Uttara Kannada landslip: Operation to find missing Kerala lorry and driver to continue on July 28
The operation to trace the missing Kerala lorry and its driver, believed to be buried underwater after a landslip near Shirur in Uttara Kannada district, entered the 12th day on Saturday, but efforts did not yield any positive result
Kerala targets enrolment of more foreign students in higher education institutions
Study in Kerala programme comes in response to the States underwhelming performance in hosting foreign students compared to its neighbours, despite Keralas potential advantages. The government has granted in-principle sanction to implement the initiative mooted by the Kerala State Higher Education Council to improve campus diversity and equip its students to work in a global society
Kerala Governor welcomes court order staying formation of search panels for University V-Cs
CMs of 10 states, UTs skip governing council meeting: NITI Aayog CEO
As many as 10 states and UTs did not participate in the ninth Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said on Saturday. The meeting was attended by 26 participants including Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of UTs, he said while briefing the media. The absentees were Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, Jharkhand and Puducherry, he said adding It is their loss if they did not participate. Regarding West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee who walked out of the meeting, Subrahmanyam said her request to speak before lunch was accepted although her turn would have come in the afternoon going in the alphabetical order of the states. The NITI Aayog CEO further said that when her time was up, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh just tapped the mic and she stopped speaking and walked out. Although officials of West Bengal government continued to attend the meeting
CMs Of 10 States Skip NITI Aayogs Governing Council Meeting: CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam
NEW DELHI, Jul 27: As many as 10 states and UTs did not participate in the ninth Governing Council meeting of the NITI Aayog which was chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, its CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam said on Saturday. Follow the Daily Excelsior channel on WhatsApp The meeting was attended by 26 participants including Chief Ministers and Lt Governors of UTs, he said while briefing the media. The absentees were Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Telangana, Bihar, Delhi, Punjab, Himachal Pradesh, [] The post CMs Of 10 States Skip NITI Aayogs Governing Council Meeting: CEO B.V.R. Subrahmanyam appeared first on Daily Excelsior .
Bank of India Staff Union in Kerala decided to pay tribute to former Pakistan president Pervez Musharraf, decision reverted following outrage and protests.
D Raja justifies INDIA bloc CMs boycotting NITI Aayog meet, blames Centre
CPI general secretary D Raja Saturday justified the decision of several chief ministers to boycott the Governing Council meetings of the NITI Aayog, claiming that certain actions of the Centre are behind their move. Taxes and funds were not being shared properly by the central government, Raja alleged. The CMs who are boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting have certain issues. There are very genuine issues. The Central government's actions were responsible for it, Raja told reporters here. Chief ministers of the INDIA bloc -- Stalin (DMK), Kerala's Pinarayi Vijayan (CPI-M), Punjab's Bhagwant Mann (Aam Aadmi Party), Congress's Siddaramaiah (Karnataka), Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu (Himachal Pradesh) and Revanth Reddy (Telangana), and Jharkhand's Hemant Soren (Jharkhand Mukti Morcha) -- skipped the NITI Aayog meeting. Stating that the Constitution defines India (Bharat), as a union of states, Raja said: It means the union government should treat all the state governments equally and there ..
Apology not enough, Kerala HC orders 28 lawyers to offer free legal services for 6 months
Kochi, July 27: In a significant ruling, the Kerala High Court has ordered 28 lawyers of the Kottayam Bar Association to offer legal aid services for six months to get relief from contempt of court proceedings, stating that mere apologies will not suffice. The lawyers came under the high court scanner for raising abusive slogans [] The post Apology not enough, Kerala HC orders 28 lawyers to offer free legal services for 6 months appeared first on The Shillong Times .
Kerala FM unhappy with top former bureaucrat Abraham
Kerala FM unhappy with top former bureaucrat Abraham Thiruvananthapuram: A battle royale is in the offing in Kerala with State Finance Minister K. N. Balagopal raising a banter against former Chief Secretary and present Chief Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan K.M. Abraham. According to sources, Balagopal has approached his party saying its [] The post Kerala FM unhappy with top former bureaucrat Abraham appeared first on Mangalorean.com .
NEW DELHI: The central government's fact-checking body on Saturday refuted as misleading the claim made by West Bengal chief minster about her microphone being switched off during a meeting of the NITI Aayog in the national capital on Saturday. A PIB fact check said her allegations stating that only the clock showed that her speaking time was over. It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog. This claim is Misleading. The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it, the Press Information Bureau (PIB) said in a post on X. It is being claimed that the microphone of CM, West Bengal was switched off during the 9th Governing Council Meeting of NITI Aayog #PIBFactCheck This claim is #Misleading The clock only showed that her speaking time was over. Even the bell was not rung to mark it pic.twitter.com/P4N3oSOhBk PIB Fact Check (@PIBFactCheck) July 27, 2024 Meanwhile, Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman told ANI that it is completely false of Mamata Banerjee to claim that her microphone was switched off and claimed that every chief minister at the meeting was allotted their due time to speak. CM Mamata Banerjee attended the Niti Aayog meeting. We all heard her. Every CM was given the allotted time and that was displayed on the screen which was present before every table...She said in the media that her mic was put off. That is completely false, Sitharaman told ANI. Every CM was given their due time to speak...It's unfortunate that the chief minister of West Bengal, Mamata Banerjee has claimed that her mic was switched off which is not true...She should speak the truth behind this rather than again build a narrative based on falsehood, the Union Finance Minister said. NITI Aayog's 9th Governing Council meet begins amid boycott by several Opposition CMs According to the government fact check body PIB, Mamata Banerjee's turn to speak would be only after lunch if one goes alphabetically but she was accomodated as the seventh speaker on an official request from the Chief Minister. Alphabetically, CM, West Bengal turn would have come after lunch. She was accommodated as the 7th speaker on an official request of the West Bengal government as she had to return early, PIB Fact Check explained in a subsequent tweet. Earlier today speaking to reporters, the West Bengal Chief Minister alleged political discrimination and said that at the NITI Aayog meeting she was not allowed to speak for more than five minutes while other chief ministers were given more time. ...I said you (central government) should not discriminate against state governments. I wanted to speak but my mic was muted. I was allowed to speak only for five minutes. People before me spoke for 10-20 minutes, Banerjee told reporters after she stormed out of the NITI Aayog meeting today. I was the only one from the opposition who was participating but still, I was not allowed to speak. This is insulting..., Banerjee said as she walked out mid way from the meeting. I have come out boycotting the NITI Aayog meeting. Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak, Chief Ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 10-12 minutes. I was stopped after just 5 minutes. This is unfair, the Chief Minister said speaking to reporters after coming out of the meeting. Claiming that she had chosen to participate in the meeting to strengthen cooperative federalism Banerjee said, There are many regional aspirations. That is why I am here, to share those aspirations. If a state is strong, the Union will be strong. The Chief Minister said that several states, including West Bengal, were deprived in the Union Budget that was presented in Parliament this week, Asking the central government to treat states equally, Banerjee said, Bengal has been deprived of MNREGA funds for the last three years, nothing was paid. Treat all states equally. I said that today. I am speaking on behalf of all the states which have been deprived. Hitting out at the central government over the Budget, the Chief Minister said that the Centre does not support cooperative federalism. From the Opposition side, I am here to strengthen cooperative federalism. But you are not for cooperative federalism. The Budget is totally politically biased. Why discriminate against other states? Banerjee said. The Trinamool Congress supremo also asked the Centre to give financial powers to NITI Aayog or bring back the Planning Commission. NITI Aayog has no financial powers, how will it work? Give it financial powers, or bring back the Planning Commission, she said. Chief Ministers of opposition-led states including Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Himachal Pradesh, Telangana, Delhi and Punjab boycotted the NITI Aayog meeting chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. On Wednesday, Chief Minister of Punjab Bhagwant Mann and Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy said that their government will boycott the NITI Aayog in protest against the central government's alleged injustice to the state in the allocation of funds in the 2024 Union Budget. TN CM asks if stopping Mamata in her NITI Aayog address is 'cooperative federalism'
Students In Kerala Schools May Soon Have Bagless Days Every Month
The government would soon take a call on the issue of heavy school bags of students from Class 1 to 12 in the state.
Kerala Opposition cautions the government against hiking power tariff
Mr Satheeshan accused the Chief Ministers Office of pulling strings to annul the 2014 power purchase agreement to help private suppliers renegotiate a deal to the latters pecuniary advantage.
'Kerala in solidarity with Palestine', Minister inaugrates state Film Festival
The curtains went up for the 16th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala (IDSFFK) at the Kairali theatre in the state capital on Friday evening. Inaugurating the ceremony, Kerala Minister for LSG, MB Rajesh said ...
'Mic turned off, stopped from speaking': Bengal CM Mamata walks out of NITI Aayog meeting
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Saturday walked out of the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog the government's public policy think tankalleging that she had been stopped from speaking during the event. The Trinamool Congress supremo chose to attend the meeting even after chief ministers from several Opposition-governed states chose to boycott the meeting to protest the 202425 Union Budget, calling it 'discriminatory' towards non-NDA-ruled state governments. Speaking to media persons after leaving the venue, Mamata alleged that her microphone had been switched off while she was speaking. She also slammed the Union Budget for 202425, calling it iassed. I have come out boycotting the meeting. (Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister) Chandrababu Naidu was given 20 minutes to speak. The chief ministers of Assam, Goa, Chhattisgarh spoke for 1012 minutes. I was stopped from speaking after just five minutes. This is unfair. From the opposition side, I was the only one here. I attended the meeting because cooperative federalism should be strengthened, but still, I was not allowed to speak, the West Bengal CM said. #WATCH | Delhi: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee says, ...I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I said why did you stop me, why are you discriminating. I am attending the meeting you should be happy instead of that you are giving more scope to your party your government. Only I am pic.twitter.com/53U8vuPDpZ ANI (@ANI) July 27, 2024 Mamata also termed the move to stop her from speaking an insult to Bengal as well as all regional parties. When I was speaking, my mic was stopped. I asked, Why did you stop me? Why are you discriminating? I am attending the meeting. You should be happy. Instead, you are giving more scope to your party and your government. Only I am there from the opposition, and you are stopping me from speaking...This is not only the insult to Bengal but also to all regional parties, she added. NITI Aayog's 9th Governing Council meet begins amid boycott by several Opposition CMs The NITI Aayog's 9th Governing Council meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, began here on Saturday. The meeting focuses on making India a developed nation by 2047. Notably, chief ministers of Congress-ruled states, along with Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister MK Stalin, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and the Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab and Delhi governments, are boycotting the meeting. Meanwhile, Bihar Chief Minister Nitish Kumar, an alliance partner in the NDA-governed Union government, also skipped the meeting. In his place, the state was represented at the meeting by deputy chief ministers Samrat Choudhary and Vijay Kumar Sinha. The cause for Kumar's absence from the crucial meeting could not be known immediately. Scrap NITI Aayog, bring back Planning Commission: Mamata Banerjee
Musthafa belongs to a lower-middle-class family in a small village in Kerala's Wayanad, where his father worked as a daily wage labourer. He left school after failing in class 6th and used to help his father in farm work. They used to earn Rs 10 per day.
How Kerala's Perettil Vazhiyambalam Reflects The State's Rich Cultural Past
The monument was constructed in the 18th century, between the years 1729 and 1758, during Marthanda Varmas reign.
Thoongampara In Keralas Kattakada Town Set To Become An Eco-tourism Spot
The tourism department has started the first phase to develop Thoongampara as a tourism spot.
Kerala CM Pinarayi Vijayan calls all-party meeting to address Thiruvananthapurams garbage problem
The government has reportedly finalised an elaborate scheme to make the Amayizhanjan Canal pollution-free.
