of diverse faiths. Most residents hold land documents dating back to 1989.
'What Can We Do If They Don't Vote For Us?': Kerala BJP Chief On No Muslims In Union Cabinet
Kerala BJP President Rajeev Chandrasekhar said the party was not getting enough support from the Muslim community and denied allegations of a religious bias.
Court direction comes on a plea by Munambam Bhoo Samrakshana Samithi and others which submitted that the village officer concerned was not accepting tax, citing Waqf Board claims over property
Names proposed by Kerala-based researchers approved for Martian landforms
Ancient crater now named after pioneering geologist M.S. Krishnan. Several place names in Kerala also get Martian counterparts
GameCraft Pro Launches at IGDC 2025: Kerala Sets the Stage for India's Next Wave of Game Creators
DATSI School for Storytellers unveiled GameCraft Pro - a flagship one-year professional program in Game Design & Development launching January 2026 at DATSI’s Trivandrum campus. DATSI School and TILTEDU sign the GameCraft Pro MoU at IGDC 2025, strengthening Kerala’s game-design ecosystem The MoU was signed in the presence of senior government officials Seeram Sambasiva Rao (IT Special Secretary) and Anoop Ambika (CEO, Kerala Startup Mission), alongside industry leaders Ashish Kulkarni, Nikhil Chandran, Veerendra Patil, Venkataramanan K, and Michael Joseph. This marks one of Kerala’s strongest pushes to position itself as India’s next creative-tech hub, where storytelling meets technology. A New Professional Program for Game Development in Kerala: Designed by game developers and studios Unlike traditional game courses focused only on software, GameCraft Pro embeds students directly inside working creative studios. Students learn: Game Mechanics & Systems Design Narrative Design & Storytelling Game Programming & Prototyping 2D/3D Asset Creation with production discipline Level Design inside professional engines In the final 3 months, every student builds a full-fledged original game IP - complete with documentation, gameplay systems, audio, FX and investor-ready pitch materials. This approach transforms students into creators who can design, build, and publish rather than just entry-level operators. GameCraft pro program - your gateway to a gaming career India’s gaming market is projected to reach $4–4.5 billion by 2025, yet the majority of talent still clusters around metros like Bangalore, Pune, and Hyderabad. Kerala, with its design-oriented youth and strong education ecosystem, has the right ingredients but lacked: Industry integration Storytelling-led game design Exposure to publishing pipelines Hands-on project-based curriculum GameCraft Pro directly solves this gap. “ This isn’t a course launch - it’s a movement. We want Kerala to export original stories through gaming ,” Veerendra Patil, CEO, Zebu Animation & Founder, DATSI. www. datsischool.com/courses/ gamecraft-pro Industry Voices Endorsing the GameCraft Pro Vision On building world-class IP from Kerala, “Kerala has incredible creative talent. GameCraft Pro bridges the gap between idea and commercially viable game IP,” Ashish Kulkarni, FICCI AVGC Forum Chair. On building creators, not just coders, “We’re nurturing entrepreneurs who can build the future of India’s gaming economy,” Nikhil Chandran, CEO, TILTLABS & TILTEDU. Government Support Strengthening the Movement Kerala has introduced a forward-looking AVGC Policy to boost animation, gaming, immersive media, and digital content creation.“ This partnership directly aligns with Kerala’s vision to create strong, consistent talent pipelines and original content from the state ,” Seeram Sambasiva Rao, IT Special Secretary. GameCraft Pro is housed inside KINFRA Film & Video Park , supported by ASAP Kerala , making it one of India’s most policy-aligned creative-education launches. What Students Will Graduate With According to the program brochure, students gain: Programme Outcomes Design and analyse games as rule-based systems Build playable spaces with real engine workflows Script core and advanced gameplay systems Produce 2D/3D assets with production discipline Publish a capstone game with professional documentation Career Prospects Game Designer Unity Game Developer Level Designer Gameplay Scripter / Systems Designer 3D Game Artist Technical Artist This directly answers what most media outlets (like CollegeDekho, Careers360, India Today Education, BW Education) look for when covering new programs. What Makes GameCraft Pro Different (Media-friendly Angles) These are the lines NewsVoir will love — they speak to the whole TML list: 1. Studio-integrated learning Students learn inside the culture of working animation, VFX, and game studios. 2. Story-first game design The program treats games as a storytelling medium — not just technology. 3. Original IP creation Every student graduates with one publishable prototype that can be pitched to investors/publishers. 4. Kerala as a new gaming hub Strong angle for Times of India, The Hindu, Indian Express, regional Malayalam media. 5. Government + industry partnership This significantly boosts credibility for national financial and business press (Mint, Business Standard, BW Businessworld). Call to Action (Strong admissions focus) GameCraft Pro begins January 2026. Limited seats. Admissions are now open for students, gamers, storytellers, and creative-tech aspirants. For Admissions & Curriculum Details: +91 73060 71754 datsischool.com / TILTEDU.com On-campus program at KINFRA Film & Video Park, Trivandrum
Kerala SIR not a problem, already distributed 90% enumeration forms: EC in Supreme Court
The SIR process is scheduled from November 4 to December 4, ahead of Keralas local body elections from December 9 to 11
How A Missing Gold Chain Led Cops To Kerala Woman's Killer - Her Daughter
A 75-year-old woman was murdered, allegedly by her daughter and her partner, over a gold chain in Kerala's Thrissur. Incidentally, it was the missing chain that led the cops to the daughter.
Movement Festival to make dashing debut in city
As Kochi evolves, so does its appetite for newer expressions. True to that, now the city is set to host a unique artistic movement with the debut of the Movement Festival of Kerala (MOFK), an exciting celebration of contemporary and experimental dance. Curated by dancer-choreographers Paris Laxmi, Sreejith P and Abhi V S under their collective Boho, MFOK will mark the first major event presenting contemporary movement alongside reimagined classical forms. Co-curator Laxmi says the festival hopes to build a sustainable framework for alternative dance practices in Kerala. We felt like there is a need for such a festival here in Kochi and in Kerala because there is a lack of it, she adds. When we want to train in contemporary dance, we travel to other states. So, why not create those opportunities here instead? Boho has been laying the groundwork since its inception almost four years ago, hosting regular workshops by Indian and international choreographers. The passionate experiment is now home to a growing community of dancers eager for new movement vocabularies. Earlier, the response was not very encouraging, Laxmi recalls. But now, people are actually showing up and watching these things. I feel Kochi is opening up to contemporary art forms, and the shift is visible. The festival opens on Thursday (November 27) at the Kerala Fine Arts Hall with Reflet, a production by the Xuan Le Dance Company from France, presented by Alliance Franaise of Thiruvananthapuram. This premiere marks the first performance of the companys India tour. From November 28 to 30, the festival moves to JTPAC, where the audience can expect a diverse line-up spanning experimental, classical-rooted, and multidisciplinary expressions of movement. Performances include Jaaga Illa by Vishwakiran Nambi Dance Company, C-Tactile by Shruthi Datar, To-Mould by Somya Kautia & Sarah Elsworth, Pinnal by Divya Nayar, Mol by Myn Dance Company, Nerpala by Dileep Chilanka, and Jwala by internationally acclaimed choreographer Mythili Prakash. For the curators, diversity is key. All performers are unique in their own way very different styles, says Laxmi. Some come from Bharatanatyam, some from hip-hop, some from experimental forms. We wanted to give the audience many flavours, not have a set pattern. Though its the debut edition, MFOKs vision is long-term. We want to make this festival happen every year, Laxmi says. This is our effort to build a culture of contemporary dance in Kochi first, and then Kerala. We hope to have more international events and to expand the possibilities for artists here. With a bouquet of international collaborations, MFOK seems like the beginning of a new chapter in Keralas performance landscape one defined by curiosity, exchange and creativity. Tickets to the events are available at www.indiaeve.com
How Kerala can learn from Assams model to manage rhinos entering human habitats
Kerala and Assam face rising man-animal conflict in villages close to wildlife sanctuaries or forest fringe areas
Kerala brand initiative to expand 100 product categories by 2031
With this initiative, Kerala aims to make 10,000 MSMEs export-ready by 2031, supported through standardised inspections, digital verification systems, and a unified branding approach
Building a home for art in the city
Community, for Ananthapadmanabhan V, was a concept he became familiar with very early in life by watching his mother. When they were in Dubai, she was involved in different community activities, helping women in difficult situations return home, supporting small charities for animals, and organising simple fundraising events like school bake sales. He often assisted her in these efforts, and over time, this exposure influenced how he viewed people, support systems, and collective responsibility. After returning to his hometown and taking up photography, he realised that the values he learned in childhood were still driving the way he looked at the world. When I was working as a photographer, any event that was connected to a community, I would do it for free because I liked the concept, he says. But he also began noticing that in Thiruvananthapuram, dedicated communities for artists were few. The city had musicians, dancers, poets, visual artists, photographers, and many talented individuals, but they were scattered and lacked a shared space to meet, collaborate, and grow. I wanted to create a community where everybody could come, connect, collaborate, perform, and grow, the 29-year-old said. This thinking led to the creation of The Ark Art, Rhythm and Collective. He explains that many emerging artists hesitate to step forward because they do not know the right people. Someone constantly posting music videos online may never meet instrumentalists who could collaborate with them. My goal is to give upcoming artists visibility, opportunities, and a supportive group of people who share the same creative energy. Basically, I want to create an ecosystem for artists to create good memories, Ananthapadmanabhan adds. Although the idea has been in his mind for a long time, he has been actively working on it for about a month. To get started, he personally contacted around 100 artists across the city. About 3035 responded, forming the initial foundation of the group. A band has already formed from within this early pool. Another challenge artists in Thiruvananthapuram face, he says, is the lack of accessible venues. Even well-established groups often spend significant amounts just to organise a meet-up. To address this, The Ark has taken up Ambalathil Hall at Ambalamukku and is converting it into a creative community space - something closer to an art caf than a traditional club. The venue can host around 300 people, and the initial goal is to organise at least four different events or host four different creative communities every month. The idea is to create a common umbrella for the many artistic communities in the city. The Arks first open mic will be held on December 7 at that space, with more than 25 upcoming artists set to perform, including over 10 instrumentalists, a Bharatanatyam showcase, and several singers. So, people know that a new community is opening and they are all welcome, he says. Another programme is being planned for December 14, featuring a dance and rap battle. These kinds of events usually push artists to travel to Kochi or other cities. I want them to happen here, so people dont have to leave the city to find opportunities, he said. For updates, follow @the_ark_tvm on Instagram.
