
Draft notification on ward delimitation in Kerala block panchayats on May 27
The draft notification on ward delimitation in block panchayats will be issued on May 27, the State Delimitation Commission said.
The number of wards in the 152 block panchayats in Kerala will go up from 2,080 to 2,267, the Commission headed by A. Shajahan said on Tuesday.
The exercise is carried out in block panchayat wards on the basis of the number of grama panchayat wards and the population under the 2011 Census.
Under a notification issued by the Director Local Self Government (Rural), block panchayats will have a minimum of 14 wards and a maximum of 24.
Complaints and grievances regarding the draft notification will be accepted up to June 5. They can be lodged with the District Election Officer or with the Secretary, Delimitation Commission.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


The Wire
an hour ago
- The Wire
India's Data Blackout: No Data Means No Accountability
Photo: Mark Owen Wilkinson Hughes/Unsplash Real journalism holds power accountable Since 2015, The Wire has done just that. But we can continue only with your support. Contribute Now In any democracy, it is critical for the government to collect data in a timely and accurate manner. No data means no accountability. In response to several questions raised by MPs in parliament, the government has claimed that it does not have data. This includes data on the number of deaths due to lack of oxygen during COVID-19, paper leaks in competitive examinations like NEET, data on the losses caused due to natural calamities and the reasons for farmer suicides. Census The decennial Census, which was conducted in India without a break for 150 years, has not been held since 2011. The Census due in 2021 was delayed citing the COVID-19 pandemic, even as large political rallies and religious congregations were allowed to take place. The Indian government has finally announced that the next population Census will be conducted in 2027. The Census is not just an academic exercise; it has serious implications for policymaking. Not conducting the census directly impacts the lives of millions of people, especially those living at the margins. For instance, as per the National Food Security Act, the number of people to be given ration cards is determined on the basis of the latest census. Estimates suggest that more than 10 crore people have been left out of the ambit of the food security net due to the 2021 Census not being conducted. The absence of updated census figures also fuels misinformation and disinformation in society. It is impossible to verify the authenticity of claims made for political gains about the disproportionate increase in population of religious minorities, improvement in sex ratio etc. Covid deaths Even in cases where data has been collected, there have been very serious concerns about its accuracy. A huge controversy engulfed the data on the number of deaths in the country during COVID. While the government reported only five lakh COVID deaths, independent estimates, including from the World Health Organieation (WHO), placed the figure at over 40 lakh. The government recently released the data for the 2021 Civil Registration System after a lag of nearly four years. The data shows that the excess deaths in 2021 alone were around 21 lakh – suggesting that a figure of around 40 lakh COVID related deaths due to the pandemic is entirely plausible. Missing data The NSO's Consumer Expenditure Survey of 2017-18 was junked. The leaked findings of the survey showed that consumer spending fell for the first time in four decades and consumption declined, indicating an increase in poverty. A report by IndiaSpend showed that at the end of 2024, 16 critical datasets were delayed and nine ministries had not released their annual reports. Among the delayed datasets were the 'Crime in India' report, which provides crucial information on crime statistics including figures on cybercrimes, crimes against women and children, and the 'All India Survey on Higher Education'. Both were last published in 2022. Shooting the messenger? Recently, the Union government dissolved the Standing Committee on Statistics headed by Dr Pronab Sen, former Chief Statistician of India. As per reports, members of the committee had repeatedly raised concerns in the meetings over the delay in conducting the Census. The findings of National Family Health Survey (NFHS) showed an increase in the number of women with anaemia and the persistence of open defecation in the country, contrary to claims of the government. In 2023, the director of the institute responsible for preparing the NFHS was removed. The politics of data The Modi government appears to be extremely wary of data. Availability of objective data empowers people to question the government's functioning and query the propaganda and claims made by those in power. Data enables critical citizens' engagement and ensures accountability of those who govern. A government interested primarily in perception management is seldom inclined to put in place an effective data regime. Watch ' India's Data Blackout- From Census to Covid Deaths | Jaanne Bhi Do Yaaro ', where Jayati Ghosh, Professor of Economics at the University of Massachusetts Amherst joins Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri discuss what's happening to crucial data in the country. Anjali Bhardwaj and Amrita Johri are social activists working on issues of transparency and accountability. Sindhu Koshy is a public-spirited communications professional based in Trivandrum. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.


Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
Plan panel's 6-point policy roadmap to drive TN's global mobility leadership
Chennai: The State Planning Commission (SPC) has unveiled a comprehensive six-point policy roadmap aimed at transforming Tamil Nadu into a global leader in sustainable mobility and electric vehicle (EV) innovation. Titled 'Tamil Nadu's Automotive Future,' the SPC report was formally submitted to Chief Minister M.K. Stalin by Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin and SPC Executive Chairman J. Jeyaranjan at the State Secretariat. The report highlights the need for Tamil Nadu to evolve from a traditional automotive manufacturing hub to a centre for deep mobility innovation. To achieve this, the Commission recommended institutional and financial support for advanced research, intellectual property (IP) creation, and product development. A key recommendation is the establishment of a Tamil Nadu Mobility Innovation Fund to co-finance high-risk, high-reward R&D in areas such as battery technologies, EV operating systems, hydrogen propulsion, energy management software, and lightweight materials. The roadmap also suggests the creation of mobility R&D zones co-located with existing EV hubs in Chennai, Coimbatore, and Hosur. These zones would include shared infrastructure such as battery certification centres, electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) labs, simulation environments, and vehicle testing tracks. The SPC called for strong academic-industry partnerships with premier institutions like IIT-Madras and Anna University. It also recommended fellowships and startup grants for researchers working on commercially viable innovations. To encourage broader participation, the Commission proposed plug-and-play access to public R&D labs and prototyping tools for startups and MSMEs. Addressing the issue of underutilised talent, the report flagged that over 1.5 lakh engineering graduates are produced annually in Tamil Nadu but remain underrepresented in core R&D roles. To bridge this gap, the Commission recommended launching the Mobility Skills 2030 programme with specialised courses in EV powertrains, battery technology, embedded systems, and logistics analytics. For balanced regional development, the report advocated targeted incentives for companies establishing units in non-urban districts, positioning mobility as a driver for equitable economic growth. On the infrastructure front, the SPC urged the state to fast-track the deployment of public charging stations along highways, in industrial zones, and within urban mobility hubs. It also recommended time-bound incentives for commercial EVs, including electric trucks and small commercial vehicles (e-SCVs). The Commission warned that EV adoption in the heavy commercial vehicle segment may remain below 20 per cent by 2030 without active government intervention. It proposed forming a Mobility Innovation and Growth Council comprising government, industry, academia, and civil society stakeholders to steer policy implementation. Lastly, the roadmap called for the formulation of a statewide EV charging infrastructure master plan and urged the government to mandate EV-ready building codes in urban planning to ensure long-term sustainability.


Hans India
5 hours ago
- Hans India
Harish, KTR tip KCR on KLIS probe at farmhouse huddle
Hyderabad: Senior leaders of Bharat Rashtra Samithi, including party's working president KT Rama Rao and T Harish Rao,went to the farmhouse of BRS supremo K Chandrashekar Rao on Monday to apprise him of the observations made during proceedings of the ongoing inquiry by the PC Ghose Commission. The BRS chief KCR is slated to appear before the Kaleshwaram Commission on Wednesday. Before appearing before the panel, the BRS chief is likely to visit the party office Telangana Bhavan and hold discussions with senior leaders of the party and take along with him documents that may have to be submitted to the Commission. On Monday, immediately after appearing before the Commission at the BRKR Bhavan, Harish Rao, along with KTR, visited the farmhouse of KCR at Eravelli. According to sources, the BRS leaders briefed KCR about the outcome of the proceedings till date. Harish Rao shared what the commission had stressed during the questioning. Harish informed KCR that the Commission sought to know why the project site had to be shifted from Tummidihetti to Medigadda and that his response was that the Maharashtra government was not giving approval because of the submergence of many villages. He also stressed that it was the Central Water Commission (CWC) which had suggested exploring alternative sites in view of the lack of availability of water. Further, Harish Rao told the BRS chief that the Commission had asked for changing the reservoir locations of Sundilla and Annaram. He said that while the Congress leaders were terming the project as 'Kuleshwaram', the Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy had laid foundation stone for the Gandamalla project, which is dependent on water from the Mallannasagar project, a key component of Kaleshwaram. He said, 'Kaleshwaram is and will remain Telangana's lifeline. The people of Telangana understand its importance. No statement to the Commission was made orally without proof. All submissions, including Cabinet decisions, Water and Power Consultancy Services (India) Limited(WAPCOS) reports, and CWC letters, were placed on record.' The BRS leaders opined that Kaleshwaram was a collective decision of the cabinet and not that of any individual alone. After EatalaRajender and Harish, now it will be the turn of KCR to make his submissions. It will be interesting to see what questions the Commission would direct to the BRS chief on Wednesday. Party leaders said that KCR knew every minute detail of the project as he had reviewed its progress day in day out, including through footage from CCTVs.