Latest news with #Saravanan
The Hindu
8 hours ago
- The Hindu
Joint Director, Food and Drug Administration caught red-handed while receiving bribe ₹25,000
The officers of Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption (DVAC)on Monday arrested caught red-handed P.U. Karthikeyan, 59, Joint Director of Drugs Control, Food and Drug Administration while demanding and receiving ₹25,000 bribe from a soap factory proprietor for processing an application for permission. Karthikeyan is also holding the incharge of the post of Director of Drug Control. According to DVAC, Saravanan, proprietor of Our Green India Soap Factory, Gudiyatham, Vellore, gave an application to the Food and Drug Administration department seeking a permit for production of organic soaps. Reportedly, as Joint Director Karthikeyan demanded Rs 1 lakh as bribe from Saravanan and said his application would be taken for processing if ₹25,000 is paid as advance. Police said unwilling to pay the bribe to Karthikeyan, Saravanan informed to DVAC, Chennai unit about this demand. The DVAC officers laid a trap proceeding. When Saravanan met Karthikeyan on Monday at latter's office on DMS campus, the latter reiterated his demand of ₹25, 000 bribe as an advance to process the application and Saravanan also gave ₹25,000 to Karthikeyan. The officers of DVAC caught Karthikeyan red-handed while receiving bribe. The DVAC arrested Karthikeyan and seized ₹25, 000. Further proceeding is on.
Time of India
21 hours ago
- Time of India
Parents of medico stranded in Russia seek govts' help
Chennai: Parents of S Kishore (22), studying medicine in Russia, urged the state and central govts to ensure his safe return, alleging that he was forcibly taken away to treat Russian soldiers injured in Ukraine war. Kishore's father, Saravanan, a native of Kattumannarkovil, told reporters in Cuddalore on Sunday that his son had sent a voice message a couple of days ago, alleging that he was forcibly taken away by Russian army. Saravanan said that he could not contact his son after that and feared that his life was in danger. "I could not contact my son through his mobile number. His friends informed us that he was taken by the police. We urge the Union and TN govts to take steps to rescue my son," he said. Saravanan said Kishore was arrested by Russian police in 2023 on charges of delivering an illegal consignment while working part-time in a courier company. "He was duped into delivering the consignment. But police were forcing him to confess to the crime. Since he denied, they were harassing him,'' he said. Saravanan said his son was forced to sign a document to work in Ukraine war, which he refused. "My son was confined in a dark room and tortured. There is no guarantee that he will come back alive. Now, we can't even contact him, and we don't know whether he is still alive or not," Saravanan said.
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Inclusive classrooms on the rise in Chennai colleges
Saravanan Umapathy will open a new chapter in his career on July 21 when classes begin at Dhanraj Baid Jain College in Thoraipakkam. The 23-year-old special needs student is on the spectrum and non-verbal but exhibits strengths in visual thinking and processing that led his mother to enrol him for a course in (Visual Communication). 'I know my son will face challenges with social interaction and communication, but he will not disappoint in academics, and I want him to surmount those barriers,' says S. Kamala, adding that Saravanan communicates by writing or typing on the Awaaz app. Brought up in Abu Dubai, where he completed his studies in a mainstream school, Saravanan did not take the help of a shadow teacher and is good in sports as well. Over the last one year he was pursuing a data entry course at NIEPMD from where he also picked up Tamil and the confidence to apply for higher studies. 'He is currently getting trained to cycle on Chennai's busy road, so that he can get to college from his home in Pallikaranai,' says a determined Kamala. Many city colleges in Chennai are taking baby steps towards making their classrooms inclusive, a mandate under the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020. In the last academic year, Welfare of the Differently-Abled Persons Department issued a circular to 19 universities in Tamil Nadu reminding them that they have to reserve five per cent of the seats in higher education for persons with benchmark disabilities. As per data from National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), 18 of their students with intellectual disability, autism spectrum disorder, special learning disability and multiple disabilities enrolled in various city colleges in the academic year 2024-25 for higher education. These include courses in hotel management, arts and science and polytechnic. 