NDTV Investigation: Kerala Woman Who Tried To Radicalise Son Married To Terror Convict
An NDTV investigation has unearthed disturbing details in the alleged ISIS indoctrination of a 16-year-old boy from Kerala by his mother and others.
Kerala local body polls: Can Lok Sabha wave meet local body reality in Thrissur?
Can the Suresh Gopi effect that reshaped Keralas electoral story redraw the political map of the Thrissur Corporation and his much-publicised outreach sessions build political capital; can BJP replicate its Lok Sabha breakthrough like his unprecedented strides across the Corporation divisions dominate political chatter as controversies shadow the actor-ministers image
Kerala local body polls 2025: Rival fronts fear public anger as pollution hogs the limelight
Public anger over industrial emissions and untreated wastewater is mounting pressure on political parties. While reverberations of agitations against a poultry waste treatment plant in Kozhikode is likely to shape voter sentiment, Ashtamudi Lakes pollution is becoming a key poll issue in Kollam.
Kerala local body polls: Youngsters want to cast their votes, make them count too
While some see eschewing voting as an act against the tenets of democracy, others say being apolitical is a choice
Kerala Lottery Result Today, November 26, 2025 Live: Dhanalekshmi DL-28 Winning Numbers
Kerala Lottery Result Today Live Updates, 26-11-2025: Heres Guessing Numbers for Dhanalekshmi DL-28 for Wednesday, November 26. Check the full list of winning numbers from 3 pm.
Actress assault case: Verdict on December 8
The long-awaited verdict in the 2017 Kerala actress abduction and assault case is set for December 8. Actor Dileep, accused of conspiracy, faces the court after a trial spanning nearly three years. Despite ongoing legal battles, Dileep remains active in cinema, with his film 'Bha Bha Ba' slated for a December 18 release.
Tamil Nadu rain alert: A deep depression over the Strait of Malacca is intensifying and is forecast to become Cyclone Senyar and the weather system is expected to bring heavy rainfall to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Incessant rainfall in several districts of Tamil Nadu has already crippled normal life in the state with more showers expected in the coming days.
Alan stabbing case: Police yet to trace murder weapon
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Police are still searching for the knife used to stab Alan to death during a clash that followed a dispute at a football match in Thycaud. The investigation has slowed down because the accused have repeatedly changed their statements about where they dumped the weapon. Recovering the murder weapon remains a major challenge for the team.ed initially told the police that they had thrown the knife into the sea near Azhimala in Vizhinjam. Based on this, police carried out a search in the area with the help of fishermen, but the knife was not found. Later, the accused claimed that they had thrown the weapon on to a plot of land in Azhakam, where they had been hiding. Bomb squad and dog squad teams inspected the spot, yet it could not be traced. The investigation team has taken the first, third and fourth accused Ajin, Kiran and Nandu into custody for five days to recover the murder weapon. Police told the court that the accused were trying to mislead the team by giving false locations. Police said the accused did not fully cooperate during questioning. Main accused Ajin claimed that the knife went missing from their possession. Police believe the accused hid the weapon and attempted to destroy evidence. Recovering the murder weapon remains a major challenge for the team. Ajin was taken to the crime scene where he demonstrated how Alan was stabbed. The major planner of the attack, a 16-year-old Plus-II student from Jagathy, is lodged at the Poojappura Observation Home. The other accused are Ajin, 27, Abhijith, 26, Kiran, 26, Nandu, 27, Akhillal, 27, Sandeep, 27, and Akhilesh, 20.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Youth Congress state general secretary Sajana B Sajan has demanded the ouster of discredited MLA Rahul Mamkootathil from the primary membership of Congress party. Responding to CPM allegations, she said that this is not the time for ordinary Congress workers to defend Rahul. Rahul Mamkootathil is not the problem, his mindset is the real issue, Sajana, who is also a KPCC member, said. Who wants to protect him now? Though the accused has the protection of any top leader, if the party takes a disciplinary action, protection should be provided only after realising the ground reality. Even after the details of sexual assaults were known through the media, the claims by the Congress leadership that the victims did not file a complaint is equivalent to questioning the dignity of victims, she said. She also reminded the party leadership that Rahul was asked to resign from the post of Youth Congress state president by the national leadership of Youth Congress.
NDA claims broadest presence in Kerala local elections with 21,065 candidates
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Senior BJP leader S Suresh said in Thiruvananthapuram on Tuesday that the NDA front has registered its strongest-ever presence in the upcoming local body elections, fielding 21,065 candidates across Kerala, including independents backed by BJP-NDA. According to him, the NDA front is contesting 89.5% of all seats in the state. Suresh said that 19,871 candidates are contesting on the BJPs lotus symbol, making it the symbol with the highest number of candidates in the 2025 polls. He noted that the party had contested only around 78% of seats in the 2020 local body elections, and the sharp rise to 89.5% now reflected the partys organisational expansion. In district panchayats, Suresh claimed that 99% of seats have BJP-NDA candidates, while in block panchayats, the front has fielded candidates in 93% of seats. Suresh also accused Left party workers of distributing welfare pension forms during the election campaign, calling it a violation of the Model Code of Conduct. We have already informed the State Election Commission of such violations, he said. Escalating his attack on the Opposition, Suresh demanded UDF MLA Rahul Mamkootathil be removed from the party and that the Chief Minister take steps to ensure his arrest.
NIA court flags serious lapses in Viyyur High Security Prison
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The NIA Special Court, Ernakulam, has warned that the malfunctioning CCTV cameras at the High Security Prison, Viyyur, are a matter of concern, and may pose serious problems. The court sharply criticised Keralas prison administration after it emerged that only one out of 165 CCTV cameras have recording facilities. A report by the assistant engineer, PWD Electronics wing, Thrissur, claimed that only nine CCTV cameras are currently functional. However, the superintendents report stated that despite 165 cameras being installed, only one was operating and the others had not functioned since February 2024. The court directed the PWD to rectify the CCTV cameras immediately and file a time-bound compliance report. The court made the observation while hearing a petition filed by prisoner Manoj P M, who alleged custodial torture. After records revealed that the prisoner suffered torture in the high-security prison, Viyyur. While forwarding the petition and records to the Chief Judicial Magistrate, Thrissur, the NIA Court instructed the former to take further action against the jail authorities. Manoj had stated in the petition that he was brutally attacked by the jail officials in the high-security prison, Viyyur, on November 13 following which he suffered serious injuries. The court also rejected the prison authorities claims in their report that Manoj did not suffer any serious injuries. It noted that while the injured jail staff received treatment at Thrissur Medical College Hospital at 6.30pm on November 13, Manoj was shifted to Central Prison Poojappura, nearly 300km away. The report of the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority and the documents produced show that Manoj suffered injuries in the attack. Reports from the secretary of the District Legal Services Authority confirmed that Manoj sustained injuries. Forwarding the petition of Manoj to the Chief Judicial Magistrate for further action, the court asked the prison authorities to provide Manoj medical examination at Ernakulam General Hospital. The NIA Court ordered that Manoj be shifted to Central Prison, Thavanoor.
