Jennifer Connelly interview: On Dark Matter and how the Academy award-winning actor reaches across to her characters

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Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader

Tharoor: United Opposition Will Back INDIA Bloc Candidate, No Single Leader Opposition parties, campaigning together or against each other, will join hands after the Lok Sabha polls, says Congress leader Shashi Tharoor, asserting that the people will get a prime minister who is first among equals and listens to others with an INDIA bloc coalition government. Including the Trinamool Congress in his argument on opposition parties getting together after the day of reckoning on June 4, Tharoor said in an interaction with PTI editors at the news agency's headquarters that a coalition government is nothing to be afraid of. The growth performance of the Indian economy has been better under such dispensations than under single party governments, he said. In his view, this is an election for ''change'' and as of now the BJP has ''lost its grip'' on the narrative. The Congress Working Committee (CWC) member also defended the party's decision to not attend the 'pran pratishtha' ceremony at the Ram temple in Ayodhya, saying it was right to turn down the invitation as it was ''essentially a political platform for the greater glorification of Prime Minister Narendra Modi''. ''It would have been a mistake in my view had we done it. As a purely political decision, it was the right one,'' he said during the freewheeling interaction. Tharoor said it is true a coalition government functions very differently from a monolithic one-party government. ''Given Mr Modi's style, the personality cult built around him, and the way the BJP has been ruling, I think it is fair to say that it (an INDIA bloc government) would be very unlike what we have seen in the last 10 years,'' he said, confident that the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA) will form the next government. The record and experience of the Indian public with coalition governments has been rather good, the former Union minister said. ''So, in many ways the advantage of a coalition is that there won't be any sort of autocratic tendencies whoever becomes prime minister... they will have to take into account the others. Frankly, it is the classic political theory of parliamentary systems of governance. Right now we are seeing a parliamentary system being run presidentially which is the worst of both the worlds,'' Tharoor argued. ''If you have a coalition government of the INDIA bloc, you are going to see, for the first time in a long while, a PM who is first among equals, who has to listen to others, take their point of view into account and who would have to be a good manager,'' he said. ''Mr (Atal Bihari) Vajpayee is considered in many ways an excellent example of that kind of consensus builder. He did not have a majority, far from it he had 26 parties in his coalition but his government was able to deliver effective results and at the same time reassure Indians that they had a functioning government,'' Tharoor said. The author-politician also hailed former prime minister Manmohan Singh's style of governance, saying he was able to pursue ''very relentlessly'' his economic goal and preside over the best growth period India has ever seen. Noting that the coalition of UPA-1 broke and the Left quit the government and was not part of UPA-2, Tharoor said there is always the issue on which a prime minister may have to draw the line for one or more of his coalition partners. ''So my own view is let us be reassured that our history in operating the system in the Constitution we have has by and large safeguarded the interest of the people. There have been many periods when people have been absolutely doomsaying about our country and we have come through all those periods,'' he said. ''I would say... coalition government is nothing to be afraid of and certainly when I speak to most voters they are thinking in terms of who is the candidate 'I am voting for', what values does he or she represent, who do they bring to power in Delhi and how is that power going to be exercised,'' Tharoor said. Asked about contradictions in the INDIA bloc as seen in bitter exchanges between the Congress and the Left in Kerala and whether that would be an impediment in the formation of a cohesive government, Tharoor pointed out that the UPA and the Vajpayee-led NDA before that came together after the elections. ''So the truth is that in our country coalitions come after the polling...This is an unusual case where a serious attempt was made to bring people together before voting even took place. It was very clear to all of us that the coalition will work on a state by state basis,'' he said. Citing the example of Kerala, Tharoor said it was unthinkable that the Congress which leads the UDF and the Communists who lead the LDF would ever be partners in the state. ''We have been fighting each other and at loggerheads for the last 55 years and alternating in power until the last election, so there was no question of that even being feasible. Having said that, right next door in Tamil Nadu, the same party, CPI(M), CPI, the Congress, our ally Muslim League and the DMK are all partners, have been partners and continue to be partners, there is no issue,'' he said. ''Finally when it comes to the day of reckoning on June 4 (when results are declared), I have no doubt that all these parties whether or not they are campaigning together or against each other, including the Trinamool Congress, when we have the numbers to prevent the BJP coming to power, we will come together,'' Tharoor asserted. Tharoor said he has friends in parties that are not allied with the Congress who have been telling him that after June 4 ''we will work together''. According to him, the hubristic narrative before the first phase is over. I don't think we are going to hear people say 'abki baar 400 paar' again for some time to come,'' the Congress leader said.