'Our programmes offered here act as a bridge to integrate those with special needs into higher education,' says K. Balabaskar, lecturer-AIL, NIEPMD. He says the Institute has an exclusive coordinator, R. Dhakshnamoorthy, to support parents to select the right institute and courses. Higher education plays a transformative role in the lives of persons with disabilities, which contributes to their personal growth, employability and social inclusion. 'Although some city colleges have exclusive batches for PwD or inclusive classrooms, it is the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 that mandates a 4% reservation for persons with benchmark disabilities in direct recruitment to government jobs, that has come as a big encouragement for parents to find appropriate career courses in higher education institutions,' says Balabaskar. Parents have to do their homework about institutions and career paths that best suit their child. B. Sumathy, whose son S. Muralidhar is pursuing his second year of (visual communication) from A.M. Jain College in Meenambakkam, says many parents of children with special needs do not make an effort to place their ward in a mainstream college fearing the environment. Or, they think of distance education. She herself was planning to enrol Muralidhar in a course through distance education as it is difficult for him to sit in one place for long. 'When I enquired with Madras University they recommended courses in literature and economics, which I was not keen on as my son would not be able to study theory-related subjects,' says Sumathy. They were discouraged from taking courses that involved lab activity. 'I was told programming would be difficult for him, so I enrolled him in a data entry course in NIEPMD that went on for close to a year,' she says. That brought about a huge change in Muralidhar. 'He started getting more disciplined and his time management skills improved, and this gave me the confidence that he can move to an inclusive setup,' says the resident of East Tambaram. The parents are happy as the college has a supportive environment with a dedicated room where parents can wait, notes are sent on WhatApp and Muralidhar has made many friends. Orienting staff and students To create and maintain inclusive classrooms, colleges are getting their faculty trained to understand the unique needs of students, getting permission from the University to exempt special students from writing language papers and finding scribes if needed. At Agurchand Manmull Jain College, every special need student is attached to a mentor who understands his/her unique needs based on the training they are given to handle such students. 'This academic year, we have five new special needs students on the campus, a slight increase from last year where we had four,' says M. M. Ramya, dean, A.M. Jain College. While most of the infrastructure needs for an inclusive campus are largely met, the college management has been taking up steps to meet other requirements. 'We have a lounge where parents of special needs students can wait while their children attend classes. It is like a crèche; sometimes children want to meet their parents, and on an average five-six parents avail it,' says Ramya. Getting peer support is one challenge and to address this concern this year students were oriented about their specially abled classmates. 'This has to be a continuous process,' says Ramya adding that they recommend students joining courses in visual communication and interior design as they are more hands-on. A programme based on credits The third batch of the programme in Diploma in Office Automation and Assistive Technology (DOAAT) for persons with multiple and neurodevelopmental disabilities will start soon. Initiated by the National Institute for Empowerment of Persons with Multiple Disabilities (NIEPMD), under the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, in collaboration with Bharathidasan University's Centre for Differently Abled Persons, this is a first-of-its-kind credit-based inclusive higher education programme, says a note. The course is structured over two semesters and focuses on digital literacy, office automation, and assistive technologies. It offers a practice-based curriculum aligned with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016 and the National Education Policy. It also strengthens employment opportunities through the 4% PwD reservation policy, including 1% for persons with intellectual and multiple disabilities. Ten students are inducted per batch. For details, call R. Dhakshnamoorthy, vocational instructor / coordinator - Higher Education for PwDs (8124862799)/ K. Balabaskar, lecturer-AIL, NIEPMD, Chennai (9382934157); Email Id:
