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Indian Express
13 hours ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Hidden Stories: How Pune nurtured the ‘parachute woman of India'
When India announced the launch of Operation Sindoor against Pakistan, Pune-based Smita Yeole was out of the country. What she saw stirred her in a deeply personal way, for Smita was in the business of manufacturing a product closely linked to war: parachutes. Since 2004, Mumbai-based Oriental Weaving and Processing Mills, which was founded by Smita's late father, Vishwanath Chalke, has been making parachutes that are used for dropping flares, bombs, drones, cargo, missiles, and humans from aircraft. 'There are hundreds of varieties of parachutes,' says Smita, the managing director of the company, adding that there are underwater parachutes and parachutes that drop 16,000 kg tanks from an aircraft in high-altitude regions such as Leh. Oriental supplies parachutes to the armed forces, and in 2009-10, it became the first private Indian company to export parachutes internationally. While the company manufactures more than 50 products, there is no website listing these. 'I cannot disclose details because these are customer-specific and related to a country's defence. I have a lot of customers who are against each other, so I cannot share one person's matter with another,' she says. The entrepreneur supplies parachutes to the Israelis and the UK, among others. Smita lives in a ground-floor apartment full of comfortable furniture and artefacts from around the world. The drawing room looks out at a converted outdoor dining space, and the sounds of the kitchen meander through conversations. As Smita talks about enjoying cooking and gardening, the domestic everydayness is a striking contrast to the high-action life-and-death scenarios in which she has made her mark. A Mumbai girl, Smita, who calls herself a 'textile person', had worked in a few companies before joining her father's business. 'I started at the bottom of the ladder,' she says. In 1988, Smita had an arranged marriage with Ajay Yeole, a metallurgist and gold medal-winning College of Engineering, Pune, alumnus, who worked at Tata Motors and came to Pune. 'For one year, I was sitting at home and doing nothing. I told my husband, 'Boss, I cannot stay at home like this. You better do something or I will have to keep shuffling between Bombay and Pune',' she recalls. Ajay took it upon himself to start a small aluminium foundry in Uttam Nagar in 1990. While helping him, Smita learned the foundry business from the workers, the consultants and the day-to-day working. By 1997-98, it became the top aluminium foundry in Pune. Smita brought the same attitude to her father's business in 1999-2000. Blessed with a hands-on husband and supportive mother-in-law who took care of their two sons, she began to shuttle between Mumbai and Pune. 'I spent Mondays, Tuesdays, half of Wednesdays, and half of Fridays working with my husband at the foundry. Thursdays used to be for my father's textile business in Mumbai. On Saturdays and Sundays, I used to be at home,' she says. Smita's father had pioneered making parachute fabric in India in the 1970s, after the India-Pakistan war. 'India was importing those fabrics, and my dad indigenised these,' she says. She was visiting the Aerial Delivery Research and Development Establishment in Agra with him when a director told her, 'You have made this fabric. Why don't you stitch it up for me?' This was the first time that a defence lab was asking somebody outside the lab, or a non-defence production company, to make parachutes. Smita, who read drawings like a book because of her foundry experience, took up the task. The initial challenges included finding tailors to gaining knowledge. Besides fabric and cords, a parachute needs tapes, cotton yarn, webbing and metal parts that are sourced from all over India. All components have to be sent for testing to the National Accreditation Board for Certification Bodies before they are applied to the product. Gradually, the company established vendors and pipelines and fine-tuned its systems. Today, the company operates out of three locations – Gujarat, where the thread is woven; Mumbai, where the fabric is processed with a centralised lab and head office; and Agra, where the parachute fabrication is done. 'We bagged orders one after the other. I have taken transfer of technology for the SU-30, i.e. the Sukhoi aircraft, the LCA aircraft, the Hawk and the MiG, among others. I make all these parachutes for the defence. Earlier, I used to supply only to India, now I supply globally,' she says. Smita regularly attends exhibitions abroad, meets people, learns and incorporates the developments in her work. Once, former Union minister Smriti Irani had referred to Smita as the Indian woman manufacturing parachutes. Yet, at meetings with suppliers in India, she says, she often meets people who want to 'speak to Mr Yeole'. Smita, who is also the vice-president of the prestigious Independence-era organisation, The Synthetic and Art Silk Mills Research Association, which is linked to the Ministry of Textiles, is optimistic about the future. 'Earlier, parachute fabric was made on an ordinary loom; now, it is made on water jet looms. The quality has improved manifold,' she says. AI has also made it 'easy to assimilate data', she adds. 'An abiding challenge is the availability of the yarn for making the fabric. It is all imported. When India becomes self-sufficient in that, the country will be on solid ground,' says Smita. Ironically, Smita has never used a parachute herself. 'Maybe…one day I have to do it. It is on my bucket list,' she says. Dipanita Nath is interested in the climate crisis and sustainability. She has written extensively on social trends, heritage, theatre and startups. She has worked with major news organizations such as Hindustan Times, The Times of India and Mint. ... Read More
