Latest news with #Selvam
The Hindu
6 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Allow digital process for pension claims, retired employees urge Bharathidasan University
The Bharathidasan University Retired Faculties Association (BURFA), Tiruchi, has requested the university to open a digital portal for submitting and processing pension claims of its former employees. At present, the university sanctions pensions after receiving Pensioners' Life Certificate every year. The completed forms should be presented in person at the university or the attested documents should be sent by post to the institution. In an official note, BURFA president M. Selvam said: 'Pensioners have settled down in different places and some are unable to travel and submit the Life Certificate personally at the university due to age-related issues. They cannot approach gazetted officers to get the attestation or send the Life Certificate through post because of health problems. There are at least 200 retirees who depend on pension from the university. Going digital will help streamline the claims process,' said Mr. Selvam. BURFA said the university could resolve the issue by linking the pension accounts to the Centre's 'Jeevan Pramaan' programme that allows applicants to generate electronic certificates through the Aadhaar platform or biometric signatures. The association has requested the university to permit physically fit former staff to take up honorary teaching positions at the institution.
The Hindu
27-05-2025
- The Hindu
Madurai Bench of Madras High Court finds ‘something wrong' with TASMAC
Taking into account that complaints regarding a District Manager and a Supervisor of Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation Limited (TASMAC) allegedly collecting bribes from its outlets in Madurai district had not been addressed properly, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed that there was something wrong with the Corporation. The court was hearing the petitions filed in 2022 by K. Mayakannan, S. Murugan and V. Ramasamy, who were salesmen in TASMAC shops. The case of the petitioners was that the then District Manager of TASMAC, Madurai South, Rajeswari, colluded with the then Supervisor of TASMAC, Tirumangalam, Selvam, and collected bribes every month from the shops under her control. There were also other allegations against Rajeswari. The petitioners lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, which was forwarded to TASMAC authorities. An inquiry was ordered. The petitioners also submitted their representations. Since, the grievances of the petitioners were not addressed, they gave an interview to the media. They were suspended by the management on the grounds that their conduct was against the Employees Code of Conduct circular. Challenging the order, the petitions were filed. Justice B. Pugalendhi observed that the petitioners lodged a complaint, along with the recording of a conversation between Rajeswari and Selvam. The authorities conducted an inquiry and closed it stating that the corruption charges were without any materials and that the alleged conversation in the phone was denied by Supervisor Selvam. The person against whom allegations were made was transferred to the parent department and it was reported that she had retired from service. However, the petitioners' complaint had been closed by recording the statement of Selvam that he was not part of the conversation. The available materials showed that there was something wrong in the government-run Corporation. The government should not allow corruption in its functioning. The Corporation had to realise its mistake, the court observed. Considering the manner in which the issue was handled, the court set aside the suspension orders with liberty to the Corporation to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the petitioners for violating the circular.
The Hindu
26-05-2025
- The Hindu
High Court finds something wrong with Tasmac
Taking into account that complaints regarding a District Manager and a Supervisor of Tasmac allegedly collecting bribes from its outlets in Madurai district had not been addressed properly, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court observed that there was something wrong with the Corporation. The court was hearing the petitions filed in 2022 by K. Mayakannan, S. Murugan and V. Ramasamy, who were salesmen in Tasmac shops. The case of the petitioners was that the then District Manager of Tasmac, Madurai South, Rajeswari, colluded with the then Supervisor of Tasmac, Tirumangalam, Selvam, and collected bribes every month from the shops under her control. There were also other allegations against Rajeswari. The petitioners lodged a complaint with the Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption, which was forwarded to Tasmac authorities. An inquiry was ordered. The petitioners also submitted their representations. Since, the grievances of the petitioners were not addressed, they gave an interview to the media. They were suspended by the management on the grounds that their conduct was against the Employees Code of Conduct circular. Challenging the order, the petitions were filed. Justice B. Pugalendhi observed that the petitioners lodged a complaint, along with the recording of a conversation between Rajeswari and Selvam. The authorities conducted an inquiry and closed it stating that the corruption charges were without any materials and that the alleged conversation in the phone was denied by Supervisor Selvam. The person against whom allegations were made was transferred to the parent department and it was reported that she had retired from service. However, the petitioners' complaint had been closed by recording the statement of Selvam that he was not part of the conversation. The available materials showed that there was something wrong in the government-run Corporation. The governemnt should not allow corruption in its funstioning. The corporation had to realise its mistake, the court observed. Considering the manner in which the issue was handled, the court set aside the suspension orders with liberty to the Corporation to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the petitioners for violating the circular.
