Latest news with #K-DISC
New Indian Express
09-07-2025
- Science
- New Indian Express
K-DISC pitches tech and innovation to help neurodivergent people
KOCHI: As a state with more than seven lakh differently abled people, it is high time Kerala leveraged technology and community participation to create an ecosystem catering to their needs. And that is precisely what the STRIDE (Social Technology and Research for Inclusive Design Excellence) project aims to do. As part of the programme designed by the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC), STRIDE Innovation Centres will be set up at engineering colleges under APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University (KTU) and other universities. Another feature will be the setting up of a first-of-its-kind Makerspaces at select BUDS schools operated by Kudumbashree and the local self-government department (LSGD). 'The plan is to create India's first inclusive innovation ecosystem, and specifically, assistive/adaptive technology in 2026,' Robin Tommy, executive director of K-DISC's Social Enterprises and Inclusion (SEI), tells TNIE. 'The project aims to make Kerala a hub for social innovation, with a strong emphasis on community-driven solutions.' Launched in November 2024 on an experimental basis, the project will have four arms -- STRIDE Innovation Centres, STRIDE Makerspaces, STRIDE Hub, and STRIDE Network. 'The initiative envisions to make these neurodivergent individuals self-sufficient. They don't need our empathy or sympathy. What they need is a way to earn a livelihood once they turn 18. They need hand-holding,' he says. Explaining more about STRIDE, Robin says, 'At the innovation centres, the students will be encouraged to come up with designs that help improve the lives of their special needs brethren.' He stresses the innovation happening at these centres will be human-centric. K-DISC had conducted a Designathon, where more than 300 teams from colleges across the country presented their ideas. These ideas were arrived at through interactions with the differently abled persons, he says.
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Blood bank traceability application on the anvil
The Health department is readying a centralised software application, Blood Bank Traceability Application, which will give real time information on the safe and matching blood units available across the State. A portal is also being created for the public to provide accurate information on the availability of blood across all blood banks in the State and this is expected to be functional by the end of the year, a statement issued by the Health department said. The project is being implemented by K-DISC, Kerala State AIDS Control Society, State Blood Transfusion Council and e-Health, in coordination with the Health department In the coming years, the State's aim will be to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation The blood bank traceability application is a centralised software platform linking all blood banks in the State. Efforts are on to link private blood banks also on to this platform The State hopes that this facility will ensure that the available blood units across Kerala would be visible to all on the same platform so that safe blood is accessible to all. The blood bank traceability application will be operational on an experimental basis at General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The application will be scaled up across the State later in the year
Time of India
14-06-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Kerala govt to launch software to track blood banks
T'puram: Health minister Veena George announced the launch of 'Blood Bank Traceability Application' – a centralized software to provide real-time information on the availability of safe and suitable blood units across the state. As part of this initiative, a portal is being developed to allow the public to accurately check blood availability. The govt aims to make this portal accessible to the public by the end of the year. Once operational, information from blood banks will be readily available from anywhere, the minister said in a statement. To ensure the availability of blood, blood storage units or blood banks have been set up at all hospitals with maternity services, starting from community health centres. An advanced digital blood bag traceability system was implemented to monitor blood from collection to transfusion, while Kerala Rare Blood Donor Registry was launched for rare blood types. This is in addition to the new traceability software. The project is being implemented under the leadership of the health department, in collaboration with K-DISC, Kerala State AIDS Control Society, Blood Transfusion Council, and e-Health. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Giao dịch CFD với công nghệ và tốc độ tốt hơn IC Markets Đăng ký Undo The goal is to achieve 100% voluntary blood donation in the coming years. The new application is a centralised software platform that connects all blood banks. Efforts have begun to integrate private blood banks into this software, in addition to those at the govt level. This initiative will help visualise the available blood in Kerala on a single platform and ensure uniform safety and care for everyone. The blood bank traceability application project will begin on a trial basis at the Thiruvananthapuram general hospital this month, with the aim of implementing it statewide within the year. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
New Indian Express
26-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Will respond to amicus curiae report in court: Former Minister Thomas Isaac
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Former finance minister Thomas Isaac has said that he would respond to the amicus curiae's findings in the court. The amicus curiae was appointed by the Kerala High Court on a public interest litigation challenging the appointment of Isaac as an advisor to the Vijnana Keralam (Knowledge Kerala) project of the government. Addressing reporters here on Friday, Isaac said he has not read the amicus curiae's report. However, he responded to the allegations over his appointment. On the allegation on his remuneration, Isaac said he receives only a travel allowance. The project involves skill training for all students in the state. He has to travel extensively and stay at guest houses. He said the K-DISC was formed with the approval of the finance department. The allegations in this regard are baseless. Another criticism was on the sanction given by the KDISC ex officio secretary. There are several precedents in which ex officio secretaries issued similar sanctions. ASHA workers' strike was politically motivated Issac said the ASHA workers' strike was politically motivated. The previous LDF government raised the honorarium for the workers from Rs 1000 to Rs 7000 not because of any strike. Also, the social security pension was raised to Rs 1600. The previous government hiked these amounts because it had money. 40 per cent of the government's revenue was central funds during the time. Now it has come down to 25 pc and the government is facing a severe fund crunch, he said.
The Hindu
25-04-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
No scope for controversy over Vijnana Keralam post, says Isaac
Former Finance Minister T.M. Thomas Isaac on Friday ruled out any scope for a controversy over his appointment as advisor to the Vijnana Keralam initiative of the State government. Dr. Isaac was reacting to a public interest litigation questioning his appointment and an amicus curiae report to the High Court based on it. Dr. Isaac said he was happy to have received an opportunity to explain matters before the court. Only travel expenses On the question of the remuneration for his post, he said he was eligible only for travel expenses. Vijnana Keralam is aimed at aligning skilling with job creation, according to Dr. Isaac. Skilling programmes for the student community under the Vijnana Keralam campaign is to be rolled out from August, he said. He went on to add that the Kerala Development and Innovation Strategic Council (K-DISC) assumed its present structure during the previous LDF government's term. K-DISC was shaped with the approval of the Finance department, he said.