Everyone in Congress from local leaders to top leadership scared of defeat: Anurag Thakur

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Aa Okkati Adakku movie review: Allari Nareshs film is as tedious as a comedy can get

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Over 100 heat records broken in Vietnam in April: weather agency

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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

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In West Bengal, candidates battle record-breaking temperatures during campaign trail

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Flood and landslide hit Indonesia's Sulawesi island, killing 14

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DMK Govt Arrests YouTuber Savukku Shankar For Obscene Comments A Day After World Press Freedom Day, Vehicle In Which He Was Carried Reportedly Meets With Accident

Prominent YouTuber and Political Commentator Savukku Shankar has been arrested by the Tamil Nadu Police allegedly for his obscene comment about women police officers in a recent interview. He was The post DMK Govt Arrests YouTuber Savukku Shankar For Obscene Comments A Day After World Press Freedom Day, Vehicle In Which He Was Carried Reportedly Meets With Accident appeared first on The Commune .

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Rising water levels in the state of Rio Grande do Sul were straining dams and threatening the metropolis of Porto Alegre with unprecedented flooding, authorities warned.

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).

Tamil Nadu: Agni Natchathiram commences today, public advised to take precautions against heat - News9 LIVE

Tamil Nadu: Agni Natchathiram commences today, public advised to take precautions against heat News9 LIVE

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.

20 troughs set up to quench thirst of animals and birds in Tamil Nadu

DINDIGUL: With the mercury level touching 40 degrees in Tamil Nadu, the forest department along with Sirumalai panchayat set up 20 troughs for wild animals in the Sirumalai and Ottanchathiram forest range. The step will also aid in curbing instances of animals straying into residential and agricultural areas in search of water. It is common for wild animals, including monkeys, deer, and buffalo to enter areas inhabited by humans near the forest range in search of water and food. The forest department identified the arid areas in both forest ranges. Sirumalai range alone has 20 troughs set up between the first hairpin bend and the tenth hairpin bend, which is devoid of agricultural land. The panchayat administration also started aiding the department in supplying water to these troughs on Wednesday. Animals like monkeys, boars, and buffaloes, as well as birds like peacock, were spotted quenching their thirst at the troughs. Similarly, 10 troughs have been set up at Paichalur, Siruvaakadu villages under Ottanchathiram range. Sources from the department said that the step comes amid water sources drying up due to the heat. We have set up only small troughs, otherwise animals may get drowned in it, the official said.

After searing Cyber Safety Review Board report, Microsoft tells employees that security comes first

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Seven children to be adopted from Kerala Child Welfare committee on May 4

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In a first, the state welfare committee has decided to entrust seven couples with children they have been taking care of, on the same day. Seven babies will be taken home by these parents on Saturday morning. Kids will be adopted from the committees adoption centre in Thiruvananthapuram. Seven children, all between five and seven months old, are starting off their new journey with their new parents. Six of them will be in Kerala one in Thiruvananthapuram, two in Alappuzha, two in Kottayam, and one in Kozhikode. Meanwhile, one of them will travel to Tamil Nadu with the parents. All parents are professionals such as doctors, assistant directors, university employees, police officers, and entrepreneurs. The new ruling committee has so far given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad. According to priority, deserving couples who registered through the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state children welfare committee. The process of giving up children for adoption was made efficient by providing adequate care and security at various Child Welfare Committee centres,said general Secretary G L Arungopi. Starting a new life The committee has given 76 children for adoption to families over a period of 14 months. Twelve of them have gone abroad Deserving couples who registered through CARA to various adoptions centres across India got clearance from state CWC.

