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DMK Govt Does A “U-Turn” On “ப”(Pa)-Shaped Classroom Seating Arrangement Following Expert Warnings Over Ergonomic Risks Affecting Children’s Health

By
The Commune
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pa shaped seating arrangement classroom tamil nadu scrapped kerala movie inspiration

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department has suspended its newly introduced directive to reorganize classroom seating in a ‘ப’ (Pa)-shaped format, following concerns raised by medical experts, educators, and the general public.

The Tamil Nadu School Education Department’s recently announced “no backbencher” seating model has sparked debate among health experts and educators, with calls for caution over its long-term physical and psychological impact on students. The semi-circular “ப” (Pa)-shaped seating arrangement, introduced to promote inclusivity and engagement, is now under scrutiny for potential ergonomic and logistical issues.

The experimental seating design, inspired by the Malayalam film Sthanarthi Sreekuttan, was intended to eliminate the perceived hierarchy of frontbenchers and backbenchers in classrooms. First implemented at Ramavilasom Vocational Higher Secondary School in Valakom, Kerala, the model had students seated along the walls of the classroom or in a semi-circle, ensuring equal visibility and proximity to the teacher. The concept gained traction after the film portrayed a student’s frustration at being sidelined on the backbench, eventually leading to a classroom design where all students felt equally seen and heard.

Kerala’s innovation quickly caught the attention of neighbouring Tamil Nadu, where the School Education Department issued a circular (Rc.No. 0043/ M/S 1/2025), directing headmasters of government middle schools to arrange classroom seating in a “ப”-shaped format. Officials said the model would be piloted in classes with fewer than 35 students across approximately 8,000 government middle schools.

The directive described the new layout as a tool to promote engagement, visual equality, and interactive teaching. According to the circular, the U-shaped model (similar to the Tamil letter “ப”) would encourage eye contact, class participation, and peer learning. “When every voice can be seen and heard, learning becomes a conversation, not a lecture,” it stated, urging classrooms to become “circles of trust, engagement, and shared learning.”

However, within days of the announcement, the move drew concern from educationists and health professionals. The Indian Association of Physiotherapists (Tamil Nadu Branch) issued a public statement warning of the physical health risks posed by such a layout, particularly for young students.

In the statement, Dr. V. Krishnakumar, State President of the association, noted that students seated along the curved arms of the “ப” configuration would be required to repeatedly twist their necks and spines to face the teacher or blackboard. This, he said, could lead to cervical strain, muscular imbalance, lower back discomfort, and hip rotation stress—especially in children during their developmental years.

“Twisted trunk postures and asymmetrical viewing angles can cause early postural fatigue,” the statement read, also warning of increased risks of torticollis (neck muscle tightness) and cervicogenic headaches. The association cited global ergonomic guidelines, including those by the WHO and International Ergonomics Association, which recommend symmetrical body alignment and frontal viewing angles for classroom seating.

In addition to physiological concerns, experts flagged psychosocial issues. Constant visibility in a semi-circular setup, they argued, may cause anxiety in introverted or neurodivergent children who may prefer a degree of visual privacy.

The seating arrangement also raised logistical challenges in overcrowded classrooms. The new design, critics said, restricted movement, limited space for students with disabilities, and potentially reduced the teacher’s ability to monitor and interact with all students evenly.

The Federation of Private School Associations echoed these concerns, urging the government to reconsider the plan before wide-scale implementation. “This arrangement can accommodate only a few students and may cause eye-related issues due to frequent head turning,” said Federation President M. Arumugam, as told to Times Of India.

Following these expert assessments and the mixed reactions from educators, the Tamil Nadu School Education Department has now quietly withdrawn the seating directive. Sources within the department confirmed that further implementation has been paused and that no new instructions will be issued until a comprehensive review, including consultations with health and education professionals, is conducted.

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Why No RG Kar-Like Mass Outcry On Kasba Law College Rape Case?

By
The Commune
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Almost three weeks have passed since the incident of rape of a law college student took place within her college premises at Kasba in South Kolkata, however, no public outcry has been witnessed like the one seen over the rape and murder of a woman doctor at state-run R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital.

