Latest news with #Vijayan
Time of India
2 hours ago
- General
- Time of India
Residential PU colleges tackle screen addiction with smart techniques
Mangaluru: The residential PU colleges in coastal districts are adopting a series of steps to tackle screen addiction among newly admitted students, many of whom have grown dependent, especially during the Covid-19 years. The district attracts students for pre-university education from several states and even NRIs. While there are day scholars, thousands of students complete their courses staying in residential facilities, where owning and using mobile phones are strictly prohibited. The students who used mobile phones until their grade 10, for the next two years, connect with their families only through landline phones or face-to-face meetings. "Suddenly detaching from the gadgets, which were part and parcel of their daily life until grade 10, and sticking only to books is a huge transformation for these young minds. The college does not permit owning mobile phones. At our college, considering their urge, a few months ago, we introduced tabs. However, they are used for educational purposes only," said NK Vijayan Karippal, principal of Expert College, Valachil. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Perdagangkan CFD Emas dengan Broker Tepercaya IC Markets Mendaftar Undo Another college principal of a residential school agrees with Vijayan and adds that this gadget addiction can be detached from individuals by keeping them busy academically and with other activities. Mohammed Sadakath, principal of Alva's PU College, said the majority of them are addicted to mobile phones. "However, we have a strict policy on no mobile usage on campus. In my experience, it takes at least a month to come out of the need for mobile phones among these young minds," Sadakath said. To ease withdrawal-like symptoms, some colleges have introduced controlled alternatives like academic tablets, while others permit monitored online access via desktops strictly for educational use. A spokesperson for Excellent PU College, Moodbidri, said they allow the use of desktops and their browsing activities are monitored. Dinesh M Kodavoor, principal of Jnanasudha PU College, Karkala, said they filter out students through their entrance exam. "If a student is academically excellent, it is naturally understood that he/she has kept away from gadgets and is a serious candidate," he said. "We also advise our parents whose children are day scholars to keep a watch on their ward's screen time." Colleges also said some parents enrol their wards in residential colleges with the sole purpose of reducing gadget addiction, and academics come second.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Space Park will enable Kerala to climb new heights: Pinarayi
The Space Park will enable Kerala to scale new heights in the field of space research and lead to benefits in the space industries sector, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was speaking after laying the foundation stone for the Common Facility and R&D Centres of the Kerala Space Park. Mr. Vijayan also inaugurated the Kerala Aero expo 2025-a comprehensive showcase of India's space legacy, achievements and future missions at the function held at the Technocity Campus in Pallipuram on Thursday. He said that as part of these interventions, the State government is taking a new step in the field of space research under the name of K-Space. The activities of K-Space will be organised in such a way as to encourage new companies entering the field of space research and defence and also to work in conjunction with existing companies. 'The Kerala Space Park is an important intervention envisioned by the Left Democratic Front (LDF) government to energise Kerala's space research sector. It is being established in Thiruvananthapuram, which has many institutions that can claim a great tradition in the field of space research. The Space Park is envisioned to be useful in making the products required by these institutions available on an industrial basis and in attracting investors working in the space and defence sector,' said The Space Park's subsidiary institutions will also be established in Kozhikode, Kochi and Kannur. The construction of buildings covering 2 lakh square feet on 3.5 acres of land for the Space Park will be completed in the first phase. An amount of ₹244 crore will be made available through NABARD for this purpose.
The Hindu
3 days ago
- General
- The Hindu
Reading is alive, it has just changed with the times: CM
Reading is far from a dying habit, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has said. He was delivering the keynote address after performing the State-level inauguration of the 30th Reading Day celebrations organised by the P.N. Panicker Foundation here on Thursday. Underscoring the evolving nature of literacy in the digital age, the Chief Minister said, 'The age of reading is not ending; reading is just changing according to the times.' Instead of physical books, people now made use of digital platforms and podcasts. Even as there was talk of change, the basis of the wealth of knowledge was still those books, Mr. Vijayan said. Panicker's contribution Recalling the contributions of P.N. Panicker, Mr. Vijayan said he was one of the most prominent leaders of the library movement. He was considered to have taught the Malayali to read. He set up the Sanadanadharmam library at his birthplace Neelamperoor to enter public life. His efforts to set up libraries across the State and promote them were a part of the State's history, the Chief Minister said. Panicker's message of 'Read and grow, think and gain wisdom' was still relevant. Each Reading Day observance was a reminder of modern Kerala's rich culture, he said. National campaign He spoke of the State's historical role in spearheading reading movements and affirmed its continued commitment to nurturing a reading culture among its people. The celebrations mark the beginning of a month-long national campaign to promote reading. The observance will continue till July 18, with activities spanning all States, the Chief Minister said. Schoolchildren who attended the event recited a reading pledge prepared by the foundation. The ambitious 'One lakh Vaayanasadhas' project that aims to organise 1,00,000 reading forums across the country was rolled out on the occasion. Minister for General Education V. Sivankutty presided. P.N. Panicker Foundation vice chairman N. Balagopal spoke.
