Latest news with #P.Rajeeve
The Hindu
4 hours ago
- Business
- The Hindu
High-range belt of Kottayam taps into big investments with ‘Rising Poonjar 2K25'
Spanning the Wagamon hills in the north to the forests of Sabarimala in the south, Poonjar, a picturesque region in the eastern high ranges of Kottayam, is opening its doors to investment and entrepreneurship. In a move to boost enterprise and economic activity in the region, the Industries department is organising an investment meet titled 'Rising Poonjar 2K25' at Erattupetta on Monday. The event, inspired by the Invest Kerala Global Summit, will be held at Barakat Square and inaugurated by Industries Minister P. Rajeeve. According to Poonjar legislator Sebastian Kulathungal, the meet will showcase a wide range of investment projects within the Poonjar constituency and nearby regions. So far, 206 entrepreneurs have registered, with investment proposals totaling ₹2,042 crore. The projects are expected to generate employment for 7,381 people. Potential areas 'The constituency holds immense potential across sectors such as tourism, agro-based and value-added food products, IT/ITES, rubber-based industries, wood products, and spice-based enterprises. With the proposed Sabarimala Greenfield International Airport in Erumely set to boost regional connectivity, this meet aims to catalyse industrial and commercial growth. The goal is to enhance local production, create jobs, and improve household incomes,' Mr. Kulathungal said. The event also aims to streamline the process of setting up businesses by ensuring necessary permissions, technical assistance, and access to capital through financial institutions, government agencies and local self-governments. A wide variety of projects are expected to be launched as part of the initiative. Registration for the event will begin at 9 a.m. on Monday. A panel session, scheduled from 9.30 a.m. to 10.30 a.m., will cover business registration procedures, government support schemes and capital-raising strategies. The session will be led by G. Rajeev, Additional Director of the Department of Industries and Commerce, and his team. Water Resources Minister Roshy Augustine will inaugurate the exhibition. Minister for Cooperation and Devaswom V. N. Vasavan will deliver the valedictory address.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Children return to schools amid a festive mood in Ernakulam
Hundreds of children were accorded a colourful reception on the occasion of the start of the new academic year across schools in Ernakulam on Monday (June 2). Songs, dance performances, distribution of gifts, sweets, and flowers turned the 'Praveshanolsavam' into a festive mood. Although a few tiny tots broke into tears amid the new surroundings, the teachers and non-teaching staff lost no time in consoling them, as evident from the scenes witnessed in several schools on the first day of the new academic year. At the Government Girls' Lower Primary School, Ernakulam, the children were welcomed with colourful caps made out of chart paper. The senior students were also around to ensure that the younger students remained happy on the inaugural day. The Government High School at West Kadungalloor near Aluva wore a festive look as the district-level 'Praveshanolsavam' was held on the campus. Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve, who inaugurated the programme, said that the new curriculum will equip the children to tackle the challenges in life beyond the knowledge gathered from textbooks. The inclusion of topics such as good habits, the importance of cleanliness, and the ill effects of drugs will enable them to become responsible citizens, he said. Sethu, the author, who spoke on the occasion, said that learning one's mother language will unite humanity. The learning of mother tongue cannot be set aside in our educational system, he said. Name slips with messages related to cleanliness were distributed among the students as part of a campaign by the Suchitwa Mission. Parvathy Gopakumar, Assistant Collector, Ernakulam, who inaugurated the 'Praveshanolsavam' at the St. Joseph U.P. School, urged the children to face the challenges in their lives as part of the journey ahead. 'If you can overcome these challenges, you will be able to move forward with courage,' she said. Anthony Asanparambil, Chairperson of the Maradu Municipality, inaugurated the Thrippunithura sub-district programme held at the Government Lower Primary School in Mangayil. Children were welcomed to the campus with colourful balloons and sweets.
