Latest news with #Salem-based
Hans India
31-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
From loom to label: Stepping up sustainable innovation
Bengaluru: As India ascends among global apparel sourcing hubs in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the Department of Fashion Technology at Salem-based Sona College of Technology is making strategic strides to position itself as a leader in sustainable fashion innovation, cutting-edge textile research, and technical skill development. Reflecting its philosophy of 'From Loom to Label,' the department equips students with end-to-end expertise—from the fundamentals of fabric manufacturing and textile engineering to the latest in design technology and fashion innovation. The department is currently engaged in more than half a dozen research projects in areas such as advanced technical textiles, assistive textile technologies for differently-abled women, cotton waste upcycling, and loom waste minimisation. These projects have secured an estimated funding of Rs5 crore from bodies including the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), SIDBI, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST).
Hans India
30-07-2025
- Business
- Hans India
From Loom to Label: Powering Innovation and Careers
Salem: As India ascends among global apparel sourcing hubs in a rapidly evolving geopolitical landscape, the Department of Fashion Technology at Salem-based Sona College of Technology is making strategic strides to position itself as a leader in sustainable fashion innovation, cutting-edge textile research, and technical skill development. Reflecting its philosophy of 'From Loom to Label,' the department equips students with end-to-end expertise—from the fundamentals of fabric manufacturing and textile engineering to the latest in design technology and fashion innovation. The department is currently engaged in more than half a dozen research projects in areas such as advanced technical textiles, assistive textile technologies for differently-abled women, cotton waste upcycling, and loom waste minimisation. These projects have secured an estimated funding of ₹5 crore from bodies including the National Technical Textiles Mission (NTTM), SIDBI, and the Department of Science and Technology (DST). Among its international collaborations, the FIBRE project—being executed by a dozen partners at the University Health Network (UHN) with the University of Toronto in the lead—stands out for its cutting edge research on wearable smart textiles for healthcare applications. The department's NBA-accredited BTech programme has been recognised with the AICTE-CII Mentor status, owing to its robust industry-academia connect. The curriculum is deeply experiential, offering students hands-on training through in-plant internships and industrial visits. Academic excellence is underpinned by a focused curriculum that covers Fashion Design and CAD, Sustainable and Eco-Textiles, 3D Virtual Fitting, and Technical Textiles. These subjects are taught by highly qualified faculty, over 60% of whom hold PhDs in domains such as smart textiles, garment automation, and apparel engineering. Mr Chocko Valliappa, Vice Chairman of Sona College of Technology, stated, 'By seamlessly blending technology and cutting-edge research with fashion and design, the Fashion Technology department has emerged as a cradle for industry-ready professionals, achieving 100% placement for every graduating batch over the last 17 years.' The impact of the department's innovation efforts is evident in its eight granted patents out of a total of 24 filed, including an assistive sewing machine designed for women with locomotor disabilities, which has generated ₹5 lakh in revenue. The department has also published over 250 research papers in Scopus and SCI-indexed journals, many of which feature contributions by undergraduate students. These academic achievements have propelled student teams to win prestigious competitions, including the top position in the Smart India Hackathon 2024 under the smart apparel category. Fostering a strong start-up culture, the department has facilitated MSME-supported student enterprises focused on sustainable fashion solutions. Graduates have been placed with leading employers such as Aditya Birla, Decathlon, Himatsingka Seide, Homecentre, H&M, KKP Fine Linen, Loyal Textiles, Pearl Global, Reliance, Sakthi Knitting, Shahi Exports and Louis Philippe. Many alumni have taken on leadership roles in global fashion and textile firms, while others have pursued advanced studies at top institutions in India and abroad. According to independent research studies, the Department of Fashion Technology at Sona College of Technology is ranked among the top 3 Fashion Technology colleges in Tamil Nadu and within the top 26 nationally. Sona College of Technology, an autonomous institution under Anna University, has been awarded the highest accreditation grade of NAAC A++ by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC), an autonomous body of the University Grants Commission. The CGPA score of 3.65 marks a significant improvement over its previous evaluation conducted five years ago, placing it among a select group of top-rated colleges.
