Latest news with #Aswathy
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- The Hindu
This Kerala woman weaves her dreams into fashion
From the heart of Edappal, a town in Malappuram district of Kerala, a dream has blossomed into a reality as Aswathy Balakrishnan etches her name in the world of bridal fashion designing. With a vision to weave magic on fabric, Aswathy embarked on her journey in 2023 by setting up a studio, Avaanah, in a rented room with an investment of ₹6 lakh she secured through a loan. From a modest start with just two assistants, her designs quickly captured the hearts of hundreds of brides. Today, Avaanah is synonymous with exquisite bridal wear. Her bridal dresses are sought after in countries like Australia, the U.K., the U.S.A, the UAE and Ireland. With materials sourced from northern India, Aswathy's designer creations like lehengas, gowns and sarees are priced between ₹10,000 and ₹50,000. Her traditional Christian bridal dresses are particularly popular abroad. As Aswathy looks back on her journey, she beams with pride. She has not only built a successful brand, but also created opportunities for many and inspired others to pursue their entrepreneurial dreams. Her confidence received a major boost from early clients like playback singers Sithara Krishnakumar, Mridula Warrier, Rimi Tomy, actors Sneha Sreekumar, Shruthi Rajanikanth and Veena Nandakumar. Hailing from Thaikkattussery near Thrissur, Aswathy's journey into fashion designing was fuelled by her innate passion for art. She pursued a diploma in fashion designing and nurtured her creative talent beyond her Zoology and Malayalam academic background. However, it was only after her marriage and relocation to Edappal that she discovered her niche in bridal designing, marking the beginning of her journey with Avaanah. She praised the Taluk Industries Centre and the Kudumbashree for their supportive roles. 'They provided consistent encouragement, clear guidance and helped in easy facilitation of loans,' she says. Aswathy's experience serves as a beacon of hope for aspiring entrepreneurs who often face bureaucratic hurdles. She debunks the myth that government aid is only limited to joint or small ventures. The District Industries Centre, she says, provides valuable guidance to start-up aspirants. 'Women should seize this opportunity,' she advises aspiring female entrepreneurs. Her inspiring story was recently shared at an interaction with Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan during the State government's fourth anniversary celebrations at Malappuram.
Hindustan Times
18-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Odisha: 21 dead, over 1,700 sick from diarrhoea, cholera outbreak
The Odisha government on Tuesday put all 30 districts on high alert and intensified containment measures as the death toll from diarrhoea and cholera outbreak rose to 21, with over 1,700 falling sick in at least 7 districts. While over 1,300 people of the 1,700 infected have recovered, state health secretary Aswathy S said the government is not taking any chances and ensuring that disinfection of drinking water sources continues across the state. 'We're in constant touch with a central team, which maintains that the outbreak does not yet qualify as an epidemic. But we are taking no chances and disinfecting all water sources, including in the 25 districts not currently identified as hotspots. A door-to-door awareness campaign by ASHA and Anganwadi workers is also underway in rural areas and will remain active for the next seven days,' Aswathy said. Health officials said of the total samples tested, cholera bacteria (Vibrio cholerae) was found in 10% of the samples, with most of the cholera cases reported from Jajpur district where the outbreak began soon after people attended a wedding ceremony where over 2,500 had dinner. In Jajpur, the district administration has ordered closure of eateries and hotels in the worst-affected areas of the district for two weeks as a preventive measure and closed ice-cream factories, packaged water units besides fish and chicken outlets during the period. The officials also urged residents to refrain from attending or organising mass gatherings such as weddings, birthday parties, or community feasts. People were advised to avoid stale food, consume only freshly-cooked meals, and drink boiled water. The use of halogen tablets and bleaching powder for water purification was also recommended. A 14-member central team has been in Odisha since Sunday to assess the situation on the ground. The team is visiting affected areas to strengthen coordination among various departmental teams and ensure effective implementation of diarrhoea control measures. 'There is no cholera outbreak in Jajpur district, it is endemic with just a little surge in cases. We have seen an outbreak of diarrhoeal diseases. We have given suggestions to the state on water safety, food safety, maintenance of personal hygiene and awareness creation,' said Shibani Lahiri, a member of the central team. Odisha last saw a cholera outbreak in December 2023 in Rourkela town where 11 people died and more than 1,800 people were hospitalised. Similarly, in Rayagada district, an outbreak was reported between July and November 2022, with 10 deaths and 414 cases. Cholera has consistently made its presence known in Odisha over the past two and a half decades, making it a significant public health issue, particularly affecting the lower socio-economic groups in the southern regions of Odisha. Between 2011 and 2020, Odisha had 19 outbreaks of cholera. Districts such as Rayagada, Koraput, Kalahandi, and Nuapada are particularly susceptible, making cholera a prominent and pressing concern for public health authorities in the region.
