Latest news with #Kelkar
The Hindu
29-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Survey in progress to identify reasons for voter apathy among youth
As Kerala moves towards an election season which will culminate with the Assembly elections next year, election officials here are on a mission to identify the reasons for voter apathy among young people and possible solutions. A youth voter participation survey is under way to find out the reasons for the perceived reluctance in the 18-30 age group to participate in the election process, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. It is expected that the results and suggestions emerging from the survey will help to improve both enrolment and participation in the elections by young people, according to him. 'We started the survey six weeks ago. From our side, we are trying to understand the minds of the youth in the 18-30 age bracket and why they are not coming to vote. The survey will remain open for around two more months. Our aim is to get at least 50,000 responses. So far we have received 6,500 to 7,000 responses,' Mr. Kelkar, who took charge as CEO, Kerala, in December 2024, told The Hindu. Initial responses to a questionnaire that was circulated suggest a lack of interest and awareness about the election process, Mr. Kelkar said. At the same time, young respondents have urged election officials to organise more interactive sessions and discussions and use college campuses and social media to reach out to them, he said. Steps are also being taken to open electoral literacy clubs on campuses that do not have them and strengthen existing clubs, Mr. Kelkar said. 'We are trying to promote enrolment of youngsters in the 18-19 age group through the clubs. We have already conducted a meeting with educational institutions in the districts. We will also be talking to student organisations, residents' associations and the managements of self-financing colleges,' he said. The campaign among the youth is part of a larger exercise meant to improve voter enrolment, especially among sections that may face difficulty in electoral participation. Here, the focus is on the five sections, namely, Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Groups (PVTG), Scheduled Caste communities, persons with disabilities (PwD), senior citizens above 85 years, and transgender voters, according to Mr. Kelkar. 'Our intention from the beginning has been that we should have 100% enrollment of certain categories, which is possible,' he said. As part of the Systematic Voters' Education and Electoral Participation (SVEEP) programme, Mr. Kelkar's office is liaising with government departments, including the departments for SC Welfare, Social Justice and Revenue, to reach out to these sections. The important thing is making sure that no one is left out of the electoral process, he said.
The Hindu
28-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Nilambur bypoll in Kerala: Polling to be held from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. on June 19
Polling will begin at 7 a.m. and conclude at 6 p.m. for the byelections to the Nilambur Assembly constituency on June 19, Chief Electoral Officer (Kerala) Rathan U. Kelkar said. The notification for the bypoll was issued on Monday. The polled votes will be counted from 8 a.m. on June 23. June 2 is the last date for filing nomination papers. The scrutiny will be held the next day. June 5 is the deadline for withdrawing the nomination papers. All procedures related to the bypoll will be completed by June 25. The randomisation of the electronic voting machines (EVM) will be held on May 31, Mr. Kelkar said. Candidates and political parties can make use of the Suvidha portal ( of the Election Commission of India for filing their applications for approval for rallies, meetings and use of vehicles.
Time of India
25-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Unending Redevelopment Wears Away Charm of Pune's Deccan
1 2 3 4 "I remember seeing children play cricket on Bhandarkar Road in the afternoons, that's how empty the streets were at one point in time…" "Senapati Bapat Road used to be tree-lined when I was a child. It was extremely pleasant to walk along the stretch…." "The Deccan area has lost its charm and character amid all the rapid development…" As the Deccan area undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis, with construction cranes punctuating the skyline and new businesses setting up shot, longtime residents not pleased. They remember the neighbourhood's tranquil past, now lost to growing traffic congestion, dwindling green spaces and mounting water woes. These residents, while supportive of the development, question the trade-offs. "It started with banks and then came offices, followed by eateries. Today, every nook and corner in the area has a restaurant, cafe or office. This has changed the core demographic of the locality," said Anil Kelkar, a resident of the Deccan area for 50 years. Kelkar nostalgically recalled the carefree cycling days on quiet roads like Bhandarkar Road and Prabhat Road, now congested due to unchecked growth. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo "As families become more nuclear, redevelopment is inevitable. But unchecked growth is overwhelming the area's narrow roads, leaving little space for driving, walking, parking or even standing," Kelkar said. He blamed the unregulated rise in traffic for the indiscipline among vehicle users, who were growing impatient by the day. Another longtime resident, Monika Pandhare said redevelopment is not the problem, but commercialization is. "The rapid commercialization has brought with it civic issues. Eateries leaving garbage outside attracts community dogs, who scatter the trash, creating a mess. Instead of penalising the eateries, the streeties are blamed," she said. Pandhare recalls how the area blessed with wide banyan trees lost the greenery to road widening over the years. "While there is no harm in pruning or trimming trees, cutting them down entirely for development projects like roads and buildings should not