A signboard has been put up as a tribute to motorman S.Manohar at the entrance to the Moore Market Complex in Chennai / Photo: R.Ravindran / The Hindu
S. Manohar, the motorman who brought a Chennai-bound suburban service to a halt seconds before he suffered a fatal heart attack and averted a potentially disastrous mishap on May 23, has been nominated for a Railway Board award.
The 48-year-old motorman, in a heroic act, had stopped the train GM 42032 within a few minutes of leaving Gummidipoondi, disengaged cabin controls and switched on the emergency flasher light before falling unconscious. Though the motorman was taken to the Perambur Railway Hospital later in the evening he did not survive the attack.
Manohar’s duty consciousness and ultimate commitment to the safety of passengers has been highlighted in a Southern Railway note to the Railway Board recommending him for a posthumous award, an official said. The nomination of Manohar for an award is over and above the compensation that is being worked out for his next of kin.
Railway administrators and workers have already hailed Manohar as a hero. A signboard put up as a tribute at the entrance to the Moore Market Complex, the hub of suburban services, describes him as a “hero who performed his duty even till his last breath”.
Southern Railway has also recommended an award to loco pilot V. Balachandran who had stopped his train (the GM 42029 Chennai-Gummudipoondi) on the adjacent line on noticing the flasher light on the other train.
Mr. Balachandran had entrusted his train with the guard before alerting the station master at the next station Kavaraipettai of the emergency. He then drove the train with Manohar in an unconscious state to Kavaraipettai. There, he helped make arrangements for transporting his co-worker to a hospital before walking back along the tracks for about four kms to resume duty on his train.
The previous occasion when railwaymen in Southern Railway were honoured by the Railway Board was in 2010 when four employees were given cash awards (Rs. 5,000 each) for averting a major disaster after a bomb blast damaged the track section at Sithani between Perani and Mundiyambakkam stations in Villupuram. The reward was announced for alertness, sense of responsibility and devotion to duty.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by M Dinesh Varma / Chennai – June 05th, 2013
Mayor P Karthiyayini interacting with workers at the during her visit to the Amma Unavagam canteen in Kasba on Thursday | Express Photo
Women attached to a Self-Help Group cooked food on a trial basis at two centres identified for ‘Amma Unavagam’, on Thursday.
As many as 120 women belonging to 10 self-help groups would be involved at the 10 low budget canteens across the city. Mayor P Karthiyayini said the women had prior experience in running canteens and hotels on a small scale. They were taken to ‘Amma Unavagam’ canteens in Chennai and given training on how to behave with customers and serve the public.
The women were also trained in cooking in large quantities in Vellore last week, she said and added that the government had already specified the quantity of ingredients that needed to be used for preparing food for 300 to 500 persons.
On Thursday, officials attached to the Corporation visited the two canteens at Neduntheru in Kasba and Gandhi Nagar in Katpadi, where sambar and curd rice were cooked. The cost estimation for preparing food by 10 canteens for a year was arrived at Rs 2.70 crore and the revenue was estimated at Rs 1.31 crore. The deficit amount of Rs 1.39 crore would be met from the General Fund of the Vellore Corporation. A resolution in this connection was passed at the Corporation council meeting held on Thursday. Vessels for the canteens were also purchased at a cost of Rs 14.40 lakh. Karthiyayini said the dates for the inauguration of the canteens would be announced soon.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service – Vellore / May 31st, 2013
The Government Museum in Egmore is exhibiting artefacts from renowned geologist Robert Bruce Foote’s collection — Photo: M. Vedhan / The Hindu
At the centre of the centenary exhibition hall at the Government Museum in Egmore, lie two closely-guarded Palaeolithic tools — one a hand axe from Pallavaram and another, a cleaver from Attirampakkam.
On May 30, 1863, exactly 150 years ago, renowned geologist Robert Bruce Foote picked up the hand axe from the “debris on the Brigade Ground at Pallavaram near Madras”.
The museum, in collaboration with Sharma Centre for Heritage Education is commemorating the momentous discovery by organising a special exhibition of Foote’s collection of stone tools. R.B. Foote sold the tools to the museum in 1904 for Rs. 40,000, said R. Kannan, secretary, tourism, culture and religious endowments department.
Over 75 tools have been put on display, said, anthropology gallery curator, Thulasi Brinda. “They are from places such as Mysore and Baroda among others. This is also the first time we have displayed a painting of Robert Bruce Foote,” she said.
M.L.K. Murty, Tagore National Fellow, Archaeological Survey of India, who delivered the first Robert Bruce Foote Memorial Lecture on the occasion, spoke about how Foote, who was a geologist at Madras Presidency, was inspired by the recognition given to stone tools discovered in Europe, to make his findings.
Shanti Pappu, founder secretary and Kumar Akhilesh, director-projects of the Sharma Centre, have been studying the prehistoric site of Attirampakkam, one of the sites discovered by Foote, since 1999. Dr. Akhilesh said they had conducted excavations until 2005, and have been studying the stone tools since then.
