Latest news with #Shirke
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
Bridge To Nowhere: Tribals At Risk As Gadchiroli River Swells
Nagpur: Every monsoon, the Gundenur River in Naxal-hit Gadchiroli district swells into a raging wall of water, cutting off dozens of tribal villages from the outside world. The bridge that was supposed to end the ordeal of the villagers remains a skeletal, half-built structure, a cruel reminder of official neglect. On the Laheri–Narayanpur stretch of National Highway 352 in Bhamragad taluka, the unfinished bridge over the Gundenur River has become a seasonal death trap. Villagers say the construction has dragged on for years, with little urgency from either the local administration or the contractor. Meanwhile, the consequences of this indifference play out in real time — with pregnant women unable to reach hospitals, children missing school for weeks, and patients dying before they can access medical care. "In the last few years, we've seen women give birth on makeshift boats or on the roadside. Critically ill villagers have been carried across flooded riverbeds on cots, risking both their lives and those of the rescuers," says Datta Shirke, president of Jan Sangharsh Samiti, a Nagpur-based NGO, working in the remote areas of the backward district for many years. He adds, "Even after 78 years of independence, tribal villages in Gadchiroli still wait for a basic connection to the outside world. " The state govt cleared the project long ago, but ground realities tell a different story. While the tender was floated and funds sanctioned, local allegations suggest that the nexus between contractors and district officials has stalled progress. "This is not just about infrastructure, this is about dignity and survival," says Shirke. "The administration is gambling with tribal lives." The absence of the bridge has effectively turned the region into an island during monsoons. Roads are submerged, ambulances cannot reach patients, and students are forced to skip school for weeks. The economic impact is also severe, with farmers unable to transport their produce and labourers losing daily wages. Residents have repeatedly petitioned district authorities for temporary arrangements during the rainy season, such as emergency boats or makeshift transport bridges, but their pleas have largely gone unanswered. "We feel abandoned," says a villager who stays in the affected villages. "In the name of development, we only got promises," he added. T he Jan Sangharsh Samiti has now demanded immediate resumption and completion of the bridge work, along with emergency health and mobility infrastructure for the upcoming monsoon weeks. "If the state doesn't act now, it must be prepared to answer for every life lost," warns Shirke. In a region where connectivity is the difference between life and death, a bridge left half-done is not just a failure of infrastructure, it is a betrayal of citizens. Gadchiroli Collector Avishyant Panda told TOI that the construction of the National Highway bridge near Gundenur is on track and expected to be completed by March 2026. "The delays were primarily due to security concerns arising from Naxal activities. Police presence was essential to ensure uninterrupted work," he said. He added that the remoteness of the region caused significant logistical hurdles. "Labour, machinery, and material supply was often disrupted, but efforts are underway to make up for the lost time." On mitigation, Panda said, "Boats have been deployed, and no one is allowed to cross the river without supervision. We are monitoring the situation closely and have visited the site multiple times." The collector also said a list of pregnant women is maintained, with arrangements to shift them to near PHCs. "Medicines and ration for three months have already been distributed in the affected villages," he said.
Time of India
31-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Vice-Chancellor of Shivaji University inaugurates Times Education Expo
1 2 3 4 Kolhapur: D T Shirke, the Vice-Chancellor of the Shivaji University Kolhapur, launched The Times Education Expo, a collaborative event by The Times of India and Maharashtra Times, on Saturday. Students and parents gathered at V T Patil Hall during the opening day of the three-day exhibition to explore various educational prospects presented by institutions from Kolhapur and other parts of Maharashtra. The participating institutions showcased diverse academic programmes, ranging from defence technology degrees to fine arts courses. "The biggest worry every parent has is getting their son or daughter admitted to good colleges and universities. Nowadays, parents prefer not just employability but also courses that will teach their sons and daughters to be future entrepreneurs. Parents, teachers, students, and educators should also visit the exhibition to get a glance at the prestigious colleges' offerings," said Shirke. The Vice-Chancellor also interacted with staff members while visiting each exhibition stall. The programme for June 1 includes specialised seminars for parents and teachers conducted by experts. Aniruddha Das will present opportunities in hospitality and hotel management, followed by Mahesh Shinde's session about engineering admissions procedures. At noon, Vivek Velankar will talk to students and parents about career possibilities after SSC and HSC examinations.
Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Indian Express
Another SBI ATM tampered with, Pimpri Chinchwad man loses Rs 1.24 lakh after he contacts ‘helpline number'
In yet another case of ATMs being tampered with to deceive victims in Pune, a 47-year-old resident in Pimpri Chinchwad lost over Rs 1 lakh after he allegedly contacted a fraudulent 'helpline number' displayed at an ATM kiosk when his debit card got stuck in the machine. According to the police, the complainant, a resident of Rahatani, went to a State Bank of India (SBI) ATM at Nakhate Vasti around 8.45 pm on April 15 to withdraw cash, and his debit card got stuck in the machine. So he made a phone call on the 'helpline number' displayed at the kiosk. 'The person who received the call asked him to enter his debit card PIN and also sought details of his bank account. But then, after some time, an amount of Rs 1,24,500 was deducted from his bank account,' the First Information Report said. Investigation officer Sachin Shirke said the complainant's money was transferred to fraudulent bank accounts without his knowledge and consent, through multiple online transactions, sometime after he left the ATM center. After the bank authorities failed to respond to his complaint, the man took up the matter with the Kalewadi police station on Thursday. The police have registered a case under Section 318 (4) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and sections of the Information Technology (IT) Act. Shirke said a probe was on to identify and arrest the fraudsters. In a similar case, at least two women lost their money worth thousands of rupees after making calls on a fraudulent helpline number displayed at an ATM kiosk of SBI in Wadgaon Dhayari. One of the victims lodged a complaint at the Nanded City police station on Wednesday. As per the FIR, the complainant woman came to the ATM center near Sai Puram Society in Wadgaon Dhayari around 10.20 pm on April 18 to withdraw money. But after her ATM card got stuck inside the ATM, she contacted the 'helpline number' and the fraudster who answered the call told her that he could not come to the spot as it was a holiday on the occasion of Good Friday. The fraudster then asked her to enter the ATM card PIN in the machine and also took her bank details. But, within some time, Rs 50,000 was deducted from her bank account. Another woman also lost Rs 40,000 at the same ATM center, the police said. The police suspect that fraudsters have tampered with some ATMs and put the wrong helpline number inside the kiosks to deceive people who come to withdraw money. The police have appealed to banks to ensure that proper helpline numbers are displayed at the ATM centers. They have also asked the public to be cautious and not to share bank account details and ATM card PIN with anyone.