CPM worker, LDF candidate among two sentenced to 20 years for decade-old Payyannur bomb attack
KANNUR: Two CPM workers, including the LDF candidate at Mattammal division in Payyannur in the LSG election, have been sentenced to 20 years in prison and fined Rs 2.5 lakh each after being found guilty in a decade-old bomb attack case. Nandakumar T C V, and V K Nishad, both 35 years old, were convicted for hurling a bomb at a police team near Madathumpadi Junction road in Payyanur in August 2012. The Taliparamba Additional Sessions Court pronounced the sentence following their conviction on Monday. The attack was carried out on August 1, 2012, in protest against the arrest of then CPM Kannur district secretary P Jayarajan in connection with the murder of Aryil Shukoor. The police officers were returning after verifying reports that Youth Congress worker Rupesh was being assaulted during the protest. As the officers were going to the spot, four people arrived on two bikes, with Nishad and Nandakumar riding on one of them, and hurled a steel bomb at the back of a police jeep. Fortunately, the bomb did not explode, and it was safely defused later. The police had, meanwhile, found the bomb to be a locally-made steel device. Though Midhun A, 38, and Kripesh K V, 36, the other accused in the case, were arrested, they were acquitted as the police failed to prove their identity in court, said public prosecutor Adv U Rameshan. Additional Sessions Judge K N Prashanth has now awarded the accused duo five years of imprisonment and a fine of Rs 1 lakh for attempted murder under Section 307 of the IPC, another five years and a fine of `50,000 for possessing explosives under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act, and 10 years along with a Rs 1 lakh fine for attempting to cause an explosion under Section 4 (a) and (b) of the Explosive Substances Act. Since the sentences will run concurrently, both will effectively serve only 10 years in prison. If they fail to pay the fine, they will have to serve an additional three years in prison. According to Adv Rameshan, the duo would have faced a life sentence had the bomb detonated. Meanwhile, the development will likely affect the candidacy of Nishad, the councillor of the Karamel West ward of Payyanur municipality, who was in the fray as the LDF candidate from Mattammal division (No. 46) of Payyanur municipality. Under Section 8(3) of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, Nishad will automatically be disqualified if he wins the election as the law bars anyone convicted of an offence and sentenced to a minimum of two years imprisonment from holding elected office. According to Adv Rameshan, if the High Court suspends the sentence, Nishad will be able to continue as a councillor if he wins the election.
Supreme Court directs Kerala to set up state-run primary schools in all areas lacking facilities
The Supreme Court on Tuesday directed the Kerala government to establish state-run lower and upper primary schools in all areas where none are functioning. The Right of Children to Free and Compulsory Education (RTE) Act mandates access to neighbourhood schooling for every child, a bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed. The bench was hearing the appeal of the state government against the High Court order on a petition that sought setting up of a school in Elambra in Manjeri municipality, where there were no primary educational institutions within a 3-4 kilometre radius. The high court had directed the Manjeri municipality to take urgent steps for the construction of necessary buildings for the school. The apex court upheld a Kerala High Court direction asking the state government to set up a school in an area that had no educational facility within a 3-4 kilometre radius. Asking the state government to take a holistic decision, the court said, in all such areas with difficult geographical terrain, schools must be established without delay. The bench laid down a twophase approach. In the first phase, the government will have to identify all regions without any lower or upper primary school. In the second phase, schools must be established in all areas lacking a lower primary school within a radius of 1km or an upper primary school within 3-4km.
CPM unlikely to act against former TDB chief Padmakumar until chargesheet in Sabarimala gold case
PATHANAMTHITTA: The CPM is unlikely to initiate any immediate disciplinary action against former TDB president and party district committee member A Padmakumar, who was recently arrested in the Sabarimala gold theft case. According to party sources, CPM state secretary M V Govindan made it clear during the Pathanamthitta district committee meeting on Tuesday that any strong action would only follow the submission of the chargesheet. Those who were entrusted with responsibilities failed to uphold the partys values, Govindan reportedly remarked, referring to Padmakumar. He pointed out that while N Vasu was a government employee, Padmakumar held a position solely on the trust placed in him by the party. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, Govindan reiterated that the party has taken a firm stance on the Sabarimala gold theft case. Not a single granule of Ayyappas gold will be lost. If anyone in the CPM is proven to have been involved, the party will not spare them, he told reporters, adding that the matter was not officially included in Tuesdays meeting agenda, which focused on election preparations.
UDF-Jamaat tie-up: Now, Kanthapuram Sunnis raise concern
KOZHIKODE: Yet another Muslim organisation has come forward to oppose the UDFs adjustments with the Welfare Party of India, the political front of the Jamaat-e-Islami, in the ensuing elections to the local bodies in Kerala. In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam (SYS), the youth wing of the Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDFs claim that the Jamaat has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state. Saqafi said that till now the Jamaat leadership has not openly said that they no longer subscribe to the ideology. He said Jamaat publishing house has republished the book authored by its founder Abul Ala Maududi that asserted the theocratic and anti-democratic stand. Can the leadership of the front that accommodated the Jamaat produce any proof to show that the organisation has withdrawn the book, Saqafi asked. He said the Sunnis will be happy if the Jamaat decides to backtrack from their position because they (Sunnis) have been campaigning against the stance from the beginning itself. But the Jamaat is selling the books of Maududi and has even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month. This proves that the Jamaat can never discard Maududi, Saqafi said. The Sunni leader questioned the Jamaat argument that the aim of Muslims should be to establish divine rule. Muslims have ruled India for about 650 years and none of them declared the country as an Islamic land, he said, adding that Muslims in Kerala have cooperated with the non-Muslim rulers and even fought for the land. No Muslim scholar in Kerala including Sheikh Zainuddin Makhdum called for the establishment of Islamic rule, he said. The unholy understanding for temporary electoral gains will cause irreparable damage to the nation. It will also make certain political parties irrelevant, Saqafi said. Selling Maudadi books In an article published in Siraj daily, Sunni Yuvajana Sangam, youth wing of Kanthapuram faction of Sunnis, Rahmatullah Saqafi questioned the UDFs claim that the Jamaat has discarded its ideology of the Islamic state He also pointed out that the Jamaat was selling the books of Maududi and had even conducted a campaign on his ideology last month.
Ballot box from 1st LS elections shines bright in Hakkims antique collection
ALAPPUZHA: The new generation is largely unaware of how voting and counting once took place in the country. For decades, elections were conducted using long ballot papers printed with the names and symbols of candidates. Voters would mark their choice, fold the paper, and drop it into a sealed box. After voting concluded, polling officers sealed the box using sealing wax, and the boxes were stored securely, The counting, often stretching one or two days, began several days later. On counting day, the seals were broken and the boxes opened in front of counting officials to ensure complete transparency. With the introduction of the Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs), this long and laborious process came to an end. Voters can simply press a button, and counting takes only minutes as data from the machines is downloaded quickly and accurately. One such ballot box from the pre-EVM era has now become the highlight of the antique collection of Hakkim Maliyakkal, a 65-year-old antiquarian from Chirakkadavom, Kayamkulam, in Alappuzha district. Hakkim owns two ballot boxes used during the early years of Indias democratic elections, and many people visit his home to see these rare historical items. Hakkim said he purchased the first ballot box around 20 years ago from Bengaluru. When I visited the city to attend an antique show, a dealer from north India offered this box for sale. It was originally made in 1951 and used in the countrys first general elections in 1952. Hyderabad Allwyn Ltd, a public sector company under the Andhra Pradesh government, built the boxes, and around 12 lakh of them were produced for the first elections, says Hakkim, who is also a Limca Book of Records holder for his coin collection. He acquired the second ballot box later in a public auction. I keep all my antique items in one room of my house, and it is always open to the public, he adds.
In Tripunithura, BJP hopes for a saffron tide, CPM confident of 3.0
KOCHI: Caught between the remnants of royal heritage and the challenges of democracy, Tripunithura has been craving for development for decades. Narrow roads, traffic snarl ups, drinking water scarcity and lack of proper waste disposal plans add to the woes of the town, which was once the capital of the princely state of Kochi. After the formation of Tripunithura municipality in 1980, the CPM-led LDF ruled for three decades until the UDF wrested power in 2010. The CPM returned to power in 2015 and has completed the second consecutive term, albeit with the support of the UDF. With the extension of Kochi Metro to Tripunithura railway station, the municipality had proposed to transform the area into an integrated transit hub by shifting the bus terminal to the area and interconnecting the railway and metro stations. However, the project needed major investment. A few months ago, the GCDA informed the government that it was ready to prepare a detailed project report, but the state is yet to grant approval. The LDF managed to make the municipality financially stable. Still, we need government support to implement the bus terminal project as we have to acquire four acres of land. During the third term, we plan to establish Kudumbashree industrial units in all wards and market their products, and will implement a complete waste disposal plan. The new administration will bring out a progress report on our manifesto every year, said CPM leader S Madhusoodanan. BJP leader K V S Haridas said the situation favours his party. Despite the presence of rebel candidates, the BJP had 17 members in the previous council. There is discontent brewing among people due to acute water scarcity and lack of waste management system. The BJP held seminars and prepared an integrated plan for the towns development which will be implemented with support from the Centre, he said. The UDF was ridden by factionalism in the 2020 local body elections. This time, it was the first to announce its candidates, and believes it will reflect in the results. After the UDF-led council in 2010, there have not been any development projects in Tripunithura. There is dissatisfaction with the CPM regime and BJP is facing backlash due to infighting, said DCC secretary Raju P Nair. The Thannerchal park developed by UDF in 2015 was converted into a dumping yard by LDF. . There was a proposal to develop the road to Tripunithura railway station for the development of bus terminal. However, widening was dropped midway, adding to traffic congestion. There is no job opportunity for youngsters. The people are frustrated with LDF and BJP is confined to a few wards. The UDF will return to power with clear majority, Raju said.
