The Indian heritage of democracy

If modern India has been a successful democracy, it is because there is an ancient tradition of the idea. Participatory decision-making started in the ancient village councils or panchayatsa testimony to the grassroots democracy that thrived in ancient India. The Rigveda and Atharvaveda refer to the elections of king, prime minister and parliament by the people and some Brahmanas mention kings losing their positions. The people elected the best person as rajan . The king who failed to protect was deposed. The sabha , samiti and sansad were participatory institutions. The Ramayana and Mahabharata mention the involvement of people in decision-making. Indian texts say that the authority to govern is earned through merit and consensus, not heredity. There are several instances of elected rulers and their committees. India is a successful working democracy because the Indian people, since Vedic times, participated in governancefrom the village to the state. Governments in ancient and medieval India werecentralised under a king, but also de-centralised by devolving powers to local bodies and village panchayats in administrative areas in order to safeguard public welfare. Indian philosophy and polity are based on dharma which, along with artha (material wealth) and kama (desire), is essential for social welfare and happiness. Dharma means the law of righteousness, justice and morality, which sustains and ensures social welfare and progress. Kama and artha , that are contrary to dharma , must be rejected.Sovereignty rests in dharma and the maintenance of this dharma is the work of the sabha (eminent senior citizens) and samiti (popular assembly). The janapadas were governed by the village headman, while the mahajanapadas were republics or monarchies. The 16 mahajanapadas were known for their rich cultural heritage, military and economic prosperity. Lichchhavi, capital of the Vajji mahajanapada, was ruled collectively by an elected ruler ( rajan ), deputy ruler ( uparajan ), general ( senapati ) and treasurer. The citizens had the right to vote, deliberate and contest for public office. Each post was elected either through consensus or through an election. The sabha would meet and discuss issues. An adult in each family was a member. The public could decide on issues of importance by majority. The final judgement for crime and punishment rested with the elected heads, and records were maintained. Women were equal partners in the labour force, army, agriculture and husbandry. A detailed description of the democratic system comes from Tamil Nadu. The king had two teams, aimperunkuzhu and enperayam , who were consulted on all matters relating to the state. The village assemblies had substantial powers to govern locally. The roots of the system went back to earlier times, when kingdoms were divided into smaller units. The village, being the smallest unit of administration, had its local self-government known as sabha or gana . The village assemblies were the sabha and the mahasabha , and its members were perumakkal . The members of the assembly looked after temple endowments, irrigation work, tank maintenance and justice. The variyams or sub-committees looked after rural administration, including construction and maintenance of tanks, irrigation channels, land endowments and roads. Particular works were entrusted to groups of committee members, identified with a prefix such eri-variyam , a committee in charge of water bodies. The 10 th century Uttiramerur inscription describes in detail the rules for contesting elections to the variyams . They were selected by lots ( kudavolai ). They held office for a fixed term and were not eligible for re-election. The sabha fixed the method of appointing members to its variyams . The village was divided into wards ( kudumbu ) and the members were nominated according to the rules and regulations of the sabha . The major criterions for contesting the election were age, education, conduct and the requirement that the aspirant should be a taxpayer. The tenure of a committee was for one year and a person who had served could not contest the election again for the next three years. The contestants had to own taxable land and a house. The names of all contestants from the wards were written on palm leaves and put inside a pot. The ballot pot was shown to the villagers, after which a young boy took a leaf out of the pot and the name was read out. By this process, committee members from all wards were chosen. The Manur inscription is also known for its description of local self-government. The committee members of the local bodies consisted of unpaid part-time workers, but there were paid officials who worked full-time. On important occasions, a royal official was present at the meetings of the assembly. Similarly, the tribes of India have an extremely democratic form of governance. The elders of the tribe form a committee to manage their affairs and choose their leader. The social structure of the tribes ensures equal access to and ownership of natural resources. Many tribes give women prominent and even superior positions. India also has a tradition of religious democracy or bhakti , which challenged the caste system and was led by saints who helped the masses comprehend philosophical teachings. This is a unique form of democracy by which spiritual development was attainable by common people. Each saint had a favourite god or preferred form of worship and the goal was to finally merge with the divinity. There are several ancient works of polity, including the Arthashastra and Nitisara , on the science of politics. The Indian Council of Historical Research has a publication, Mother of Democracy India , which is a mine of information on the countrys democratic traditions. It is election season and a time to remember our democratic past. (Views are personal) Nanditha Krishna Historian, environmentalist and writer based in Chennai

Green revolution: Meet the next generation of Indian pitches

CHENNAI: Toss. Weather. Conditions. Pitch. Dew. Outfield. These are just some of the factors that have a significant say in the way a team approaches a match, irrespective of the format. Among the above, pitch takes prominence for how it behaves could dictate the pace at which play progresses. While cricket is still scratching the surface when it comes to data, significant technological advancements have been made in many other aspects, including the pitch. Whether it is drop-in or conventional, there are different types of pitches based on the soil used, and so on. Over the past decade or so, hybrid pitches, too, have come into practice, especially for the white-ball format. SISGrass, a UK-based synthetic turf manufacturer, has been a pioneer in the field not just in cricket but also in football, rugby and hockey. With over 650 hybrid pitches installed across the globe, including Dubai, where conditions are vastly different from England. And now, joining hands with Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association (HPCA), they have installed four hybrid pitches on the square of the scenic venue at the foothills of the Dhauladhar Range and two pitches in the nets outside. While they are used just for practice at the moment, it is the first time a venue in the country has installed hybrid pitches. Now, what is a hybrid pitch and how is it different from a conventional surface? Paul Taylor, former England cricketer and International Sales Director, Cricket at SIS Grass, explains. There are different kinds of hybrid pitches. There is an artificial hybrid, a concrete base with a carpet on top and then a soil profile on top of that. There's a carpeted hybrid, which is a synthetic carpet. It's then filled with soil, and then grass grows within that soil. Then there's the stitched hybrid, which is what we do. It takes your existing natural turf pitch and we inject synthetic fibres into that surface. And the stitching is at 20*20m centres. It covers the whole pitch, and it extends beyond the stump lines by about a metre to make sure that the back foot contact for the bowlers is part of the system. The fundamental thing that is different about our pitch, is that it's still 95 percent a natural turf surface. There's only 5 percent of fibre injected into it, Taylor tells this daily. The stitching goes to a depth of 90mm but we can stitch deeper. In cricket, we only stitch to 90mm because that's all that's really needed. The fibre that we use is a polyethylene monofilament fibre. It's the latest technology in terms of how that's made. It's resilient and durable. It enhances performance. It doesn't fade in UV light and things like that. And it comes in different colours as well. We have a green fibre, a beige fibre, then a mixture of green and beige, so whatever the surface that we're stitching into, we can pick the suit, he adds. The 5 percent fibre is expected to keep the wear and tear in check; it also enables the grass to recover after a match. The fibres help the grass plant to become stronger. There's a natural air space around the fibre when it's injected, obviously, water will go down. And all the nutrients that are put onto cricket squares will also get down to the root. So the grass is a lot stronger, a lot more durable. You get up to three times the amount of cricket on one pitch that you would ordinarily get with a fully natural surface, says Taylor. However, when it comes to pitches, it is never one size fits all. The conditions in England, where SIS Grass began working in 2017, is very different from India, a country where different states will have different climatic conditions throughout the year. This is where the other factors like soil content and clay content come into play. It is different in different places. However, we have installed it in Australia, New Zealand, Dubai and so on. One of the things we noticed when we installed the pitches in the UK is that the moisture content within the soil profile needed to be about 40% to allow the injecting needles to inject the fibres. In India, because the clay content is a lot higher, I think in Dharamsala it was around 66%, the moisture content we had to get into the profile was anywhere between 60-80%. Again, it's all part of learning. We now know how to install in the north of the country, but installing it in Mumbai and installing in Kolkata could be very different. We can adapt how we install to suit the conditions, Taylor explains. The type of grass used too plays a crucial role based on the climatic conditions, even more so in a country like India where cricket is played all throughout the year. What we need to understand is the different types of grass. The squares over here tend to be Bermuda grass rather than Rye grass, which is what they are predominantly in the UK. So the outfield at Dharamsala is a Rye grass outfield and by the way, it looks beautiful. It's absolutely stunning when I was there last time. The issues they have had previously have been rectified. Credit to the ground staff for getting that back. The other thing that is worth mentioning is we actually have a system in that outfield called SISAir, which is a drainage system and an aeration system specifically designed to improve the outfield performance. That is now working well, it has made a big difference to the outfield. That's a first for India as well. So, Dharamsala is leading the way in terms of cricket technology, said Taylor. I think what we're looking to work out at the moment is in what parts of the country, and times of year that we can install these pitches. They only take one pitch, and will take about four hours to install. So it's quite a quick process as long as we've got the appropriate moisture content in that pitch. So the preparation of those pitches is the important thing from our side. If we can get the moisture content in, we can actually stitch the pitch in four hours. We're actually developing a new machine that's going to be able to stitch in three hours. That is the plan, which will be developed over the next few months. But the universal machine will stitch one pitch in four hours. So the installation at Dharamsala took about two weeks, and that's mainly through finding out about the conditions about the soil content, the moisture content, the clay content. So there's a little bit of research initially over the first three or four days before we actually start to work. The challenge, however, remains when it comes to red-ball cricket. At the moment, they have the ICC's approval for using hybrid surfaces in white-ball cricket but not in tests. However, they have gotten approval to use hybrid pitches in the 2024 England County season on a trial basis. The practice surfaces at the HPCA Stadium are put to use on Saturday as the Chennai Super Kings and Punjab Kings prepare for their return leg contest to be played on Sunday. But for SIS Grass, this is just the beginning. Mumbai and Ahmedabad are next in line but Taylor wants to take the technology to the masses. It's a product that we want to cascade throughout the cricketing network in India. So that's working with schools, local clubs, local communities and so on. Yes, it enhances the professional game. More importantly, from my perspective, it enhances the grassroots game as well. Because if we can get young players playing on the same sort of surfaces as the international players, that's got to be a bonus for development of the game in India, says Taylor. For HPCA, it is about embracing the new technology and having the best of the facilities at the venue, ensuring that the youngsters can give themselves the best chance to improve on their game. The pitches offer a consistent, smooth, even playing surface to the players, especially the youngsters, which will enhance their skills. This should be implemented in other grounds across the country so that players are well versed with playing on these grassy wickets, which are the future of the game, Avnish Parmar, HPCA Secretary, told this daily.

Technology is there to take care of human error: Umpire Madanagopal

CHENNAI: Former Tamil Nadu cricketer and noted umpire Jayaraman Madanagopal will be making his World Cup debut in the T20 World Cup to be played in the West Indies and USA from June 1. Nitin Menon is the other umpire on the panel from India. They are part of a panel of 20 umpires who will be officiating 55 matches across nine venues. Having made his debut in women's one-dayers back in 2013, Madanagopal stood as an umpire for the first time in a men's international during the 2021 India-New Zealand T20I at Ranchi. He has also officiated in an international match at his home ground, the MA Chidambaram Stadium. A smooth-stroking batter for Tamil Nadu, Madanagopal, has been a coach of TNPL teams and First Division teams in the TNCA league too. Since 2007, he has been on the BCCI panel of umpires and will be emulating the likes of S Venkataraghavan and S Ravi, the other umpires from Tamil Nadu, to officiate in a World Cup. Madanagopal is delighted to be part of the World Cup panel and spoke to this daily about pressure, DRS, fitness of umpires and more. Excerpts from the interview. Any pressure to be part of the WC panel? The job will be the same. I have been officiating International matches for the last three years. So the expectations and challenges remain the same. It won't be any different, but it's definitely a great opportunity (ICC T20 World Cup). On DRS and pressure With DRS everything is out in the open, almost black and white. So it is an instinct. Umpiring is always an instinct. You do your preparation, you study the angles and then, based on the evidence in front of you, make a decision. There's no pressure. The game is getting benefited. Right decisions are made. The game moves on in the right direction. It's absolutely fine. It's not about pressure. It's about getting the game in the right direction. So we are happy with DRS. An on-field umpire gives a decision not out, the fielding side opts for DRS and gets it reversed. Does he get upset or does the decision upset his concentration? No. It is part of the game. And what we need to see is the game remains unaffected because of a human error. That is the most important thing. The game has to flow in the right direction. And human judgment is corrected by technology, which is what the game requires. So that should be the mindset. It is not about an umpire making a mistake or umpire getting it correct. It is about the game. The game needs to go in the right direction. That is why technology is there to take care of any human error that may possibly be there. Another challenge for umpires today is intimidation from players in high-profile games? For us, our job is about making decisions and controlling the game. And that is why we are there, out in the middle. We are expected to handle some high-profile players and that is what we have to do. So this is where we prepare ourselves for that. There is no intimidation from big players. On fitness of umpires It (umpiring) is just basically an extension for me. Right from playing days, I have been used to this kind of lifestyle, travelling and staying. So it is a natural extension for me. Right from twelve years, I've been travelling and being in a team environment. So, okay, it is definitely not new for me. I've been doing this for the last 30, 35 years now. Noise is definitely a problem with large crowds out there. The hearing may not be, you know, like in a normal domestic game or something. But then you adapt to those situations. You adapt to the conditions, your awareness is so much heightened when you get into a situation like that. Yeah, there are other clues that you are trying to pick up and it kind of set into your system. You get adapted to the system. On improving his skills over the years The growth has been constant. I have been learning right through whatever and whenever I get an opportunity. Every game is a learning experience for me. Definitely, I've learned and am improving. And it's a continuous process. It doesn't stop,'' explained the genial umpire. Does he watch his own videos to study and improve? Nowadays, almost all the games are televised, so I get to watch and dissect decisions. Yes, there is some homework that I do. There is a process that I follow. I take some feedback. I work on my game (umpiring).

