Latest news with #NeelamSingh
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
Crime against women on rise in Jabalpur
Jabalpur: A spate of violent crimes in Jabalpur, including murders, sexual assaults, and armed attacks inside homes, has sparked concerns over the city's law and order, with residents, especially women, questioning their safety even within their own houses. In the past fortnight alone, police recorded three incidents where women were attacked inside their homes, leaving many fearful that they, too, could fall victim to intruders. On July 30, a man broke into the residence of Neelam Singh, an assistant prof in the medicine department of Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, in the Krishna Complex area. Police said the accused entered with the intention to steal but attacked her with a knife when confronted. Locals caught the suspect and handed him over to police. On the night of July 31–Aug 1, a man entered a house in Cheritall area under Kotwali police limits and allegedly raped a young woman. When her 70-year-old grandmother woke up, he strangled her to death, tied up the victim, and fled. The accused, police said, is married and has children. In Sakra village under Patan police station, a 15-year-old girl was hacked to death in the early hours of Aug 4–5 by a 22-year-old man, Rakesh Raikwar, who allegedly loved her one-sidedly. Police said her mother refused his marriage proposal due to age and caste differences. The teen was sleeping alongside her elder sister when the accused attacked her with an axe. In another case under Ranjhi police station, a man stopped a young woman on the road and attacked her with a screwdriver in broad daylight, inflicting serious injuries. Police said the accused, who was arrested, was also obsessed with the victim. Police launched investigations in all cases, but the frequency and nature of the attacks have intensified demands for stronger policing and preventive measures in Jabalpur. 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. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Raksha Bandhan wishes , messages and quotes !
India Today
31-07-2025
- Business
- India Today
Burgers vs Vada Pav: A clash or coexistence?
In a country where food is not just nourishment but nostalgia, the debate between Western fast food and desi street bites is one that never goes stale. Is the burger replacing the vada pav? Or are they serving up a more inclusive culinary culture together?Neelam Singh, the Founder and CEO of The Burger Company, believes it's not a rivalry, it's a remix. In an interview that reveals much about India's evolving eating habits, Singh shares why she believes the two can thrive side by don't see it as a clash—it's more of a conversation,' she begins with clarity. 'Both burgers and vada pav are essentially quick, handheld comfort foods that cater to a fast-paced lifestyle. What's different is the packaging; what's common is the purpose.' And Singh's statement holds weight in a post-Zomato-era India, where convenience often trumps convention, but only when it feels authentic.'Our founder Neelam Singh often says, 'Burger is the new samosa for India'—it's familiar, filling, and flexible enough to take on any flavour profile,' says the brand's internal philosophy, now echoed across its 40+ Burger Company, which started with a single outlet and now caters to both metropolitan hubs and Tier 2 and 3 cities, has leaned heavily into this Indo-global identity.A GENERATIONAL REFRAMING, NOT REPLACINGAre burgers pushing Indian snacks to the sidelines? Singh disagrees.'Not replaced—reframed,' she says. 'Traditional snacks still hold an irreplaceable place in Indian hearts. What's changed is how young India consumes food. They crave bold flavours, faster formats, and something that feels global but tastes local.'At a time when a Gen Z consumer might reach for a burger but still crave the chutney from their grandmother's kitchen, Singh points out an important evolution.'Neelam often shares how she was inspired by watching customers pick a burger over a samosa—not because they liked it more, but because it felt more 'now',' she The Burger Company went local. From Tandoori Paneer to Bombay Masala Burgers and the ever-popular Aloo Tikki Burger, their menu doesn't run from Indian flavour—it dives straight in.'It's not about abandoning the samosa or vada pav—it's about evolving them into something that matches the energy and expectations of today's India.'One Size Doesn't Fit All—Especially in IndiaIn a nation where dialects and dinner plates change every few hundred kilometres, Singh has embraced the regionalisation of the burger.'One thing we've learnt very early at The Burger Company—India doesn't eat the same burger twice,' she laughs.'Even in cities like Indore or Guwahati, we've had to tweak spice levels, crunch profiles, even how we serve the burgers,' Singh reveals. 'People may try a burger out of curiosity, but they stick around when it feels like home—but in a bun.'advertisementIn many ways, it's the burger's versatility that's made this coexistence not only possible, but profitable.'If India's eating habits are diverse, why should burgers be one-size-fits-all?' she asks rhetorically. And the data backs her up. The Burger Company's expansion into smaller towns is a testament to how localised global food can hit the sweet (and spicy) FOOD VS STREET FOOD? THERE'S ROOM FOR BOTHFor purists wondering whether fast food is a threat to traditional Indian street food, Singh offers reassurance.'There is, and always will be, room for both,' she states with confidence. 