NITI Aayog's 9th Meeting: PM Modi to Focus on 'Viksit Bharat@2047'
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi is set to preside over the 9th Governing Council meeting of NITI Aayog on Saturday, with a primary focus on the ambitious goal of transforming India into a developed nation by 2047. The meeting will be held at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, according to an official release from the government think tank. However, the meeting will see notable absences as several opposition leaders have decided to boycott the event. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, and the Aam Aadmi Party-led governments of Punjab and Delhi have all announced their decision to not attend. In contrast, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has confirmed her attendance. She emphasized the importance of raising their voices on a common platform, indicating her commitment to participating in the discussions. This year's meeting revolves around the theme 'Viksit Bharat@2047', which aims to chart out a pathway for India to achieve developed nation status by the centenary of its independence. The Governing Council will deliberate on the Approach Paper for the Vision Document on Viksit Bharat @2047. The agenda for the meeting includes fostering participative governance and collaboration between the Centre and State Governments. The focus is on enhancing the quality of life for both rural and urban populations by improving the delivery mechanisms of government interventions. Detailed discussions will take place on the role of states in realizing the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047. India's trajectory towards becoming the world's third-largest economy, with GDP already surpassing USD 5 trillion and aiming for a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047, will be a key topic. Achieving the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 requires a cooperative approach between the Centre and the states. The 9th Governing Council Meeting aims to develop a comprehensive roadmap to this end. The council will also review the recommendations from the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries, held from December 27-29, 2023. Key areas of focus included cyber security, the aspirational districts and blocks programme, the role of states, and the integration of AI in governance. Prime Minister Modi, serving as the Chairperson of NITI Aayog, will be joined by Chief Ministers and Lieutenant Governors of States and Union Territories, Union Ministers as Ex-officio Members and Special Invitees, along with the Vice Chairman and members of NITI Aayog. Latest Updates: PM Modi's Strong Message to Pakistan on 25th Kargil Vijay Diwas, Worth To Hear PM Modi Outlines Five-Year Vision in Budget Session Opening Address Elon Musk Congratulates Narendra Modi for Reaching 100 Million Followers on X
Bengaluru Health Minister calls for vigilance amid dengue surge
BENGALURU: Health Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao instructed officials to closely monitor the health of those who have contracted dengue fever for 14 days. He said the number of dengue cases may witness a declining trend in the next month. Dinesh was speaking to reporters after visiting dengue hotspots and taking part in a campaign to destroy aedes mosquito breeding sites in Singenahalli in Yelahanka on Friday. The health department is continuing its efforts to control the spread of dengue. In a few districts, the cases have come down, while Bengaluru has more than 50 per cent of the cases recorded in the state. Hence, I have instructed BBMP and health officials to focus more on containing dengue in the capital city. Officers of the rank of deputy directors will be sent to dengue hotspots in 10 districts and they will visit these places on Monday and Tuesday to inspect whether the measures to control dengue have been implemented effectively, he said. Meanwhile, he also appealed to the people to avoid going to Kerala, unless it is an emergency, in the wake of Nipah cases there. Officials have been instructed to increase the vigil in areas that share a border with Kerala, he added.
Kerala Governors formation of search committees for two more universities stayed by HC
Incidentally, the court had earlier stayed the formation of search committees in Kerala, Mahatma Gandhi, Malayalam universities and the Kerala University of Fisheries and Ocean Studies
Sub Jr Women, Men South Zone: Andhra Pradesh clinch title in men's category; Kerala in women's PUNE.NEWS
PM to chair 9th NITI Aayog meet today amid boycott by Opposition states
NEW DELHI: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the 9th NITI Aayog's Governing Council meeting on Saturday, with a focus on making India a developed nation by 2047. The meeting is set to take place at the Rashtrapati Bhavan Cultural Centre, an official release from the government think tank said. Tamil Nadu's Chief Minister and DMK leader MK Stalin along with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and Aam Aadmi Party-led Punjab and Delhi governments have said they will also boycott the meeting. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, who is set to attend the meeting, said she felt their voices should be raised on a common platform. This year's theme of NITI Aayog's meeting is 'Viksit Bharat@2047', with a central focus on making India a developed nation. The Governing Council Meeting will discuss the approach paper for the vision document on Viksit Bharat @2047. The meeting aims to foster participative governance and collaboration between the central and state governments, enhancing the quality of life for both rural and urban populations by strengthening the delivery mechanisms of government interventions. The meeting will also see detailed deliberations on the role of states in achieving the goal of Viksit Bharat @2047. India is on track to become the world's third-largest economy, with GDP crossing USD 5 trillion and aspirations to reach a USD 30 trillion economy by 2047. Achieving the vision of a 'Viksit Bharat' by 2047 will require a collaborative approach between the central and state governments. The 9th Governing Council Meeting aims to create a roadmap for this vision. The governing council of NITI Aayog will also discuss the recommendations put forth in the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries, which was held from December 2729, 2023. Special sessions were also held to deliberate on cyber security, the aspirational districts and blocks programme, the role of states, and AI in governance, which were also discussed during the 3rd National Conference of Chief Secretaries. The prime minister, who serves as the chairperson of the NITI Aayog, will be joined by chief ministers and lieutenant governors of states and union territories, union ministers as ex-officio members and special invitees, and the vice chairman and members of the NITI Aayog. Mamata, Soren to attend NITI Aayog council meeting today Scrap NITI Aayog, bring back Planning Commission: Mamata Banerjee
Lucknow Diary: UP to be in focus at RSS coordination meeting
UP to be in focus at RSS meet The UP debacle has triggered a series of meetings and confabulations not only in the BJP but in its parent organisation, the RSS. RSS also seems to be equally worried about the future poll course of the party. The issue is set to figure prominently at the much-awaited RSS coordination meeting in Kerala between July 31 and August 2. The meeting, to be held in Palakkad district, assumes significance amid the buzz of a rift between the BJP and its ideological fountainhead. Sources claim that national BJP chief JP Nadda is likely to attend the meeting. Amid political rumblings, new equations on anvil Amid the political rumbling within the NDA, including the BJP and the allies, the recent meeting of Apna Dal (Kamerawadi) leader Pallavi Patel with UP CM Yogi Adityanath is a talk of the town. Patel defeated Deputy CM Keshav Maurya in his traditional Sirathu seat on a SP ticket in 2022. The meeting is being witnessed as a gesture to send out a message to Keshav Maurya and BJP ally Apna Dal (S) chief Anupriya Patel. Pallavi and Anupriya are sisters, but after father Sone Lal Patels demise, differences among copped up over fathers legacy. BJP MLA gets security, says full faith in Yogi Fateh Bahadur Singh, former minister and son of ex-CM Vir Bahadur Singh, finally issued a statement saying that government was conducting a high-level probe into reports of threat to his life and he was fully satisfied with the Special Task Force handling the case. Seven-time MLA had expressed discontent over alleged insensitive attitude of the Gorakhpur district authorities for not taking the issue seriously. However, issuing a letter on Friday, he said he has a personal rapport with CM Yogi Adityanath who had provided him Y-Plus security cover since last five years. The former minister said he had full faith and confidence in the CM. Namita bajpai Our correspondent in Uttar Pradesh namita.bajpai@ newindianexpress.com
Power corridor: Rajya Sabha kills bill to make Governors accountable
RS kills bill to make guvs accountable A private member bill seeking to make Governors constitutionally bound by the advice of the council of ministers of states was defeated in Rajya Sabha on Friday, with treasury benches voting against the Bill brought by Kerala MP John Brittas. The two sides clashed at the introduction of the Bill, with the Opposition MPs saying Governors in non-BJP ruled states were acting against the elected governments. Deputy Chairman Harivansh put the motion for the introduction of the Bill to voice vote and declared it defeated. Need sebi-like body to check airfares Lok Sabha members on Friday demanded a quasi judicial body on the lines of SEBI to look into unregulated airfares. Congress MP Shafi Parambil on Friday moved a private members resolution on measures to regulate airfare. The Kerala MP said most migrant workers in the Gulf region were unskilled or semi-skilled with limited income, and the unscrupulous raise in airfare dragged them into debt trap. The resolution came a day after Civil Aviation Minister promised to conduct an inquiry into allegations of abrupt fare hikes. Minister chided for keeping hand in pocket A Union minister drew the ire of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Friday after he was found chatting while putting his hand in the pocket. Mr Minister, please remove your hand from the pocket, the Speaker said during the Question Hour. Birla then appealed to the members not to walk into the House with hands in pockets. He also urged MPs not to cross in front of a member who was raising some issue in the House. Whenever an honourable member is speaking, no one should cross him and sit in the seat in front of the member. You can take a seat behind, the Speaker said. See if shah panel report can be tabled: V-P Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar on Friday asked the government to explore the possibility of placing an authentic copy of the Shah Commission report on Emergency excesses on the table of the House, as it had investigated the darkest period of democracy. The Shah Commission report relates to atrocities committed during the Emergency imposed in 1975. During the Zero Hour, Dhankhar asked the government to take note of the issue raised by Deepak Prakash, a BJP MP from Jharkhand, regarding the matter relating to the report.
Kerala Lottery Result Guessing Numbers: Check the Live Updates and FULL LIST of winning numbers for Karunya KR-664 lucky draw for Saturday, July 27 here from 3 pm.
Old cellar found at construction site of Kerala excise department office building
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: A cellar was discovered at the construction site for the new range office for the excise department at Amaravila in Thiruvananthapuram the other day. The new office is being built after demolishing the old building. A small cellar structure was found when the ground was cleared for basement work. The cellar is located close to the shed that served as a parking lot. Staffers were clueless of the structure. We contacted some seniors, but they too were unaware of it, said an officer. The discovery led to the spread of rumours among local people that the structure was constructed during the princely rule in the erstwhile Travancore. The site is located near the road leading to Padmanabhapuram in Tamil Nadu, the former palace of the erstwhile Travancore royal family. However, some others claim that the structure would have been built by the department decades ago. According to them, it was used to store confiscated spirits. The rumours would probably end with the site visit and examination by archaeology experts. We came across media reports on the cellar. Our technical team will visit the spot. They will identify the structures age, E Dinesan, director of the archaeology department told TNIE.
Palestine solidarity marks international documentary and short film festival opening
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The 16th edition of the International Documentary and Short Film Festival of Kerala kicked off in the state capital, expressing solidarity with Palestine. Minister for Local Self-Governments M B Rajesh inaugurated the festival at a splendid ceremony at the Kairali Theatre in the city on Friday. Speaking on the occasion, he highlighted that the festival features four Palestinian films. He said that Kerala has always stood, and continues to stand, in solidarity with Palestine which has been surviving a genocide. All the films being screened here are about the fight for emancipation and human survival in one way or the other. Films like Farming the Revolution on the farmers protest, Fight Shall Continue about Jharkhand mining, and documentaries on coal mining in Chhattisgarh, which are often sidelined by mainstream media, find a platform in this festival, Rajesh said. The Lifetime Achievement award was presented to Naresh Bedi and Rajesh Bedi, known as the Bedi Brothers. Naresh shared their experiences with conservation and wildlife documentary-making. Accepting the award, he said that documentaries have a huge archival value. Rajesh Bedi humorously added that his brother had covered everything he wanted to say. Documentaries are the backbone of humanity, he said. The festival catalogue was released by Additional Chief Secretary Rajan N Khobragade by handing over a copy to jury chairperson for fiction Urmi Juvekar. Kerala State Film Development Corporation Chairman Shaji N Karun released the daily bulletin by handing over a copy to jury chairman for non-fiction Rakesh Sharma. Looking forward to watching the short films and long documentaries, Sharma said it is an opportunity for the viewers to not judge the worlds shown but to learn from them. Shaji N Karun and curators Amudhan R P and Urmi Juvekar also spoke. Kerala State Chalachithra Academy vice-chairman Premkumar delivered the introductory speech while secretary C Ajoy extended the vote of thanks.
K B Ganesh Kumar disowns order to penalise bike riders found talking
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The differences between Transport Minister K B Ganesh Kumar and MVD officers came to the fore after a directive by the Transport Commissionerate to penalise bike riders found talking to pillion riders became a talking point. The directive is seen as challenging to implement, and the minister quickly distanced himself from it stating that it was issued without his knowledge. He also said the idea conceived by the officers was not only difficulty to implement but also impractical. The directive, issued by Joint Transport Commissioner K Manoj Kumar, instructed enforcement officers to penalise bikers found talking, citing potential distractions that could lead to accidents. The MVD officers, however, said that the directive originated from the ministers office based on a representation he received on bike accidents. The directive followed a fatal accident when a bike rider rear-ended a lorry after he got distracted by the conversation of the pillion rider. The direction was issued with a good intent and the enforcement officers were told to create awareness among bikers. Currently, there is no provision under the rule to fine them for talking, said an officer on condition of anonymity.
