Latest news with #Rajeshwari
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Kovur's growth boosts infrastructure, but waste disposal remains a concern
Kovur, a once quiet, green village in Chennai's western suburbs, is undergoing rapid development. Situated around five kilometres from Porur along the Porur-Kundrathur Road, the area, part of Kundrathur taluk in Kancheepuram district, has seen significant changes in recent years — from new high-rises built by prominent real estate firms to improved roads. Long-time residents recall a very different Kovur. 'It used to be covered in trees and bushes. People rarely visited the periya kovil because it was hard to reach,' said M. Rajeshwari, who has lived in the area for over 30 years. The 'periya kovil' she referred to is the historic Sundareswarar Temple, built during the Chozha period. According to historian V. Sriram, the temple also has a cultural legacy — Tyagaraja, the famed Carnatic composer, created five keerthanais here in the 1830s after being invited by East India Company's chief dubash Kovur Sundaresa Mudali. Improved accessibility has brought more visitors to the temple, but infrastructure still lags in places. During a recent visit to Kovur, restrooms built by government authorities under the HR&CE department were found locked. Locals said the facility is functional, but sometimes remains closed when the assigned caretaker is absent. Elsewhere, signs of urban development are more visible. 'Most of the old tiled-roof houses are gone. People have rebuilt them as two- or three-storey buildings,' said Thaayamma, who runs a grocery shop. D. Revathi, another resident, notes that the re-laid roads have made everyday commuting much easier. Open garbage dumping Despite the many positives, Kovur is also starting to show early signs of urban strain. The most pressing concern is the increasing open dumping of garbage. Though the residents say that waste is collected every two days, it is often dumped in open areas outside the panchayat limits — particularly along the service road south of the Chennai Bypass toward Tambaram. On August 1, heaps of plastic and domestic waste were seen burning in these open spaces, releasing smoke into the air. A panchayat official acknowledged the issue, stating that while recent funds were directed toward roadwork and underground sewer projects, steps are being taken to prioritise waste segregation. Plans are under way to improve recycling, particularly of plastic waste, the official said. While Kovur currently escapes problems like rainwater stagnation and stray cattle that plague more densely populated suburbs, unchecked growth and poor waste management could steer it in the same problematic direction, said residents.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Author Prajwal Parajuly discovers that happiness in Sri City begins with a functioning kitchen
They were in the building hallways and the university shuttle, guffawing harder than anyone else. I saw them at the neighbourhood park — smug individuals who seemed better fed and better rested than all of humankind. And they chattered beatifically at Dhanush, the town supermarket, as though they had spent a week at a retreat getting their chakras aligned. I was in a different place. It didn't help matters that resuming life in Sri City after six months away was proving to be more adventurous than I had bargained for. Surely I hadn't glamourised things here while I was gone? I arrived home from New York to discover that my tiny bookshelf — a ghastly gray-and-white rectangle attached to the upper half of my living-room wall — had crashed to the ground. I had time and again let the authorities know that the damp from the winter monsoons had refused to leave even after the rains retreated. Was it any wonder, then, that a bookshelf had collapsed and its glass shattered? Then there was the kitchen. When you try infusing life into your apartment after it has stayed empty for a while, you deal with spluttering taps, rusted utensils and the resurfacing of long-gone insects. The revolving trio of housekeepers that Krea University sends do a good job with sweeping and mopping but aren't expected to touch the cabinets, counters, and fridge. I'd have to clean everything myself. I'd spend half a day getting rid of obstinate stains in the fridge when I should have been drafting my syllabus. To reward myself for morphing into Martha Stewart, I decided on a protein shake. The blender wouldn't start. I took that as a sign to abandon this half-hearted embrace of housework and proceeded to eat a block of cheese. So, yes, the happy faces of my colleagues taunted me. I did not remember them smiling so much. Not at last