The marriage hall constructed by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department at Edappadi in Salem district has remained closed for the past four years.
| Photo Credit: LAKSHMI NARAYANAN E

A marriage hall constructed at a cost of ₹3.14 crore near Edappadi bus stand by the Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR and CE) Department remains unused for the past four years.

The Department constructed the marriage hall on three acres belonging to the Nanjundeeswar Temple, near Edappadi bus stand, during the AIADMK regime. Former Chief Minister Edappadi K. Palaniswami inaugurated the hall on February 22, 2021. However, the facility remains unused even after four years of inauguration. The hall is surrounded by bushes, and lacks maintenance. Though dozens of marriages are taking place in the temple, people do not prefer this hall.

S. Selvam, a resident of Edappadi, said though the marriage hall is situated near the bus stand and people have easy access to it, the ₹60,000 rent demanded by the HR and CE Department was very high for the people in rural areas in and around Edappadi. The Department should reduce the rent and carry out renovation works such as painting, cleaning, etc. Similarly, there are no chairs, dining tables, or kitchen utensils in the hall, and these should be provided. The Department should also take steps to conduct government programmes in this hall, he said.

Officials attached to the HR and CE Department said they were advertising about the facility through banners and posters on autorickshaws. But, the public are pointing out the high rent fixed for the hall. Soon, a decision will be made regarding rent revision and provision of facilities,” the officials added.

The Progressive Organisation of Women (POW) organised its 7th conference at Dronamraju Satyanarayana Kalyana Mandapam at Gajuwaka Drivers Colony, here on Sunday. The speakers brought several core issues related to the women for discussion in the conference.

Speaking on the occasion, POW national convener Jhansi said that the conference mainly discussed the problems faced by women, SC, ST, BC and minorities in education and employment opportunities due to the decision on privatisation of the RINL-Visakhapatnam Steel Plant (VSP). The conference also discussed about the government’s move to privatise many PSUs across the country.

POW district president S. Venkatalakshmi said that the government has made the liquor business its main source of income. In this regard, the government was running liquor shops at almost every corner and thereby damaging the health and deteriorating the living standards of the youth and the poor.

POW State general secretary M. Lakshmi, in her key note address, explained the achievements of the organisation in Andhra Pradesh and at the national level.

Tuticorin Airport Director R. Rajesh handing over collected cash to Mudivaithanendal villagers.
| Photo Credit: SPECIAL ARRANGEMENT

The officials of the Airport Authority of India (Thoothukudi) have extended their support to the villagers of Mudivaithanendal, who lost their family deity (kula deivam) temple during the land acquisition process for the airport expansion project.

For the upgradation of Tuticorin airport at a cost of ₹381 crore commenced in 2021, the Tamil Nadu government had acquired 106 acres of land for the project. During this process, the Mudivaithanendal villagers lost their piece of land where the family deity worship was located.

Since the land was classified as poramboke land and did not have a patta, the revenue department was unable to provide any compensation for the villagers.

Taking into account the financial difficulties expressed by the villagers, Tuticorin Airport Director R. Rajesh and his team mobilised approximately ₹ 2 lakh through voluntary contribution from the Tuticorin Airport Staff to build the temple outside the airport premises.

A small event was organised at the airport on Friday and the Airport Director honoured the temple committee members and handed over the collected amount to them. The villagers were immensely satisfied as it was the family deity and expressed their joy.

नई दिल्ली: प्लेबैक सिंगर अभिजीत भट्टाचार्य बॉलीवुड के मशहूर सिंगर हैं. उन्होंने शाहरुख खान की फिल्मों के लिए खूब हिट गाने गाए. लोग उन्हें सुपरस्टार की आवाज बताने लगे थे. वे सालों बाद अपने एक विवादित बयान की वजह से लाइमलाइट में आ गए हैं. सिंगर ने महात्मा गांधी पर बयान देकर बवाल खड़ा कर दिया है, जिन्हें पूरा देश राष्ट्रपिता कहकर संबोधित करता है. आजाद भारत की नींव रखने में उनका योगदान बहुत बड़ा है.