27 detained under KAAPA during first half of 2024
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Amid a noticeable rise in criminal activities in the district, the Trivandrum city police are implementing stringent measures by invoking the Kerala Anti-Social Activities Prevention Act (KAAPA) against offenders. As per police data, 27 persons have been detained under KAAPA during the first half of this year. In an effort to curb criminal behaviour, six restraining orders were also issued against antisocial elements. A total of 37 proposals for detention orders under KAAPA were submitted to the district collector and 27 were approved after review. The district collector has the power to issue detention orders under KAAPA, while deportation orders are issued by police officers of superintendent rank or higher. The act is typically invoked against offenders involved in at least three active serious cases. There will be more action in the coming months as offenders were cracked down with special operations. KAAPA cases werent specifically looked at since one and half months have passed since the operations.T he cases will be looked into more seriously. There is a specific procedure for this and it needs to be followed, said City Police Commissioner Sparjan Kumar. To identify habitual offenders, authorities review criminal records from the past seven years. Active cases against individuals are scrutinised and if two to three serious crimes are registered against a person, they are closely monitored for antisocial activities. Proposals for detention are submitted following a thorough review. Those deemed less dangerous may be deported. A regular monitoring of their activities through day and night adds into account of proposals, said a senior police official. Station House Officers (SHOs) of all police stations are put on high alert to ensure a swift response to any criminal activity. This will also strengthen the overall security of the district, added Commissioner.
The ignored lives of the invisible
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The recent death of a conservancy worker, Joy , in the Amayizhanchan canal hit headlines across the state. However, for sanitation workers like Shibu, the news did not come as a surprise. This was at least reported. But last year, my friend died after returning from cleaning a septic tank in one of the neighbourhoods around Cheriyathura. As soon as he entered the washroom to cleanse himself, he fainted. People called it natural death. But just after work in an environment where you are required to hold your breath to stop the stench from entering every bit of your insides, can it be so easily disposed of as natural? he wonders. The tale of the man-eating garbage dump in Thiruvananthapuram The death of 42-year-old Joy while cleaning the Amayizhanchan canal two weeks ago may have upped the angst about the citys erroneous waste disposal and management systems. However, a graver issue remains unnoticed. Hence, the plight of the conservancy workers, especially those involved in manual scavenging, remains invisible in society. As per a 2013 Act, manual scavenging is prohibited either as employment or engagement, with a proper mechanism in place for their rehabilitation. Now, they are an invisible lot. Most are scared to speak up as they are engaged by contractors who take up sanitation work for government establishments. One such conservancy worker, who wishes to remain anonymous, stays near Manchavila on the outskirts of the district, where Joy hailed from. He refused to speak because he feared the job he occasionally gets also would go away from him. I have a family to take care of, he mumbles as he walks away. A contract labourer of KWA cleans a clogged manhole at General Hospital on Vanchiyoor road Even now they are approached for cleaning septic tanks and entering manholes. The workers say their condition remaining fragile. Most of us suffer from respiratory ailments, explains 21-year-old Manu, who works along with Shibu. While getting into the septic tank, first, we have to let out the toxic gases. Then we smear our bodies with kerosene and dump some of the fuel into the pit to counter the stench, he explains. Some seniors drink before entering the pit, or else they may not be able to tolerate the stench. It chokes our breath. If we wear masks, it adds to the choking, says Manu. The corporation vehicles that clear such waste operate mostly within the city. However, in the coastal fringes and suburban areas, it is still the human hands that do the work. The roads here are dingy and hence the vehicles cannot come and take away the waste. Thats why we are approached. Usually, it is Rs 500 per pit of the septic tank and three people have to work in one. We work after sundown so as not to disturb others in the locality, says Rajan Chinnathambi from Valiyathura. This work comes in rare for the conservancy workers, as Thiruvananthapurams sewage treatment systems are a tad better, says Adv Gopi Kochuraman, state nodal officer of the National Safai Karmachari Commission. The waste is taken to the Mutthathara plant in Thiruvananthapuram, whereas in Kochi, it is let into the water bodies. We had flagged the issue with the corporation several times, but a solution is yet to come, he says. That is why workers are usually approached during the monsoon when septic tanks get filled up with rain water and sand seeping in. We have to manually dig another pit and pull out the waste by getting into the tank, explains Manu. With this work coming in trickles, the workers find jobs as cleaning staff, casual workers or even construction labourers. Sometimes, the corporation employs us on a temporary basis to clean the drains, adds Murugan. Whats the law Manual scavenging needs to be supplemented with facilities such as the proper provision of safety gear and monthly medical check-ups. To this, Shibu adds, We are not given any safety gear for cleaning as is stipulated. No gloves, no gumboots, no masks, nothing. The workers usually complain of respiratory ailments but are susceptible to different kinds of illnesses due to the hazardous work environment. And yet, we have hardly heard of the medical scheme, says Shibu. According to Gopi, he had a tough time reaching out to the workers. Finally, after much enquiry, we found information about some places in the city where manual scavenging is still being done. It is done covertly. By the side of some platforms of the railway station here, there are septic tanks and pits that are cleared using these workers. This work is usually done on Mondays. On Monday, our team is going to inspect one such activity, he says. However, though people are made to engage in such work, not many are receiving any benefits stipulated by the National Safai Karamcharis Finance and Development Corporation. None of the scheme benefits has reached the workers or their families. The schemes have to be routed through three nodal agencies State Backward Classes Development Corporation, State Womens Development Corporation, and State SC/ST Commission. However, till now, the benefits have not reached the people concerned. And the workers themselves are not aware of the reservations for them in fields such as education, says Gopi. Also, Kerala does not have an exclusive commission for such workers, he adds. Nobody monitors their needs. After 2021, the national commission is taking up at least part of their concerns in the state, he adds. However, none of the workers TNIE spoke to knew of the benefits and rehabilitation schemes due to them. Neither are there unions to voice their demands. Their children study unnoticed in schools because if they are known to be conservancy workers children, they may face their peers scorn. So, I have told my kids to tell everyone their father is a construction worker, Shibu says. And to pay their childrens tuition, they take up extra work. Our struggle should end with us. Our kids shouldnt have to do this anymore, says Rajan. At least, the next generation should be free, he smiles.
Kerala crime Branch starts probe into Saramma murder case
KOCHI: Crime Branch has started a probe into the murder of 72-year-old Saramma at her residence in Kothamangalam. The probe team recently visited the victims house for evidence collection. Saramma was found hacked to death at her residence in Kallad near Kothamangalam on March 24. As many as 48g of gold ornaments, including chains and bangles she was wearing, were missing. Police, which first probed the case, failed to trace the people behind the incident, following which the case was referred to the CB unit in Ernakulam. Our team recently visited the house of the deceased person. The crime scene was re-examined. Similarly, the statements of the witnesses are under scrutiny. Fresh statements of the witnesses will be recorded as part of the investigation. Though the police suspected a certain persons involvement, no evidence could be found against the individual, a senior CB officer said. The Crime Branch will be making a fresh start to the probe. Though robbery is suspected to be the intention behind the murder prima facie, it was found that the accused person did not steal all gold ornaments from the house. The gold ornaments inside the almirah were intact. We have to look into all pieces of evidence and statements collected by the police and start from the beginning. Also, suspects would be interrogated again, he said. The Crime Branch is also probing the death of 66-year-old Amina Abdul Kadhar, who was also found murdered in a similar way in Kothamangalam in March 2021. The murderer, after killing Amina, took away 9.25 sovereigns of gold ornaments she was wearing.
KOCHI: There is a saying that Karkidakam is a month when the sun heads southon the celestial sphere, leaving Keralites to deal with torrential rain.The phenomenon called dakshinayana begins on July 16 and Kerala transforms into a giant puddle. With that, your bodys problems decide to throw a rave party because the climate starts messing with the Pitta, Vata, and Kapha. At least thats what Ayurveda says. Basically, it is considered to be the season when your bodys internal balance decides to go on vacation, leaving you feeling like a wet mop. But fret not! As the famous dialogue from the Malayalam movie Vietnam Colony goes, Ithalla Ithinappuram Chaadi Kadannavanaani K K Joseph, we humans always find a way to overcome challenges, often through simple lifestyle changes, particularly by altering our food habits. Lets talk about how to keep yourself in tip-top shape during this soggy season. The main dish that shines during this period is the medicinal porridge known as Karkidaka Kanji. Renowned for its healing properties, its like having a spa day in a bowl, perfect for combating the monsoon blues. While this medicinal porridge is a powerful ally against seasonal ailments, it can sometimes become repetitive, leaving us craving more diverse and delicious options to bless our taste buds. Ayurveda doctor from Thiruvananthapuram, Sreelaja SasiKumar says, According to ayurveda, Karkidakam is the best time to eliminate toxins from the body. Due to the monsoon, our joints may become stiff. And as we transition to a cooler rainy season, we may experience an accumulation of doshas (imbalances). This is why everyone focuses on Karkidakam treatments and follows dietary practices during this time. In her opinion, it is advised to consume medicinal preparations that enhance digestion and immunity. Though there are many variations of Karkidaka Kanji, it can be paired with various vegetables and leafy greens to create soup-like dishes, she says. For example, she suggests, beetroots can be used to boost hemoglobin levels and provide a significant energy boost. It can be cooked with small onions, cumin seeds, garlic, and curry leaves, then mashed or blended into a juice, creating a very effective dish. Medicinal foods made with buttermilk are also beneficial, she says. Mix buttermilk with curry leaves, turmeric powder, and any necessary vegetables, such as ash gourd. Additionally, incorporating a mixture of grated coconut, turmeric powder, and cumin in dishes can be good. By making small adjustments in dietary habits, we can effectively ward off problems during the Karkidakam month. DoctorJayasree Sarmawho practices Homeo Medicine says homoeopathy does not prescribe a specific diet exclusively for the Karkidakam month, However, homoeopathic medicines are sensitive drugs, and they come with specific dietary guidelines. The same guidelines should be followed during Karkidakam as well. It is best to avoid spicy and junk foods. She continues, Ayurvedas treatment methods are aligned with the local climate. And its practices are tailored to our weather and dietary habits. But homoeopathy is a foreign treatment system. But adopting a weather-appropriate diet and lifestyle during this period can provide immediate benefits, she says. According to clinical nutritionist Dr Ayswarya Krishnan Kallaattu, it is best to eat moderately and avoid foods that are hard to digest. Incorporate more ginger, garlic, curry leaves, mint leaves, and dried ginger in your diet as they aid digestion. It is advisable to reduce the intake of sour, bitter, and spicy flavours during this time, she says. Having more vegetables and ensuring a balanced diet with legumes and grains will also help. Ghee helps improve digestive strength, she says, adding that, consuming a small amount of ghee with lunch will be beneficial. Drink only lukewarm water. Similarly, consuming lukewarm vegetables and meat soups can boost the bodys energy levels, she says. Having rasam made with ingredients like ginger, pepper, and garlic with rice is also recommended during Karkidakam. One can also add cardamom, ginger, and cinnamon to tea and coffee. There is a tradition of consuming leafy vegetables during this month as it is believed to be very beneficial for health, suggests Ayswarya. But when we eat we should eat carefully. According to her, consuming moringa leaves, which are good for overall health, skin, and hair, will also help. It is rich in nutrients, including calcium and minerals, which benefits bone health. Moringa is packed with antioxidants, and it contains plenty of vitamin C, beta-carotene, and other nutrients. Therefore, it helps prevent premature greying and age-related problems. However, despite the health benefits of leafy greens, moringa leaves are generally avoided during Karkidakam. Moringa can absorb toxins from its environment, storing them in its trunk. This is why moringa trees were traditionally planted near wells, as they would absorb toxins from the water and surrounding areas. So, navigating Karkidakam can be easy with a healing and healthy diet. Here are some recipes that you can try at home. Karkidaka Podi By Sheeba La Fleur, La Fleur Delicieux Ingredients: Grated jaggery: 150 gs Matta rice: 1 cup Rice flakes: 1 cup Peanuts: 1 cup Cashew nuts: cup Fenugreek seeds: 2 tbsp Cumin seeds: 1 tbsp Fennel seeds: tbsp Black seeds: 1 tbsp Method: Dry roast the matta rice, rice flakes, peanuts, and cashew nuts separately over medium heat until golden brown. Set aside to cool. Grind the roasted matta rice, rice flakes, peanuts, and cashew nuts separately into a fine powder. Set each powdered ingredient aside. Roast all the seeds in a pan over medium heat until fragrant. Allow them to cool. Grind the roasted fenugreek, cumin, fennel, and black seeds into a fine powder. In a bowl, combine all the powdered ingredients. Mix in the grated jaggery with the combined powders. Transfer the mixture to an airtight container. Consume 1-2 tablespoons of the mix twice a day as needed. Jeeraka Kozhi soup By Nisha Kiran Ingredients:- Country chicken: 1 Coconut: 1 Rock salt: to taste Turmeric: 1/4 tsp Cumin seeds: 100gms Pepper powder: 50gms Shallots: one handful Ghee: 1 tbsp Coriander leaves: small sprig (chopped) Method: Clean and cut a home-bred hen into small pieces. Scrape a coconut, get the first milk extract, and set it aside. Cook the chicken in the second milk extract. Separate the meat from the bones. Shake the bones well to get the marrow out. Mix this with the meat. Add rock salt, ground cumin seed, powdered pepper, and sliced shallots. Add in the first milk extract and cook the entire mix till the water content dries up. Pour in shallots seasoned in ghee. Serve hot. Black Pepper Vine Kashayam By Priya Kolassery Ingredients: Water: 1 liter Black pepper vine: 400gms, cut into pieces Cumin seeds: 1 tablespoons Tamarind: 200gms Green pepper/black pepper: 20 pieces Method: Wash the black pepper vine thoroughly and sear it. Crush it together with the green pepper. Add the crushed mixture to 1 litre of water. Dissolve a portion of grated palm jaggery in a little water, strain it, and add this to the pot. Add the crushed cumin seeds to the mixture. Boil the mixture until it reduces to litre. Strain the decoction and use it as needed. Fenugreek Milk By Sheeba La Fleur, La Fleur Delicieux Ingredients: Fenugreek seeds: 4tbsp Water: 1 cups (for soaking) + cup (for melting jaggery) Jaggery: 150gms Ghee: 1 tbsp Thin coconut milk: 1 cup Thick coconut milk: 1 cup Method: Soak 1 cup of fenugreek seeds in 1 cups of water overnight or soak in hot water for 2-3 hours. Drain the seeds. Pour them into a pan and cook over medium heat for a few minutes. Set aside to cool. Melt 100 grams of jaggery with cup of water. Once melted, allow it to cool. Blend the cooked fenugreek seeds and melted jaggery together until smooth. Heat ghee in a pan. Add the fenugreek paste and cook for 1 minute, stirring occasionally. Once the paste starts to simmer, add 1 cup of thin coconut milk. Mix well, then add 1 cup of thick coconut milk. Stir thoroughly. Serve the drink hot.
