Latest news with #Chetna
Time of India
5 days ago
- Time of India
Operation Mahadev used to scare ‘digital arrest' victims
Rajkot: Amreli police have uncovered a new variation of the 'digital arrest' scam, where criminals exploit India's recent anti-terror operation in Kashmir to intimidate and extort victims. Such fraudsters earlier posed as Mumbai police officers, fabricating tales of drug or money laundering cases to intimidate victims. Now, they invoke Operation Mahadev — the security forces' mission to eliminate terrorists linked to the April Pahalgam attack — to lend a ring of authenticity to their threats. In one such case, 22-year-old Rajula resident Jay Katariya lodged a complaint stating that his sister Chetna, an MBBS student in Jaipur, was targeted. On Aug 2, while visiting Rajula, she received a call from a man claiming to be a Pahalgam police inspector. He alleged that her phone number was found on a terrorist's mobile phone during Operation Mahadev and accused her of being linked to terrorists. When she denied the allegations, the caller sent her photographs of 21 supposed terrorists and 17 forged "arrest and seizure" documents on WhatsApp. She was told to get a clearance certificate from the anti-terrorism squad (ATS) and was connected by video call to another man in a police uniform. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Do you have a mouse? Play this for 1 minute and see why everyone is crazy about it. Play Game Undo The so-called "senior officer" told her that the statement was required for court, accused her of possessing black money linked to terrorism, and instructed her to transfer funds to prove her innocence. She complied, but the scammers vanished when she asked for her money back. Realizing she had been duped, Chetna told her brother, and the family called the cybercrime helpline. Police have begun an investigation. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Time of India
03-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Out Of School, Into Adulthood: Voices Of Lost Childhoods Echo At Conclave
New Delhi: It started off like any other event — a quiet room, a screen, a few rows of chairs. But everything changed as soon as a catchy song filled the hall — honest and straight from the heart. It talked about child labour , abuse under POCSO, and the kind of childhood that ends too soon. "Even saying 'POCSO' was tough," one child said. "But now we know what it means, and what to do." What gave the lyrics meaning was the fact that the children who sang them were right there in the room. These weren't just performers. Some had dropped out of school. Some were forced into adulthood too soon. Some were trying to return to school. Some already had. Each of them carried a story that lingered long after the music ended. Like Sunil (name changed), who used to spend his days picking through garbage. School was never an option for him till Childhood Enhancement Through Training and Action (Chetna), an NGO, helped him get into Class III. That was the first time he held a pencil instead of a scrap. Or Kamla (name changed), whose eyes brimmed with emotion even before her story began. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo She dropped out twice — first because her family couldn't afford to keep her in school, and then after she was pushed into child marriage. Now, she's holding on to the hope of starting again. Until then, art and craft are her escape. Far away from her home in Bihar, Anushka (name changed) moved to Delhi just last year. Now, in Class IX, this is the first time she's seeing what a real school looks like. You Can Also Check: Delhi AQI | Weather in Delhi | Bank Holidays in Delhi | Public Holidays in Delhi On Thursday, many young minds like them came from different corners to know what stakeholders really have to offer. Officials from key departments like the women and child development and education, and child rights activists all gathered for the stakeholder convergence organised by Chetna in collaboration with NACG EVAC. The discussion focused on how systems can better support children like them . A comic book created by kids, "Chotu and Shera," reiterated the same struggles while advocating for child rights. But the question remains, how to strengthen the system on the ground. "We've submitted recommendations to the secretary, including the need for a Delhi State Child Protection Policy, new Juvenile Justice Rules, and a State Creche Policy," said Madhavi Kotwal Samson, state convenor of NACG EVAC. "We're glad the suggestions were received positively." Responding to the proposed suggestions, women and child development secretary Rashmi Singh stressed the importance of creating the right communication channels between children and stakeholders, adding, "No child should be left behind. These children are smiling — and that's what we should aim for ." Sanjay Gupta, director of Chetna, highlighted the importance of such meets in laying a strong foundation. "Delhi, as the capital, has a unique opportunity to showcase exemplary models in child participation, development and protection." However, the way to a brighter future for the kids is fraught with challenges. Pankaj Bhatia, a cluster coordinator of the West Delhi district, said that once, a girl stood before a mobile awareness van with tears in her eyes. The van, part of the Sandesh Vahan initiative, played videos about the right to education and the joy of learning. When asked why she was crying, she simply said, "I want to go to school." But her reality was harsher — she stayed home to care for her younger siblings while her parents worked. It took a determined cluster coordinator, Pankaj Bhatia, to enrol the siblings in an anganwadi. A recent survey conducted by Samagra Shiksha identified around 11,000-12,000 children who dropped out or were never enrolled. "This time, a standard operating procedure was released because documentation was a major hurdle in the previous years. However, despite identifying the children, enrolling them is a separate challenge altogether," said Sunita Yadav, coordinator, out-of-school children, Samagra Shiksha. For Nahar Singh, joint director (retd), SCERT, the issue isn't just about enrolment. It's about the integrity of the system itself. "Where are the remaining kids?" he asked, pointing out that daily attendance in govt schools hovers around 72%. Some of this, he says, is due to manipulations by parents who admit the same child to multiple schools using different names. On the ground, those connected directly to the school system, like Simmi Sachdeva, former principal, NDMC, and OSD to director, NDMC Education, are trying to create ecosystems that make school a place children want to come to.
