G. Nammalvar (75), organic farming scientist and crusader, died at Pichinikadu village near Pattukottai on Monday night.
Born at Elankadu village near Thiruvaiyaru in 1938, he graduated in agriculture from Annamalai University. In 1963, he joined as an officer in the Agricultural Regional Research Centre, Kovilpatti.
Later he served as an agronomist in Island Peace, an organisation founded by Nobel Laureate R.P. Dominic Pyre. All his life, he championed the cause of natural farming. Gandhigram Rural University honoured him with a doctorate.
A crusader against genetically modified crops, he was spearheading the movement against proposed methane project in Cauvery delta districts.
This article has been corrected for a typographical error.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / Tamil Nadu / by Special Correspondent / Thanjavur – December 31st, 2013
Tall stacks of tyres, a small board tucked in the middle of the mound, and a tiny temple announces your arrival on one of the noisiest roads here- Patel Road. What follows is a beeline of shops- that sell iron and steel scraps, chequered plates, steel pipes, iron rods, textile machineries, automobile spare parts, casting iron, carbon and alloy steel; and offers services like retreading, sheet bending, steel cutting, pipe bending, fabrication work.
A smattering of houses here and there and the rest is occupied by the age-old, rundown godowns and shops. Dust wafts in the air, noise of welding steel and iron rip through the ears and heat engulfs the atmosphere- but no one here seems to be complaining.
R Janardhanan, an iron scrap merchant, who has been a permanent resident on the noisy street for the last 40 years, quips that the situation doesn’t matter to him anymore.
“This was my grandparents’ property and I moved in when I was merely 6 or 7. I spend my time locked indoors and hardly step out because of the grimy air. The vehicle movement on this road is terrific and even if a truck passes by, you need to run for a shower. At dusk, you will be swarmed by mosquitoes. But I have got used to all this.”
Barring a few buildings that came up in the recent past, the rest of the street is lined with old structures. Two-wheeler cover manufacturer P Vincent, who has been selling products for the last 25 years in a dingy shop, tells us, “You won’t believe but this street used to have some of the worst traffic jams when I started out. This was the only road that connected people to North Coimbatore and was like a deadlock when the railway gate was shut. Thankfully, the situation has improved after the bridge came up as commuters don’t have to wait for the train to pass. On Sundays, a deadly silence falls on the street.”
Historian Perur K Jayaraman considers this street an important one that contributed to the industrialization and growth of the city.
“A majority of the roads in the Ram Nagar area took the name of freedom fighters. This was no exception. The road, rightly named after the Iron Man of India Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel around the ’40s, houses hard metal industries. Industrial development was at its peak once here and it’s no surprise that the government too came up with its MSME Development Institute on this road.”
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore> Iron Man / by P Sangeetha, TNN / December 29th, 2013
The Coimbatore Botanical Gardens is set to emerge as the first to have a ‘seed vending machine’ in the State.
The machine will dispense vegetable and flower seeds in affordable packets of 10 gm to 100 gm each (depending upon the price), priced at Rs 10 a packet, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University Vice-Chancellor K. Ramasamy said.
The university has invested Rs 2.4 lakh on this machine.
Ramasamy said the university’s labelled seeds would be packaged and placed in the vending machine. The effort is aimed at encouraging kitchen and roof-top gardens.
The seed requirement for such potted plants is relatively less, and those looking for seeds invariably buy such packets at agri expos. The vending machine will enable garden lovers to source in quantities suited to their needs.
Seed packets would be placed in rows in 6 trays. The user can insert the Rs 10 note or coin, select the seed and collect the packet without waiting to be served, he added.
Depending on the response to this seed dispenser, the varsity plans to install more such machines in the coming days. “We have plans to install a seed dispenser for private seed producers as well. We are looking to create a small window for organic products too,” he added.
