Latest news with #TSP
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Deputy Commissioner stresses full and proper implementation of SCSP, TSP schemes
Deputy Commissioner Prashant Kumar Mishra has directed officials of all concerned departments to ensure the complete and appropriate utilisation of funds allocated under the Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan (SCSP) and Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) for the overall development of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in the district. Chairing the District Monitoring Committee meeting on the implementation of SCSP and TSP for the fiscal year 2024–25, held at his office on Friday, Mr. Mishra emphasised that every department must work towards achieving 100% fund utilisation, as mandated under the Karnataka Scheduled Castes Sub-Plan and Tribal Sub-Plan (Planning, Allocation and Utilization of Financial Resources) Act, 2013. 'Funds released to various departments under these sub-plans must be used exclusively for the intended purposes,' he said, instructing officials to prepare a list of feasible works that can be undertaken with the first-quarter grants and to proceed with timely implementation. He questioned the under-utilisation of funds allocated up to March 2025, asking department heads to provide updated utilisation details and clear pending bills. Mr. Mishra directed the Deputy Director of the Social Welfare Department to issue notices to departments that have failed to use the funds effectively and to initiate disciplinary action under provisions of the SCSP/TSP Act. 'Priority should be given to beneficiary-oriented schemes. Only when the government's funds reach the intended beneficiaries can we claim to have achieved progress,' he said. Taking note of poor fund utilisation in the Department of Handlooms and Textiles despite fund release under SCSP and TSP, Mr. Mishra questioned the department's failure to implement programmes. In response, officials said there was a lack of interest among the community in the schemes offered. 'If beneficiaries are not showing interest, the department must officially communicate this to the State headquarters and the district nodal officer,' Mr. Mishra said, adding that department heads are directly accountable for spending the allocated Budget. The meeting was attended by Social Welfare Department Deputy Director Chidanandappa, Backward Classes Welfare Officer Raju, Food and Civil Supplies Deputy Director Sakeena, District Health and Family Welfare Officer Yalla Ramesh Babu, Urban Development Project Officer Raghavendra, and other district-level officials.
New Indian Express
11-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Delayed census hit tribal welfare in Andhra: Expert
VISAKHAPATNAM: As the country awaits the next population census, originally due in 2021, the absence of updated data has become a hindrance for tribal development in Andhra Pradesh. 'With newly formed districts such as Alluri Sitarama Raju and Parvathipuram Manyam housing a large tribal population, the delay in the census is making it increasingly difficult to plan and implement welfare schemes effectively,' opined Chetti Praveen Kumar from Agro-Economic Research Centre, Andhra University. According to the 2011 Census, Scheduled Tribes (STs) accounted for around 5.3% of the erstwhile united AP's population. Since then, several administrative changes, including the bifurcation of the State, have altered demographic patterns, particularly in tribal-dominated areas. 'The lack of updated census data means that local planning still relies on decade-old statistics, limiting the accuracy and reach of welfare programmes,' Praveen explained. The allocation of funds under the Tribal Sub-Plan (TSP) is largely dependent on ST population. This strategy, guided by the proportion of STs in the population, determines financial planning for schemes related to education, healthcare, housing, and forest rights. 'Without recent population figures, fund allocation is based on estimates, affecting the quality, and targeting of services on the ground,' he noted. Praveen stated that tribal communities in AP, including Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTGs), rely on accurate population mapping for various entitlements. 'In areas such as Visakhapatnam Agency, many hamlets still lack official recognition due to the absence of updated habitation data.
Business Insider
10-07-2025
- Business
- Business Insider
Independence Benefits Helps Federal Employees Navigate Retirement Amid VSIP Offers, TSP Volatility, and FEGLI Cost Increases
Florence, United States, July 10th, 2025, FinanceWire As early retirement incentives and agency budget shifts continue across federal departments in 2025, Independence Benefits has announced expanded support for federal employees evaluating complex benefit decisions. The Alabama-based firm provides personalized retirement consultations for employees covered under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), with sessions focused on helping workers assess their options related to pensions, Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) withdrawals, Social Security timing, and life insurance coverage. 'This year has created real uncertainty for many federal workers,' said Christopher Lee, Founder and Retirement Planner at Independence Benefits. 'From VERA and VSIP offers to adverse market conditions, employees are facing decisions they've never had to make before. We help them evaluate their options with clarity.' The firm has seen a noticeable increase in demand from agencies such as the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), Social Security Administration (SSA), U.S. Postal Service (USPS), and Department of Defense (DoD), where many employees are exploring early-out offers or preparing for standard retirement. Each consultation includes an individualized review of: FERS pension estimates and survivor benefit elections TSP withdrawal and rollover strategies tailored to income needs Social Security filing timelines and long-term impact FEGLI comparisons and alternative insurance options 'We break it down step-by-step, without pressure,' Lee added. 'The goal is clarity, not sales.' Unlike group-sponsored programs, Independence Benefits operates independently and is not affiliated with any specific insurance carrier or government agency. This allows for education-first support designed to help federal employees navigate benefit choices with confidence. The firm has also released a library of planning tools and content for those nearing their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) or evaluating early-out programs such as VSIP and VERA. To learn more or request a retirement consultation, users can visit: About Independence Benefits Independence Benefits is an independent retirement services firm focused on the needs of federal employees. Based in Florence, Alabama, the firm offers one-on-one consultations that include pension reviews, insurance comparisons, TSP withdrawal strategies, and timeline planning. All services are delivered by licensed professionals and structured to provide educational, neutral guidance. Contact Christopher Lee