Reclassification of land affecting Madurai industries: Ex-minister

MADURAI: Echoing support for the micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs), which have suggested changes in the new draft of the Madurai Master Plan 2021-2041, former minister B Udhayakumar has sought for reclassification of industrial land that have been converted into agricultural land. Udhayakumar was addressing reporters on Friday, when he alleged that the new draft plan was detrimental to the development of MSMEs in the district. The Madurai Master Plan 2041 was released by the Local Planning Authority a month ago. Udhayakumar said that the latest plan has garnered objection from the MSMEs, since classifying industrial land for agriculture and commercial purposes could impact the development of several industries. This, Udhayakumar said, defeated the role of the plan, which is aimed at the development of the district. He said that many industrial lands have been converted for agricultural and commercial purposes, and requested the department concerned to establish the purpose of such land and reclassify them as industrial, or agricultural/commercial. Due to the classification of industrial land as agricultural or commercial land, many industries are facing hardships in carrying out operations. Survey numbers of many lands in industrial areas like Kappalur, Nagari and Nallur have been removed in the draft. In total, 1,678 acres of area earlier classified as industrial land has been classified for agricultural and commercial use, added Udhayakumar.

Tamil Nadu Board, TN 12th Result 2024 Date LIVE: TNDGE TN Plus 2 Results on May 6 on dge.tn.gov.in - Times Now

Tamil Nadu Board, TN 12th Result 2024 Date LIVE: TNDGE TN Plus 2 Results on May 6 on dge.tn.gov.in Times Now

I hope my little joke is not seen as expertise: Kasparov after post on Rahul Gandhi goes viral

The Congress recently shared a video of Mr. Gandhi playing chess on his mobile phone while on the Lok Sabha election campaign trail. The MP from Wayanad named Mr. Kasparov as his favourite chess player and drew parallels between the game and politics.

Two years after syndactyly surgery, TKMCH doctors in TN term procedure a success

THOOTHUKUDI: Two years after doctors at the Thoothukudi Medical College Hospital (TKMCH) carried out a rare syndactyly (joined fingers) separation procedure for a then five-year-old girl, the facility has finally termed the surgery a success as both fingers are functioning normally. The health condition of the child, Selva Srija of TMB Colony, was under observation for nearly two years after the procedure. Syndactyly is a congenital problem, that occurs in one out of 4,000 live births, said doctors. Daughter of Suresh and Sumathi Devika, Srija's third and fourth fingers on her right hand were conjoined. Suresh is a daily wage labourer at Kamarajar market. The couple met with the doctors at the TKMCH for a procedure in 2022, and the surgery was conducted in July, under the Chief Minister's Comprehensive Health Insurance Scheme (CMCHIS). Subsequently, the health condition of the child post-surgery was observed for two years, said Dr Rajkumar, of the plastic surgery department, who led the procedure. The surgery aimed to restore functioning of both fingers, he said. Dean Dr Sivakumar said that the syndactyly (joined fingers) separation was successful. Functioning of both fingers has been restored, and the girl can eat and perform all functions, he said.

Swell waves: Red alert along Kerala coast

THIRUVANANATHAPURAM: Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS) has issued a red alert along Kerala and south Tamil Nadu coast owing to swell waves till Sunday night. During the period, the coast will experience strong waves from 2.30 pm on Saturday to 11.30 pm on Sunday. The Kerala State Disaster Management Authority had already directed that people should be moved away from beaches from 10 pm on Friday. They have alerted fishermen living in vulnerable locations to shift to safer locations based on the directives of the authorities. They have advised the public to avoid trips to beaches and venturing into the sea. Swell waves cause panic along Kerala coast Fishermen have also been advised to move fishing nets and boats to safer locations, preferably in harbours. Swell waves lashed the Kerala coast causing panic in coastal communities on April 31. The sea attack caused damage to roads and fishing equipment, and also necessitated the rehabilitation of people in some locations. The severity was high in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha and Thrissur. IMD maintained a yellow alert in Palakkad and Kozhikode considering the heatwave alert on Friday. However, it did not issue any fresh heatwave alerts for any districts for Saturday.