The public outcry and protests on the streets started on the very morning of August 9 last year, when the body of the victim doctor was recovered from the seminar hall within the R.G. Kar premises. The protests continued for over six months and erupted not only across the state but also in other states.

The Non-Resident Indians at several places across the world held demonstrations. However, in the case of the Kasba Law College rape case, even the state and city are yet to witness any such major outburst of public outcry involving celebrities, successful people from different professions, and members of the civil society, as it happened in the case of the R.G. Kar tragedy.

The first reason for this is the reluctance of the parents of the law college victim to be vocal against the sexual assault on their daughter, and thus reach out to the larger society, prompting them to hit the streets on this issue.

Since the rape surfaced, the victim’s parents have kept themselves and their daughter incommunicado with the media. They have even informed the Calcutta High Court through their counsel that they were quite satisfied with the ongoing investigation in the matter being carried out by Kolkata Police, and hence they were not seeking a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe.

On the contrary, in the case of the R.G. Kar tragedy, the victim’s parents were extremely vocal from the very first day. They started regular media interaction on the very first day of the crime detection, issuing an appeal to the larger society to stand by them in their struggle to ensure justice for their daughter.

The parents of the R.G. Kar victims, unlike the parents of the Kasba Law College victim, had demanded that a central agency probe the mishap with their daughter from the beginning.

Social scientists feel that the larger civil society generally reacts more promptly and spontaneously only if the “call for justice” comes either from the victim or her close associates, like family members.

So there was a difference in the after-effects of the crimes in the cases of R.G. Kar and Kasba Law College., in the case of the R.G. Kar tragedy, the movement was first started by different associations of professionals from the medical fraternity, including medical students, junior and senior doctors, and nursing staff.

Their initiatives to begin the movement on the issue and the continuous hunger strike by a group of junior doctors encouraged celebrities, successful people from other professions, and civil society groups to actively join the movement, which ultimately shook the entire state first and subsequently the entire country and finally different parts of the globe.

However, in the case of the Kasba Law College rape, there had been no initiative from any association within the legal fraternity, be it law students or practising advocates, to start a bigger movement on this issue. Now, following this reluctance on the part of the legal fraternity, even the bigger civil society seemed not to have felt the urge to ensure an outburst of mass outcry.

The question that arises is why the enthusiasm of the medical fraternity to initiate the movement in the case of the R.G. Kar tragedy could not encourage those from the legal fraternity to initiate a similar movement on the Kasba Law College rape case. The reason is political.

Most of the associations from the medical fraternity are mainly controlled by anti-Trinamool Congress political forces, or to be more precise, the Leftist forces. On the contrary, the ruling party in West Bengal virtually enjoys absolute control over almost all the associations linked to the legal fraternity in the state.

–IANS

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C Sadanandan Master, The Kerala Teacher Whose Legs Were Cut By Communists For Supporting RSS

By
The Commune
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On a humid evening in Kannur, Sadanandan Master arrived home in his wheelchair. A small boy tugged at his kurta and asked: “Master, how did you walk before?” With a gentle smile, Sadanandan rolled up his pant leg to reveal his prosthetic limb and quietly replied, “These were mine once—before that night in 1994.” This simple exchange, recounted by local village bloggers, encapsulates the humility and quiet strength he embodies.

Kerala is often hailed as a beacon of literacy and political consciousness. Yet, beneath this progressive veneer lies a red corridor stained by decades of political violence—much of it targeting Hindus for simply asserting their identity. In this fraught landscape, few figures embody the kind of quiet resilience and moral courage that C. Sadanandan Master does.

Early Life

Born in Perinchery, Mattanur, Kannur—a CPI(M) stronghold—Sadanandan was raised in a Communist household: his father a CPI(M) sympathizer and his elder brother active in SFI. Sadanandan himself joined the SFI until the mid-’80s. But as he pursued higher education, he began questioning Marxism’s relevance to India. Influenced especially by Akkitham’s Bharata Darshanangal, he gravitated toward RSS ideology and began participating in shakha activities in Kannur, eventually serving as district Sah Karyawah for RSS.

