The New Indian Express wishes its readers a KOZHIKODE l Wednesday l January 01, 2025 l `9.00 l PAGES 18 l city EDITION India’s Core sector production improves to 4.3% in November Output of cement, coal, steel, electricity, refinery products, and fertilisers showed positive growth in November, commerce ministry data showed Cement sector emerges top performer Output Growth hits four-month high Coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement, and electricity are the eight infrastructure industries collectively known as the core sector. The cement sector grew 13% in November, followed by coal at 7.5%, steel 4.8%, electricity 3.8%, petroleum refinery products 2.9%, and fertilisers 2%. Crude oil and natural gas output contracted 2.1% and 1.9% ■ ■ The latest data for November shows a four-month high in terms of positive growth in core sector output. In August 2024, overall core sector growth showed a contraction of 1.6%. In September and October, the growth was 2.4% and 3.7% (revised), respectively In November 2023, the core sector had recorded 7.9% growth 40.27% Core sector’s contribution to the index of Industrial production CHENNAI ■ MADURAI ■ VIJAYAWADA ■ BENGALURU ■ KOCHI ■ HYDERABAD ■ VISAKHAPATNAM ■ COIMBATORE ■ KOZHIKODE ■ THIRUVANANTHAPURAM ■ BELAGAVI ■ BHUBANESWAR ■ SHIVAMOgGA ■ MANGALURU ■ TIRUPATI ■ TIRUCHY ■ TIRUNELVELI ■ SAMBALPUR ■ HUBBALLI ■ DHARMAPURI ■ KOTTAYAM ■ KANNUR ■ VILLUPURAM ■ KOLLAM ■ TADEPALLIGUDEM ■ NAGAPATTINAM ■ THRISSUR ■ KALABURAGI Guru was not a practitioner of Sanatana Dharma, says CM Pinarayi E x p r ess Ne w s S e r v i c e @ T’Puram a sparkling start Fireworks light up the sky over Harbour Bridge and Opera House during New Year celebrations in Sydney, Australia, on Tuesday midnight | AFP Farmer on fast seeks talks with Centre, SC grants time S u c h i t r a K a lya n M o h a n t y @ New Delhi the Supreme Court on Tuesday granted three more days to the Punjab government to comply with its December 20 order to provide medical aid to 70-year-old farmer leader Jagjit Singh Dallewal, who has been on a fast-unto-death strike since November 26, and shift him to hospital. The court was hearing a contempt petition against the Punjab chief secretary and DGP for not complying with its order to shift Dallewal to hospital. A vacation bench of justices Surya Kant and Sudhanshu Dhulia accepted the Punjab government’s plea for three more days after Punjab Advocate General Gurminder Singh told the court that Dallewal has agreed to accept medical aid if the Centre is ready to hold talks with the protesting farmers. The protest is over non-fulfilment of farmers’ demands, including a legal guarantee for minimum support price for crops. “We will not comment on what is going on, about negotiations... As of now we are only concerned with the compliance of our orders,” Justice Kant said. Sorry CM apologises for loss of lives due to ethnic strife Urges people to forgive and forget past mistakes P r asa n ta M a z u m d a r @ Guwahati On the New Year’s eve, Manipur Chief Minister N Biren Singh apologised to the people of the state for the loss of lives during the ethnic violence. “I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what happened since May 3 last year. Many people lost their loved ones. Many people left their homes. So, I really feel regret and would like to apologise to all natives,” Singh said at a press conference. Pointing out that there has been some progress towards peace in the last three-four months, he said he was hopeful about the return of normalcy and peace on the New Year. “Whatever happened has happened. We have to forgive and forget the past mistakes and make a new beginning for a peaceful and prosperous Manipur,” the CM said, adding, “We all recognise 34-35 tribes. We should live together in the future.” While over 200 people died in the ethnic violence, 12,247 FIRs were registered and 625 accused arrested. Also, Manipur accounted for 77% of violence in northeast last year New Delhi: Strife-torn Manipur accounted for about 77% of all violent incidents in the Northeast in 2023-24, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) said in its annual report. Of the 243 violent incidents in the Northeast that year, 187 were in Manipur alone. 