Yahoo
01-07-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
One Unexpected Automaker Dominated 2025 IIHS Safety Rankings
One Unexpected Automaker Dominated 2025 IIHS Safety Rankings originally appeared on Autoblog. Safety is important to most new car buyers, and one metric customers look at is the IIHS (Insurance Institute for Highway Safety) crash safety ratings. As an independent non-profit organization that tasks itself with evaluating vehicle safety, the group's ratings are generally considered more or less synonymous with how safe a vehicle might be in an accident. For 2025, the automaker that takes home the most victories may surprise you. But then, if you've been paying attention, maybe it won't. View the 3 images of this gallery on the original article It wasn't Volvo, it wasn't Subaru, and it wasn't any number of other brands you might have guessed. Hyundai Motor Group earned 15 IIHS Top Safety Pick and Top Safety Pick+ (TSP and TSP+) awards. But you shouldn't be so surprised, as it's the group's second consecutive year winning this award. The Genesis G90 took home a TSP award, and the list of TSP+ winners is considerably longer, including electric models like the IONIQ 5 and IONIQ 6, mainstays of the brand like the Hyundai Tucson and Santa Fe SUVs, and sedans like the Elantra and Sonata. Earning a TSP or TSP+ rating isn't easy and hasn't gotten easier for 2025. In fact, the organization added stricter requirements for second-row occupants just this year, updating the moderate overlap front test. How do the usual suspects compare? Currently, the IIHS lists three Subaru vehicles as award winners: the Forester, Solterra, and Ascent. Volvo's only winners are the XC90 and XC90 plug-in. While it isn't even close, there is a small asterisk next to Hyundai's accolade. Hyundai Motor Group comprises the Kia, Hyundai, and Genesis brands. Most automakers rely on a single nameplate, or at most two, which means there were simply fewer opportunities for awards. Another factor to consider is that some of these vehicles are, underneath, very similar or almost identical. For example, both the Elantra and K4 won TSP+ awards, but are mechanically almost twins. But hey, that doesn't make them any less safe. View the 2 images of this gallery on the original article Even with some fine print, the latest round of IIHS safety awards paints a vastly different picture of the Hyundai Motor Group than what you would see even ten years ago. In 2015, Hyundai and Kia each had four award-winning vehicles, and only the Tucson and Genesis took home TSP+ designations. The latter of which, remember, was a standalone model, rather than an entire brand as it is today. A growing portfolio has a lot to do with it. Hyundai had around a dozen models back then, but today, it has 19 to choose from. Hyundai, Kia, and Genesis have taken giant steps forward over the last few years, and safety is just one area where the Koreans have exceeded expectations. Need proof? Look no further than offerings like the IONIQ 5 N, which seems to reinvent what it means to be an engaging-to-drive EV. Remarkable what a few years of progress can add up to, isn't it? One Unexpected Automaker Dominated 2025 IIHS Safety Rankings first appeared on Autoblog on Jun 30, 2025 This story was originally reported by Autoblog on Jun 30, 2025, where it first appeared.
Straits Times
01-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Straits Times
Tony Hawk puts his history-making '900' skateboard up for auction
Other items up for sale include Hawk's signed helmet, knee pads, sneakers, and the 1999 X Games Vert Finals bronze medal. PHOTO: AFP LOS ANGELES – Skateboarding great Tony Hawk has announced that he is putting his most famous deck up for auction with the goal of raising money to build skateparks in underserved areas. Hawk landed his groundbreaking '900' – 2½ full mid-air rotations – at the 1999 X Games in a moment that helped propel the sport out of the subculture and into the mainstream. The Birdhouse 'Falcon 2' board is expected to fetch between US$500,000 and US$700,000 (S$636,000 and S$891,000) when it goes on the block in Los Angeles on Sept 23, according to Julien's Auctions. A Julien's Auctions spokesperson said: 'This skateboard represents not just a milestone in sports, but a cultural moment that inspired generations.' Likewise, Hawk called the moment he became the first skateboarder to land the trick in front of a roaring X Games crowd after several failed attempts on June 27, 1999 'the best day of my life'. 'It was a huge moment in my career – the result of years of persistence and getting back up after every fall,' the 57-year-old said in a press release. Other items up for sale include Hawk's signed helmet, knee pads, sneakers, and the 1999 X Games Vert Finals bronze medal. 'I never imagined that my board, pads or helmet from that day would be of any interest to collectors,' he said. 'A portion of the proceeds from the sale will benefit The Skatepark Project (TSP), the foundation I started to help communities build safe and inclusive skateparks in underserved areas, where young people can experience the same freedom and confidence that skateboarding offered me.' TSP grant programs have awarded over US$13 million to help fund nearly 700 public skateparks in all 50 US states, enjoyed by an estimated 17 million people annually, according to the non-profit organisation's website. REUTERS Join ST's Telegram channel and get the latest breaking news delivered to you.