IPL 2024: RCB's crucial win over GT keeps campaign alive

CHENNAI: Captain Faf du Plessis hit a 23-ball 64 while Virat Kolhi cracked 27-ball 42 to keep Royal Challengers Bengaluru's slim playoff chances alive in the ongoing IPL. Chasing 148 for victory against Gujarat Titans at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium in Bengaluru on Saturday, Faf was dealing in boundaries as RCB accumulated an impressive 92 runs in the powerplay. His 28-minute stay at the crease involved 10 fours and 3 sixes before he was dismissed by Josh Little, who later went on to finish with a four-wicket haul. Soon after the Faf's dismissal, things got complicated for the home side as they lost wickets in quick succession. The onus was on Kolhi to guide the team home but he was also dismissed for 42 by the 11th over. However, Dinesh Karthik displayed his experience to steady the ship along with Swapnil Singh, helping the team record a much-needed win with 38 balls to spare. The four-wicket victory, in the process, pushed RCB from bottom to seventh in the IPL standings. Earlier, Shahrukh Khan's 37 and David Miller's 30 had helped Gujarat to post 147 in 19.3 overs. Shahrukh's controlled aggression came in handy while Miller put the short handle to effective use and was harsh on Karn Sharma before eventually losing his wicket to the same bowler. Reeling at 19 for 3 after 5.3 overs, Shahrukh and Miller played the rescue act. After being asked to bat, Gujarat got off to a disastrous start as Wriddhiman Saha was sent back by Mohammed Siraj in the second over. The onus was on captain Shubman Gill and the in-form B Sai Sudharsan to take charge and help Gujarat get a good start. With the team lying at eighth spot going into the match, it was a must-win game for Gujarat as well. ''The talk is to win four in four. It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We have had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day. We have two changes, Manav Suthar makes his debut and Josh Little comes in,'' said Gill had said before the match. However, Gill (2 off 7 balls) didn't last long as he fell to Siraj. He got out while trying to whip a good-length delivery towards the on side. He closed the face of the bat too soon and found the top edge. The deep third fielder, Vyshak Vijaykumar, came in and claimed the catch. Vijaykumar later claimed two wickets. Soon, it became a nightmare situation for the visiting side as Sai Sudharsan was also dismissed soon. Cameron Green outfoxed Sai Sudharsan with a change of pace. That's when Shahrukh and Miller intervened. Later, Rahul Tewatia hit 21-ball 35 to help the team cross the 140-run mark. Brief scores: GT 147 in 19.3 ovs (Shahrukh 37, Tewatia 35; Siraj 2/29, Dayal 2/21, Vijaykumar 2/23) lost to RCB 152/6 in 13.4 ovs (Faf 64, Virat 42; Little 4/45).

IPL 2024: Was Sick, Wasnt Going To Play At All, Reveals Mohammed Siraj After Brilliant Spell V GT

Indian Premier League: Fridays rain ahead of the Royal Challengers Bengaluru-Gujarat Titans clash meant that fast-bowlers could get some help in Saturday's clash at the M. Chinnaswamy Stadium here. It happened exactly like that as Mohammed Siraj, Vysakh Vijaykumar and Yash Dayal were spot-on with their lengths and found movement to bowl out Gujarat Titans for just 147 in Match 52 of the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024. Siraj got the ball to move both ways in his Power-play and that helped him in dismissing Wriddhiman Saha for the fourth time in seven innings. He then forced Shubman Gill to whip and ended up being caught at deep point off a leading edge. He eventually finished with figures of 2-29, earning him Player of the Match award after RCBs four-wicket win. I was actually sick since last night and wasn't going to play at all today, so this is great. When I got up this morning I thought it was better to rest but the almighty made me play. I kind of manifested it this morning because I envisioned it in a way that I would get Saha out like that, caught behind. I had been playing red-ball cricket for long and hadn't played with the white ball since the ODI World Cup. So my rhythm was missing a little bit when I came here. But it came back gradually as I worked and practised more and more, said Siraj after the match ended, where it seemed he was getting his white-ball mojo back, especially with the T20 World Cup starting immediately after IPL 2024. With the bat, Faf du Plessis and Virat Kohli gave RCB a blazing start with a 92-run opening stand off just 35 balls. Du Plessis, the RCB captain, was the more aggressive of the two, hitting 10 fours and three sixes in his 23-ball 64. Du Plessis felt the phase where RCB lost six wickets in quick succession is something to be taken note of while appreciating his bowling group for being consistent. There was more bounce in the wicket, we got that information and the bowlers were consistently really good. We dropped a catch but have been really consistent. Something around 180-90 would have been a good score, but we've seen the way the game has changed. Don't look at the scoreboard and play the way that we want to play. It was a bit nerve-racking, another wicket, another wicket. Probably not the best (way to complete a chase) but you're trying to be positive, get your NRR up. It makes sense from that point of view but it gets to the point when you need to show a bit of calmness and composure - probably around four down, so some lessons to be learned from that. It took Dinesh Karthiks 21 not out and Swapnil Singhs unbeaten 15 to get RCB over the line in 13.4 overs and help them jump to seventh place in the points table. Karthik was having tea and drank cappuccino after four overs, with the thought being his batting chance wouldnt come, but he had to come in to save the day. But things happened and then I had to have a bat. How to hit boundaries, basic cricketing skills come through. I backed myself to get the job done. The pitch was good to bowl on, having been under the covers there was a bit of moisture, said Karthik. Good toss to win but the bowlers did the job beautifully. The way Faf and Virat batted, I don't think they would have played the same shots batting first! Play for the one that comes in (on advice to Swapnil). Said the sweep is a good option, but commit to it, he added. RCBs win also meant GT slid to ninth place, while Mumbai Indians became the new occupants of tenth position in the points table. GT captain Shubman Gill admitted his batters should have posted 170-180 on board, with their playoff hopes now hanging by a slim thread. It depends on the wicket. First couple of overs you get a good idea and play according to that. I think 170-80 on this wicket would have been a good total. How we batted in the Power-play, and how they bowled, decided the game. We would have had one extra bowler but losing three wickets in the powerplay (changed planning). Very important to start from zero in our next match and move on from this game. Learn from mistakes and not repeat them. All about winning from here on, said Gill. RCB will now travel to Dharamsala, where they will take on Punjab Kings on May 9 at the HPCA Stadium while GT will return home to Ahmedabad and rest before preparing to host defending champions Chennai Super Kings on May 10 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

Madras to Chennai, an expo at DakshinaChitra on the citys ethos

The humble park as the grand studio

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Chennai High School in Teynampet on campaign mode - The Hindu

Chennai High School in Teynampet on campaign mode The Hindu

Chennai High School inTeynampet on campaign mode

Preserving the past, only effecting a minor tweak

An effective shelter through most part of the year, the Indian ash tree takes a sabbatical at the height of summer. A suitable ally to this native tree can salvage the situation

Meet this group from Chennai who are rediscovering the sounds of the past

Meet this group from Chennai who are rediscovering the sounds of the past - The Hindu

Meet this group from Chennai who are rediscovering the sounds of the past The Hindu

No HC Nod for Underage Girl Keen on NEET

HYDERABAD: A two-judge panel of the Telangana High Court refused relief to a 16-year-old girl wanting to take the NEET medical entrance despite being underage. The panel of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Anil Kumar was hearing a petition filed by Rithika Monika, represented by her mother, who contended that her childs performances in Class 10 and Intermediate showed that she was an extraordinarily gifted student. The panel called upon senior advocate L. Ravichander as amicus to assist the court. He pointed out that the regulations indeed prescribed inhibition whereby a candidate was required to be 17 years old as of December 31 and that the present petition was in the nature of seeking a mandamus contrary to the statute. The panel earlier voiced sympathy for the candidate but was also aware that entertaining such a petition could open the floodgates of multiple claimants. The panel further recorded the judgmnts of different High Court, including Delhi and Chennai, cited by Pujitha, the counsel for the Medical Council of India, and dismissed the writ petition.

Couple arrested for chit fund fraud in Porur

They had cheated 14 persons to the tune of 36 lakh

Unauthorised parking eats into mini bridge inR.A.Puram

Debutants Lock Horns in Gangadhara Nellore Seat

TIRUPATI: The Gangadhara Nellore assembly constituency in Chittoor district, carved out post delimitation in 2008, will witness an electoral tussle between two first-time candidates. Since then, the seat, reserved for people belonging to the scheduled castes community, has transitioned from being a Congress stronghold to a YSRC bastion. While former minister and deputy speaker Gummadi Kuthuhalamma won Gangadhara Nellore on Congress ticket in 2009, Kalathuru Narayana Swamy of YSRC emerged victorious in 2014 and 2019, cementing his party's grip. In a surprise move, the ruling dispensation has given the party ticket to K. Krupa Lakshmi, daughter of Narayana Swamy and a debutant in poll arena. On the other hand, Telugu Desam of the NDA alliance has fielded Dr. V.M. Thomas, chairman of a Chennai fertility centre, who is foraying into politics for the first time. Gangadhara Nellore has total 2,04,669 registered voters, including 1,01,697 males, 1,02,966 females, and six others. The constituency has a diverse demography. The Mala community of SCs is the largest community, followed by numerically significant Reddy, Kamma, Balija and other backward class communities. Local caste dynamics have historically played a pivotal role in shaping the electoral outcomes in the region. Recent reports suggest simmering internal conflicts and infighting within the ranks of both YSRC and TD, which could potentially impact prospects of the respective candidates. Despite enjoying a robust cadre base and historical backing from voters over the past decade, YSRC's clout in the region seems to be on the wane. This is being attributed to the complex interplay of caste undercurrents and internal discord within the ruling party ranks. In particular, Narayana Swamy's conflicts with the Reddy community may impact his daughter's chances. On the other hand, TD nominee Dr. Thomas confronts a daunting challenge for a first timer, as his party's support base has eroded significantly over the past few electoral cycles. Despite his credentials as the chairman of a prestigious fertility centre, lack of familiarity with local political dynamics and peoples waning trust in TD could become formidable obstacles in his quest for victory.

IPL 2024: Gujarat Titans labour to 147 against Royal Challengers Bangalore

CHENNAI: Shahrukh Khan's 37 and David Miller's 30 helped Gujarat Titans to post 147 in 19.3 overs against Royal Challengers Bengaluru at the M Chinnaswamy stadium on Saturday. Shahrukh's controlled aggression came in handy. David Miller put the short handle to effective use and was harsh on Karn Sharma before eventually losing his wicket to the same bowler. Reeling at 19 for 3 after 5.3 overs, Shahrukh and Miller steadied the Gujarat ship. After being asked to bat, Gujarat got off to a disastrous start as Wriddhiman Saha was sent back by Mohammed Siraj in the second over. The onus was on captain Shubman Gill and the in-form B Sai Sudharsan to take charge and help Gujarat get a good start. With the team lying at eighth spot going into the match, it was a must-win game for Gujarat. ''The talk is to win four in four. It's important to turn up and deliver our best. I feel our fielding has let us down. We had a chat about it. We need to be a better team as a fielding unit. IPL is such a long tournament. It's important to turn up on the day. We have two changes, Manav Suthar makes his debut and Josh Little comes in,'' Gill had said before the match. However, Gill (2 off 7 balls) didn't last long as he fell prey to Siraj. He got out while trying to whip a good-length delivery towards the on side. He closed the face of the bat too soon and found the top edge. The deep third fielder, Vyshak Vijay Kumar, came in and claimed the catch. Vyshak later claimed two wickets. Soon, it became a nightmare situation for the visiting side as Sai Sudharsan was also dismissed. Cameron Green outfoxed Sudharsan with a change of pace. That's when Shahrukh and Miller intervened to carry out the rescue act. Later, Rahul Tewatia hit 21-ball 35 to help the team cross the 140-run mark.

Bengal Pro T20 League: Look At IPL, You'll Realise How Important T20 Cricket Is, Says Sourav Ganguly

The Bengal Pro T20 League: Former India skipper Sourav Ganguly has highlighted how the Indian Premier League (IPL) has made an impact on the careers of the young budding cricketers in the country. Many players have been selected for the national team based on their performance in the IPL. Recently, the Chennai Super Kings (CSK) batter Shivam Dube was named in India's squad for the ICC Men's T20 World Cup following his exploits in the 2023 and the ongoing editions of IPL. Sourav Ganguly, while speaking at the unveiling of the Bengal Pro T20 League trophy here in Kolkata, said the upcoming T20 League is an important opportunity for the young players to shine. The Bengal Pro T20 League trophy was unveiled in the presence of Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) President Snehasish Ganguly, Sourav and former woman cricketer Jhulan Goswami. It is an opportunity for all the young players to showcase their talent on the big stage. That's how careers start and you take it as it goes. Look at the impact, IPL has and when you see a young player play for the country, you realise how important T20 cricket is. I thank all the franchise owners, who have showcased their interest in the sport, Sourav Ganguly was quoted as saying in a release on Saturday. Bengal Pro T20 League is the official franchise-based T20 league of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB). Speaking about the same to the media, Sourav said, Its (T20 Leagues) happening in every state. We are probably 5-6 years late on this. Any way of playing the sport will always be very helpful. T20 is an important part of cricket these days and this will be a huge opportunity for everyone to perform. Servotech Power Systems Ltd has been recently onboarded as the franchise owner for one of the teams in the Bengal Pro T20 League. During the event, Servotech Power Systems Ltd Founder and Managing Director Raman Bhatia, Director Sarika Bhatia and Marketing Head Rishabh Bhatia were facilitated by Ganguly and Jhulan Goswami. The much-awaited inaugural edition of the Bengal Pro T20 League is set to kick off on June 11 in Kolkata as eight teams get ready to showcase their talent on the big stage.

