
Stress on benefits reaching remote tribal families
Paderu (ASR District): On the occasion of National Panchayati Raj Day, 20-Point Programme Implementation Committee Chairman Lanka Dinakar visited Painampadu and Similiguda village panchayats in Araku Valley to participate in Grama Sabhas and conduct field inspections under the Prime Minister's Janman Housing Scheme.
Dinakar said that true development is achieved when welfare schemes reach the last-mile beneficiaries in remote tribal regions.
During the visit, he interacted with beneficiaries, inspected houses under construction, and handed over fresh sanction letters at Similiguda.
He said the joint efforts of the Central and State governments, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, in implementing innovative schemes aimed at uplifting tribal communities.
The Chairman also reviewed the initiatives of Tribal Education and Rural Development Society (TREDS), an NGO working to bridge the gap between government schemes and local people.
Residents of Kakarapadu, Eguvasorabha, Diguvasorabha, Konguputtu, Durgam, and Ballimamidi villages raised key concerns, particularly the poor condition of the Painampadu–Kakarapadu road, which is hampering the transport of building materials. They also reported drinking water shortages.
In response, Dinakar assured that he would raise the road and water issues with the district collector during the review meeting scheduled in Paderu. He urged villagers to utilise welfare schemes and become active participants in the development process.
MDO Teja, MDO Lavaraju, Tahsildhar MVV Prasad, AE Housing Kranti Kumari, Painampadu Sarpanch Sidiri Chellamma, and TREDS representatives participated.
Hashtags

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


India.com
2 days ago
- India.com
Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India?
Pakistan begins deployment of FC-31 stealth fighter jets... is this a danger for India? Pakistan has started inducting China's FC-31 stealth jet into its air force. It is equipped with PL-17 missile with Mach 1.8 speed and 400 km range. This is a threat to India because IAF has less squadrons and India is competing with it with Rafale, Tejas and S-400. Pakistan has started inducting China's Shenyang FC-31 'Gyrofalcon' stealth fighter jet to strengthen its air force. This fifth generation stealth jet, also known as J-35, is the strategy of Pakistan Air Force (PAF) to counter India's growing air power. The Indian Air Force (IAF) is currently facing a shortage of squadrons as it is preparing its indigenous AMCA jet by 2035. The FC-31 is a fifth-generation stealth fighter jet built by China's Shenyang Aircraft Corporation. This jet is designed to compete with the US F-35 and China's J-20. Although it is not as advanced as the J-20, it has many special features like speed of Mach 1.8 (2,200 km/h), range of 1,200 km (1,900 km with mid-air refueling). It is also equipped with PL-17 missile (400 km range), which can attack from a distance without evading radar. It can lift maximum weight of 28,000 kg. The delivery of FC-31 will begin in a few months. Pakistan can buy 30-36 jets, which will arrive in batches of 6 each in the next 12-18 months. This jet is much This move by Pakistan has come after the India-Pakistan conflict (Operation Sindoor) in May 2025. In this conflict, India destroyed 6 fighter jets, 2 AWACS, 1 C-130 transport and several drones and missiles of PAF with Brahmos-A missiles. Pakistan's HQ-9 (China-made) air defense system could not stop India's fast and low-flying missiles. Pakistan wants to reduce this gap by deploying FC-31. Threat to India? IAF has 31 squadrons, while the requirement is 42. AMCA will be ready by 2035, meaning Pakistan can get a lead of 7-14 years. India has 36 Rafales, Su-30 MKI, Mirage 2000, and LCA Tejas, but these are 4.5 generation jets.