The vending machine will be formally inaugurated by State Agriculture Minister S. Damodaran on January 11.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / by L. N. Revathy revathy.lakshminarasimhan@thehindu.co.in / Coimbatore – January 06th, 2014
It was a double bonus for parents of twin sisters, both of whom won gold medals, at the state level Republic Day Athletic Meet in the city on Saturday.
While Vidhya won a gold medal in the under 17 400m category, her twin sister R Nithya won the Gold in the 100m hurdles, achieving a record breaking 14.8 seconds. The girls, students of the government girls higher secondary school in Erode were selected by the Sports Development Authority of Tamil Nadu when they were in class 7.
“The two of them had an interest in sports from childhood. But it was only after they joined the sports hostel that they began to excel,” said their father Ramraj who is a driver with a private firm. The two sisters who were perhaps the only twins at the meet have won medals in some of the national events in previous years too. Ramraj and his wife Meena say that they encourage their children as much as they can. Their coach R Kanmanidevi says that the two are dedicated athletes on whom they have high hopes.
“We expect record breaking performances at the national level from them. They have been able to display consistent performance,” she said.
About 23 state records were broken at the three-day meet which concluded on Sunday. S Mithra Varun, a class 11 student at the city based Mani Higher Secondary School who won a gold medal at the discus throw, broke the record made in 1982. A computer applications student he wants to take up sports as a career. “My dream is to win a Gold Medal in the Olympics,” he says.
P Gowtham from Thirunelveli who broke an existing record in Pole Vault with 3.65 metres too wants to take up sports as a career. “Earlier, I used to participate in the High Jump event. I took up pole vault after my coach advised me so,” he said. The meet concluded on Sunday afternoon. Most of the winners will leave for the National Sports Meet to be held in Ranchi in the coming days.
source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimb atore> Gold Medal / TNN / January 06th, 2014
The newly-converted broad gauge (BG) bay for undertaking both light schedule and heavy schedule attention of EMD locomotives, was declared open by the Trichy divisional railway manager (DRM) Manjula Rangarajan at the Golden Rock Workshop on Wednesday. The bay has been constructed with elevated platforms with a pit facility for attending to the bogie. The Railway Board has sanctioned Rs 14 crore for augmenting the infrastructure at the 42-year-old diesel loco shed that has bagged the annual rolling shield for best maintained shed five times in the last nine years. Manjula Rangarajan also commissioned the newly-installed reverse osmosis (RO) type water purifying plant for the benefit of 750 employees of this shed. The 250 litre per hour capacity RO plant happened to be a new year’s gift to the employees, she said. The workforce at the shed maintain 147 diesel locomotives (71 ALCO type, 53 EMD type high horse power locomotives and 23 DEMU power cars).
Since July 2011, the diesel loco shed at Golden Rock became the first in the country to maintain EMD type locomotives with 4500 horse power that are used extensive in both freight service and in express train service. “In order to home these new breed of locomotives, the Railway Board had sanctioned Rs 14 crore for augmenting the infrastructure and for the procurement of various tools, machineries required for maintenance,” she explained.
The DRM further said that the new bay had been specially constructed with elevated platforms for working alongside the locomotives and with a pit facility for attending to the bogie and under gear items with much ease. These bays would provide additional space required for increased holding of these locomotives, she added.
Earlier, under the leadership of the DRM, all the officers and division and engineers of diesel shed and faculty of Diesel Traction and Training Centre (DTTC) carried out mass tree plantation at the training centre. Only treated effluent water discharged with the effluent treatment plant would be used for watering these trees, she said.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy /TNN / January 03rd, 2014
The crowded venue of the tea and tourism festival at the HADP open-air stadium in Ooty —DC
Ooty:
The aptly titled ‘Oo-tea Fest’, the tea and tourism festival organised by the Nilgiris district administration, Tourism Department and the Tea Board of India, got under way on Friday, with the HADP open air stadium, the festival venue, packed with exhibits by Self-Help Groups (SHGs), food courts, music and cultural programmes.
