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The Hindu
5 days ago
- Climate
- The Hindu
Deficit rainfall hits kharif sowing in 11 mandals of Vizianagaram
Agriculture activity has been impacted in 11 out of 27 mandals of Vizianagaram district due to deficit rainfall during the ongoing kharif season. Farmers in Vangara, Regidi Amadalavalasa, Rajam, Bobbili, Ramabhadrapuram, Gajapathinagaram Garividi, Cheepurupalli and other mandals have been unable to begin sowing operations, with rainfall falling short of the seasonal averages. For instance, Vangara mandal received only 157 mm rainfall against the average rainfall of 162.2 mm, while Gantyada, received 140 mm compared to its normal 190.6 mm rainfall. Farmers who received water from Madduvalasa, Thatipudi and other reservoirs are relatively safe. However, in the absence of irrigation, a majority of farmers in the district, rely solely on the rains to irrigate their fields. The overall sowing activity in the district has dropped significantly. Normally, agriculture is taken up in 4.5 lakh acres, but this season it has been confined to around 2 lakh acres. Agriculture officials remain hopeful, citing the India Meteorological Department's forecast of additional rainfall for the district in the third week of July. CPIM leader Reddi Shankara Rao has urged the government to provide financial assistance to farmers who have been unable to begin sowing due to lack rainfall and irrigation facility. YSRCP leaders have sought ₹20,000 financial assistance for each farmer under the Rythu Bharosa scheme which was implemented during the tenure of former chief minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy regime.
New Indian Express
01-07-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Sanitary staff strength in schools to be cut in Chennai
CHENNAI: The corporation adopted a resolution to reduce the number of sanitary staff in corporation schools, by bringing down the existing ratio of one sweeper for every 200 students to one for every 300. The resolution cited financial constraints as the primary reason. The resolution said that following widespread concerns about the shortage of sanitation staff in schools, the corporation, in 2024-25, had deployed one sweeper per 200 students apart from one sanitary worker per 10 toilets. This arrangement resulted in the appointment of a total 1,822 workers through the National Urban Livelihoods Mission and SHGs, across 417 corporation schools, one community college, one vocational training centre, and 92 government schools, totalling to 511 educational institutions. These workers have been receiving Rs 753 per day since a wage revision from April 2024. However, under the revised deployment norms, the number of sanitation workers will now be reduced to 1,538, while the wage remains unchanged. The revision drew criticism from CPIM councillor B Vimala, who said the move would lead to compromised sanitary conditions in schools. She told TNIE that the GCC should deploy one sweeper per 150 students.
Hindustan Times
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Street dancer heckled for singing ‘Allah ke bande' at Tripura temple, CPI(M) seeks action
AGARTALA: A street dancer was allegedly heckled for singing Kailash Kher's 'Allah ke bande' at the famous Tripurasundari temple in Tripura's Gomati district, sparking political outrage. The opposition CPI(M) on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, demanding swift action from the state government and accusing it of fostering an atmosphere of intolerance. The video of the incident that went viral on social media on Sunday shows the street dancer, Shanu Malakar, is purportedly being threatened by another person (not seen in the video) and questioned him for his choice of song on the temple premises, saying that praise of Allah could not be done at a temple. In the video, Malakar is seen replying that he does street dance performances to raise funds for donations to the poor. In reference to the video, CPIM politburo member and leader of opposition Jitendra Chaudhury said, 'A youth, Sanu Malakar, a local singer who also earns money through his street dance performances and displaying physical acrobatics, was seen, in a social media video, singing the song which is devotional as well to appeal for humanity. A person threatened him in front of a huge gathering and questioned him why he uttered Allah. I appeal to the state government and the police to step in at the earliest.' He further said that the person who threatened Malakar did so by declaring that this is 'Hindustan", claiming that those who worship Allah or follow that faith are 'jihadis", and asserting that such songs have no place on Indian soil. Asserting that every Indian has constitutionally approved right to express their opinions through devotional songs of any religion, be it Hindu, Muslim, Christian or Buddhist, Chaudhury said the state government and police didn't take any action against the perpetrators till now. 'We often see that several people were arrested with different charges after the Pahalgam terror attack, and harassing them for 10-12 days... Why has no arrest been made here?' Chaudhury asked. Reacting to the incident, BJP state spokesperson Nabendu Bhattacharya said, 'It's natural that neither Azaan can be performed in temples nor Durga Puja can be performed in mosques.' A senior police officer stated, 'We have seen the video as well, but so far, no one has come forward to lodge a complaint.' Last year, the Gomati district magistrate served a notice prohibiting shooting of any such dance, music videos, reels and posting on social media after netizens raise objections against objectionable dance performances by social media influencers in Tripurasundari temple.
