Latest news with #Thangaraj
The Hindu
11 hours ago
- Politics
- The Hindu
Guest lecturers concerned over low remuneration for attending faculty development programmes
Guest lecturers in government arts and science colleges have expressed concern over being repeatedly assigned to attend the faculty development programme (FDP) under the Naan Mudhalvan scheme for low remuneration and have suggested that the authorities should regulate the upskilling initiative with a higher allowance. 'The FDP is held to re-train teachers and equip them with the skills and knowledge to deal with the new generation of students and subjects in Naan Mudhalvan. While we appreciate the initiative, we have noticed that many institutions are giving their guest lecturers the task of attending the six-day programme, with a daily allowance of ₹250. This amount is not sufficient to cover even the travel cost of commuting to the training centres,' V. Thangaraj, state president, Tamil Nadu All Government College UGC Qualified Guest Lecturers Association, told The Hindu. 'Guest lecturers are already working for lesser pay, and are sanctioned salaries only for 11 months of the year. Pressuring them to attend FDPs on such a low allowance is not fair,' said Mr. Thangaraj. A Lalgudi-based teacher, who recently attended an FDP session on the Khajamalai campus of Bharathidasan University in Tiruchi, said: 'We have to spend out of our pocket, because the allowance is sanctioned only a few months after the FDP. The authorities could increase the amount to ₹500 to make it more affordable for participants,' said . 'It takes at least two hours for us to reach the training facility, especially if we are travelling by bus,' he added. Some guest lecturers said they were being singled out by their institutions to attend the FDPs, while permanent staff were being excused. Mr. Thangaraj also suggested that laptops could be commissioned for all teaching staff, as it would streamline their work, especially in conjunction with Naan Mudhalvan requirements. 'At present, teachers who do not own a laptop are made to share computer terminals during the FDPs. Most of our work is digitalised these days. Laptops will help us to do it better,' said a teacher.
The Hindu
02-06-2025
- Business
- The Hindu
Focus on sustainable agriculture that is profitable and environmentally friendly, says Minister
With many farmers moving away from agriculture, there is a need to focus on sustainable farming that is both profitable and environmentally friendly, said Minister for Milk and Dairy Development Mano Thangaraj at the valedictory of the Tamil Nadu Climate Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship Programme at the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University (Tanuvas) in Chennai on Monday. Mr. Thangaraj said loans would be made available to all farmers across Tamil Nadu, and that plans were being developed to ensure that all cooperative societies operate profitably. He added that a review was under way to optimise the use of the 2,500 veterinarians in the Animal Husbandry Department and to enhance the research capabilities of Tanuvas. As many as 112 dairy entrepreneurs went through a three-month training in breeding, nutrition, housing, animal health, and milk value addition as part of the Climate Smart Dairy Entrepreneurship Programme conducted by the Kumaraguru Institutions and the Environmental Defense Fund. Shankar Vanavarayar, president of Kumaraguru Institutions, said true rural transformation would begin when farmers became entrepreneurs. As part of the programme, around 40 entrepreneurs went on a 'Dairy Yatra', a 6,000-km cross-country learning expedition through Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Gujarat, and Rajasthan. The participants gained first-hand exposure to innovative dairy practices from the lush pastures of Coimbatore to the arid landscapes of Rajasthan, said Thanammal Ravichandran, programme manager, Kumaraguru Institutions. Mr. Thangaraj, along with K.N. Narendra Babu, Vice-Chancellor, TANUVAS, presented certificates to the dairy entrepreneurs.
Time of India
24-05-2025
- Time of India
29 Bangladeshi nationals arrested for working at Dindigul mill with fake IDs
1 2 Dindigul: As many as 29 men from Bangladesh were arrested near Oddanchatram in Dindigul district on Saturday from a private textile mill after they were found to be staying with fake documents. According to police, a private textile mill of an apparel company was functioning at Vagarai in Dindigul. Clothing, mainly innerwear, was being manufactured there for exports. The mill employed many workers on a contract basis from states like Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chhattisgarh, and West Bengal, among others. Acting on a tip-off that Bangladeshi nationals were working at the private mill, a police team led by Oddanchatram deputy superintendent of police Karthikeyan, along with inspector Thangaraj, carried out a search at the mill on Saturday. A police officer said that during the investigation, it came to light that 29 Bangladeshi nationals were staying and working at the mill illegally and possessed fake Aadhaar cards. The 29 Bangladeshi nationals were detained and subjected to a full medical examination and fingerprint registration. Their complete details were collected, and a case was registered against them. The 29 Bangladeshi nationals were then produced before the Oddanchatram Magistrate Court and remanded in judicial custody. They were subsequently lodged in prison. Further investigation was ongoing.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
29 men from Bangladesh held in Dindigul district as they were found working in a private textile mill with fake Aadhaar cards
The Dindigul district police arrested 29 men from Bangladesh on various charges, including possession of fake ID cards and produced them before a magistrate court which sent them to judicial custody on Saturday. Following a complaint that some people from Bangladesh were employed on a contract basis in a private textile mill, the Kallimandayam police registered a case. DSP Karthikeyan, Inspector Thangaraj and team conducted a check on the premises situated on Vaagarai panchayat in Oddanchatram Assembly constituency. Preliminary inquiries revealed that the mill was engaged in manufacturing inner garments and exported them to many countries. It was found that the mill had employed workers from Bihar, Odisha, Assam, Chattisgarh, West Bengal and other States. After a specific tip-off, the police found that 29 men were Bangladesh nationals, but had allegedly possessed fake Aadhaar cards to show that they were Indian nationals. The accused were produced before a magistrate court, which remanded them in judicial custody. A senior police officer said that there were a number of agents in the district, who helped in mobilising labour force from other States for the textile mills here. The workers were given dormitory type accommodation within the premises with salaries were not known. Many mills, which had been functioning here for over two decades, had employees from North-Eastern States. For the first time, other nationals had been accommodated here by impersonation act. Senior officials in the district administration from the revenue department said that they had ordered the mills and other business establishments to declare the number of employees employed by them from other States. Further investigation was on.