Its raining young leaders in Kerala's local body elections
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The youth and student organisations of the CPM outnumber other political groups in the number of leaders contesing in this local body elections. With the withdrawal of nominations concluding, the DYFI and SFI together have 1,473 members contesting on CPM ticket. Around 1,141 candidates are from Congress youth and student organisations, the Youth Congress and KSU. CPIs AISF and IUMLs Muslim Students Federation (MSF) have 14 and 47 leaders, respectively, in the fray. DYFI has the most candidates at 1,413. They include two central committee members and 22 state committee members. There are eight women on the list. Across all levels, 996 DYFI candidates are in the fray in grama panchayats, followed by 165 in block panchayats, 38 in district panchayats, 184 in municipalities and 30 in corporations. Youth representation is crucial in local governance, and it is the Left, particularly the CPM, that consistently ensures meaningful opportunities for young people, said DYFI state secretary V K Sanoj. Though the final tally of candidates from YC is not ready, an estimated 1,060 candidates are contesting on the Congress symbol. They include 40 state office-bearers and several national secretaries. Nine women have been fielded. We have fielded candidates from the current and previous state committees, including those from the earlier body led by Shafi Parambil, said YC state president O J Janeesh. Although we believe more leaders should have been accommodated, the political context required the party to weigh several considerations. The KSU has been allotted 81 seats, including one for a transgender candidate, the lone contestant from the community. There are 22 state committee members and 59 assembly-level office-bearers in the list. As many as 60 candidates are from the SFI. Maintaining that voters never raised concern about their political inexperience during campaigning, SFI state committee member P Thajuddeen, the LDF candidate from Kozhikode district panchayats Nadapuram division, said his political journey with the organisation had given him ample experience to work for peoples welfare. KSU Thiruvananthapuram district vice-president Vyshna Suresh, the UDFs candidate for Thiruvananthapuram corporations Muttada ward, opined that student leaders contesting in the elections can perform better, thanks to their background in campus politics. Hoping that the new gen politicians will bring in refreshing and advanced views in politics for the public, Vyshna said this generation shift will help mould better leaders for tomorrow. CPIs candidate in the Konni division of Pathanamthitta district panchayat and AISF state president Bibin Abraham felt the increased participation of youngsters could be because of the partys evaluation that the young leaders are critically needed in certain areas. Ayisha Banu P H, the first woman state vice-president of MSF who is contesting from the Pookkottur division of Malappuram district panchayat, said the new trend can help reduce the apolitical stand seen among youngsters. None from ABV P The Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has not fielded any candidates, in line with RSS policy of not sending its organisational workers in electoral contests. The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) has seven state office-bearers, five state committee members and eight district presidents in the race. Two women BJYM leaders are contesting as BJP candidates MYL fields 3 women leaders The Muslim Youth League (MYL) has nominated three women leaders national secretaries Mufeeda Thasni (Kannur district panchayat) and Najma Thabsheera (Kozhikode corporation), and state secretary Fathima Thahilliya (Kozhikode corporation). National V-P Sajid Naduvannoor is contesting in Kozhikode district panchayat.
Kerala seeks urgent release of pending SSK funds as RTE, support for disabled children face strain
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The state government has written to the Centre seeking urgent disbursal of pending funds under the Samagra Shiksha Kerala (SSK) project, especially those relating to implementation of the Right To Education (RTE) Act and assistance for differently-abled children. General Education Minister V Sivankutty said that of the Rs 1,158 crore of pending Central funds under SSK, Rs 408 crore relates to various services under the RTE Act and assistance for differently-abled students. He said that a fresh proposal has been given to the Centre to release funds under the two heads immediately. The minister said the Centre had not allotted any funds for the past two-and-a-half years through SSK. After a long gap, the funds were released this month. However, of the Rs 456 crore sanctioned for 2025-26 fiscal, only the first instalment of Rs 92.41 crore has been disbursed. Sivankutty said funds received under the RTE Act cover essential needs such as free uniforms, textbooks, hostel expenses and travel allowances for children from SC/ST categories. Training for children of migrant labourers, hostel expenses for girl students, school maintenance, and other essential requirements are also being met with the same funds. He noted that a total of 169 autism centres were functioning in the state under SSK with each centre providing services to an average of 60 children. Currently, 6,870 staff members, including teachers, are working under SKK and during the past two-and-a-half years, the state government ensured the programme continued uninterrupted and that employees received their salaries on time, even without any Central assistance. The minister also accused the state BJP leadership and Union ministers from the state of intervening at the Centre to block funds owed to Kerala.
Frustration, exhaustion, poor pay drive young Kerala doctors away, sparking debate on burnout
KOZHIKODE: For years, Kerala has proudly celebrated its brilliant young doctors, the NEET rank-holders, the ones who spent sleepless nights chasing a profession built on service, sacrifice and prestige. But in recent months, a different narrative has begun to emerge on social media stories about the frustration and exhaustion triggering an emotional, sometimes uncomfortable, debate across the state. At the centre of this growing storm are a series of personal videos by young doctors who chose to step away from the profession after years of hard study. Their confessions raw, vulnerable and at times painfully honest have forced Kerala to confront questions it has long avoided: Are young doctors being undervalued? Is the system exploiting their dedication? Or is the new generation simply unwilling to accept the hardships older doctors once embraced as part of the job? The debate took shape when Afriyna Ashraf and Irfana Ibrahim, both popular social media influencers, posted videos about why they walked away from their careers. Their accounts hit a nerve and drew overwhelming public response, revealing not only the hidden struggles of junior doctors but also the sharp generational divide within the medical community. After completing her MBBS, Afriyna began working in a private hospital in Bengaluru, where her salary was less than Rs 40,000 a month. In a city where rent itself could swallow half that amount, she found survival difficult. But the greater strain, she says, was the workload often equivalent to two doctors responsibilities. If it was truly a one-person job, I would have stayed, she said, adding that the constant pressure eroded her mental health. She has since moved into creative work and says she is happier than she has been in years. Dentist Irfana Ibrahims experience was even harsher. Her last job paid her only Rs 8,000 a month. She recalls days spent standing for hours, treating back-to-back patients, and returning home so drained that she struggled to smile. Realising that her work was neither financially nor emotionally sustainable, she made the painful decision to leave dentistry altogether. Her choice, like Afriynas, drew both criticism and support online. Addressing this opinion that young doctors who complain should simply go abroad to earn better, she said, People keep saying that abroad will give good salary and good jobs. But they dont understand that even that market is saturated. Thousands of doctors are graduating from other countries every year, and many of them come to India struggling just to find a job because of so many barriers. Their stories prompted another young doctor to post a video criticising what he described as the peanuts-like salary offered to MBBS graduates in Kerala. He claimed that young doctors often work up to 36 hours at a stretch, with minimal rest or leave, only to earn around Rs 40,000 a month. But not everyone agreed with this narrative. Among the most widely shared counterpoints was a detailed Facebook post by dentist Dr Smita Rahman, who questioned the changing attitudes of young medical professionals. Reflecting on her own journey, she described joining dentistry in 1999 without any awareness of future salary prospects. Her first job in 2005 offered her Rs 7,500 a month. She recalls working from morning to mid-afternoon without breaks, treating more than a hundred patients a day, yet feeling grateful for the opportunity to learn and grow. Dr Smita argued that doctors willing to continuously update their skills still find good opportunities in Kerala. She criticised what she saw as a trend of young doctors expecting high salaries immediately after graduation. How can people trust doctors who kick aside the very profession they pledged to serve? she asked, a line that quickly spread across social media. Senior doctors, shaped by decades of sacrifice, see medicine as a calling that demands patience and dedication. Younger doctors, aware of their rights and unwilling to romanticise suffering, argue that passion does not justify exploitation.