New Indian Express
21-05-2025
- New Indian Express
Death toll rises to three due to suffocation while cleaning septic tank in Tamil Nadu
TIRUPPUR: Death toll rose to three in the incident where daily wage labourers suffocated to death while cleaning the septic tank at the workers quarters in a dyeing factory here on Tuesday. The police registered a case against four people, including the plant owner. Daily wagers Saravanan (30) and R Venugopal (31) died on Monday and A Harikrishnan (26) of Sundamedu near Iduvai died on Tuesday. Police said, 'Alaya dyeing mill in Karaipudur has about 30 workers staying living in the quarters within the plant premises. Chinnasamy (36) of Sundamedu, who owns a septic tank cleaning vehicle, received a call on Monday to clean the tank.' 'Chinnasamy went there with the three workers. However, the four suffocated as they did not use safety equipment. Subsequently, worker Muthukumar (30), and a few others rescued and admitted them to a private hospital. However, Saravanan and Venugopal died on Monday,' police added. Muthukumar, who was involved in the rescue task, was also admitted to the hospital as a precaution. Chinnasamy and Muthukumar are receiving treatment at the hospital. Meanwhile, the Palladam police registered a case against plant owner Naveen, Manager Dhanabal, Supervisor Balasubramaniam and vehicle owner Chinnasamy under sections 125 (a), 106 (1) of BNS and Prohibition of Employment As Manual Scavengers and Their Rehabilitation Act 2013, 3 (i) (j) 3 (2) (va) of SC/ST Act 2015. Further investigation is on. Various outfits and trade unions staged protests in Tiruppur on Tuesday, demanding compensation for the families of the deceased. The district administration took steps to provide an initial compensation of Rs 30 lakh each to the families. Speaking to TNIE, K Karthikeyan DRO of Tiruppur said, 'Following government norms, we have taken steps to provide compensation from the concerned company to the affected families. After this, the police will continue to investigate the case.' The CPIM also urged appropriate action to be taken against officials related to this matter.
The Print
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Print
Kerala CPIM in spot after ex-minister Sudhakaran's ‘big reveal'—he tampered with LS postal votes in 1989
However, Congress's Vakkom Purushothaman, in 1989, defeated Devadas in Alappuzha though by a small margin of 25,123 votes. Speaking at an event, Sudhakaran Wednesday made claims of altering postal votes in the 1989 parliamentary polls. The ballots for opposition candidates were, he claimed, changed in favour of the then-CPIM candidate of Alappuzha, K.V. Devadas. Sudhakaran, at that time, was the secretary of the party's election committee. Thiruvananthapuram: The State Election Commission Kerala on Thursday launched a probe against Kerala Communist Party of India (Marxist) leader and ex-minister G. Sudhakaran, a day after the leader admitted to tampering with postal ballots in the 1989 Lok Sabha elections. CPIM leader Sudhakaran, who hails from Alappuzha, made the 'big reveal' before ex-members of the NGO Union in Alappuzha—who organised the event. NGO Union is a Left-leaning organisation representing non-gazetted State employees. At the event, Sudhakaran, also the Public Works Department (PWD) minister in the first Pinarayi cabinet of 2016-2021, said that the NGO Union members need not vote for the Left. Discounting their political affiliation, he said they, however, should openly tell which party candidate they support. 'Do not do a postal ballot; give it to us if you vote for others. Post it yourself. Do not think it will be left unopened—even if sealed. We will open it. When K.V. Devadas contested as the candidate here [Alappuzha], we opened all the postal votes. Fifteen percent of the members [of service organisations] had voted for the other party. We altered them,' Sudhakaran boasted. On Wednesday afternoon, a team of election commission officials and Ambalappuzha tahsildar Anvar reached Sudhakaran's house in the district and recorded his statements. Afterwards, an official said the team would submit a report to the district collector soon, and the collector would decide on further action. Sudhakaran responded to the probe, saying he was not afraid. 'I am not scared. I have not committed any murders. Let the collector take action,' the leader told media persons. However, the incident has led to widespread criticism from the opposition leaders of Congress. Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) president Sunny Joseph said that the CPIM had always practised electoral fraud. 'We have been saying this for a long time, especially that election manipulation is the CPIM's biggest tactic. Sudhakaran's statement is a big reveal. There should be action against this,' Sunny Joseph said. However, the CPIM denied any such malpractices. 'It can never happen. Once a postal ballot is open, the vote becomes invalid. If he is saying that he has done it, let him give the proof. He might have said it in the spirit of the event. It was unnecessary.' (Edited by Madhurita Goswami) Also Read: After investment summit, a 'New Kerala' plan. CPI(M)-led LDF eyes a hat-trick in the state
