Ramesh Babu is HT’s bureau chief in Kerala, with about three decades of experience in journalism.
Articles by Ramesh Babu
Kerala, TN CMs to jointly inaugurate centenary celebrations of Vaikom Satyagraha
It was a nonviolent protest that took place from 30 March 1924 to 23 November 1925 in the Kingdom of Travancore, now part of Kerala. The movement got a leg up in 1924 after Mahatma Gandhi sent his disciple Vinoba Bhave to Vaikom to help the agitation and in 1925, Gandhiji himself came to Vaikom to participate.
Updated on Mar 26, 2023 01:55 PM IST
Classical dance form ‘Kathakali’ gets its own village in Kerala
Nearly 30 years after first raising their demand for the change, a little-known village called Ayroor (South) on the banks of Pamba river in Pathanamthitta district will finally be renamed ‘Kathakali Gramam’
Updated on Mar 24, 2023 09:10 AM IST
Bishop’s remarks spark political slugfest in Kerala
Thalassery (north Kerala) Arch Bishop of Mar Joseph Pamplani had given an open offering on Sunday that if the Union government raises the natural rubber’s price to ₹300 per kilogram believers will help the Bharatiya Janata Party to elect its first MP from the state. It stirred a hornet’s nest after the Congress and CPI(M) joined hands to list out recent attacks on minority institutions and fate meted out to Stan Swamy, an 84-year-old Jesuit priest, who died in judicial custody two years ago.
Published on Mar 21, 2023 12:36 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kochi civic body plans to file appeal against NGT’s ₹100 crore fine
The NGT on Saturday pulled up the corporation and the state government for violating the statutory sold waste management rules and orders of the apex court repeatedly
Updated on Mar 20, 2023 01:07 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram:
Kochi Corp to file appeal against NGT’s ₹100 cr fine over Brahmapuram fire
The massive fire and billowing smoke which started on March 2 was finally controlled by March 14 but filled the city with toxic fumes and gas which spread across 30 km and forced over 1,400 people to seek medical aid while dozens fled
Published on Mar 19, 2023 04:36 PM IST
Fire issue rocks Kerala assembly proceedings, CM maintains silence
During the proceedings, even though the Congress-led opposition raised serious allegations against the government and the Kochi corporation, Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan did not respond.
Published on Mar 14, 2023 12:26 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
With elderly population increasing, demand for care homes grows in Kerala
High migration rate, increased life expectancy and proliferating micro-family pattern leave many elders high and dry and for many, such homes are turning a boon -- those who can afford can live gracefully till the last
Published on Mar 13, 2023 12:04 PM IST
Protests erupt in Kochi as toxic fumes from garbage fire shroud city for 11th straight day
On Sunday morning, the AQI was above 200 and officials in the pollution control board said it may cross 300 by evening.
Published on Mar 13, 2023 05:17 AM IST
Kochi fire: People deserting city as toxic smoke, fumes wear them down
Stating that the government’s main objective is to avert a pandemic, health minister Veena George on Saturday said 800 people have sought medical aid so far, and the state will begin a door-to-door health survey from Tuesday
Published on Mar 12, 2023 04:00 PM IST
Kochi fire: A week on, smoke yet to settle
The fire that broke out at the solid waste dump yard last Thursday was controlled by Sunday but there was no let up in smoke emanating from it that had spread over 30km radius.
Updated on Mar 10, 2023 12:52 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Brahmapuram fire: Residents gasp for air as Kochi reels amid inferno aftermath
The fire that broke out at the solid waste dump yard in Brahmapuram last Thursday was controlled by Sunday but there was no let up in smoke emanating from it that had spread over 30km radius
Updated on Mar 09, 2023 05:17 PM IST
Kerala drops move to tax vacant houses
Many NRIs said the proposal to impose additional tax on vacant houses was a rude jolt and welcomed government’s rollback decision. But people who supported the move said it was necessary to check the fragile environment and people who build big houses as status symbols should be penalised
Published on Mar 02, 2023 01:16 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
State will not impose tax on vacant houses: Kerala finance minister
In its 2023-24 state budget, the state had said that it would revise the tax rates on properties and also levy additional tax on its huge number of vacant houses. The proposed tax on vacant houses had invited widespread criticism, especially from the non-residents
Published on Mar 01, 2023 06:55 PM IST
As number of vacant houses mounts in Kerala
With high migration rate and ageing population, the repercussion is quite visible in the state.