New Indian Express
27-06-2025
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
Actor Krishna arrested as digital evidence ‘links' him to drugs
CHENNAI: The number of arrests in the cocaine case involving actor Srikanth has gone up with the Greater Chennai Police arresting actor Srikrishna (47), known in the Tamil film industry as Krishna, on Thursday. Along with Krishna, the police have also arrested one Kevin, alias Jasvin (35), identified as an important distributor/peddler in the case. Krishna had appeared before the Nungambakkam police on Tuesday evening and was questioned for around 20 hours. He also underwent a medical test as per procedure, which did not indicate drug consumption. The brother of popular director Vishnuvardhan, Krishna was part of at least a dozen Tamil movies, including Maari 2. Police sources said the digital evidence collected by them indicated Krishna's links with Jasvin who had supplied him with cocaine and other synthetic drugs in the past. The digital evidence collected by cops includes WhatsApp conversations and cash transactions purportedly related to drug payments. The police have also recovered 0.5 gram cocaine, 10.3 grams of methamphetamine, 2.75 grams of MDMA, 2.4 grams of OG ganja, 30 grams of ganja, 40 grams of OC rolling paper, 40 grams of ziplock covers used for packaging drugs, two weighing machines, a laptop, a mobile phone, and Rs 45,200 in cash from Jesvin. The police have already apprehended actor Srikanth, expelled AIADMK IT wing functionary Prasad and businessman Ajay Vandaiyar in the case. The police made significant headway in the case after arresting Prasad, who was found to be allegedly supplying cocaine to Srikanth after procuring it from Salem-based Pradeep and Ghana native John in Bengaluru. The cops have found an elaborate crime network with Prasad's involvement in job fraud cases and that of his friends Ajay and others in land fraud cases. Further investigation is under way to identify others linked to the drug racket, police sources said.
The Hindu
19-06-2025
- The Hindu
Chargesheet filed in Salem history-sheeter murder case
In connection with the murder of Salem-based history-sheeter John alias Chanakya (35), near Nasiyanur on the Salem–Coimbatore National Highway three months ago, the district police filed a 1,000-page chargesheet before the Principal District Court in Erode on Wednesday (June 18, 2025). John, a native of Kitchipalayam in Salem city, was married to Saranya (28), and the couple had a son and a daughter. They were residing in Thillai Nagar in Tiruppur district and were engaged in disbursing vehicle loans. In a narcotics-related case, John had been arrested earlier and was granted conditional bail by a Salem court, which required him to sign regularly at the Annathanapatti police station. On March 19, after signing at the station, John was returning to Tiruppur by car with his wife. As they approached Mullampatti Pirivu at Nasiyanur on the highway, a car that tailed them rammed into their vehicle, forcing them to stop. A four-member gang then attacked John with machetes, inflicting multiple injuries that led to his death on the spot. Saranya, who attempted to intervene, also sustained injuries. The police shot and arrested three accused — Satheesh, Boopalan, and Saravanan. Another accused, Karthikeyan alias Myna Karthi, was also arrested on the same day. In total, 14 people have been arrested in connection with the murder. So far, none of the accused has been granted bail while three were detained under the Goondas Act. Police sources said the chargesheet was filed within 90 days of the crime while the accused were still in custody. The chargesheet names 102 witnesses and includes various pieces of evidence.
Boston Globe
09-06-2025
- General
- Boston Globe
As housing costs rise in Boston, homelessness soars in the cities that surround it
Related : Advertisement 'We've reached a critical mass in Brockton,' said City Councilor Winthrop Farwell. 'Our city is at the center of what is really a societal crisis, and there is no good answer for how we're supposed to go about handling it.' There are many causes of homelessness. But local leaders point to one in particular to explain the recent surge: the soaring cost of housing. People gathered underneath the commuter rail tracks in Brockton on May 22. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff As people priced out of Boston flock to places like Brockton, Worcester, and Lowell — attracted by their cheaper housing costs and accessible commutes — rents in those once-affordable cities are rising at a rapid clip. That's bringing investment to cities that have long struggled to attract it, but it is also stretching longtime lower-income residents to the breaking point. Advertisement It's a vexing cycle. As encampments have cropped up, local officials are struggling to balance the needs of their poorest residents and the logistical, and ethical, problems their tents present. Related : 'We do what we can to help as many people who need it,' said Jason Etheridge, executive director of Lifebridge North Shore, a Salem-based nonprofit that runs shelters and supportive apartments in several cities north of Boston. 