Ms. Pappu, said that while a lot of emphasis was given to sculptures and monuments in the country, there was not much interest in stone tools. “We want to cultivate fresh interest in stone tools, which are extremely important,” she said.
She said villagers of these sites were the true custodians of this heritage.
“When we are not present, they guard the site and have enormous knowledge about the past environment,” she said. Citing funding and manpower shortage as the two key challenges in the country, she said though the government is supportive in terms of granting licences and permits, there is also a need for public-private partnerships. “If you look at countries such as Israel, every five kilometres someone is working on a pre-historic site. We need that kind of initiative in India.”
While the museum is conducting a one-month course on caring for museum objects, the Sharma centre is marking this 150 year by holding a five-day workshop on Robert Bruce Foote.
Vaigai Chelvan, minister for school education, sports and youth welfare inaugurated the exhibition, which covers pre-historic cultures, the environment they lived in, methods used in the excavation and the significance of the discoveries, among other topics. The exhibition will be on until June 5.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – May 31st, 2013
Organic vegetables on display./ Photo: A. Shaikmohideen / The Hindu
Good food is not just a privilege of the rich. As people are discovering what a powerful impact food has on health, they’re realising how important it is to ask where your food comes from, and how it is grown. Over the last ten years the market has responded to this change in different ways. The most interesting response has been a feisty wave of idealistic, energetic small businesses. All run by people who’re fuelled more by ethics than economics. Hopefully this is just the beginning. Organic food may not be mainstream yet in Chennai, but thanks to businesses such as these, it’s more accessible, affordable and attractive than ever before. Shonali Muthalaly and Anusha Parthasarathy track the trend.
Organically grown vegetables offer a better taste./ Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy / The Hindu
Vaer
After working on it for a year, Kayalvizhi Raja and Shriram Narayanan launched Chennai’s first organic vegetable website on April 1, inspired by an organic farmer in Tenkasi. “He told us how he had major health issues, all of which were resolved when he converted his farm into organic,” says Kayalvizhi.
They find farmers via the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University. “Lots of farmers take courses and register with them. So, if we want grapes, for example, then we find people who grow them, and directly buy from their farms.”
Kayalvizhi says, “We want to make organic food affordable. Our greens are Rs. 20 a bunch. Which is the same as the regular market price. And delivery is free.”
Their stock changes ever day. “My only marketing source is Facebook… So if I get something new I put it up there. It’s usually sold out by the next day!”
Vaer encourages people to try new varieties of fruits and vegetables. “We offer a mixed box of mangoes. Even if people order just one variety, we try and send a couple of different types along with their order, complimentary.”
The biggest challenge, she says, is educating customers. “Yes. Organic food doesn’t stay fresh for long. But that’s a good thing. It means it’s chemical-free.”
Vaer focusses on local foods in their ‘Country Special’ section, such as coconut palm sugar, karuppu kavuni rice and ragi pappads.
Address: www.vaerorganic.com
Phone: 094446-67070
Organic Green Store
Cramped, chaotic and bristling with a fascinating range of goodies, from fragrant cold-pressed oils to jars of nutty ghee, the Organic Green Store has fans across the city. Hemalatha, who started it in 2009, says she got interested in organic food after she had a baby. “I wanted to give my child food that was healthy and safe,” she says.
Today, they buy from about 20 farmers across the State. Her customers, who come from as far as Vellore, are loyalists thanks to the quality of her vegetables, many of which arrive in packages bearing the names of the farms on which they were grown. “People love our papaya, which comes from Mettupalayam,” she says.
The Organic Green Store is also known for its cold-pressed oils: coconut, sesame and groundnut. “The oil comes from different sources, depending on the season,” says Hemalatha. “Groundnut, for example, is sometimes from Udumalpet, sometimes Coimbatore.”
With two outlets, one in Anna Nagar and one in Periyar Nagar, they deliver vegetables on Saturdays.
Started in 2008, ReStore is a not-for-profit organisation run by volunteers. Radhika Rammohan, one of the founders, says the idea was to “connect with the sources of our food. To know where it’s coming from. To support local organic farmer.” She adds that they decided to work as volunteers to encourage more people to get involved, and bring down the cost of the products.
They work with 25 individual farmers and about 10 organisations that help farmers. In addition, they support around eight businesses that make organic value-added products. Around 70 per cent of their food comes from within Tamil Nadu, and the rest from the neigbouring states in an attempt to reduce food miles.
Specialising in traditional grains, they offer a range of millets. Their ‘multigrain kanji mix’ made with red rice, millets, thinai, samai, samba wheat, etc. is one of their signature products. Besides vegetables, they stock foods such as organic jaggery, handmade peanut butter and freshly made sambar powder.
ReStore also organises a vegetable and fruit bazaar on Tuesday and Saturday between 12 noon and 7 p.m.