Tamil Nadu: Wastewater on temple's approach roads, halls asked to create sumps

THOOTHUKUDI: The Tiruchendur municipality has urged private halls and commercial centres located on the streets leading up to the Tiruchendur Murugan Temple, to construct their own sump for discharging wastewater. This comes after the underground drainage was left clogged on several occasions, following the heavy footfall of devotees, with sewage water overflowing on to the roads. The approach streets of the Tiruchendur temple witness a stinking scene as hundreds of devotees visit the temple, which is considered to be the second abode of Lord Murugan. Streets like Traveller Bungalow Road, Kovil Vasal Street, MLA Office Road, Sannathi Street, and other streets, which are close to the temple, brim with as many as 50,000 devotees daily during festivals. The devotees put up in courtyards and other private pavilions for darshan, which eventually generates a huge quantity of wastewater. This resulted in waste water clogging the UGD, and even overflowing on the roads. Even though the municipality had begun clearing the waste using machinery, Municipal Commissioner Kanmani instructed private halls and commercial centres to construct their underground sump to store wastewater and release them periodically. A shopkeeper said that the city stinks whenever a festival is held. All households and shops have had their chambers to release wastewater after the UGD was implemented. But, he called the UGD a failure in Tiruchendur's case. Sumps would not help the city get free of stench, and the municipality should find a permanent solution, said a local.

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.

U.S. colleges invite discussion on investments as they strike deals to end campus protests over Palestine

The agreements at schools including Brown, Northwestern and Rutgers stand out amidst the chaotic scenes and 2,400-plus arrests on 46 campuses nationwide since April 17.

Tamil Nadu: YouTuber Savukku Shankar held over his obscene comments on women police officers - News9 LIVE

Tamil Nadu: YouTuber Savukku Shankar held over his obscene comments on women police officers News9 LIVE

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.

Hindu Munnani man arrested for life-threat drama in Tamil Nadu

COIMBATORE: A 28-year-old Hindu Munnani functionary who earlier claimed life threat to get a personal security officer from the police has been arrested. The accused, Surya Prasath, claimed to be the Selvapuram urban area secretary of the Hindu Munnani. He enacted a drama to impress upon the police that his life was under threat. Prasath had allegedly snatched a mobile phone from a Muslim trader and claimed that the latter had taken a photo and video of him, and handed it over to the police claiming that his life was in danger. However, the forensic examination confirmed no such data in the phone. As it was proven a drama to get a PSO, police arrested Prasath. Following the investigation, Prasath was booked on Thursday night under sections 153, 294 (b), 341, 504 and 506 (ii) of the Indian Penal Code, and remanded in the prison on Friday, said Selvapuram police. Police have also booked a case against Prasaths friend A Vasanthakumar (21) and are on the lookout for him. A few months ago Prasath had filed an application with the Coimbatore city police for getting a PSO saying that he was facing threats. However, his application was rejected as it did not have valid reasons. Hence he staged a drama to claim his life was under threat. On April 30, he allegedly threatened A Azharudheen (32) a fish seller residing at the North Housing Unit in Selvapuram and snatched his mobile phone accusing the latter of recording photos and videos of him. Then he submitted a petition, claiming that there was proof in the phone to substantiate his claim of life threat and hence sought a PSO for his safety. The two waylaid Azharudheen on the night of April 30 and questioned him why he was taking Suryas photos. They also allegedly threatened him and snatched his phone, said police. However, there were no such photos and videos on the phone. The police sent the phone to a scientific examination at the forensic science laboratory to know whether any data related to him were deleted or shared from the phone. The results came against Prasaths claim. Police said Prasath was facing cases at Ukkadam and Racecourse police limits and was arrested in 2021 after allegedly stabbing an auto-rickshaw driver.