India Today
4 days ago
- India Today
Kerala to kick off drug abuse awareness campaign on World Anti-Drug Day
The Kerala government is stepping up its fight against drug abuse with a large-scale, state-wide campaign aimed at building a drug-free a set of programmes aimed at ending the drug menace across various sections of society, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, at a press conference in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday, said that the fifth phase of the anti-drug campaign will be launched on June 26, in line with the International Day Against Drug Abuse. The campaign will run until January 30, events marking the International Day will be held across Kerala, led by elected representatives. At the college level, a special programme will be launched simultaneously in campuses across the state, with the support of ministers, public figures, NGOs, and artists, Vijayan said. Residents' Associations will play a key role through a new initiative titled 'My Family is a Drug-Free Family'. Awards will be given at the taluk level to those associations that succeed in turning the maximum number of households drug-free within three months, he rallies will be held in schools and colleges, organised by National Service Scheme, Student Police Cadets, and anti-drug clubs. The Local Self-Government and Education Departments will also conduct school parliaments at the high school and higher secondary levels, with the theme: Drug-Free, Safe School: A Child's government offices will observe the day by taking an official pledge at 11 campaign is backed by strong enforcement. The Chief Minister said between June 10 and 16, under Operation D-Hunt, over 13,700 people were checked, 730 cases registered, and 769 arrests made. Nearly 25 kilograms of cannabis and 378 grams of MDMA were seized. Additionally, 274 source reports related to drug activity were handed over to district police chiefs, Vijayan June 8 to 14, the Excise Department seized 19.9 kg of cannabis, 20.7 g of MDMA (also known as ecstasy or molly), and 0.6 g of methamphetamine (popularly known as crystal meth), registering 238 cases and arresting 221 persons, he General Education Department is actively working to protect students from the dangers of drug use. Schools are conducting awareness programmes, peer support groups, and training sessions for teachers and parents. Topics related to drug abuse have been added to the curriculum, with a special focus on adolescent education. The State Council of Educational Research and Training (SCERT) has developed new books to promote healthy living, he announced.'Teachers are being trained to spot signs of drug use and violent behaviour among students. Anti-Narcotic Clubs are operating in schools with support from the Excise Department, and selected schools have formed vigilance brigades made up of student groups,' Vijayan discussions and student-led activities are also being held through various initiatives. To develop students' creativity and personal growth, a campaign titled 'Jeevithotsavam 2025' (Festival of Life 2025) will be conducted over 21 days, ending with a state-level integration carnival.'Schools have been asked to review complaints weekly and take action where needed. Teachers have also been introduced to fitness routines such as Zumba to promote physical well-being among students,' the Chief Minister bodies and community groups across the state are also playing a strong role in raising awareness. The Kozhikode District Panchayat is set to organise a mass pledge event on June 26, involving 20 lakh people under the campaign 'Drug-Free Kozhikode'. The 'Against Drugs, Kattakada' campaign, led by students in the Kattakada constituency, recently completed its first phase with a massive human chain involving local residents, Vijayan noted.
The Wire
4 days ago
- Politics
- The Wire
A Test for Ruling Parties as Bypolls in Five Crucial Constituencies Get Underway
Voting for bypolls in five crucial assembly constituencies spread across four states began on June 19, amidst pitched campaigns by all parties in the fray. The bypolls will especially test the political mettle of ruling parties, especially in West Bengal and Kerala, where assembly elections are slated next year, while in Gujarat and Punjab, the Aam Aadmi Party that has kept a low profile since its loss in Delhi assembly polls, will look to recover some ground. The constituencies where bypolls were held are Nilambur (Kerala), Kaliganj (West Bengal), Ludhiana West (Punjab), Visavadar and Kadi (Gujarat). The polls in Nilambur are particularly interesting, as the seat was vacated by two-time Left-backed independent legislator P.V. Anvar after his much-publicised fallout with the chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan. Anvar, who began as a leader of Congress-backed Kerala Students Union has had a patchy political journey; he joined the breakaway faction Democratic Indira Congress led by the late K. Karunakaran after breaking ranks with the Congress and later joined hands with the Left Democratic Front as an independent contestant from Nilambur. He was seen as a zealous supporter of chief minister Vijayan but later blamed the state police for its alleged anti-minority mindset. He accused the police under Vijayan of stigmatising Muslim residents of Malappuram district as 'gold smugglers' and 'hawala operators' and severely lashed out at the chief minister for its conspicuous silence. Anvar even attempted to seek support from the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, only to be rebuffed by Tamil Nadu chief minister M.K. Stalin. Finally, he joined the Trinamool Congress, declared that he would lead its expansion in Kerala, and submitted his resignation as the Nilambur MLA to evade anti-defection law. Although popular, Anvar is not contesting the bypolls himself. In this absence, the Left Democratic Front-led