IPL, PSL dates may clash next season; players will be forced to make a choice

CHENNAI: The stage is set for an unlikely India-Pakistan clash in the opening months of next year. With next year's Champions Trophy to be staged in Pakistan in February and March, the Pakistan Super League (PSL), the country's franchise-based short-form competition, could be moved to a 5-6 window in the months of April and May. This is, of course, when the Indian Premier League (IPL) will be played. Due to the ICC Champions Trophy 2025 being held in the traditional event window, the event window for the 2025 event will be April 7May 20, 2025, a PCB press release proposed on Saturday. The board proposed these dates after consulting with franchise owners. At the back of this meeting, and in relation to the most suitable window for PSL 2025 and beyond, the PCB will share further data with the franchise owners so that they can discuss amongst themselves, PCB COO, Salman Naseer, was quoted as saying in the release. We look forward to working closely with the franchisees to take timely decisions, he added. Usually, the PSL is reserved for FebruaryMarch so players aren't forced to pick between featuring in one of the two leagues. In 2025, that may not be the case as a major chunk of the IPL will be in April and May (it could even be brought forward by a week or so if India qualifies for the WTC final to enable Indian players rest and recover before flying out to the UK). Taking 2024 as a yardstick, some of the players who would have been forced into a decision would have been Luke Wood, Sikandar Raza, Rovman Powell, Rilee Rossouw, Shai Hope and Tom-Kohler Cadmore. One wonders if this would influence the decision of what players the IPL owners may want to target at next year's mega auctions. It also remains to be seen if the Indian government will sign off on the team travelling to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy.

Two held for possession of ganja near Poonamallee

12 kg of ganja was seized from them

30-year-old man dies in custody, family alleges police excesses

He was arrested on April 29 on assault charges. The police deny allegations, say he had developed health issues and was being taken to the hospital when he died

Information and PR Department to develop Gandhi Mandapam complex further

It has asked the Public Works Department to submit the estimate for the works

Charred body of missing TN Congress district president found in his farmland

Charred body of missing TN Congress district president found in his farmland Chennai: The charred body of Tirunelveli East district President of the Congress in Tamil Nadu, K.P.K. Jeyakumar Dhanasingh, was retrieved from his farmland on Saturday. The body of the 60-year-old Congress leader was found in his farmland at Karaichuthupudur near Thisayvanvilai in [] The post Charred body of missing TN Congress district president found in his farmland appeared first on Mangalorean.com .

Government hospitals earmark beds for heat-related illnesses and educate patients on signs and symptoms

The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital has put up charts on heatstroke, heat cramps, and heat exhaustion and the dos and donts at its three tower blocks

Dhoni is playing my father's role in my cricket life: CSK's Matheesha Pathirana

CHENNAI: Sri Lankan pacer Matheesha Pathirana has termed the legendary Mahendra Singh Dhoni as a father figure in his cricketing career, saying the former Chennai Super Kings skipper's advice has given him a lot of confidence. The 21-year-old slinger made his Indian Premier League debut in 2022 and has since become a vital cog in CSK's pace attack, including their title success last season. Speaking on the guidance he received from Dhoni, Pathirana said in CSK's 'Lions up close' show on the franchise's YouTube channel, After my father, in my cricket life, mostly he's (MSD) playing my father's role. He always takes care of me and gives me some advice on what I have to do -- similar to my father's thing when I'm doing in my home. I think that's enough. He's not telling a lot of things when I'm on the field and off the field. He's just telling me small things, but it makes a lot of difference, and it makes a lot of confidence for me. At the moment, he knows how to maintain the players. Off the field, we don't talk much. If I have to ask something from him, definitely, I'd go to him and ask him, he said. The lanky Sri Lankan has had a great IPL 2024 season so far, being the team's second-highest wicket-taker after Mustafizur Rahman (14), grasping 13 wickets in six matches at an economy of 7.68, including a four-wicket haul. As for Dhoni, he has been in good touch with the bat this season, especially as a finisher. While there has been speculation about Dhoni's future for the last three seasons, this year, too, has been no different. Rumours continue to swirl around that it could well be Dhoni's final season in this high-profile Twenty20 league, but the veteran is yet to make a formal announcement. But, inspired by him so much, Patheerana has emotionally requested Dhoni to continue at least for one more season. Mahi bhai, if you can play one more season, please play with us if I'm here (chuckles), he said. CSK has had an unstable season this term under new captain Ruturaj Gaikwad. In 10 matches, CSK have lost five and won as many games and are placed fifth on the points table.

IPL 2024: LSG Might Have To Play The Rest Of The Event Without Mayank Yadav, Says Coach Justin Langer

Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari: Lucknow Super Giants are reconciled to probably playing the rest of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 without young tearaway pacer Mayank Yadav. Even if there is a possibility of getting him back, it would be a huge test for the pacer, said LSG head coach Justin Langer ahead of their upcoming clash with Kolkata Knight Riders at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium. Yadav had returned for the match against Mumbai Indians at the same venue on April 30 but pulled after bowling 3.1 overs, returning to the dugout as his injury flared up again. Langer said there were no updates on Mayank Yadav on Saturday but felt his injury was the usual one that young fast bowlers have to suffer early in their careers. No updates. He had a scan. He has got a small tear in a similar area where the last one was. So, it is very unfortunate. We saw the impact he had made, said Langer in the pre-match press conference on Saturday. He came back into the game, but we can also see there's been a lot of discussion about fast bowlers, and he spoke to (Jasprit) Bumrah after the game and he reassured him that he's going to be a fast bowler, said the former Australia coach. Part of his journey as a young fast bowler, he's going to get injuries, and in my experience every young fast bowler, probably until they get to 24-26, are going to experience different injuries and also most unfortunate is he's got huge potential, he added. Langer dispelled the notion that Yadav had made a pre-mature return against Mumbai Indians, which led to his injury aggravating. He did his rehabilitation, (it) was excellent. He went into the game, had a couple of balls before the game, he was completely pain-free, so I was very sad for him and it's disappointing for LSG as well, said the LSG coach. He said even if there are chances of Mayank Yadav returning to the squad, it would be a big test for him. Already might have to play the rest of the tournament without him. You can fly him, hopefully for the playoffs but it will be a real test as well. It would probably be difficult for him to get up for the backend of the tournament, said Langer. LSG are currently placed third in the third position with 12 points from 10 matches and is in a tight contest with Sunrisers Hyderabad, Chennai Super Kings and Delhi Capitals in the race for the playoff spots behind the top two -- Rajasthan Royals (16) and Kolkata Knight Riders (14).

TN, the land of startups under Stalin

Chennai : A plethora of initiatives taken by the DMK government, under Chief Minister M K Stalin, has led to the launch of 6,115 startups during the last three years that saw the creation of a favorable ecosystem in the State, enabling it to emerge as one of the top most destinations for starting new businesses in the country. To keep up with the success story, the State government has announced the Global Startup Summit at Chennai in January, 2025, which would be attended by representatives of leading startups that have made a mark in different parts of the world and young aspiring entrepreneurs, showcasing the concern and interest shown by the government in encouraging startups. Actually, when the DMK government took charge in 2021, the State had just 2105 startups and the numbers shot up to 6115 in three years only because of the various initiatives taken by the Chief Minister to increase the employment opportunities for youth and to also make Tamil Nadu a US $ one trillion economy by 2030. Among the initiatives of Stalin were the organization of Startup festival at Coimbatore in August, 2023, which saw 21,556 participants, 18,835 visitors, 1761 representatives of companies and 841 exhibitors eagerly attending the gala event and investors coming forward to support 1672 ventures at a total cost of Rs 3,64,39,000. Also 83 manufacturing products were introduced at the exhibition. The Dravidian Model governance also provided the opportunity for 25 women to become entrepreneurs by launching their own startups and turned 18 womens Self Help Groups (SHGs) into startup workshops, besides opening 150 job prospects through startups launched with financial aid from Tribal Welfare Department, 1,525 jobs through TANSEED supported startups and 238 jobs through other startups. The investments made in startups launched with TANSEED financial assistance have gone up to Rs 314.50 crore and the capital of the startups begun under the TANFUND platform with 714 investors has shot up to Rs 26.40 lakh. The other efforts of the Chief Minister that created the healthy ecosystem for startups included the signing of MoUs with State Bank of India, HDFC bank, DBS Bank, Federal Bank, Yes Bank and UCO bank for extending financial support for startups, the organization of 5,393 training programmes on providing funds for startups and the setting up of startup centres at the SIPCOT industrial parks in Sriperumbudur and Hosur at a cost of Rs 33.46 crore. Five incubation centres for startups were given opportunities to familiarize the operations of Singapore based SWITCH industries and Rs 5 lakh subsidy was given to the incubation centres. Ever since an exclusive portal was launched for startups on February 29, at least 78 startups have linked up with it, symbolizing the success of the Chief Ministers initiative.

This cop lauded for timely communicating info and real facts by following social media, newspapers

Punjab Kings' chance to hit CSK for a six

They have secured five wins on the trot against Chennai Super Kings and will be very keen to better that as the IPL moves to Dharamsala for the first time this season

Madras High Court rejects HIV-positive mother's plea to hand over custody of three-year-old child

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has rejected the plea of a biological mother, a person with HIV, seeking the custody of her three-year-old child who was being taken care of by another couple since he was born. A division bench of Justices MS Ramesh and Sunder Mohan passed the order recently taking into account the facts that the child has been with the adopted parents ever since he was born and a petition filed by the adopted mother under the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890, has been pending in the Principal District and Sessions Judge (PDJ) Court in Erode. The bench allowed the biological mother to visit the child once a week, preferably during weekends between 5 pm and 8 pm, commencing from May 1, 2024.The bench also ordered the PDJ to dispose the petition seeking declaration of guardianship within six months. The order was passed while closing a habeas corpus petition filed by the biological mother. She stated the child was born in July 2020 at a hospital in Erode. Her parents handed over the child to another couple in adoption since she was HIV positive. The child has been under the care of this couple since then. She tried in vain to take the child under her custody in 2022 by filing a complaint with the police. Meanwhile, the adopted mother moved a petition under the Guardian and Wards Act, 1890, at the PDJ Court in Erode, seeking that she be appointed as the guardian of the minor boy. The case is pending at the court. The biological mother moved a habeas corpus petition at the High Court stating that there was no valid adoption and therefore the child be handed over to her. Advocate B Mohan, appearing for the adopted mother, submitted that the child was given for adoption with the knowledge and consent of the biological mother since she was battling an HIV infection. Pointing out that the petition for declaration of guardianship has been pending, he prayed for the court to reject the HCP. Referring to the dispute over the very foundational facts of the case, the bench said it would not venture into adjudicating the disputed facts (over adoption). The boy is now aged about three years and nine months. At this age, when he had never lived with the petitioner, it would be in the welfare of the child that his care and custody be retained by the fifth respondent (the adopted mother) for the present, the bench ordered. It, however, added that it has not adjudicated or declared the custodial rights of the adopted mother. The issue with regard to appointment of the guardian could be decided by the concerned court on the basis of the evidence before it, the bench added.

Water shortage in Tamil Nadu: Dhinakaran urges CM to act swiftly - The Times of India

Water shortage in Tamil Nadu: Dhinakaran urges CM to act swiftly The Times of India

Arrest those involved in Congress functionary Jayakumars death: EPS - The Times of India

Arrest those involved in Congress functionary Jayakumars death: EPS The Times of India

PBKS vs CSK IPL 2024 Dream11 prediction: Fantasy cricket tips for Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings

PBKS vs CSK Dream 11 Team - Check My Dream11 Team, Best Player's list for match 53 between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings.

Loop Road bus stops: questions of safety and comfort

IPL 2024: We Will Stick To Winning Combination For CSK Clash, Says PBKS Spin Bowling Coach Sunil Joshi

Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium: Experts have always opined not to change a winning combination and Punjab Kings will follow the wisdom handed down the ages when they take on defending champions Chennai Super Kings in Match 53 of Indian Premier League (IPL) 2024 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium here on Sunday afternoon. On an upswing after two wins on the trot, Punjab Kings will face the five-time champions CSK for the second time within a few days as they attempt to move up from the seventh position they currently occupy in the standings and get into a position to challenge for a place in the Playoffs. Sunday's match is their first game at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala this season and PBKS spin bowling coach Sunil Joshi explained why his side enjoys travelling to Dharamsala for the IPL games. The ground in Dharamsala is one of the best grounds in the cricket world because of the location and the surface we get to play here. It's a fantastic ground, Joshi said at the pre-match press conference on Saturday. Punjab defeated Kolkata Knight Riders, chasing down the world T20 record total of 262 last week. Earlier this week, PBKS picked a big win over the Chennai Super Kings, chasing 163 with 7 wickets in hand and 13 balls to spare. Entering the contest with a positive mindset and on the back of two solid victories, Joshi said that his side will stick with the same playing combination. No, we do not think we will be making any changes. Because we want to keep up the winning squad, he said. The former Indian left-arm spinner further gave an update on skipper Shikhar Dhawan's injury status and also praised Sam Curran for taking over the leadership role effectively in Dhawan's absence. Dhawan's rehabilitation is on track. He is doing well. He is not available for the next game. Hopefully, he will be back for the final two games, Joshi said. Shikhar was also injured last year. He was playing well but Sam had to come up as captain because of his injury. Sam has come up as a leader yet again and he has stepped up with the team, he added. The tournament has reached a stage where all the teams are fighting to grab the top four spots and confirm a spot in the playoffs. Joshi insisted his side is focused on getting the right results and is not too focused on the points table calculations. The team conversations that we have had, our approach is to put in the best effort and to play to win the game. The table calculations will come on their own. We do not see that part very closely. What we look at is what are the areas we can do better, what we have not done over the past few games, what best we can do and how we can improve as a team. That is the conversation we have with the players, he said. Our plan of action is to keep winning. The challenge is always with the bat and ball. It's a good surface. I keep telling players to hold their horses and execute their skill, he signed off.

Where to Watch PBKS vs CSK 2024 IPL Match Live Streaming for Free

Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings 2024, IPL Live Streaming: The Indian Express gives live streaming details of Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings clash from the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings IPL 2024 Live Streaming:A rejuvenated Punjab Kings will take on Chennai Super Kings in Match [] The post Where to Watch PBKS vs CSK 2024 IPL Match Live Streaming for Free appeared first on Northlines .