No capital city as unhygienic as Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala High Court
KOCHI: Highlighting the pathetic condition of Thiruvananthapuram due to waste, the Kerala High Court on Friday said no other capital city was in such an unhygienic condition. Amici curiae report highlights chinks in waste management in Thiruvananthapuram During a special sitting it held following the death of a sanitation worker who had gone missing in the filth-filled Amayizhanchan canal , the division bench of Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas and Justice Gopinath also suggested the authorities visit Sri Lanka to understand its waste management methods. The HC observed that the report of the amici curiae appointed to assess the condition of Amayizhanchan canal in Thiruvananthapuram presented an embarrassing situation for the state. The tale of the man-eating garbage dump in Thiruvananthapuram Thiruvananthapuram is currently in a dire state. Nowhere else can you find a capital city in such an unhygienic condition? All capital cities in the world are...visual treat. Even in India, most of the capital cities are visual treats. But the report of the amici curiae pointed out that every part of Thiruvananthapuram is piled up by garbage. How could this happen in a place which is under the nose of the government, asked the bench. It suggested that authorities visit countries like Sri Lanka to understand their waste management methods. If you want to understand how cities are kept clean, you dont have to travel far. Just go to Sri Lanka and see the number of tourists visiting the country and the cleanliness of the roads and streets. You cant find a single piece of litter. Sri Lanka is not a rich country, the bench commented. It also referenced Singapores waste management techniques, where plastic waste is burnt to generate substantial energy, such as electricity. The court urged authorities to seek expert help and adopt waste management techniques used in other countries. Explain plan to prevent further dumping of waste in canal The HC asked the government to explain its plan to prevent further dumping of plastic waste into the canal and how it intends to remove the existing waste. Sarada Muraleedharan, additional chief secretary, who appeared online, said trash booms would be cleaned daily, and that the government plans to set up facilities for collecting non-biodegradable waste and the existing Thumboormuzhi plant for bio-waste processing. The court requested a detailed report on the action the government plans to take, emphasizing on the importance of keeping the city clean. Sarada said the state acknowledged its responsibility for the contamination of the Amayizhanchan canal and will submit a report outlining the problems and actions to be taken to clear the plastic waste. The court also remarked that merely registering criminal cases is insufficient. It urged the government to initiate confiscation proceedings to prevent repeat offences and consider installing CCTV cameras to monitor violations. Sarada said 10 cameras from the Smart City Mission would be installed, along with street lamps for proper lighting at garbage-prone points.
Kerala: Get new power connections in seven days
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Now consumers can get a power connection within seven days of applying. Similarly, e-vehicle charging outlets will be set up in multi-storey buildings. The State Electricity Regulatory Commission has brought out the Kerala Electricity Supply Code (fifth amendment) 2024, with a slew of changes in the existing code. In a major boost to micro and small-scale industries, the amended code proposes that domestic connection can be used for enterprises with a connected load of up to 4 kw. The amended electricity supply code has simplified the procedures for consumers to apply for various power connection-related services. Similarly, access to services has been made online. Now, consumers need not roam around offices for new connections, reconnection, tariff change and other related matters. The code stipulates that power connection should be given within seven days under normal circumstances and within a month in difficult regions. The amended code has stipulated provisions for consumers to pay the required fee for power connection based on connected load/demand load. Also, the amendment has clear provisions for imposing a fine if consumers use households equipment, using more than the connected load.
Kerala: Viral hepatitis outbreak hits panchayat in Malappuram; 102 infected
MALAPPURAM: An outbreak of viral hepatitis has been reported in Pulikkal panchayat in the district. According to the health department, 102 people in the panchayat have been diagnosed with the disease. Raising concerns, 59 among the affected are students from AMUP School in Aroor. An official from the health department said that the cause of the outbreak is still unknown, but measures have been initiated to contain it. In response, the education department has temporarily closed the school. As per our preliminary assessment, contact with hepatitis patients or contact in places contaminated by the patients might be the reason for the spread of the disease. However, we need to conduct more studies to confirm this. People should maintain personal hygiene as it is crucial to prevent the spread of the disease. Handwashing is important before eating and after using washrooms, said an official with the health department. Aroor is the most affected area in the panchayat. The health department has divided Aroor and surrounding areas into 20 clusters to implement the viral hepatitis prevention activities. Several health squads, each consisting of five members, have started visiting residences in the area as part of the prevention initiative. The squads are collecting details of the people with viral hepatitis symptoms and other related symptoms. They are also raising awareness about the disease by personally talking to the residents about the importance of maintaining personal hygiene and distributing leaflets containing information about viral hepatitis. The squads aim to complete the house visits within two days, said the official. Pulikkal panchayat president K K Mohammed Master announced that a medical camp will be conducted at AMUP School, Aroor, to identify more viral hepatitis cases if any exist. The camp might help us identify more hepatitis cases. After completing the camp, the panchayat authorities will hold a discussion with the health and education departments. We will decide on a date to reopen the school after analysing the situation in the meeting, he said. Viral hepatitis claims one more life in Kerala's Malappuram as 22-year-old youth dies Viral hepatitis claims one more life in Kerala's Malappuram as 22-year-old youth dies
Revised NEET rank list: Kannur native among 17 first rank holders
KANNUR: Kannur native Sreenand Sharmil became the pride of Kerala when the revised NEET UG rank list was published on the NTA website on Friday as per the Supreme Court directive. Seventeen students, including Sreenand, got the first rank in the new list. Sreenand scored 720 out of 720 to come on top of the list. Sreenand is the eldest son of doctor couple Sharmil Gopal, and Priya Sharmil. He completed SSLC from Kannur Chinmaya School, and higher secondary studies from Kuriakose Elias English Medium School, Mannanam, Kottayam. Sreenand also obtained coaching for NEET exam during his higher secondary school time. It was the first attempt for Sreenand. His father Sharmil told TNIE that Sreenands goal is to join for medicine in AIIMS, New Delhi. Sreenand also expressed happiness over his achievement. I was little bit worried as there were demands for a retest. However Im happy that my hard work paid off. It was my parents, teachers and my coaching centre that helped me achieve this feat. Im sure that I will get into Delhi AIIMS, said Sreenand. In the first list which was published on June 4, there were 4 Keralites among the 62 first rank holders.
Yet another case of rare amoebic meningoencephalitis infection confirmed in Kannur
KOZHIKODE: Amoebic meningoencephalitis has been confirmed in a three-and-a-half-year-old boy from Kannur, taking the total number of cases reported in the state to five. The boy from Pariyaram is under treatment at a private hospital in Kozhikode. The rare brain infection was confirmed in a Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test conducted in Puducherry on Thursday. The boy from Pariyaram was first taken to the Pariyaram Medical College Hospital after he exhibited symptoms consistent with the brain infection. He was shifted to a private hospital in Kozhikode. It is learnt his family had visited the Karakkund waterfall in Kadannappally-Panapuzha panchayat prior to him falling ill. Meanwhile, the PCR test result of a four-year-old boy from Kozhikode is awaited. Preliminary tests done at the hospital showed he too was infected with Naegleria fowleri, an amoeba that is commonly found in freshwater lakes and ponds and can survive in inadequately chlorinated pools. However, the authorities are waiting to get confirmation from Puducherry. So far, the brain-eating amoeba has killed three a five-year-old girl in Malappuram, a 13-year-old girl in Kannur and a 14-year-old boy from Kozhikode since May. Earlier this month, 14-year-old boy Afnan Jasim from Kozhikode made a miraculous recovery from the disease, which carries a 97 per cent mortality rate. Dr Abdul Rauf, a paediatric critical care specialist at Baby Memorial Hospital, emphasised the significance of early diagnosis in combating the deadly infection. Highlighting the case of Afnan, one of 11 people in the world to have survived Primary Amoebic Meningoencephalitis, as a testament to the efficacy of early detection. Early diagnosis is crucial in saving children from the deadly infection. The three-and-a-half-year-old boy from Kannur is responding well to treatment. The four-year-old boy, admitted a week ago, has shown positive results in initial tests, and treatment has commenced. He too is responding well, Dr Rauf said. In a first, Kerala govt issues guidelines to tackle amoebic meningoencephalitis threat
Experts stress on surveillance, research to prevent outbreak in Kerala
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The seriousness of managing a Nipah outbreak, which involves dealing with a virus with a high mortality rate, has initiated a discussion among health experts on the protocol to be followed in the affected regions. Having dealt with Nipah outbreaks four times before, some experts feel more focus should be on surveillance and research. The Nipah virus strain prevalent in Kerala is believed to have originated in Bangladesh and is characterised by relatively low infectivity (with an R0 value of 0.4) but a high mortality rate (ranging from 40% to 75%). The basic reproduction number (R0) indicates how quickly a disease can spread within a population. Nipah patients typically become contagious when severely ill, limiting transmission primarily to close caregivers and healthcare settings. We should prioritise surveillance, improve diagnostic capabilities, implement infection control measures, and invest in research, said Dr Althaf A, an epidemiologist and professor at the Government Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, who studied the 2018 Nipah outbreak in the state extensively. Globally, the Nipah virus has caused approximately 800 cases and fewer than 500 deaths over its 26-year history. While the authorities underscore the need for stringent restrictions as Nipah is listed by WHO among 10 viral diseases with pandemic potential, health experts say this listing is intended to prioritise resources to develop tests, treatments, and vaccines rather than mandating severe containment measures. The National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) holds a different perspective, advocating for strict containment measures through restrictions. Scientists from NCDC, who often lead central delegations to affected states, emphasise this aspect. Dr Anish T S, an associate professor of community medicine at the Government Medical College in Manjeri, Malappuram, acknowledges the necessity for initial restrictions during outbreaks. During the onset, limited information prompts immediate restrictions in contact locations. This approach aids authorities in initiating timely responses, gaining social cooperation for contact tracing, and raising public awareness. However, prolonged curbs are unnecessary, Dr Anish said. With the latest outbreak showing signs of subsiding, discussions are already under way to ease restrictions, starting from Anakkayam. The Malappuram district administration has enforced stringent measures in two panchayats, Pandikad and Anakkayam, to contain the spread of the deadly virus. Lives of survivors not normal Nipah survivors in Kerala endure a silent struggle Kochi: Five years after surviving Nipah, 21-year-old Gokul Krishna, a resident of North Paravoor in Ernakulam, has had a difficult existence. Despite overcoming the viral infection, his struggles continued even after he was discharged from the hospital. He spent almost two months in the hospital. But even after receiving treatment, he continued to have a number of health problems, including memory loss and sensitivity to light and sound. He constantly required assistance from someone as he was unable to stand or walk properly. He couldnt climb the stairs and suffered from respiratory issues as well, said his mother, Vasanthi. Gokul was an electrical engineering student when he contracted the disease in 2019. Now he is attending a training programme for the course he completed. People who have survived Nipah need care and attention. Their lives are not as normal as others. Gokul worked very hard to recover from the illness. But we continue to be concerned about his health and future, his mother said.