Indians continue to take upskilling route for jobs

NEW DELHI: More and more Indians are arming themselves with skilling and up skilling courses under the National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme to secure better jobs, with the program witnessing a 26 percent jump in enrollment in 2023-24 compared to the previous year, officials said Friday. The scheme, launched in 2016, saw an enrollment of 35,333 people in 2018-19. In 2023-24, the figure reached 931,406. In 2022-23, the total number of apprentices registered was 738,704. Maharashtra registered the maximum number of enrolments in the scheme. The state saw an impressive enrolment of 263,239, followed by Tamil Nadu with 101,519. The other states include Gujarat (83,611), Karnataka (78,497), and Uttar Pradesh (71,378). This staggering increase represents a significant Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 74.76% over the five years, the officials added. Officials said the enrolment of apprentices has witnessed remarkable growth over the past few years. This ambitious initiative has emerged as a game-changer, as it helped bridge the gap between formal education and industry demands while addressing the pressing issues of youth unemployment and underemployment, the officials added. The program has helped foster business growth and innovation while providing valuable on-the-job practical training and opportunities for aspiring professionals, they said. This relationship is driving inclusive economic development, empowering individuals from diverse backgrounds, and nurturing personal and professional growth across sectors, the official added. Apprentices not only receive training to enhance their capacity but are also offered stipend support. The schemes objectives include fostering a skilled workforce, facilitating up skilling opportunities, and encouraging apprenticeship enrolment in small enterprises and underserved regions, thus contributing to inclusive economic development and effectively addressing the skills gap in the country. The National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC), which manages the program, also oversees the operation of the apprenticeship portal, serving as a platform for facilitating the enrolment process. NSDC was set up as part of a national skill development mission in the country. NSDC is also responsible for disbursing partial stipend support to apprentices, both for designated and optional trades, through the Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT) mechanism. It also undertakes capacity-building initiatives for stakeholders involved in the apprenticeship program, including organizing awareness campaigns, trade fairs (melas), workshops, seminars, and other events aimed at promoting the program and engaging with various participants. Officials added that by fostering inclusive skill development and creating employment opportunities, this scheme is not only empowering individuals but also shaping a workforce that is future-ready and adaptable to the ever-evolving demands of the industry.

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.

'Caste, politics prevent implementation of solid waste management in TN's Krishnasamuthiram'

TIRUCHY: Alleging caste and politics at play, the woman panchayat president of Krishnasamuthiram in the district has been unsuccessfully attempting to draw the attention of the powers-that-be to the various risks that residents are subject to from the lack of a solid waste management (SWM) system in the villages under it. Even as issues like water scarcity abound in the eight villages falling under Krishnasamthiram panchayat of Thiruverumbur union, a lack of SWM system in place is making residents to mindlessly dump garbage by the roadside and in waterbodies. Riding on the promise of changing the plight that one can observe right from the entrance to the panchayat, S Ramya (36) of Ezhil Nagar contested the local body election as an Independent and was elected panchayat president in January 2020. Keeping her campaign promise, she worked towards securing an allocation of Rs 25 lakh for implementation of an SWM system in the panchayat. Help also came in the way of a pilot project by the National Institute of Technology here (NIT-T) wherein a biodigester was proposed to be set up in the panchayat at a cost Rs 1.54 crore to process waste. A section of residents, however, opposed the project expressing concerns and moved the Madras High Court in 2021. The court, however, dismissed the case the next year by ruling in favour of the panchayat. Following this, Ramya resumed efforts towards introducing an SWM system in the panchayat by securing also the approval of the district administration in February 2023. Accordingly, a plastic shredding machine worth Rs 7.94 lakh was allotted for the project. Later, in June 2023, three pits were dug in the panchayat towards waste segregation. Members of political parties along with locals, however, soon stalled the project, Ramya said. Since then Ramya has tried to draw the governments attention to the issue. She also mentions having taken it up with Minister for School Education and Thiruverumbur MLA Anbil Mahesh Poyyamozhi , who had visited the panchayat for a programme on Wednesday. Ramya told TNIE, Two months ago, the state government introduced an amendment to the TN Panchayats Act for making solid waste management mandatory in panchayats. However, it is the supporters of the same government who prevent such a system from being implemented here. Thinking that the garbage disposed of will dissolve, villagers dump it in waterbodies. If this is not prevented it will lead to problems in the future. I made an election promise to make the panchayat tidy and green. But caste and politics prevent me here from doing this. Some fear I will earn a good name among the masses (once an SWM system is in place). Had I belonged to a different caste I would have been allowed to implement the project, added Ramya, who hails from the SC community. A villager who was enquired of his opposition to an SWM system said, If the project is implemented, garbage will be taken only through our area. As a result, our area will turn a dump yard and mosquitoes will begin to breed here. When contacted, District Collector M Pradeep Kumar told TNIE, There are two separate views [to SWM system] in the panchayat. A few people are against it as they do not want any part of its installation in their area. We will keep looking for a suitable place. Despite attempts, neither Minister for Rural Development, Rural Development Panchayats And Panchayat Union I Periyasamy nor Minister Poyyamozhi could be reached for comment.