The Print
4 days ago
- The Print
Tharoor's all-party delegation to face Pakistani counterparts in Washington DC
Tharoor, while speaking to ANI, said that the US media is a difficult space, but those who are against terrorism and deeply care about South East Asia will listen to India. Brazil : It's crunch time for India's All-Party Delegation that will now head to the United States in its outreach efforts post Operation Sindoor. Interestingly, the Indian delegation will see a face-off with a Pakistani delegation led by Bilawal Bhutto, which will also be in the US at the same time. 'In Washington, we'll have the interesting phenomenon of the Pakistani delegation in America, and almost exactly the same days… Tomorrow almost they will be in Washington, while we are in Washington on the same date. So there's going to be perhaps an increase in interest because there are two dueling delegations in the same city,' Tharoor told ANI, as the delegation he is leading will be in the US for its last leg of the visit. Tharoor said that though India's case might not be at the top of the agenda for the US media, India can get its message across easily. 'It's a challenging environment. America is a very crowded media space, the world's news generator. Therefore, our story may not be at the top of their minds. But if we can get the attention of those who care about South Asia, those who care about India, those who care about terrorism, we can get our message across very, very easily,' he said. Tharoor said that the delegation has meetings set up with influential government officials and committees which formulate public opinion. He said, 'In Washington we have meetings set up with the entire range of public opinion in Washington, government officials, legislators, there are senators and congressmen, various committees in the House and the Senate, think tanks who are very influential in Washington, particularly those focusing on foreign policy, media and some public addresses, like, for example, the National Press Club… I've been asked to give six or seven interviews, seven or eight interviews to individual American channels and broadcasters, podcasters, and so on,' he said. Tharoor said that the US is important to India in terms of defence, intelligence sharing, QUAD, etc. 'The US is important to us at all levels because frankly the Security Council in a sense is a small part of our relationship with the US which is huge, whether it comes to trade, whether it comes to defence, whether it comes intelligence sharing, whether it comes to our participation in the QUAD in the G-20, there are just so many avenues in which we cooperate with the US,' he said. Tharoor added that it's no coincidence that Pakistan sent its own delegation, but they are not covering as many countries as India is. They are covering countries that they deem important. 'It's no accident that the Pakistanis have also sent a delegation abroad, but they're not going to as many countries as the Indian delegations are. They're focusing on what they consider a few key capitals, namely, Washington, Brussels. London. That seems to be the thrust of the Pakistani effort. We have gone to all those capitals and more,' he said. Tharoor said that he has enormous respect for the US, but denied claims that the US had mediated in reaching the cessation of hostilities. He added that India never wanted war. 'We have enormous respect for the American presidency, and we will speak with that respect in mind. But broadly speaking, our understanding is a bit different… No one needed to persuade us to stop. We had already said to stop. If there was any persuasion by the American president or his senior officials, it would have been persuasion of the Pakistanis. They would have had to be persuaded. We don't need to be persuaded because we don't want war. We want to focus on development. That's the basic message,' he said. 'We had consistently said from the very beginning on May 7th that we are not interested in prolonging the conflict. This is not the opening salvo in some sort of war. All it is is retribution against the terrorists, period. If Pakistan had not reacted, we would not have reacted,' he added. Pakistan People's Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on May 17 stated that Pakistan's Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had tasked him to lead a delegation to present Pakistan's case on the recent escalations of tensions between the two nations. The delegation is led by Shashi Tharoor, Member of Parliament (Lok Sabha) and Chairperson of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on External Affairs. The nine-member delegation includes Members of Parliament from across the political spectrum, reflecting the vibrant and inclusive democratic character of India. The delegation comprises Sarfaraz Ahmad, Ganti Harish Madhur, Shashank Mani Tripathi, Bhubaneswar Kalita, Tejasvi Surya, and Ambassador Taranjit Singh Sandhu. This report is auto-generated from PTI news service. ThePrint holds no responsibility for its content. Also read: India's all-party delegations show a problem with our embassies


NDTV
5 days ago
- NDTV
What Can International Students Do To Adapt To Pause On Student Visas
We're seeing a sharper focus on strategic planning: choosing intakes with better visa processing timelines, diversifying destination options, and pre-aligning career goals with immigration frameworks. It's no longer just about studying abroad; it's about where you'll grow professionally and personally over the next 10 years. NDTV's Ambika Singh speaks to Akshay Chaturvedi, Founder & CEO of Leverage Edu, about recent changes in the F-1 visa application process, new restrictions, and the latest trends in US university admissions for international students, including trends in STEM courses. Here is the full interview: Have there been recent changes in the F-1 visa application process or approval rates for Indian students? There's been increased scrutiny, but not systemic denial. Approval rates have dipped slightly, especially in Tier 2/3 cities. Students who articulate their intent well and show career alignment are still seeing success. It's a signal for deeper prep, not deterrence. Are there new restrictions or regulations affecting post-graduation work opportunities under OPT and H-1B pathways? There's more noise than change. The core OPT framework remains intact, but the ecosystem around it is being recalibrated. Expect tighter compliance, not closures. H-1B is seeing reform debates too, but Indian talent continues to drive value, and policy will eventually reflect that. How are US universities adapting to visa policy changes to support international students? Universities are stepping up with faster I-20 issuance, more transparent communication, and expanded career services. International students are critical to their sustainability now, especially amidst budget cuts. Expect more targeted outreach and support systems going forward. How do F-1 visa changes compare to other visa regulations? The US still offers a powerful mix of academic excellence and work pathways, but countries like Germany, Ireland, and the UAE are gaining edge with friendlier, more predictable policies. Students are actively taking immigration frameworks into consideration while planning for the long-term. What are the latest trends in US university admissions for international students? Data science, AI, engineering management, and public health programs are seeing a marked rise in interest, driven by their alignment with global workforce trends. These fields offer students the opportunity to tackle real-world challenges, with relevance and impact playing as critical a role as employability in shaping their appeal. How competitive is the application process compared to previous years? The bar is higher but so is the access to information. Students today are more prepared, more strategic, and better guided. What we're witnessing is not competition fatigue, but clarity in ambition. What financial aid or scholarship opportunities are available for Indian applicants in 2025? Universities are increasing aid for qualified international students to keep their cohorts diverse. From STEM-focused merit scholarships to fully funded PhD offers, the window is widening. Students must take initiative early, plan ahead, and craft applications that speak directly to each opportunity. Are there alternative pathways to studying in the US, such as community colleges or transfer programmes? Absolutely. Community colleges and 2+2 pathways are gaining real traction, especially for those seeking affordability without compromising on eventual university brand. Are STEM courses still the most preferred for Indian students, or are new trends emerging? STEM dominates, but new verticals like AI ethics, climate tech, digital health, and design-led entrepreneurship are rising. Students are not falling for what's hot, they're carefully choosing what aligns best with their future. How does Leverage Edu assist applicants in navigating these challenges and optimizing admission chances? At Leverage Edu, we operate as a full-stack lifecycle partner: from discovery to visa, accommodation to careers. Our AI tools and mentorship network empower students to make data-backed, purpose-driven decisions. In a complex global environment, clarity is the real currency and we help unlock that.