NDTV
17-06-2025
- Health
- NDTV
Odisha Alerts Districts Against Spread Of Cholera, Death Count At 11 So Far
Bhubaneswar: With 10 per cent of the samples testing positive for the deadly Vibrio Cholera virus, the Odisha government on Tuesday put all the 30 districts on alert against the spread of the water-borne disease which has so far claimed 11 lives and infected over 2,000 people across the coastal region. The disease, which broke out in the form of diarrhoea in Jajpur district on June 9, has so far spread to other districts including Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Cuttack. Some other districts have also reported sporadic cases of diarrhoea while samples collected from Jajpur detected the cholera virus. Speaking to media persons here, state Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S said cholera was found in 10 per cent of the total samples sent from different areas for testing. About 300 people were affected by diarrhoea in these districts on Tuesday, besides the existing cases, she said. The spread of the disease has prompted the state government to put all collectors on alert asking them to take preventive measures at least for a week. Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, "The situation is under control and the government has been putting efforts to break the chain and stop the spread of the disease." Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja held a meeting with the district collectors through video conferencing in the presence of health department officers here on Tuesday. "We have issued instructions to all district collectors and district-level health officers to continue disinfection drives, cleanness activities, and mobilisation of Anganwadi & ASHA workers for at least a week," Aswathy said. However, the people with mild diarrhoea (early stage) have started visiting the hospitals, which is a positive sign, Aswathy said. Massive awareness campaigns for maintaining personal hygiene and drinking safe water are underway in the rural pockets of the five districts, she said, adding, the situation will be reviewed every day at state and district levels. The secretary further informed that the central team, which has been in Odisha for the past two days, again visited Jajpur district on Tuesday and they will have a meeting with Odisha government officials on Wednesday. Stating that the disease did not outbreak from one source, she said, "Therefore, we have to disinfect all sources." The cases of hospitalisation have come down. However, there is a possibility of re-infection. Therefore, people have been appealed to follow the health advisory of the government, Aswathy said. Four state-level teams have been sent to the five districts to monitor the field-level activities. About 220 diarrhoea patients are under treatment at different healthcare facilities in the worst-hit Jajpur district, said Collector P Anvesha Reddy. The district administration has ordered the closure of street food vendors and roadside hotels in the affected areas. Public feasts and food events are allowed only with permission, officials said. Hospitals are cleaned and disinfected every 30 minutes to stop the spread of infection. The officials further informed that eight medical specialists and 20 more mobile health teams have been deployed at the hospitals in the affected area of Jajpur. With the deployment of the new mobile teams, 40 mobile health teams of NHM are currently working in the district. Besides, 45 mobile health camps have been organised in the affected areas of Jajpur, they said. Earlier in the day, Raids were conducted at several restaurants in Bhubaneswar, Jajpur and Cuttack to assess the standard of hygiene amid the diarrhoea outbreak in parts of the state, officials said. A team led by Darpan's tahasildar Manas Tripathy conducted raids at eateries, sweet shops and hotels in Barchana town in Jajpur. "We are checking the hygiene and quality of food served in eateries. If stale food was found, we issued a warning to the owner. If they continue to serve unhygienic or stale food, we will seal their shop," he said. Similarly, the municipal authorities in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have also started conducting raids after diarrhoea cases were detected in some pockets of the twin cities. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation teams conducted raids at eateries in Kalinga Vihar and Delta Square areas. They collected food samples for testing and also fined some restaurant owners for not maintaining the quality, an official said. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) sealed two hotels in the Station Bazar after finding low-quality water and food served there, he said. Capital Hospital's Director Rupabhanu Mishra said a separate ward has been set up to treat diarrhoea patients.