Volkswagen strengthens retail footprint with new store in TN

CHENNAI: German automaker Volkswagen has inaugurated a new store in the city under its expansion drive in the state, strengthening its retail presence in the country. With the setting up of a new outlet at Ambattur in the city, the total network for the automobile major stands at 26 sales and 20 service facilities in Tamil Nadu. The Chennai Metropolitan area is one of the key markets for Volkswagen in India. In 2023, our Virtus was one of the highest-selling sedans in this market. With this inauguration of our newest touchpoint in Chennai, we are emphasising our commitment to the rising need for premium, safe, and reliable vehicles throughout India, Volkswagen Passenger Cars India Brand Director Ashish Gupta said in a company statement on Saturday. The new store 'KUN Capital Motors' is headed by Director Arun Uppuswami and has a five-car display and 25 service bays, among others. Our long-standing partnership with Volkswagen has driven a highly successful mobility revolution in Tamil Nadu. With class-leading products on offer, we are once again glad to make the safest portfolio of Volkswagen Taigun, Tiguan, and Virtus, even more accessible to customers through the new city store, Uppuswami said. With the latest facility, Volkswagen has 208 sales and 142 service touchpoints across 155 cities in India.

Volkswagen strengthens retail footprint with new store in Tamil Nadu

The Chennai Metropolitan area is one of the key markets for Volkswagen in India. In 2023, our Virtus was one of the highest-selling sedans in this market. With this inauguration of our newest touchpoint in Chennai, we are emphasising our commitment to the rising need for premium, safe, and reliable vehicles throughout India.., Volkswagen Passenger Cars India Brand Director Ashish Gupta said in a company statement on Saturday.

Apartments feel the heat from AC installations

With households installing multiple air-conditioners, apartment associations are saddled with the job of regulating the placement of outdoor units

Punjab Kings to take on Chennai Super Kings in Dharamshala in IPL 2024

Punjab Kings will take on Chennai Super Kings (CSK) at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium (HPCAS) in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh on Sunday. The match is scheduled to begin at 1330 hours. Ticket holders and others are requested to ...

Man arrested for trying to smuggle foreign, Indian currency notes worth over Rs 50 lakh

BENGALURU, May 4: A 22-year-old male passenger who was travelling to Bangkok was arrested here for allegedly attempting to smuggle foreign and Indian currency notes worth over Rs 50 lakh, officials said on Saturday. Based on specific intelligence that a Chennai-based man was going to travel by Thai Lion Airlines flight from Bengaluru to Bangkok, he was intercepted by the officers of the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) on April 29, they said. According to the DRI officials, the examination [] The post Man arrested for trying to smuggle foreign, Indian currency notes worth over Rs 50 lakh appeared first on Daily Excelsior .

Half-burnt body of Congress functionary KPK Jeyakumar found near Tirunelveli

ECI Directs Chennai District Election Officer To Address Tamil Nadu Bishops Councils Voter Influence Along Communal Lines In 2024 Elections

Following the complaint raised by the Legal Rights Protection Forum (LPRF) on 29 April 2024, to the Election Commission of India (ECI) regarding the Tamilnadu Bishops Council and Archbishop of The post ECI Directs Chennai District Election Officer To Address Tamil Nadu Bishops Councils Voter Influence Along Communal Lines In 2024 Elections appeared first on The Commune .

Chennai boy undergoes surgery after accidentally swallowing LED bulb

Chennai boy undergoes surgery after accidentally swallowing LED bulb

Pooja Hegde not doing Tillu Qube?

Dismissing reports that glam diva Pooja Hegde is going to share screen space with Siddhu Jonnalagadda in Tillu Qube as false, a source adds, Pooja Hegde is not doing Tillu Qube so these reports are just baseless. He claims that she is busy with Tamil and Hindi language movies and doesnt have any dates to spare. She is quite busy in Chennai and Mumbai and shuttling between studios, he points out. However, he doesnt rule out her big-ticket film with young hero Naga Chaitanya It is in the discussion stage but she is showing interest in working with Naga Chaitanya again. It is a mythical thriller being directed by Karthik Varma Dandu, he informs. Actually, Pooja Hegde and Naga Chaitanya played lovers in the Telugu film Oka Laila Kosam (2014) and their onscreen chemistry received loads of appreciation and now they are going to team up again to set screens on fire. Their combination is going create ripples in the industry if everything falls in place, he cuts short. Pooja Hedge was making waves in Tollywood by sharing screen space with superstars like Mahesh Babu(Maharshi), Jr NTR(Arvinda Sametha Raghava), Allu Arjun(Ala Vaikutapuramloo), Prabhas (Radhe Shyam) and Ram Charan(Acharya). She just needs one blockbuster to regain her stardom in Tollywood, he concludes.

Janhvi Kapoor opens Chennai family home Airbnb's 'Icons' experience

Airbnb, the renowned accommodation booking platform, has launched 'Icons', a new venture that provides exclusive access to the homes and experiences of renowned personalities, including Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor, who will open her family's estate ...

Is Trisha highest paid south Indian actress? She is charging Rs

Chennai: Actress Trisha Krishnan is celebrating her birthday today on May 4th. She has made a significant impact in the Tamil and Telugu film industries. Lets delve into her journey, achievements, and her remarkable status as the highest-paid actress in South India. Journey In Film Industry Trisha gained prominence after winning the 1999 Miss Chennai Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

CSK looking for revenge against Punjab Kings

Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will look to set their house in order and get back to winning ways when they face an upbeat yet unpredictable Punjab Kings for the second time in a row in the IPL match in Dharamsala on Sunday.

Jyothika Gets Brutally Trolled For Saying She Votes 'Online In Private', Netizens Call It 'Shameful'

Jyothika was recently speaking to the media in Chennai when she said, I vote every year.

Sreeleela to share screen space with Karthi?

It looks like pretty actress Sreeleela has a game plan for Kollywood. She intends to work with Kollywood A-listers and not with relatively young heroes. Sreeleela is expected to start her Kollywood stint with Ajith Kumar in Good Bad Ugly, if everything falls in place, says a source. He claims that Sreeleela and her mother spent over three to four days in Chennai and had discussions with makers of big-ticket entertainers. They are planning to work with a big star like Karthi,' he says and adds, A-listers like Suriya are also on the cards since they want to make waves in Kollywood as well, he adds. Undoubtedly, the dancing sensation is determined to retain her ratings in the top league in the Tamil film industry as well. She became a sensation of sorts in Tollywood after working with Ravi Teja in Dhamaka and after that worked with big names before rounding off with superstar Mahesh Babu in Guntur Kaaram, he points out. Of course, she is listening to scripts from Telugu makers but is not in a hurry to take up another Telugu film before launching her career in the Tamil film industry. She wants to make a splash in Kollywood before returning to Telugu films, he concludes.

Janhvi Kapoor Invites Fans To Stay In Her Opulent Holiday Home In Chennai: No Shoes Required

Sridevi wanted this mansion turned into a hotel

Startup funding in India declined by 17 per cent in FY24

NEW DELHI: The startup funding in India registered a decline of 17 per cent in FY 24 as compared to the previous year. In 2021 the investment professionals were getting on average six deals daily but in 2024, it has declined to three. According to a report titled 'India Invests' by Wealth 360 One, the private equity of value USD 100-250 million range, is down by 60 per cent. While those investing USD 500 million or more too have gone down drastically by over 80 per cent. The funds investing less than USD 100 million have also registered a decline of 30 per cent. But funding under USD 5 million is still happening at a steady rate. The report highlights that the bigger deals, over USD 25 million, which usually happen when a startup is growing, have also decreased. This means there's less money going into startups overall, especially in the medium to large-sized deals. Late-stage venture capital investments have been hit hard too. Startups raised nearly USD 8 billion from investors this year, marking a 50% decrease from FY 22-23. As per the Ministry of Commerce and Industry data, India is home to 111 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 349.67 billion. Out of the total number of unicorns, 45 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 102.30 billion were born in 2021 and 22 unicorns with a total valuation of USD 29.20 billion born in 2022. In 2023 only one unicorn emerged. India houses 1.7 lakh registered Startups, collectively generating over 1.2 million jobs. Maharashtra leads with 5801 Startups, followed by Delhi NCR with 3150, Karnataka with 3032, and Tamil Nadu with 2810 Startups. This slowdown in funding isn't just in one area of investment. Both private investment and venture capital funding have taken a hit, especially after the surge seen in 2021-2022 during the pandemic. Angel investors, who usually support startups in the early stages, are putting more money in, but they're choosing fewer startups to back. On the other hand, venture capital deals have also dropped by half in FY24 from the previous year. According to the report, consumer-focused sectors and technology are facing the most caution from investors. These sectors are experiencing a big drop in the number of deals and the total amount of money. But the industrial and materials sectors are staying steady, while others like financial services and healthcare are doing better. Investors, especially in the tech sector have declined. They want to see profits and realistic values before investing. This caution has led to almost half the amount of money being invested in the tech sector compared to before. Similar decreases are seen in consumer staples and discretionary companies as investors look for safer bets. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Haryana, Delhi, and Tamil Nadu are the top five states to attract substantial investments by private equity funds. In terms of cities, Mumbai, Delhi NCR, Bengaluru, Chennai, and Pune are the top cities that attracted maximum PE investments. However, the investments in FY24 is up to 30 per cent less as compared to FY23 in most of the states. The experts have attributed the decline to the reduced investment in Indian Startups. Mumbai has surpassed India's silicon city Bengaluru in attracting PE funds as Startup funding has substantially lowered in FY24.

PBKS vs CSK: 53rd Match, Dream11 Team, Indian Premier League 2024

It is time for a rematch between Punjab Kings and Chennai Super Kings. These two teams played match no. 49 on Wednesday at Chepauk Stadium in Chennai. PBKS came out victorious and registered their fifth consecutive win over CSK in the IPL. Now, these teams will face off against each other once again on Sunday afternoon. This time, the game will be played at HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala. PBKS has the momentum on their side, and they will look to fancy their chances once again. But the defending champions need this win to stay alive. PBKS vs CSK: Match Details Match Date : May 04, 2023 (Saturday) Time : 7:30 PM IST Venue: Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium, Dharamsala PBKS vs CSK: Live Streaming Details You can watch this PBKS vs CSK clash live on the Jio Cinema Mobile app or website. The live telecast will also be available on Star Sports and its regional channels in India. PBKS vs CSK: Head-to-Head Chennai Super Kings have won 15 out of 29 matches played against Punjab Kings in the IPL. Meanwhile, PBKS has won the remaining 14. PBKS vs CSK: Pitch Report The HPCA surface is a very sporting wicket. Bowlers can swing the ball with a good bounce, and batters can play their shots on the up. But this venue is slightly more in favour of the bowling teams. PBKS vs CSK: Predicted Teams PBKS: Jonny Bairstow, Sam Curran (c), Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ashutosh Sharma, Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Rahul Chahar, Arshdeep Singh CSK: Ajinkya Rahane, Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), Daryl Mitchell, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, Ravindra Jadeja, MS Dhoni (wk), Shardul Thakur, Tushar Deshpande, Matheesha Pathirana, Richard Gleeson PBKS vs CSK Dream11 Team Wicket-keepers : Jonny Bairstow Batters : Daryl Mitchell, Shashank Singh, Shivam Dube, Ruturaj Gaikwad (Captan), Rille Rossouw All-rounders : Sam Curran (Vice Captain), Ravindra Jadeja Bowlers : Harpreet Brar, Kagiso Rabada, Matheesha Pathirana Also Read: Join Our WhatsApp Channel For IPL 2024 Updates Dream11 Prediction : CSK will look to bounce back after their defeat in the last game. But the conditions might favour PBKS bowlers more because they have four different types of pacers. That is why we predict PBKS to beat CSK in the coming game on Sunday in Dharamsala.

CSK seek redemption in back-to-back showdown with PBKS

CSK seek redemption in back-to-back showdown with PBKS Defending champions Chennai Super Kings will look to set their house in order and get back to winning ways when they face an upbeat yet unpredictable Punjab Kings for the second time in a row in the IPL here Sunday. Just three days back, PBKS outclassed CSK by seven wickets at Chepauk, considered their fortress. The two losses in the last three games at home have put Chennai in a spot. They are placed fifth on the table with 10 points and the five-time champions will hope the change of venue would bring a change in fortune as well with just four games to go to seal their place in the knockout stage. CSK's failure to push the pace in the middle overs against the spin duo of Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar saw them post a below-par score of 162-7. Their batting has become too dependent on skipper Ruturaj Gaikwad and six-hitting machine Shivam Dube and the moment one of them fails, it puts the pressure on others who have not been consistent in bailing out the team. While Gaikwad hit his fifth 50-plus score of the season to hold it together, veteran batter Ajinkya Rahane once again failed to capitalise on the starts, while Ravindra Jadeja and Sameer Rizvi struggled against spin. CSK also has been hampered by the health and fitness concerns of their pacers, including Deepak Chahar, who limped off holding his hamstring after bowling just two balls and is likely to miss the reverse clash against PBKS. The absence of their frontline bowlers, Matheesha Pathirana (niggle) and Tushar Deshpande (flu), also didn't help matters the other day. Add to that the dew factor which took the spinners out of the equation and PBKS romped home comfortably. While Richard Gleeson made his IPL debut in the last match, CSK might bring back Mukesh Choudhary. Punjab Kings, on the other hand, have seen a resurgence as they registered back-to-back wins to re-ignite their playoffs hopes. En route to their win over CSK, Punjab became the second team after Mumbai Indians to beat the defending champions five times in a row and they will fancy their chances. Punjab remains an unpredictable side as although it notched up wins over Gujarat in Ahmedabad, Chennai at Chepauk and also chased down a T20 record score against KKR, it has struggled at home against RR, SRH and Gujarat. With back-to-back wins, PBKS climbed to seventh spot with 8 points and will need to carry the momentum to salvage their slim hopes. Jonny Bairstow, who made a hundred against KKR, will be their go-to man, while Rilee Rossouw, Shashank Singh and Prabhsimran Singh too have to raise their hands. PBKS bowling department has experienced names such as Kagiso Rabada, Harshal Patel, Arshdeep Singh and Sam Curran and they need to be consistent. Rabada was brilliant the other day but others have gone for runs. If PBKS has to repeat their performance against CSK then the spinners -- Harpreet Brar and Rahul Chahar will have to deliver once again. Interestingly, the first IPL match in Dharmasala stadium was a clash between Chennai and Punjab in 2010. The venue offers a lot of runs and dew remains a factor, making it an enticing contest. Teams (from): CSK: Ruturaj Gaikwad (c), MS Dhoni (wk), Aravelly Avanish, Ajinkya Rahane, Shaik Rasheed, Moeen Ali, Shivam Dube, RS Hangargekar, Ravindra Jadeja, Ajay Jadav Mandal, Daryl Mitchell, Rachin Ravindra, Mitchell Santner, Nishant Sindhu, Deepak Chahar, Tushar Deshpande, Mukesh Choudhary, Mustafizur Rahman, Matheesha Pathirana, Simarjeet Singh, Prashant Solanki, Shardul Thakur, Maheesh Theekshana and Sameer Rizvi. PBKS: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Matthew Short, Jonny Bairstow (wk), Prabhsimran Singh (wk), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sikandar Raza, Rishi Dhawan, Liam Livingstone, Atharva Taide, Arshdeep Singh, Nathan Ellis, Sam Curran, Kagiso Rabada, Harpreet Brar, Rahul Chahar, Harpreet Bhatia, Vidwath Kaverappa, Shivam Singh, Harshal Patel, Chris Woakes, Ashutosh Sharma, Vishwanath Pratap Singh, Shashank Singh, Tanay Thyagarajan, Prince Choudhary, Rilee Rossouw. Match starts: 7.30 PM.

