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Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
‘Urban managers' to help small ULBs tackle unique challenges
Lucknow: In a significant step towards strengthening urban centres in Uttar Pradesh, the state govt on Thursday signed an MoU with the School of Planning and Architecture (SPA), New Delhi. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The institute would guide the employees deputed in the urban local bodies as well as Lucknow-based directorate to take forward the aspirational cities programme on the right track. Tata Trust is also among the stakeholders helping the state govt to roll out the programme. Principal secretary of the department Amrit Abhijat, secretary, Ajay Kumar Shukla and director of ULBs in UP Anuj Kumar Jha and Shikha Srivastava from TATA Trust and Poonam Praksash from SPA were present when the MoU exchanged hands between the stakeholders. The collaboration addresses a critical gap in urban planning expertise, particularly in smaller towns experiencing rapid growth. By focusing on capacity building, the initiative seeks to create a network of competent 'urban managers' capable of tackling the unique challenges faced by small ULBs. The MoU outlines a comprehensive framework that includes assessing training needs, identifying skilled trainers and developing tailored programs to enhance local planning capabilities. "This MoU represents our commitment to ensuring that no city, regardless of size, is left behind in our urban development journey," said Abhijat. The partnership will deliver an integrated training plan, foster collaborations with state and regional institutions, and provide specialized training manuals to ensure knowledge reaches the grassroots level. Director, SPA, Virendra Kumar Paul, emphasized the initiative's broader vision: "Capacity building is a big thrust for infrastructure development in India. We aspire to create a pool of competent 'Urban Managers' who will contribute to sustainable, climate-resilient, and culturally vibrant cities as a pride of India." The Tata Trust's financial support underscores the program's potential to reshape Uttar Pradesh's urban landscape, said an officer.


Time of India
28-04-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Teen gets new hand after transplant at KEM
Mumbai: A Bhandup teenager, whose right hand was reportedly severed with a sword two years ago, received a new hand at the BMC-run KEM Hospital in Parel on Sunday. The 14-hour surgery was possible after the family of a 40-year-old male donated his organs, including his right hand, after he was declared brain dead at Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital in Koparkhairane on April 26. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now On Monday, the recipient, 19-year-old Sujal Tiwari , spoke to his doctors and parents, and seemed happy to have a right hand once again. "When we got a call on Saturday morning alerting us about a hand donation, our team immediately called Sujal, who turned out to be in KEM Hospital itself with his uncle, who had severe abdominal pain. What is ordained to be will be," said Dr Vinita Puri, head of the plastic surgery department, who operated on Sujal. KEM Hospital dean Dr Sangeeta Ravat said the hospital has raised Rs 10 lakh—Rs 8 lakh from Tata Trust and Rs 2 lakh from the chief minister's fund—for Sujal, who will need a year of rehabilitation and lifelong immunosuppressants. In the private sector, a hand transplant could cost between Rs 15 and Rs 30 lakh. Sujal's mother, Lata Tiwari, who works as a cook, said her employers were supportive and lent a couple of lakhs needed for blood tests and medication. His father, Rajesh, who works as a mason, also raised some money. "When my son called me from KEM Hospital on Saturday morning, he was worried about saying yes to the transplant because he was worried about money," she said. Sujal, who worked as a courier along with his high school studies, was attacked by friends to whom he had lent Rs 50,000, said his mother, Lata Tiwari. "They called him to a spot in Nahur, stating they would repay him, but instead attacked him with a sword and threw him on the tracks," she said. Sujal, who took admission to a junior college, refused to leave home after the amputation. "He used to get very low on some days, but we got hope when we met doctors in KEM Hospital," she said.