The sheen is missing, however, as only five tea factories, including the two state-owned units, have come for the exhibition, bringing with them varieties of Nilgiri tea for visitors to appreciate and savour.
M. Budhichandran, Ooty MLA who inaugurated the show, explained the various welfare schemes being implemented by the state government for tea growers. R.Ambalavanan, Executive Director of the Tea Board of India, South Zone, in his address, touched upon the history of Nilgiris tea and trends in consumption in recent times, appealing to the small tea growers in Nilgiris, who form the bulk of the farming community in the hills, to focus on good quality to fetch a premium price for their produce in the market.
Dr P. Sankar, collector of Nilgiris, said that tea was a health drink with cardio-protective and other related medicinal traits. He said that everyone should come forward to lend their support to the product to ensure that it took care of their health as well as that of the economy of tea growers.
N. Chandrasekar, Secretary of the Nilgiris Hotels’ and Restaurants’ Association, said that tea and tourism were the lifelines of the hill economy and that the organisers should plan this festival well in advance to make both a grand attraction in the winter just as they did with the flower and fruit show in the Nilgiris.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / by B. Ramachandran / December 28th, 2013
FACE TO FACE: An AIADMK councillor speaking at the Tiruchirapalli City Corporation Council meeting on Friday. / Photo: A.Muralitharan / The Hindu
They are allowed to collect user and entry fee; lights, gardens, amusement equipment, toilets lying in disuse
Tiruchirapalli City Corporation Council on Friday decided to hand over maintenance of public parks in the city to community groups and women self-help groups.
A decision to this effect was taken at an urgent meeting of the council with A. Jaya, Mayor, in the chair. Conceding the need to improve the upkeep of the public parks in the city, an official resolution that was approved by the council, said the infrastructure such as lights, gardens, amusement equipment, and toilets have been lying in disuse in many of the parks because of the absence of personnel to maintain them.
The corporation now plans to identify community (comprising residents of the respective areas) or self-help groups to maintain the parks. Initially, the parks would be handed over to the groups for maintenance for three years. The civic body would post watch and ward staff and groups would be vested with the task of maintaining the parks, including the gardens and other infrastructure. The corporation will not pay the groups any salary.
However, they may be gradually allowed to collect a user fee of Rs. 50 a month or Rs. 2 a person as entry fee to the parks. The groups will be allowed to put up milk kiosks through Aavin or other agencies.
The council approved a resolution to relocate all the 66 traders of the Vazhakkai Mandi functioning adjacent to Gandhi Market, to the Viragupettai Overhead Drinking Water Tank complex, where the necessary infrastructure will be developed.
Answering a query from M. Mohamed Mustafa of Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, Corporation Commissioner V.P. Thandapani said the OHT complex had adequate space to accommodate the traders.
The council gave its nod for constructing a new commercial complex by demolishing the diamond jubilee building, an old toilet complex, a two-wheeler parking lot, and a few shops in front of Gandhi Market as part of the civic body’s initiative to renovate and redevelop the market.
However, the move was strongly opposed by Syed Ibrahim (independent), who sought to know the fate of the 200-odd traders currently at the diamond jubilee building and wondered whether they would be allotted space at the new building or given alternative sites. Corporation officials contended that no trader had been allotted shops at the building and only platform shopkeepers were allowed to carry on their business there on a first-come-first-served basis every day.
Mr. Thandapani said measures were aimed at relieving the congestion around the market. However, alleging irregularities in the move, Mr. Ibrahim staged a walkout from the meeting.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / December 28th, 2013
North Chennai too, celebrates the season with gusto. Bharathanatyam exponent Padma Subrahmanyam speaking at the inauguration of the Margazhi Deiva Tamizh Isai Vizha at Sri Kothandaramar temple in Old Washermenpet / Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu
If south and central Chennai hog the kutcheries and the sabhas, north Chennai too has its own celebration of the Margazhi season, though in a much smaller way.
