Latest news with #Chhaya
Time of India
7 hours ago
- Time of India
Car plunges into 250 feet gorge from Harsh Parvat
1 2 Jhunjhunu: Two persons died while one was injured when a car fell into a 250 feet deep gorge near watchtower at Harsh Parvat in Sikar late Sunday night. Jeenmata police station officer Dilip Singh said that Devang alias Harshit Sharma (22) from Sodala, Jaipur, and Chhaya Anmol (32) from Mumbai died in the accident due to severe head injuries while a woman from Delhi was injured and is receiving treatment at the SK Hospital, Sikar. ASI Ghisa Lal stated that Devang's father, Kajodmal, filed a report mentioning that Devang left saying that he was going to Gurgaon for Raksha Bandhan. Sunday morning, he said he would leave from Delhi and return home by night, but his call didn't connect that night. Monday morning, they received news of his car falling into the gorge. Officer Singh mentioned that Devang and Chhaya were friends while injured woman was Chhaya's friend who came without informing her family. Devang was a social media influencer with about 1,50,000 followers on his social media page. After post-mortem bodies were given to family and investigation is underway. 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.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Why are thousands of small and marginal farmers in Maharashtra rejoicing about India-U.K. FTA?
In Nilwande village, 50 kilometres away from Nashik city, 35 years old Chhaya Thete wakes up early morning to send her two children to a private English medium school around an hour away from her village. Tiffins packed, meals cooked, she then heads to her farm to see if the stems in her vineyard have changed colour. Due to the unseasonal rain this time, she is worried that there will be diseases on the leaves and that the yield might reduce. But there is one thing she looks up to this year – the increased income on her export quality grapes. She is kicked about the India – UK Free Trade Agreement, whereby Indian grapes will now enter UK duty-free. For this woman farmer with a marginal land holding of close to two acres, it promises better income, better standard of living and some disposable income. The district of Nashik is called the grape capital of India. In 2023-24, India exported over 3 Lakh metric tonnes of grapes, valued at over $400 million. Maharashtra is the its biggest producer. UK has consistently been one of our top importers. And most of the grapes grown in the fertile land of Nashik make their way to the European market. With the India-UK Free Trade Agreement, Indian grapes will now become more competitive in the European market and will stand a better chance in front of competitors like South Africa, Chile, which have to exporting to UK without any tarriff. Our grapes were levied a tarriff of eight per cent earlier. But for the small and marginal farmers, a majority in India, the better chance of exploiting this opportunity comes with the power of collective farming. Over the last decade or so, Chhaya, along with her husband Dnyaneshwar Thete, has repaid a bank loan, bought more land for grape cultivation, and has built a small bungalow on the land where a modest house with thatched roof stood once. She cultivates some new and exclusive varieties of grapes like Ara. And Chhaya Thete is not alone. In the neighbouring village, 49 years old Vijay Wadje and his young son are equally excited. They have been cultivating some of the exclusive grape varieties for export for a while now. And the experience of sending it for export has been different from the experience of selling the produce in the domestic market. 'I have been doing grape farming for 25 years now. Earlier, I used to cultivate Sonaka variety. I did it for almost 10 years, and sold the produce in the domestic market. But not only did I get poor rate, the income was also not fixed. We had to pack the grapes ourselves and take them to the trader, who would hardly ever pay on time. But then, over a decade ago, I saw people around me cultivate Thompson variety. I saw them prosper. So I decided to try my hand at it. And since then, there has been no looking back. Today, I cultivate Thompson, Ara varieties. The produce goes to the company. We get timely payment as per the quality of the produce. There is strict testing and quality control. The higher the quality of my grapes, the better the price,' said Vijay Wadje. He owns 2.5 acres of land. Each acre gives him 100 quintals of grape. Each kilogram earns him anywhere between Rs 60 to Rs 100, depending on the quality. His son, 23 years old Rahul Wadje, who has completed Physics, joined his father in agriculture three years ago while doing a part time agriculture diploma. He is one of the few youngsters who want to continue farming. Others are moving away from the family farms, looking for private or government jobs. 'I want to continue farming. But that is not sufficient. I want to simultaneously start an agriculture-allied business, like providing hardware or mulching paper, for agriculture,' he said with excitement in his voice and a twinkle in his eyes. He has been consciously carrying out experiments in the farm to improve the quality, and is acutely aware of the strict quality control measures farmers have to take for making the produce which passes the stringent export norms. 