Sadanandan served as a high‑school social studies teacher at Sree Durga Vilasam HSS, Peramangalam, Thrissur since 1999. He earned his B.Com from Gauhati University and B.Ed from Calicut University. Beyond teaching, he became vice‑president of the Kerala National Teachers Union and edited its journal Deshiya Adhyapaka Vartha He also served as RSS Kannur district boudhik pramukh, involved in ideological outreach at the grassroots.

The Night That Changed Everything: January 25, 1994

On that fateful evening, while returning from discussing his sister’s wedding plans, Sadanandan was ambushed by CPM cadres near Perinchery. At just 30 years old, both his legs were savagely chopped off. His attackers left him bleeding on the road, forbidding others to come to his aid, and fled the scene. Only after hours did the police arrive. His severed limbs were brought to hospital by a close friend to preserve the crime scene.

This case was initially registered under TADA, the first of its kind in Kerala. When LDF returned to power in 1996, the TADA provisions were withdrawn. In 2003, eight CPM cadres were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment.

The Kerala High Court upheld life terms in February 2025 for the convicted CPM cadres, increasing the fines to ₹50,000 per person and stating that the punishment was in fact lenient for the crime’s severity.

The Road To Resilience

Surviving such an attack would break most people. But Sadanandan did not vanish into bitterness or obscurity. He returned—not with anger, but with an unshakable belief in the power of words, ideas, and democratic resistance. He never once called for violence in return. Instead, he chose to speak—about the need to end Kannur’s cycle of bloodshed, about building bridges between communities and ideologies, and about the importance of education and reform.

Before politics took over his life, Sadanandan was a dedicated teacher. He worked in schools in Mattanur and later in Thrissur. Even after the attack, he continued to engage with the world of education—serving as vice-president of the National Teachers Union and editing its journal Deshiya Adhyapaka Vartha. He also became associated with the Bharatiya Vichara Kendram, the RSS’s intellectual wing in Kerala, where he contributed to policy and ideological debates.

According to writer Advaita Kala, Sadanandan lay silent in hospital, refusing food, even his books offered no comfort. His wife had to feed him. Yet, his friend’s act of carrying those severed legs on his shoulders to the hospital—so no one could deny the crime—became a silent testimony of hope amidst horror . Over six months later, he walked again—with prosthetic legs—and gradually re‑entered public life.

Within a year, he married Vanitha in 1995.

Political Entry

In 2016, Sadanandan contested the Kerala Assembly election as a BJP candidate from Koothuparambu—ironically, one of the most politically sensitive constituencies in Kannur.

His campaign drew national attention when Prime Minister Modi introduced him at a rally, asking: “What crime did Sadanandan Master commit that his legs were cut off?” That moment elevated his narrative beyond regional politics to national conscience.

His 2016 vote share of ~14.2% (20,787 votes) was among BJP’s best in Kannur. He didn’t win, but victory was never the point. His candidacy itself was a statement: that ideas matter more than muscle, and that even in the face of unimaginable cruelty, one can choose to rise through dialogue, not destruction.

Till mid July 2025, he served as the BJP’s Kerala state vice president.

Entering Rajya Sabha

On July 12, 2025, President Droupadi Murmu nominated him to the Rajya Sabha under Article 80(1)(a), recognizing his contributions to education and public service. The Gazette notification listed him alongside other eminent figures.

C. Sadanandan Master is not just a symbol of survival but a portrait of moral resilience.

He stands as a teacher, survivor, thinker, and now legislator.

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President Droupadi Murmu Nominates 4 Eminent Personalities To Rajya Sabha

By
The Commune
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President Droupadi Murmu has nominated four eminent personalities to the Rajya Sabha (RS), India’s Upper House of Parliament, on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. The nominated members are Ujjwal Deorao Nikam, C. Sadanandan Master, Harsh Vardhan Shringla, and Meenakshi Jain.

The notification, dated July 12, 2025, was issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs. The nominations were made under sub-section (a) of clause (1) of Article 80 of the Indian Constitution, which empowers the President to nominate individuals who have made significant contributions in the fields of art, literature, science, and social service.