Published on Feb 26, 2023 12:17 AM IST
Kerala CM’s relief fund misuse case: Probe agency seeks action against officials
As the VACB intensified its investigation more irregularities came to light. In Kollam district ₹4 lakh was given to an applicant whose house was “severely damaged” in a natural disaster but officials found his house was in good condition, another senior official said
Published on Feb 25, 2023 01:16 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
ED backs up claim of larger nexus in Kerala case with WhatsApp chats
The chats, allegedly retrieved by investigators from Swapna Suresh’s phone, were reproduced by ED in its remand application to a Kochi court
Published on Feb 16, 2023 07:11 PM IST
Kerala CM’s former secretary M Sivasankar in ED custody for 5 days
M Sivasankar, former principal secretary to Kerala chief minister Pinarayi Vijayan, was arrested on Tuesday in a case related to the alleged kickbacks in the state government’s Life Mission project
Published on Feb 15, 2023 06:16 PM IST
Rahul attacks PM Modi over Parliament ruckus, Adani
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Monday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi over allegations of fraud by the Adani Group, asking how references at the embattled tycoon made in a parliamentary speech could be seen as an insult to the prime minister.
Published on Feb 14, 2023 02:02 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Fuel cess imposed to help poor, will stay: Kerala CM
Talking to the media in the state capital, the CM said cess was introduced to meet the welfare pension of 60 lakh people in the “backdrop of the Union government’s attempts to stifle the state by cutting down its plan allocation and putting a cap on borrowing limit”.
Updated on Feb 10, 2023 05:08 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
No cut in proposed cess on petrol, diesel in Kerala
There were strong speculations that the minister will reduce it to ₹1 but he made it clear that the state “cannot afford such a decision at this juncture”.
Published on Feb 09, 2023 12:24 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Transman gives birth to baby in Kerala
Even though Zahad had undergone breast removal surgery and was waiting to remove her uterus to become a man, for which Zahad was already undergoing heavy hormone treatment,however, they both decided to put the treatment on hold and take chance at becoming parents.
Updated on Feb 09, 2023 12:14 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala startup’s smart solution to mounting parking woes
Started by Kerala-based young entrepreneurs in the US in 2015, way.com is a one-stop destination for all auto needs, which is now employing more than 250 professionals in its backup office in Thiruvananthapuram and another 100 in the US.
Published on Feb 06, 2023 12:07 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala serial killings: CFL tests find no trace of cyanide in four bodies
The police said it was not a setback because in the earlier tests in the state traces were found only in two and it was difficult to find such evidence in old cases
Updated on Feb 05, 2023 04:33 PM IST
Kerala budget tabled; fuel, liquor set to cost more
Finance minister K N Balagopal projected a revenue receipt of ₹1.35 lakh crore and expenditure of ₹1.76 lakh crore, as he presented the state budget for 2023-24 financial year in the legislative assembly
Published on Feb 03, 2023 11:59 PM IST
Kerala budget: Cess on fuel, vehicles, liquor
Finance minister K N Balagopal blamed the Union government for cash-strapped Kerala’s financial situation
Updated on Feb 03, 2023 04:40 PM IST
Kerala lawyer booked over bribery claims
Earlier, the police sought the opinion of the advocate general on whether a case could be registered against the lawyer, who is also the president of the Kerala high court advocates association and got a green signal. On Monday, the Bar Council of Kerala also served a show-cause notice to him
Published on Feb 02, 2023 12:25 AM IST
Ramesh Babu, Thiruvananthapuram
Kerala HC recalls bail order amid row over lawyer’s bribery claims
The high court registrar has collected details of cases represented by Kidangoor and submitted them to the police.
Published on Jan 30, 2023 12:10 AM IST
Kerala forest department finds 15 pellets in captured elephant Dhoni’s body
At least 15 gun pellets were found inside the body of a wild elephant that was captured in Kerala’s Palakkad district on Sunday, state forest minister AK Saseendran said, adding that most of the pellets have been removed by the veterinarians of the forest department
Published on Jan 26, 2023 11:44 PM IST
Kerala: 15 pellets found inside captured wild elephant’s body
A forest officer, who did not want to be named, said most of the pellets were not so deep suggesting they were fired from country-made or air guns
Published on Jan 26, 2023 03:44 PM IST
Kerala HC stays conviction of Lakshadweep’s former MP
On Wednesday, the single bench of Justice Becchu Kurian Thomas extended the relief to all four convicted in the 2009 case.
Published on Jan 26, 2023 01:10 AM IST