The Hindu
17-06-2025
- Science
- The Hindu
KTU announces NSS awards
APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) announced its National Service Scheme (NSS) awards for 2023-24 on Tuesday. University Vice-Chancellor (in-charge) K. Sivaprasad announced the winners. The NSS units and programme officers chosen for the awards are: Mar Baselios Institute of Technology and Science, Shiju Ramachandran; College of Engineering, Adoor, Sreedeepa H. S.; College of Engineering, Cherthala, Priyakumar T. N.; Ilahia College of Engineering and Technology, Arun Kumar M.; KMCT College of Engineering for Women, Reena Abraham; Nehru College of Engineering and Research Centre, Rejumon R.; Government Engineering College, Sreekrishnapuram, Askar Ali P.; Thejus Engineering College, Vipin Krishna R.; ACE College of Engineering, Nandu Bhadran; and Baselios Mathews II College of Engineering, Darsana S. Babu.
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Michigan State hikes tuition 4.5%, but leaves wiggle room for legislative cap
LANSING — Students will pay a few hundred dollars more to attend Michigan State University for the 2025-26 academic year, but the exact amount is still in flux while legislators iron out the state budget. Trustees voted June 13 at a meeting in Traverse City to raise tuition 4.5%, but included language that will reduce that amount if the state budget includes a cap that is lower than that, the university said. The state Legislature typically determines a percentage cap that universities can increase tuition for in-state students by, and if an institution goes over that amount it is no longer eligible for millions in state funding. MORE: Michigan State trustees pause demolition of IM West, OK study to decide building's future Last year, that cap was 4.5%, and both Democratic Gov. Gretchen Whitmer and the Democratic-controlled Michigan Senate proposed that same cap for the coming fiscal year in their budget recommendations. However, the Republican-controlled Michigan House of Representatives previously recommended a 3% cap, but the bill passed with a substitute that brought the cap to 4.5%. "If you've been reading or listening to the news this week, then you have heard of the threat of additional state appropriation cuts," said Trustee Sandy Pierce, who chairs the board committee of budget and finance. "State appropriations per resident undergraduate student has fallen by 44% since fiscal year 2000 when adjusted for inflation." The state's final budget may take some time to negotiate between the Republican-led House and the Democratic-led Senate. Lawmakers have a July target date to finalize it but the deadline is the end of the current fiscal year, on Sept. 30. MORE: MSU Board of Trustees approves hiring of AD Batt, extension for hockey coach Nightingale As of now, per semester base costs for undergraduate students from Michigan will increase by $399. Freshmen will pay $8,458 per semester, sophomores will pay $8,653 and most juniors and seniors will pay $9,642. Juniors and seniors from Michigan who are in the Eli Broad College of Business or the College of Engineering will pay $9,935 per semester. Undergraduate students from outside Michigan and international students will also see a per semester base rate tuition increase of $399. Freshmen and sophomores will now pay $22,150 and juniors and seniors will pay $22,818. Juniors and seniors who are in the Eli Broad College of Business or the College of Engineering will pay $23,127 per semester. Graduate students will see per-credit hour costs increase a similar rate, the university said. The university said in a statement that the budget allocates an additional $6 million to student financial aid. The University of Michigan raised its tuition rates June 12. In-state tuition and fees for undergraduates will increase by about $610, or 3.4%, for an annual rate of $18,346. Tuition and fees for nonresident undergraduate students will increase by $3,016, or 4.9%, for an annual rate of $63,962, according to information posted on the university's website. Contact Sarah Atwood at satwood@ Follow her on X @sarahmatwood. This article originally appeared on Lansing State Journal: Michigan State University increases cost of tuition 4.5%
Hindustan Times
03-06-2025
- General
- Hindustan Times
Unfinished foot over bridge at Pune's Pratik Nagar raises safety concerns