These appointments come in place of retired nominated members and are aimed at ensuring diverse representation and expertise in the Rajya Sabha. Ujjwal Nikam is a distinguished public prosecutor, widely recognised for handling several high-profile criminal cases, most notably the prosecution of Ajmal Kasab, one of the perpetrators of the 26/11 Mumbai terror attacks. He had led the charge for a death sentence in the case.

C. Sadanandan Master, a veteran social worker and educationist from Kerala, is known for his lifelong commitment to education, youth empowerment and social service. Harsh Vardhan Shringla, a former Foreign Secretary of India, brings with him a rich experience in diplomacy and international affairs. He has played a crucial role in shaping India’s foreign policy and had a key part in India’s successful G20 presidency.

Meenakshi Jain, a noted historian, researcher and academic, is known for her work in history, political science and literature. Her scholarly contributions have significantly influenced academic discourse in the country.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi also extended his congratulations to the four newly-nominated members through posts on social media. In a post on X, the Prime Minister wrote, “Shri Ujjwal Nikam’s devotion to the legal field and to our Constitution is exemplary. He has not only been a successful lawyer but also been at the forefront of seeking justice in important cases. During his entire legal career, he has always worked to strengthen Constitutional values and ensure common citizens are always treated with dignity. It’s gladdening that the President of India has nominated him to the Rajya Sabha. My best wishes for his Parliamentary innings.”

On C. Sadanandan’s nomination, PM Modi said, “Violence and intimidation couldn’t deter his spirit towards national development. His efforts as a teacher and social worker are also commendable. He is extremely passionate towards youth empowerment. Congratulations to him for being nominated to the Rajya Sabha by Rashtrapati Ji. Best wishes for his role as MP.”

On Shringla’s induction into Parliament, the Prime Minister said, “He has excelled as a diplomat, intellectual and strategic thinker. Over the years, he’s made key contributions to India’s foreign policy and also contributed to our G20 Presidency. Glad that he’s been nominated to the Rajya Sabha by President of India. His unique perspectives will greatly enrich Parliamentary proceedings.”

Expressing happiness over Meenakshi Jain’s nomination, PM Modi stated, “She has distinguished herself as a scholar, researcher and historian. Her work in the fields of education, literature, history and political science have enriched academic discourse significantly. Best wishes for her Parliamentary tenure.”

–IANS

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Was The CIA Controlling The Cockpit? Boeing’s Secret Tech And The Ahmedabad Plane Crash

By
The Commune
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In what is being called one of the deadliest and most mysterious aviation disasters in India’s history, Air India Flight 117, a Boeing 787 Dreamliner, crashed shortly after takeoff from Ahmedabad, killing nearly everyone on board.

The Official Cause: Fuel Cutoffs

The AAIB ruled out sabotage, bird strike, and fuel contamination but did not dismiss any possibilities pending complete analysis

According to the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB), both engine fuel cutoff switches unexpectedly shifted from RUN to CUTOFF in less than one second, leading to a sudden loss of thrust. Pilots tried to restart engines but were too low to recover before the plane crashed near the airport perimeter, killing 241 onboard and at least 19 on the ground—only one person survived.

A Ram Air Turbine (RAT)—the emergency power backup—was deployed just after takeoff, indicating total engine failure. CCTV confirmed its deployment within seconds of liftoff.

Following takeoff, the aircraft reached its highest indicated airspeed of 180 knots around 08:08:42 UTC. Just moments later, the fuel cutoff switches for both engines—Engine 1 and Engine 2—shifted from the RUN position to CUTOFF in quick succession, with only a one-second gap between the two. As a result, both engines’ N1 and N2 readings began to decline, indicating that fuel flow to the engines had been interrupted.

Cockpit voice recordings reveal one pilot asking, “Why did you cut off?”, with the other replying, “I did not do so.”

Aviation consultants note that fuel cutoff switches have metal locking mechanisms and guarded brackets—making accidental trigger extremely unlikely

Then how did it happen?