'We test our soil five times a year. We also test our vineyard regularly. The petiole testing is crucial. The European market is very strict. They test the taste, colour, variation. They want each berry to be the same size, to have the same taste and colour. They don't want chemicals in their grapes. We follow all the international norms. Our grapes are the best quality for eating. Even we eat them right from the vineyard. If we buy grapes from the market, we need to wash them thoroughly. But that is not the consideration for the export quality grapes we grow The secret behind their changed fortune is collective farming. They are all a part of the 14,000 farmers associated with a Farmer Producer Company – Sahyadri Farms. In a country where over 90 per cent farmers are small and marginal farmers, the collective has given them the bargaining power and the strength to generate volumes to stand in the competitive international market. 'Do or die' situation 'We are in a do-or-die situation when it comes to being competitive in the international market. The only solution for a country where most of the farmers have less than one hectare land holding is collective farming. Without that collective approach, we can't create your own ecosystem. We can't make it profitable. That ecosystem should be competitive at a global level. Then only there is real prosperity,' said Vilas Shinde, chairperson and managing director of Sahyadri farms. The company is one of the leading FPCs in India and the country's largest grape exporter with 17 per cent market share. It grows more than 30 new varieties including 19 exclusive patented varieties. In 2025, it Sahyadri has recorded sale of over Rs 1900 Crore. Over 14,000 farmers are associated with Sahyadri for grape production. The company said that the FTA will lead to at least 15 per cent better returns for the farmers. 'For grapes, India will have great advantages. Volume will increase due to fair competition. Along with grapes, there will be bigger opportunities for other horticulture commodities pomegranate, mango, citrus fruits. It will lead to end-to-end ecosystem, improving standard for customer requirement. This will lead to greater learning which will help farmers not just in the UK, but in other markets like Japan, USA. It will help in domestic market as well. The demand for premium fruits is increasing. Food safety related standards will force the farmer community give better quality,' he said. Every year, Sahyadri exports 22,000 metric tonnes of grapes. 30 per cent of it goes to the UK market.
Time of India
10-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Teenage marriages in state more than nat'l average: Experts
Ranchi: An awareness chariot was flagged off by the state health department on Thursday to generate public awareness about the 'Population Stabilisation Campaign' as part of World Population Day from July 11 to 18, which will run across all 24 districts. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now In Ranchi, it was jointly launched by civil surgeon Dr Prabhat Kumar, along with nodal officer of information education officer, Dr Lal Manjhi, state nodal officer of family planning, Dr Pushpa, and Gunjan Khalkho, consultant of family planning. According to the latest block-wise head count survey (2025–26), Ranchi district has a total population of 35,90,183, with the highest concentration in Ranchi Urban (13,90,186), followed by Kanke (3,84,660) and Itki (1,82,374). As per the National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data for the state, the Total Fertility Rate (TFR) dropped from 4.0 (NFHS-2, 1998–99) to 2.3 (NFHS-5, 2019–21). The state has around 4 crore population. According to experts, the use of modern contraceptives increased from 31.1% (NFHS-3, 2005-2006) to 49.5% (NFHS-5, 2019-2021). The state is also a pioneer in inclusivity, preparing a Braille booklet on reproductive and family health for the visually impaired, showcasing its commitment to accessible health education. Dr Pushpa said, "Since 2018, innovative methods such as Chhaya (weekly pill), MPA-IM/MPA-SC injections, and implants have been introduced to diversify family planning options. The increase in contraceptive use led to an improvement in the Couple Year of Protection Rate (CYPR)." Dr Manjhi said, "The state's rate of teenage marriage (32.3%) is higher than the national average (23.3%), posing serious health risks to young mothers and their children. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now " Dr Pushpa elaborated on the shift in focus from permanent contraceptive methods to modern, reversible methods such as Chhaya (weekly pill), injectables, and the recently introduced implant method, currently available at Sadar Hospital. "Our goal is to empower couples to decide when they want to start a family. A woman should conceive only when she is mentally and physically prepared," she said.
