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New Indian Express
8 hours ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
TN asks Centre to release Rs 2,670 crore in pending dues
CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu government has requested the union government to release pending dues amounting to Rs 2,670.64 crore. These dues relate to expenses incurred by the state for paddy procurement, rice fortification, and subsidies for ragi and sugar. Of the roughly 2.25 crore ration cards in Tamil Nadu, the cost of supplying rice through the Public Distribution System (PDS) to 1.12 crore cards (covering 3.6 crore beneficiaries) is fully borne by the centre under the National Food Security Act (NFSA). Of the total outstanding dues of Rs 2,670.64 crore, a sum of Rs 2,181.88 crore has been carried over from the financial years 2016-17 to 2020-21. Additionally, Rs 431.55 crore is pending as subsidy for ration cards that were migrated within Tamil Nadu during the same period. In relation to the supply of fortified rice, the state government incurred an expenditure of Rs 244.06 crore, of which the centre has released only Rs 197.26 crore, leaving a balance of Rs 46.80 crore. Food and Civil Supplies Minister R Sakkarapani submitted a memorandum on this matter to Union Minister for Consumer Affairs, Pralhad Joshi, on Wednesday. According to official sources, the centre disburses funds to the state at regular intervals under various heads, including procurement, milling, and distribution of rice through the PDS. These disbursals are based on claims submitted via the online portal


New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Mass yoga events mark International Yoga Day in Tenali and Vijayawada; officials highlight health benefits
GUNTUR: Food and Civil Supplies Minister Nandendla Manohar took part in a large-scale Yoga event organised in Tenali on Saturday to mark International Yoga Day, under the State government's 'Yogandhra' initiative. The programme was organised by Tenali Municipality and witnessed enthusiastic participation from all sections of society. The Minister actively performed various Yoga asanas alongside trained instructors and participants, motivating citizens by joining them in their practice. Hundreds of residents, including government employees and youth, gathered at the venue from as early as 6:30 am to participate in the hour-long session. Addressing the gathering, Minister Manohar emphasised that Yoga offers a sustainable path to healthy living without reliance on medicines, noting that it forms an integral part of India's cultural heritage, contributing to both physical and mental well-being. Grand Yoga Day fete at IGMC stadium in Vijayawada The District-level International Yoga Day celebrations were held with great enthusiasm at Indira Gandhi Municipal Corporation (IGMC) Stadium in Vijayawada on Saturday. Chief Commissioner of Land Administration G Jaya Lakshmi, Collector G Lakshmisha, Commissioner of Police Rajasekhar Babu, Joint Collector S Ilakkiya, former Minister Pithala Sujatha, APNGOs State President A Vidya Sagar, and DCP Saritha joined thousands of participants and trainers in performing Yoga asanas. Collector Lakshmisha announced that around 8.5 lakh people participated in Yoga sessions across the district and urged citizens to adopt Yoga for managing diabetes, hypertension, and stress. Commissioner Rajasekhar Babu praised the district's efforts and noted their achievement in setting a world record with floating Yoga.


The Hindu
18-06-2025
- General
- The Hindu
Higher secondary curriculum revision next year, says Sivankutty
Higher secondary curriculum revision will be implemented next year, Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty has said. He was speaking at the inauguration of 'Varavelppu,' the Plus One Praveshanolsavam, at Government Model Boys Higher Secondary School, Thycaud, here on Wednesday. The Minister said the start of Plus One classes would coincide with the launch of 'Koodeyundu Karuthekan' to equip students to survive challenges. The government aimed at arranging elaborate support mechanisms for not only students but teachers and parents also through this programme. Activities that support students' individual growth and development will be implemented as part of the programme. Schools should not be just spaces that impart knowledge to students; they should be able to aid students' social, emotional, and mental growth. The atmosphere in schools should be of happiness and care. Each student must feel secure and confident of enjoying all support. Counselling service 'Koodeyundu Karuthekan' would include counselling services by experts, personality development classes, cybersecurity awareness, and life skill training. Teachers too would get training to understand students' emotional state and provide support. It would also help parents provide correct guidance at every stage of a child's growth. The Minister said as many as 3.15 lakh students began Plus One on Wednesday. With completion of supplementary allotment, all students would get Plus One admission. Minister for Food and Civil Supplies G.R. Anil presided over the function. Antony Raju, MLA, was the chief guest.


