Latest news with #RakeshPatel
Indian Express
08-07-2025
- Health
- Indian Express
Gujarat govt launches ‘Joyful Saturday' programme to keep students away from mobile phones
The Gujarat government has launched 'Joyful Saturday', a programme to address issues of excessive use of mobile phones, high screen time, declining interest in sports activities, rising rate of obesity and non-responsiveness in classes among the students of its schools. Stating that the said issues are inter-related, the state government has planned to resolve these through mass drill, yoga, cultural activities under Bal Sabha, educational games, innovative group projects, drawing and music sessions, and visits to places around villages. For the 'Joyful Saturday' programme, it has rolled out a detailed plan to be followed on every Saturday by all government and grant-in-aid primary schools in the state. The first 'Joyful Saturday' was scheduled for July 5, and teachers said they hoped that it would help children get away from mobile phones and bring an overall positive impact. 'From the analysis of subject experts at GCERT (Gujarat Council of Educational Research and Training) and feedback from teachers, it was observed that school students across geographies are excessively using mobile phones and drifting from sports and physical activities. Thus, high prominence of obesity among young children is a common problem these days. Also, during the school visits, we realised that students are not active, responsive or interactive in the class and also do not look happy,' GCERT Director Prakash Trivedi told The Indian Express. Government schools in the state have already implemented the '10 bagless days' policy, aimed at making learning in schools more joyful and stress-free. The government has now laid down clear guidelines for the 'Joyful Saturday' programme, to be followed on Saturdays, which are half-days for students as the schools are run from 7.30 am till 11 am. 'In today's era, the use of mobile phones among children is increasing at an alarming rate. Excessive use of mobile phones has a negative impact on the physical, mental and social development of children including eye strain, headaches, lack of sleep, obesity, and lack of physical activity, solitude, irritability, depression, anxiety, and decreased learning ability, lack of social skills, loneliness, alienation from the real world,' stated the detailed directive issued by the state government. ''Joyful Saturday' can be extremely helpful in keeping children away from mobile phones. Children are not aware that they can get joy from things other than mobile phones. When they engage in other activities, they will not feel like using mobiles. Physical games and group activities keep them active and socially connected. Creative tasks encourage them to use their imagination. Visits to villages expose them to the practical world, which is quite different from the virtual world of the mobile phone. Thus, this will free them from their mobile addiction, providing them a golden opportunity to live, learn and develop in the real world,' Rakesh Patel, Principal of Nava Nadisar Government Primary School in Godhra, Panchmahal, told this paper. Schools have been asked to incorporate traditional games and activities like kho-kho, kabaddi, running, long jump, high jump, rope jumping. 'When children are engaged in physical and creative activities, their screen time naturally decreases. Excessive screen time is directly linked to a sedentary lifestyle and obesity,' Thaltej Municipal Public School principal Ruchita Shah told this paper. Also, awareness among children about the benefits of healthy diets and regular exercise through educational games or small projects related to health and nutrition will be spread under this programme. The disadvantages of eating fast food and the significance of including fresh fruits and vegetables in their diets will also be explained to them in simple language . Based on the feedback to be collected at the end of the first semester in October, the programme will be continued in the second semester with modifications, if required, GCERT's Trivedi also said.
Hamilton Spectator
03-07-2025
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Tandoori Grill brings new food options to Mount Forest
MOUNT FOREST — When Fergus resident and business owner, Rakesh Patel, turned to social media three months ago asking Mount Forest residents if they'd be open to a new Indian fusion restaurant on Main Street, he was pleasantly surprised when he received 200+ comments begging him to bring his business to town. The comments cemented what he already suspected: Mount Forest residents were sick of pizza . 'Whenever I visit Mount Forest, there's nothing to eat, it's just seven or eight pizza locations,' said Patel, who moved to Fergus almost two years ago. 'Before opening ... I asked everybody which type of restaurant they wanted and they said whatever you bring, please no pizza.' Enter the Mount Forest Tandoori Grill. Set to open in the last week of July, the Mount Forest Tandoori Grill is a new standalone takeout Indian restaurant with limited seating located at 392 Main St., which was formerly Mount Forest Pizza. Offering biryani, curry, and various grilled meat dishes, Patel said he's hopeful his business will bring a new range of flavours for Mount Forest residents to try and enjoy. 'The population is growing now, and I see that there are a lot of people who need a different flavour now instead of pizza or takeout restaurants like Burger King,' said Patel. Tandoori cuisine is named after the tandoor, a large clay oven/barbecue in which meats like chicken, lamb, beef, and/or shrimp are placed on long skewers, lowered into the oven, and cooked quickly at very high temperatures. Before he grills the meat, Patel marinates it in a combination of yogurt and traditional spice blends, typically spices like garam masala, cumin, coriander, black pepper, red chili powder, turmeric and fenugreek leaves, for 24 hours to infuse the flavours. 'It's fresh and makes a smoky flavour ... Tandoori flavours are very authentic,' explained Patel. 'It (the oven) is a big unit, 36' by 36', and we put the whole stick of meat inside.' Moving to Canada from Gujarat, India, Patel worked in Mississauga before moving to Fergus and always dreamed of using his cooking background to open his own restaurant. 'Not to say that butter chicken is common, but nowadays everybody knows and likes authentic Indian flavours, tandoori flavours, so that's why I picked Mount Forest,' said Patel. 'I wanted to try something myself, something different.' When visiting the Mount Forest Tandoori Grill, Patel recommends trying classic dishes like butter chicken and tandoori chicken (yogourt-spiced chicken leg and breasts cooked in the tandoor), or for the spice-lovers, Hariyali Chicken Tikka (chicken breast marinated in green herbs and spices and grilled in the tandoor). For vegetarians, he's offering a range of paneer-based dishes like paneer makhani, a buttery tomato curry with chunks of soft cheese, and more traditional options like saag aloo, a curry dish made with spinach and potatoes in a lightly spiced gravy. More information is available here . Isabel Buckmaster is the Local Journalism Initiative reporter for GuelphToday. LJI is a federally-funded program. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Hans India