Boeing’s Remote-Control Patent

Boeing was awarded a patent in 2006 for technology that allows remote overriding of a vehicle’s onboard controls—including aircraft—in case the security of cockpit controls is compromised.

The patent describes an automated control system that can be activated remotely, disabling pilot control by bypassing accessible power elements via an alternative, inaccessible control element—which conspiracy theorists equate with the RAT.

Instantly after RAT deployment: Engine fuel cutoffs occurred, followed by catastrophic stall.

The timeline mirrors the Boeing patent’s architecture: remote engagement → disable onboard controls → switch to emergency power → crash.

The precise one-second interval and pilot surprise feed speculation about skilled remote intervention.

CIA Hitting Back At India For Baking Nukes At Kirana Hills?

Open-source intelligence and credible defense watchers suggest that the Indian Air Force (IAF) may have conducted a precision strike on Pakistan’s sensitive nuclear storage facility in the Kirana Hills region, adjacent to the highly fortified Sargodha Airbase.

According to multiple sources, the strike reportedly penetrated deep into the rocky subterranean structure—allegedly causing partial collapse of tunnels and potentially compromising stored nuclear warheads. Some reports even hint at low-level radiation leakage, though officially denied.

What makes this incident even more significant is the belief that the Kirana Hills facility may also house nuclear assets tied to U.S. strategic cooperation with Pakistan—a claim neither confirmed nor denied by Washington.

If India indeed struck a site connected to American nuclear infrastructure, it would represent an unprecedented breach and a serious embarrassment for the United States—especially the CIA—which failed to anticipate India’s bold escalation.

This, many argue, could explain why the CIA may have sought swift retaliation through an untraceable covert message—one that would be loud enough for Delhi to hear, but quiet enough to deny.

Notably, former Gujarat Chief Minister Vijay Rupani was aboard Air India Flight 117, which crashed under mysterious circumstances. The presence of a VVIP onboard raises serious questions: Was this flight specifically targeted as a warning?

Adding to the intrigue, Western media swiftly pinned the blame on the pilots—even before preliminary emergency protocols had been completed. The speed and certainty of the narrative triggered suspicions of a coordinated cover-up, possibly engineered to distract from the larger geopolitical implications..

When Malaysia Blamed CIA For MH370

Former Malaysian PM Mahathir Mohamad speculated that Boeing’s remote control system might have been used to hijack or disable Flight MH370, noting:

“Clearly Boeing and certain agencies have the capacity to take over ‘uninterruptible control’ of commercial airliners… someone is hiding something.”

Like Flight 117, MH370 involved a Boeing aircraft, unexplained loss of communication, and missing evidence—fostering a similar control-over-airplanes theory.

India Must Not Give Benefit Of Doubt

India’s final AAIB report is due within a year. It may clarify whether manual intervention, mechanical failure, or software error triggered the cutoffs.

Independent probes and third‑party experts must assess whether Boeing’s remote override patent was ever integrated into real aircraft systems.

Without conclusive proof, the CIA sabotage theory remains speculative. Yet the sequence of events—cutoff switches, emergency RAT activation, cockpit confusion—paired with Boeing’s remote-control patent—it fits too neatly to ignore.

(With inputs from Vijay Patel’s X Thread)

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Madras High Court Raps IAS Officers For 50-Year Delay In Reclaiming Temple Land From Christian Missionary-Run School Near Cuddalore

By
The Commune
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In a blistering judgment this week, the Madras High Court strongly admonished five senior IAS officers for neglecting multiple judicial orders to evict St. Joseph Matriculation Higher Secondary School, a church-run institution illegally occupying 3.40 acres of temple land in Koothapakkam village, which belongs to the revered Sri Devanathaswamy Temple.

Backrground

The encroachment has been ongoing for over five decades, despite a 2019 ruling by Justice M. Dhandapani ordering the school’s removal. A follow-up 2024 bench reaffirmed the judgment and provided a six-month deadline for evacuation, while also directing authorities to identify alternate land under Section 78 of the Tamil Nadu HR&CE Act, 1959 .

