Chennai:The revenue augmentation committee of the state government, constituted to suggest measures for augmenting the State’s own tax and non-tax revenues on a sustainable basis, held a consultative meeting with Trade and Industry Associations, Public Finance Experts and the public on Thursday at Chennai.

Chairman of the committee, Montek Singh Ahluwalia, told the gathering that augmenting the State’s own tax and non-tax revenues called for the continued support of all stakeholders and that the ground-level insights and practical experience shared in the consultations were of great value.

The suggestions received would be examined by the Committee together with the inputs already received from the various revenue-generating departments of the State, he said.

The Committee also held consultations with domain experts, including representatives of multilateral agencies and academic institutions, who shared their perspectives on revenue augmentation measures.

The chairman of the committee said that suggestions received from the public through e-mail would also be considered as part of the ongoing deliberations.

2-day bandh begins against forest dept, govt for failing to trap man-eater in Nilgiris

Ooty:What is to be considered as a major show of protest or silent revolt against the forest department, as well as the government, normal life came to a standstill in western Nilgiris, comprising Gudalur and Pandalur taluks, as the two-day bandh that began Thursday morning to highlight the plight of the residents of western Nilgiris over the alleged slow move in capturing the man-eater tiger which has killed two persons in the region in the recent weeks, evoked good response.

While the bandh call was given by the various organisations, supported by political parties, shop-keepers, including some petrol pumps, downed their shutters in western Nilgiris that crippled normal life though government offices, schools and banks functioned as usual.

The residents of western Nilgiris, especially in the O’Valley town panchayat limits where the man-eater tiger stuck twice, killing two persons in a span of two weeks, are angry with the forest department as they alleged that the foresters are moving at snail’s pace after the man-eater tiger first killed an elderly person on August 9 in O’Valley limits which led to the man-eater tiger returning to same area again five days ago, killing another man.

The residents of western Nilgiris want a complete overhaul of the forest department in the Nilgiris to ensure fresh hands who are daring to go after man-eater animals and conflict creating stray animals, take charge, and also show the will to establish a friendly attitude with the locals to tackle the rising man-animal conflict in the Nilgiris.

The forest department, though slow to respond, deployed nearly 100 forest staffers in the O’Valley limits to track the movement of the man-eater tiger, besides placing cages and installing camera traps and operating thermal drones to overpower the man-eater tiger which is still elusive.


Kerala tribals learn economic empowerment from Kovai institute

Coimbatore:The Icar-Sugarcane Breeding Institute (Icar-SBI) in Coimbatore, organised a campaign on ‘Economic Empowerment of Tribal women of Attappady’, at its research centre in Agali, in Kerala, bordering Coimbatore, under the Development Action Plan for Scheduled Tribes Component (DAPSTC).

Dr. D. Puthira Prathap, principal scientist and nodal officer, DAPSTC, highlighted the socio-economic and health challenges faced by tribal women in Attappady, including chronic malnutrition and maternal anaemia.

He outlined Icar-SBI’s initiatives to address these gaps and

cited the example of Aruna Tirkey, an Oraon tribal entrepreneur from Jharkhand, who popularised indigenous cuisine through her restaurant in Ranchi.

“Entrepreneurship fosters financial independence, preserves indigenous skills, and strengthens the tribal women’s voice in household and community decisions,” he added, noting that studies show about 60 per cent of tribal women entrepreneurs report greater decision-making power and social recognition.

The training featured expert sessions on turning local food traditions into sustainable livelihoods.

Dr Saraswathi Eswaran, retired professor from TNAU-Coimbatore, spoke on ‘Empowering Tribal Women through Food Entrepreneurship’, emphasising value addition to traditional recipes and local produce.

Participants got their doubts clarified on processing, packaging and marketing, and prepared ‘banana jam’ during the hands-on

practical session.

Dr V. Thirunavukkarasu from TNAU-Coimbatore focused on low-input, high-return livestock options suited to the region. He highlighted the Attappady black goat — a slender, medium-sized indigenous breed — and the Gramapriya layer chicken, which yields 180–200 eggs up to 72 weeks. He also covered green fodder cultivation, dry straw feeding and strategies for effective marketing of livestock and poultry products.

Shinu Babukutty, tribal extension officer, integrated tribal development project, Agali, P. Pravijith, agricultural officer, Agali, spoke on the occasion.

Farmers threaten stir against sand mafia in Ramanathapuram dist

Rameswaram:Farmers of R.S. Mangalam union, near Anandur and Radhanur, in Ramanathapuram district, are threatening to hold protests, including road blockades, if the government and district administration did not take proper action to stop illegal sand mining in the Radhanur kanmai.

Radanur kanmai, which is the fifth largest kanmai in Ramanathapuram district, has a spread of about 2,000 acres.

There is a great danger in the agricultural areas due to the illegal sand mining. The farmers demanded that the government and the revenue department immediately take the steps to protect the mineral resources.

The sand mafia is said to be excavating sand clandestinely. Furthermore, they have been excavating sand up to a depth of about 12 feet without permission and smuggling it at night.

When many farmers from the area came to know about this and tried to stop them, the sand thieves tried to attack them.

According to the farmers, Ramanathapuram district magistrate, superintendent of police and other officials were informed and a complaint was filed with the revenue department officials, but no action was taken.

Apart from the looting of the mineral resources, agricultural crops are also affected without water, said the farmers.

Due to this, it is said farmers from about 12 hamlets in the upper and lower reaches of the valley are unable to carry out farming. So, the farmers demanded action from the authorities.

Public invited to submit views on 34,971 temples identified under Agama norms

Chennai:The Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments (HR&CE) department has invited members of the public to submit objections or suggestions on details of temples identified as having been constructed in accordance with Agama rules.

The move follows directions of the Madras high court and the Supreme Court. The Tamil Nadu government had constituted a five-member committee on October 6, 2025, to identify temples under the control of the HR&CE Department that were constructed according to Agama principles.

Details relating to the Agama followed by the temples were submitted to the committee by the respective HR&CE Department Regional Joint Commissioners and Assistant Commissioners. The committee examined the reports carefully.

The committee has now decided to provide an opportunity for the public to point out any omissions in the information or submit suggestions regarding the temples covered by the exercise.

Details of 34,971 temples examined by the Agama Committee have been uploaded on the HR&CE Department’s official website.

Members of the public who find any omission or have suggestions regarding the published details have been asked to submit their representations to the committee within 30 days from the date of the notification.

Representations can be sent by post to the Commissioner’s Office, Hindu Religious and Charitable Endowments Department, 119, Uthamar Gandhi Salai, Nungambakkam, Chennai-34, or submitted through the department’s website.

The department said the exercise is aimed at identifying temples constructed in accordance with Agama rules, in line with the directions of the courts.

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