Address: ReStore Adyar Centre, No 27/ 10, 2nd Main Road, Kasturba Nagar, Adyar, Chennai-600020
Phone: 044-24430093
Dhanyam
Dhanyam began in 2010 with the idea of becoming a one-stop shop for organic goodies. It offers a range of groceries, vegetables and fresh fruits, all organic. “I was always interested in organic food and found that there weren’t many outlets in the city. And even the ones that were there were dark, dingy and not professionally run. That’s when the idea for Dhanyam originated,” says co-founder Madhusoodhanan K. The store gets fruits and vegetables twice a week (Wednesday and Saturday) from farms in Kodaikanal, Tirunelveli, Erode, Gummudipoondi and Coonoor. Some fruits such as grapes and pomegranates come from farms in Karnataka and Maharashtra. “We have seasonal fruits which means we’re selling a lot of mangoes now. But on an average, papayas and bananas sell well because they’re available year round,” he says. While Madhusoodhanan agrees that the price is higher when compared to the regular fare, he points out that it isn’t a deterrent. “People come for different reasons — health, environment and better taste. When you are sure about this lifestyle, the changes in price doesn’t matter.”
Address: Dhanyam is located at No.24, North Boag Road, T.Nagar
Phone: 28157654
Sunday Shandy
P. B. Murali (along with his friend Ranganathan) has been an organic farmer for the last 22 years and has spent the last 10 years selling organic fruits, vegetables and produce at Luz Church Road, under the banner ‘Sunday Shandy’. “We had the market on Sunday initially but since it interfered with my farm activities, it has now been shifted to Friday. The other days, I sell packaged organic products,” he says. Pineapples from Nagaland, apples from Himachal Pradesh and sweet lime from Krishnagiri… Murali sources his organic products from all over the country. “Once people get used to the taste of organic fruits, especially, it’s hard to go back to the regular ones,” explains Murali, “I specialise in organic mangoes and grow mostly Alphonso, Banganapalli and Imampasand varieties on my farm.” Murali also sells unprocessed milk every Wednesday.
Murali’s shandy is held every Friday between 3 p.m. and 7.30 p.m.
Address: No.177, Luz Church Road, Mylapore
Phone: 93806-91203
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Shonali Muthalaly and Anusha Parthasarthy / May 26th, 2013
S.A. Salma Haseena has topped the Chennai schools in the SSLC exams held in March/April 2013. She secured 491 marks out of the total 500.
Salma is the daughter of a junior engineer with Southern Railway. The results of Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) exams were released yesterday.
Continuing the trend the girls outperformed boys with 93.7 pass percentage.
www.siasat.com / The Daily Siasat News / Home> Mulaqat / Sunday – June 02nd, 2013
Open wounds and sores are often a diabetic’s Achilles’ heel as they take a long time to heal and often lead to complications.
A city hospital seems to have found a way to circumvent this by placing patients in a specialised chamber that pumps oxygen under increased atmospheric pressure. The pure oxygen, doctors say, will catalyse the process of healing areas where blood supply is limited.
The Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy (HBOT) was launched at M V Hospital for Diabetes in Royapuram on Friday.
“Certain diabetic wounds take long to heal when oxygen supply to the wound is poor and blood supply is limited. By making patients breathe 100% oxygen, the chamber stimulates growth of new blood vessels and blood flow to the wound improves. The blood carries large amounts of oxygen to organs, tissues and wounds. This heals wounds easily,” said Dr Vijay Viswanathan, chief diabetologist, M V hospital for diabetes.
Patients with non-healing wounds like acute thermal burns, traumatic brain injury, radiation damage to tissues, crush injury and sudden hearing loss will benefit, said the doctor. It can also be used to treat various forms of gangrene and carbon monoxide poisoning.
The treatment, dating to the 1660s, was popular across Europe in the 19th century but saw a downslide after medicine became more evidence-based. In the late 20th century, it gained popularity and was used to treat divers and tunnel workers.
“Its use declined due to high cost. In the last decade or two, there has been a renewed interest in this procedure. In India, it was primarily used by the Navy for divers, but hospitals are now using it for other issues,” said Dr Viswanathan.
Patients will require a one-hour session for 14 days. “We have a controlled mechanism which regulates the oxygen supplied according to medical protocol,” said Dr Viswanathan.
Patients will experience a feeling akin to what one feels when a flight takes off. Each session will cost 1,500, while one government hospital patient a day will be treated for free.
Doctors say hyperbaric oxygen can help stimulate cell growth and regeneration. “It can also act as an anti-viral and anti-bacterial agent as most of them can’t tolerate oxygen. It can displace toxins and other impurities to assist detoxification of the system,” said Dr M Rajkumar, professor at the vascular department, Madras Medical College.
Others say the machine should be handled carefully as an oxygen overdose can be fatal. “Care should be taken to ensure it is done in a controlled condition or it could lead to complications like seizures,” said Dr George M Varghese of CMC, Vellore. He said it does not “heal” wounds but “catalyses the healing.”
“It is expensive and is beneficial to only 5% of patients with these conditions and few can afford it,” he said.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / May 25th, 2013