'There are forces in the economy that have made it much easier to become homeless. At a certain point, shelters can't fix that.' Before the past few years, Brockton had made significant progress on homelessness. There is limited data counting homeless people in most municipalities, but in 2021, officials counted 943 in a federally-designated area south of Boston that includes Brockton, Quincy, Plymouth, and Weymouth, the fewest since 2008. By 2024, that number had doubled to 1,885, the highest number since tracking began in 2005. The trends are similar in Fall River, New Bedford, Lynn, and Several things changed during the pandemic that have fueled the surge, said Joyce Tavon, CEO of the Massachusetts Housing and Shelter Alliance, including increased rates of substance abuse and mental illness among residents of the state. But the biggest difference was the explosion of housing costs in the years that followed. Related : In Brockton, the median price for a single-family home has risen nearly 50 percent in the last five years, from $339,900 in 2020 to $500,000 in 2025, according to the real estate website Redfin. While there is limited rental data for Brockton, rents in nearby Fall River rose nearly 80 percent over five years to $1,807 a month in April, according to Zillow's Observed Rent Index. In Lowell, rents jumped 45 percent over that period, to $2,273. Advertisement That has hit 'We're talking about people whose lives are incredibly fragile, because they're living paycheck to paycheck making just enough to support themselves or their family,' said Tavon. 'All it takes is one thing to go wrong — an eviction or a medical bill — for everything to fall apart.' Related : The state has long targeted its 26 formally-defined 'gateway cities' for economic development because of their relatively affordable land and old industrial buildings that can be converted to other uses. Those goals are finally being realized due to newfound demand, and many have seen their downtowns transformed with shiny new apartment buildings, restaurants, and street life. That demand is also taking a toll. Father Bill's & MainSpring's new shelter/supportive housing site in Brockton. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff Off Route 24 in Brockton, a new shelter run by the homeless nonprofit Father Bill's & MainSpring is part of a broader housing resource center that includes permanent supportive apartments for formerly homeless people in an adjacent building. It contains 128 overnight beds and a day center with caseworkers. The new center opened last month, but it is still nowhere near enough to meet the city's needs, said John Yazwinski, president and CEO of the nonprofit. On a recent tour, Yazwinksi pointed out the spare cots he keeps handy in case the overnight beds fill up, which happens frequently. It can be disheartening, he said. Advertisement 'To a certain extent, you will always have some amount of homelessness that's related to mental health and addiction,' he said. 'But what we're seeing now, while those factors are certainly a part of it, is driven by the housing market.' Related : Jerome Jarrett knows too well how that can happen. Jarrett lives in a subsidized apartment with supportive services from Father Bill's. Before that, he spent five years bouncing between shelters. Losing his job led to an eviction, and he struggled to find new work during the pandemic and a place he could afford after that. 'I have a home now, which I am very proud of,' said Jarrett, who is 57, as he sat near the window of his new, modern-looking apartment. 'I also have a new perspective on how easy it is to lose something like this and end up with nothing.' Jerome Jerrett is living in a supportive housing unit at Father Bill's & Mainspring new housing center. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff The surge in homelessness has prompted something of a municipal emergency in Brockton and places like it. Last winter, so many tents appeared in downtown Brockton that local business owners complained to the City Council, with some saying they would have to close if the problem persisted. Howard Wright, who owns a small technology firm that was based out of a building near a popular gathering spot for homeless people, moved his business to Taunton over concerns about the safety of downtown. 'Brockton is my home,' Wright said. 'But my employees don't feel safe. I can't expect to run a business under these circumstances.' Related : In November, Advertisement Other cities, including Lowell and Fall River, No solution seems particularly satisfactory. Advocates decry camping bans as inhumane, and even some business owners reject the idea. Abandoned clothes were left on top a stone post near Perkins Park in Brockton, where homeless folks gathered before the city's camping ban went into effect. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff One Gateway city trying for a middle ground is Salem, 40 miles to the north of Brockton. City officials there passed a camping ban last year, but one that only allows encampments to be cleared when the city has shelter space available. Then they used leftover pandemic funds to open a supplementary overnight shelter downtown, which allowed them to tear down a prominent encampment near the waterfront business district. The new Salem shelter is informal at best, run by Lifebridge out of warehouse space next to a popular thrift store that the nonprofit also runs. The tall open room full of cots gets crowded quickly, said Ethridge, the executive director, and it still feels like there are too few beds. Related : It's a temporary solution to a problem that has been long in the making, city officials said. 'Our thinking is that everyone deserves a home, and a tent is not a home,' said Salem Mayor Dominick Pangallo. 'We're starting at that point, and then thinking about creating enough housing that folks don't need to be living in a shelter.' To be sure, Salem is a wealthier community than Brockton, and not every city has extra money to spend on a new shelter. Father Bill's new facility was mostly paid for with donations. But the collision of homelessness and gentrification in places like Brockton won't be solved through charity alone. Advertisement 'What we're dealing with downtown is heartbreaking,' said Mary Waldron, executive director of Brockton's Old Colony Planning Council, which is based in a historic building downtown. 'People are struggling and we don't want to punish them for that. But we also want to have a thriving downtown. There is no simple answer here.' Andrew Brinker can be reached at