Kerala grappling with destructions caused by heavy rain, wind
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the southwest monsoon currently on in the state after keeping its date with the met departments forecast, the state is grappling with increasing incidents of incessant rain and hostile weather conditions. Lately, gusts and strong winds have caused widespread chaos across the state, uprooting trees, damaging property and even resulting in fatalities.The upkeep of trees, which is crucial to prevent such disasters, is often neglected due to the fragmented responsibility among various agencies. According to official data, between June 19 and July 23 around 151 houses were destroyed and 3,118 residences were partially destroyed in the state. As many as 64 people lost their lives in various monsoon-related calamities. It is learnt that after the onset of the monsoon, around seven people died in various incidents involving uprooted trees. On Tuesday night, a 42-year-old woman was crushed to death at Peroorkada in Thiruvananthapuram when an ageing Banyan tree came down. Kerala State Disaster Management Authority (KSDMA) member-secretary Shekar Lukose Kuriakose told TNIE that it was high time the Local Self-Government Institutions came up with a specific tree management policy for revenue land in its jurisdiction to ensure the protection and safety of the public. He said that a sizeable number of the recent rain-related incidents were caused by uprooted trees. Based on data available, incidents involving uprooted trees alone accounted for the deaths of seven persons. Besides, there were instances of electrocution after trees collapsed on power lines. Also, lives were lost after trees fell atop houses, he said. Many of the trees on revenue land are not in good health and trees need to be managed. We cannot allow trees to grow on revenue land like they do in the wild. Such dangerous trees and branches need to be pruned regularly and new trees need to be planted in their place, he added. The adverse weather conditions prevailing in the state round the year is keeping the Kerala Fire and Rescue Services on their toes throughout. According to Fire and Rescue Services Director General K Padmakumar, emergency situations arising out of adverse weather have become a routine throughout the year. Now, its not during monsoon alone that calamities occur due to adverse weather situations. We attend to a minimum of 25 to 35 calls in each district daily, he said. Recognising the growing threat posed by wind and gusts, the KSDMA is now gearing up to develop a comprehensive wind action plan. However, lack of reliable data poses a major challenge in devising an effective strategy. Its a challenging job and we have initiated efforts to draw up an action plan. But its going to take a while, he said. KSEB suffers G51.4-cr loss in 10 days Kochi: The KSEB has suffered a loss of Rs 51.4 crore due to heavy rain and wind that battered the state during the past 10 days. According to the KSEB, 1,694 high-tension electric poles and 10,836 low-tension poles were damaged as uprooted trees and branches fell on power lines from July 17 to 26. Power distribution was disrupted under the distribution network of 5,961 transformers, affecting 11 lakh consumers.
Nipah survivors in Kerala endure a silent struggle
KOZHIKODE: The world celebrated a remarkable victory when people in Kozhikode, Ernakulam, and Malappuram districts survived the deadly Nipah virus outbreak in the past few years. At the same time, the lingering impact on their lifestyles remains largely unspoken. Among the survivors is a young man who continues to battle the aftereffects of the virus, having been left in a coma after the initial ordeal. Despite overcoming the virus, his life has been irrevocably altered. Similarly, others who survived the Nipah virus face periodic health concerns. A mysterious illness causing fevers and headaches and leading to the rapid development of acute encephalitis has definitely come with several side effects, but they vary from person to person who survived this deadly virus, said Dr Arun Raveendran, an infectious disease specialist with a private hospital. Two survivors in Kozhikode and Malappuram districts have come back with periodic health concerns, including severe headaches during their post-Nipah survival period. Long-term side effects in survivors of Nipah virus infection include persistent convulsions and personality changes. Interestingly, dormant or latent infections, leading to symptoms or death, have also been reported months and even years after exposure, Dr Arun pointed out. One survivor from the 2023 outbreak in Kozhikode started experiencing personality changes and is continuing therapy and counselling from a private hospital. But such cases go untold as we were already in the ecstasy of having brought people back to life after battling the deadly virus, he added. A young mans battle Tito Joseph, a 24-year-old from Mardala in Mangaluru, is a living example of the unexpected twists of life during the post-Nipah survival period. Tito has been in the same hospital bed for eight months, unable to drink water on his own or recognise his mother. After completing his nursing studies, Tito joined a hospital in Kozhikode on April 23, 2023. In late August, a patient at the hospital died of a fever later confirmed as Nipah. Tito contracted the virus while tending to that patient. After completing his quarantine in November, he returned home, only to start experiencing headache and other discomfort the following day. Undeterred, he went back to work in Kozhikode. In December, after suffering severe headache, tests at the Pune Virology Institute confirmed Tito had developed Nipah encephalitis, a latent form of the disease. He began treatment at the same hospital where he worked. Unfortunately, Tito fell into a coma. Now, he is fed through a stomach tube and breathes with the help of a tube attached to his throat. His mother Lizi Eliamma and brother Shijo Thomas have left their jobs to stay by his side in Kozhikode. According to doctors treating Tito, this is the first case in the country of a Nipah survivor falling into a coma, Shijo told TNIE. During the one month Tito was admitted to the hospital after being confirmed with Nipah, he had managed that whole period alone, without any support, Shijo pointed out. He did not experience any serious health concerns then, except for a high temperature that was reported twice. Hence, our family was relaxed. But the post-Nipah period completely changed our life. For the past eight months, we have been living in the hope of seeing him returning to life, he said. Silent struggles of survivors A Nipah survivor from Kozhikode, who wished to remain anonymous, said, I am still battling severe headache and muscle weakness or pain, which the doctors at Kozhikode MCH said are side effects of the virus. They have put me under medication, which is helpful during those nights of pain. Since 2018, a total of 27 cases have been reported in the state, with 20 deaths, including one in 2024. Two confirmed patients survived in 2018. In the Ernakulam outbreak of May-June 2019, one patient was confirmed to have contracted Nipah but the health department managed to check further spread. Between September 12 and 15 in 2023, Kerala reported six confirmed cases of Nipah, including two deaths. The battle against Nipah is not just about survival but also about dealing with its long-term effects. The stories of survivors like Tito highlight the need for ongoing medical support and attention to the silent struggles they face every day.
Kerala drivers truck spotted, buried 60 metres from landslide spot
SHIRUR(UTTARA KANNADA): The search operations using radars on Thursday led to the truck driven by Arjun, finally being tracked. The district administration is now gearing up for the rescue operations, and getting the truck out of the water. The rescue operations began on the 9th day, and the coordinates of where the truck is struck has been received. The truck is buried 60 metres from the landslide spot, and 5 metres beneath the river bed. We have the coordinates. Now, we are working on retrieving the truck, said Uttara Kannada SP Narayan. A platform will be built to aid the divers. Uttara Kannada DC Lakshmi Priya said, The divers checked the river current, which was more than 6 knots, and unsafe for diving. Once the currents are suitable for diving, we will go ahead with the operations. The Geological Survey of India has submitted a preliminary report. They have given 3-4 points for implementation, to prevent further damage. We have asked the NHAI Regional Officer to submit a report. Once they submit the report, we will allow traffic movement on NH-66 road, she added. Meanwhile, DNA reports of the severed body found at Gangakolla revealed that the body belonged to Sarvana. The body has been handed over to the relatives, along with a compensation of Rs 5 lakh.
Kerala: Sudhakaran, Satheesan draw daggers
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: With the competition and one-upmanship between state Congress chief K Sudhakaran and Leader of Opposition V D Satheesan breaching the limits and threatening to dampen the spirits of party workers stirred up by the Lok Sabha poll results, many senior leaders think its time for the high command to intervene and rein in the two leaders. Delimitation panels: Congress rift widens as Sudhakaran cancels Satheesans circular A day after Sudhakaran snubbed him by cancelling a circular he issued in his capacity as the Congress legislature party leader, an annoyed Satheesan boycotted the Thiruvananthapuram district executive meeting, which he was scheduled to preside on Friday. The meeting was slated as part of the Congress Mission 2025 programme. The two leaders have shared a strained relation for quite some time. A few days ago, the Sudhakaran camp had approached the party national leadership against Satheesan, alleging that the LoPs loyalists had been deliberately planting stories against the KPCC chief. On Thursday, Sudhakaran had called an online meeting of KPCC office-bearers where a few general secretaries targeted Satheesan for coming up with a circular on the strategy to be adopted for local body polls. Sudhakaran came out with a six-page circular, cancelling Satheesans dossier. Sudhakaran, who is in Delhi as the Parliament is in session, had no qualms in admitting there were certain issues with Satheesan. But they would be resolved soon through talks, he said. Satheesan denied issuing any circular. Party must identify those who leak wrong news I did not come out with a circular. The party needs to identify those leaders who leak such (wrong) news to the media. The meeting of office-bearers was held as they had to share something with the party president. It needs to be probed who is giving this news to the media, Satheesan told reporters at Palode. In fact, TNIE has the one-page circular issued by Satheesan on 18th July. This newspaper had reported on Thursday about Satheesans circular on constituting delimitation committees at the district and constituency levels as well as reporting of the Wayanad executive in lower committees. Its reliably learnt that Deepa Dasmunshi, AICC general secretary in charge of the state, had also held talks with the party office-bearers regarding Satheesans circular. A source close to the LoP said that KPCC general secretaries who feel insecure are behind the controversy. Satheesan had mentioned in his circular that a leader from the same district, but not from the same constituency/local body has to be entrusted with the responsibility of forming the delimitation committees. The incumbent general secretaries are apprehensive of losing their power and are behind the controversy. Now let the Congress high command intervene and resolve the issue, said the source. At the virtual meeting of the office-bearers held on Thursday, KPCC general secretary M J Job from Alappuzha and senior Congress MP and working president Kodikunnil Suresh rallied behind Satheesan.
