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By:

Quaid Najmi

4 January 2025 at 3:26:24 pm

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket...

Cricket’s Quiet Crusader

Former kca Selection Chief who helped nurture a generation of women cricketers when the sport struggled for recognition Niketha Ramankutty A prominent figure in Indian women’s cricket, Niketha Ramankutty — former Chairperson of the Kerala Cricket Association (KCA) Women’s Selection Committee and Manager of the Kerala State women’s teams — has long championed the game, especially when women’s cricket had little platform in her home state. Her dedication helped nurture girls taking to cricket in Kerala. During her tenure, which ended recently, five players from the state went on to represent India, while three now feature in the Women’s Premier League (WPL). Niketha’s journey began in 1995 on modest grounds and rough pitches in the blazing sun of her native Thrissur. At the time, girls aspiring to play cricket often drew curious stares or disapproving glances. This was despite Kerala producing some of India’s finest female athletes, including P.T. Usha, Shiny Wilson, Anju Bobby George, K.M. Beenamol and Tintu Luka. “Those were the days when women’s cricket did not attract packed stadiums, prime-time television coverage, lucrative contracts or celebrity status. Thankfully, the BCCI has taken progressive steps, including equal pay for the senior women’s team and launching the WPL. These have brought greater visibility, professional avenues and financial security for women cricketers,” Niketha said during a chat with  The Perfect Voice  in Pune. With better infrastructure, stronger domestic competitions and greater junior-level exposure, she believes the future of women’s cricket in India is bright and encourages more girls to pursue the sport seriously. Humble Beginnings Niketha began playing informal matches in neighbourhood kalisthalams (playgrounds) and school competitions before realising cricket was her true calling. Coaches who noticed her composure encouraged her to pursue the game seriously. More than flamboyance, she brought reliability and quiet determination to the turf — qualities every captain values when a match hangs in the balance. These traits helped her rise through the ranks and become a key figure in Kerala’s women’s cricket structure. “She was like a gentle messiah for the players. During demanding moments, they could rely on her – whether to stabilise an innings or lift team spirit,” recalled a former colleague. Guiding Youngsters Her involvement came when women’s cricket in many states struggled even for basic facilities. Matches were rarely covered by the media, and limited travel or training arrangements often tested players’ patience. “As a mother of two daughters—Namradha, 18, and Nivedya, 14—I could understand the emotions of the young girls in the teams. Guiding players through difficult phases and helping them overcome failures gave me the greatest satisfaction,” she said. Niketha — an English Literature graduate with a master’s in Tourism Management — believes success in sport demands not only skill but also sacrifice. Strong parental support and encouragement from her husband, Vinoth Kumar, an engineer, helped her overcome many challenges. Never one to seek the spotlight, she let her performances speak for themselves, earning respect on the national circuit. Quiet Legacy Today, the landscape has changed dramatically. Young girls are more ambitious, parents more supportive, and cricket is seen as a viable career with opportunities in coaching, umpiring, team management, sports analysis and allied fields. Players like Niketha have quietly strengthened the sport. Their journeys show that some victories are not won under stadium floodlights, but by determined women who simply refused to stop playing.

Road safety council not met since April 2023

  • PTI
  • Jun 8, 2025
  • 3 min read
AI generated pic
AI generated pic

By Kailash Korde


Mumbai: Despite Maharashtra witnessing 36,567 fatalities and 83,820 road accidents between January 2023 and April 2025, a top road safety council headed by the state transport minister has not met even once in two years, officials said on Sunday.


Such is the situation that current transport minister Pratap Sarnaik said he was not even aware of the existence of the State Road Safety Council.


The last meeting of the State Road Safety Council was held on April 4, 2023 under Eknath Shinde, current Deputy Chief Minister. He was CM at the time and held the transport portfolio, these officials said.


After the Maharashtra government constituted the council as per rule 215 of Central Motor Vehicles Rules in May 2015, biannual meetings, which are mandatory, were held regularly till 2019, following which which only four meetings took place till 2023, they pointed out.


From 2015, there should have been 20 meetings of the State Road Safety Council as per rules but only 12 have taken place, a senior official said on condition of anonymity.


Council’s job

As per officials, the council mainly reviews accident data, monitors the implementation of safety measures, and issues policy directives, adding that it is a crucial platform for eradication of black spots, assess enforcement gaps, and coordinate between various departments.


Its complete inaction reflects administrative apathy, a retired RTO official said.


"I am unaware of the existence of the State Road Safety Council. It is unfortunate my department did not even inform me about such an important body. I will convene a meeting of this council in June itself," Sarnaik, when contacted, told PTI.


Maharashtra Transport Commissioner Vivek Bhimanwar, who is also member-secretary of the council, said meetings could not be held primarily due to the election code of conduct.


Maharashtra witnessed Lok Sabha polls in May-June 2024 and assembly polls some months later in November.


Bhimanwar, however, said several other meetings, including those of high-power committees, were held to discuss road safety issues and important decisions were taken.


The file for convening a meeting of the State Road Safety Council is in motion and it will happen soon, he asserted.


Activists and experts emphasized that meetings of statutory bodies like the State Road Safety Council must be conducted regularly.


"In order to achieve the target of reducing deaths and injuries by 50 per cent by 2030, we need to have a clear action plan with targets for each department and associated budgets, said Ranjit Gadgil, programme director of Pune-based NGO Parisar.


"Rajasthan has recently made such a plan. Maharashtra should also revise the 2018 action plan and develop a programme, which should be reviewed periodically by statutory committees such as the State Road Safety Council," Gadgil said.


Huge registration

Maharashtra has over 4 crore registered vehicles, and witnesses more than 35,000 accidents and 15,000 deaths annually, with the grim figures continuing to rise, raising serious questions on effectiveness of road safety measures, experts said.


The transport department has been with the Shiv Sena since Shinde became CM in June 2022. He held it in his government and Sarnaik became transport minister when the Devendra Fadnavis dispensation came to power in December last year.


RTO officials said it was the responsibility of the transport minister or transport commissioner to convene meetings of the council. On May 13, 2015, the Maharashtra government constituted the State Road Safety Council headed by the transport minister, along with district road safety committees.


The Maharashtra transport commissioner is member-secretary of the 22-member committee, which includes eight special invitees.


Other members include the Public Works Department (PWD) Minister, Minister of State for Transport, Minister of State for PWD.


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