Latest news with #Sekhar
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- New Indian Express
The Hyderabad gamer who defies a diagnosis daily
HYDERABAD: Like many Indian youths, Polina Chandra Sekhar's path seemed preordained: software engineering. The 22-year-old gamer, educator and inspiration to lakhs was quietly slotted into that future before he could even walk or talk. But fate had a different blueprint. Born in 2002 in Andhra Pradesh's Prakasam district, Sekhar's life was altered before it had even begun. The doctor arrived three hours late, a delay that led to complications and caused permanent damage to part of his brain. He couldn't walk. He couldn't speak. Diagnosed with congenital cerebral palsy, Sekhar entered a world of limited mobility and silence. Bravery wasn't a choice; it was his only way forward. Determined not to let disability define his future, Sekhar's mother uprooted their lower-middle-class life and moved to Hyderabad for physiotherapy. It was a long fight against poverty, isolation and the unknown. Two years later, her efforts bore fruit: Sekhar spoke his first words. Gradually, he began to move. Slowly, he caught up to life; step by step, word by word. Finding identity in online avatar From Class 1 to 9, Sekhar couldn't write, so he dictated his answers to friends and family, who volunteered as scribes. But as his speech grew harder to follow, even that became a struggle. Then came December 2019. Sekhar, preparing to take his Class 10 board exams, was turned away by the school. No explanation. No room for appeal. Formal education didn't just reject him — it abandoned him. With formal education shut out, Sekhar was left with a smartphone, a 5G connection and endless hours. Like most teenagers, he turned to gaming. But unlike most, he turned it into a calling. He chose Free Fire, a battle royale game that requires one hand for movement, another for aiming, shooting, and interacting. Sekhar had just one working finger. But he made it work. His friends were stunned. They encouraged him to stream his gameplay. He posted videos — just a finger dancing on a screen — and views started trickling in. A thousand. Then two. Then five thousand were watching live. In 2020, he launched his YouTube channel: Disability Gamer. By 2021, he had over 1.5 lakh subscribers. His room became his studio. Gaming became his income.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
12 firms file applications for small hydel projects, five under evaluation: TNGECL
CHENNAI: A couple of months after the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) invited applications to develop Small Hydel Projects (SHPs) in the state, the agency has so far received 12 proposals from private developers, officials said. The capacities of each of these SHPs, which can be set up across canal systems, rivers and streams without having to build any structures for storing the water, can range from 100 kilowatts (KW) to 10 megawatts (MW), with each unit in an SHP not exceeding 5 MW. TNGECL managing director Dr Aneesh Sekhar told TNIE that the government is encouraging private participation in SHPs to boost renewable energy production. 'Of the 12 proposals, five are currently under evaluation. However, no project has been finalised yet. Approvals will be granted after detailed evaluation and site inspections,' he said. While TNGECL has not completed any SHPs so far, a 20 MW project is nearing completion in Namakkal district. 'Most of the work is over and the plant will begin power generation soon,' Sekhar added. Tamil Nadu had released a policy for SHP late last year. 'Based on the policy, we are now processing applications. Private firms with access to water sources can apply to set up these plants,' another senior official said. He said the firms can generate power for their own use (captive use), sell it to third parties within the state, or supply to distribution companies to help meet the Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) targets set by the Tamil Nadu Electricity Regulatory Commission (TNERC). While the RPO set for 2024-25 was 29%, Tamil Nadu managed only around 26 %. The state has an installed hydropower capacity of 2,321.90 MW, but SHPs have so far received limited focus. In contrast, neighbouring Karnataka is actively promoting such projects, the official added.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Mistaken identity sparks attack: Bank executive assaulted, bitten by dog during recovery visit
Hyderabad: What began as a routine debt collection turned into chaos on Thursday when a bank executive was assaulted—not just by a man he mistook for a customer, but also by the man's Rottweiler, which sank its teeth into his leg during the confrontation. The incident occurred around 4.30 pm in Jawahar Nagar under the Madhura Nagar police station limits, leaving K Satyanarayana, 39, an RBL bank executive, injured and shaken. According to police, Satyanarayana was on duty trying to locate one B Nandivardhan Rao, a customer with a pending 2 lakh credit card bill. Unable to pinpoint the address, he began asking around in the neighbourhood. A tenant pointed him towards a man named 'Nandu' who lived on the building's first floor, unaware that Nandu was actually Sekhar, and not Nandivardhan. Trusting the lead, Satyanarayana climbed the stairs and was informed by a relative that the person was not home. As Satyanarayana descended and prepared to leave, Sekhar confronted him on the ground floor, irate over the insinuation that he was a defaulter. According to police, Sekhar learned from his family members that a bank executive had come by, inquiring about him and claiming he had a pending credit card bill. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Plastic Surgeon Reveals The 1 Thing Every Woman Should Be Using Instead Of Moisturiser New Skin Discovery Undo "Angered by what he saw as a baseless accusation, Sekhar confronted the bank executive," said sub-inspector SNG Avinash Babu. Despite the banker identifying himself and explaining the confusion, things spiralled fast. "He slapped me twice, smashed my phone, and then pushed his dog towards me. The Rottweiler lunged and bit my left leg," Satyanarayana said in his complaint to police. Bruised and bitten, Satyanarayana rushed to a nearby private hospital and called his manager and colleagues for backup. After treatment, they went straight to Madhura Nagar police station and lodged a complaint. Police booked Sekhar under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, including 115(2)–voluntarily causing hurt, 126(1)–wrongful restraint, 324(2)–mischief and 291–negligent conduct with respect to an animal. "This was a case of mistaken identity. The bank executive was looking for someone else but approached Sekhar by mistake," said Avinash Babu. "The dog was not on a leash. Sekhar admitted the pet followed him downstairs and bit the man during the heated exchange. The dog was vaccinated," the SI said. Police issued Sekhar a notice under section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, recorded his statement, and released him.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation to ramp up solar power to meet 50K MW target
CHENNAI: In a significant move towards a greener future, the Tamil Nadu Green Energy Corporation Limited (TNGECL) is planning to increase solar power generation and introduce Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS) to meet its Renewable Purchase Obligation (RPO) by 2030. TNGECL Managing Director Aneesh Sekhar told TNIE that Tamil Nadu currently has an installed solar power capacity of nearly 10,000 megawatts (MW). 'We have enough land to add about 12,000 MW more. However, even that will not be sufficient. Our target is to reach at least 50,000 MW of solar power capacity by 2030,' he said. However, land acquisition has emerged as a major hurdle. 'For every 1 MW of solar power plant, nearly three acres of land is needed. Tamil Nadu has very little wasteland left, as most areas have been converted for housing, farming or industrial use,' Sekhar explained. He also pointed out the limitations of wind power, which is not available throughout the year.