Amici curiae report highlights chinks in waste management in Thiruvananthapuram
KOCHI: Amici curiae report submitted in the High Court reveals that the systems that have been put in place by the Thiruvananthapuram corporation, the Southern Railway and the irrigation department for the management of waste and maintenance of the canal, as they stand, are grossly deficient and ineffective. The area where the canal flows under the railway premises is prone to clogging because of siltation and accumulation of waste. This area requires specific attention and needs to be de-silted at regular intervals to ensure smooth flow of water. The waste collected by the corporation and Southern Railway must be quantified and tracked till its final destination, to ensure that the same does not re-enter the stream, said the report. A graveyard made of waste in Thiruvananthapuram The report of the amici curiae about the waste management system in Thiruvananthapuram city also suggested that the corporation must take immediate steps to identify all garbage-vulnerable points, especially along all canal and drainage systems, and prevent dumping of waste. The irrigation department must plan and undertake an operation, akin to Operation Anantha, in association with the corporation, the Southern Railway and other stakeholders. The dumping of waste into the canal near Bakery Junction needs to be prevented by all means, by undertaking necessary steps for effective surveillance including, but not limited to, installing CCTV cameras, policing, and suitable punitive action against violators. If CCTV cameras are installed, the same should be monitored frequently and the violators should be booked, with the assistance of the police and motor vehicle department. Vehicles, if any, used for unauthorised transportation of waste should be impounded, following the law. Routine canal cleaning drives should be undertaken by the corporation for the removal of waste as well as de-siltation. The report further suggested that the portion of the canal flowing through Rajaji Nagarrequires special attention. The fencing on the sides of the canalneeds to be reinforced. The area should be subjected to frequentinspections and surveillance, to ensure that no waste is dumpedinto the canal. If required, the assistance of the police needs tobe extended to the corporation and the irrigation department. Thecorporation must immediately invest in the edification of the residents of the Chenkalchoola colony as regards the issue of waste entering the canal. Steps should also have to be taken to ensure that the waste from outside the colony is not brought into the colony and dumped in the canal or elsewhere. According to the amici curiae, if the trash booms and the gratings placed in the canals are to be effective, no waste material should be allowed to pass through them. The sacrificial allowance for the trash-boom should be kept at a minimum. The corporation may explore the deployment of more than one trash boom sequentially. The iron gratings should not be opened at all. In case they are required to be opened, the accumulated waste should be removed and alternative mechanisms should be put in place to prevent the waste flowing downstream when the gratings are removed formaintenance. The objective should be to ensure that the wastedoes not reach the area under the railway premises. The Southern Railway, as a bulk waste generator, must put in place a proper functional in-house system for handling and management of solid waste, irrespective of the facilities provided by the corporation, the report said.
Debates rage, but legislation against black magic in cold storage
KOCHI: Even while a Congress MP from Kerala introduced a Private BillThe Promotion of Rational Thought Bill, 2024in Parliament to promote rational thought, critical thinking, and evidence-based decision-making against superstitions, the Left government in Kerala has been sitting on a Bill prohibiting practices of black magic for the past five years. Chalakudy MP Benny Behanan moved the Bill in the Lok Sabha on Friday, aiming to create an environment fostering reason and intellectual discourse. This move has assumed significance following the recent controversies, such as the alleged witchcraft at the residence of Congress state president K Sudhakaran in Kannur, and highlights the stagnation in efforts to combat the dangers of black magic and superstitions in the state. Kerala: Congress failing to lay ghost of black magic row to rest The Kerala Prevention of Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery, and Black Magic Bill, 2019, which prohibits practices of black magic, witchcraft, sorcery, and other superstitions, is yet to be passed. In 2022, after news of the human sacrifice at Elanthoor in Pathanamthitta rocked the state, the government tried to expedite its drafting, but the Bill remains pending. The need for a comprehensive law to combat such entrenched beliefs was also felt when three Keralites, a couple from Kottayam and their friend, were found dead in a hotel in Arunachal Pradesh. Black magic was suspected. Yet, no steps were taken to form and pass a law. According to Benny Behanan, the Bill would help enact a law against the superstitions and evil practices existing in various parts of the country. The proposed Promotion of Rational Thought Bill is a forward-looking legislative initiative aimed at fortifying the intellectual foundations of our society. By prioritising critical thinking and a culture of reasoned disclosure, the Act envisions a society better equipped to navigate the complexities of the modern world, said the Bill. Recently, CPM MLA K D Prasenan introduced a Private Bill, the Kerala Eradication of Superstition-Evil Practices Bill-2021, during the recently concluded assembly session. However, General Education Minister V Sivankutty, speaking on behalf of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, said the government was still scrutinising the 2019 Bill. Initial steps In 2019, the law department sought inputs from the Kerala Law Reforms Commission (KLRC) on a proposal of the home department regarding legislation to tackle black magic and related evil practices. The draft legislation, titled The Kerala Prevention and Eradication of Inhuman Evil Practices, Sorcery, and Black Magic Bill, aimed to curb acts causing physical harm and mental agony while sparing most non-harmful religious practices. Enacted, it would ban such practices and target exorcists and godmen performing inhuman acts in the state, across all religions. So, what is causing the delay? According to Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham general secretary T K Saktheedharan, the authorities could not separate belief from superstition, resulting in the delay. We submitted memorandums to then chief ministers Oommen Chandy and V S Achuthanandan, and twice to CM Pinarayi Vijayan. The government has been sitting on the Bill for years fearing erosion of vote banks, as it is a sensitive belief issue. However, it is not against beliefs but against evil practices, said Saktheedharan, who had approached the Kerala High Court seeking a direction to the state government to pass a law prohibiting black magic. Advocate P V Jeevesh, who represents Kerala Yukthivadi Sangham in court, confirmed that the case is still pending. The government is yet to submit an affidavit, he said. Proposal The 2019 Bill proposes banning practices like piercing cheeks with iron rods or arrows, preventing a person from seeking medical treatment and offering relief through supernatural powers. In 2017, then Congress MLA P T Thomas too had introduced a private Bill to combat black magic and evil practices, but it hardly made any progress.
BJPs future poll strategy for UP to figure at RSS Kerala meet
Fishers in Kozhikode prepare to resume work amid mounting debt
SC notices on Kerala, Bengal pleas against governors 'delaying' Bills
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Centre and governors of Kerala and West Bengal following delays in clearing bills passed by state legislatures. The court asked for replies within three weeks. Kerala and West Bengal accuse their governors of unconstitutional behavior. Additionally, Tamil Nadu and Punjab have also approached the court over financial disputes with the Centre.
Do not confer IPS to Sojan, Walayar mother urges Additional Chief Secretary
THIRUVANANTHAPURM: The mother of the minor girls from Walayar, who were allegedly murdered after being raped, met with the Additional Chief Secretary (Home) at his office on Friday, urging him not to confer the IPS rank on M.J. Sojan, the investigating officer in the case. Following the meeting, she reiterated her stance that she would pursue legal action if Sojan were promoted to IPS. Everyone knows the offences Sojan committed, and yet there is a move to confer the IPS rank to this police officer, which is unfortunate, the woman, known as the Walayar mother, said. During the meeting, she presented a video clip supporting her claim that Sojan had made derogatory remarks about the deceased children, who were 9 and 13 years old at the time of their deaths. Walayar rape victims' mother moves Kerala HC for action under SC/ST Act against former IO The High Court had directed the government last year to consider her views before deciding on conferring the IPS rank to Sojan. However, this directive was overlooked, and Sojan was included in the list of officers eligible for promotion to IPS. The Walayar mother then approached the High Court again, resulting in a stern order for the government to record her opinion before making a final decision. The mother was subsequently directed to appear before the Additional Chief Secretary with relevant documents to substantiate her allegations. She had previously informed the High Court that Sojan was involved in criminal cases and that a POCSO case had been registered against him for the remarks he made about the two girls. The two sisters were found hanging in the attic of their thatched house in Attappalam, Walayar, within a span of 55 days on January 13 and March 4, 2017. Autopsy reports revealed that both children had been sexually abused. The local police had initially claimed that the girls ended their own lives due to intolerable sexual assault by the accused. However, the POCSO Court in Palakkad acquitted the four accused, leading to public outrage and prompting the High Court to order a CBI investigation into the cases.
Karnataka: Landslide Site Cleared; NHAI Report Pending for Road Reopen
Karwar: While debris and soil have been cleared from the landslide site at Shiruru in Ankola Taluk, the district administration is awaiting a compliance report from the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) before reopening the road to traffic. The Geological Survey of India (GSI) team visited the site and provided a preliminary report outlining urgent measures to be taken. As District Magistrate, I instructed the NHAI officials to implement these measures and submit a report. Once we receive the compliance report from the NHAI, we will allow traffic on the stretch, Uttara Kannada Deputy Commissioner Lakshmi Priya K told reporters on Friday. In the meantime, a Navy team visited the site to assess the current speed of the river where a missing truck is believed to be stuck under a huge heap of soil. The search operation for the truck and driver requires divers. The operation must be undertaken by divers. The Navy is monitoring the river's current speed regularly, and the latest measurement in the afternoon showed speeds over 6 knots, making diving impossible. We are waiting for the current to stabilize, the Deputy Commissioner explained. Efforts are also underway to anchor a platform near the spot to facilitate the diving operation. While 11 people are believed to be missing in the landslide on July 11, 8 bodies have been found. Three more including a truck and its driver Arjun from Kerala are missing.
Kerala woman employee embezzles Rs 20 cr from company to fund her online rummy addiction, arrested
THRISSUR: The long arm of the law finally caught up with a 40-year-old woman who embezzled nearly Rs 20 crore since 2020 by diverting funds from the personal loan account of the company, where she had been working in a senior position for the last 18 years. Dhanya Mohan, an assistant general manager and tech lead at Manappuram Comptech and Consultants Ltd (Macom), the IT product and services arm of Valapad, Thrissur-based Manappuram Finance, was taken into custody on Friday evening from Kollam. When the fraud was detected on Tuesday, Dhanya, a resident of Nellimukku in Kollam, absconded fearing arrest. She was arrested in Kollam on Friday evening and handed over to the cops from Valapad station, where a case was registered. The Valapad police reached Kollam on Thursday itself, anticipating that the accused might travel to her residence. Kodungallur DySP Salish N S said Dhanya made fake accounts and diverted funds as 'loans' from the company's digital personal loan account to her father and brother's accounts. She has been diverting the money to fund her online rummy addiction, besides her purchases of property and houses, he said. The embezzlement came under the police lens when Macom lodged a complaint against Dhanya on July 23 (Tuesday) for swindling Rs 85 lakh from the company through fraudulent activities. Following a thorough analysis of the accounts, the company realised that it was just the tip of the iceberg, and the total fraud amounted to Rs 19.94 crore committed over a period from May 2020. While the company maintained that it came to know about the fraud only now, it still remains a mystery as to how Dhanya managed to divert funds and escape scrutiny. The Kodungallur DySP said Dhanya was coming to the office until the case was registered on July 23. Soon after she came to know about the case, she left the office citing health problems and did not respond to calls. Dhanya, along with her family, including husband Mohan and children, remained in hiding while the search was on for them, said DySP Salish. He added that the police have issued a lookout notice for Mohan, who used to work abroad and had recently returned to Kerala. It is learnt that Dhanya does not hold a passport. Rummy addict and luxurious lifestyle According to the police, Dhanya was addicted to online rummy games and spent a lot of money on it. They suspect that she turned to fraudulent activities in the company due to her losses in online rummy. The DySP said that she made fake accounts and diverted funds in the name of loans. The exact way in which the transactions were carried out can be known only once we question the accused, he added. Dhanya also spent a fortune on buying a house and land at Valapad. She also seems to have bought three luxury cars, all of which were purchased in the last four years. The DySP added that Dhanya first made the fraudulent transaction in 2020 and it went up each year.
Kerala to offer free prophylactic treatment for haemophilia for children
300 children with haemophilia in the State will benefit from this new and expensive therapy which holds the promise of improved care and quality of life to patients
Exhibition of contemporary Emarati art gets under way in Kochi
Month-long exhibition is being organised by Abu Dhabi-based Rizq Art Initiative in association with the Kerala Lalithakala Akademi, Department of Cultural Affairs, and Abu Dhabi Art
KOCHI: International travellers arriving at the Kochi airport could soon enjoy a seamless immigration process through self-authentication at specially designed smart gates at the immigration counters, enabling them to complete the process in just 20 seconds. The Kochi airport, operated by Cochin International Airport Ltd (CIAL), will become the second airport after Indira Gandhi International Airport, New Delhi, to implement the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA)'s prestigious 'Fast Immigration Trusted Traveller Programme' (FTI-TTP). This programme aims to expedite the immigration clearance for eligible Indian nationals and foreign nationals holding OCI (Overseas Citizenship of India) cards. Implementing FTI-TTP at CIAL's immigration counter will ensure a fast, safe, and seamless process. CIAL is proud to collaborate with the Bureau of Immigration to facilitate fast-track biometric smart travel at our immigration counters. The biometric authentication process will reduce the immigration verification process time from 4 minutes to just 20 seconds, CIAL Managing Director S. Suhas said. Following the roll-out at Delhi International Airport in June, CIAL has begun an infrastructure makeover at the immigration area, dedicating eight lanes to biometric e-gates. The fast-track immigration gates will be deployed this week, with testing starting on Monday, followed by the official launch next month. To benefit, applicants must complete a one-time registration process on the MHA portal, upload necessary documents, and enroll biometrics (fingerprint and face image) at the Foreigner's Regional Registration Office (FRRO) or help desks set up in the immigration area. Upon successful verification through mobile OTP, travellers can use the smart gates, bypassing long queues at the departure/arrival immigration counters by self-scanning their passports and using the face recognition system. This eliminates the need for human interaction or fact-checking during immigration. The Bureau of Immigration at Cochin International Airport has already established an enrollment facility at the FRRO office within the Kochi Airport premises and help desks in the immigration area. The Kochi airport is the fourth busiest airport in the country for international passenger traffic, handling 10 million passengers and 70,200 air traffic movements annually. The airport has recently implemented the DigiYatra facility, developed by its in-house IT team.
