Latest news with #R.Bindu
The Hindu
2 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
TrEST Research Park-incubated semiconductor start-up Netrasemi secures Series A funding
Fabless semiconductor start-up Netrasemi Pvt. Ltd., incubated at the State-run TrEST Research Park, has successfully raised ₹107 crore in an achievement that could fuel Kerala's deep-tech ambitions. Higher Education Minister R. Bindu said the investment in the start-up's Series A funding round (first round of venture capital funding after a start-up receives initial seed funding) was led by Zoho Corporation and Unicorn India Ventures. 'This is a significant leap for Kerala's growing semiconductor ecosystem. Netrasemi's success adds momentum to the State's deep-tech vision and proves the value of fostering innovation through academic-industry collaboration,' the Minister said. Founded in 2020 by Jyothis Indirabhai, Sreejith Varma and Deep Geetha, Netrasemi is developing a new generation of domain-specific, power-efficient Edge-AI System-on-Chips (SoCs). These chips are being widely adopted in sectors such as robotics, autonomous systems, smart IoT devices and surveillance technologies. Flagship products like Netra A2000 and R1000 are already in commercial use, offering cutting-edge solutions powered by a patented heterogeneous parallel processing architecture capable of supporting over 100 AI/ML applications, the Minister added in a statement. The start-up has also received backing from the Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology (MeitY) under its Design Linked Incentive (DLI) and Chips to Start-up (C2S) schemes. Modelled after the IIT Madras Research Park, TrEST Research Park was established to offer world-class R&D infrastructure and mentorship, and turn academic research into market-ready solutions.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Services under ‘Snehagramam' project for endosulfan victims enter second phase
The Social Justice department's flagship rehabilitation initiative for endosulfan victims, 'Saha Jeevanam Snehagramam', is gaining momentum with the second phase currently under way. The project aims to bring all essential services, treatment, therapy, accommodation, employment, and skill training under one roof for the comprehensive development of the victims. Snehagramam is being developed on 25 acres provided by the Planatation Corporation as compensation in Muliyar grama panchayat. The first phase, launched on February 29 last year by Higher Education and Social Justice Minister R. Bindu, saw the completion of blocks for consulting, hydrotherapy, and clinical psychology. The second phase, part of the Kasaragod Development Package, will expand services further with the addition of job training and accommodation facilities. C.H. Kunhambu, MLA, has allocated ₹25 lakh from the Asset Development Fund to address transportation issues faced by beneficiaries visiting the centre for treatment. Despite infrastructure to support 30 individuals, the Centre currently sees a footfall of up to 55 beneficiaries each day. So far, 219 differently abled individuals have undergone treatment, with 195 referred for further care. Of them, 153 received follow-up treatment at the Centre, and 26 were discharged after recovery. At present, 86 victims continue to receive regular services under the project. The initiative focuses on early identification of disabilities, specialised therapies, appointment of special educators and social workers, and long-term support through education, employment, and rehabilitation.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
National seminar on diversity of traditional knowledge systems to be held
Higher Education Minister R. Bindu has announced that a national seminar focussing on the diversity of traditional knowledge systems spread across the subcontinent will be soon organised. Presiding over the governing body meeting of the Kerala State Higher Education Council (KSHEC) here on Friday, Dr. Bindu said the seminar would be conducted in connection with the Knowledge Systems of Kerala course introduced by the council for four-year undergraduate programmes in State-run universities. Industry-academia ties The meeting also constituted a committee comprising Kerala State Planning Board member Jiju P. Alex, former Mahatma Gandhi University Vice-Chancellor Sabu Thomas and former APJ Abdul Kalam Technological University Vice-Chancellor Rajasree M.S. to prepare comprehensive guidelines and action plans for industry-academia collaborations. The meeting also approved a plan of action prepared on the basis of discussions held at the recent International Conclave on Next-Gen Higher Education. It also recommended steps to address the delay in providing equivalency and recognition for degrees awarded by the Sree Narayana Guru Open University. K-REAP The implementation of the K-REAP programme at Kannur, Sanskrit, Malayalam and Calicut Universities was reviewed. It was also decided to expedite the transition of other universities to the K-REAP software system. The governing body also resolved to operationalise the internship portal 'Internship Kerala 1.0', developed in collaboration with Keltron, by August. Various public sector organisations and local self-government institutions will be linked to the portal. KSHEC vice-chairperson Rajan Gurukkal, member secretary Rajan Varughese and Principal Secretary of the Higher Education department Sharmila Mary Joseph were present.
The Hindu
18-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Students table green Bills in mock parliament aiming for grassroot-level actions
From setting up climate monitoring hubs to turning water hyacinths stalks into value-added products, students took the floor with purpose at the Panchayat Climate Mock Parliament (PCP) held recently at Christ College, Irinjalakuda, under the joint leadership of the Kerala Institute of Local Administration (KILA) and the Bring Back Green Foundation. More than 300 school and college students, acting as youth parliamentarians, introduced a series of bold, actionable proposals rooted in hyperlocal climate data. The standout Bills included a climate monitoring and awareness centre in Muriyad panchayat to support its agrarian economy; a CCTV surveillance network in Irinjalakuda municipality to curb illegal waste dumping; stream and canal rejuvenation projects in Padiyoor and Poomangalam to strengthen flood resilience; and an initiative to manufacture value-added products from water hyacinths and other natural resources, tapping into local biodiversity for economic sustainability. The mock parliament, modelled on real legislative procedures, saw spirited debates between ruling and opposition benches. Student ministers defended their Bills while their peers challenged the feasibility and inclusivity of each, replicating authentic democratic functioning. Student volunteers The proposals were not theoretical. They stemmed from an year-long grassroots survey and campaign in the Irinjalakuda constituency, where student volunteers from Christ College and St. Joseph's College engaged with communities across Muriyad, Padiyoor, Poomangalam, and Irinjalakuda municipality. Their work included climate vulnerability assessments, data collection, and community dialogue , all of which informed the legislative agenda. The initiative was inaugurated by Minister for Higher Education R. Bindu, who praised the programme for transforming classrooms into real-world civic labs. 'The Panchayat Climate Mock Parliament offers a rare opportunity for students to translate knowledge into governance, activism, and climate leadership,' she said. This event marked more than a symbolic exercise. The final reports and Bills were formally submitted to the respective local self-government institutions (LSGIs), paving the way for possible real-world adoption. Youth-led model Spearheaded by KILA and Bring Back Green with the support of the State government and the LSG department, the Panchayat Climate Mock Parliament is a decentralised, youth-led model for participatory climate governance. It bridges the gap between global climate discourse and local action, enabling students to assess vulnerabilities, co-create solutions, and collaborate with elected representatives. Now, buoyed by the success of the Irinjalakuda pilot, the programme aims to expand to more climate-vulnerable places across Kerala, using hazard, vulnerability, and risk (HVR) assessments to guide interventions.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
KHSTU writes to Bindu seeking discussions on marks normalisation
Even as uncertainty over the State engineering and pharmacy entrance examination (KEAM) 2025 results drags on, the Kerala Higher Secondary Teachers' Union (KHSTU) has written to Minister for Higher Education R. Bindu calling for discussions on marks processes and development of tools for the same. In a statement on Tuesday, the KHSTU said decisions taken without any discussions on such grave issues as normalisation had led to change in candidates' ranks, putting students under immense stress and resulting in setbacks in courts. This created wrong precedent and allowed mistakes to continue, the association alleged. The government should organise discussions and deliberation instead of taking unilateral decisions so that apprehensions of State higher secondary students' who were unfairly disadvantaged could be addressed.