Hindustan Times
17-06-2025
- Health
- Hindustan Times
Odisha alerts districts against spread of cholera, 11 dead so far
Bhubaneswar, With 10 per cent of the samples testing positive for the deadly Vibrio Cholera virus, the Odisha government on Tuesday put all the 30 districts on alert against the spread of the water-borne disease which has so far claimed 11 lives and infected over 2,000 people across the coastal region. The disease, which broke out in the form of diarrhoea in Jajpur district on June 9, has so far spread to other districts including Dhenkanal, Bhadrak, Keonjhar and Cuttack. Some other districts have also reported sporadic cases of diarrhoea while samples collected from Jajpur detected the cholera virus. Speaking to media persons here, state Health and Family Welfare Secretary Aswathy S said cholera was found in 10 per cent of the total samples sent from different areas for testing. About 300 people were affected by diarrhoea in these districts on Tuesday, besides the existing cases, she said. The spread of the disease has prompted the state government to put all collectors on alert asking them to take preventive measures at least for a week. Health Minister Mukesh Mahaling said, "The situation is under control and the government has been putting efforts to break the chain and stop the spread of the disease." Chief Secretary Manoj Ahuja held a meeting with the district collectors through video conferencing in the presence of health department officers here on Tuesday. "We have issued instructions to all district collectors and district-level health officers to continue disinfection drives, cleanness activities, and mobilisation of Anganwadi & ASHA workers for at least a week," Aswathy said. However, the people with mild diarrhoea have started visiting the hospitals, which is a positive sign, Aswathy said. Massive awareness campaigns for maintaining personal hygiene and drinking safe water are underway in the rural pockets of the five districts, she said, adding, the situation will be reviewed every day at state and district levels. The secretary further informed that the central team, which has been in Odisha for the past two days, again visited Jajpur district on Tuesday and they will have a meeting with Odisha government officials on Wednesday. Stating that the disease did not outbreak from one source, she said, "Therefore, we have to disinfect all sources." The cases of hospitalisation have come down. However, there is a possibility of re-infection. Therefore, people have been appealed to follow the health advisory of the government, Aswathy said. Four state-level teams have been sent to the five districts to monitor the field-level activities. About 220 diarrhoea patients are under treatment at different healthcare facilities in the worst-hit Jajpur district, said Collector P Anvesha Reddy. The district administration has ordered the closure of street food vendors and roadside hotels in the affected areas. Public feasts and food events are allowed only with permission, officials said. Hospitals are cleaned and disinfected every 30 minutes to stop the spread of infection. The officials further informed that eight medical specialists and 20 more mobile health teams have been deployed at the hospitals in the affected area of Jajpur. With the deployment of the new mobile teams, 40 mobile health teams of NHM are currently working in the district. Besides, 45 mobile health camps have been organised in the affected areas of Jajpur, they said. Earlier in the day, Raids were conducted at several restaurants in Bhubaneswar, Jajpur and Cuttack to assess the standard of hygiene amid the diarrhoea outbreak in parts of the state, officials said. A team led by Darpan's tahasildar Manas Tripathy conducted raids at eateries, sweet shops and hotels in Barchana town in Jajpur. "We are checking the hygiene and quality of food served in eateries. If stale food was found, we issued a warning to the owner. If they continue to serve unhygienic or stale food, we will seal their shop," he said. Similarly, the municipal authorities in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar have also started conducting raids after diarrhoea cases were detected in some pockets of the twin cities. Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation teams conducted raids at eateries in Kalinga Vihar and Delta Square areas. They collected food samples for testing and also fined some restaurant owners for not maintaining the quality, an official said. The Cuttack Municipal Corporation sealed two hotels in the Station Bazar after finding low-quality water and food served there, he said. Capital Hospital's Director Rupabhanu Mishra said a separate ward has been set up to treat diarrhoea patients.
New Indian Express
17-06-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Jajpur shuts eateries, launches ‘Stop Diarrhoea' drive amid outbreak
JAJPUR: Battling an explosive outbreak of diarrhoea, the Jajpur administration on Monday ordered closure of eateries and hotels in the worst-affected areas of the district for two weeks as a preventive measure. Tehsildars of Dharmasala and Rasulpur issued two separate directives which also mandated temporary closure of ice-cream factories, packaged water units besides fish and chicken outlets during the period. Strict action will be taken against establishments found operating in defiance of the directive. The tehsildars also urged residents to refrain from attending or organising mass gatherings such as weddings, birthday parties, or community feasts. People were advised to avoid stale food, consume only freshly-cooked meals, and drink boiled water. The use of halogen tablets and bleaching powder for water purification was also recommended. Similar directive has also been issued by the local administration in Vyasanagar, Binjharpur and Bari. Residents experiencing symptoms of diarrhoea have been advised to seek immediate medical attention at nearby health centres. Meanwhile, Health secretary Aswathy S visited Jajpur to take stock of the situation on the day. Aswathy inspected Dharmasala community health centre and district headquarters hospital before chairing a high-level review meeting at the collectorate. 'Water contamination is the suspected primary cause of the outbreak. Several teams are currently investigating the source of contamination on a war-footing. Required vigilance and health safety measures have been enforced in all affected areas,' said Aswathy. She further said the caseload has decreased and a few patients with mild symptoms were admitted to hospitals on Sunday and Monday. In response to the growing health crisis, a statewide 'Stop Diarrhoea' campaign was also launched on Monday. The campaign aims to control the spread of diarrhoea and cholera through awareness, timely treatment and sanitation interventions. 'A 14-member central team, including health experts and epidemiologists, is monitoring the situation closely. It is expected to provide expert guidelines which will be followed by local health authorities,' said Aswathy. According to the latest data, 256 diarrhoea patients are currently undergoing treatment in different health facilities of the district. The administration is now laying emphasis on disinfection, personal hygiene and awareness campaigns to control the waterborne disease. On the day, a 42-year-old diarrhoea patient of Jajpur succumbed during treatment at SCB Medical College and Hospital in Cuttack. So far, eight persons have died due to diarrhoea in the district.