The Sun
4 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
FOMCA urges stronger action against electricity theft in Malaysia
KUALA LUMPUR: Electricity theft must no longer be treated as a minor violation, as it costs Malaysia billions annually, warns the Federation of Malaysian Consumers Associations (FOMCA). The group demands stronger enforcement, smart meters, and legal reforms to curb illegal mining and unfair consumer burdens. FOMCA chief executive officer Dr T. Saravanan stressed the need for advanced detection systems, including real-time monitoring and data analytics, to flag suspicious power usage. 'Enforcement must target not just illegal miners but also landlords and financiers enabling these operations,' he said. Saravanan urged revising penalties to match the crime's severity, with higher fines and prison terms. He also proposed regulated pathways for legal crypto-mining. 'Special tariffs and licensing can prevent black-market activities while monitoring compliance,' he added. The call follows Deputy Energy Minister Akmal Nasrullah Mohd Nasir's revelation that illegal bitcoin mining caused RM4.8 billion in losses since 2018. FOMCA insists on transparency to ensure consumers aren't subsidising theft through higher bills. 'Public trust depends on clear communication and fair solutions,' said Saravanan, urging Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) and the government to act decisively. - Bernama
The Hindu
14-07-2025
- The Hindu
All city buses in Tiruchi to be extended up to integrated bus terminus at Panjapur from July 16
All city bus services operating from the Central Bus Stand in Tiruchi will now be extended up to the newly opened Integrated Bus Terminus (IBT) at Panjapur via Mannarpuram roundabout while continuing to run through their existing city routes, said Collector V. Saravanan on Monday. Mr. Saravanan told presspersons that all city buses would continue to originate from the Central Bus Stand, reach the IBT via Mannarpuram roundabout, and return on the same route. Given the expected commuter volume, city bus services at Panjapur will begin as early as 3 a.m. daily. The bus fares had not been increased. All mofussil buses will operate from the new bus terminus. Buses entering Tiruchi from Chennai, Tirupati, Vellore, Villupuram, Kancheepuram, and Puducherry will take the No. 1 Tollgate, Old Palpannai, National Highway route to reach the IBT and return on the same route. Buses from Thanjavur, Kumbakonam, Velankanni, and Karaikal will reach the IBT via Thuvakudi, Tiruverumbur, Old Palpannai, TVS Tollgate, and Mannarpuram roundabout. Buses from Namakkal, Salem, and Bengaluru will go via the No. 1 Tollgate, Old Palpannai, TVS Tollgate, and Mannarpuram roundabout to reach the terminus. Buses from Pudukottai, Aranthangi, and Rameshwaram will reach the terminus via the Airport, TVS Tollgate, and Mannarpuram roundabout. While buses from Manapparai, Dindigul, Palani and Kumuli will go via Junction Roundabout and the Mannarpuram roundabout route to reach the IBT. Buses from Karur, Erode, Thiruppur, and Coimbatore will take the Chathiram bus stand, Karur Bypass, Sastri Road, District court, Collectorate, VOC Street, Central Bus Stand, Mannarpuram Roundabout route to reach the terminus. Buses from Madurai, Thoothukudi, Virudhunagar, and Tirunelveli will reach the bus terminus via the national highway. Mofussil buses will operate as usual from the Chathiram bus stand. Omni buses can pick up passengers from the temporarily allotted long-term parking bay near the IBT. The operators should not park the omnibuses near the Central bus stand and pick up passengers. All buses entering the IBT will enter via Security Gate CP-2, and all buses, except Madurai-bound buses, leaving the terminus will go up to the Panjapur Junction on the national highway and then take a U-turn. About 20 tea shops, 12 food stalls, and 10 snack counters have been set up for the passengers. A total of 228 workers have been deployed to maintain cleanliness at the terminus. The city police have deployed 52 personnel for the protection of the passengers. Arrangements for auto and taxi service have been made. Around 30 volunteers have been appointed to assist passengers, and training has been provided to them, and three battery-operated vehicles are kept on standby for senior citizens. A 24-hour on-call health desk with an ambulance is stationed at the facility, the Collector said.