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Kovai cops bin decade-old rule, allow non-veg to be cooked in hall

COIMBATORE: An unwritten rule of not allowing non-vegetarian food to be cooked at the community hall run by Coimbatore city police at Uppilipalayam was consigned to the dustbin on Friday after police commissioner V Balakrishnan ordered an end to the discriminatory practice. Balakrishnan initiated the action after TNIE brought the issue to his notice. The matter came to light after a Christian family approached the hall in-charge recently to book the hall for a family function. The hall administrator told the family that they would not be allowed to prepare non-vegetarian dishes in the kitchen. As we stressed that non-vegetarian food cannot be avoided in our functions, he told us to prepare the food outside and serve it in the hall dining area. But he strictly said no utensil from the hall should be used to serve the non-veg food. Though the hall has adequate facilities and has easy connectivity, we could not hold the function there because of the food restriction, said the person who did not want to disclose his name. The attitude of looking down on non-vegetarians should be changed. It is a kind of food discrimination and its a shame that the police department, which should work against such social evils, encourages such practices, he added. To verify the allegation, TNIE on Friday approached the community hall in-charge under the pretext of booking the facility for an event. He explained the charges Rs 35,000 rent (24 hours), Rs 5,000 advance, Rs 2,000 per hour for AC, and Rs 15 for each unit of electricity consumed and the condition of cooking only vegetarian food. When asked about the restriction on cooking non-vegetarian food, the officer said it was an oral instruction that is being followed for years. TNIE immediately brought the issue to the notice of police commissioner V Balakrishnan who held an inquiry and ordered the practice to be stopped immediately. The commissioner said, The hall authorities have been following it since 2011 after they faced some bad experiences. We did not give any instruction to restrict any dishes. I have told them to withdraw the practice and to keep two sets of utensils for preparing vegetarian and non-vegetarian dishes.

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.

Madras HC hits out at sub-registrars for misinterpreting court directives

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court hit out at sub-registrars for issuing refusal slips for registration of sale deed in violation of various court judgments by misinterpreting them as rules applicable only to the respective cases. The court recently directed the inspector general of the registration department to issue a circular listing out the law as declared by the courts. Hearing a petition which challenged the instance where Rasipuram sub-regisrar refused to register a sale deed, Judge N Satish Kumar said despite the law declared by this court in various cases, it was brought to notice that sub-registrars claim court judgments apply only to facts of that particular case and they were not bound by the judgement. Ignoring the settled principle of law, (refusal) slips were regularly issued by authorities. For effective implementation of orders and to maintain uniform guidelines, this matter must be dealt comprehensively. Only then the IG of registration will also be impleaded in the matter, the judge observed. Quashing the refusal slip provided by Rasipuram sub-registrar, the judge said, The officials decision to not register a sale deed presented by the petitioner since an appeal is pending as against the preliminary decree cannot be sustained in the eye of law. Despite judicial pronouncements, registrations are refused citing internal department circulars. It is not open to the registering authorities to interpret the judgement and decide whether the facts are applied to the particular case or not, HC noted. The judge added the sub-registrars powers are governed by the provisions of the Registration Act and interpretation of judgements could not be made by officials. The registration IG has been directed to issue a circular within 15 days. If any sub-registrar still refuses registrations, citing internal reasons, it will invite contempt of court, the judge added. Important orders Sub-registrars cannot refuse registration.. ..on the ground that the document is not accompanied by a chitta, adangal or FMB sketch ..because the original parent deed has not been produced ..on the basis of objections raised by a rival claimant ..on the basis of communication from the police officials ..citing the existence of a mortgage or lease ..on the ground that the property has been undervalued ..on the ground of delay in respect of registering court decree ..due to absence of No Objection (for registering document with existing lease) Registration Act cannot override statutory provisions of the transfer of property

