
Central team evaluates execution of schemes in Andhra Pradesh
The team, led by Joint Secretary Mukta Sekhar, visited Paderu and Araku Valley mandals. During their field inspection, the officials evaluated the delivery of public services, village-level planning through Grama Sabhas, and the availability of basic infrastructure.
At Minumuluru village in Paderu mandal, the team met local coffee and pepper farmers to understand their economic conditions, challenges in cultivation, and concerns related to Minimum Support Prices (MSP).
On the occasion, Mukta Shekhar emphasised the role of village resolutions (Grama Sanhas) in formulating effective development plans tailored to local needs. The team also visited a camp organised by the Women and Child Welfare Department in the village, where they observed traditional community programmes such as Seemantham and Annaprasana.
They reviewed the process of pension distribution and enquired about the practice of cash disbursement. ASR Joint Collector Dr MJ Abhishek Gowda explained that due to limited banking facilities in the region and the remote location of many beneficiaries, pensions are being provided in cash to ensure accessibility.
He added that the process is monitored through the IVRS system to maintain transparency and prevent irregularities. The team also visited Sunkarametta village in Araku mandal, where they held interactions with residents and gathered feedback on local governance.
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NDTV
4 hours ago
- NDTV
Reconsider Satyajit Ray Home Demolition, Can Help With Repair: India To Bangladesh
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NDTV
4 hours ago
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How Kerala Nurse Sentenced To Death In Yemen Got Reprieve
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Business Standard
4 hours ago
- Business Standard
India offers help to restore Satyajit Ray's ancestral home in Bangladesh
The Indian government has expressed its willingness to work alongside Bangladeshi authorities to restore the ancestral house of iconic filmmaker and writer Satyajit Ray, which is currently in a neglected state in Mymensingh, Bangladesh. In an official statement issued on July 9, India said it 'notes with profound regret that the ancestral property of noted filmmaker and litterateur Satyajit Ray in Mymensingh, Bangladesh, belonging to his grandfather and eminent litterateur, Upendra Kishor Ray Chowdhury, is being demolished.' The property, which is owned by the Government of Bangladesh, 'is in a state of disrepair,' the statement noted. The building holds historical and cultural importance, as it represents the Bangla literary renaissance. Call to preserve cultural landmark India has suggested that, rather than allowing the demolition to go ahead, alternative options should be explored to restore and repurpose the building. The statement read: 'Given the building's landmark status, symbolising Bangla cultural renaissance, it would be preferable to reconsider the demolition and examine options for its repair and reconstruction as a museum of literature and a symbol of the shared culture of India and Bangladesh.' Offering support for this cause, the Indian government added: 'The Government of India would be willing to extend cooperation for this purpose.' The call for action follows rising concerns over the potential loss of a culturally significant site tied to one of South Asia's greatest literary and cinematic figures. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee also voiced her concerns on social media. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), she said: 'This news is extremely distressing. The Ray family is one of the foremost bearers and carriers of Bengali culture. Upendra Kishore is a pillar of Bengal's renaissance. Therefore, I believe this house is intricately tied to the cultural history of Bengal.' খবরে প্রকাশ যে, বাংলাদেশের ময়মনসিংহ শহরে সত্যজিৎ রায়ের ঠাকুরদা, স্বয়ং স্বনামধন্য সাহিত্যিক-সম্পাদক উপেন্দ্রকিশোর রায়চৌধুরীর স্মৃতিজড়িত তাঁদের পৈতৃক বাড়িটি নাকি ভেঙে ফেলা হচ্ছে। ভাঙার কাজ শুরু হয়ে গিয়েছিল বলে খবর প্রকাশিত। এই সংবাদ অত্যন্ত দুঃখের। রায় পরিবার বাংলার… — Mamata Banerjee (@MamataOfficial) July 15, 2025 Banerjee further appealed to the Bangladeshi government, currently led by its chief adviser Mohammad Yunus, as well as citizens of the country, to take steps to protect the house. She also urged the Indian central government to intervene. 'Abandoned for a decade' According to the Department of Archaeology in Bangladesh, the house was constructed over 100 years ago. After the 1947 partition of India, it came under the ownership of the then East Pakistan government. 'The house has been left abandoned for 10 years. Shishu Academy activities have been operating from a rented space,' Md Mehedi Zaman, the Children's Affairs Officer in Dhaka, told Bangladeshi publication The Daily Star. He confirmed that a semi-concrete building with multiple rooms will be constructed on the same site to resume the academy's activities, adding that the demolition has been approved through official channels. When questioned about the decision to tear down such a historically important structure, Zaman responded that the building posed safety concerns. 'The building posed a serious risk for children, when they gather at the compound,' he said.