year's poker session at my place, which perhaps had more PhDs than any other game in the world. Nor at Aroma, the only restaurant for miles that has a liquor licence even if the food is multi-cuisine, that obnoxious euphemism a dead giveaway that nothing you eat will be too special. I noticed an easy swagger in my colleagues' gait on campus, too. Before class and after class, before seminars and after seminars. And was that a smile I gauged at a departmental meeting? No one had any business being this content. There had to be a reason behind it. My colleagues, you see, had a hired a cook. House help is notoriously difficult to find around Sri City. It's only a matter of time, friends would say. Every search — and indeed I had put forth many — had resulted in a dead end. When I was away, though, a colleague had fortuitously come across someone looking for a job. Soon, three other Krea people in the building hired Rajeshwari. Rajeshwari spoke some English, cleaned the kitchen after cooking and could be convinced to shop for your vegetables, the happy colleagues said. I employed her without an interview. When my new hire first saw the kitchen, she clucked. The knives weren't suited to chopping sturdy vegetables. She said she wouldn't be able to cook without a pressure cooker. Like a chastened schoolboy, I immediately bought one. She said I had spent too much money on it. Rajeshwari is not a big fan of my induction stove but hasn't said so. She finds the absence of a dish rack bizarre. She was resourceful enough to repurpose into a kitchen mat the carton in which the fridge came. When I forbade her from washing and reusing paper towels, she said 'waste, waste' and laughed. Colleagues had warned me that I should tell Rajeshwari to go easy on the salt. And the oil. And the spices. She quickly realised that I liked my piquancy to come from green chillies and not from masala. My boiled eggs are perfectly peeled. My chicken never has that gross taste often boasted by chicken refrigerated overnight. There's the all-pervasive smell of food in the apartment, which is taking some getting used to. Rajeshwari has rearranged the fridge, and I now have three empty shelves. Dishes dry on kitchen towels on the counter. The dining table is disinfected, sprayed and sparkled. The university administration has finally convinced the landlord to paint over the damp-damaged wall. I, too, like my colleagues, have an inane grin plastered on my face. I am now ready to have people over. They will drink exquisitely awful red wine. They will eat Rajeshwari's food. They will play poker. They will ignore the bookshelf, which is still on the floor. Its glass has still not been mended. Prajwal Parajuly is the author of The Gurkha's Daughter and Land Where I Flee. He loves idli, loathes naan, and is indifferent to coffee. He teaches Creative Writing at Krea University and oscillates between New York City and Sri City.
Time of India
17-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Lohardaga leads state in healthy panchayat index
Ranchi: Jharkhand has performed well against the 'Healthy Panchayat' yardstick under the Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI 2.0). The Panchayat Advancement Index (PAI) aims to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), said Panchayati Raj Department director Rajeshwari B on Thursday. Out of 4,345 gram panchayats in Jharkhand, 4,281 submitted their data in the PAI system. Based on their performance, 7% of the panchayats were classified as 'Performers' with a score between 60 and 75%, 57% were placed under 'Aspirants' with a score between 40 and 60%, and the rest 36% as 'Starters' with a score between 0 and 40%. Lohardaga secured the top position with a score of 59.37%, followed by Khunti (59.27%), West Singhbhum (56.48%), Dhanbad (54.15%), and Jamtara (53.91%). In the 'Healthy Panchayat' thematic area, the state registered its best performance. Out of the total panchayats, 96 (2.24%) achieved full targets, 1,230 (28.73%) were designated leaders, 2,520 (58.86%) performers, 382 (8.92%) aspirants, and 53 (1.24%) initiators. At the block level, Manjhgaon block of West Singhbhum bagged the top spot with a score of 65.28%, followed by Pakuriya block of Pakur (64.14%) and Kumardungi block (63.26%). Among gram panchayats, Kotgarh (Noamundi, West Singhbhum) secured the highest score of 68.08%, followed by Chilara (Pathargama, Godda) with 67.92% and Rajpokhar (Pakuriya, Pakur) with 67.53%. Rajeshwari said, "Pnchayats need to focus on nine key development themes — poverty alleviation, health, child rights, water availability, sanitation, infrastructure, social justice, good governance, and women empowerment. Depending on the availability of funds, panchayats should work on any two themes each year and gradually expand. This systematic approach will help in realising our development goals. " "It is also necessary to enter the development work being done in the panchayats on the PAI portal. Without proper data entry, even well-performing panchayats may lag behind in the development index," she added. The workshop also reviewed the reasons behind unsatisfactory performance in several panchayats.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Reading's many merits highlighted at celebration
