Kochi corporation, CSML meeting to sort out streetlight issues fails
Another round of meetings will be convened in the presence of mayor and deputy mayor.
The opposition said that the meeting was a farce, as neither mayor nor deputy mayor attended. Councillors expressed dissatisfaction, stating that no effective measures were taken for maintenance of CSML LED lights in the city. Councillors criticized CSML officials for not repairing the lights.
CSML officials said that LED lights are yet to be installed along 2,500m as part of the project and that no operation and maintenance contract was signed with the contractors. Opposition leader Antony Kureethara stated that inability to complete the project, which cost Rs 40 crore, is unjustifiable. A UDF councillor suggested providing toll-free numbers to public to report faulty lights, but CSML stated that this is not feasible under current circumstances.
The meeting ended with an assurance that another meeting would be called in the presence of mayor, who is an executive member of CSML. Mayor M Anilkumar couldn't attend the meeting as he is under treatment.
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Indian Express
9 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Amid curbs on H1B and student visas, more Indians are lining up for US investment visas
'THE TRUMP Card is Coming. Enter your information below to be notified the moment access opens,' says the new US government website on the Gold Card, the $5 million US residency visa programme announced by President Donald Trump in February. Despite curiosity around the new programme, the launch date and specific details of which are yet to be released, data shows that the existing investment-based residency programme EB-5, which the Gold Card will replace, has seen more applications from India over the past one year than ever before. According to the American Immigrant Investor Alliance (AIIA), a Washington-based collective of EB-5 investors, demand for EB-5 from Indian citizens has grown sharply since April 2024, driven by factors such as stricter controls over student and temporary work visas under the Trump regime. Data provided by United States Immigration Fund (USIF), which runs designated EB-5 regional centres in the US, confirms this. 'In the first four months of FY2025 (October 2024-January 2025), Indian applicants filed more than 1,200 I-526E petitions across reserved categories — more than any prior full year,' Nicholas Mastroianni III, president and CMO of USIF, told The Indian Express, referring to the application forms. Experts said another factor fuelling EB-5 filings could be a record backlog in other immigration categories, including H1-B and green card. According to estimates, more than 11 million US immigration applications are pending with the authorities. So, EB-5 has become the fastest and most assured route to US permanent residency, they said. Data accessed by The Indian Express from Washington-based Invest In the USA (IIUSA), an overarching trade association for the EB-5 regional centre programme, show that 1,428 EB-5 visas were issued to Indians in FY2024 (October 2023 to September 2024), as against 815 in the previous year. Between 2014 and 2021, the figures were minuscule, at 96 in 2014, and under 200 EB-5 visas until 2017. Created by the US Congress in 1992, the EB-5 programme is a pathway to green cards to immigrants who make a minimum investment of $1,050,000 (Rs 9 crore), or $800,000 (Rs 6.88 crore) in economically distressed zones called Targeted Employment Areas (TEA), to create jobs for Americans, according to the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services website. It allows the investor, their spouse and unmarried children under 21, to immigrate to the US. However, changes were brought to the programme in 2022, introducing both flexibility for investors and stronger audit checks on sources of income. Following this, experts said, filings from high net worth Indian citizens looking for US residency increased manifold. Between October 2024 and March 2025, 649 Indian nationals were issued EB-5 visas via consular processing — a strong indication that a large number of Indian filings from the financial year 2022–2023 have matured, Mastroianni said. The path is also becoming popular in the adjustment of status category, among those already in the US on non-immigrant status. 'Students and individuals on H-1B visas currently represent the primary group seeking lawful means to remain in the US with the ability to work,' said Sukanya Raman, country head, Davies & Associates, LLC, an immigration law firm. 'Indian nationals currently in the US on non-immigrant status such as H-1B or student visa and who file under the new provisions benefit from automatic issuance of work and travel permits within 3-6 months from the time of filing I-526E petition typically which remain valid until their EB-5 green card is approved,' said Raman. The number of student visas issued by the US government have dropped by 15% globally to 89,000 in the first half of fiscal year 2025 (October-March) with India reporting a massive fall of 43.5% in fresh visas compared to the same period in 2024, according to the US Department of State data. The numbers are likely to fall further in the second half of fiscal 2025 due to a nearly month-long pause in new visa appointments over May and June. While China remains top user of EB-5 visas, followed by Vietnam and India, IIUSA data also shows that most Indian filings come through the Indian consulate in Mumbai, showing that high net worth individuals from the financial capital and the region have been using this route to get US residency. Out of the total 638 unreserved consular processing (for those based in India, as opposed to adjustment of status, meant for those already living in the US) applicants between October 2024 and May 2025, 543 filed through the US consulate in Mumbai. According to Ravneit Kaur Brar, Attorney-at-law in California who deals with immigration issues, the data is always compiled with China and India as two data points because of very high volume coming out of these two countries, in almost every category. China accounts for 51% of worldwide filings. India remains the second-largest market, contributing a total of 1,341 I-526/E filings between FY2022 and July 5, 2024, with 1,057 of them filed under the Reserved EB-5 categories, Brar said. 