5,600 arms and 35,000 ammunitions were recovered. “So, there is a good progress in tackling the issue. Centre provided enough security personnel and funds to help the displaced families. Altogether 2,058 families with a population of 7,549 persons have been resettled,” Singh said. Meanwhile, several Kuki women were injured on Tuesday when central armed police forces (CAPF) allegedly used force to disperse protesters at Saibol village in the Kangpokpi district. The trouble began when the local women allegedly resisted the “forceful occupation of community bunkers” by the central forces. I feel regret and I want to say sorry to the people of the state for what happened since May 3 last year Biren Singh, Manipur CM Condemning the assault, the women wing of the Indigenous Tribal Leaders’ Forum claimed that more than 30 women were injured during their “peaceful protest against the violence in Saibol-Twichin area of Kangpokpi district”. The organisation demanded that CAPF immediately cease its “intrusive operations” and allow the people to celebrate the New Year in peace. “The government must stop being biased and take concrete steps to prevent such incidents and ensure that those responsible for the violence are held accountable,” the organisation further stated. After the chief minister’s outreach, the Congress wondered why Prime Minister Narendra Modi hasn’t gone there yet. In a post on X, Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh said, “Why can’t the Prime Minister go to Manipur and say the same thing there? He has deliberately avoided visiting the state since May 4, 2023, even as he jets around the country and the world.” Challenging the Sangh parivar narrative linking Sanatana Dhar ma and Sree Narayana Guru, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Tuesday said Guru was neither a spokesperson nor a practitioner of Sanatana Dharma. “Guru was a seer who deconstructed the concept of Sanatana Dhar ma, and developed new dharma for a new age. What is Sanatana Dharma? It is actually the var nashrama dhar ma. The new-age humanitarianism of Sree Narayana Guru had challenged and overcome the varnashrama dharma and sustained time,” Pinarayi said while inaugurating the Maha Sammelan at Sivagiri. He said while var nashrama dharma upheld caste-based lab o u r, G u r u urged people to show defiance to it. “T hen how can Guru become a spokesperson of Sanatana Dharma? Throughout his life, he had challenged and defied it. How can a Guru who proclaimed one caste, one religion, and one god become the spokesperson of Sanatana Dharma which had taken shape within the confines of one religion?” he said. “Even today we hear the word , Sanatana Dharma. This is a favourite word for monarchy and communalism. Now there is a growing claim that the Sanatana Dharma is great concept, and its restoration is said to be the formula to resolve every social is● More on P5 sue,” the CM said.  Give up obsolete rituals in temples: Swami Sachidananda T’Puram: Sivagiri Mutt president Swami Sachidananda has asked the temples under the control of the mutt and SNDP Yogam to give up rituals that prohibit the entry of male devotees who visit temples wearing upper garments. He said this should be corrected. Swami Sachidanandawas speaking at the maha sammelan at Sivagiri Mutt on Tuesday. P5 MLA’s accidental fall Fun, funky & fit Forest bathing to plogging: New Cops to look into fitness trends taking root in state fund collection by As fitness becomes the choice of modern lifestyles, unconventional fitness practices are taking root in the state. From connecting with nature through forest bathing to cleaning up while running with plogging, these activities are gaining traction for their approaches to health and well-being. While many might assume forest bathing to be taking a shower in the woods, it’s far more than that. Rooted in the Japanese concept of Shinrin Yoku, forest bathing involves immersing oneself in nature to rejuvenate both mind and body . “It’s about connecting with nature and letting it heal your physical and mental health,” said Ritu Goyal Harish, founder of Ease India Travel. The practice does not require rigorous physical effort. Instead, it’s a meditative process that allows the body to absorb the therapeutic elements of the forest, from its fresh air, sounds of rustling trees and birds, and to the soothing aromas released by trees. “In today’s technology-driven lives, stress and depression are rampant. Forest bathing offers a solution, with sessions lasting 20 minutes to an hour. Guided sessions, available in places like Wayanad, Chhattisgarh, and Arunachal Pradesh, are growing in