Blog

12 May

Tripura power bill dues soar to Rs 475 crore as half of consumers default

MohiniTripura

More than half of a total of around 9 lakh consumers of the Tripura government-run power utility TSECL have not paid their electricity bills for several years, an official said on Monday. Only 4,32,045 consumers, mostly from the urban areas, paid their electricity bills to the Tripura State Electricity Corporation (TSECL), the official said. This trend has led to an accumulation of pending bills amounting to Rs 475 crore till now. In tribal areas, most consumers skip paying electricity bills despite repeated appeals. This resulted in the accumulation of pending bills, the official said. "The state has 9, 27,838 consumers.…

10 May

New York City Expands Free Mental Health Counseling in Public Schools

MohiniInternational

New York City has announced an expansion of its school-based mental health initiative, offering free counseling services across all public high schools. The program will include on-site psychologists, peer-support groups, and parental workshops. The decision follows data showing a 40% rise in teenage anxiety and depression since the pandemic. Mayor Eric Adams stated that “mental health is just as important as academics.” This approach is gaining interest among South Asian education leaders, especially in urban areas like Kolkata, Dhaka, and Kathmandu, where student stress and academic pressure are high.

10 May

Lawmakers Consider Curfew to Address Mental Health Crisis

MohiniInternational

UK lawmakers are reviewing a proposed bill that would ban children under 16 from using social media platforms after 10 PM. The proposed legislation comes in response to alarming studies linking nighttime screen usage to depression, anxiety, and sleep deprivation in teenagers. Tech companies like Meta and TikTok have voiced concerns over implementation but have agreed to open talks. Mental health organizations are urging quick action as cases of self-harm and cyberbullying surge. South Asian educators and parents are watching closely, as similar digital habits are rising among youth in India, Nepal, and Bangladesh.

10 May

Minister Ratan Lal Nath urges Centre for Agri University and railway aid

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Tripura Agriculture and Farmers’ Welfare Minister Ratan Lal Nath has urged the Centre to establish a Central Agricultural University in the state and introduce railway-based support for transporting perishable farm produce. During a meeting with Union Agriculture Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan on May 9, Nath proposed integrating Tripura’s College of Agriculture and College of Veterinary Science to form the university, aiming to boost agricultural education, research, and consultancy. Nath highlighted challenges faced by Tripura’s farmers, including labour shortages affecting paddy cultivation and flood-related crop losses, particularly during the August 2024 floods which damaged most farm machinery distributed in recent years.…

10 May

Richard Vanlalhmangaiha appeals for urgent road upgrades in Mizoram

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

Mizoram’s lone Lok Sabha MP, Richard Vanlalhmangaiha, has appealed to the Centre for urgent repairs and upgrades of key national highways in the state before the onset of the monsoon. During a meeting with Union Minister of State for Road Transport and Highways, Ajay Tamta, in New Delhi on Wednesday, the MP stressed the importance of swift action under the National Highways and Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited (NHIDCL) to improve connectivity in the rain-prone region. Vanlalhmangaiha specifically urged for the immediate improvement of National Highway-6/306, particularly the stretch between Vairengte and Sairang, which serves as a critical lifeline linking Mizoram’s…

10 May

Upgraded ATC units are installed at Tezu Airport in Arunachal

Banasree SarkarArunachal Pradesh

The Airdrome Control Unit (ACU) and Approach (APP) Combined Unit was officially opened at Tezu Airport in the Lohit district, significantly enhancing aviation safety and infrastructure in Arunachal Pradesh. The airport's air traffic management system has undergone a crucial overhaul, greatly improving regional operating efficiency and flying safety. Deputy Commissioner K.N. Damo, who attended the ceremony, praised the development as a "historic moment" for the area. A thorough explanation of how the ACU-APP integration would increase air traffic coverage, enhance real-time communication, and lower risk—particularly during weather disruptions or flight route changes—was given by representatives of the Airports Authority of…

10 May

MCX Q4 profit inflation 54% to Rs 135 crore

Business CorrespondentBusiness, News

New Delhi, Multi Commodity Exchange of India Ltd (MCX) on Thursday reported a 54.15 percent rise in consolidated net profit to Rs 135.46 crore in the fourth quarter of FY 2024-25 on the back of rise in income.The company had reported a net profit of Rs 87.87 crore a year ago, it said in a regulatory filing.Total income during the March quarter of 2024-25 rose 60.68 per cent to Rs 320.49 crore from Rs 199.45 crore a year ago.Expenses rose to Rs 152.96 crore from Rs 92.96 crore in the said period.For the full year 2024-25, the company reported over…

09 May

Pakistan is a home ground for terrorists”: Pradyot stands with Indian Army

Sonakshi SarkarTripura

Tipra Motha Party founder and royal scion of Tripura, Pradyot Kishore Manikya Debbarma, has strongly supported the Government of India and the Indian Armed Forces while hitting out at Pakistan and issuing a stern warning to Bangladesh. In a Facebook post, Pradyot said, “Pakistan is a home ground for terrorists,” and praised the Indian military for giving a befitting reply. “This is not the time for politics. All parties and the people of India are united against a terrorist country like Pakistan,” he wrote. He slammed Pakistan’s allegations that India killed civilians, saying Pakistan has sent terrorists who target Indian…

09 May

Aizawl two-wheeler taxi body acts against illegal riders

Sonakshi SarkarMizoram

The Aizawl Two-Wheeler Taxi Association (ATTA) has launched a city-wide crackdown on non-local and foreign drivers operating without valid identification, in a bid to ensure public safety and legal compliance. ATTA officials said the move comes after they discovered that several such drivers were running two-wheeler taxis without proper identity documents like Aadhaar cards or Electors Photo Identity Cards (EPIC). The Association raised concerns about the security risks and the legality of such operations. To tackle the issue, the Association has appealed to the public to report any instances of unverified taxi operators. It also urged all two-wheeler taxi owners…

09 May

California Passes Landmark Bill to Ban Single-Use Plastic by 2030

MohiniInternational

The California State Assembly has passed the most ambitious environmental bill in the U.S., targeting complete elimination of single-use plastics by 2030. The legislation mandates supermarkets, packaging firms, and restaurants to switch to compostable or reusable alternatives. Environmentalists call this a “game changer,” while industries warn of rising packaging costs. Several U.S. states are expected to follow California’s lead. In Bangladesh and India, where plastic waste management is a growing concern, environmental bodies are using California’s model to push for stricter regulations and incentives for eco-friendly alternatives.