Latest news with #Balagopal
New Indian Express
3 days ago
- Health
- New Indian Express
Kerala Finance Minister files police complaint against Facebook page over ‘fake' Rs 1.91 lakh hospital bill claim
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Kerala Finance Minister's office has lodged a police complaint against a Facebook page which carried a post accusing him of claiming around Rs 1.91 lakh as medical expenses for a single day's treatment at the government medical college here last year. Terming the social media post as "misleading", "completely untrue" and a "conspiracy of evil minds", Balagopal said that he had undergone an angioplasty and a stent was inserted following a heart ailment and was in the hospital from May 12, 2024 to May 17, 2024, when he was discharged. "However, a completely misleading and untruthful campaign was being carried out through UDF-Sangh Parivar social media handles and YouTube channels regarding the reimbursement of the medical expenses incurred by him for the treatment. "The amount charged by the medical college is the cost of an angioplasty at any government hospital for a person in the APL category," the minister said in a Facebook post on Friday. He also questioned whether it was wrong of him to opt for the relatively inexpensive treatment at a government hospital when he was eligible for undergoing the same procedure at a private hospital where it would be much more costly. The minister said that instead of highlighting the positive aspect that there was effective treatment for heart ailments in government hospitals and that people like him trust and rely on it, a false propaganda was being carried out against him for over a year. Balagopal said that while he had been ignoring the false propaganda for over a year, he decided to take legal action against the persons spreading it as he noticed that the public was believing the falsehood.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal's office lodges complaint against Facebook page
The office of Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has lodged a complaint with the State Police Chief against a Facebook page for posting allegedly defamatory content about the Minister. Mr. Balagopal said in a Facebook post that that the admins of the page had posted misleading content related to his hospitalisation in May, 2025 and the medical bill at the Government Medical College Hospitalisation, Thiruvananthapuram. According to the page, the Minister had claimed a huge sum for just a day's hospitalisation. Mr. Balagopal said he was eligible for seeking medical care in a private hospital, where the bill would have been much higher. Yet, he was being persecuted for depending on the affordable public healthcare system, he said. Mr. Balagopal was hospitalised from May 12 to May 17.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala government sanctions ₹100 crore for paddy procurement
Kerala's Finance department has authorised the release of ₹100 crore towards the subsidy for the procurement of paddy from farmers, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has said. The money has been sanctioned to Kerala State Civil Supplies Corporation (Supplyco), which is in charge of the procurement. The ₹100 crore is meant for the subsidy for the paddy procurement in March and April this year (2025). The government had sanctioned ₹185 crore earlier this year for paddy procurement up to February. The State Budget for the 2025-26 fiscal has earmarked ₹606 crore for the purpose. Mr. Balagopal said the State government is ensuring prompt payment of subsidy even though the Centre has run up arrears on the minimum support price. According to him, the Centre's arrears on support price and transportation charges has mounted to nearly ₹1100 crore. Kerala follows a model where the farmers are promptly paid through the paddy receipt sheet (PRS) scheme, without waiting for the Centre to release the support price.
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Vaidyaratnam's collaboration with foreign universities will benefit Ayurveda: Balagopal
Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal underscored the growing global presence of Ayurveda and pointed out that securing international certification remains one of the major challenges facing the traditional medical system. He was speaking after inaugurating the Vaidyaratnam Founder's Day celebrations here recently. 'Ayurveda must focus on scientific manufacturing of medicines and greater integration with modern science,' stated Mr. Balagopal. He noted that Vaidyaratnam's collaboration with the US-based Johns Hopkins University will significantly enhance the global stature of Ayurveda. The Minister also reiterated the State government's support for such initiatives and praised Vaidyaratnam Oushadhasala, founded in 1941, for its pivotal role in popularising Ayurveda. Prof. Dr. B. Ananthakrishnan, Vice Chancellor of Kalamandalam, delivered the Ashtavaidyan E.T. Neelakandhan Mooss commemorative address, emphasising the historic connection between art and healing in Kerala. He remarked that both fields share well-defined methodologies and advocated for Ayurveda to be recognised as a viable alternative to dominant Western medical practices, commending Vaidyaratnam's efforts in this direction. Ashtavaidyan Dr. E.T. Neelakandhan Mooss, Managing Director of Vaidyaratnam Group, highlighted the resurgence of Marma Chikitsa and Yoga Therapy, once considered lost traditions. He encouraged experts and students to recognise the contemporary relevance of Marma Chikitsa, noting its potential to further invigorate Ayurveda. The programme also featured a panel discussion on 'Marma and Orthopaedics: Exploring the Intersection of Traditional and Modern Practices.'
The Hindu
13-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Ambalappuzha MLA Merit Award presented
Fostering a socially responsible younger generation is vital for the progress of Kerala, Finance Minister K.N. Balagopal has said. Inaugurating the distribution of Ambalappuzha MLA Merit Award (Ponthilakam 2025) at T.D. Medical College auditorium at Vandanam on Sunday, Mr. Balagopal said that the State was leading the country in academic excellence. 'Students should diligently fulfil their responsibilities to uphold this achievement,' he said. Students who achieved outstanding results in SSLC and Plus Two examinations, schools that recorded excellent performance, university rank holders were felicitated. Film actor Pramod Veliyanad, writer Akhil P. Dharmajan, Ernakulam Assistant Collector Parvathi Gopakumar, film directors Najeem Koya, Ghafoor Y. Ilyas, and Ubaini Ebrahim, theatre artist Job Madathil, cultural activist H. Subair, and philanthropist V. Rajan were honoured at the event. H. Salam, MLA, presided.