31-05-2025
- Hans India
Police bust interstate auto robbery syndicate, recover 8 high-end cars
New Delhi: The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate syndicate involved in the theft and resale of high-end vehicles, a statement said on Friday. The gang used a sophisticated modus operandi to sell stolen cars through online platforms by forging documents, opening bank accounts with fake identities, and tampering with engine and chassis numbers. In a series of coordinated operations, the police arrested a key member of the gang and recovered eight luxury vehicles. According to Delhi Police, the breakthrough came with the arrest of Rakesh Patel alias Pappu (38), a core operative of the syndicate, near Sahibabad Railway Station in Ghaziabad on April 21, 2025. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended him while he was attempting to sell a stolen Maruti Wagon-R via an online platform. Patel, a resident of Sahibabad, Ghaziabad (UP), and originally from Mohiuddin Nagar, Samastipur (Bihar), played a central role in managing theft operations and delivering stolen vehicles across states. His associates arranged vehicles, counterfeit documents, and fake number plates. The gang's method was notably elaborate. After stealing a car, they searched online car-selling portals for vehicles of the same make, model, and colour. Using open-source information, they identified details of genuine owners and forged documents in the owner's name -- featuring the photograph of one of the accused. They also opened bank accounts using these fake identities. To avoid detection, the syndicate would tamper with the stolen car's engine and chassis numbers to match those of the legitimate vehicle. Fake Registration Certificates (RCs) were then prepared, making the stolen car appear genuine. Once the vehicle was thus 'cloned,' it was listed for sale on online platforms. The syndicate targeted high-demand vehicles, often choosing cars parked in low-surveillance or roadside areas. The police noted the gang's use of advanced technological tools to support their operations. A team led by Inspector Arun Sindhu of the Crime Branch spearheaded the investigation, which led to the arrest and recovery of the stolen vehicles.
Hans India
30-05-2025
- Hans India
Delhi Police bust interstate auto theft syndicate, recover eight high end cars
The Delhi Police Crime Branch has busted an interstate syndicate involved in the theft and resale of high-end vehicles, a statement said on Friday. The gang used a sophisticated modus operandi to sell stolen cars through online platforms by forging documents, opening bank accounts with fake identities, and tampering with engine and chassis numbers. In a series of coordinated operations, the police arrested a key member of the gang and recovered eight luxury vehicles. According to Delhi Police, the breakthrough came with the arrest of Rakesh Patel alias Pappu (38), a core operative of the syndicate, near Sahibabad Railway Station in Ghaziabad on April 21, 2025. Acting on a tip-off, police apprehended him while he was attempting to sell a stolen Maruti Wagon-R via an online platform. Patel, a resident of Sahibabad, Ghaziabad (UP), and originally from Mohiuddin Nagar, Samastipur (Bihar), played a central role in managing theft operations and delivering stolen vehicles across states. His associates arranged vehicles, counterfeit documents, and fake number plates. The gang's method was notably elaborate. After stealing a car, they searched online car-selling portals for vehicles of the same make, model, and colour. Using open-source information, they identified details of genuine owners and forged documents in the owner's name -- featuring the photograph of one of the accused. They also opened bank accounts using these fake identities. To avoid detection, the syndicate would tamper with the stolen car's engine and chassis numbers to match those of the legitimate vehicle. Fake Registration Certificates (RCs) were then prepared, making the stolen car appear genuine. Once the vehicle was thus 'cloned,' it was listed for sale on online platforms. The syndicate targeted high-demand vehicles, often choosing cars parked in low-surveillance or roadside areas. The police noted the gang's use of advanced technological tools to support their operations. A team led by Inspector Arun Sindhu of the Crime Branch spearheaded the investigation, which led to the arrest and recovery of the stolen vehicles.
Time of India
22-05-2025
- Time of India
Gujarat man pleads guilty in multimillion dollar fraud in US
SLUG: TARGETING ELDERLY CITIZENS Ahmedabad: Another illegal immigrant from Gujarat, 36-year-old Rakesh Patel from Flushing, New York, pleaded guilty in a multi-million-dollar fraud case in the US on Wednesday. Patel admitted to participating in a conspiracy that defrauded senior citizens of at least $2,154,889 by posing as a member of a fake federal investigation. The plea was accepted by US District Judge Richard G. Andrews, stated court records. Between May 2023 and May 2024, Patel and his associates contacted elderly people on the phone, pretending to be federal agents. They told the victims that their identities were compromised and sought their assistance in a fabricated investigation by withdrawing their savings and converting the money into cash or gold bars. Patel, who hails from the north Gujarat region, acted as a courier, collecting the cash or gold from the victims at their homes or in public spaces. Investigators confirmed that Patel was in the US illegally during this period. As part of the scheme, Patel helped the group collect large amounts of money from elderly individuals in Delaware and other parts of the country. Patel now faces more than five years in federal prison. His sentencing will be based on US Sentencing Guidelines and additional legal factors. Acting US Attorney Shannon Hanson said the department of justice was committed to protecting elderly citizens from such scams. The FBI also urged the public to remain alert and report suspicious activity. Patel's arrest follows another recent case involving a 25-year-old Gujarati student from north Gujarat who was living illegally in Ohio. He was arrested in April 2025 for posing as a US Treasury agent. He allegedly convinced an elderly couple in Michigan to withdraw $50,000 and hand it over in a box. He was tracked using surveillance footage and digital records, arrested on April 30, and arraigned in court on May 5.