Collective efforts needed to conserve mangroves, says Saseendran
Mangrove forests which were spread over 70,000 hectares in Kerala in 1975 have at present dwindled to 1,782 hectares, says Forest Minister
One more case of amoebic infection in Kozhikode, sixth in Kerala
This is the sixth confirmed case of amoebic meningoencephalitis in Kerala, with three deaths so far
Lawyers who abused judge asked to offer free legal aid for six months in Kerala
High Court purged the contempt committed by the lawyers after they apologised. However, the court felt that they should not be allowed to get away with mere apology
ESAF Small Finance Bank Q1 results: Net profit falls 52% to Rs 63 cr
ESAF Small Finance Bank on Friday reported 52 per cent decline in June quarter net profit at Rs 63 crore due to increase in bad loans. The Kerala-based lender had earned a net profit of Rs 130 crore in the year-ago period. However, total income increased to Rs 1,138 crore from Rs 992 crore a year ago, ESAF Small Finance Bank said in a regulatory filing. Interest income grew to Rs 1,022 crore during the period under review, from Rs 899 crore a year ago. The bank's asset quality worsened with Gross Non-Performing Assets (NPAs) surging to 6.61 per cent of gross advances as of June 30, 2024, from 1.65 per cent by the end of first quarter of the previous fiscal. Net NPAs also rose to 3.22 per cent of the advances, from 0.81 per cent at the end of first quarter last year. As a result, provisions and contingencies increased to Rs 169 crore from Rs 129 crore earmarked during the same quarter a year ago. However, the capital adequacy ratio of the bank improved to 23.46 per cent, as compa
Kerala got highest ever Union Budget allocation this time: Surendran
BJP leader says the State government narrative on the contrary is the LDFs way of coping with the Lok Sabha poll debacle
Govt. to decide shortly on reducing weight of school bags, says Kerala Education Minister
Updated syllabus to cover all subjects by 2026, says Sivankutty
Free monoclonal antibodies for all haemophilia patients under 18: Kerala Health Minister
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Health Minister Veena George announced that the health department will now provide monoclonal antibodies to all haemophilia patients under 18 to reduce complications from uncontrolled bleeding. This initiative, implemented through the Aashadhara scheme, aims to ensure comprehensive care and treatment for haemophilia patients. Currently, around 300 children receive the costly medication Emicizumab each month. The health department has been offering the drug to selected patients as preventive treatment since 2021. However, it is the first time in the country that a large set of patients have been covered. The Minister described this move as revolutionary, marking a significant step toward achieving the goal of eliminating bleeding and disability for haemophilia patients. The advanced preventive treatment will eliminate the need for bi-weekly hospital visits for injections, which had previously caused disruptions in school and work for families. Previously, preventive care involved administering blood clotting factor concentrates, which could potentially lead to drug resistance if used indiscriminately. There are over 2,000 haemophilia patients in the state enrolled in the Aashadhara scheme. The health department has also decentralized treatment by making the medication available in 72 hospitals. The Haemophilia Federation of India has been advocating for the inclusion of innovative products like Emicizumab in the national treatment guidelines. Prophylaxis or preventive treatment should enable people with hemophilia to lead healthy and active lives including participation in most physical and social activities (at home, school, work, and in the community), similar to the non-hemophilic population. It has also been found that people with haemophilia initiated on early prophylaxis have shown the best long-term outcomes.
New study throws light on role of cartel in keeping natural rubber prices low in Kerala
A few, large automotive tyre manufacturers buy rubber from a large number of farmers with tiny patches of farmland, says the study. The tyre manufacturers enter into a collusive deal to keep the price of natural rubber low. The market price seldom touches the support price provided by the State govt.
NTA declares final results of NEET-UG; 17 candidates share top rank, down from 61 in revised results
NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the re-revised results for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-UG 2024, following a directive from the Supreme Court of India. The NEET (UG) 2024 toppers' data reveals a competitive and diverse group of high achievers from across India. The top scorers achieved a perfect 720 marks with a percentile of 99.9992714, representing both male and female candidates from regions such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Punjab, West Bengal, and Kerala. This year, the All-India Rank 1 was originally shared by 67 students. Among them, six students were awarded extra marks for time lost due to invigilator errors, while 44 students received grace marks for an incorrect physics question. With the Supreme Courts decision to accept only one accurate answer for each question, the 44 students who previously scored 715 out of 720 were ranked after those who scored 720 and the 70 students who received 716 marks out of 720. 17 candidates share top rank, down from 61 in revised results. #NEETUG final results out 17 candidates share top rank, down from 61 in revised results List of 100 toppers : @NewIndianXpress @TheMornStandard pic.twitter.com/0RgqDHHqG5 Kavita Bajeli-Datt (@KavitaDatt) July 26, 2024 The NEET (UG) 2024 examination, initially conducted on May 5, 2024, spanned 4750 centers across 571 cities, including 14 international locations. This massive logistical operation aimed to ensure a smooth and fair assessment process for every candidate. However, a re-examination on June 23, 2024, was necessitated for 1563 candidates who faced time constraints during the original test date. As the results pave the way for the next phase, the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) will spearhead the counseling for 15% All India Quota seats, along with seats in Deemed Universities, Central Universities, and other specific institutions. Candidates are advised to stay informed through the official MCC website for detailed counseling schedules and procedures. For state quota and other specific seats, candidates will need to apply through their respective state counseling authorities. SC refuses to cancel NEET-UG, sees no 'systemic breach' to exam's sanctity The tie-breaking mechanism, a critical component in a highly competitive exam like NEET, is methodically structured. It prioritizes higher marks in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and the number of correct answers, followed by the candidates application number in ascending order. Among the top 20 female toppers, Prachita from Rajasthan and Palansha Agarwal from Maharashtra stand out with their perfect scores. These female toppers hail from different states, including Rajasthan, Maharashtra, Delhi, Gujarat, Haryana, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, and West Bengal, highlighting the geographic diversity and academic excellence of female candidates. On the male side, Mridul Manya Anand from Delhi and Ayush Naugraiya from Uttar Pradesh are notable for their perfect scores. The male toppers come from a variety of states, such as Delhi, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Rajasthan, Punjab, West Bengal, Maharashtra, and Kerala, showcasing the widespread distribution of top talent. In the category-wise analysis, the Unreserved (UR) category features candidates like Ayush Naugraiya and Prachita, who achieved the highest percentile of 99.9992714. This category includes top candidates from a broad range of states, underscoring the competitive nature of the exam across the country. The OBC-NCL category sees high achievers like Mridul Manya Anand from Delhi and Mazin Mansoor from Bihar, both scoring a perfect 720 marks. These top candidates represent states like Delhi, Bihar, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, and Rajasthan, indicating strong performances from diverse backgrounds. In the EWS category, Ayush Naugraiya from Uttar Pradesh and Devesh Joshi from Rajasthan lead the pack. This categorys top candidates come from Andhra Pradesh, Gujarat, Haryana, and Madhya Pradesh, reflecting the inclusivity of the NEET (UG) exam. The SC category is led by Rajaneesh P from Tamil Nadu, who achieved a perfect score. Other top SC candidates come from Tripura, Gujarat, Odisha, Karnataka, Delhi, Rajasthan, Punjab, and Uttar Pradesh, showing a broad representation from across India. The ST category features Guguloth Venkata Nripesh from Telangana and Akshat Katara from Rajasthan as prominent toppers. This category includes candidates from Telangana, Rajasthan, Jammu & Kashmir, Maharashtra, and Karnataka, highlighting the diverse origins of top performers. State-wise, Delhi boasts top scorers like Mridul Manya Anand and Divyansh, who achieved perfect scores. Rajasthan shines with multiple top candidates, including Prachita, Saurav, Devesh Joshi, and Iram Quazi. Maharashtras high achievers include Palansha Agarwal, Mane Neha Kuldeep, and Shubhan Sengupta, while Uttar Pradesh features leading candidates such as Ayush Naugraiya and Aryan Yadav. Other states like Bihar, West Bengal, Kerala, Punjab, Tamil Nadu, and Gujarat also have multiple candidates in the top ranks, reflecting the widespread talent and preparation levels across India. The NEET (UG) 2024 toppers' data showcases a highly competitive environment with top performers emerging from various regions and categories. The diversity in the top ranks highlights the inclusivity of the examination process, ensuring opportunities for candidates from different backgrounds and states. This data reflects the dedication and excellence of the candidates, setting a high standard for future aspirants. LINK TO CHECK NEET UG FINAL REVISED SCORECARD LINK TO CHECK REVISED FINAL NEET UG ANSWER KEY NEET-UG: Petitioners allege lack of surveillance, complete systematic failure in exam
Cong MP introduces private member's resolution in LS on regulating airfare
Congress MP Shafi Parambil on Friday moved a private member's resolution in the Lok Sabha on appropriate measures to regulate airfare. The MP from Vadakara in Kerala said most migrant workers in the Gulf region were unskilled or semi-skilled with limited income and the unscrupulous increase in airfare during vacation seasons dragged them into a huge debt trap. The resolution came a day after Union Civil Aviation Minister Ram Mohan Naidu Kinjarapu promised to conduct an inquiry into allegations of abrupt fare hikes when MPs tried to book tickets on Air Vistara, following complaints by MPs and a nudge by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla. During the Question Hour yesterday (Thursday), this House, though for a few minutes, discussed the exorbitant prices and exploitation faced by our expatriates. Our brothers and sisters, husbands and wives, other members of families who are struggling to make ends meet are being unfairly treated and being burdened, Parambil said. This House has debated t
RS rejects pvt bill making Guvs bound by advice of Council of Ministers
A private member bill seeking to make Governors constitutionally bound by the advice of the Council of Ministers of states was defeated in the Rajya Sabha on Friday, with treasury benches voting against the Bill brought by Kerala CPI (M) member John Brittas. The two sides clashed at the stage of introduction of the Bill, with the Opposition MPs saying Governors in non-BJP ruled states were acting against the elected governments. Deputy Chairman Harivansh put the motion for the introduction of the Bill to voice vote and declared it defeated. Brittas, however, insisted on a division. The motion was rejected with 56 members opposing it and 21 in favour of the introduction. Brittas sought to introduce The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2024 (amendment of article 158) in the afternoon session of the Upper House. Introducing the bill, he said the legislation seeks to ensure the constitutional responsibility of Governors towards the Council of Ministers in carrying out their functions b
Kerala Banker Fled With Rs 30 Crore; Bought Land, House and Luxury Items With the Money: Officials
Officials believe she has since used the misappropriated funds to purchase luxury items, land, and a house.
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Scrap NITI Aayog, bring back Planning Commission: Mamata Banerjee
NEW DELHI: In Delhi to attend a NITI Aayog meeting on July 27, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday said the public policy think tank brought by the Modi government should be scrapped and the Planning Commission should be brought back. Banerjee, who is set to attend the NITI Aayog meeting even as most INDIA bloc chief ministers have decided to give it a miss, said she felt their voices should be raised on a common platform. They (BJP) have formed the government but they don't have people's mandate. This is the first time after the BJP came in, since 2014, they have not formed the government as a single party. She said that because of their compulsions, the BJP-ruled NDA has brought a politically very biased budget which deprives all opposition states. I thought it is my duty to raise this voice at least on a common platform though I know the NITI Aayog has no financial powers, she said. Since the NITI Aayog has been planned, I have not seen a single work being done because they don't have any power. Earlier, there was a Planning Commission. As a chief minister...at that time I saw there was a system, she said. She said state governments had power to discuss their issues under the Planning Commission and it was very good at taking care of states in different areas. But now there is no hope, no scope. Banerjee said the NITI Aayog should be scrapped. I will raise my voice that stop this NITI Aayog. They do not have any financial implication. They cannot do anything, only hold meeting once a year to show their face. Please bring back the Planning Commission again, Banerjee said. It was a plan of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose, and since Independence, the Planning Commission has worked a lot for the country, she said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi will chair the NITI Aayog's ninth Governing Council meeting on July 27 which will focus on making India a developed nation by 2047. Several INDIA bloc CMs have announced they will skip the meet as a mark of protest against the Union budget which, they alleged, was anti-federal in spirit and extremely discriminatory towards their states. The list includes Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin of the DMK, Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party and all three Congress chief ministers - Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telegana's Revanth Reddy.