be allowed. Redevelopment can coexist with environment preservation," she said, while attributing the rising temperatures to the loss of green cover and increase in concreting activities. Meher Gadekar of Bhandarkar Road also fondly remembered the neighbourhood's picturesque streets lined with trees, where temperatures were once pleasant. However, rapid redevelopment is erasing the area's charm, destroying old buildings and straining infrastructure, she said. "The surge in residents and commuters has led to crumbling infrastructure, including poorly maintained or non-existent footpaths, making daily walks with my 70-year-old father a daunting task," she said. Gadekar expressed frustration with the neighbourhood's condition, partly blaming citizens for littering and disregarding property owners. "We have a bungalow on Bhandarkar Road and people often stand outside and have tea or snacks, and even smoke. They then discard the trash, which I have to clean eventually. This lack of civic responsibility is driving me crazy and making me dislike living here anymore," she said. The area's rapid growth, with new businesses and eateries, is straining infrastructure and resources, particularly water. Once immune to water shortages, Deccan residents now frequently call for tankers. Concreting is hindering groundwater recharge. During monsoons, flooding becomes a major issue, forcing residents to navigate waterlogged streets. "We receive water at low pressure now, forcing many societies to rely on tankers. Redevelopment has eaten into the green cover with tall buildings blocking even sunlight to existing and new saplings planted in the area," a resident, who is a software engineer, said. Anupama Oak, who has lived in the area for 65 years, said the constant construction, roadwork and resulting dust have become overwhelming. "I was born and brought up in this area and I can feel the changes. Dust and pollution have become a part of our lives now with traffic and construction noise just adding to the discomfort," Oak, a market researcher, said. Citizens' participation must to improve situation The Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti (DGPS) has been playing a crucial role in ensuring that the neighbourhood issues are resolved. Attending mohalla committee meetings and holding authorities answerable to changes are at the core of its functioning. "All the residents have been actively voicing their opinions on major changes to the locale, be it road construction on Vetal Tekdi or water tank construction on Hanuman Tekdi. It is this unity that continues to ensure that effective governance prevails. The DGPS members interact with authorities regularly, which is why civic issues are tackled effectively," Gadekar said. Oak emphasized that citizen participation is essential for a neighbourhood's improvement. "Everyone must contribute to drive positive change as residents are the ones most affected by local issues and have the power to shape the community," she added. "The way construction is progressing in Deccan, there will soon be no trees left," said Pratap Raval, professor and retired head of department of town planning department at College of Engineering Pune (tech). "Wherever new construction is underway, tree cover is reduced. One of my students did a study on redevelopment in Deccan in 2007, predicting how it would look by the end of the 1987 DP period that year. But with current FSI provisions, it exceeds predictions and spells worry for the future. Today, 4 FSI is granted — three times what was allowed earlier. We are building a concrete jungle, leaving no greenery. Water shortage is already a reality. PMC must look at civic amenities required before blindly granting more building permissions," he added. Official Says Issues like water supply and roadworks are taken care of by PMC's respective main departments. Garbage is picked up daily, and we ensure the area is clean. For chronic dumping spots, we have sent officials to talk to residents and commuters, and fine them when needed. As far as redevelopment in Deccan area is concerned, we sometimes get complaints related to construction material lying on the roads. Officials then visit the spot and take action — Govind Dangat | Assistant Municipal Commissioner and shivajinagar-Ghole Road Ward Office In-charge for PMC "I remember seeing children play cricket on Bhandarkar Road in the afternoons, that's how empty the streets were at one point in time…" "Senapati Bapat Road used to be tree-lined when I was a child. It was extremely pleasant to walk along the stretch…." "The Deccan area has lost its charm and character amid all the rapid development…" As the Deccan area undergoes a dramatic metamorphosis, with construction cranes punctuating the skyline and new businesses setting up shot, longtime residents not pleased. They remember the neighbourhood's tranquil past, now lost to growing traffic congestion, dwindling green spaces and mounting water woes. These residents, while supportive of the development, question the trade-offs. "It started with banks and then came offices, followed by eateries. Today, every nook and corner in the area has a restaurant, cafe or office. This has changed the core demographic of the locality," said Anil Kelkar, a resident of the Deccan area for 50 years. Kelkar nostalgically recalled the carefree cycling days on quiet roads like Bhandarkar Road and Prabhat Road, now congested due to unchecked growth. "As families become more nuclear, redevelopment is inevitable. But unchecked growth is overwhelming the area's narrow roads, leaving little space for driving, walking, parking or even standing," Kelkar said. He blamed the unregulated rise in traffic for the indiscipline among vehicle users, who were growing impatient by the day. Another longtime resident, Monika Pandhare said redevelopment is not the problem, but commercialization is. "The rapid commercialization has brought with it civic issues. Eateries leaving garbage outside attracts community dogs, who scatter the trash, creating a mess. Instead of penalising the eateries, the streeties