Janhvi Kapoor opens Chennai family home Airbnbs Icons experience

Mumbai: Airbnb, the renowned accommodation booking platform, has launched Icons, a new venture that provides exclusive access to the homes and experiences of renowned personalities, including Bollywood star Janhvi Kapoor, who will open her familys estate in Chennai. As part of the Icons category, Airbnb users will have the extraordinary opportunity to stay at Janhvi []

LSG Cautions Against KKR's All-Round Might in IPL Playoff Pursuit

LSG Cautions Against KKR's All-Round Might in IPL Playoff Pursuit Lucknow Super Giants will have to bring their A game forward to prevail against a dominant Kolkata Knight Riders when the two teams, marching towards IPL playoffs, clash here on Sunday. With an all-round win by 24 runs over Mumbai Indians propelling the second-placed KKR to 14 points one more step closer to qualification the pressure will be on KL Rahul's LSG to find a way past the threat that Shreyas Iyer's side poses. Lucknow Super Giants are placed just one rung below KKR at number three with 12 points from 10 matches with six wins and four defeats. With a rampant Sunrisers Hyderabad (12 points) hot on heir heels at fourth, followed by the dangerous Chennai Super Kings (10 points) and Delhi Capitals (10 points) on the points table, LSG will be under pressure to avoid getting into a mid-table battle as the race for the final-four has intensified. LSG were far from convincing in their previous assignment at Ekana Stadium here as they were made to work hard in a modest 145-run chase by Mumbai Indians, winning by just four wickets in the last over. Skipper Rahul and all-rounder Marcus Stoinis have been the key players for LSG and it remains to be seen if South Africa veteran Quinton de Kock is brought back in place of young Arshin Kulkarni, who opened the innings in the last game. Even though he has gone without a fifty since the first game, Nicholas Pooran has consistently notched up crucial scores but LSGs overall finishing skills is under question following their struggles against Mumbai Indians. LSG seemed to have made heavy weather towards the end giving MI a real sniff by losing wickets in a flurry and completing their modest chase with some stutter. Ayush Badoni has had a subdued run in this IPL and the uncapped Indian player would be keen to shrug off the rustiness. LSG's bowlers will also face a stern test with none of them making a real dent with individual brilliance in this IPL. LSG are also likely to be without express pacer Mayank Yadav. Having lost only three of their 11 matches so far, it has taken something out of the ordinary to stop KKR in their tracks. CSK used a spin-friendly surface to eke out a win in Chepauk, while RRs all-round class helped them pip KKR in a high-scoring thriller. If anything, KKRs bowling woes were exposed when Punjab Kings recorded IPL's highest chase ever against them, but Iyer's side has emerged strongly from that setback with two impressive wins. However, having trumped MI on a sluggish wicket which exposed their batting frailties, KKR will aim for a much improved performance with the bat. For the second time in this IPL, KKR batters struggled when the ball did not come on to the bat and they were forced to change gears in order to build a strong target. KKR slipped to 57 for five at one stage and ran the risk of being shot out for a paltry total, but Venkatesh Iyer (70) and Manish Pandey (42) came to the rescue with a fine 83-run stand. Iyer and Pandey were forced to soak pressure, curb their attacking game and look to farm the strike to build a recovery path for their side before the bowlers carried out a perfect job to secure a 24-run win. Teams (from): Lucknow Super Giants: Quinton de Kock, KL Rahul (c & wk), Deepak Hooda, Ayush Badoni, Marcus Stoinis, Nicholas Pooran (wk), Krunal Pandya, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohsin Khan, Shamar Joseph, Yash Thakur, Manimaran Siddharth, Prerak Mankad, Arshad Khan, Krishnappa Gowtham, Amit Mishra, Kyle Mayers, Ashton Turner, Matt Henry, Naveen-ul-Haq, Devdutt Padikkal, Yudhvir Singh Charak, Mayank Yadav, Arshin Kulkarni. Kolkata Knight Riders: Shreyas Iyer (c), KS Bharat (wk), Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Rinku Singh, Angkrish Raghuvanshi, Sherfane Rutherford, Manish Pandey, Andre Russell, Nitish Rana, Venkatesh Iyer, Anukul Roy, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Sunil Narine, Vaibhav Arora, Chetan Sakariya, Harshit Rana, Suyash Sharma, Mitchell Starc, Dushmantha Chameera, Sakib Hussain, Mujeeb Ur Rahman, Gus Atkinson, Allah Ghazanfar, Phil Salt. Match starts 7:30pm IST.

22-year-old from Chennai arrested in Bengaluru for trying to smuggle currency notes to Bangkok

Based on specific intelligence, a team of officials intercepted the passenger, who was travelling to Bangkok from Bengaluru

22-year-old from Chennai arrested for trying to smuggle currency to Bangkok - The Hindu

22-year-old from Chennai arrested for trying to smuggle currency to Bangkok The Hindu

PBKS vs CSK 2024, IPL Live Streaming: When and where to watch Punjab Kings vs Chennai Super Kings match free?

Savukku Shankar arrested, suffers minor injuries in road accident after arrest

DMK to anoint Udhayanidhi Stalin as dy CM after LS poll results

Chennai: The ruling DMK will appoint the state Minister for Youth Welfare and Sports Development, Udhayanidhi Stalin as the Deputy Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu. A senior leader of the DMK told IANS that the party has already taken the decision to promote Udhayanidhi as the Deputy Chief Minister of the state after the Lok Get the latest updates in Hyderabad City News , Technology , Entertainment , Sports , Politics and Top Stories on WhatsApp & Telegram by subscribing to our channels. You can also download our app for Android and iOS .

Private hospital in Chennai uses 3-D model imaging to treat irregular heartbeats in patients

The system, which is X-ray free, identifies abnormal heart tissue, and doctors then treat it with a procedure known as ablation, a press release from SRM Global Hospitals said

Chennai Corporation focuses on removal of unauthorised hawkers in commercial zones

The civic body is focussing on areas such as T. Nagar and Koyambedu, to clear footpaths and allow pedestrians ease of access

Watch! Janhvi Kapoor gives tour of her family vacation home in Chennai

Janhvi has shared a video not from her trip but of her vacation home. Yes, you heard it rightJanhvi has shared a video of her vacation home, which will soon be available on Airbnb

Bachelor of Visual Arts at M.G.R. Film and Television Institute Chennai - Mathrubhumi English

Bachelor of Visual Arts at M.G.R. Film and Television Institute Chennai Mathrubhumi English

Four players share lead in Tamil Nadu State U-17 Chess Championships

CHENNAI: Four players S Jai Sankar of Virudhunagar, the runner-up in the 2023 tournament, S Haridev of Chennai, VS Nandish of Coimbatore and S Gokul Krishna of Tirupur share the top position with five points each at the end of the fifth round of the 33rd Tamil Nadu State U-17 Chess Championships, organised by Sethu Institute of Technology and Sivakasi Chess Club at the SIT campus on Friday. Three players S Rohith of Karaikudi, Goutham Ramesh and V Kanishkaraj of Chennai are behind the leaders by half a point. In the girls section, S Kanishka of Salem and S Padmini of Chengalpattu jointly lead with five points each. Five on top after Round 5 Five players International Master R Balasubramanian of ICF, Sham R, Sree Veeramani, Tharshan MK and Aswin Sairam are leading the table with five points each at the end of the fifth round of the 2nd International Fide Rating chess tournament held at KCG College of Technology, Karapakkam, Chennai, for a prize pool of `300,000. Ten players Vijay Shreeram, Anirud Rajan, Advaith Ashok Kumar, Sathish, Sivan Roshan, Saravanan, Prasanna Karthick, Ramkumar, Sathyanarayana and Sananda are on second spot with 4.5 points each. Sharvaanica clinches gold Sharvaanica AS aged 8 from Hatsun Chess Academy emerged as the winner at the World Cadets Rapid & Blitz Girls U-10 Championship organised by FIDE. Sharvaanica clinched the gold medal in the U-10 girls category at the World Cadets Rapid and silver medal in the IRLS U-10 category at the World Cadets Blitz. The championship was held at Durres, Albania. About 375 participants from across 43 countries in the rapid segment and 336 players from across 43 countries in the blitz segment took part in the championships. Kothan inspires Swathi CC Kothans 80 (49b; 4x4; 8x6) helped Swathi CC beat YSCA A by 54 runs in the 54th All-India YSCA trophy. Brief scores: Swathi CC 195 in 30 ovs ( Kothan 80, Shivajana 3/38) bt YSCA A 141 all out in 26.3 ovs (V Ranjith Kumar 39, Akash 3/18). Vinayaka Packaging 121 all out in 29.2 ovs (M Rajkumar 28, Madana Gopal 30) lost to Vepery CC 122/8 in21.4 ovs (Hemprasad 34, Arun Anand 32, Rajesh Kumar 4/31). Hasim cracks century S Jawfer Hasims century (115) came in handy for VMAS to defeat PSCA by 90 runs in the 19th Freyer-LMCA U12 meet. Brief scores: GFCA 132/7 in 25 ovs (M Humesh 37 n.o) bt V-MAS 119/4 in 25 ovs (S Jawfer Hasim 51). LMCA 246/4 in 25 ovs (NS Dheena 100, Aadhithya Balaji 51) bt PSCA 175/6 in 25 ovs (S Mohammed Javid 98 n.o). LMCA 213/5 in 25 ovs (Aadhitya Balaji 91) bt V-MAS 105 in 22.2 ovs (NS Dheena 4/20). GFCA 256/3 in 25 ovs (Sudheep 31, M Humesh 42, Sri Vishnu 53 n.o, Sidheswar 58 n.o) bt PSCA 227/1 in 25 ovs (Harshad Rajesh 122 n.o., S Mohammed Javid 79). VMAS 245/2 in 25 ovs (A Ganesh 80, S Jawfer Hasim 115) bt PSCA 155/7 in 25 ovs (S Mohammed Javid 31, D Shaun 35 n.o). GFCA 143 in 25 ovs (Sudheep 40, Humesh 39) lost to LMCA 146/3 in 20.1 ovs (Aadhitya Balaji 57).

Uber Cup: Indonesia women defeat Thailand 3-0 to end medal drought

CHENNAI/CHENGDU: The long wait is over for the Indonesia womens badminton team. The unbridled reactions after sealing a win (3-0) over Thailand in the quarterfinal meeting of the ongoing Uber Cup in Chengdu (China) spoke a thousand words. As soon as Ester Nurumi Tri Wardoyo won her womens singles tie, thereby sealing the deal in her teams favour, she went down on her knees and raised both her arms wide with a beaming smile on her face. It was a pure moment of joy as her victory meant Indonesia will be returning with a medal for the first time in 14 years in the competition. Ester was clearly the underdog going into her match against World No 16 Supanida Katethong on the day. But momentum was on Indonesias side after winning their opening two ties. However, the World No 38 conceded the first game before making a remarkable turnaround. Ester eventually won 19-21, 21-19, 21-19. I was leading in the third game but I was so exhausted and I couldnt move at all. I just tried to reset my mind and I saw my friends cheering for me and that gave me some energy and I told myself to keep pushing, Ester told BWF, while reflecting on the match. Before Esters monumental effort, Gregoria Mariska Tunjung had pulled off a vital win over senior pro Ratchanok Intanon in the opening tie. The World No 9 doubles pair of Apriyani Rahayu and Siti Fadia Silva Ramadhanti had played their part by beating Jongkolphan Kititharakul and Rawinda Prajongjai 21-17, 21-14. Indonesia will meet Korea, who beat Chinese Taipei 3-0, in the semis on Saturday. China will play Japan in the other semifinal.

Thomas & Uber Cup Indian teams crash out

CHENNAI: India's Thomas and Uber Cup campaigns came to an end on Thursday. It was the womens side who were first to exit after a 0-3 loss in the quarterfinals against Japan in Chengdu, China. Later, the mens team, the defending champions, went down 1-3 at the same stage against China. HS Prannoy was the first to enter the court and he did well to pocket the first game against Shi Yu Qi. However, Shi recovered to take the next two games and the tie (15-21, 21-11, 21-14) in the process. Doubles duo of Satwiksairaj Rankireddy and Chirag Shetty made a slow start in the decider against Liang Wei Keng and Wang Chang and that cost them dearly (15-21, 21-11, 12-21). Lakshya Sen, the next man in, had to win. After the completion of the opening game against Li Shi Feng, things were not looking bright for Lakshya. But Lakshya pocketed the second game with ease before going on to clinch the tie, keeping the team alive in the process. Dhruv Kapila and Sai Pratheek K could not offer much resistance against World No 11 pair of He Ji Ting and Ren Xiang Yu. The Indian pair lost 10-21, 10-21.