After no action was taken within the extended timeframe, S. Vinoth Raghavendran, state secretary of BJP’s temple wing, filed a contempt petition in 2025, prompting the High Court to take up the matter again.

Contempt Proceedings And Apology

A division bench led by Chief Justice K.R. Shriram and Justice Sunder Mohan summoned five senior officials to appear on July 10, 2025, for contempt proceedings:

P. Amudha – Additional Chief Secretary, Revenue

S. Madhumathi – Secretary, Differently‑Abled Welfare

B. Chandramohan – Principal Secretary, School Education

P. N. Sridhar – HR&CE Commissioner

Sibi Adhithya Senthilkumar – Collector, Cuddalore District

During the hearing, the officers submitted an unconditional apology, acknowledging their failure to comply with prior court mandates. The court accepted their apology and dispensed with the need for further personal appearances

Relocation And Objections

The state had proposed relocating the school to 4.73 acres in Bhuvanagiri taluk, as informed by Additional Advocate General J. Ravindran

However, senior advocate Father Xavier Arul Raj contested the site’s suitability, stating the land is a sandy, roadless plot near mining operations, located 32 km away from the original premises. He urged the court to mandate allocation of land within a 5 km radius, even if smaller in size

Court Directions

The court directed the school management to submit a representation to the Revenue Department, seeking appropriate land. Authorities were ordered to evaluate and allot land within a reasonable timeframe, prioritizing proximity to the original site.

Order Significance

The order marks an uncommon precedent where senior civil servants were publicly held accountable for ignoring judicial orders. It reinforces the judiciary’s insistence on administrative compliance and deterrence of executive inertia.

The land involved forms part of the sacred Deiva Nayagan Divya Desam temple complex at Thiru Vahindrapuram, making restoration of property a matter of cultural and religious importance

According to Nachiappan, President of BJP Tamil Nadu’s Temple Development Wing, this issue only saw movement after filing the contempt petition, despite prior court victories dating back to 2023 and earlier

What Next?

The school is expected to evacuate the original temple land, which will be restored to its rightful religious custodians.

The state revenue department must promptly process land allocation requests submitted by the school, ensuring proximity and accessibility.

The case underscores enforcement of court orders, protection of temple heritage, and administrative accountability going forward.

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DMK’s Perambalur-Ariyalur Units Caught In A. Raja Vs S.S Sivasankar Turf War?

By
The Commune
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A simmering power struggle between Nilgiris MP and DMK Deputy General Secretary A. Raja and Tamil Nadu Transport Minister S.S. Sivasankar has thrown the DMK’s Perambalur and Ariyalur units into disarray. These two backward districts, with just four assembly constituencies combined, have become the epicenter of a deepening internal rift.

The intense competition within the party stems from a long-standing rivalry over control and influence in these constituencies. Minister Sivasankar hails from a political legacy his father, Sivasubramanian, was a towering figure in the DMK’s Perambalur region. Notably, it was Sivasubramanian who mentored A. Raja and helped launch his political career by fielding him in the 1996 elections.

Despite Sivashankar being the biological heir, A. Raja gradually carved out his own political space and, after Perambalur was declared a general constituency, shifted to the Nilgiris. However, Raja continued to wield considerable power over appointments and decisions in Perambalur and Ariyalur, ensuring that key posts were filled by his loyalists.

Things have reportedly shifted in recent years. Sources suggest that A. Raja is now aggressively reasserting his influence in his native district, causing friction with Sivasankar. Party insiders believe that Raja covertly worked against Sivasankar during the 2016 assembly elections in Ariyalur, contributing to his defeat. Although the two leaders have maintained public civility since then, political observers say the rivalry has only intensified.

Sivasankar’s resurgence in 2021 winning from Kunnam and gaining favor with Deputy Chief Minister Udhayanidhi Stalin marked a turning point. Initially entrusted with the Backward Classes Welfare portfolio, he later took over the Transport Department amid the Raja Kannappan controversy, and more recently, assumed control of the Electricity Department. His rising stature is said to have unsettled Raja, who now reportedly sees Sivasankar as a direct political threat.