are blamed," she said. Pandhare recalls how the area blessed with wide banyan trees lost the greenery to road widening over the years. "While there is no harm in pruning or trimming trees, cutting them down entirely for development projects like roads and buildings should not be allowed. Redevelopment can coexist with environment preservation," she said, while attributing the rising temperatures to the loss of green cover and increase in concreting activities. Meher Gadekar of Bhandarkar Road also fondly remembered the neighbourhood's picturesque streets lined with trees, where temperatures were once pleasant. However, rapid redevelopment is erasing the area's charm, destroying old buildings and straining infrastructure, she said. "The surge in residents and commuters has led to crumbling infrastructure, including poorly maintained or non-existent footpaths, making daily walks with my 70-year-old father a daunting task," she said. Gadekar expressed frustration with the neighbourhood's condition, partly blaming citizens for littering and disregarding property owners. "We have a bungalow on Bhandarkar Road and people often stand outside and have tea or snacks, and even smoke. They then discard the trash, which I have to clean eventually. This lack of civic responsibility is driving me crazy and making me dislike living here anymore," she said. The area's rapid growth, with new businesses and eateries, is straining infrastructure and resources, particularly water. Once immune to water shortages, Deccan residents now frequently call for tankers. Concreting is hindering groundwater recharge. During monsoons, flooding becomes a major issue, forcing residents to navigate waterlogged streets. "We receive water at low pressure now, forcing many societies to rely on tankers. Redevelopment has eaten into the green cover with tall buildings blocking even sunlight to existing and new saplings planted in the area," a resident, who is a software engineer, said. Anupama Oak, who has lived in the area for 65 years, said the constant construction, roadwork and resulting dust have become overwhelming. "I was born and brought up in this area and I can feel the changes. Dust and pollution have become a part of our lives now with traffic and construction noise just adding to the discomfort," Oak, a market researcher, said. Citizens' participation must to improve situation The Deccan Gymkhana Parisar Samiti (DGPS) has been playing a crucial role in ensuring that the neighbourhood issues are resolved. Attending mohalla committee meetings and holding authorities answerable to changes are at the core of its functioning. "All the residents have been actively voicing their opinions on major changes to the locale, be it road construction on Vetal Tekdi or water tank construction on Hanuman Tekdi. It is this unity that continues to ensure that effective governance prevails. The DGPS members interact with authorities regularly, which is why civic issues are tackled effectively," Gadekar said. Oak emphasized that citizen participation is essential for a neighbourhood's improvement. "Everyone must contribute to drive positive change as residents are the ones most affected by local issues and have the power to shape the community," she added. "The way construction is progressing in Deccan, there will soon be no trees left," said Pratap Raval, professor and retired head of department of town planning department at College of Engineering Pune (tech). "Wherever new construction is underway, tree cover is reduced. One of my students did a study on redevelopment in Deccan in 2007, predicting how it would look by the end of the 1987 DP period that year. But with current FSI provisions, it exceeds predictions and spells worry for the future. Today, 4 FSI is granted — three times what was allowed earlier. We are building a concrete jungle, leaving no greenery. Water shortage is already a reality. PMC must look at civic amenities required before blindly granting more building permissions," he added. Official Says Issues like water supply and roadworks are taken care of by PMC's respective main departments. Garbage is picked up daily, and we ensure the area is clean. For chronic dumping spots, we have sent officials to talk to residents and commuters, and fine them when needed. As far as redevelopment in Deccan area is concerned, we sometimes get complaints related to construction material lying on the roads. Officials then visit the spot and take action — Govind Dangat | Assistant Municipal Commissioner and shivajinagar-Ghole Road Ward Office In-charge for PMC
Time of India
14-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Registering name more than once in voters list is punishable says chief electoral officer
Thiruvananthapuram: Registering a name more than once in the electoral roll is a punishable offence, chief electoral officer of Kerala Rathan U Kelkar said in a statement. Citing sections 17 and 18 of the Representation of the People Act, 1950, he stated on Wednesday that individuals are prohibited from registering in multiple constituencies or multiple times within the same concealing an existing registration and applying anew in a different location is a punishable offence under Section 31 of the same Act and can lead to imprisonment for up to one year. If any voter is currently registered in more than one location, immediate action must be taken to remove their name from the list where they do not reside permanently. Voters can submit applications online via the election commission's voter portal ( or seek assistance from the electoral registration officer or booth level officer. When changing residence, voters must submit Form 8 to update their a fresh application using Form 6 with concealed information is considered a violation. Those holding more than one voter ID card should promptly contact the relevant electoral registration officer. Instructions have also been issued to conduct constituency-level scrutiny and initiate legal action where duplications are found. Kelkar urged citizens to actively participate in the voter list cleanup process.
