Latest news with #Thrissur-based
The Hindu
2 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
A mural painting project in Fort Kochi brings queer realities to a public space
A large, colourful mural is taking shape on one of the walls in Fort Kochi's Poovath Street. Members of the queer community are painting their stories and lived experiences on it. Led by Mia, a transwoman and a visual artist, the four-day mural will reflect the queer community's realities, hopes and dreams of the future. Mia held a workshop earlier in the week for the members of the queer community in Kerala, which discussed issues including that of representation. 'The narratives that emerged at the workshop will be the ones that make it to the mural,' says Mia. 'Being queer, one often has to deal with apathy, indifference and even violence. Most of us have lost homes; but we have found homes and families, too. It was among the most common narratives that emerged at the workshop,' Mia adds. The project is a partnership between the Fearless Collective, a movement that works towards creating spaces for collective imagination, creative thinking and social discourse, and Sahayatrika, a Thrissur-based support group for individuals assigned female at birth (AFAB). Mia, who is working as a freelance artist in Delhi, has a fellowship from the Fearless Collective. The mural project is part of the fellowship. She decided to conduct it in her home State, to understand the current realities here and connect with trans persons and those belonging to gender minorities. Mia was chosen as the Fearless Ambassador after a mural project she did with the collective in Sri Lanka. The idea is to work with communities and provide a platform for its members to bring their narratives to a public space. 'The mural is intended to reclaim public spaces, not only by being visible, but also by having an open space for dialogue and community engagement.' Mia collaborated with Sahayatrika, which has been working as a helpline for the female gender assigned community and has a strong network of people from the community. While Kerala is among the progressive states when it comes to the transgender community in India, the policies tend to remain more on paper than in practice, says Yadhav S R, advocacy co-ordinator of Sahayatrika, which has been at the forefront of crisis interventions for the community. 'Gender minorities still don't have freedom over their bodies, or freedom of expression; many of them still face familial violence and that from the larger community' says Yadhav. The mural project will help many in expressing their trauma in a creative way. 'We do have queer creators advocating for the rights of the community through social and we are are hopeful. But we need to reclaim our space, voice and visibility in every little way we can,' Mia adds. The mural project is not exclusive to the queer community and does not require experience with art . It welcomes anyone who wants to express themselves creatively and declare their solidarity. The mural at Poovath Street, Fort Kochi, will be unveiled on June 8.
Time of India
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- Time of India
Chargesheet filed against Boby Chemmanur for obscene remarks on actor
Kochi: Kochi city police filed a chargesheet against Thrissur-based businessman Boby Chemmanur for allegedly making sexually coloured and derogatory remarks against a prominent actor on social media. The chargesheet was submitted to the Ernakulam magistrate court on Wednesday, following an extensive investigation. According to the chargesheet, Chemmanur made the remarks with the intent to humiliate the actor. Police said they collected evidence of him making offensive comments against several individuals online. The chargesheet includes video clips from interviews and the confidential statement provided by the actor. Chemmanur is expected to be produced before the court in the coming days. Meanwhile, police are investigating a separate complaint filed by the actor against 30 other individuals who allegedly posted sexually explicit and abusive comments on her social media posts. The case against Chemmanur was initially registered at the Ernakulam central police station on Jan 7 after the actor submitted a formal complaint. She alleged that Chemmanur made obscene remarks against her on social media platforms and humiliated her in public during the inauguration of a jewellery showroom. Acting swiftly, the police arrested the 62-year-old businessman from a resort in Wayanad within 24 hours of the complaint. He was charged under non-bailable offences, including Section 75(4) of the BNS, which pertains to making sexually coloured remarks as a form of sexual harassment and Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, which prohibits publishing or transmitting obscene material electronically. Chemmanur, known for being the director of Chemmanur International Jewellers and founder of Life Vision Charitable Trust, rose to fame in 2012 after signing football legend Diego Maradona as brand ambassador and bringing him to Kannur.