Letters should be turned into weapons of knowledge, Alappuzha district panchayat president K.G. Rajeshwari has said. Inaugurating the district-level celebration of Reading Day and Reading Week observance at S.N. College, Cherthala, on Thursday, Ms. Rajeshwari said that reading opens up a new world to the reader. 'Reading is essential to becoming a better human being. This is a time when choices related to knowledge are of great importance. If we choose the right books, we can become responsible citizens,' she said while recalling how reading had transformed her own life. She urged the younger generation to understand the value of reading and to read at least one book every month. Govt. projects Ms. Rajeshwari said the State government had launched projects to promote reading and education. 'Through the Literacy Mission, many people have stepped into the world of education. Similarly, institutions like the Kudumbashree Mission have helped bring to light the hidden creative talents of many women. While there are concerns that the younger generation is drifting away from the world of reading, the recent acceptance and appreciation received by the works of young writers like Akhil P. Dharmajan offer much hope,' she added. V.T.'s case Writer K. Rekha, who was the chief guest at the function, said that reading not only enhances linguistic abilities but also fosters scientific awareness, and that language plays a crucial role in shaping human character. 'There is no age limit for reading. It was in his thirties that V.T. Bhattathiripad entered the world of letters. The insights he gained from reading helped rewrite the destiny of an entire society,' she said. Interacting with the audience, the writer emphasised that the Malayalam language was not dying. She, however, pointed out that the overuse of mobile phones and social media was distancing the younger generation from reading books. Kanjikuzhy block panchayat president V.G. Mohanan presided. Additional District Magistrate Asha C. Abraham, S.N. College, Cherthala Principal T.P. Bindu and others attended the function.
The Hindu
16-06-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Domestic workers urge Union government to enact law for fair wages, social security
In the 25 years that R. Rajeshwari has been a domestic worker, only in the last 10 years did she come to know about her right to a weekly holiday and bonus. 'We think domestic work is not important. Back in the village, people don't value workers who clean the house or the bathroom. But now, we understand the dignity and social security in the work,' she said at an event here on Monday. On the occasion of the International Domestic Workers Day, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust (TNDWWT) urged the Union government to enact a legislation ensuring decent work, fair wages, social security and legal rights to domestic workers. 'Domestic work helped me to educate my daughter only in a matriculation school. Its vital that we receive better wages and that people recognise our work as important,' said Rajeshwari. Better awareness needed Speaking at an event organised on the occasion, Social Welfare and Women Empowerment Minister P. Geetha Jeevan said, 'Even with the government's support, there is a need for better societal awareness. A lot of improvements for women have come about through law. However, many problems persist due to constraints faced within the family set up.' Further, the Tamil Nadu Domestic Workers Welfare Trust submitted a petition to the State government to extend the Sexual Harassment of Women at Workplace (Prevention, Prohibition and Redressal) Act to domestic workers, revise their existing minimum wage to ₹100 per hour and establish regulations and monitoring mechanisms for domestic worker recruitment by agencies to prevent exploitation, among other demands. Member of Parliament Sasikanth Senthil, Member of Legislative Assembly of T. Nagar J. Karunanidhi, District Judge and Deputy Secretary District Legal Services Authority S. Vengadalakshmi, chief functionary TNDWWT Josephine Amala Valarmathi and members of the TNDWWT also spoke at the event.