Kerala: Jain, a relentless crusader of deprived childrens rights

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Keeping child as an exclusive subject, artist C D Jain has been creating art works for the past 27 years. At his 21st solo exhibition, being held at Lalitha Kala Akademi Art Gallery, Vyloppilly Samskrithi Bhavan, he has showcased 21 of his works which have never been exhibited before. Out of this, 16 works were done on canvas and five on paper. The exhibition, which was started on April 27, will conclude on May 3. A social activist for predominantly childrens rights, his art voices issues of the marginalised. Born in Parassala, Jain is a 1988 BFA graduate from College of Fine Arts, Trivandrum. He also worked as a guest lecturer at the college for a short period. From his college time, he has conducted art workshops for rural children in different parts of Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Maharashtra. He is an artist, activist, and child educator, but his passion is teaching. I will never claim myself as one of the finest artists but definitely as a teacher, said Jain. Since 1996, he has been a relentless crusader of deprived childrens rights by fighting against issues of child labour, child abuse, pain and destitute, missing and cheerful children series through his works. Vignettes of his Madurai life have packed his 27 years per se. The world is unfair for many, my travel to Madurai has taught me that. To not confine the viewers in the title, the paintings of the series are not named, said Jain. The intensity of first-hand experiences saturates his canvases. He has a clarity of the shades to choose and the way to present perhaps makes up the major reason for taking a year to complete two paintings. Some are created with zero pencils on acrylic, it takes time to deliver, said Jain. Benign Forest, a collection on display was done in acrylic and speaks of the mans communion with nature while the five paintings of his series Destitute Child were done with charcoal on paper. The eyes of the children in his pictures are dark, just like how their view of the world is. Though his earlier works were rich in hues and detailing, Destitute Child with minimal elements speak a hundred times louder than the vibrant shades of nature paintings. Jain was also a recipient of the State Forest Department Award in 1986 and the Lalitha Kala Akademi Award in 1987. He was an art consultant of Unicef World Vision and Save the Children India from 2005-2006. Destitute Child The eyes of the children in his pictures are dark, just like how their view of the world is. Though his earlier works were rich in hues and detailing, Destitute Child with minimal elements speak a hundred times louder than the vibrant shades of nature paintings

Chennai man without hands gets licence to drive car with legs

CHENNAI: In a possible first in Tamil Nadu, a 31-year-old Chennai man who had lost both his arms from below the elbow in an electric accident during childhood, has been given a special driving licence by the North Chennai regional transport office. K Thansean of Vyasarpadi was given the licence based on a fitness certificate issued by government doctors. A visibly happy Thansean, who is pursuing Master of Laws at Dr Ambedkar Government Law College, said disabled people like him who love driving should be encouraged and given licence without much hassle. Immediately after getting the licence last week, I drove my family in a car to a temple in Perambur. Of course, people on the road were surprised. Many came and appreciated me for driving the car with legs without any difficulty, Thansean said. His longest drive so far was to a temple in Tiruttani. The vehicles are modified to my convenience. Horn, indicator, wiper, and light switches are placed near the hand brake, he said. My next goal is to ride a bike: Thansean Since I drive a fully automatic car, I dont have any difficulty. I handle steering with one leg and operate accelerator and brake with the other leg. Occasionally, I use my upper limbs as well, Thansean said. Thansean says driving a car was his dream for a long time. He finally joined a driving school and learned to drive with legs. My next target is bike. I am currently practising to ride a bike. Yet to get the licence, Thansean said. Thansean says he wanted to be independent, have his own vehicle, and drive with his family without depending on public and private transport, and even to work. Many who saw me practising car driving discouraged me, but I didnt give up, he said. Thansean further added that he carried the paper clipping of a woman without hands driving a car in Kerala and showed it to RTO officers and doctors. He then went to the Government Institute of Rehabilitation Medicine, K K Nagar, where the doctors team led by Dr P Thirunavukkarasu, director of the institute, Dr A Rajakumar, associate professor, and Dr Kris Chitrarasu, assistant professor, assessed him and gave the fitness certificate. We assessed him. First we saw if he was physically fit and whether he could operate all keys. We then assessed his ability to respond to a situation while driving. We checked if he could apply the brakes immediately. He performed all the functions well, Dr Thirunavukkarasu said. An official in the North Chennai RTO office said as per the Motor Vehicle Act and state and central motor vehicles rules, persons with disability (PwDs) can be given driving licence. The medical board will give a medical fitness certificate, and suggest modifications in the vehicle. The RTO will see if the candidate has modified the vehicle as per the suggestions and is able to operate the vehicles like a normal person and issue a licence.

Corporation sets up green shelters at 2 traffic signals

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As children cajole parents, demand for pets spikes - The Times of India

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