India.com
24-06-2025
- Business
- India.com
College Friends To Foodpreneurs: How Three Youths Built A Rs 30,000 Startup Into A 5-City Desi Snack Brand
Jamshedpur: The idea began on a college street, sparked by nostalgia and hunger. Three students, Dhruv from Siliguri, Chetna from Asansol and Abhishek from Jamshedpur, met while studying in New Delhi and bonded over memories of home-cooked food. What started as friendly conversations soon turned into a full-blown entrepreneurial journey. Today, the trio runs Punch Meal, a startup that sells handcrafted Indian pickles, snacks and laddoos rooted in age-old recipes. The business that began with just Rs 30,000 has grown into a company with manufacturing units across five cities and employment for more than 30 women. The Taste of Home, Bottled and Sold Coming from business families and a commerce background, the three noticed a common thread among students and professionals living away from home – the craving for their grandmother's pickle or a familiar local snack. 'We realised that every time someone travels away from their hometown, they carry homemade pickles or snacks. It is more than food. It is comfort. That is where the idea was born,' says Dhruv. So, they decided to turn this emotional connection into a business. The First Order Took 10 Days With no major funding, the friends pooled together Rs 30,000 to set up Punch Meal. They started small – just a few batches of pickles and basic packaging. 'It was not smooth. It took 10 days to get our first order. But when it came, it gave us the push to keep going,' remembers Chetna. Fast forward to today, Punch Meal handles over 100 orders a day, catering to customers across India. Each founder brings a different strength to the table. Dhruv oversees production and marketing, Chetna manages online sales and logistics and Abhishek looks after overall operations. But the impact of their startup goes beyond profit. Their five units across various cities have become a source of employment for over 30 women, many of whom had never worked outside their homes before. A Modern Twist to Traditional Flavours Punch Meal currently offers 16 varieties of pickles, including sweet-and-sour mango, Banarasi red berry, garlic, jackfruit and wild berries like lasoda and bair. Among these, the lemon and khair varieties have emerged as customer favorites. They have also experimented with snacks to suit younger audiences such as hazelnut-coffee and orange-almond dry fruit laddoos, along with millet-based namkeen and bhujia that cater to the growing demand for healthy options. What began as a kitchen experiment among friends has grown into a full-fledged desi brand with a loyal customer base. As orders rise and their team expands, the founders say they are now exploring tie-ups with organic farmers and looking at exports in the future. And to think – it all began with a craving for home.
Time of India
07-06-2025
- Time of India
Man killed after accusing another of affair with relative in Bhavnagar
Rajkot: A man was murdered in Bharoli village of Talaja taluka of Bhavnagar district, allegedly by a man he accused of having an extramarital relationship with his relative. The crime occurred on the night of June 3, but the complaint was filed three days later. The deceased, Ashok Parmar, was reportedly assaulted by Lagdhir Gohil after an heated argument. The FIR was registered by the relative, Chetna Parmar. Chetna is widowed. She lives with her three children in a hut on the farm of Ghelubha Ajubha, where she works as a labourer. The hut has no electricity or amenities. According to Chetna's complaint, Ashok visited her on the night of June 3 with mutton and asked her to cook it. While she was cooking the meal, Gohil arrived at the hut, which upset Ashok and led to an argument. Ashok accused Gohil of having an affair with Chetna, after which matters heated up. During the altercation, Gohil allegedly threw a stone that hit Ashok in the face, rendering him unconscious. He then kicked Ashok in the chest and other parts of the body. As Ashok remained unresponsive, Gohil told Chetna he was drunk and would wake up in the morning. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Windows Users Don't Forget To Do This Before Saturday Read More Undo Gohil also threatened to kill her children if she spoke about the altercation. Out of fear, Chetna fled with her children to a nearby farm. When she returned the next day, Ashok was still lying there. She called an ambulance and Ashok was taken to a hospital where he was declared dead. Initially silent due to the threats, Chetna revealed the details to police during her questioning on June 6, after which a complaint was registered against Gohil. Police have launched an investigation into the matter.
Time of India
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chetna honoured with ‘Nritya Kala Bhushan Bal Puraskar 2025'
Nagpur: Bharatanatyam dancer Chetna V, was bestowed with the 'Nritya Kala Bhushan Bal Puraskar' by the Cultural Foundation of India recently. Chetna is Class 10 student of Centre Point School, Amravati Road Bypass. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The elite honour is awarded to just 17 finalists from a competitive pool of over 350 nominations across the country. The award, which includes a framed certificate and gold medal, is a testament to her refined technique, expressive artistry, and unwavering commitment to Bharatanatyam. She is disciple of Guru Smt Ratnam J Nair and Dr Pooja Hirwade. Further cementing her place in the world of dance, Chetna also clinched first prize at two esteemed platforms — Akhil Natrajam and Shri Hari Niketan also won third position in Akhil Bharatiya Sanskrutik Sangh, Pune, earning well-deserved certificates and trophies. CPS-AB principal Perveen Cassad, vice-principal Bhakti Bobde congratulated Chetna. Ratnam Nair, and Dr Pooja Hirwade too expressed their joy and pride in her achievement.