'India shows a positive trend in approval rates over the years. India's approval rate rose from 59% in FY2022 to 82% in FY2024,' she said. The processing time from petition filing to visa issuance varies from the kind of projects being opted for by the applicant. While rural area projects take approximately 8-24 months; High-Unemployment Area Projects take 12-30 months. Mastroianni said that contrary to assumptions, there has been a surge in demand for EB-5 after the announcement of the Gold Card programme. 'We are witnessing one of the most promising surges in EB-5 interest from Indian families in recent history. The uncertainty surrounding future visa programmes like the proposed Gold Card, combined with heightened scrutiny of traditional student and work visa routes, has pushed many investors to act now — not later. What's changed is not just demand, but decisiveness,' he said. 'With the spectre of visa retrogression looming and the current ability to file concurrently from within the US, families are prioritising stability, permanence, and long-term security. EB-5 is no longer seen as an alternative — it's become the preferred strategy,' Mastroianni said. Divya A reports on travel, tourism, culture and social issues - not necessarily in that order - for The Indian Express. She's been a journalist for over a decade now, working with Khaleej Times and The Times of India, before settling down at Express. Besides writing/ editing news reports, she indulges her pen to write short stories. As Sanskriti Prabha Dutt Fellow for Excellence in Journalism, she is researching on the lives of the children of sex workers in India. ... Read More
Indian Express
19 minutes ago
- Indian Express
Reservation, 3rd language Hindi: Maharashtra govt rolls back 7 key decisions in six months
From quotas based on income and caste to Hindi as third language; caste on exam hall tickets to sweet dish in school meals; and even blank pages in textbooks to reduce the weight of school bags. These are some of the seven key decisions taken in the education sector by the BJP-led state government in Maharashtra that were rolled back over the past six months, triggering criticism from experts that they were implemented 'without thought' or 'adequate consultation'. Six of these decisions were rolled back following a backlash from stakeholders, including the parents of students — for instance, the centralised uniform policy drew criticism for poor quality and delayed availability. In one case, the rollback came after the Bombay High Court granted interim relief to minority trust-run junior colleges that were asked to implement social reservation. Of these rollbacks, six came under the School Education Ministry currently headed by Dada Bhuse who took over last December from Deepak Kesarkar (August 2022 to November 2024) — both belong to Shiv Sena led by Eknath Shinde. The other key U-turn involved 10% EWS (Economically Weaker Section) quota in private medical colleges. Speaking to The Indian Express, Kesarkar blamed the rollbacks on 'certain challenges in its implementation at the ground level' while Bhuse pointed to 'adjustments' that were incorporated based on 'feedback'. The Opposition alleged that at least some of these decisions were taken with an eye on local body polls expected later this year, particularly those related to reservation that were announced and withdrawn within a month in June — a charge denied by the government. Consider the decisions and the rollback: Hindi as mandatory third language in primary classes: On April 16, a government order mandated Hindi as the third language in Classes 1-5 in state board schools where students previously studied only two languages. The decision sparked criticism and political backlash, prompting a revised order on June 17 making it optional. Even this failed to calm concerns and as protests intensified, Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis declared after a high-level meeting on June 23 that a final decision would follow stakeholder consultations. On June 29, he revoked both orders and set up a new panel led by educationist Narendra Jadhav to make fresh recommendations. Quotas in minority trust-run junior colleges: In late May, Maharashtra launched its first state-wide centralised online FYJC (First Year Junior College) admissions, including SC/ ST/ OBC reservations in the seat matrix for minority trust-run institutions, too, despite them being exempt under several court rulings. Traditionally, such colleges reserve 50% of seats for their community, 5% for management and the rest for open category on merit — without social reservation. On June 10, the state minority educational institutions association and colleges filed a petition in the Bombay High Court. Two days later, the HC granted interim relief, halting the policy. The government formally reversed its decision on June 23. One state one uniform: On April 2, the government scrapped its 'One State, One Uniform' policy and handed over the responsibility of deciding school uniforms to school management committees. It reversed a decision taken in May 2023 under Kesarkar to standardise uniforms from Classes 1-8 across government schools and introduce a centralised system for manufacturing and distributing uniforms to over 44 lakh students. The implementation began in 2024-25 but the uniforms did not reach students until October 2024. Later, there were several complaints regarding poor quality and fit of the garments. In December 2024, the centralised process was withdrawn due to logistical issues. Sweet dish in midday meal: On June 11, 2024, the government declared that midday-meals in government schools will have a three-course plan, including sprouts and sweet dish along with new options using rice, lentils, legumes and vegetables. On January 28 this year, after Bhuse had taken over, it was announced that sweet dish would be provided only if the school management committees are able to raise funds from the public for the sugar required. Blank pages in textbooks: On March 8, 2023, the government announced the inclusion of blank pages after every chapter in textbooks prepared by Balbharti for the state board curriculum for classes 2-8, as an alternative to carrying nortebooks separately. The reason: it will reduce the weight of school bags. Triggering backlash, with students carrying the textbooks and notebooks to school, the move was in place for only one academic year – 2024-25 – and was rolled back on January 28. Caste on HSC exam hall ticket: The state board printed caste categories on hall tickets, issued on January 11, for the Higher Secondary Certificate exam. Following sharp criticism from social groups, the board expressed regret and issued a new order on January 18 withdrawing the hall tickets and issuing new ones on January 23. 