Latest news with #Tirunelveli
New Indian Express
11-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
MDMK told by cops to change title for Vaiko's meeting on Sterlite stir
THOOTHUKUDI: Thoothukudi police directed the MDMK to change the title of its public meeting by party founder and general secretary Vaiko on Saturday from 'Sterlite eviction' (Sterlite Veliyetram) to 'Sterlite agitation history' (Sterlite Poratta Varalaru) allegedly due to objection from pro-Sterlite supporters. Vaiko began a state-wide tour from Thoothukudi on Saturday and will address eight public meets at various places in TN till August 20. The party installed banners in Thoothukudi city about a public meeting titled 'Sterlite eviction' on Saturday night. At the eleventh hour, the party renamed the meeting. 'Over eight pro-Sterlite associations lodged petitions with Tirunelveli range DIG urging him not to allow use the term 'Sterlite eviction'. So the police pressured us to rename the meeting,' said a senior party leader who arranged the meet. MDMK district secretary RS Ramesh told TNIE that despite talks, the ADSP did not allow the title. 'We were forced to change the title by the police,' he said. Anti-Sterlite people federation leader and advocate Hariragavan said Vaiko, who staged protests against the copper smelter for more than 25 years and is part of the DMK alliance, has been denied permission to speak on the topic, 'Sterlite eviction'. Further, he alleged that pro-Sterlite supporters are being permitted to stage meetings and besiege collectorate to demand reopening of the plant and questioned if the DMK is now standing by Sterlite or with those opposing it. A senior police officer said they told MDMK functionaries to change the title only to draw a balance between anti-Sterlite and pro-Sterlite protesters. 'Pro-Sterlite supporters will be dealt the same way to prevent build-up of tension. No leniency will be shown to them,' he said.
The Hindu
25-07-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Incentive for first-time employees, employers
The Union Government, to create more jobs by encouraging the employers, has started giving incentive to them besides extending this assistance to the first-time employees also. Speaking to reporters here on Friday, Principal Regional Commissioner, EPFO, Tirunelveli, Siva Shanmugam and Regional Commissioner Sundaresan said the Prime Minister Viksit Bharat Rozgar Yojana had been launched with the objective of creating over 3.50 crore jobs at the cost of ₹98,446 crore in two years – between August 1, 2025 and July 31, 2027 - across the country by encouraging the employees and the employers. First-time employees drawing salary up to ₹1 lakh would get the incentive of ₹15,000 in two instalments. They will get this assistance by activating the Universal Account Number and linking the bank account with Aadhaar number. While the first instalment will be given after six months of service, the second instalment will get credited at the end of one year. Employers creating additional jobs in any sector will get the incentive for two years and the manufacturing sector will get this assistance for two more years. For any clarification, the employees and the employers may contact the EPFO, Tirunelveli, they said.