Insiders claim that Raja has even instructed party functionaries not to feature Sivasankar’s image in DMK events and banners. With Sivasankar’s growing clout, many local DMK office-bearers have started aligning themselves with his camp, leaving Raja increasingly isolated in his own political backyard.

This ongoing turf war has created confusion and discontent among grassroots workers and mid-level party leaders, who are unsure of whom to approach for support or endorsements. Raja, who once had an unchallenged grip on the region, now finds himself sidelined as party cadres defer to Sivasankar.

Despite their apparent camaraderie in public appearances, it is widely believed that both leaders are locked in a silent, high-stakes battle for dominance. The clash, rooted in ego and legacy, is now threatening party cohesion in the Perambalur-Ariyalur belt.

Whether this internal conflict will simmer down or explode further remains uncertain but it is already proving to be a headache for the DMK’s top leadership.

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Tiruppur Shaken By Shocking Schoolboy Kidnapping And Assault By Intoxicated Youths; Police Launch Manhunt

By
The Commune
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A deeply disturbing incident has rocked Tiruppur district after a 15-year-old schoolboy was abducted, assaulted, and left severely injured by a group of intoxicated youths. The victim, Sabari, a class 9 student at the Gandhi Government Higher Secondary School, went missing from his classroom on the morning of 11 July. He was later found in the evening, brutally beaten and in critical condition.

Sabari, the elder son of Venkatesh and Indumathi from Ichipatti in Tiruppur district, had reportedly skipped school that morning, upset over being forced to stay in the hostel. While trying to return home, he attempted to hitch a ride near the school. Four young men on two motorcycles offered him a lift, claiming they would drop him off at Samalapuram.

Instead, the group purchased alcohol from an illegal outlet in Somanur, located in the Karumathampatti region, and began drinking. When Sabari refused to join them, they allegedly assaulted him and forcibly made him inhale chemicals using a handkerchief, rendering him unconscious.

Upon regaining consciousness, Sabari found himself in an abandoned building in the Kadambadi VIP Nagar area near Sulur. The attackers continued to pressure him into drinking and, when he resisted, they violently assaulted him again. He was struck with an iron rod on the back of his head and suffered severe injuries to his face, ears, and skull. The room where the assault took place was found with bloodstains, empty liquor bottles, and shattered glass.

A female assistant inspector discovered Sabari and rushed him to a government hospital where he received emergency medical treatment. Preliminary police investigations indicate that the attackers may have attempted to coerce the boy into immoral activities and resorted to violence when he refused.

The Sulur police have inspected the crime scene and launched a special investigation team to track down the four suspects, who reportedly behaved with a brutal and deranged mindset. Sabari’s mother, Indumathi, speaking with anguish, urged authorities to shut down illegal liquor shops to prevent such horrors from happening to other children.

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DMK Stooge Actor Karthi Says “TN Govt Schools Are Excellent”, But Tiruppur Students Study In Corridors, Terraces, And Makeshift Classrooms

By
The Commune
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While Kollywood actor and Dravidianist sympathiser Karthi showered praise on Tamil Nadu’s School Education Minister Anbil Mahesh, claiming government schools were thriving under his stewardship, the reality on the ground tells a very different story especially in Tiruppur, just 40 km from the actor’s hometown.

For nearly eight years, students at the Veerapandi Government Higher Secondary School in Tiruppur have been forced to study under severely inadequate conditions. With over 1,200 students enrolled from Classes VI to XII, the school has only 19 classrooms, pushing hundreds of children into makeshift learning spaces on terraces, verandahs, and corridors.

During rains, many of these exposed areas flood, severely disrupting lessons. The lack of space, privacy, and basic facilities has left students and parents frustrated and disillusioned.

“This situation has persisted since 2017,” said Sasikumar, a member of the Parent-Teacher Association. “We have written multiple times to the local councillor and the district collector, requesting new classrooms to be built on nearby land just a kilometre away from the school. But nothing has moved. We now have 100 to 150 students squeezed into a single temporary classroom. How can they concentrate or learn in such conditions?”