New York Post
05-07-2025
- Politics
- New York Post
Zohran Mamdani declares only $2,000 in bank in latest disclosure
Self-described 'nepo baby' Zohran Mamdani declared a measly $2,000 in the bank on his latest state disclosures. That's despite his privileged upbringing and family money — and an annual salary of $131,000 as a state lawmaker, a job he's had for five years. 9 Mamdani, here celebrating his recent primary win with his parents, had by all accounts a privileged upbringing. Getty Images Advertisement The 33-year-old socialist Democratic nominee for NYC mayor did list one unusual asset — four acres of land in his native Uganda that he acquired about a decade ago, worth between $150,000 and $250,000. He disclosed no US property or investments on the documents, released by the state this week. The $2,000 on his form comes from a retirement plan from the housing-focused social-justice organization Chhaya, where he worked briefly as a 'foreclosure prevention counselor' in 2019, before he was elected in 2020 to represent Queen's 36th District in the state Assembly. Advertisement 9 Mamdani lived in Kampala, Uganda until he was five, before the family moved to South Africa, and two years later NYC. Adrian Solumsmo – He's declared the exact same amount of 'less than $2,000' for five years in a row in filings to the state Legislative Ethics Commission. 'More drama from a guy who grew up with three silver spoons in his mouth,' quipped political strategist Hank Sheinkopf. 'If anybody believes that Mamdani is a poor person, they need to see a psychiatrist. This is a complete lie. He's trying to sell people this nonsense that he's this poor kid,' he told The Post. Advertisement 9 Mamdani lives in a rent-stabilized apartment and grew up in subsidized housing but complained about rent hikes. Getty Images State lawmakers are only required to report investments and retirement plans, and don't have to disclose how much they have in regular savings or checking accounts. They are also not required to reveal trust funds established by their relatives — and in Mamdani's case that could be a windfall, observers have noted. 9 Mamdani attended the Disney premiere with his mother Mira Nair in 2016. Getty Images for Disney Advertisement 9 Nair directed Disney's Queen of Katwe, a story about a girl from the slums of Uganda who becomes a chess champion. Getty Images for Disney Mamdani's mother, Mira Nair, is an Academy Award- and Golden Globe-nominated filmmaker, who has made movies for Disney and a series for Netflix, and whose productions have starred the likes of Denzel Washington. Nair sold a posh West Chelsea 2-bedroom that she had owned for more than 10 years in 2019 for $1.45 million. 9 Nair has received multiple awards for her films. Getty Images for Disney His father, Mahmood Mamdani, is a chaired professor of African history and colonialism at Columbia University who won multiple prizes and published more than a dozen books. Professors in similar positions make an average of $308,000 a year, according to American Association of University Professors data. The Harvard-educated couple still live in the stylish Ivy League and taxpayer-subsidized 3-bed, 3-bath corner apartment on Riverside Drive — with weekly maid service — where Mamdani grew up while he attended elite $66,000-a-year Bank Street School. 'This is all nonsense and an attempt to show that he's a man of the people when he's about as close to the people as Nelson Rockefeller was,' said Sheinkopf. Advertisement 9 The complex on Riverside Drive has 38 apartments, exclusively for Columbia faculty and staff. Google Maps 9 The family has lived in this bright 3-bedroom corner unit in upper Manhattan for 25 years. via Zillow Critics pointed to Mamdani's recently resurfaced hand-eating stunt as proof of the 'tax the rich' socialist trying to sell his narrative. 'A perpetual theatre kid who's pretending to be 'Third World.' It's all so, so performative + stupid,' railed Manhattan Institute fellow Renu Mukherjee on X. Advertisement 'He looks uncomfortable eating with his hands,' she noted. Mamdani was a self-described 'B-list rapper,' performing under the stage name 'Mr. Cardamom' before he went into politics. 9 Mamdani had a stint as a rapper under the moniker Mr. Cardamom before he went into politics. Mr. Cardamom/Youtube He also sometimes went by the moniker 'Young Cardamom,' like in the song '#1 spice' that was part of the soundtrack for his mother's Disney movie. Advertisement The former rapper turned politician disclosed up to $5,000 in royalties in 2024 from his musical stint. Mamdani's office declined to comment.
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First Post
18-05-2025
- Entertainment
- First Post
Cannes 2025: 'All We Imagine As Light' actress Chhaya Kadam returns to the festival, says 'Can never forget the day when...'
She added, 'Every time I see that photo, I feel I fuelled the courage of a lot of women in the country, especially who want to become actors.' read more 'All We Imagine As Light' actress Chhaya Kadam has come back to the Cannes Film Festival for the second time. She made a lot of headlines and heads turn last year with her appearance. She spoke about her second appearance which happens to be for a yet-to-release Marathi film. Talking about her most memorable moment at the festival in an interaction with Sucharita Tyagi, Kadam said, 'Jab us din best film announcement hui, to mujhe laga ki Payal uthke akeli jaayegi. Yaani aisa hota hai na? But wo uthi and hum teeno ko saath mein leke gayi." STORY CONTINUES BELOW THIS AD She added, 'Every time I see that photo, I feel I fuelled the courage of a lot of women in the country, especially who want to become actors.' Also, in an exclusive interview with Firstpost, said Chhaya , 'It didn't matter whether they knew how to act or not. Just their screen presence was important. Then those films needed a villain too and all movies then needed some fighting. Then the hero will give one fight and all villains will fall here and there. But now we should understand that audiences have changed. They have way more exposure than the audiences of yester-years. They want to see themselves in the characters that are shown on screen.' Chhaya believes that it's a great time for the craftsmen of today. Because once the scene was such that to be in the film industry you had to be beautiful, that was in fact the first requirement. And most importantly, an actress had to be fair. 'Now the first requirement is talent. And I would say OTT had a huge role to play in this change. The audiences understand the differences between fake and real.'