Nations maritime heritage to soon adorn walls of Kochi Naval Base
KOCHI: Murals depicting the landmarks in Indias maritime history right from the Indus Valley Civilisation to the modern day will adorn the walls of the Kochi Naval Base. The Better Kochi Response Group (BKRG), has launched an initiative to create a 1.3-km-long mural wall that will chronologically depict Indias expansive maritime history. Once completed, it will be the longest mural in the country, and the project will be submitted to the Guinness Book of World Records for consideration, said BKRG president and architect S Gopakumar on Tuesday. Launching the brochure for the proposed mural project, Cochin Shipyard CMD Madhu S Nair said the mural project will help remind the new generation of our maritime history and reconnect them with our past. At one time India accounted for 30% of the worlds GDP, but our youths remain largely unaware of Keralas maritime legacy. Our ship-building prowess was famous and even now the Urus (wooden dhow) made by our craftsmen in Beypore are being used by countries in the Middle East, he said. There are around 250 panels along the 103-km-long stretch where artists, historians and curators will create murals about maritime history in a chronological order. Each panel will be handled by a lead artist supported by one or two junior artists and art students. The Navy has already requested the tourism department to develop a walkway alongside the Naval Base compound wall. The Cochin Shipyard has promised to donate H20 lakh for the project and many builders have come forward to support the initiative. Cochin Shipyard CMD Madhu S Nair handing over the brochure of the mural project taken up by the Better Kochi Response Group to Commodore V Z Job The maritime legacy of India right from the Indus Valley Civilisation which was carried forward by the Mauryas, Cholas, Chatrapati Shivaji and the Zamorins will be depicted in murals in a chronological order, said Vice Admiral Prem Sudhan who will coordinate the initiative. The mural wall will narrate how Rani Abbakka of Ullal, Chatrapati Shivaji, Tipu Sultan, Kunhali Marakkar and Travancore resisted the western forces, he said. Traditionally Keralites have not been seafarers, but we have received benefits of maritime trade. There were thriving ship building yards at Kallayi and Vypeen and the guidance of Portuguese and Dutch helped us build warships. We had supplied warships to European countries and the UK. One of the warships built in Kerala was used in the Battle of Waterloo, said journalist and former Resident Editor of TNIE, M K Das. On completion, the mural wall is expected to become a major tourist landmark for Kochi and serve as an educational resource offering students and the public deep insights into Indias maritime heritage.
Varappuzha bridge to be opened in Dec 1st week, to ease NH 66 traffic
KOCHI: In a significant relief for commuters battling acute traffic congestion, the first of seven major bridges along the 26-km Edappally-Moothakunnam stretch of NH 66 is scheduled to be opened to traffic in the first week of December. The key structure new Varappuzha bridge promises to significantly ease the bottleneck caused by vehicles plying in both directions on the old bridge. The 1.03-km-long new bridge was constructed in a record 604 days at a cost of Rs 100 crore by Oriental Structural Engineers Pvt Ltd. Notably, it incorporates added safety measures, including eight PTZ (Pan Tilt Zoom) cameras that are remotely controlled to move horizontally, vertically, and zoom in or out. The bridges design utilises the balanced cantilever method, a decision driven by its location over the Periyar, which falls under the purview of the Inland Waterways Authority of India (IWAI). The final approach work of the bridge is progressing and will be opened to traffic from the first week of December. It has been designed to suit a speed of 100 kmph, as is the case in most of the widened NH stretches. We chose the balanced cantilever method due to the specific vertical and horizontal clearance required to ensure the safe passage of vessels and boats beneath, a senior NHAI official said. The old Varapuzha bridge, inaugurated on January 16 in 2001, was the first balanced cantilever bridge constructed in Kerala. The new bridge will ease traffic, besides offering views of beautiful landscapes for travellers, the official said. Optimal design for long spans The balanced cantilever method is a construction technology particularly suited for spans exceeding 50 metres, generally up to 150 metres, which is longer than those in normal bridges. The new bridge has 26 spans in total, with the river portion featuring two 83-metre spans and a large 120-metre central span to accommodate navigational traffic below. This relatively speedy and cost-effective construction method is ideal for difficult terrain or over perennial water bodies. The process involves building the bridge in segments that are concreted into formwork fixed to a special movable steel structure called a form traveller. Construction proceeds from the pier outwards towards the mid-span in a balanced manner: the number of segments on the right- and left-hand side of the pier must be the same for a stable cantilever configuration. Once the two opposing cantilevers meet at the mid-span, the span is bridged. A key visual feature of this design is the absence of a cap over the piers. 70% work over on Edappally-Moothakunnam stretch The opening of the new Varappuzha bridge comes in the backdrop of the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) hastening construction activities, which had been stalled for nearly a year because of a scarcity of red soil for filling work. Weve signed a pact with the Cochin Port Trust to use dredged soil from the shipping channel as an alternative and temporary measure to speed up widening. Were also applying for Soil Borrow Areas, from where we can dig and procure red soil, the NHAI official said. According to him, nearly 70% of the Rs 1,618-crore project to widen the Edappally-Moothakunnam NH 66 stretch into a six-lane road has been completed. This 26.03-km segment is the first of five reaches in the overall 164-km Edappally-Ramanattukara NH 66 widening effort. The work includes the construction of a railway overbridge (ROB), four flyovers, seven major bridges (including the Varappuzha bridge), eight minor bridges, and various vehicular and pedestrian underpasses. Were aiming to complete the widening of the stretch by April. Now, a key challenge is the new Edappally RoB construction, where weve completed the superstructure work. However, the substructure work is pending. Were yet to get permission from the Southern Railways. If it is granted quickly, the RoB work can be completed by January, the official said.
Dont file FIRs, please' says comedian Abish Mathew
Long before he became one of the most recognisable comedy voices, Abish Mathew was a radio jockey in Delhi a young man with an instinct for humour. From there came the YouTube hits, comedy clubs, the specials, the tours, Comicstaan, Son of Abish, improv sets, sketch videos, and an evolving stage persona that refuses to sit still. Abish has never been just a stand-up; he is a host, writer, performer and creator who is constantly evolving. He recently brought his latest set, Abish Mathew and His Many Talents: Part Two, to Kochi. We sat down to chat the next morning after the performance. When I walked into the venue, he was already hunched over his iPad, stylus in hand replaying the previous nights recording and marking every response. Where the audience laughed, where they chuckled or applauded, and where a joke didnt quite land. It was an almost surgical review of the art of laughter and perhaps the most fitting snapshot of a performer who is constantly fine-tuning himself. In this chat, Abish opened up about discovering clowning, the science of humour, the chilling effect on comedy today, and the emotional weight of drawing from personal history. Excerpts: What do you prefer calling yourself artist, comedian, something else? I honestly dont know. My music teacher once told me that you dont define your own genre; the audience tells you what you are. Your job is to create in the moment. So, we are nothing but references of things we love. And if we merge them, we become unique. If someone calls me an artist, Ill happily take it. But I personally prefer freelancer as that identity keeps me accountable. It reminds me of discipline, deadlines and employment. In any creative field, you need one for the kitchen, one for the soul. Art should feed your spirit, but something must also pay the bills. Ive been fortunate that my passion became my profession, but timing mattered. If YouTube hadnt happened when it did, or if that whole wave with AIB, Vir (Das), hadnt come at the time, I might have ended up in an advertising agency. What brought you to clowning? I had first discovered clowning years ago through Cirque du Soleil on YouTube. David Shiner, Mila Uesoft clowns who could make an audience the centre of the show without saying a word. As I grew up, I found stand-up, later improv, and forgot about clowning. A workshop in Mumbai by Pyotr Sikovar (Furioso) re-ignited something. His idea of the flop blew my mind going with an idea, letting it fail, and staying in the failure. The audience roots for you precisely because you never succeed. The power dynamic is beautiful. Abish during a performance You recently went to Norway to explore clowning. How was that experience? The Norway Clown Camp was a month-long residency on a farm with 1520 people from around the world. Philip Burgers (Dr Brown) taught us. He is someone Id admired for years. Seeing him in person and learning the importance of making eye contact with the audience, being vulnerable and uncomfortable all of it changed something in me. I feel more fearless on stage now. Is this why clowning has become important to you? Absolutely. Clowning forces me to keep quiet. Thats my new challenge can I make an audience laugh in silence? But even clowning will flirt with political incorrectness. The goal is not to test limits but to understand: both the comedian and the audience are flawed. You also study comedy. Do you like calling yourself a nerd? Im a comedy nerd, 100%. Before I touched the stage, I was obsessively researching comedy. I get very excited when someone writes a bit, and I become curious to know how did they think of it. From all the interactions I have had with other comedians, I have realised that, many of the jokes werent written on paper they happened serendipitously maybe because of something an audience member said or it just came to them as a thought on stage. Is that true for you too? Yes. Earlier, I believed a joke had to be perfect before I went on stage. Now I write diligently, but I also allow discovery. I talk to myself in the mirror, rehearse jokes and review every set. If something works accidentally, I make a note of it so its not lost. Recently, a joke about men and women dancing or moving their pelvis differently at sangeet ceremonies worked three times in a row. I dont know if its a good joke yet but Ill explore it until it proves itself or fails. Do concepts like theories of humour influence you? Very much. Superiority theory, surprise theory... Recently, I learnt about benign violations. It was introduced to me by Viggo Venn (who won Britains Got Talent), a world-renowned clown. Benign violation is humour that violates softly, just enough to be funny but not offensive. Like the pelvis joke. My hope is that even my parents would laugh that is the sweet spot. Push beyond that, and it stops being benign; it just becomes crass. In recent years, comedians have been targeted frequently. Do you feel its becoming more difficult to be a comedian today? Yes. Theres the chilling effect.Someone explained it to me like this: once, being homosexual was illegal, but the police wont come to your house to check. Still, the fear shaped who you are outside your house. That same chilling effect has seeped into comedy. Some comedians boldly say, I will talk anyway, and you admire that courage. You aspire to get there. But if you dont have financial, legal or network support, especially in India, what happens to you? Its absolutely okay to disagree with something I said or did. Just dont file FIRs, please. Vent it out. Come threaten me on Instagram DM, and I will understand. Or maybe block you (laughs). Its not just comedians the audience has changed too. Theres this cultural shift of, If I cant say it, then you cant say it. Most people catch themselves doing it and stop themselves from acting on it. Ideally, scrutiny should go towards hate speech not jokes but thats not how it plays out. So you end up doing family-friendly humour even when you want to talk about bigger things. Do you feel freer in Kerala? 