Mint
12-05-2025
- Business
- Mint
Despite slowing earnings growth, India seen as a safe equity haven amid global shifts
'I've never believed there's a time when there'snothing worth buying—whether in India or anywhere else," says Swanand Kelkar, managing partner, Breakout Capital Advisors, who has been a stock picker for over two decades. Nonetheless, he thinks finding compelling ideas in India has become tougher, especially given how well stocks have performed. Growing doubts about US growth have sparked a shift in global capital, with India emerging as a key beneficiary. At its peak, the US comprised nearly 70% of the MSCI All Country World Index, highlighting extreme concentration. As that narrative weakens, flows are diversifying, and India is seen as a relatively safe haven amid global realignments. However, growth is moderating—gross domestic product (GDP) forecasts have been cut by 50 basis points (bps) to around 6%, and FY26 Nifty earnings are expected to grow at a slower 12-13%, down from 18-20% annually between 2021–24. The recent rally appears driven by recovery hopes and the perception of India as a relatively safe investment destination. 'Yet, India has had the highest allocation in our portfolio for nearly three years, reflecting our confidence in its position in emerging markets," Kelkar said, adding that he has maintained a steady 20% allocation, signalling long-term conviction rather than chasing short-term trends. Edited excerpts: What's the mood like in global markets? There's now a visible shift in capital moving out of the US—a trend not seen for many years. When we used to pitch emerging markets or India, the reply was 'Great story, but the US is where the money is." Led by the Magnificent 7, the US markets were doing quite well, and this preference was evident in the US's dominance in global indices and capital inflows over the last five years or so. Read more: TeamLease's investor exodus: Can IT staffing bounce back amid mounting headwinds? However, this one-sided trade is slowly shifting. Growing interest in deploying capital outside the US is driven partly by questions about US growth sustainability. At its peak, the US made up almost 70% of the MSCI All Country World Index, showing how concentrated global allocations had become. Now, with cracks in that narrative, we're seeing money flow out, with India as one of the beneficiaries. In recent weeks, there has been a steady positive flow, and institutional investors are increasingly focusing on new geographies. While institutional capital moves gradually, there's a clear sense that investors are reassessing their US-heavy allocations and diversifying into global equities. India, with its market depth and strong fundamentals, is naturally part of those conversations. However, these are still early days, and markets can shift quickly. Do you think that Indian equities are priced to perfection, especially the mid-cap and small-cap stocks? I've been a stock picker for over two decades, and I've never believed there's a time when there's nothing worth buying—whether in India or anywhere else. If you ask me to deploy capital in a market, it's highly unlikely I'll come back empty-handed. There's always something, somewhere, worth considering. That said, I think about opportunities more in terms of probabilities and risk-reward trade-offs—less about absolutes. It has definitely become more challenging in recent years to find compelling ideas in India, particularly given how well stocks have done. You'll often hear people say large-caps are more attractive than mid- or small-caps right now. But our approach doesn't begin with market cap classifications—it starts with our investment framework: quality, growth, and valuation. We don't go hunting for small-caps or mid-caps specifically. We look for companies that meet our criteria—and they can fall anywhere on the size spectrum. By mandate, we have size and liquidity restrictions. We typically focus on companies with a market cap of at least $1 billion, which puts us among the top 500 stocks in the country. Yes, stock picking has become harder. But that doesn't mean opportunities have disappeared—it just means you have to work harder to find them. Compared to a few years ago—particularly right after covid, when the broader market offered a lot more low-hanging fruit—today's environment demands deeper research, sharper judgment, and a willingness to look beyond the obvious. Which sectors do you like, and which ones are a screaming no? Broadly, consumer staples seem to be a no-go right now. From a fundamentals standpoint, the growth doesn't justify the high valuations—50 to 70 times earnings for mid-single-digit growth. While there may be one or two exceptions, the sector as a whole doesn't excite me. Read more: Godrej Consumer's recovery hinges on premium shift, international play On the other hand, financials—particularly some private sector banks—make more sense. They offer reasonablereturn on equity (ROEs), decent growth, and fair valuations. Right now, the IT sector is contrarian, as many are writing it off due to artificial intelligence (AI) narratives and fears of automation. But when sentiment swings too far, it's worth a second look. A few Indian IT