'Indian consumers don't operate in binaries—they love choice. One day it's pav bhaji, the next day it's a burger meal.'She continues with a sentiment that captures India's hybrid food culture perfectly:'It's not about East vs West—it's about East meets West, in a bun.'Unlike multinational chains that often export foreign formats wholesale, The Burger Company has made it a point to adapt—leaning into desi flavours while maintaining global aesthetics. Their positioning is clear: not just another burger joint*, but a desi comfort food not trying to outshine traditional snacks—we're inspired by them,' she says. 'Our goal is to elevate the burger into something that feels rooted, relevant, and real to Indian consumers.'- Ends
The Hindu
15-06-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
Just 10% of target met, govt. plans sex determination inspection reboot
The Delhi government is planning to increase inspections at clinics and diagnostic centres to curb sex determination tests after meeting just 10% of the target. Only 715 inspections out of the planned 7,096 were conducted between April 2024 and March 2025 across 1,774 medical facilities in the city that are registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, according to the Health Department's annual report. To address this gap, the department will urge district authorities to prioritise inspections under the Act and form additional teams to conduct them, officials said. The Act mandates quarterly inspection of every clinic, with penalties including fines and imprisonment for those conducting sex determination tests. Though Delhi fell short of its annual target, it was still an improvement from the previous year, when just 455 inspections took place across 1,737 facilities such as diagnostic centres, speciality clinics, maternity and ultrasound centres, and IVF clinics and hospitals. Action against violators In March, Delhi Health Minister Pankaj Kumar Singh had launched a web portal to enhance action against violators of the Act. He said Delhi being the Capital must lead by example in eliminating sex determination practices. The Act applies to medical practitioners (geneticists, gynaecologists, paediatricians, sonologists, radiologists, and imaging specialists) and owners of facilities (genetic counselling centres, genetic clinics, and laboratories), imposing penalties for violations. While ultrasound machines can be used to detect genetic abnormalities and other disorders, using them for sex determination is prohibited under the Act. In 2024-2025, authorities took action against violators, issuing 70 show-cause notices, suspending 13 clinics, cancelling 53 registrations, and sealing 22 ultrasound machines. According to the district annual report, inspections remained low across districts, with the percentage of targets met ranging from 5.69% in North West district to 15.88% in West district. Under the Act, the Central government has to appoint one or more Appropriate Authorities for implementing its provisions. According to a 2014 gazette notification, Delhi's Deputy Commissioners and District Magistrates were designated as Appropriate Authorities in their respective districts. Despite attempts via e-mails and calls, The Hindu received no response from authorities across 11 districts on the low rate of inspection. Impact on sex ratio Delhi's sex ratio at birth improved from 896 in 2014 to 922 in 2023, according to the Civil Registration System data. However, despite the overall improvement over the decade, the ratio has been declining steadily since 2020, from 933 that year to 932 in 2021, 929 in 2022, and 922 in 2023. Dr. Neelam Singh, a gynaecologist and member of the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee, constituted under the PCPNDT Act, stressed the importance of quarterly inspections. 'Every clinic is to be checked quarterly and a report is to be made,' she said. She noted that increased inspections in States such as Haryana, Rajasthan, and Maharashtra have led to improved sex ratios, suggesting that stricter enforcement can deter sex determination practices. Doctors at Delhi clinics report that despite the Act being in place for 30 years, they still receive requests to determine the sex of a child, although such requests have decreased over time. A gynaecologist on condition of anonymity said about 10% of couples still request sex determination, but are counselled on its illegality. She said some couples opt to travel to countries like Thailand or the UAE, where sex determination is allowed and gender disclosure is standard practice. 'Ramp up efforts' 'Of late, district authorities are saying they are preoccupied with other tasks,' a Health Department official said, adding that the department will urge them to form more inspection teams and prioritise inspections to improve the sex ratio. The official explained that inspections also include monitoring advertisements for sex determination, random checks of Form F (a mandatory record to track ultrasound scans, where patients and doctors declare no sex determination is done), and noting inconsistencies like missing records. Inspections may also include decoy operations, the official said.