Hans India
16-06-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
MyVoice: Views of our readers 16th June 2025
Religious equality is a must This is with reference to the article in Mirror (June 15)- 'Not colonial constitution, but Hindu majority sustains India's secular democracy'. Secularism in the Indian Constitution means that the state does not favour any religion and ensures equal respect of all. While the state maintains a distance from religion it can interfere in religious matters based on Constitutional principles to prevent religious domination. Articles 25 to 28 guarantee freedom of religion to all citizens, including the right to profess, practice and propagate their religion. However, many States have passed anti-conversion laws which prohibit minorities from propagating their religion and very often FIRs are booked against them. When 70 per cent of the country's population is Hindus, what necessitated some political leaders to pass such anti-conversion Acts against religious minorities? Not only Hindus, but every citizen irrespective of the individual's religion makes India the secular country that it is. P Victor Selvaraj,Tirunelveli Bike taxis integral to Bengaluru Bike taxis, the people's preferred mode of transportation, will go off Bengaluru roads, albeit temporarily from June 16. This step is taken in view of the high speed of bike taxis and the penchant to ply in wrong directions. Auto drivers and four-wheeler taxis, who have been suffering since the advent of bike taxis, are on protest. In the IT capital of India, bike taxis are the best option to commute. They are financially viable and take less time to reach destinations. Lakhs of people earn their bread and butter by driving bike taxis. Some employees in private organisations are earning some additional income through driving bike taxis in their leisure hours. All eyes will be on the High Court, which will decide the fate of bike taxis in Karnataka on June 24. Nagendra Kumar Vempalli,Bengaluru Address poor air quality issues India is home to some of the most polluted cities on earth. Gurugram, Delhi and Kanpur have very poor air quality. As a result, people, especially the elderly and children, are falling ill due to air pollution caused by industries, vehicles, constructions, and lack of greenery. Afforestation and tree plantation, water spraying at construction sites and environmentally-friendly vehicles like EVs are needed everywhere. That is when people can breathe a sigh of relief. Arshad Bastavi,Mumbai Promote Hyd's eastern and northern parts It is ironical that while BRS government developed west Hyderabad through SEZs prominently called Hitec city where IT and ITES MNCs established offices making it the prime location, the present Congress government focussing on developing the south and south-west parts of Hyderabad, through mega projects like Future city, Pharma city and Aerospace projects. It makes one wonder why the northern and eastern parts of city are being ignored? Why is the city devoid of an inclusive development? P R Ravinder,New Mirjalguda, Hyderabad KLIS: Don't take KCR remarks at face value Former chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao (KCR) has previously referred to himself as the architect of the Kaleshwaram Lift Irrigation Scheme (KLIS). But during his recent deposition before the PC Ghose Commission, which is investigating the alleged irregularities in the project execution, he stated that all technical decisions were taken by the engineers and the project had Cabinet approval. Further, he told the Commission that the redesign and re-engineering of the barrages were based on expert reports and technical assessments, not personal directives. He had often described KLIS as a dream project that fulfilled his vision for Telangana's irrigation needs. His latest statements should be verified with the notes written in the files of the project. There is a need to identify the engineers and politicians responsible for the faults and problems in the project. Dr O Prasada Rao, Hyderabad
New Indian Express
23-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Footfall rises, TvMCH in need of second MRI unit
TIRUNELVELI: Doctors and patients at Tirunelveli Medical College Hospital (TvMCH) have urged the state government to provide an additional MRI scanner to meet the growing diagnostic demands of patients from the southern districts. Speaking to TNIE on condition of anonymity, a doctor at the hospital said the lone, outdated MRI scanner currently in use is inadequate. 'In 2024-25 alone, TvMCH treated 6,53,874 inpatients and 12,43,674 outpatients. We receive patients not just from Tirunelveli but also from Tenkasi, Thoothukudi, Kanniyakumari, and Virudhunagar. The waiting period for an MRI ranges from three to 10 days. In critical cases, patients are forced to seek private facilities,' the doctor said. According to hospital records, 10,597 MRI scans were performed at TvMCH during 2024-25. Another doctor pointed out that several districts have been equipped with more than one MRI scanner in the government hospitals. 'Government Rajaji Medical College Hospital in Madurai has two MRI scanners — one at the main campus and another at the PMSSY Building. Chennai's government hospitals have nine scanners in total. Several districts have two each. Given the patient load at TvMCH, the government must consider providing an additional scanner to TvMCH,' the doctor added. A Mariammal, an attendant of an orthopaedic patient, said to TNIE that her relative had to wait 12 days for an MRI scan. 'The longer the delay, the more the patient's condition deteriorates. We heard that patients in the intensive care unit get scanned within one to three days,' she added. A cardiology patient recently discharged from TvMCH said he had no choice but to approach a private scan centre. 'My condition did not permit me to wait for a week. The long-pending demand for an additional MRI scanner continues to be ignored,' he said. A senior administrator of TvMCH said the government was actively considering the proposal for an additional MRI scanner. 'We have forwarded the request to the Health Minister and Health Secretary,' the official said.