Ernavoor insurance murder case: Dead man turns out to be a woman in DNA test; police suspect goof-up

CHENNAI: First suicide, then murder for insurance gain; now yet another twist has rocked the case of 38-year-old Ernavoor mans death as the DNA analysis of his body has revealed that the body was that of a female. Suspecting a goof-up in the analysis, the police have formed a team to reanalyse the DNA findings of the deceased. The murder took place in Allanoor village near Acharapakkam on September 15. Suresh, who was later arrested, had along with his friends hatched a plan to kill Dilibabu (38) from Ernavoor, and stage it as Sureshs death in order to claim Rs 1 crore life insurance money. Suresh, Hari Krishnan and Keerthi Rajan took Dilibabu to a hut belonging to Suresh for a booze session. After a while, the gang strangled the 38-year-old to death and set the hut on fire. Since the land belonged to Suresh, his family was alerted by police and his sister identified the charred body to be that of Sureshs, sources said. However, the insurance company refused to release the claim amount as the death was registered as a case of suicide. Meanwhile, Dilibabus mother lodged a police complaint stating that her son was missing. As no action ensued, she filed a habeas corpus petition at the Madras High Court. Following the courts order, the police commenced inquiries which later led them to realise that Suresh was alive. He was soon arrested and he allegedly confessed to killing Dilibabu. Commenting on the claim that the body belonged to a female, a senior police officer told TNIE, This has come as a shock to us. DNA samples of Dilibabus mother and sister were also submitted for tests. We have to check whether the samples got mixed during the test. Even the postmortem report last year had maintained that the body belonged to a male. Another officer who is part of the probe team said there was a 90% chance that the findings of viscera samples DNA profile analysis could be incorrect.

Road rage: BJP man, cop among three held for assault in Chennai

CHENNAI: Three men, including an armed reserve (AR) police constable and a BJP functionary, were arrested for allegedly attacking a man in full public view at Pattinapakkam on Thursday evening. Sources said an argument broke out when the victim stopped his vehicle very close to the car in which the trio and another person, suspected to be a retired policeman, were travelling in an inebriated state. Search is underway for the fourth suspect who is on the run. Foreshore Estate police identified the suspects as AR constable Gopinath (54), BJP Economics Wing Thiruvottiyur East District Secretary Karthick Raja (30), and Rajas father Sudalaiyandi (50), a scrap merchant. On Thursday evening, the three men were travelling in their car along Pattinapakkam in an inebriated state. At one point, they stopped the vehicle suddenly and a car driven by Manivannan (35), which was coming from behind, blared the horn and halted very close to the trios vehicle. When Manivannan got out of the car to check whether he hit the other car, the suspects entered into an argument with him and also began to attack him. They chased him and pushed him down a pavement, a police officer said. The traffic police tried in vain to pacify the suspects and a video of the whole incident has gone viral on social media. Meanwhile, the AR constable has been placed under suspension following his arrest. Bid to smuggle gold worth Rs 1.07 cr foiled Chennai: The Chennai Customs Air Intelligence Unit (AIU) foiled a bid to smuggle 1.69 kg of gold (24k purity) worth Rs 1.07 crore at the Chennai airport recently. Based on a tip-off, the officials intercepted an Indian woman who arrived from Sharjah by Air India flight on May 1. While searching her belongings, they found gold concealed as rubbery paste in her undergarments. The gold was seized and the woman arrested, a release said.

Two more Rajasthan men held for Muthapudupet gold robbery; Rs 1.5 crore worth gold robbed

CHENNAI: Police have arrested two more men hailing from Rajasthan in connection with the armed robbery case at Muthapudupet. As much as 703 gm of gold, 4.3 kg of silver and two iPhones were recovered from the suspects. The police have identified the key suspects as Ashok Kumar and Suresh. They were nabbed by a special team in Rajasthan on Tuesday. While Ashok was a resident of Rajasthan and was involved in nearly six cases, Suresh has been doing steel fabrication work in Chennai for the past decade, police said On April 28, the police arrested Dinesh Kumar (24) and Shetanaram (23) from Rajasthan. The duo had helped the main suspects by doing recce, providing accommodation and helping them escape. Police said that they had received a share of the stolen items. Based on the information provided by them, the police arrested Ashok and Suresh. According to the police sources, the victim, P Prakash (33) of Muthapudupet, was running a jewellery shop in the locality for the past four years. Around 12 pm on April 15, four men entered the shop posing as customers and after a few minutes, they pointed pistols at Prakash and tied him to a chair. They then stole jewellery and cash from the locker before fleeing.

Woman set ablaze by ex-partner in Chennai hospitalised with 65 per cent burns

CHENNAI: A 24-year-old man allegedly set his ex-partner on fire at an ice cream parlour near Tondiarpet on Thursday following an argument. The woman sustained 65% burns and is battling for life at Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Tondiarpet police identified the victim as Nandhini (28) of Kodungaiyur. She had separated from her husband and was living with her son. She was in a relationship with the suspect, Manikandan, who was unmarried and was working at an ice cream parlour. Manikandans family was planning his marriage with another woman and so, he began to ignore Nandhinis calls and messages, a police officer said. On Thursday, Nandhini came to the ice cream parlour and threatened to immolate herself if he did not marry her. She had also brought a can of kerosene with her. An argument broke out and in a fit of rage, Manikandan poured the kerosene and set her on fire, police added. Police admitted Nandhini to Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital. Manikandan is on the run and the police have launched a search for him. (Assistance for those having suicidal thoughts is available on TNs health helpline 104 and Snehas suicide prevention helpline 044-24640050)

GCC surrendered Rs 8 cr meant for building shelters for homeless: Report

CHENNAI: From being one of the first cities in the country to set up shelters for urban homeless in 1944, Chennai seems to have lost its focus on eradicating homelessness, according to a recent report by the Information & Resource Centre for the Deprived Urban Communities. The city corporation, in the 10th project sanctioning committee for Deendayal Antyodaya Yojana-National Urban Livelihoods Mission (DAY-NULM) in January, announced its decision to surrender a whopping Rs 7.97 crore allocated for the construction of nine shelters citing non-availability of land, the report stated. Even while destitute persons are exposed to the heatwave this summer, newly constructed shelters and those with which NGOs withdrew their contracts or got terminated, remain closed for months. This includes the shelter on Subbarayan Street, CDH Hospital, which was for persons with psycho-social issues, and shelters in Kannapar Thidal, Chamiers Road, Triplicane and Saidapet. TNIE reported in 2022 that the GCC closed four shelters, shifting 30 inmates after contracts with NGOs were terminated. In addition to this, in Sholinganallur, a building that was intended to be used as a shelter is currently used as the Munsif cum Judicial Magistrate Court and another in Elango Nagar in Tondiarpet zone is currently functioning as a PHC. another building meant for homeless shelter remain closed in Tondiarpet | Express Despite implementing the shelters for urban homeless for over a decade, the GCC has not evolved any summer or monsoon plans to reduce the vulnerabilities of urban homeless during extreme weather conditions, the report stated. According to the heatwave action plan that the revenue administration and disaster management department came up with in 2019, homeless individuals were classified under the high high-risk groups. As part of the recommendations for the civic body, the report stated that reasons such as non-availability of land or non-availability of NGOs to operationalise shelters or lack of strength in the existing shelters should not be cited as reasons as there are several measures that could be adopted to address them. Vacant land mapping, frequent advertisement for NGOs and other institutions to submit anexpression of interest, and information campaigns and strengthening outreach measures can be adopted to address the existing challenges, the report stated. The city corporation reimburses NGOs running the shelters monthly for staff salaries and quarterly for other maintenance expenses. When asked if the funds are being released on time, the founder of an NGO that runs one of the shelters in the city, said on condition of anonymity, After Covid-19, some of the long-time coordinators of the shelter programme (at Ripon) left and since then, there have been backlogs. For us, three quarterly payments are pending and salary disbursement for around seven months is also pending. If an NGO fails to perform, the blame cannot be solely on the organisation. It also means that the monitoring and mentoring mechanism by the city corporation is also not strong, the NGO said. Actions pending such as inter-departmental meetings, capacity-building exercises for GCC officials and the shelter organisations and executive committee meetings chaired by GCC commissioner to assess progress of programme should be expedited, the report stated. When contacted, a corporation official said once the model code of conduct is lifted, tenders would be floated for shelters which are not functional because of terminated contracts or because of withdrawal by NGOs. In the meantime, regular drives are being held to accommodate homeless persons in shelters that are functioning now, officials said.

Malaria: Beware of that bite

CHENNAI: In India, malaria still poses a serious threat to public health despite considerable improvements in recent years. To save yourself and your loved ones against this preventable disease, it is essential to comprehend the risk factors and put preventive measures in place. Recognising the spread of malaria Plasmodium parasites are the cause of malaria, an infectious disease spread by mosquitoes. Via contaminated blood feeds, the Anopheles mosquito spreads the parasite to people. Because these mosquitoes breed in stagnant water bodies, malaria transmission is more common in locations with poor drainage especially during the monsoon season (June to September). In India, who is most vulnerable to malaria? Travellers: People travelling to or relocating to locations where malaria is endemic, especially those that are mountainous, forested, or tribal belts, are at high risk. Individuals who live close to bodies of stagnant water: In peri-urban and rural regions, mosquitoes that thrive in puddles, ponds, or badly- maintained drainage systems constitute a serious menace. People with impaired immune systems: Those with HIV/AIDS, chronic illnesses, pregnant women, and children under five are particularly vulnerable to severe malaria. Communities without adequate preventative measures and sanitation. Effective ways to stop malaria Bed nets treated with long-lasting insecticides, or LLINs: The most effective way to prevent malaria is to sleep under insecticide-treated LLINs. Make sure you have full coverage. Given that they are more susceptible to the illness, pregnant women and small children should especially use LLINs. Repellents for insects: Carefully follow the directions on the package when applying repellents containing DEET (Diethyltoluamide), picaridin, or IR3535 to exposed skin and clothes. Especially during outdoor activities in the evenings and early mornings when mosquitoes are most active, repellents offer an extra layer of protection. Minimise sites for mosquito breeding: Avoid water stagnation from the areas surrounding your house, making sure drainage systems are in working order, and controlling vegetation close to homes. By supporting neighbourhood-level programmes for trash management and drainage enhancement, mosquito breeding grounds can be greatly reduced. Indoor Residual Spraying (IRS): Insecticides are frequently sprayed outdoors, and repellents are used indoors as part of public health campaigns to kill mosquitoes. When such programmes are offered in your region, participate in them. IRS campaigns are an effective strategy for managing mosquito populations, and their success depends on community involvement. Early diagnosis and treatment: Seek emergency medical assistance if you have any of the following symptoms, especially after visiting a high-risk area: fever, chills, sweating, headache, muscle pains, or exhaustion. Complications and transmission can be avoided with early diagnosis and timely medical care. Effective therapy of malaria and stopping the diseases spread depend on early symptom recognition and medical consultation. (The writer is consultant infectious disease & travel medicine, Aster CMI Hospital, Bengaluru)

World Laughter Day: Have a good laugh!

CHENNAI: Remember the song Siri siri from the film Alavandhan where Kamal Haasan goes around a party urging everyone to laugh? The lines Sirikka therintha mirugathirkku manidhan endra peyar aptly explain that laughter is the main difference between humans and animals. Yet, as we grow old, we laugh less and worry more. A person enjoying a bout of laughter is looked at with envy as though he has no problems in life. Is there a rule that one cannot laugh through the curveballs that life throws at them? As Charles Dickens said, There is nothing in the world so irresistibly contagious as laughter and good humour. This World Laughter Day, celebrated on the first Sunday of May, CE reminds you to laugh often, giving reasons why. Laughing is a non-verbal expression, characterised by sequences of regular short bursts of exhalations and found to be infectious in a positive way. Studies prove that laughing for no reason, done daily for three minutes can uplift ones mood by improving their immunity, says B Elayaraja, consultant psychologist at Kavithalayaa Counselling Centre. Coming across a comical scenario in real life or listening to a joke that tickles your funny bone instantly is not a daily occurence. Hence, laughing needs to be done as an exercise. The reason why children tend to laugh more than adults is that they dont look for a reason to laugh. To laugh is itself a reason to them, he says. The goodness of a pleasant laugh isnt limited to mental well-being but extends to the physiological health of a person. Three neurotransmitters functioning inter-connectedly are responsible for a person to feel happy. They are dopamine, oxytocin, and serotonin. Serotonin is released in the case of excessive laughter, says Dr Deeyaneswar, consultant interventional cardiologist at Prashant Hospital. Elayaraja and Dr Deeyaneswar go on to list the benefits of having a hearty laugh daily. People who smile and laugh often, dont just keep themselves cheerful and healthy but can affect the people they meet daily in a positive way. This leads to spreading a positive attitude. If a person laughs less, it will increase the secretion of stress hormones in the blood which will indirectly cause physical pains such as headache, neck pain, leg pain, etc. Research proves that the lack of laughter is a cause that goes unidentified in the diagnosis. Laughing stretches your facial muscles more healthily than any activity could do. Blood vessels dilate when a person laughs leading to relaxation of the smooth muscles in blood vessels, which in turn increases the rate of blood flow. This results in toxins and wastes gushing out, leading to a supply of cleaner blood to all the organs of the body. Laughter detoxifies the bloodstream which impacts having a clearer mind A therapeutic practice If you are a regular by the Marina beach in the mornings, the laughter of a group of people on the service line near the Gandhi statue is hard to miss. Led by Manohar Bokadia, a laughter yoga trainer who has been practicing since 2001, the laughter exercise classes last daily for 50 minutes. He combines simple stretching exercises with laughing and deep breathing. During each exercise there will be a deep breath taken in and a huge laughter is let out along with an exhalation.If you pretend to laugh, your body will produce dopamine chemicals, and by doing so regularly, the laughter will turn out real. Laugh out when you feel stressed, you will be able to approach your problems with a peaceful mind, says Manohar, adding that it can work wonders on your skin as well. Concurring, his student V Ethiraj, shares, You can notice an increase in your hair growth after practicing the laughter exercises for over three months because it relieves you from the habit of worrying. Kavita Lakhi Chugani, another student, chips in saying, Start your day by laughing, you will see your day end in success because laughter will make you feel light in every circumstance. Celebrating laughter shouldnt be restricted to one day. Engaging in free laughter with people beyond your family is necessary to keep ones heart healthy, says Dr Deeyaneswar. Lets broaden our horizons and socialise with new people on this day through laughter and humour.