The Hindu
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
President withholds assent to Malayalam Bill without giving reason in violation of SC order
An unprecedented constitutional challenge has cropped up in the State with the President withholding her assent to the Malayalam Bill passed by the Kerala Assembly a decade ago, without assigning any reasons. The President's move, it has been pointed out, violated the April 8 judgment of the Supreme Court in the Tamil Nadu Governor case where the court held that the President cannot exercise an absolute veto on Bills and cannot withhold assent without furnishing reasons. First after judgment This was the first Bill to be withheld assent by the President without assigning any reasons since the landmark order of the top court. The apex court had directed that the withholding of assent for a Bill 'must be accompanied by sound and specific reasons that necessitate the withholding, by clearly outlaying the policy considerations on which such an action is predicate.' The court went a step further and added that a constitutional 'requirement and responsibility of assigning reasons to the withholding of assent is cast upon the President and the reasons assigned by the President for withholding of assent must be communicated to the State government concerned.' The Bill was returned to the State government the other day without assigning any reasons. The President had earlier withheld assent to three Bills namely the Kerala University Laws (Amendment No. 2) Bill 2022, University Law Amendment Bill, 2022, and the University Law Amendment Bill, 2021, which were referred to her in November 2023 by the then Governor Arif Mohammed Khan. Incidentally, the President's move comes at a time when the State government's petitions challenging her actions on the Bills are under the consideration of the Supreme Court. The State government is yet to discuss the issue, said P. Rajeeve, State Minister for Law. No legal precedent Top legal officers of the State felt that the President's act has created an unusual legal and constitutional crisis where she went against the Supreme Court order, which is the law of the land. The State may be forced to move the Supreme Court against the act of the President. There have been no such legal precedents in the recent legal history of the country and the framers of the Constitution may not have foreseen such a legal crisis, said a senior Supreme Court lawyer.
The Hindu
21-05-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Kerala setting a new benchmark for investment promotion, project implementation: Rajeeve
Four projects for which expression of interests (EOIs) have been received at the Invest Kerala Global Summit (IKGS) in Kochi this February commenced in April. The projects have a total outlay of ₹1,211 crore. Meanwhile, foundation stone will be laid this month for eight projects coming up at an investment of ₹2,675 crore. The four projects have the potential to generate 3,050 jobs. As many as 8,800 jobs will be created by the eight projects. Disclosing this at a press conference here on Wednesday, Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve said this affirmed Kerala's standing as a premier investment destination with increased investor trust in the government. He said another five projects, with an outlay of over ₹1,000 crore and the potential to generate 2,400 jobs, were slated to begin in June. 'By combining transparent digital tools, decentralised execution, and policy reform, Kerala is setting a new benchmark for investment promotion and project implementation in the country,' he said. Among the major proposals that came up at the IKGS, the Genome Valley at Life Sciences Park with an investment of ₹3,800 crore in Thiruvananthapuram will commence construction shortly while Unity Mall in Thiruvananthapuram will be inaugurated in November, the Minister said. A dedicated advisory group, chaired by the Minister, has been formed for monitoring project implementation, coordinating across departments and resolving issues. A policy reform meeting chaired by the Chief Minister is scheduled for June. The meeting will address the procedural and policy bottlenecks that affect investment implementation and focus on improving the overall ease of doing business. A portal, has been launched to create a database of land available in the State for industrial purposes, the Minister said. The portal will function like a matchmaking website where those who have land available for industrial purposes can list information, Mr. Rajeeve said. Another portal, developed by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, will provide investors and departments updates and information about each proposal's implementation status. It also features a monthly progress report to ensure transparency and stakeholder accountability. Around 450 EOIs have been received at the IKGS, for which over 370 project-level meetings have been conducted so far, and updated status reports and photographs have been uploaded on the dashboard of the IKGS portal.
United News of India
21-05-2025
- Business
- United News of India
Value of counterfeit & pirated goods crosses USD 2.81 trillion in year 2022: FICCI
Thiruvananthapuram, May 21 (UNI) The value of counterfeit and pirated goods has crossed USD 2.81 trillion in year 2022 impacting commerce and industry, governments, economies and the society at large, according to Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI). Counterfeiting and smuggling activities are highly pervasive across countries and sectors, representing a multi-billion-dollar industry globally that continues to grow and impact economies. To fight against this social evil, the FICCI took an initiative in the form of 'Committee against Smuggling, Counterfeiting and Piracy Destroying the Economy' (CASCADE). FICCI-CASCADE over the years has been successful in stirring an active debate on the topic across various states in India. FICCI-CASCADE, as a part of its objective to increase awareness about the growing menace of smuggling, counterfeiting and pirated goods, has been organizing seminars across various states in India. In Kerala, the FICCI-CASCADE has planned to to organize a seminar on 'Proactive Approaches to Combat Counterfeiting and Smuggling' here on May 21. Kerala Minister for Industries P. Rajeeve will inaugurate the seminar. P C Jha, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and former Chairman, Central Board of Indirect Taxes and Customs (CBIC) and Deep Chand, Advisor, FICCI CASCADE and former Special Commissioner of Police, New Delhi, will also attend the event. Eminent personalities comprising of high ranking officials from the Department of Customs, Police, Trade and Industry will also address the participants, Renjith R, Assistant Director, FICCI-Kerala, said. These awareness programs are well attended by policy makers, industry across sectors, consumer rights activists, youth, police, custom, border security officials. FICCI-CASCADE also engages with the Ministry of Consumer Affairs at the National and State level in their vision to protect the rights and interests of consumers. UNI DS BM