100%. The audience here shares a similar social and political mindset. Not identical views just an openness. We grew up not understanding politics, but this is the age where we finally speak about the country a little bit, right? There are comics who do it more confidently than I do, and I hope to get there. Kerala gives me that space. Also, Kerala laughs at political humour in a way few other places do. Its cultural. I grew up in Delhi, but I used to watch Munshi. Political commentary has been part of humour here for decades. So there were bold artists before us. When I know the audience is my audience, whether its Kerala or Gujarat, I can be open. If its a corporate gig or a festival, where I dont know whos coming, I have to be more careful, not just for me, but for the organisers too. Youve performed a song in one of your sets, which revealed the story behind your name. A combination of your older brothers names (Anish+Binish). There was so much grief in it (since Binish passed away before you were born), how did that song come about? During the lockdown, I was alone and had creative space. In that silence I discovered things about myself. I realised that writing lyrics or rhymes makes you more intentional than when youre just clicking keys on a keyboard. So I wrote a draft and almost forgot about it. Then Spoken Fest asked me to perform. A poet-artist friend, Shantanu, heard it and told me to develop it. So I did a spoken-word version. Later, when I did Abish Mathew and His Many Talents, I included a 10-minute piece of that, because quite a few people encouraged me to do so. It didnt fit a stand-up show; its quite a downer. So I added it somewhere in the middle. That piece makes me emotional. There are times I almost choke up. I had to practice to control it because if I cried on stage repeatedly, it would look like self-obsession. The special Im releasing ends with that song and the guitar part I added mirrors how I felt. Whats next? I am working on a new bit, a special in development. I do want to talk about what this love is. what it is like to be married, why does one need to be married. But I haven't gotten there yet. I have just been able to get to a point where I am talking about my experiences of love. Now that might become a separate special, before that I need to spend a little bit more time with myself on these things. Now, being married twice, theres insight there. Life is very different now. I see myself as two different people with two different people. And I think: Oh my God, Abish. You are the problem! I want to talk about my married life through my lens. It will be challenging but worth it. It will be about me, my insecurity, which I know many men will relate to. Thats what I want to tackle in this bit.
Amore and More: a candid chat with the new Italian Consul General in B'luru Giandomenico Milano
With two post-graduate degrees under his belt, the newly appointed Consul General of Italy in Bengaluru is no stranger to exam stress, but something recently took him right back to those times: wine sommelier exams. I graduated in July after writing three different exams, it was kind of scary to back and feel that anxiety, laughs Giandomenico Milano, as a spread of Italian snacks, including tiny amaretti, cannoli and pieces of focaccia beckon the reporters gathered for an informal chat with him. He adds, Ive always had an interest in wine and the culture behind it. This programme was two years of studying the chemistry, geography and the history of it. It was fascinating. Its been a busy three months for Milano, with getting settled into a new city with his wife and two kids and planning one of his first major events as the Consul General The Week of Italian Cuisine in the World. He notes that the initiative is far more than a culinary celebration and describes it as an expression of Italian culture, identity and values. Bengalurus dynamic dining landscape, he observes, makes it an ideal setting for such a cultural exchange. Welcoming chef Italo Bassi, he adds, enhances the programmes significance, with his Michelin recognition, deep grounding in Italian tradition and contemporary creative flair. Sharing his first impressions of the city, Milano says, Id say theres no better place than Bengaluru, even though Im a bit biased. I think we Italians and Bengalureans have a lot of energy and the same values rooted in tradition and innovation. Its this mix he wants his tenure in Bengaluru to embody. He says, When people think of Italy, they think of food, fashion, art and history which we are happy about but more than that, Italy is also always reinventing itself in areas like robotics, aerospace and design innovation. We recently had a strong Italian presence at Bangalore Tech Summit too. Even though there are just roughly 100 Italians in the city, many of whom Milano has met, he reveals, Surprisingly, there are also 100 Italian companies in the city involved in a mix of IT, innovation, food and hospitality. Milano, who grew up in the Molise region in Southern Italy nestled between Rome and Naples, describes it as a not very well-known but an authentic place rooted in tradition. He adds, I had a very free upbringing in the countryside and a happy childhood but I wanted to see the world. Perhaps thats been one of the drivers to have this career to connect and discover. That desire to discover led him to jobs at embassies in Ethiopia, Indonesia and Sri Lanka before bringing him to Bengaluru, but this is not his first brush with India. When I was in Sri Lanka, India was close so I travelled to Delhi, Rajasthan, Mumbai, Aurangabad, Kerala and saw the Taj Mahal in Agra and the Ajanta Ellora caves in Maharashtra. Travelling gives you flexibility and opens your mind to face any counterpart, he says. However, his favourite has been a recent trip to Mysuru, as he says, I went during Vijayadashami the palace was stunning and the parade impressive. Milano also has plans for events across music, art, and technology. A multilingual speaker of Spanish, Italian, English, and French, one area of interest is language, as he explains, There are not many Italian speakers in Bengaluru and the South compared to North India so wed really like to encourage that. Were looking into organising opportunities to meet and have conversations with an Italian speaker. Has he picked up any Indian languages? Milano says, I try to include a few Kannada phrases in speeches with the help of my colleagues, but I need to improve! So far, my biggest problem has been with learning the alphabet. With that, it was time to say ciao (and namaskara) to the Consul General, the sweetness of amaretti lingering on the tongue with the promise to return for more tastes of Italy that he hopes to bring to ooru.
Kerala government has no locus standi to seek SIR deferment: EC
TN working with Kerala: Minister
KOCHI: The inclusion of a Bharat Mata image at a National Law Day programme held on the Kerala High Court premises has triggered strong protests from the All India Lawyers Union (AILU), even as Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar, who attended the event, reignited the debate by alleging that resistance to the symbol reflects a form of modern untouchability and a degradation of Indias cultural ethos. The Sangh Parivar organised the programme, affiliated Bharatheeya Abhibhashaka Parishad and attended by the Governor on Tuesday. AILU, Kerala High Court Committee, alleged that the display of the image on the court premises amounted to a serious challenge to constitutional values and an attempt to saffronise even the premises of the higher judiciary. In a statement, AILU state secretary Adv. C M Nazer said using the High Court venue for such symbolic displays, especially in the presence of a Governor who political opponents have earlier accused of endorsing hardline Hindutva position, was deplorable and unacceptable. He said the incident sends a dangerous message to the public and risks eroding confidence in the judiciarys secular character. Using the High Court platform to promote divisive imagery is a direct affront to the Constitution. It shows that attempts at saffronisation spare no institution, not even the higher judiciary, the statement said. The lawyers body, calling the development deeply disturbing, demanded an urgent inquiry into how the image was displayed and strict action against those responsible. AILU has submitted its protest to the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, seeking immediate intervention to safeguard the neutrality and dignity of judicial institutions. Addressing the gathering on Cultural Nationalism in Indian Constitution, Governor Arlekar linked the ongoing controversy to what he described as a wider cultural disconnect. Weve reached such an extent now that even Bharat Mata is considered as untouchable. Many dont attend the programmes because of Bharat Mata, he said. He attributed this mindset to a disruption in our education system allegedly caused by colonial influence. The dispute is rooted in the continuing public spat between the Governor and the state government. The administration had earlier objected to a specific Bharat Mata portrait used at Raj Bhavan events, which features a lion and a saffron flag. Ministers have argued that this particular depiction is not a secular national symbol but allegedly reflects a political and religious ideology associated with the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), prompting them to boycott official functions. Defending the symbol, Arlekar recounted an instance at Raj Bhavan, When Bharat Matas portrait was kept there, somebody came there and asked, Whos this lady... this is the degradation of our cultural ethos. He also linked the sentiment to the national pledge: During my childhood, I was perplexed as to how everyone is my brother and sister. I asked my teacher, but couldnt get a satisfactory answer. But afterwards, I came to know why... because we have one mother, that is Bharat Mata. If we dont celebrate Bharat Mata, what will we celebrate? The Governor further dismissed multiculturalism as western thinking, insisting that India has a single, unified Indian culture or Bharatiya culture. He said, The rainbow has different shades, but its still one rainbow. So also, our culture is one though there may be different shades... our diversity is not the cause of our differences, in fact its the cause of our being united. Calling for a cultural reawakening, he added, Nationalism is nothing but saving our culture, stressing the need to abandon colonial thought to restore national pride.