10% EWS quota in private medical colleges: On July 23, the information brochure for state medical admissions, released by the CET Cell, listed a 10 percent EWS (Economically Weaker Section) reservation. Aspirants, their parents and colleges wrote to the Minister that implementing the quota without increasing seat intake would reduce the slots available under the general pool. On July 30, a day after a delegation of parents met the Minister, the move was withdrawn through a notification stating that the quota would be implemented only if additional intake is approved. Vasant Kalpande, a former Director of Education in the state, blamed the disconnect between decision-making and implementation on a 'lack of dialogue in educational governance'. 'The current top-down approach is detrimental to effective policy-making in a state as diverse as Maharashtra. Effective governance hinges on dialogue with stakeholders, empathy, and sensitivity. With varying needs among students and teachers, a one-size-fits-all approach cannot work,' he said. Basanti Roy, who served over 30 years in the state's education department, stressed the importance of piloting new initiatives to identify challenges and assess impact before scaling them. Without this, she warned, 'reversals become inevitable'. 'In the rush to innovate, we are neglecting due diligence,' she said. Can't be seamless always: Minister When contacted, Kesarkar, under whose tenure the decisions related to blank pages, uniforms and sweet dish were made, described them as 'student-centric'. 'The process of decision-making involved thorough consultation with stakeholders concerned. There could have been certain challenges in its implementation at the ground level. But those could have been resolved by applying corrective measures which could have shown benefits of these decisions in the coming years,' he said. Bhuse, the current minister, said education policies are shaped after careful evaluation. 'All policy decisions taken by the School Education Department are made with the best interests of our key stakeholders — students, parents, teachers, and schools — in mind. When feedback indicates the need for adjustments, those are duly considered and incorporated. However, that does not imply the original decisions were flawed.' Citing an example, he said, 'The initiative to provide high-quality uniforms to government school students was launched with the right intent, but challenges in large-scale implementation required modifications in the process.' Pointing to 'successful' decisions, Bhuse said, 'Take the example of the 'Copy-Free Exam' campaign during the state board examinations. It may not have completely eradicated malpractice, but it significantly curbed it by raising awareness. Another example is the extension of the centralised online admission process for Class 11 across the state. Although it had initial challenges, as expected in its first year, it has ensured that lakhs of students receive equal opportunities to secure admission to colleges of their choice.' Noting that no decision would be perfect for all, he said, 'I come from a rural background but I am equally familiar with urban realities. This dual perspective helps me understand the diverse needs of our education system. We must accept that not everything can be seamless all the time — there's no one-size-fits-all solution in public policy.'
Time of India
26 minutes ago
- Time of India
NGT fines HP officials for not disclosing action against polluting sewage treatment plants
Kullu: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has imposed a fine of Rs 10,000 each on Himachal Pradesh State Pollution Control Board (HPSPCB) state chief secretary and member secretary for not disclosing any action taken against sewage treatment plants (STPs) that are polluting rivers. In a recent order, NGT chairperson Prakash Shrivastava directed the chief secretary to file a report within a week and asked the HPSPCB member secretary to inform it when the report was submitted. During the previous hearing in March, the tribunal observed that many STPs in the catchment area of Sukhna Khad and Ashwani Khad were not complying with environmental norms, and hence environmental compensation should be imposed against them. The tribunal also ordered the HPSPCB to submit a fresh report disclosing details on the environmental compensation imposed against the project proponents running the STPs, which are not complying with environmental norms. During the same hearing, the tribunal observed that the chief secretary, in his report, did not disclose STP-wise details regarding installed capacity and capacity utilisation. In May last year, NGT directed the chief secretary to file a report on STPs in the catchment area of nine rivulets, which are getting polluted due to the discharge of industrial effluents. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The tribunal also ordered the chief secretary to disclose in the report the results of the analysis of samples collected from these STPs. Acting suo moto, the tribunal had in Jan last year asked the state chief secretary to file a report on pollution levels in nine rivulets — Ashwani Khad, Giri, Markanda, Pabbar, Ratta, Shikari Khad, Baald, Sarsa, and Sukhna Khad. The tribunal also asked the chief secretary to file his response on the govt's action plan to clean these rivulets. The tribunal observed that the water quality assessed by the Central Pollution Control Board at 137 locations across 37 rivers and rivulets in the state revealed disturbing trends due to the unregulated disposal of industrial effluents and untreated sewage. NGT also noted that biological oxygen demand (BOD) level in the nine rivulets exceeded prescribed pollution standards, posing a threat to public health, agriculture, and biodiversity. As per a report submitted to the tribunal by CPCB, there are 15 STPs installed in catchment areas of six of the nine rivers. There are no STPs in the catchments of Shikari Khad in Rohru and Giri river and Markanda Khad in Sirmaur. The report revealed that most of these STPs are operating without consent to operate (CTO) and violating environmental norms. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
