Latest news with #R.Siva
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry Road Transport Corporation contract staff launch indefinite stir
Contract staff, including drivers and conductors of the Puducherry Road Transport Corporation (PRTC), launched an indefinite stir demanding the implementation of the long-pending promise of job regularisation. The protestors complained that staffers, some of whom had been working for over 11 years, had not been absorbed as regular employees. The contract staff demanded job regularisation without further delay and the implementation of all benefits of the Seventh Pay Commission. Leader of Opposition and DMK convenor R. Siva addressed a protest meeting and condemned the PRTC management for ignoring the demands of the staff. L. Sambath, MLA, and several leaders of the DMK and staff unions participated in the protest meeting.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Puducherry fishermen protest against flaws in Coastal Zone Management Plans
Members of the Meenavar Viduthalai Vengaigal, a fishermen organisation and the Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Puducherry, on Friday (July 25, 2025), staged a demonstration near the Swadeshi mills here, in protest against flaws in the Coastal Zone Management Plans. Leading the demonstration, R. Mangayarselvan, founder of the organisation demanded the inclusion of the fishing community's local infrastructure in the Coastal Zone Management Plan (CZMP) maps. He said the draft maps were incomplete and lacked specific details on fishing zones, breeding and spawning grounds, common properties of fishing communities, and a comprehensive plan for the long-term housing needs of coastal fishermen as specified in the Coastal Regulation Zone Notification. As many as 551.2 acres of local infrastructure in the coastal villages in Puducherry and 175.04 acres in Karaikal had been deliberately left out in the CZMP maps. He emphasised the need to include common properties, such as net-mending areas and fish auction or sale zones. The map, in its present form, is incomplete and not in tune with the amended Coastal Regulation Zone (CRZ) notification of 2024 since it had left out key land use spaces of fishermen, he added. Leader of Opposition R. Siva and representatives from CPI (M) participated.
The Hindu
22-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Leader of Opposition questions claim of smooth transition of government schools to CBSE syllabus
Leader of Opposition and DMK convenor R. Siva has challenged the government's claim of successful transitioning to CBSE syllabus in all schools in the Union Territory. In a statement, Mr. Siva contended that the CBSE syllabus was implemented in Puducherry overlooking public opposition and without considering the future welfare of the students. Contrary to the government's claims of success, the change-over to the syllabus was ill-planned and affected the students' interests, he said. The DMK leader challenged Education Minister A. Namassivayam to reveal details about the number of students who cleared papers in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics, and how many scored over 80% marks. He claimed that the truth was apart from the full 30 marks awarded by teachers for the practical examination, most students had barely passed scoring only 23 marks out of the total of 70 marks. Can the Education department or the government claiming successful migration to CBSE syllabus deny these facts, he sought to know. Mr. Siva also wondered how students taking the CBSE Class 12 board examination and qualifying through the 'best of five' principle, even if they fare poorly in a science-related sixth subject, would be able to pursue professional education in medicine or engineering courses. He called upon the government to disclose all the details instead of covering them up to evaluate the success or failure of switching over to the CBSE syllabus.
The Hindu
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMK members walk out of DISHA review meet
DMK legislators led by Leader of Opposition and party convenor R. Siva walked out of a meeting of the District Development Coordination and Monitoring Committees (DISHA) held on Wednesday to review Centrally-Sponsored Schemes to protest against the administration's alleged lack of accountability in sharing details of various schemes. The meeting, chaired by V. Vaithilingam, MP and committee chair, had been convened to review CSS works that had been completed or in progress, across five departments — Smart City Mission, District Rural Development Agency, departments of Survey, Fisheries and Fishermen Welfare and Town and Country Planning. Mr. Siva, in a press statement later, said no satisfactory response was forthcoming when members of the DMK and the Congress sought details on the lapse of allocated funds and the abandonment of over 30 original proposed civic infrastructure projects under the Mission. The Leader of Opposition also flagged the corruption charges shrouding some Smart City projects. Condemning the absence of key officials at the meeting that turned the exercise into an 'eye-wash,' the DMK members, including Annibal Kennedy, R. Senthilkumar and L. Sambath, MLAs, staged a walk-out from the Collectorate hall. Among those who attended the meeting were S. Selvaganabathy, MP, M. Vaithianathan, Congress MLA, AKD Aroumougame, AINRC legislator and District Collector A. Kulothungan.
The Hindu
06-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
DMK demands Tamil question papers for CBSE Class 10, 12 exams
Leader of the Opposition and DMK convenor R. Siva has demanded the provision of Tamil language question papers for the annual examinations for CBSE Classes 10 and 12. In a recent statement, Mr. Siva said students and parents were distressed by CBSE board examination papers for Classes 10 and 12 being issued only in English and Hindi. He sought bilingual question papers to start incorporating regional languages from the current academic year. The DMK leader also opposed the move to introduce tests to promote students of Classes 5 and 8. He feared that failing to clear these tests to move to the next class would negatively affect the confidence of students and could potentially trigger higher drop-outs. Pointing to Tamil Nadu's practice of promoting students up to Class 9, he urged the Puducherry government to replicate that model and to revert to a State syllabus. Reiterating his charge that the AINRC-BJP government had pushed through the implementation of the Centrally-framed National Education Policy in an ill-prepared manner, Mr. Siva said the lack of teachers for specific subjects, the delayed distribution of textbooks and uniforms and a lack of uniform access to libraries were impairing the academic performance of students. He also sought the appointment of specially trained teachers for children with disabilities and dyslexia. On NEET admissions, Mr. Siva demanded that the government disclose the details of admissions through the 10% quota for students who have studied in Government schools from Std I to Std XII in the Union Territory of Puducherry to higher education courses. Claiming that only 14 of the 37 seats in this category were filled in the previous admission cycle, the DMK leader urged the government to clarify the status of the remaining seats. The DMK would launch an agitation if the authorities continued to be negligent in safeguarding the interests of the student community and the welfare of teachers, he said.