Every Margazhi, despite the cold mornings, a large audience gathers to listen to Tamizh Isai at the Sri Kothandaramar temple on Perambalu Street in Old Washermenpet. The Margazhi Deiva Tamizh Vizha is in its 26th year, and is being organised thanks to contributions from kind hearts that support music.
R. Mohan Kumar, a resident of Tiruvottiyur, who is at the temple every day at 5.30 a.m. to listen to discourses and the concert of the day, says it is nice to have concerts nearer home. “Earlier, I have attended a few free concerts in sabhas in Mylapore. But I am more comfortable here as I enjoy the music in the mornings and then go for work,” he said.
Margazhi Deiva Thamizh Vizha organisers, S. Mahalingam, Ma. Ki. Ramanan and S. Yugarajan said they were continuing the work of the Irai Pani Anbargal that had been conducting street bhajans for over 45 years now.
“Our aim is to encourage Tamil isai only. The musicians sing for free. We get at least 200 listeners every day,” said Mr. Ramanan. Mr. Yugarajan said that though north Madras was once home to Carnatic music, the area had lost its sheen over the years. However, organising Carnatic music festivals here had helped residents slowly learn to appreciate classical music, he said.
The Tamil Isai Sangam is a leader of sorts in propagating Pann isai (Tamil music) in the city. In its 71st year now, the Sangam was started by Sri Annamalai Chettiyar, R.K. Shanmugan Chettiyar, Kalki and Rajaji.
“Artistes are welcome only to sing Tamil songs. Even Carnatic vocalist K.J. Yesudas, who has been performing at our Sangam for 35 years now, sings only in Tamil,” said a representative of the Sangam. Yesudas will perform for the Sangam on December 28 at the Raja Annamalai Mandram in Esplanade.
Other organisations in north Chennai like the Perambur Sangeetha Sabha (PSS) in Perambur, Sri Sai Vivekananda in Kodungaiyur and Padma Sarangapani Cultural Academy (PSCA) in Villivakkam, support Carnatic music in their own way.
The PSCA had been organising music festivals for 10 years, but stopped after they found that rasikas preferred sabhas in south Chennai. PSCA secretary V. Jayakrishnan said they were unable to continue despite providing transport to the rasikas, as the response to their music festival was not good.
Kalyana Varadan of the PSS said the sabha was established in 1931 and has been organising music programmes every month, except during the kutchery season.
According to historian V. Sriram, the city’s first sabha, the Madras Jubilee Gayan Samaj, was begun in 1887 at Pachaiyappa’s Hall on NSC Bose Road. There were several other sabhas too, including the Muthialpet Sabha and the Thondai Mandalam Sabha, which was the first to ticket concerts in the late 1880s, and the Perambur Venkatesa Gunamritha Abhivarshini Sabha, which was the founder of the Madras Labour Union in 1918-19.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai> Marghazi Melodies / by Deepa H Ramakrishnan & R. Srikanth / Chennai – December 25th, 2013
The CM also inaugurated projects aggregating 2,816 new apartments involving a cost of Rs 106.79-cr in other parts of the state.
Tamil Nadu chief minister J Jayalalithaa has inaugurated a Rs 222.60-crore building project to be built by the Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board. The project comes up with 6,000 new apartments at Ezhil Nagar Okkiyam Thoraipakkam, Chennai.
The chief minister also inaugurated projects aggregating 2,816 new apartments involving a cost of Rs 106.79-crore in other parts of the state.
The Tamil Nadu Slum Clearance Board has been involved in several projects for the development and relocation of people living in slums across various cities in the state.
Besides a housing complex at Thoraipakkam, another 792 apartments at Ammankulam in Coimbatore, 207 apartments in Tirunelveli and 102 apartments in Pudukottai were inaugurated by the chief minister via a video conferencing from the secretariat.
Drinking water projects
A host of drinking water supply projects totaling over Rs 30-crore were also commissioned by the chief minister.