popularity. In Kerala, a session costs `1,000,” said Ritu Goyal. Another is plogging. An ecofriendly workout that combines jogging with litter collection, it, too, is catching on in the state. The Sweden Alumni Network India - Kerala Chapter has organised plogging events for two consecutive years in the past and plans to continue it in 2025. These campaigns often involve youth, school students, and Rotary Club members, promoting both fitness and environmental responsibility. “When such activities gain traction, people naturally develop an aversion to littering,” said E P Mohandas, a member of the Bathery Rotary Club. Past plogging drives have been conducted in Wayanad, Kannur, Kozhikode, and Malappuram, with participation growing steadily . Retro walking, or walking backwards, is another rising trend in the fitness world. This underrated exercise engages muscles differently, reduces stress on the knees and lower back and improves balance and posture. “Backward walking is a way to challenge your muscles, especially in the abdomen and lower limbs,” said Riyas Mohammed of G Farm in Thiruvananthapuram. Suitable for all ages, it’s an accessible way to enhance overall fitness. “It is mostly done in groups or with two people,” said ● More on P4 Riyas.  Freepik Va r s h a S o ma r a j @T’Puram event organisers E x p r ess Ne w s S e r v i c e @Kochi With allegations of profiteering surfacing against the organisers of the dance event during which MLA Uma Thomas sustained serious injuries, the police have launched a probe into the financial dealings, focusing on funds collected by Mridangavision, the primary organiser of the event. Kochi city police commissioner Putta Vimaladitya said financial aspects related to the event will be looked into. “Authorities are contacting parents of the children who participated in the event to gather information,” he said. “We are conducting a preliminary probe into the funds collected by the organisers. Some participants expressed grievances about the event. However, we have not received any complaint till now,” he said. Kakkanad native Biji Hilal, who was contacted by the police for a statement, alleged flaws in the event’s conduct. Biji’s daughter was one of the 12,000 participants who performed bharatanatyam at Jawaharlal Nehru International Stadium, Kaloor, for the Guinness World Record attempt. “We came to know about the event through dance school, and thought it was similar to attending school arts festivals. However, we were asked to pay `2,000 as ● More on P4 registration fees,” Biji said. Defence chiefs to get aides from other services M AYA N K S IN G H @ New Delhi TAKING a crucial step in the process to integrate Armed Forces personnel, the personal staff officers of the service chiefs of the Army, Navy and Air Force will be appointed from other services with effect from January 1, 2025. Till now, the chiefs were getting Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) from their own units. “This change has been adopted by all the three service chiefs, signalling some major changes in 2025. It may appear a small step but it is a big Aides-de-Camp message for transforming the defence forces,” sources said. Aides-de-Camp (ADCs) To begin with, the Army chief are the personal staff of will get ADC also from the Air defence chiefs, usually in Force, the Air Chief from the Inthe ranks of Captain/ dian Navy, and the Navy chief Major or equivalent from the Army . ranks from other This is part of the several services. The ADCs serve such changes that will roll out the three service chiefs, over the next year. Sources said force commanders, and the initiative is led by the Chief corps commanders. of Defence Staff, General Anil Defence personnel Chauhan, who is working on a posted with governors long-term plan to move the forcare also ADCs es towards the Integrated Theatre Commands. Under the human resources reforms being undertaken, the first set of cross-posting of junior officers was executed in mid-2023, with mid-level and senior officers being placed in important billets over several months. A special Joint Division has been created at the Defence Services Staff College to foster a collaborative and interservice approach to ensure jointness and integration in warfare and focus on inter-service understanding and cooperation. This, sources said, will empower them to function effectively in the era of Theatre Commands. 18 pages, including 4-page pullout