The Hindu
19-05-2025
- Health
- The Hindu
VIT, TNMGRMU to collaborate for research
Vellore Institute Of Technology and the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University have signed an agreement to foster collaborative research in the application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in healthcare. According to a press release, a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed on Monday. The MoU includes cooperation in teaching, joint research, socially conscious product design and technology transfer. G.V. Selvam, vice-president, VIT, and K. Narayanasamy, Vice Chancellor of TNMGRMU signed the agreement. The MoU focuses on fostering joint research at national and international levels, Ph.D. supervision, submission of R&D proposals, joint publications, development of new technologies and joint patent filing besides promoting clinical validation processes, ethical clearances, and other collaborative activities that support translational research and innovation.
Chicago Tribune
09-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Chicago Tribune
James Beard Foundation announces 2025 media award nominees, next cohort of Taste America chefs
The James Beard Foundation announced on Wednesday its list of book and media nominees for the James Beard Awards, which included Chicago native Ashok Selvam, regional editor for Eater Midwest. The nominees for its book, broadcast media and journalism awards celebrate digital and traditional media — radio, television broadcasts, podcasts, documentaries, online sites, social media — covering food and beverage topics published or self-published in 2024. Selvam was nominated for the Jonathan Gold Local Voice Award for his work published in 2024, including an article titled 'Namasteak, USA.' Selvam said that story in particular was a significant one for him, highlighting the growing South Asian food scene in Chicago. 'I've been quietly doing stories about South Asian food for some time, and it's kind of my mile mark, and for that particular story, I think it was kind of about time,' Selvam told the Tribune. '(As we saw) so many Chicago restaurants and chefs that were popping up, becoming the epicenter. And not a lot of people consider Chicago when they think of South Asian 一 and there are (South Asian chefs) who have contributed to the cultural fabric of the city for years, but have not necessarily gotten the recognition for whatever reasons.' The James Beard nomination was a first for Selvam, who joked about the early days of working for Eater, where they were paid a flat rate of $25 per story, regardless of the complexity or sources involved. Winners will be honored at a ceremony June 14 at the Columbia College Chicago Student Center. The Tribune covets two nominees and one James Beard Award winner on its Dining staff. Reporter Ahmed Ali Akbar received a James Beard Award in 2022 for Feature Reporting. Last year, Tribune food critic Louisa Kung Liu Chu was one of three James Beard Foundation finalists for the Craig Claiborne Distinguished Criticism Award. A few days before the foundation announced the media awards, it revealed the 2025-2026 lineup of TasteTwenty chefs, its annual selection of 'ones to watch' in the industry. The cohort includes Jacqueline Hernandez of Bar Sótano, the Rick Bayless-owned lounge in River North. Hernandez will represent Chicago throughout the national Taste America series. Other cities being represented include: Asheville, North Carolina, Boston, Dallas, Denver, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami Nashville, Tennessee, New Orleans, New York, Philadelphia, Portland, Oregon, San Francisco, San Juan, Puerto Rico, Sante Fe, New Mexico, Seattle and Washington, D.C. 'Each chef of the TasteTwenty cohort is chosen not only for their exceptional culinary talent but also for their meaningful contributions beyond the kitchen. They're champions of positive change — from investing in their teams, supporting sustainable agriculture, advocating for a more resilient food system, and more,' the foundation said in a release. 'These chefs represent the future of American dining.' The cohort is part of the Foundation's ongoing commitment to identifying and elevating the outstanding chefs who are at the forefront of American food culture, said Clare Reichenbach, chief executive officer of the James Beard Foundation. In February, the James Beard Foundation announced the winners of its America's Classics award, which recognizes six 'locally owned restaurants that have timeless appeal' across the country. Among this year's honorees is the oldest Black-owned barbecue restaurant in Chicago, Lem's Bar-B-Q. The foundation also released its annual list of semifinalists from across the United States. The final winners in the restaurant and chef Awards categories will be announced on June 16, during a ceremony at the Lyric Opera of Chicago. The April 2 announcement included nominees for Outstanding Restaurateur, Best New Restaurant, and the regional Best Chef awards, as well as finalists for three new categories: Best New Bar, Outstanding Professional in Beverage Service and Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service. Among the finalists vying for its coveted Restaurant and Chef awards are five Chicago chefs and restaurants, including first-time nominees Galit and Kumiko. Kumiko was nominated for Outstanding Bar, Galit for Outstanding Restaurant and three Chicago finalists are in the Best Chef: Great Lakes category: Thai Dang of HaiSous; Chris Jung and Erling Wu-Bower of Maxwells Trading; and Noah Sandoval of Oriole. The James Beard Awards are considered to be among the nation's most prestigious honors for the culinary industry. This year will also commemorate the 35th anniversary of the awards and celebrate what the foundation calls the 'transformative role the awards have played in honoring culinary excellence and shaping the evolution of American food culture.' Last year, Chicago saw just one local winner at the James Beard Restaurant and Chef Awards, with Lula Cafe winning for Outstanding Hospitality.