महात्मा गांधी पर अभिजीत भट्टाचार्य के बयान का लोग विरोध कर रहे हैं. उन्होंने एक पॉडकास्ट पर शुभंकर मिश्रा से कहा, ‘संगीतकार आरडी बर्मन महात्मा गांधी से भी बड़े थे. महात्मा गांधी जैसे राष्ट्रपिता थे, वैसे ही आरडी बर्मन संगीत की दुनिया में राष्ट्रपिता थे.’ सिंगर यहां भी चुप नहीं रहे. उन्होंने महात्मा गांधी पर तीखा हमला किया. सिंगर ने उन्हें पाकिस्तान का राष्ट्रपिता बताते हुए कहा, ‘महात्मा गांधी पाकिस्तान के राष्ट्रपिता थे, भारत के नहीं. भारत पहले से ही अस्तित्व में था, पाकिस्तान बाद में भारत से अलग होकर बना. महात्मा गांधी को गलती से भारत का राष्ट्रपिता कहा गया है. वे पाकिस्तान के अस्तित्व के लिए जिम्मेदार थे.’

आरडी बर्मन ने अभिजीत भट्टाचार्य से एक बंगाली फिल्म से लॉन्च किया था, जिसमें उन्हें आशा भोंसले के साथ गाने का मौका मिला था. उन्होंने अपने करियर के शुरुआती दौर में आरडी बर्मन के साथ एक सिंगर के रूप में स्टेज शो किया था. उन्होंने मिथुन चक्रवर्ती, विजय आनंद, आमिर खान, शाहरुख खान, सलमान खान, सैफ अली खान, सनी देओल, संजय दत्त, गोविंदा, अक्षय खन्ना, अक्षय कुमार, सुनील शेट्टी, अजय देवगन, ऋतिक रोशन जैसे बॉलीवुड सितारों के लिए गाने गाए हैं. सिंगर ने ‘वादा रहा सनम’, ‘खुद को क्या समझती है’, ‘क्या खबर थी जाना’ जैसे पॉपुलर गाने गाए हैं. उन्होंने 90 के दशक में कई बड़े हिट दिए.

Tags: Mahatma gandhi, Mahatma Gandhi news

Nalatinputhur police arrested two men for allegedly possessing around 1 kg of ganja intended for sale.

Acting on a tip off, the Nalatinputhur police conducted a vehicle check near Mudukkumeendapatti area. During the inspection, they stopped a two-wheeler and found around 1 kg of ganja in possession of the men, who intended to sell it.

The accused were identified as G. Isakkimuthu, 25, from Nalatinputhur Railway Colony and M. Mukesh Kumar, 24, from Mudukkumeendanpatti. Further investigation is on.

Since investments for development of Amaravati capital are loans, they will certainly burden people of all the regions in the State, says former bureaucrat E.A.S. Sarma

Former bureaucrat E.A.S. Sarma from the city has written a letter to Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, urging him to focus on the development of North Coastal Andhra and Rayalaseema as well. He said that by focussing on Amaravati alone and investing ₹50,000 to ₹60,000 crore in the name of development of Amaravati Capital, injustice will be done to these two regions. He said that irrigation, drinking water, schools, health centres and social welfare programmes need to be improved in the Amaravati capital, but not merely opening private companies.

Moreover, since investments for development of Amaravati capital are loans, they will certainly burden the people all over the State in the future. He said that it is not right to focus on one district (Guntur) while collecting taxes from the people across the State in the name of developing the capital city. Therefore, since the people in other regions pay taxes to the government, it is the responsibility of the government to develop these two regions, North Coastal A.P. and Rayalaseema as well, he concluded.

The Visakhapatnam branch of Southern India Regional Council (SIRC) of Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) organised the ‘Ludipas Sicasa Fest 2024’ at the Alluri Sitharama Raju Auditorium in Daba Gardens on December 21 (Saturday). The event witnessed a huge gathering of chartered accountancy students.

Branch Chairman Anir Ban Pal and Southern India Charted Accountant Students Association (SICASA) Chairman P. Lokesh addressed the students, motivating and giving them tips on achieving success in their careers and future endeavours.

Mr. Lokesh spoke on the importance of perseverance. He urged the students not to be disheartened by failures, but to learn from them and continue to strive for excellence. The event featured cultural performances and a DJ performance.

SICASA Governance Head D. Ujwala addressed the gathering and also performed an emotional dance skit to spread awareness on the attacks on women.