Uttarakhand turns to hydroseeding to tackle persistent landslides on Badrinath highway
DEHRADUN: Facing relentless landslides in one of India's top 10 most vulnerable districts, the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) is now turning to an advanced biological solution, hydroseeding, to stabilise a critical stretch of the Badrinath Highway near Kameda in Gauchar. This shift comes after earlier engineering interventions allegedly failed to contain the erosion that has long threatened this vital route. The 120-metre stretch near Kameda, located in the highly landslide-prone Rudraprayag district, experiences significant debris flow during the monsoon season. For over five years, the slope above the highway has continually shed soil, rocks and boulders, frequently disrupting traffic for hours. For more than five years, the slope here has been unstable. When the rains hit, large boulders roll onto the highway, stated a local resident, requesting anonymity due to the frequent closures. Previously, NHAI had attempted stabilisation using conventional engineering methods. Steel netting anchored by 6 to 8-inch iron rods (anchors) was installed into the slope before the monsoon. However, heavy rains led to substantial slippage, allegedly rendering the nets ineffective. Now, the focus has shifted to Hydroseeding Mulch, a technique involving the spraying of a mixture of seeds, water and fertiliser onto the slope. We are employing Hydroseeding Mulch to prevent further landslides in this steep terrain. We anticipate this method will be effective, said JP Sharma, Project Manager at RCC Developers, associated with the project. We are currently verifying the existing anchors before fully implementing this technique, as this method has proven successful in mountainous regions. Hydroseeding is an advanced bio-engineering technique designed to rapidly establish a protective layer of grass or vegetation on steep slopes, roadsides and mining areas. The mixture includes mulch fibres that bind the soil together, preventing erosion from heavy rain or wind, while the seeds germinate to create a living root structure for long-term stability. The urgency of this stabilisation effort is underscored by recent data classifying India's most vulnerable zones. Official sources confirm that Rudraprayag and Tehri Garhwal in Uttarakhand are among the top 10 most landslide-prone districts in the country. Apart from Rudraprayag and Tehri in Uttarakhand, the list of high-risk districts also includes: Kerala: Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram and Kozhikode. Jammu and Kashmir: Rajouri and Poonch. Sikkim: South and East Sikkim. The NHAI hopes that this biological intervention will finally stabilise the Badrinath route before the next monsoon season arrives.
2025 local body polls: Kerala has 75,632 candidates in the fray
Malappuram has the highest number of candidates, 8,378, followed by Ernakulam, 7,374
Rebels set to spoil party for all three fronts
Hundreds of political leaders appear to have taken their cue from M.K. Varghese, a Congress rebel-turned-Independent, who became Mayor of the Thrissur Corporation with the support of the Left Democratic Front, and have thrown their hats into the ring against the official candidates of their own parties
'Violation Of Right To Education': Kerala Rejects Proposal To Use Students For SIR Work
The proposal, which suggested that NSS and NCC students could be involved in SIR work, was criticised for potentially disrupting students' academic schedules.
Kerala local body polls: P.V. Anvar makes a dismal campaign launch
SC directs Kerala to establish primary schools in areas lacking them
Kerala, T.N. to collaborate in industries sector
Andhra Pradesh delegation visits Kerala State Higher Education Council
Kerala sadya to be served at Sabarimala Annadanam centre
Kerala BLO Removed From Duty Over 'Indecent Exposure' During SIR Drive
Police in the Tavanur jurisdiction have registered a case and initiated a full investigation into the matter
Kerala CPM Leader Sentenced To 20 Years Imprisonment For Hurling Bomb At Police
The incident occurred on August 1, 2012, when the CPM called a state-wide protest against the arrest of then CPM district secretary P Jayarajan in connection with the Ariyil Shukoor murder case. According to the prosecution, DYFI workers Nishad and Nandakumar, along with two others, A Mithun and K V Kripesh, arrived on two motorcycles in Payyannur and hurled a country-made steel bomb at a police jeep
India's Left faces an introspective period marked by declining vote shares and ideological confusion, evident in West Bengal and Tripura. While Kerala remains a stronghold, it too faces challenges, prompting questions about the party's ability to adapt and reinvent itself amidst shifting political landscapes and strategic alliances.
K. Muraleedharan alleges CPI(M)-BJP electoral pacts across Kerala
SC Directs Kerala To Set Up Primary Schools In Areas Lacking Educational Facilities
The court upheld a Kerala High Court order that required the state to set up a school in an area lacking educational facilities within a 3-4 kilometre radius
SIR Phase II: Over 50.54 crore enumeration forms distributed with 99.16 per cent coverage
NEW DELHI: The Election Commission of India (ECI) on Tuesday issued a detailed data list on the number of enumeration forms distributed among electors and their digitisation in the past 21 days since the exercise was launched on November 4. Out of the total 50,97,44,423 existing voters, 50,54,82,771 of them have been handed over the pre-filled forms, clocking 99.16 per cent, and over 28 crore (56.34 per cent) of them have been digitised. According to the ECI data, among the States, the maximum of over 15,38,71,940 crore forms have been handed over in Uttar Pradesh, which has a total voters base of 15,44,30,092. SC seeks response of EC on fresh plea of MDMK leader Vaiko against SIR in Tamil Nadu In West Bengal, where the ruling TMC has been opposing the exercise, 7,64,59,129 voters have been handed over the enumeration forms against the total voters base of 7,66,37529. In the second phase after Bihar, the ECI has launched the SIR in nine states and three Union Territories, including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, West Bengal and the UT of Puducherry, which are going to assembly polls next year. The ongoing Enumeration Phase will continue till December 4, 2025. BJP trying to implement CAA through SIR in border areas, alleges West Bengal CM at Bongaon rally States such as Goa and Lakshadweep have achieved 100 per cent distribution of enumeration forms, reflecting efficient ground-level coordination, the ECI data revealed. Besides these two, all the states and Union Territories have crossed the 99 per cent mark in the distribution of enumeration forms. Meanwhile, Election Commission officials have managed to digitise over 56 per cent of the signed enumeration forms received, with Lakshadweep striking a rate of 99.33 per cent with 57,428 in absolute number against the total of 57,813 voters. Uttar Pradesh has reported the slowest rate of digitisation with 34.03 per cent, with an absolute number of 5,25,53,479. More than 5.33 lakh Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and 7.64 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) have been deployed to ensure every eligible elector is reached, the ECI said, adding that all recognised political parties have been asked to appoint additional BLAs to strengthen field-level verification and enhance the accuracy of electoral rolls.
Sunni leaders sore over UDFs tie-up with Welfare Party of India in Kerala
Shyamala Prabhu quits after more than three decades in BJP
In Focus podcast | What does Keralas Zero Extreme Poverty announcement really mean
R. Ramakumar speaks to us about the gap between Keralas estimates and the Central governments Antyodaya Anna Yojanas numbers, and the wider questions this raises about poverty measurement and verification.