companies tick all the right boxes—strong return ratios, good dividends, and solid management. If growth prospects improve, this sector could become very attractive. Take Infosys, for example—despite 0-3% topline guidance for next year, it's still seen as aggressive, indicating how weak growth expectations are. However, this is a large sector with high-quality names, and if the growth outlook improves, the upside could be significant. Do you think the production-linked incentive (PLI) manufacturing stories are truly reflecting in company fundamentals, or are they still largely narrative-driven price action? If you look at manufacturing's share of India's GDP, it hasn't really moved despite corporate tax cuts, PLI schemes, and the China+1 narrative. Services exports have surged, but manufactured exports remain flat—so not much has changed at the macro level yet. That said, new tariff alignments and moves like Apple shifting iPhone production to India are encouraging. It's a good start, and if we can grow in areas where we already have a base—like textiles—we could build meaningful scale. Still, I'd avoid overpaying for narrative-driven stocks. I'm okay missing the first 20-25% of the rally—I'd rather wait for real evidence of change before getting in. Looking at the market rally, do you think it's backed by earnings, or are we leaning too much on liquidity and sentiment? Consensus estimates for FY26 Nifty earnings are expected to grow by 12-13%. What has shifted recently is the flow of funds and the growing narrative of India being a haven, benefiting from global realignments. While this narrative is gaining momentum, growth is slowing. For example, GDP growth expectations have been reduced by almost 50 basis points, from a projected 6.5% three months ago. Earnings growth, which saw a sharp 18-20% annual rise from 2021 to 2024, is now expected to slow to around 12-13%. The recent rally, over the past 4-5 weeks, seems driven by both recovery expectations and the perception of India as a relatively safe investment destination. Read more: What higher gold prices have meant for Titan's Q4 performance Yet, India has had the highest allocation in our portfolio for nearly three years, reflecting our confidence in its position in emerging markets. Throughout this time, we've maintained a steady 20% allocation, signalling long-term conviction rather than chasing short-term trends. We didn't increase exposure during the 2023-24 rally or reduce it in late 2024, instead staying disciplined and investing in high-quality, largely large-cap Indian stocks. Cash levels in mutual funds have recently hit a multi-year high, reflecting the cautious optimism driving the current rally. With this in mind, how do you strike a balance between investing and maintaining capital discipline? Personally, I've never consciously increased cash levels in the portfolio. The cash we have typically arises from assets we've sold but haven't yet reinvested because we're waiting for the right opportunities. I've never set a target to increase cash from 3% to 6% just because I feel bearish about the market. We mostly work with sophisticated institutional investors who manage their own cash allocations; my role is to invest in emerging markets or India as per the mandate, not to hold cash. That said, there are various schools of thought on managing cash levels. Some may increase cash up to 20% or 25%, and there's a justification for that. But our approach has always been shaped by the needs of our clients. We don't actively manage cash levels based on market sentiment. Instead, cash levels rise when we aren't finding enough opportunities to invest, or when we see certain stocks becoming overvalued. It's not about expecting a crisis to hit, but rather about waiting for the right opportunities. So for us, the high cash levels often indicate that there's simply not enough to deploy, rather than being a sign of caution about the market. Which sectors in India's listed market do you believe are currently over-owned by institutional investors? I would say the same sectors I mentioned earlier—some consumer names and industrials—are currently owned by institutions. The narrative around these sectors has always been optimistic, with expectations of strong earnings growth. However, I still believe that valuations in these sectors are disconnected from the growth reality. As for financials, I'm seeing an increase in foreign ownership, which suggests it's one of the few areas in India still attracting attention. Which other countries do you think are competing with India for attracting foreign capital? Emerging markets as a whole have been attracting some flows recently, with Europe also making a comeback. The German market recently hit an all-time high, and as I mentioned earlier, there is a noticeable shift of capital moving out of the US to other parts of the world, including China. Over the past few years, there's also been a rise in allocation to private markets, with private equity seeing substantial flows in recent years. It's interesting to watch how these dynamics will evolve, especially as the majority of private holdings are still in the US, where growth appears to be slowing. (Views are personal and not a recommendation)