Time of India
26-05-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
ED names Kerala CPM units laundering scam accused
NEW DELHI: Enforcement Directorate making Kerala district units of CPM accused in a money laundering case arising from embezzlement ofRs 150 crore from Thrissur-based Karuvannur Cooperative Bank is only the second instance of a political formation being named as an accused in a case. ED has made the CPM units accused in the latest prosecution complaint (chargesheet) filed before a special court. The other accused include senior party netas from the state, including Lok Sabha MP K Radhakrishnan, who was interrogated last month. CPM has become the second party (or its district unit) to be made an accused after AAP. AAP was made an accused after its senior neta Manish Sisodia, while seeking Supreme Court relief, argued that since his party, that was alleged to have received bribes, had not been made an accused, he could not be booked under PMLA. In both the cases, ED has treated the parties (AAP and CPM) like a company defined under section 70 of PMLA and booked them for laundering money or receiving bribes. According to officials aware of the investigation, rather than the central unit of CPM, it is the local district units that have been named in the chargesheet, as they, through their secretaries, opened accounts to receive funds from the "proceeds of crime". by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo ED in its investigation report said the CPM units in question maintained at least 25 undisclosed accounts with several cooperative societies in the name of area committees, with a total balance of Rs 1.7 crore and fixed deposits of Rs 64 lakh, as of Nov 30, 2023. Many of these bank accounts were not disclosed by the party. "On perusal of the balance sheet, it was noticed that the 25 bank accounts of 17 area committees of CPM had not been disclosed. The actual deposits in these undisclosed accounts over the past 10 years is projected to be more than Rs 100 crore, since the said figures are only the closing balances as of Nov 30, 2023," a source said. The audited balance sheets of CPM, with partial disclosures, were submitted to ED by then Thrissur district committee secretary MM Varghese during his questioning. "Undisclosed accounts have been opened by local committee secretaries in the name of CPM Porathissery North local committee (a/c no 5578); CPM party building fund (a/c no 9513), CPM Porthissery South local committee (a/c no 8858); CPM area conference souvenir (a/c no 5580) in Karuvannur Service Co-operative bank," ED had earlier stated in an affidavit before the Kerala high court during a related case hearing. ED has found the opening of the party bank accounts in violation of bye-laws of Societies Act as this was done without granting any membership. The sources of deposits in these bank accounts, according to the ED probe, were party levy, party fund, election fund, building fund, collection from beneficiary loanees who were sanctioned illegal loans from the cooperative bank and contributions by nominated board members, who, in turn, collected funds from loanees.
New Indian Express
10-05-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Thrissur group to give a musical twist to fibromyalgia awareness
THRISSUR: A Thrissur-based group is set to use music to create awareness about fibromyalgia, a chronic disorder that causes pain and tenderness throughout the body. On World Fibromyalgia Awareness Day on May 12, Nadabrahmam Foundation will organise a music concert based on certain ragas to create awareness about the disease and the scope of music therapy. K Venugopal, the general convener of the foundation said discussions about fibromyalgia began when one of their members was diagnosed with the disorder. 'Until then, we were not that familiar about the long-term disorder that is often left unattended. What makes it more important is the fact that women are more vulnerable to it. Hence, our collective decided to address it, making it the theme of our next musical evening,' he said. On the day, the foundation will also launch a documentary about Fibromyalgia. Titled 'The Hurt Without Scar', the documentary has been directed by Nisha Nair. 'Nisha recollects how she was affected by fibromyalgia and how her parents, friends and relatives viewed her condition without understanding it properly. It was after some time in her life that she came to learnt about her condition,' Venugopal said.
New Indian Express
27-04-2025
- Business
- New Indian Express
Cooperative bank in Thrissur told to pay customers who lost pledged gold in burglary
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The National Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission (NCDRC) has directed Thrissur-based Manaloor Service Cooperative Bank to compensate 15 gold loan customers who lost their pledged gold in a burglary at the bank. The order came on an appeal petition filed by the cooperative bank against the state commission's order. The burglary happened at the bank in May 2006. The customers had secured favourable verdicts from the Thrissur district commission and the state commission. The state commission had directed the bank to provide the market value of the gold as on the date of payment after deducting the loan amount and interest. Also, it asked the bank to settle the loans as on the date of filing of complaints before the district commission without charging any interest after that date. The bank argued before the national commission that the complaint was not maintainable in view of Section 69 of the Kerala Cooperative Societies Act. As per the Act and rules, the complaints are to be resolved through arbitration before the cooperative registrar. It challenged the state and district commissions' orders to pay market value of the gold. Since BIS certification was not mandatory at the time of the incident, there are chances that the gold would not be 916 carat. The bank further said that claims of 95% of customers were settled by paying the market price from the date of pledge to the date of theft. The case was heard by the NCDRC bench comprising its members Dr Inder Jit Singh and Dr Sadhna Shanker. Advocates Sreevaraham N G Mahesh and Sheeba Sadasivan represented the complainants. The national commission found that the bank lacked adequate security arrangements like security guards or CCTV cameras. It rejected the bank's contention of non-maintainability of the complaint stating that the provisions of the Consumer Protection Act are in addition to and not in derogation of the provisions of other laws. The argument on the purity of the gold was not valid as no bank would advance gold loans without checking purity and weight. The customers are entitled to get the market value of the gold on the date of payment, it said. The national panel, however, disagreed with the state commission's finding on interest payment. When the customer gets a refund on the date of refund, he is obligated to adjust this outstanding loan with interest till the date of adjustment. But the bank should charge interest only at the rate at which loan was granted and cannot charge any penalty, the order said.