A couple, who were returning home on their two-wheeler near Natham in Dindigul district, were hit by a speeding car from Bengaluru on the national highway in Dindigul on Sunday.

The police said that Rajendran, 58, and his wife Sumathi, 56, of Palappanaickenpatti near Natham had been to their relative’s house in Palamedu.

While they were returning home, a speeding car hit them at Komanampatti Pass in which they were thrown off the vehicle. It is said that Sumathi died on the spot, while Rajendran, who was in a serious condition, was rushed to Natham Government Hospital, where he died shortly upon admission.

The relatives of the deceased couple picked up a wordy altercation with the police as they came to the spot very late, it was alleged. The Natham police detained car driver, whose name was given as Ranjith. Further investigation is on.

J.A.Jayalal, president, Commonwealth Medical Association.
| Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

India needs to increase its healthcare allocation to at least 5 % of the GDP (Gross Domestic Product) from the existing 2 % to bring about a sea change in the quality of delivery, J.A. Jayalal, president of the Commonwealth Medical Association and former National president of the Indian Medical Association (IMA), said on Sunday.

“The IMA has been advocating for a minimum of 10 % allocation from the Central government,” he added.

While access to healthcare has improved, there remains a lack of quality and standardisation, Dr. Jayalal noted. He pointed out that manpower and resource limitations hinder effective monitoring of pharmacies and enforcement of good manufacturing practices to curb the sale of spurious medicines that are mostly purchased based on lowest quotations in government hospitals.

There have been several instances of confiscation of spurious medicines in government hospitals, Dr. Jayalal, who is also National Co-Ordinator, IMA UNESCO Bioethics Chair, said.

In an interaction with mediapersons, Dr. Jayalal attributed the increase in deaths related to diabetes and cardiac issues to the prevalence of low-quality medicines. The health schemes implemented by the Central and State governments have not achieved the desired impact, Dr. Jayalal said, and emphasized the need for the Central Budget to focus more on improving infrastructure, enhancing manpower, and advancing research. Additionally, he called for greater attention to preventive measures like nutrition, access to safe drinking water, and environmental protection.

Dr. Jayalal remarked that the health system in Tamil Nadu leaves a lot to be desired, and lamented the acute manpower shortage, with as many as 6,000 vacant posts that have not been filled for years at a stretch.

Emphasising the promotion of Primary Health Care, Dr. Jayalal said that unemployment was a reality among doctors, and that there are 12,000 applicants for the notification for filling 2,800 doctor vacancies.

He also called for governments to do a re-evaluation of their insurance schemes, highlighting the fact that less than a tenth of the over 400 procedures listed under these schemes were covered, and only in a limited number of empanelled private hospitals that account for 75% of healthcare provision.

As much as 30 % of the allocation of insurance schemes went towards administrative costs. This amount could, instead, be used for direct funding of government hospitals to upgrade infrastructure and manpower, he said.

Dr. Jayalal was also critical of the concept of NEET as the sole criterion for MBBS admission. Alongside cognitive ability, the aptitude and healthcare service rendered by the applicant must necessarily be factored in for the admission, he said.

Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) National Convenor Arvind Kejriwal.
| Photo Credit: ANI

Days after AAP supremo Arvind Kejriwal attacked BJP president J.P. Nadda for disrespecting Purvanchali people living in Delhi by linking them with Rohingya and Bangladeshis, the BJP on Sunday (December 22, 2024) accused Mr. Kejriwal of trying to create a misunderstanding by linking Purvanchali people with Rohingya and Bangladeshis.

Addressing a press conference, Bihar Deputy Chief Minister Samrat Choudhary, alluding to Mr. Kejriwal, said: “For the last several days, a big leader of Delhi has been repeatedly trying to create confusion and trying to spread misunderstanding among the people of Purvanchal.” He said Delhi was facing problems related to water, drainage and road but the former Chief Minister was not saying anything about them. “Attempts are being made to link them [Purvanchalis] with Rohingya and Bangladeshis. Hence, I urge the people from Purvanchal to reply to those ruling Delhi in the 2025 Assembly elections,” Mr. Choudhary said.

Mr. Kejriwal, speaking at a press conference on Friday, had played a clip from Parliament in which Mr. Nadda was speaking and had accused him of trying to strip the Purvanchal community in Delhi of their voting right by clubbing them with Rohingya and Bangladeshis.