Couple killed after car catches fire in Keralas Pathanamthitta
The deceased have been identified as Rijo (69) and his wife Laiji (63). Cause of fire is unidentified
Jobstars Seeks Workers for Production Roles in Austria and Netherlands
New Delhi [India], July 26: Jobstars HR Solutions Private Limited, headquartered in Kochi, Kerala, and holding MEA License No: B-2023/KER/COM/1000+/5/10680/2024, is seeking to significantly expand its recruitment for production roles across Austria and the Netherlands. With a dedicated team of over 350 recruiters across 18 locations, Jobstars is actively looking to fill numerous positions in factory and general labor capacities. This presents an excellent opportunity for individuals interested in contributing to Europe's manufacturing sectors. Prospective candidates are encouraged to apply and join this expansive employment initiative across two pivotal European countries.
Couple burnt to death as car catches fire in Kerala's Pathanamthitta
PATHANAMTHITTA: A couple in their sixties was charred to death after their car caught fire in mysterious circumstances at Vengal in Tiruvalla in Kerala's Pathanamthitta district on Friday. The victims were identified as Raju Thomas (69) and his wife Laiji Thomas (63), both residents of Thukalassery in Tiruvalla. According to Reena Vishal, a counsellor from Thukalassery, both the victims are in their sixties. The couple's only son has been hospitalized, she said.The cops were facing difficulty in recognizing them, as their remains got completely burnt and disfigured. But the woman was identified through the ornaments which she wore. The deceased couple in their sixties, Raju Thomas (69) and his wife Laiji Thomas (63). The Fire Force personnel had immediately rushed to the spot after getting an alert from cops who were patrolling in the area. They noticed flames from the car.At first, the police thought that the flames were from a pile of garbage in the area. The efforts, however, could not save the duo's lives who were stuck inside the car which was completely gutted in the blaze.People from the locality said the road is not commonly used by travellers and only those visiting the area for sightseeing or some other particular purpose will take the route. The reason whether it's an accident or some other factor is not yet ascertained. A detailed probe is on to know the reasons for the fire.
Over 1800 disease outbreaks reported across country last year: Govt
A total of 1,862 disease outbreaks were reported to the Integrated Disease Surveillance Programme last year, with the highest number being reported from Kerala, the Lok Sabha was informed on Friday. Kerala reported 253 outbreaks, followed by Karnataka with 223, Maharashtra with 208, and Madhya Pradesh with 140.
Mamata to attend NITI Aayog meet to protest budget 'bias, conspiracy to divide states'
KOLKATA: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee confirmed on Friday that she would participate in the central think-tank NITI Aayog meeting scheduled on July 27 in Delhi. Banerjee's statement came amid speculations of uncertainty on whether she, too, would skip the meet like most other CMs of the INDIA bloc. Talking to reporters at the Kolkata airport before leaving for Delhi, Banerjee said she would join the meeting and use the opportunity to register her protest against a discriminatory budget and the conspiracy to divide Bengal and other opposition-ruled states. The chief minister said she was asked to send her written speech seven days ahead of the meeting which she has done and it was before the Union Budget was tabled. I will stay at the meeting for a while. If I get an opportunity to deliver my speech at the meeting and record my protest against the discrimination and political bias against the opposition-ruled states in the budget besides the conspiracy that is being hatched to divide Bengal and its neighbouring states, I will do so. Else, I will walk out of the meeting, the chief minister said. Banerjee, accompanied by her nephew and TMC MP-cum-national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, left for Delhi on Friday afternoon after postponing her trip to the national capital by a day. The postponement had stirred speculations on whether Banerjee, who had earlier expressed her intention to attend the NITI Aayog meeting, would join the bandwagon of opposition party chief ministers. Several INDIA bloc CMs had announced their decision to skip the meet as a mark of protest against the Union budget which, they alleged, was anti-federal in spirit and extremely discriminatory towards their states. The list includes Tamil Nadu CM MK Stalin of the DMK, Kerala Chief Minister and CPI(M) leader Pinarayi Vijayan, Punjab CM Bhagwant Mann of the Aam Aadmi Party and all three Congress chief ministers, Karnataka's Siddaramaiah, Himachal Pradesh's Sukhvinder Singh Sukhu and Telegana's Revanth Reddy. Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren of the JMM is, however, likely to join the meeting despite earlier reports that he, too, had chosen to give it a miss. All opposition-ruled states, including Bengal, have been totally deprived in this Budget. The Centre has taken a step-motherly attitude towards these states. I cannot accept such discrimination and political bias against us, Banerjee said. Referring to BJP Bengal president and junior union minister Sukanta Majumdar's proposal to integrate north Bengal with the North Eastern states but without directly naming him, Banerjee said she strongly condemned such statements coming at a time when the Parliament is in session. There's a conspiracy to divide Bengal, Bihar, Jharkhand and Assam. While the minister is making his own statements, the demand to divide the states is now coming from various other quarters of the BJP.Dividing Bengal means dividing India, she said. Calling the conspiracy a geographical and political blockade besides the economic blockade which the Centre has already imposed on Bengal, Banerjee said she would stick to her earlier position of attending the NITI Aayog meeting but only have her voice of protest on record. Hemant (Soren) and I will be present at the meeting. We will speak on behalf of the others (who won't be present), she said.
Amuses Me Pandya's Termed As All-Rounder From...: Ex-Pakistan Coach
The former Pakistan coach, who has worked with Indian domestic sides Kerala and Baroda, had an interesting thing to say about Hardik Pandya
Kerala rapper Hanumankind faces racism after 'Big Dawgs' goes viral
Kerala-born rapper Hanumankind's latest music video Big Dawgs has become a sensation, amassing 1.2 million views on YouTube in under two weeks. Produced by Kalmi under Brown Crew Productions, the track is praised for its music and intense visuals, filmed inside a well of death a daring carnival stunt. The song has gained recognition from key figures in hip-hop. Influential blogs like 'rap' and 'Pigeons and Planes', as well as artists like DJ Akademiks, have shared the track, hailing it as a standout in the genre. However, the success has been marred by a wave of racist comments. Many of these came from individuals within the Black community, who historically used hip-hop to combat racism. Comments mocked Indian stereotypes, with some expressing surprise that Indians speak English or joking about call-center jobs. One comment even referenced the caste system. This backlash highlights the persistence of stereotypes fueled by Western pop culture and a bias against non-American artists in hip-hop. Some comments criticized Hanumankind for allegedly copying the flow from American rapper Project Pat's Knife Talk. Despite Hanumankind's clear homage to Project Pat in his lyrics, and Project Pat himself sharing the track, accusations persisted. While many called out the racism, the support for such comments raises questions about the inclusivity of hip-hop.
SC notice to Centre, Guvs on pleas by Kerala, Bengal
In a significant development, the Supreme Court on Friday agreed to consider the separate pleas of opposition-ruled Kerala and West Bengal, alleging the denial of assent to bills passed by the respective legislative assemblies.
SC seeks responses of Centre, Guvs on denial of assent to bills in WB, Kerala
Kerala further stated that Governor Arif Mohammed Khan forwarded some bills to President Droupadi Murmu, which are currently pending approval
Over 2,500 people died in 5 years in human-elephant conflicts: Govt data
Human-elephant conflicts resulted in 2,853 human deaths during the past five years, with the number of fatalities reaching a five-year high of 628 in 2023, according to government data. Responding to a question in the Rajya Sabha, Union Minister of State for Environment Kirti Vardhan Singh on Thursday said elephants caused 587 human deaths in 2019, 471 in 2020, 557 in 2021, 610 in 2022 and 628 in 2023. The data revealed that Odisha recorded 624 such deaths during this period, followed by Jharkhand with 474, West Bengal with 436, Assam with 383, Chhattisgarh with 303, Tamil Nadu with 256, Karnataka with 160 and Kerala with 124. The minister said the management of wildlife habitats was primarily the responsibility of state governments and Union Territory administrations and that the central government provided financial and technical support under the centrally sponsored Project Tiger & Elephant scheme for the protection of animals, their habitats and corridors, addressing ...
In Fresh States vs Governors Row Over Bills, Supreme Court's Notice To Centre
The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to the centre and secretaries to the governors of Bengal and Kerala, on the basis of pleas - long-standing - by the states, claiming delays in clearing pending bills and referring those to the President.
The Supreme Court issued notices to the Kerala and West Bengal governors over pending bills, responding to pleas from the states. Advocates claim the delays affect welfare measures. Replies are requested within three weeks.
Niti Aayog meeting faces boycott from opposition leaders over budget woes
Chief ministers from Tamil Nadu, Himachal Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Punjab, Jharkhand, and Kerala will be skipping the Niti Aayog meeting
Speaking to The Hindu, the former Indian Ambassador to the Netherlands and Consul General in Dubai said the MEAs statement is contrary to Modi governments own policy
SC issues notice to Centre, states on Governor's decision to keep bills pending
NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Friday issued notice to the Centre andAdditional Chief Secretary to the respective Governors and asked them to file a detailed reply within three weeks after hearing a plea filed by Kerala and West Bengal governments challenging theGovernors' decisions to keep several bills pending for months, either refusing to assent them or reserving them for President's consideration. A three-judge bench of the apex court, led by Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra, issued notice to the Centre, Kerala and West Bengal State Governors through their respective offices, Additional Chief Secretaries, within three weeks. Let the reply be filed in three weeks and also a joint note be submitted from the states, the CJI said. During the hearing,former Attorney General (AG) and senior lawyer, KK Venugopal, appearing for the Kerala State, pleaded to the apex court that there was a need for the Court to lay down guidelines on this issue pertaining to when the Governors can return or refer bills. This is confusion in the minds of various Governors in the country as to what their powers are in regard to assenting to bills. In the present (Kerala) case, out of eight bills, two of them had been kept pending for 23 months, one for 15 months, another for 13 months, and others for 10 months. It is a very sad state of affairs.This is a confusion among the Governors that they keep bills pending. This is against the constitution, the senior lawyer told the apex court. Venugopal further said that this court should tell the Governor as to when they can refuse to assent and when they can refer to the President. For the West Bengal government, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi said thatevery time the court hears it some bills are cleared and the same happened during the Tamil Nadu case as well. In its petition filed under Article 32 of the Constitution before the top court, the Kerala government challenged the action and reconsideration of President Droupadi Murmu in withholding assent for four out of the seven bills referred by the Kerala Governor. The Kerala government also challenged the Governor's action of referring the bills to the President, arguing that none of the bills related to Centre-State relations required the Presidential assent.
Why Kerala's Veli Tourism Village Should Be On Your South India Travel List
The village combines picturesque gardens and lawns with the scenic beauty of the seas.
This Kerala Hill Station Is Known As Poor Mans Ooty
The place is suitable for those interested in long-distance hiking.
A bench of Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, Justice J.B. Paridwala and Justice Manoj Misra issued notices to the Union Ministry of Home Affairs and the Secretaries to both the Governors.
74-year-old Kerala Swimmer Wins Medals At European Masters Games
At 74, when most people prefer to stay at home, he decided to explore the world through swimming.
Kerala girl Tilotama Ikareth becomes torchbearer at 2024 Paris Olympics
Tilotama Ikareth, who trains in para-taekwondo in France, hopes to make it to the French team in the 2028 Paralympics
Why You Must Try This Rare Seafood In Kerala
Kallummakaya, larger than clams, are sea creatures found clinging to rocks and are cultivated in Kerala's coastal regions.
Kerala CM not to attend Niti Aayog meeting; decision taken before Union Budget
Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not attend the Niti Aayog meeting in New Delhi, having informed PM Modi earlier. Instead, state Finance Minister K B Balagopal represented Kerala. The reason for Vijayan's absence remains unclear.