Kerala Sadya to Replace Pulao and Sambar in 'Annadanam' in Sabarimala
TDB president K Jayakumar said pulao and sambar were earlier served at the hill shrine as part of annadanam, which was not appropriate for devotees
With the dance festival that kicks off on November 27, choreographer P Sreejith, dancers Paris Laxmi and Abhilash VS hope to change how contemporary dance is practised
Housewives must be recognised as part of 'toiling class', suggests Study
KOCHI: A new doctoral study has made two sharp observations on Kerala: Housewives must be recognised as part of the toiling class, and receiving a LIFE Mission housewhile socially empoweringdoes not significantly deepen a womans personal transformation. The research, authored by Nisha Jose, wife of Kerala Congress (M) chairman Jose K. Mani, argues that the States welfare architecture, although strong in infrastructure and allocations, still struggles to translate material gains into psychological and behavioural empowerment for women. The thesis scrutinises Keralas progress and highlights a critical gap. While women who receive a house under the LDF governments flagship LIFE Mission experience noticeable improvements in social standing and family recognition, the research finds that this shift does not automatically produce inner autonomy, confidence, or expanded decision-making power. In Nishas words, ownership does not substantially contribute to personal transformation, a finding that challenges the widely held assumption that asset creation alone is a direct pathway to womens empowerment. As of November 2025, Kerala has completed 4.71 lakh houses and allotted more than 5.08 lakh under the LIFE Mission, making it one of the most ambitious state-led housing interventions in the country. 'Rimi' short film: Celebrating housewives The study acknowledges the scale and intent of this effort, but points out that its impact is uneven across social, financial, and personal domains. Women gain visibility within the household and community, and the security of a permanent home reduces long-term precarity. Yet the internal shifts associated with empowerment remain limited, suggesting that welfare schemes need to be paired with interventions that focus on behavioural change, financial literacy and sustained institutional engagement at the grassroots. The thesis becomes especially significant when it turns to the late K. M. Manis Theory of the Toiling Class, a framework that has long shaped Keralas economic thinking. Mani positioned marginal farmers, artisans, traders, teachers, and other self-employed workersthose dependent primarily on labour rather than capitalat the centre of a new socio-economic category. 45,026 females committed suicide in 2021, over half were housewives: NCRB Nisha expands this theory in a direction Mani did not anticipate, arguing that housewives, whose unpaid labour sustains households and supports children, elders, and persons with disabilities, also belong within this category. Their work is relentless, indispensable, and foundational to the functioning of the economy, even though it is neither waged nor formally recognised. By inserting housewives into the toiling class, the study reframes Keralas understanding of labour and broadens an influential economic theory to acknowledge a vast, invisible workforce that keeps the state running. This conceptual expansion was developed with the participation of researcher Nisha Anna John, who co-authored the theoretical sections of the study. Together, their work argues that the category of the toiling class cannot remain limited to income-generating labour alone, and must include those who labour without wages yet hold up the social structure. The research also enters the policy conversation at a timely moment. On November 10, 2025, the Kerala Finance Department announced a new monthly pension of Rs 1,000 for financially vulnerable women and transgender persons between 35 and 60 years, holding pink or yellow ration cards and earning below Rs 1 lakh annually. This acknowledgement of unpaid work echoes similar schemes launched in Karnataka and Haryana. The study notes that transfer payments to homemakers tend to re-enter the circular flow of income through household consumption, generating multiplier effects that stimulate economic demand while improving gender dignity. Submitted to Sri Balaji University, Pune, the thesis evaluates gender budgeting, welfare implementation, and institutional mechanisms between 2021 and 2025. It observes that Keralas gender budgeting allocations have risen from 5.5% in 200809 to over 20% in the most recent budgets, reflecting sustained political commitment. Yet awareness among panchayat and municipal officials remains inconsistent, and many implementers are unfamiliar with the analytical framework of gender budgeting. Institutions such as the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) help translate policy into practice, but the research argues for stronger bottom-up planning, decentralised accountability, and better communication across administrative levels. In bringing together an evaluation of welfare delivery, an examination of gender budgeting, and a reimagining of Manis toiling class theory, the study offers an important reminder. Keralas welfare state may have built the houses, but its next challenge is to nurture the deeper personal transformation that empowers women from within. And by recognising housewives as part of the toiling class, the research insists that the state must finally acknowledge the unseen labour that has long held its social fabric together.
Kerala BLO Removed from Duty for Public Indecency During SIR Work (VIDEO)
A Booth Level Officer (BLO) in Kerala was removed from duty after he exposed himself in public while conducting electoral roll work. Officials have ordered a probe.
Kerala government rejects poll panels proposal to deploy schoolchildren for conducting SIR
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kerala Government has objected to a proposal from the office of the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) - Kerala seeking to utilise the services of school children for the ongoing Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. In a statement, General Education Minister V Sivankutty said deploying volunteers of National Service Scheme (NSS) and National Cadet Corps (NCC) from schools would disrupt their studies. The Minister said academic activities were going ahead in full swing in the states schools with the terminal exams round the corner. In such a scenario,deploying students for enumeration anddigitisation works of SIR for 10 days at a stretchcannot be accepted, the minister said. Even though social service activities are encouraged among NSS and NCC volunteers, deploying them for such duties for a prolonged period was improper as it would lead to loss of instructional days,the Minister reminded. Sivankutty said directions have been given to officials of the General Education Department to ensure that students are not deprived of their classes.The Ministeradded that 5523 staff, including 2.,938 teacherof the General Education Department have already been deployed as Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for SIR-related work. Meanwhile, SIR was fast progressing in the state with digitisation of 28% of the enumeration forms already completed. According to CEO-Kerala Rathan U Kelkar, the enumeration phase of SIR is expected to be completed soon.
Malayali 'Manavatty' arrack shines at Scotland election convention
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Befitting the popular adage that a Malayali can be found in every corner of the world, UK-based Malayali arrack brand 'Manavatty' was the star of the Scotland National Party (SNP) convention held ahead of the 2026 parliamentary elections in Edinburgh. The Manavatty bottles, co-signed by the first minister of Scotland John Swinney and the brand founder John Xavier, were sold at attractive prices after a tight auction held here for the party's candidate adoption and fundraising convention programme. The event was held as an 'Adoption Night' programme, reminiscent of the Scottish political history from the 1970s. However, even amidst the heated political discussions, the special edition bottles of Manavatty became an attraction. The ceremony was also attended by Scottish cabinet minister Fiona Hislop and Michelle Thomson, former connectivity minister Stewart Stevenson, and other candidates including former MP David Linden, councillors Pauline Stafford and Dennis. Adding a desi touch to the event, Indians, including Jain University director Tom Joseph, representatives of the British Tamil Forum, Karnataka Association UK, and SanTV, were also present here. The event was followed by cultural programmes led by five popular musicians. Manavatty, which was developed in the United Kingdom by the Kochi native John Xavier, is now produced under the London Barren Limited company. Shot to popularity earlier this year, the arrack blended the traditional arrack vatting techniques and modern brewery methods.
Kerala actor assault case: Court to pronounce verdict on December 8
The prosecution case is that the accused raped the woman actor in a moving car on February 17, 2017. The first accused, alleged the prosecution, recorded the alleged act in a mobile phone following the conspiracy
BJP Kerala general secretary S. Suresh criticises circulation of Sthree Suraksha pension forms, alleging that it is part of a deliberate effort to sway voters
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 records multi-platform growth
Bigg Boss Malayalam Season 7 proved a major hit in Kerala. The show saw a substantial rise in viewership on JioHotstar and Asianet. Digital engagement surged, with video views and watch time increasing significantly. Connected TV viewing also grew.
BLO removed from post for public display of nudity during SIR work in Kerala
The alleged incident happened while the BLO was filling up the enumeration forms while surrounded by people, including women, in Malappuram district
Payyanur bomb attack case in Kerala: CPI(M) local body poll candidate, aide sentenced to 20 years
Taliparamba Additional District Sessions Judge awards imprisonment of 20 years and fine of 2.5 lakh each to convicts V.K. Nishad and T.C.V. Nandakumar. They will effectively serve 10 years in jail
Kerala Man Dies After Father Hits Him With Metal Rod Over Luxury Car Demand
A 28-year-old man, who had been under treatment after being fatally hit with a metal rod on his head by his father for demanding a luxury car, has died, police said on Tuesday.
Kerala-born Ershad Kunnakkadan, at 33, has become the top leader of the digital commerce platform Gumroad, proving that consistent effort and curiosity can surpass formal credentials.
Son dies from head injury after clash with father over Rs 50 lakh bike in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A 28-year-old man who had been undergoing treatment after being assaulted by his father during an argument over a luxury bike worth Rs 50 lakh died on Monday. Hriddhik, a resident of Pournami, Kunnumpuram in Vanchiyoor, succumbed to his injuries at the Medical College Hospital on Monday morning. Police had earlier registered an attempt-to-murder case against his father, Vinayanandan, who was later released on bail. With Hriddhiks death, the charge will now be altered to murder. The assault took place at their home on October 9. Hriddhik had first attacked Vinayanandan with a knife after demanding money to buy the luxury bike. In retaliation, Vinayanandan hit Hriddhik on his head with an iron rod. Police said that Hriddhik used to frequently attack his parents and that he had mental health issues. The family had reportedly hid his condition due to fear of social stigma, and he had not been receiving proper treatment. Due to Hriddhiks persistent demands, the family had earlier taken a loan to buy him a bike worth Rs 12 lakh. However, ahead of his birthday, Hriddhik picked a fight again, insisting that he be given another bike costing Rs 50 lakh. Vinayanandan runs a cafeteria in Kunnumpuram. Hriddhik, who had studied catering technology in Bengaluru, was their only son. He is survived by his mother Anupama. The family had been living in Vanchiyoor in a rented house. After the post-mortem, the body was taken to their ancestral home in Kalady and cremated by Monday evening.
Cyclone Senyar Likely To Form In 48 Hours; IMD Warns Of Heavy Rain Across Southern States
Cyclone Senyar may form over the region, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Mahe, Lakshadweep, Andhra, Yanam, and Andaman.