Hindustan Times
29-04-2025
- Politics
- Hindustan Times
Mano Thangaraj sworn-in as minister in Tamil Nadu cabinet
Padmanabhapuram DMK MLA T Mano Thangaraj, who was dropped from the cabinet in September 2024, was sworn-in as a minister and re-inducted in the MK Stalin-led cabinet. This comes a day after the resignation of Senthil Balaji and K Ponmudy from the cabinet. Governor RN Ravi administered the oath of office to Thangaraj, who was removed as Milk and Dairy Development minister in the previous rejig of the cabinet. He was allotted the same portfolio on Monday. The event also saw chief minister MK Stalin and governor Ravi meet for the first time post the DMK government securing a favourable verdict in the Supreme Court against the latter delaying assent to various Bills adopted in the state assembly. The CM and governor shook hands and exchanged pleasantries. The governor on Sunday approved chief minister Stalin's recommendation on their resignation, a communique from the Raj Bhavan said. The resignations came days after Senthil Balaji, facing ED probe in a cash-for-jobs case in an earlier AIADMK regime, was asked by the Supreme Court on Wednesday to make a choice 'between post and freedom' as it had warned him of cancelling bail if he did not step down as minister. 'When you were a minister, categorical findings have been recorded against you in the manner in which you brought about settlement and the proceedings are quashed. Grant of bail does not mean power to influence witnesses. In the past, you have influenced witnesses,' the bench had said. The top court, as a result, offered him a choice. 'So, you have to make a choice between the post and the freedom. Such drastic findings are recorded against you in capacity as a minister,' the bench had said while hearing pleas to recall Balaji's bail on the ground that he influenced witnesses in the case. Ponmudy, a senior Darvida Munnetra Kazhgam leader, courted a major controversy recently over his Shaivite-Vaishnavite remarks, drawing widespread criticism, even as the Madras high court later initiated proceedings on its own on the matter. Transport minister S S Sivasankar will handle Electricity portfolio, held by Senthil Balaji. Further, housing minister S Muthusamy has been allotted excise and prohibition, also held by Senthil Balaji. RS Rajakannappan has been allotted Ponmudy's forests and Khadi, in addition to his existing milk and dairy development portfolio, the release said. 'The minor reshuffle balances communities within the cabinet,' said political analyst Maalan Narayanan. 'With Sivasankar, Muthusamy, and Rajakannappan, Stalin has reached out to the dominant Vanniyar, Gounder, and Yadava communities, respectively. The Vanniyar community is a vote bank of NDA ally Pattali Makkal Katchi and with the AIADMK joining the NDA again on April 11, it is key for the DMK to also build support among the Vanniyars who are dominant in the northern and western region.' (ATTRIBUTION) 'And, with Thangaraj they are looking at Christian votes, the region of Kanyakumari. The undercurrent is that Christians may largely support Vijay who is also a Christian and the DMK has no real strategy so far against TVK,' he said. Ponmudy, a strongman Villupuram district strongman, is one of the DMK's old hands who entered the Tamil Nadu cabinet for the first time in 1989. 'He is on the verge of retirement with the next generation of leaders in the DMK taking charge so it is a good riddance for the party concerning him. Ponmudi had also created rivals in Villupuram and was overly pushing for his son,'Maalan said. In the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, Ponmudy's son Gautam Sigamani was denied nomination for Kallakurichi parliamentary seat. However, he was appointed as the DMK's secretary for Villupuram (East) district. 'But Balaji won't be affected like Ponmudi. He may be a blemish but he brings the funds to the party either directly or indirectly which is required for elections. His hold in his native Karur is built from scratch. Loyalty will count more than morality here,' the analyst said. 'DMK wouldn't want to lose him. They will let the legal cases reach its logical conclusion. Balaji won't be a minister but he will move freely. He will continue to be close to the CM, the party high command,' he added.