IPL 2024: PBKS eye their sixth straight win over CSK

Chennai Super Kings will have redemption in mind as they take on Punjab Kings in Match 53 of the 2024 Indian Premier League (IPL).

Weak in the knees?

CHENNAI: Arthritis is one of the most debilitating conditions in terms loss of quality of life. Most patients suffer pain along with disturbed sleep and other health-related issues. With 21st century medical advancements, a patient suffering with knee pain and not being treated right is a crime. There are various modalities to treat such as medications, knee braces/orthotics, physiotherapy and finally, surgery. When we talk about surgery, we talk about overall alignment and best mobility for the patient. The knee surgery can be of various types such as: High tibial osteotomy. Uni compartmental/half knee replacement Total knee replacement Knee replacement surgeries are considered the most successful and they come in top three surgeries in terms of success rates rightly done. With the current practices that we follow, most patients walk within six hours of the surgery. On the second day, they walk outside the room and by the third, they do independent chores with minimal support. This is achieved mainly because of good preoperative patient education and the following of enhanced rehabilitation protocol during and after surgery. This is achieved with good support from multidisciplinary team work such as anaesthetic team, physiotherapy team and the medical team. The current implants and the surgical techniques that are used enhance the patient outcomes and most of them are able to achieve sitting cross-legged by end of six weeks. These patients also can do most sporting activities such as tennis, badminton and running. Normally, they are advised against any contact sports such as football. How can I enhance my recovery after knee surgery? Faster recovery can be achieved by good muscle strengthening and increasing the muscle mass prior to the surgery. This helps patient to be back on their feet much faster and with less pain. Does robotic knee replacement have a faster recovery compared to the conventional knee surgery? According to the current evidences from the American Orthopaedic Association, European and national registry from UK, there is no clear evidence suggesting that the robotic surgery has a faster recovery. Hence, based on this evidence, the insurance companies do not approve robotic surgeries and the cost is borne by the patient themselves. The incision done for the conventional knee surgeries are much smaller compared to the robotic ones and hence the recovery is much faster . Why do we need to spend on robotic knee surgery if the conventional one is safe? A robotic knee surgery minimises errors in comparison to conventional for people who are newly trained in terms of knee surgeries or in cases of grossly deformed knees. The analogy for this is why do we need navigation to drive? Because navigation helps safer driving for a new driver and minimises errors, the same way the new surgeon finds it safer. Is there a difference between robotic and conventional knee replacement surgeries for walking faster? The answer is no! Both robotic and conventional knee replacements have same preoperative recovery time. However, a few studies show minimal dissection and smaller incision during surgery make post recovery faster. (The writer is additional director bone & joint surgery Fortis Hospital, Bengaluru)

Teamwork made this dream work

CHENNAI: Staying on top is a dream for any sports team. Achieving that position is no mean feat as it comes with a lot of practice, determination, and dedication. With their 23rd title triumph, Jolly Rovers Club has held on to its laurel as one of the most successful teams in the history of the TNCA First Division league. They retained the prestigious Rajah of Palayampatti Shield after collecting 48 points from 11 league games at the TNCA First Division tournament. It was indeed a creditable show by them. What makes this title all the more commendable is the fact that Jolly Rovers could manage to field a good unit with a bunch of talented local players unlike in the past when they had several International players in their ranks. Former India player and former Tamil Nadu captain Bharath Reddy who once played for Jolly Rovers and later joined as administrator of the Chemplast Group doffs his hat for the teams splendid show. It was a fantastic performance by the team throughout the season and they deserve to win the title for their hard work. To me the semifinal victory was the best since it came against a strong side like Vijay CC, says Bharath, who heads the sports initiative of the Sanmar Group, which runs the club. Several players, from S Venkataraghavan to Sai Sudharsan, have played for Jolly Rovers and 23 titles is a record of sorts. Our team owners love for the game is the main reason for winning so many titles. We have excellent infrastructure facilities where the boys can train regularly throughout the year. Plus we have had good coaching staff over the years, he says. Skipper B Indrajith is also pleased with his teams performance. It was great to win the title again. Its been a tough season in this heat. Everybody (players) played their part and contributed on various occasions which helped us. I cannot single out just one or two players for the title win, he tells City Express. Jolly Rovers top order comprising the likes of B Aparajith, the skipper himself, Vimal Khumar, G Ajitesh, Dhruv Shorey clicked as a unit and played a role in several of their victories. Our top order has a good combination of senior players and youngsters. Everybody was hungry to get runs. I didnt have to say much to them. It was a collective effort. All the matches had their fair share of challenges. I would say to come back after the first two games (we had only 1 point with us) and to win the championship has been great, he shares. Indrajith also had a word of praise for youngsters like Lakshay, Vimal, Ajitesh, Sonu, Rahul, and Thashish Kannan. Among the youngsters, Ajitesh made an impressive 615 runs, accounted for more than 40 dismissals as a wicketkeeper, and a hundred in the final against Alwarpet CC. Its my first time winning the title with Jolly Rovers and its an amazing experience. We have played really well together and enjoyed every bit. Its always a great feeling to contribute for the team, especially in the final. Ive been practising and working hard to improve my game and very glad it paid off in the final. And, I had accounted for some 40 dismissals as wicket-keeper which was also satisfying, says Ajitesh. Another notable performance was by left-arm spinner DT Chandrasekar who took 62 wickets in the season. Indrajith praises him saying, He has been outstanding for many years for us. To get 60-odd wickets on good pitches is no mean feat. Meanwhile, Chandrasekar is modest about his achievements and credits his good performance to his coach R Ram Kumar who is a former left-arm spinner for Tamil Nadu. Im delighted to be a part of this team. We have been working so hard as a team, and as individuals, and as a result, we got this victory. Regular practice, discipline, and consistency made me successful. I am also working with Ram Kumar anna who is the bowling coach for Jolly Rovers team. He helped me a lot with my skills, he says. Chandrasekar last played for Tamil Nadu in 2015. He wants to use his consistent performance in the league and try to get back into the state team again. My love for cricket motivates me every day to focus on the game and enjoy it. Im looking forward to representing the state again soon. Im thankful to Bharath Reddy sir, Ajay Kuduva sir, Chemplast management, co-players, and support staff; without them, I would not have been able to bowl so well this season, he signs off.

'Aranmanai 4' movie review: An in-form Sundar C finds the sweet spot between humour and horror

CHENNAI : Some ideas are par for the course in the Aranmanai franchise, like the nightly ghost routine, the not-so-novel use of heroines, the hit-or-miss comedy... Despite all of this, Aranmanai 4 doesnt succumb to franchise fatigue, mainly due to refreshing plot twists and Sundar Cs mastery of commercial filmmaking. Truth be told, the film doesnt get off to a good start. Advocate Saravanan (Sundar C) fights bad guys who are against a love marriage, with the scene serving as a mere exposition of his love for his sister Selvi (Tamannaah), who, we learn, eloped with her lover (Santhosh Pratap) 10 years ago. Having not heard from her for a very long time, the news of his sister and brother-in-laws sudden deaths shatter Saravanan, who leaves for the village where they reside to learn that their deaths arent as straightforward as being reported by the police. In fact, the veracity of their deaths comes under question. Things get murkier when Saravanan goes out on an investigation. And all of this is what Aranmanai 4 is all about. In a refreshing departure from the franchise, the evil being in Aranmanai 4 has no personal vendetta with the family in question. This wise choice by writers Sundar C, Venkatt Ragavan, and SB Ramadass has rendered the screenplay flexible enough to conjure mystery by showing seemingly unrelated events in random peoples lives that ultimately have a connection. Neither does the connection lack originality nor are we able to guess the eventual reveal. This suspense, a rarity in an Aranmanai film, is sustained gainfully in the first half. Discovering the presence of the evil creature, Baak, and certain qualities ascribed to it in the second half is instrumental in introducing the twists and the eventual challenges in taking it down. All of this adds spice to the second half. Audiences familiar with the Aranmanai franchise will not mind tonal inconsistency, especially when the comedy scenes evoke laughter. This film is an example of how comedy on paper can convincingly get replicated on screen. Just like the film itself, the comedy scenes also begin underwhelmingly but gradually get better. The pre-climax scene, in particular, is a laugh riot. Sundar Cs Saravanan is laudable for taking the back seat for the majority of the runtime. Feeling clueless about what happened to his family and what is going on in the village makes us empathetic towards the character. Morphing into a superhero for the climax fight has long ceased to be an oddity; it is still not readily acceptable given what we have seen of him for over two hours. Also, a relatively less problematic portrayal of the leading ladies makes Aranmanai 4 better than its predecessors. Tamannaahs Selvi is a compelling character, and the actors performance sells the mandatory flashback. To a lesser degree, Raashii Khannas Maya is useful too, and crucially, isnt wasted on a romantic track or relegated to being mere eye candy. The otherworldly elements in this film, no matter how far-fetched they are, still need to come with certain rules within the storys universe. And yet, I found myself wishing that the evil spirit had been written better and not restricted to just being the cause of jump scares. Another letdown is the supposed powers of the good spirit and how the film doesnt really get into it. These are scenes that try to make the most of VFX, which too is just par for the course. Yet, Sundar C keeps things engaging enough with suspense and twists, and add some effective comedy, emotional strength, and measured music by Hip Hop Adhi, and you have got the recipe for an entertaining Aranmanai film. The cameos at the end and the lead to a fifth installment only add to the intrigue, making a strong case for the extension of this franchise. Sundar C clearly has something to fall Baak on. Film: Aranmanai 4 Director: Sundar C Cast: Sundar C, Raashii Khanna, Tamannaah Bhatia, Santhosh Pratap, Yogi Babu, Kovai Sarala Rating: 3/5

Krishna joins hands with debut director Durai Saravanan for his next

CHENNAI : Actor Krishna is joining hands with first-time filmmaker Durai Saravanan for his next. The yet-to-be-titled film went on floors on Friday. The debut director is an erstwhile assistant of filmmaker A Venkatesh, who is also part of the films cast. The film marks the maiden production venture of EVEG Entertainment Nanjundappa Reddy and Brothers. Shedding light on the films plot, director Durai says, It is a comedy that will revolve around three thieves, whose lives are changed by an unexpected situation. The film is a commercial entertainer with elements such as horror, romance, action, and more. The film also stars Aadhya Prasad of Nizhal-fame as the female lead. Maran, Imman Annachi, Aaditya Kathir, Chaams, and director Venkatesh round out the cast of the upcoming film. Debut actor Santhosh will be seen as the antagonist in the film. On choosing Krishna for the lead role, the director shares, Krishna sir is adept at handling comedy and action. He was the perfect choice for the role, and sir came on board the film immediately after reading the script. Krishna The films technical crew comprises Peranmai-fame cinematographer SR Sathish Kumar, editor Vijay Velukutty who has previously worked on Thunivu and Mark Antony, and composer Srikanth Deva. We have planned three schedules for the film. It requires some CG work in post-production, so we are yet to finalise a release date. However, we wish for the film to hit theatres for Diwali, the director shares.

Kerala: 816g MDMA seized in 48 hours; surge in drug haul anticipated after LS poll

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The enforcement agencies have seized a large quantity of synthetic drugs from two locations in the state within a span of 48 hours, indicating that the drug menace is going to intensify further in the state after the Lok Sabha polls. About 616g of MDMA was seized by the excise from Kozhikode rural on Thursday, while 200g were seized from Angamaly by the police on Friday. The seized contraband could fetch more than Rs 25 lakh in the open market, said an excise source. As per the excise sources, the smuggling of narcotics to the state had reduced since March third week due to the heavy deployment of police, excise and other paramilitary forces in the inter-state borders owing to the Lok Sabha polls. Since the poll date was announced on March 16, the state and central agencies had intensified the scrutiny of vehicles on the inter-state borders of Kerala. Apart from the police and excise, officers from the Income Tax department, SGST division, Directorate of Enforcement, Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI), and the Narcotics Control Bureau were involved in inspections at the state border and within the state. A senior excise officer told TNIE that seizure of commercial quantity of MDMA rarely happened in the run up to the Lok Sabha polls. MDMA weighing more than 10g is considered as a commercial quantity, as per the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act (NDPS). Because of the strict surveillance on border points and multi-layered screening of vehicles done within the state and outside, it was almost impossible to smuggle in contraband during the Lok Sabha poll campaign period. Now, that the polls are over in Kerala and Tamil Nadu, we are expecting a surge in smuggling attempts. More seizures are also expected in the coming days, he said. The synthetic drugs reach Kerala from Chennai, Bengaluru, Delhi and Goa, while cannabis is sourced from plantations located in the hinterlands in Andhra-Odisha border. Since the Lok Sabha poll date was announced, heavy deployment of law enforcement officers made movement of the narcotics a risky affair. Now that the vigilance has been scaled down, the rackets having inter-state connections would be eying to push in the drugs, the excise officer added.