Hans India
17-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Uttam urges Centre to bin AP's proposal for ToR for Polavaram
Hyderabad: State Irrigation, Food and Civil Supplies Minister N Uttam Kumar Reddy has written to Union Environment Minister Bhupender Yadav urging the ministry to reject the proposal for Terms of Reference (ToR) sought by Andhra Pradesh for the modified Polavaram Irrigation Project (PIP). The minister alleged that the AP government's actions represent consistent violations of environmental clearances and tribunal allocations, calling them detrimental to riparian interests and legally untenable. In his letter on Monday, Uttam Kumar Reddy stated that Andhra Pradesh has carried out massive deviations in both the Krishna and Godavari basins by enlarging the scope of several components of the PIP, in violation of the permissions accorded by the Godavari Water Disputes Tribunal Award (GWDTA) and the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC). He recalled that the Polavaram project originally received Environmental Clearance from MoEF under letter No. J-12011/74/2005-IA-1 dated October 25, 2005. However, the Andhra Pradesh government later implemented extensive changes without obtaining fresh clearance, prompting the Ministry to issue a 'Stop Work Order' on February 8, 2011. Although the order was issued due to the unapproved changes in the project's scope, it was kept in abeyance and has been repeatedly extended, most recently until July 2, 2026. This allowed the works to continue despite objections raised not only by Telangana but also by Odisha and Chhattisgarh. The Minister further pointed out that the Polavaram project, after being granted 'National Project' status by the Government of India, continues to receive reimbursement of expenditures, but only for components that were approved under the original scope. 'Yet the AP government has proceeded with major infrastructural modifications,' he wrote. Uttam Kumar Reddy referred to the Supreme Court's order dated September 6, 2022, which clearly observed that 'there are some technically reports available but more may be required depending on the expansion of the project. Similarly, the issue of the environmental clearances would also have to be addressed.' The Court had also suggested that the Minister of Jal Shakti and MoEF&CC play a pioneering role by convening a meeting of all stakeholders to resolve the contentious issues. In his communication, the Minister warned that AP has gone far beyond the approved project parameters. 'The connectivity to draw water from the head sluice of the Polavaram Right Main Canal (PIPRMC) is now being designed for 40,000 cusecs, while the original design was for 20,000 cusecs. Twin tunnels, each with a discharge capacity of 20,000 cusecs, are under execution, and the infrastructure at the headworks has already been created accordingly,' he pointed out. The Minister strongly urged the ministry not to undertake any appraisal of the Andhra Pradesh government's project proposal in the forthcoming meeting of the Expert Appraisal Committee (EAC). 'In view of all the above, especially in the interest of justice, it is requested to not to undertake any appraisal of this project proposal and outrightly reject the grant of ToR in the upcoming meeting of EAC,' he concluded.
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Business Standard
12-06-2025
- Politics
- Business Standard
2.1 million in Rajasthan opt out of food subsidy under 'Give Up' drive
The campaign is being successfully conducted in Jaipur to encourage ineligible individuals receiving benefits under the National Food Security Act (NFSA) to remove their names voluntarily Jaipur Listen to This Article Under the 'Give Up' campaign launched in November last year, 2.1 million ineligible people in Rajasthan have voluntarily given up their food subsidy, said Food and Civil Supplies Minister Sumit Godara. The campaign targets families in the exclusion category—those with a government or semi-government jobholder, pension above ₹1 lakh per year, total family income over ₹1 lakh, four-wheeler owners, or income tax payers. 'I have directed the departmental officers to speed up the campaign by making frequent field visits and motivate capable people to give up food subsidies,' the minister said. 'This helps connect deserving people to food security.'