by Vijayan will look to win the seat to establish its control in the important Malabar seat. Vijayan has picked M. Swaraj, who has sharply risen in stature in the CPI(M) over the last few years, as the LDF's candidate, while the Congress-led United Democratic Front has nominated its 2016 candidate Aryadan Shoukath to the constituency. Shoukath's father Aryadan Mohammad had won the seat eight times. The UDF faces a challenge too, as it has lost two successive state elections and a win from its traditional seat will boost its confidence and galvanise edgy allies like the Indian Union Muslim League (IUML). In any case, the contest is likely to be tight as Anvar has won the seat with a margin of only 2,700 votes in 2021 when he defeated Congress's V.V. Prakash. The urban constituency in Punjab has suddenly become keenly-watched fare, as its electoral outcome will signal whether the ruling Aam Aadmi Party still enjoys its popularity in the state or not. Many observers have noted that the AAP government in the state has been facing a lot of criticism from many sections of the population. Since Ludhiana (West) is an affluent constituency, majorly comprising Hindu Khatris, the BJP is looking to make a comeback and has fielded the popular Jiwan Gupta to take on AAP's Rajya Sabha MP and industrialist Sanjeev Arora, who is contesting his maiden election. The seat fell vacant after sitting AAP legislator Gurpreet Bassi Gogi's death in an accident. AAP's top brass – Arvind Kejriwal, Manish Sisodia, and Atishi – have camped in Ludhiana to campaign for Arora, and is said to be overseeing all preparations. In 2022, Gogi defeated Congress's Bharat Bhushan Ashu by a little over 7,500 votes. Ashu has been fielded by the Congress again. The BJP believes that its candidate Gupta will get votes from traditional AAP and Congress supporters, and is likely to challenge the two parties like never before. However, the BJP has never won this seat. On the other hand, the Congress has won the seat six times since its creation in 1977, while the Shiromani Akali Dal (Badal) has won it twice. In this image released by @msisodia via X on June 17, 2025, AAP leader Manish Sisodia during a roadshow for the Ludhiana West Assembly constituency by-elections, in Ludhiana, Punjab. Photo: X/@msisodia via PTI. The saffron party, however, hopes to repeat its Lok Sabha performance in the seat. In the 2024 Lok Sabha polls, the Ludhiana seat was won by Congress's Amarinder Singh Raja Warring but the BJP's candidate Ravneet Singh Bittu, who had recently defected from the Congress, had taken a lead in the assembly segment. The party's performance will also be a test case for Sunil Jakhar, who was made the party president of the state after the former senior Congress leader defected to the BJP. The SAD has fielded Parupkar Singh Ghuman, a prominent lawyer in the city, and it will look to claw back into relevance after a series of electoral setbacks in the state. However, its presence in the urban seat has been marginal lately. Here, the contest appears to be polarised between the ruling Trinamool Congress and a fledgling BJP. While TMC has fielded Alifa Ahamed, daughter of the sitting MLA Nasiruddin Ahamed who died of a cardiac arrest, the BJP has nominated Ashish Ghosh. The seat has historically seen a tight contest between the TMC and the Congress, the latter having been dominant for many years. However, over the last decade, the TMC has registered its strong organisational presence in the seat, while Congress has weakened considerably. The shift can be seen in the difference between the electoral outcomes of 2016 and 2021. In 2016, the Congress's Hasanuzzaman S.K. narrowly defeated the TMC 's Nasiruddin Ahamed but the grand old party faded into a distant third position in 2021 registered on around 12% votes. TMC's Ahamed won the seat with over 53% votes in 2021 but the BJP, which had received only 5.56% votes in 2016, shot to the second position with nearly 31% votes, indicating a strong Hindu-Muslim polarisation. The saffron party has yet again attempted to polarise the elections along religious lines by raking up memories of the recent Murshidabad riots where Hindus were allegedly attacked by Muslim protestors against the Waqf (Amendment) Act. It has attempted to consolidate Hindu votes, while hoping a division among the Muslims between the TMC and the Congress in the minority-dominated seat. The Congress has fielded a relatively new face, Kabil Uddin. TMC candidate Alifa Ahmed during a campaign rally for the bypoll of Kaliganj Assembly constituency, in Nadia district, West Bengal, Tuesday, June 10, 2025. Photo: PTI. The saffron party will look to consolidate its presence in Kadi, which it has won with over 50% votes in the last two elections. However, the Visavadar seat has turned out to be an interesting battleground, with the Aam Aadmi Party fielding Gopal Italia, who shot to fame during the 2015 Patidar agitation in the state. Kejirwal has himself addressed multiple rallies in Visavadar in support of Italia. AAP's Bhupendrabhai Gandubhai Bhayani had won Visavadar in Gujarat's Junagadh in 2022, but his recent switch to the BJP left the seat vacant. Bhayani had won the seat by securing nearly 45% votes and defeated BJP's Harshadkumar Ribadiya by over 7000 votes. However, the BJP did not field Bhayani for the bypolls and has instead chosen its former district president Kirit Patel. Making the contest triangular is Congress's Nitin Ranpariya, who will be looking to gain a foothold in this former party bastion. BJP appears to be confident in Kadi which it secured over 50% even amidst strong anti-incumbency sentiment against the party in 2017. The chief opposition here is the Congress, which has only fallen through the charts in the last two elections. The Wire is now on WhatsApp. Follow our channel for sharp analysis and opinions on the latest developments.