Lok Priya, a former student, pointed to additional issues plaguing the school, “Despite the large number of students, there are too few classrooms. Sanitary facilities are lacking, there’s no playground, and just two physical education teachers are available for the entire student body. Authorities must take this matter seriously.”

The school’s in-charge Chief Education Officer, Kalimuthu, acknowledged the infrastructure crisis, attributing the rise in student strength to the growing migrant population in Tiruppur. He explained that earlier efforts to expand were stalled due to land constraints, which have now reportedly been resolved. “Revenue officials have inspected the newly identified land. We will take action soon. In the meantime, we’re arranging to use space at a nearby elementary school,” he said.

However, many parents remain sceptical, citing years of administrative inaction and inter-departmental delays. Despite repeated inspections and promises from authorities, the project remains stuck in bureaucratic limbo, with no tangible progress on the ground.

As monsoon rains loom and temporary classrooms remain vulnerable to flooding, parents and teachers are once again urging the government to act swiftly and decisively—not just to build classrooms, but to restore a basic sense of dignity and educational quality for the children of Veerapandi.

(With Inputs From India Today)

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Mudhalvan In Name, Mudiyala In Result: DMK Govt’s Skilling Programme Kills Hopes As Data Reveals Deepening Gaps Between Training And Job Placements

By
The Commune
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The Dravidian model government’s ambitious Naan Mudhalvan skill development program is encountering increasing challenges. Initially launched to make youth “industry-ready” for entry-level employment, the scheme’s performance over the last three years has yielded inconsistent results especially in terms of actual job placements. While training numbers were initially high, a report by Times of India has revealed how poor placement outcomes have led to a decline in enrolments across most sectors, with only logistics, healthcare, and telecom maintaining steady interest.

Sharp Decline In Training Numbers (2023–2025)

  • 2023: 1,35,137 trained
  • 2024: 36,584 trained
  • 2025: 11,865 trained

This drop reflects growing disillusionment with the scheme’s effectiveness. Out of a total 1.83 lakh candidates trained since 2023, only 75,850 secured placements a success rate of around 41%, leaving over 1.07 lakh candidates without jobs.

Training Vs. Employment Disconnect

While the scheme offers 1-to-6 month courses aiming to prepare candidates for blue-collar jobs, a surprising 60% of trainees in 2025 are UG or PG graduates. This reveals a mismatch between the qualifications of the trainees and the kind of jobs available after training.

Some sectors like logistics and geriatric care fared well. According to the report, 90% of logistics trainees were placed in roles like forklift operators, delivery personnel, and gig work. But sectors like beauty and wellness, tailoring, rubber work, aerospace, aviation, and textiles showed dismal results. The ToI report pointed out that in 2023, over 1,000 candidates were trained in aerospace, aviation, and textiles but none were placed. Similarly, only 67 out of 1,776 in the beauty and wellness stream found employment.

2024 Course Corrections

Faced with low placements, the state discontinued several underperforming courses in 2024, including those in gem and jewellery, paint and coating, and banking and financial services. Other sectors like power, handicrafts, and carpet making saw placement rates below 30%, while management training produced only 3 placements out of 1,948 candidates.

The crisis is also reflected in student engagement on 9 July, only 1,000 out of 5,000 active students attended training sessions, indicating just 20% attendance.

Accountability And Structural Issues

According to Naan Mudhalvan CEO M. Jayaprakasan, many initial training partners including small-scale entrepreneurs lacked the required infrastructure but still received government funds. “One tailoring centre had just two machines but admitted large batches,” he was quoted saying in ToI. The state has since begun stricter vetting of training institutes.

K.V. Rajkumar, project director at the Tamil Nadu Skill Development Corporation, acknowledged issues with job offers too. “We withhold 40% of payment to training centres that fail to provide placements,” he said. However, he added that many students reject job offers because the salaries are too low or jobs are located far from home. “The pay is just ₹500 a day. Some trainees are only using this time to prepare for higher education and aren’t serious about placements,” he was quoted saying in the report.

Another problem is the geographical imbalance. Around 30% of all training partners are based in Chennai and its suburbs, limiting opportunities for students from other districts.

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