Latest news with #PradeepNair
Time of India
3 days ago
- General
- Time of India
NGO's ghost net removal mission proves a boon for fishermen in Andhra Pradesh
Ongole: Singoti Koteswara Rao, a fisherman from Allur village under Kothapatnam mandal in Prakasam district, has seen his income nearly double this peak season compared to previous years. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now His team's overall catch significantly improved in the past few months, thanks to the efforts of NGO Animal Warriors Conservation Society (AWCS), whose continuous efforts to remove ghost nets and marine plastic has revitalised fishing in the region, leading to increased yields and higher revenues for the fisherfolks. With the support of local fishermen, AWCS has so far removed about 5,455 kgs of marine plastics from Kothapatnam region alone. It has also recycled about 26,000 kgs of ghost nets retrieved from the local coast. Through community-led efforts, the NGO has facilitated the recovery of ghost nets and other marine plastics from coastal waters, reducing the risk of entanglement and mortality for marine life. This has contributed to the restoration of critical marine habitats, besides enhancing the biodiversity and ecosystem resilience. Local fishermen earned a whopping Rs 14 lakh from the recycled plastics recovered from the ocean. "Fishermen who venture into the sea have little knowledge of the ocean's topography. Whenever they spot a shoal of fish, they release their gear around it to trap the fish inside. Fishing nets sometimes get entangled in rocky structures on the seafloor, which becomes difficult for the fishermen to retrieve, leaving them no choice except to abandon the nets," explains Pradeep Nair, founder and president of AWCS. Senior project manager P Ramakrishna said it's usually a huge loss for fishermen as the net itself is a huge investment for them. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now "A lost net and reduced fish catch often leads to the fishermen returning empty-handed, deepening their financial struggles and pushing them further into debt," he said. Research indicates that over 90% of the species trapped in ghost gear are commercially valuable, making ghost fishing not only an environmental issue but also a major economic challenge, threatening the sustainability and profitability of fisheries.
Yahoo
10-04-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Kuen Cheng High School Earns 2nd Place in Otis' Asia Pacific Regional Made to Move Communities™ Challenge
School awarded US$15,000 grant to advance STEM programming KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia, April 10, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- A team of students from Kuen Cheng High School has been named runner-up in the Otis Asia Pacific region Made to Move Communities student challenge, a competition in which students apply principles of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths) to propose solutions to real-world urban mobility issues. Over the last several months, the high school students, with the guidance of Otis volunteer mentors, designed solutions leveraging AI technology aimed at enabling more inclusive mobility in their communities, and presented their ideas to Otis judges from the company's Asia Pacific region. Otis (NYSE: OTIS) is the world's leading elevator and escalator manufacturing, installation and service company. The students' solution titled City Alive: Leveraging AI to Resolve Traffic Congestion showcased an innovative concept using drones as command centers for the creation of autonomous and moveable platforms to clear road obstacles. The team received a US$15,000 grant from Otis to further advance STEM programming in their school. "We extend our sincere gratitude to Otis for providing Kuen Cheng High School with the opportunity to participate in this year's Made to Move Communities challenge," said Ms. Foo Cheau Yee, teacher-in-charge from Kuen Cheng High School. "It has been an enriching and meaningful experience for our students, who have gained valuable insights through their eight-week collaboration with Otis volunteers—enhancing their AI solution, strengthening their presentation skills, and learning how to position a solution for commercial viability." "Rapid urbanization has driven the swift growth of cities across Malaysia, leading to traffic congestion, longer commute times, and reduced productivity," said Pradeep Nair, Managing Director of Otis Malaysia. "We extend our heartfelt congratulations to the students of Kuen Cheng High School for securing second place in the Otis Asia Pacific region with their innovative solution to overcome Malaysia's urban mobility challenges. Most importantly, we hope this experience has inspired them—and all participating students—to continue exploring and pursuing opportunities in the STEM fields." About the Made to Move Communities challenge Launched in 2020, the Made to Move Communities challenge engages young minds to explore real-world challenges and develop innovative solutions with the potential to create more connected communities and improve mobility for all. This initiative brings together students, educators, and Otis colleagues as mentors with the goals of advancing STEM and leadership skills to help build the next generation of talent, ensuring future workforce readiness, and sustaining innovation. Each year, the program focuses on a different theme that aligns with global priorities, such as sustainability, accessibility or technology. This year's theme had students incorporate Artificial Intelligence into their proposals. Students are encouraged to think critically and creatively, applying STEM principles to address mobility-related issues. Through workshops, mentorship, and collaboration, participants gain valuable insights and skills that prepare them for future careers while making a positive impact on society. Participating schools also receive grants at the conclusion of the program to support ongoing STEM education in their schools. This year, more than 250 students globally from dozens of schools participated in the challenge. To date, the Made to Move Communities program has reached more than 1,000 student participants, involved more than 950 Otis volunteer mentors, and delivered nearly 90 grants totalling over $1 million to support ongoing STEM education at participating schools. To learn more about the Made to Move Communities challenge, visit About Otis Otis gives people freedom to connect and thrive in a taller, faster, smarter world. The global leader in the manufacture, installation and servicing of elevators and escalators, we move 2.4 billion people a day and maintain approximately 2.4 million customer units worldwide – the industry's largest Service portfolio. You'll find us in the world's most iconic structures, as well as residential and commercial buildings, transportation hubs and everywhere people are on the move. Headquartered in Connecticut, USA, Otis is 72,000 people strong, including 44,000 field professionals, all committed to manufacturing, installing and maintaining products to meet the diverse needs of our customers and passengers in more than 200 countries and territories. To learn more, visit and follow us on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook @OtisElevatorCo. View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE Otis Elevator