These include a combined water supply project for the Melpuram union and an integrated water treatment plant in Kanyakumari district and the expansion of water supply project for the Villupuram municipality were significant, in terms of cost. The cost of the Melpuram union water supply project and the treatment plant involves Rs 16.7-crore and that of the Villupuram project at Rs 9.55-crore.
The Melpuram union project would cover 79 habitations, benefiting about 186,000 persons, ensuring 40 litres of water per capita per day (lpcd). The treatment plant was for the Kaliakkavilai, Kollangode and Melpuram combined water supply projects. The Villupuram municipality project is aimed at providing 90 lpcd and would benefit 95,439 persons.
According to a state government release, the expansion of water supply projects for Appakudal town panchayat in Erode district and Uppilyapuram town panchayat in Tiruchi would ensure 90 lpcd and 70 lpcd respectively, covering about 17,800 persons. Their total cost was Rs 94.9 lakh.
Guaranteeing the supply of 40 lpcd each, the other projects pertained to a Rs 1.85-crore combined water supply project for Chithamur and 27 habitations of Anakavur union in Tiruvananmalai district benefiting 13,756 persons; a Rs 97.5 lakh project for Melamayur and 12 habitations in Kattankalathur union of Kancheepuram district covering 7,357 persons; and a Rs 99.72 lakh project for Sumaithangi and 13 habitations of Walajah union of the Vellore district covering 11,231 persons, stated the release.
source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Economy & Policy> News / by BS Reporter / Chennai – December 24th, 2013
This is the first time the World Universities Debating Championship is being held in India. / Photo: R. Ravindran / The Hindu
1,200 students from 60 countries test each others’ skills in debating championship
“50 cents, now that we have adopted the US dollar,” said Austen Harrison, talking about the price of a newspaper in Zimbabwe. “Before that, don’t even ask. The currency’s value kept depreciating. It was utter chaos,” said the student of teacher education at Mutare Teachers’ College in the southern African country.
Austen welcomed the New Year in Chennai, hoping that things continue to be stable when he gets back. On Thursday and Friday though, his entire focus is on arguments and counter-arguments on a variety of issues. He is among the 1,200 participants from 60 countries who are in Chennai at the Rajalakshmi Engineering College for the World Universities Debating Championship (WUDC) 2014. This is the first time the debating championship is being held in India.
If debating is all about discussing different sides of an issue, the best argument is presented by the person who has thought of all possible angles. “One of the topics had to do with the abolition of gated communities. In Australia, inequality is much less than in developing countries. Many participants could not relate to the topic, but as I grew up in Thailand, I was able to present a cogent argument,” said James Gray, an economics student from Australia.
The topics of discussions ranged from NATO and media issues to global security threats. “Participants from English-speaking countries always seem to be at an advantage. As Asians, it is sometimes difficult to contextualise your examples. The same issues mean very different things to people from different countries,” noted Ritvik Chauhan, from the IIT- Bombay team, the only one from India among the 48 teams that qualified for the next round. His teammate Souradip pointed out that in debating, one was often forced to argue against one’s own views.
“We were supposed to talk about ‘the hook-up culture’. Though we have no problems with it, we had to argue that sometimes, such relationships rob you of the ability to emotionally connect with people,” he said.
It was not all serious debating. Joshua Baxter from New Zealand, a student of law at the University of Auckland, was fascinated with autorickshaws. “For a moment, I thought it was dangerous but I held on. I still cannot understand why drivers here honk so much.”
Lodged at a five-star hotel many of these candidates welcomed the New Year dancing to Indian music. Rosie Unwin, an adjudicator from London, said she was touched to see people on the streets on New Year’s eve, wanting to shake hands with everyone.
Some of them have made friends here too. Liam Brown from Melbourne, Australia said he managed to have a long conversation with the security guards at the college. “They heard Australia and screamed Ricky Ponting. We then analysed how the Indians thrashed us the last time.”
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Vasudha Venugopal / Chennai – January 03rd, 2013