A foot over bridge (FoB) installed at Pratiknagar in Vishrantwadi has been lying incomplete for over three months. Residents claim that the bridge has no staircases and cannot be used. The Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) should complete the work immediately to avoid untoward incidents, they said. Anand Adsul, a resident of Vishrantwadi, said, 'The FoB crosses a drain with encroachments on both sides. Without staircases, it serves no purpose.' In 2014, the PMC built a pedestrian bridge at Vishrantwadi Chowk, where five major roads meet. The junction is always busy due to traffic, street vendors, encroachments, and illegal parking. The bridge was built at a cost of ₹4 crore to help people cross the Alandi Road, Dhanori, and airport junction safely. However, the bridge was too high and the lift often didn't work. Very few people used it, and it was poorly maintained. In 2023, PMC decided to scrap it and build a flyover and grade separator instead. Later, the PMC project department dismantled the old FoB and decided to reuse its parts. One section was installed at the College of Engineering, Pune (CoEP) hostel on Jangli Maharaj Road and is now operational. Another section was placed at Pratik Nagar, Vishrantwadi, but without staircases. Residents from Pratiknagar, Mohanwadi, Panchsheel Nagar, Adarsh Nagar, and Maji Sainik Nagar say the FoB could help cross the busy Alandi Road. But the height and lack of access make it unusable—especially for senior citizens. Sandeep Patil, executive engineer at PMC's project department, said, 'Drainage work is underway at the FoB site. We're connecting a line from the underpass to the nearby drain. Due to pre-monsoon rains, the work has been delayed. Once it's done, we'll install the staircases.' Vinod Pawar, civic activist, said, 'The bridge work should be finished before the Palkhi procession. If any untoward incident occurs, PMC will be responsible.'
Yahoo
01-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Construction, demolition happening across Penn State's campus. See the projects
Summer is typically a busy time for construction projects on Penn State's University Park campus, but this year, it seems you can't turn a corner without running into scaffolding or fencing. From high-profile projects like the $700 million Beaver Stadium renovation to new and improved classroom spaces, below is a recent look at various under-construction spots on campus. A new $96 million, three-story classroom building is going up near the intersection of Park Avenue and Bigler Road. The 90,000-square-foot building will have large lecture halls, general purpose classrooms with seminar-style and flexible seating, and will be available to any academic college, according to a news release from the university. It's anticipated to be completed in time for the fall 2026 semester. Major work continues at the Sackett Building, part of an overall $89.9 million project and part of the College of Engineering Master Plan. Kunkle Lounge, which connects to the Hammond Building, is also being demolished. Work is expected to continue throughout the year and be completed for fall 2027. Oswald Tower is being demolished following the spring semester opening of the new Susan Welch Liberal Arts Building. Renovations to the Nursing Sciences Building include a 2,700-square-foot expansion on the building's northwest side for a 180-person active-learning, simulation-ready classroom and knowledge commons space. The project was not expected to exceed $28 million, with $10 million coming from philanthropic gifts. Work on the renovations and addition to Osmond Lab started last year. The $115 million project's 48,000-square-foot addition will be a 'high-bay research facility' that supports the physics department, according to a university release. A $21.25 million Jeffrey Field Soccer Complex project includes renovations to the soccer stadium and a new soccer operational facility. Construction began in 2024 and the university is targeting a late 2025 completion date. South of Jeffrey Field, an indoor practice air-supported structure is in the works. The estimated $10 million project will feature artificial turf, sports lighting and surface parking. The most high-profile — and expensive — of Penn State's ongoing construction projects is the Beaver Stadium revitalization. The site has been active since the end of the 2024 football season, with the demolition of the press box in January kicking off the start of more extensive work. Penn State's board of trustees approved up to $700 million in spending on the renovation project last May. In a May 15 video update on the Penn State Athletics website, Associate Director of Development Michael Mauti explained that micropiling, a deep foundation technique using small-diameter, drilled and grouted piles with steel reinforcement to support or stabilize structures, has started on the west side. Temporary seating will be installed there for this football season. A $3.9 million roofing project is underway at Thompson Hall. The project will replace the existing slate roof system. The Labor Department's Occupational Safety and Health Administration is investigating after an employee working on the project was injured after a May 27 fall. Updates to Ritner and Wolf residence halls are first up in Penn State's plan to renovate all nine Pollock residence halls. The $92.1 million plan aims to completely renew the 1960 residence halls with new amenities such as air conditioning and private bathrooms.