TN Governor lays foundation stone for BIMs second campus in Tiruchy

CHENNAI: Bharathidasan Institute of Management, Tiruchirappalli (BIM), conducted its 32nd graduation day for the 36th and 37th batch students on Friday. Governor R N Ravi honoured the rank holders with gold medals and cash awards, and distributed degree certificates to the students. Speaking at the event, the governor urged students to contribute towards the growth of the country and advised them to utilise the available opportunities. Venu Srinivasan, chairman emeritus of TVS Motor and guest of honour, lauded the candidates and the rank-holders in his felicitation address. On the occasion, the governor also laid the foundation stone for the new campus of BIM in presence of Ravi Appasamy (chairman, BoG Bharathidasan Institute of Management) and Asit K Barma (director, Bharathidasan Institute of Management). The new campus with an approximate 3.4 lakh sq ft built-up area on 18 acres of land is located on the Tiruchy-Pudukottai highway. The campus promises to be a state-of-the-art facility and uses sustainable construction principles. Supported by BIMs internal resources and global alumni, the first phase of the campus will be ready for operations in 2025. BIM Tiruchy will have two campuses in Trichy now; the other heritage campus is inside the BHEL complex.

Give Rs 10,000 for each coconut tree affected by summer in Tamil Nadu: PMK

CHENNAI: The PMK on Friday criticised the state government for its alleged inaction in safeguarding coconut trees, which are suffering from water scarcity-induced withering. The party urged the government to provide Rs 10,000 per tree as compensation to farmers whose coconut trees have been affected by water scarcity. In a statement, the PMK also took a dig at the BJP-led union governments insurance scheme for farmers, saying that many farmers had not opted for it since the conditions imposed were impractical. In a press release, PMK president Anbumani Ramadoss voiced concerns over the dire situation of over 2.5 crore coconut trees in Coimbatore and Tirupur districts . He condemned the governments failure to address the plight of coconut farmers grappling with rising temperatures and acute water shortage, forcing them to resort to purchasing water from tankers to protect their crops. He emphasised the urgent need for the state government to intervene by providing compensation of Rs 10,000 per coconut tree to support farmers. Additionally, Anbumani urged the state government to implement effective water management strategies to prevent such crises from recurring in the future.

Brick-red, harshest hue

CHENNAI: For brick kiln workers M Karpagam (32) and M Muni (35), the tall tamarind tree near their hut is the only respite from the scorching sun. The couple along with their three children aged 5, 7 and 10, has been residing at a private brick kiln near Anjanchery village in Gingee taluk of Villupuram district for the past three years, and has been working for a daily income of Rs 500 each. We live in a mud hut with thatched roof, for it is better when compared to one with cement roof during summer. But this year, things are different. Its too hot even inside the hut, said Karpagam. Pointing out that it is not just the furnace at the kiln but even the hut that gets red hot, Muni said they pour water around the hut to bring down the temperature. We start our work as early as 3 am, laying clay in the brick shelves and letting it dry for the rest of the day. Since its very hot this year, the clay dries faster. We make several batches in a day and leave them to dry for a day or two and then burn them in the furnace in the evenings, said Karpagam. The duo takes a break for lunch and dinner for two hours. Its just rasam and buttermilk rice along with some fried fish or pickle on the side for most days, they said. Ask them, they would say the only reason that makes them work in the kiln is the money they get. Otherwise, the family would be in deep debt due to the loans theyve taken from local lenders. For a loan of Rs 50,000 we had taken two years ago for my sisters marriage, we are paying monthly and weekly interests to the money lenders, said Muni. Karpagam and Muni are not alone. There are thousands of debt-ridden workers who toil in brick kilns, which are often notorious for exploitation and bonded labour. The workers say the only reason that makes them work in the kiln is the money they get | s dinesh G Chandran (48) from Kandarakottai near Panruti in Cuddalore district works in a brick kiln at Kayathur near Vikrawandi in Villupuram district. He said those at his kiln shift the work to the night during the summer season. In the evening, we prepare the mud and begin brick cutting at night after dinner, finishing the work the next morning. Depending on our workload, we put in 10 to 12 hours, equivalent to what we do during the daytime in other seasons, Chandran explained. G Rajendran(47) has been working in a brick kiln Kuttinaickenpatti area in Alanganallur in Madurai with his family for the past two years. Though his children are studying in college and school, they too work in the brick kiln in their free time. He and his wife Umadevi (37) jointly mix red sand and manufacture bricks together. If we manufacture 1,000 bricks, we will get Rs 900 as wages. During the summer, we used to work from 2.30 am to 7 am, then 3 pm to 7pm. Otherwise, it is very difficult to manage the scorching sun, he said. If their health gets really worse, the owner would give some extra money for treatment. There is no insurance or other benefits. Even the Tamil Nadu government did not include us in the unorganised sector welfare board, he alleged. S Amsavalli from Ariyalur said, We start in the morning and work till evening. As we have to work with dust and smoke, we are likely to suffer from respiratory illnesses such as asthma and cough. Also, it leads to skin problems and allergies. Despite hard work, we do not earn enough to even make our children study. We are forced to bring them into this work with us. K Srinivasan, a brick kiln worker from Vellore, said despite the heat, they are forced to work. During rainy days, we face off-season, with no work available. So, in the summer, we work extra to save money, he said, adding he has never seen such a harsh summer in his 15 years of working in the kiln. (With inputs from Krithika Srinivasan @ Villupuram, Jeyalakshmi Ramanujam @ Madurai, Bagalavan Perier @ Cuddalore, P Thiruselvam @ Tiruchy and Rajalakshmi Sampath @ Vellore) (In this series, TNIE looks at the condition of workers toiling under the sun)

Quota non-compliance: Madras HC quashes DEO recruitment order

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court quashed an order of the state School Education department for appointing 18 district education officers (DEOs) for failure of adherence to communal reservation rules. Justice RN Manjula also directed the department to draw a fresh selection list by following the reservation, separately for open and teacher category candidates. The judge recently passed the orders allowing the petitions that alleged the recruitment notification was issued in 2018 for 18 DEO posts, of which 14 are from open category and four from teachers of aided-schools. However, the four teacher candidates were placed in the BC general and BC women category, thereby depriving the chances of the meritorious BC candidates who had secured higher marks, they contended. A BC person with highest marks in the category would not have lost his/her chance of appointment by leaving it to the teacher category, the judge said. At the same time, for a candidate belonging to the teacher category with high marks in any of the communities, his/her opportunity would have been lost if the vacancies were filled by the BC teachers alone. Since the recruitment has been done in a haphazard manner, the selection list is liable to be quashed, the judge noted. By quashing the departments order, the judge directed concerned authorities, including TNPSC, to redo the exercise within four weeks.

TN to get 7k new buses by next year as 52 per cent of the fleet across state old

CHENNAI: There is an increase in t proportion of overaged government buses in the state, now at 52.73%, as the procurement of new buses did not happen for two years due to the Covid-19 lockdown-induced fund crunch, said the transport department on Friday. In the light of recent incidents involving parts of buses such as footboards and seats getting detached from the vehicle, causing accidents and injuries, the transport department said measures are being taken to introduce 7,030 new buses to replace the ageing ones. The department stated that the average age of buses is nine years. The fleet strength of Metropolitan Transport Corporation (MTC), State Express Transport Corporation (SETC), and six other undertakings of the Tamil Nadu State Transport Corporation (TNSTC) is 20,260, of which 18,728 are put into operation every day. According to an official note, a total of 10,582 buses in the state are overaged. Following intensive repair and maintenance works in the last three years, the average breakdown of buses for every 10,000 km had fallen from 10% to 1% and 2%, noted the statement. Despite facing huge financial constraints, the department has taken efforts to purchase 1,000 new buses for each of the financial years 2022-23 and 2023-24, as well as 3,000 new buses for 2024-25. Moreover, 16 new buses are slated for procurement under the Special Area Development Programme (SADP), and 2,666 buses planned for purchase with funding from the KfW, a German-based bank, added the statement. It further indicated that out of the planned 7,282 buses, 652 have already been put into operation, and the remaining are scheduled to be rolled out by April 2025. Consequently, 7,030 worn-out buses will be removed. The statement also mentioned plans to introduce 1,000 electric buses on a Gross Cost Contract (GCC) model in Chennai. During the first phase, 500 eco-friendly buses will be launched. Additionally, about 1,500 bus chassis have been earmarked for the reconstruction of vehicles. Currently, 839 refurbished buses have been deployed and the remaining are set to be launched soon, the statement noted. Government buses carry 1.76 crore commuters a day, including 51.47 lakh women and others who avail free travel in 7,179 ordinary buses.

Pregnant woman falls to death from train in Tamil Nadu, kin fault railways

CUDDALORE: A 21-year-old pregnant woman, who was travelling on a train with her family members for her baby shower function, accidentally fell from the train on Thursday night between Ulundurpet and Vriddhachalam and died. Efforts to save her by the family members failed as the emergency chain in the train compartment allegedly failed to work and they had to rush to the adjacent compartment to pull the chain to stop the train. But the express train had travelled for a distance of eight km by then and the woman could not be saved on time. The victim, Kasthuri (22) of Tirusulam in Chennai, was travelling on Kollam Express with husband Suresh Kumar and other relatives for the function to be held in Tenkasi. Speaking to reporters, family members alleged that Kasthuri, who was seven months pregnant, could not be saved because of the failure of the trains emergency brake. Immediately after she fell off the train, we attempted to stop the train by pulling the chain in S9 coach. As the train didnt stop, we rushed to S8 coach and pulled the chain. But by the time the train halted, it had crossed several kilometres from the spot where she fell, they said. Brake failure allegation to be probed If the train had stopped in the first attempt, we could have extended emergency medical support and saved her, they said. Suresh Kumar (25) of Melaneelidanallur near Sankarankoil in Tenkasi district, who works in a private company in Chennai, married S Kasthuri of Periyar Nagar nine months ago. The couple were travelling on the train with their family members to attend a temple festival in Melaneelidanallur on Saturday and organise a baby shower event for Kasthuri. The family had booked tickets on Kollam Express train from Chennai Egmore to Kollam. According to Vriddhachalam railway police, the incident happened when Kasthuri stood near the washbasin close to the entrance of the S9 coach. As she was continuously vomiting, Kasthuri was standing near the washbasin. After the train crossed Ulundurpet railway station, her family members heard some strange sound and immediately rushed to the entrance but they couldnt find Kasthuri there. They alerted other passengers and stopped the train by pulling the emergency brake, police said. After the train came to a halt, police personnel on the train tried to locate Kasthuri but they couldnt trace her. The train was then stopped at Vriddhachalam junction railway station. Her body was eventually found near Railway Overhead Bridge at Pu Mambakkam village in Kallakurichi district, about 19 km from Vriddhachalam station, and taken to a GH. An autopsy was conducted on Friday and the body was handed over to her family members. Vriddhachalam revenue divisional officer Saeed Mahamood inspected the body and held inquiries with her family. Railway sources said the allegation about brake failure would be investigated by a mechanical expert team. Usually, trains may not stop immediately after the emergency brake lever is pulled. We suspect there might have been confusion about the braking sequence, sources said.

Man, 30, without hands gets 4-wheeler licence in Chennai

Thansen K, a double-hand amputee, obtained a driving licence in Tamil Nadu after impressing doctors with his driving skills using stumps. His story of overcoming challenges inspires others with disabilities to achieve independence.

Tangedco asks engineers to replace 2 lakh faulty meters

CHENNAI: With 2,25,632 defective meters identified across the state as of April 26, Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) has directed its chief engineers to swiftly replace them. Chennai South circle has the highest of a whopping 36,343 defective metres, as per data accessed by TNIE from the power utility. A senior Tangedco said, Given our vast consumer base of nearly 3.5 crore, including domestic, commercial, and industrial sectors, encountering faulty meters is inevitable. However, we are prioritising the replacement of long-standing defective meters statewide. Highlighting the income loss, the official added, Defective meters hinder accurate billing, as they fail to record abnormal electricity consumption, resulting in revenue loss for the utility. Therefore, it is imperative to expedite the replacement. Meanwhile, M Krishnan (45), a resident of Velachery in Chennai, expressed his ordeal, saying, My meter has been faulty for four months. I have been paying bills based on average charges of `1,950, but it is an unreasonably high amount for this month since the consumption was low due to my familys vacation elsewhere. Tangedco must replace my defective meter immediately. Addressing supply chain challenges, another official said, Tangedco procures meters from northern regions through tenders. However, delays from vendors often inconvenience consumers. Procuring single-phase meters is particularly challenging due to market shortage. To mitigate these issues, consumers are now permitted to purchase meters from authorised vendors, with directives issued to all chief engineers accordingly. Tangedco recently floated tenders for 20 lakh metres, signalling a proactive step towards resolving the crisis.

Red alert for south TN, swell waves may hit coast on May 4

CHENNAI: The Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), an arm of the Union Ministry of Earth Sciences, issued a red alert for South Tamil Nadu coastal districts as high energy swell waves are likely to hit the coast from the wee hours of Saturday, causing severe inundation, especially in the low-lying areas. The alert said the near shore region and the low lying areas may experience surges intermittently during 5.30 am on Saturday to 11.30 pm on Sunday. TM Balakrishnan Nair, senior scientist at INCOIS, told TNIE these are not usual swell waves experienced during April-May. These are high period (16-23 seconds) swell waves reaching a height of two metres, especially during high tides. The sea water can gush deep inland. The Tamil Nadu State Disaster Management Authority has been notified. He asked fishermen and the coastal population to be cautious of possible surges of waves and small vessels to not ply nearshore. Boats may be anchored at a fair distance from each other, to avoid collision and damage. Total suspension of operational/recreational activities at beach/nearshore regions is advised, he added. Swell surge warning was issued to Kerala, Lakshadweep and Andaman and Nicobar Islands as well. Nair said the swell started at around 10,000 km away from Indian coast on April 26 in the southern Atlantic Ocean and slowly moved towards southern Indian Ocean around April 28. This caused the high energy swell propagation towards the Indian coastal regions which is expected to hit the southern tip of India in the early hours of Saturday. The phenomenon is called kallakadal, he said. Meanwhile, it was another hot day for north interior districts, where the heatwave is likely to prevail till May 6. Erode recorded the highest maximum temperature of 43.40C, which is 5.3 0C above normal. Meenambakkam weather station in Chennai breached 400C for the second time.