Monthly Archives: January 2015

Low cost, easy to set up eco-friendly toilets launched

Green Initiatives/ Environment, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Science & Technologies

Coimbatore :

A toilet that can be set up in less than an hour was launched by Pune-based company, Sahyadri Industries Limited, in the city on Friday morning. The eco-friendly toilet has been created as part of the company’s contribution to the Swachh Bharat effort.

The company demonstrated setting up a toilet at Heritage Inn’s conference hall in one hour to prove their point just before the launch. A recent study done by the Ministry of Human Resource Development found that 15% of the government schools in the city lack toilets, and among those which did have toilet facilities, 57% were found to be dysfunctional.

Sahyadri Industries, a manufacturer of fibre cement corrugated and flat sheets, had been toying with the idea of designing an easy to set up pre-fabricated toilet since 2012-13. “However, the project did not take off,” admitted M Sathyanarayana, of Sahyadri Industries.

“We were inspired to restart our efforts last August when the Prime Minister announced the Swachh Bharat initiative. We then sped up the research and designing of this model,” he said. The toilets, sold as Do-It-Yourself (DIY) kits, contain parts to set up three wall panels and a door made of fly-ash and cement. The knots and bolts required to assemble the toilets are provided, so are toilet fittings from reputed companies like Johnson and Johnson. “We also give instructions on how a soaking pit has to be dug up,” said Suresh Kumar, head, sales and marketing in Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. This toilet can be set up anywhere in less than an hour and can be used immediately.

These toilets which come in 4ft x 4 ft dimensions can last 15 to 20 years if maintained well, says the company. They cost anywhere between 19,000 and 30,000 each. “The cost depends on the materials and specifications requested,” said Kumar. “However, we sell it at the lower cost for government schools and other economically backward schools,” he added.

The main clientele for these toilets seem to be NGOs, who are setting up toilets wherever necessary. “We have sold 1,000 such toilets in Maharashtra and Gujarat,” said Kumar. The product was launched in Gujarat Maharashtra and Karnataka in December, and in Chennai on Thursday.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / TNN / January 24th, 2015

Republic Day Marks 20th Alumni Meet of VIT

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

Vellore :

Holistic education is more about character and nation building and not mere degrees and marks, observed Dr Kalyani Mathivanan, vice chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University.

Addressing the twentieth annual meet of the Vellore Institute of Technology Alumni association (VITAA) at the university campus here on Monday, she said that every educated person should develop a sense of commitment to uplift society.

“Each one of us should volunteer to do our bit for the development of society,” she added.

In his presidential address, VIT chancellor G Viswanathan said, “Many of the universities in the US are actively supported by the alumni associations and companies floated by them,” he pointed out at the alumni meet.

Archarya Ajit, founder chairman of ‘India on the Move’ who was the guest of honour, in his address noted that no success could be achieved without commitment and determination.  VIT vice president G V Selvam called upon the members of the VITAA to “go back to society and help them with knowledge”.

Nine of the alumni received distinguished achievement awards while the VITAA donated `2.2 lakh as scholarship grant to students of the university.

One of the awardees at the meet was K M Muniappan, (1989 batch) who had gone back after his education to his village, Kadachanallur in Nammakkal district and had turned it into an ideal village.  He is the panchayat president of the village for the last 20 years

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by V. Narayana Murthi /January 27th, 2015

IG Kannappan, 2 Others in TN Get Prez Medal

Leaders, Records, All

Chennai :

Three police officials including ADGP Sunil Kumar and IG P Kannappan were awarded President’s Police Medal for Distinguished Service ahead of Republic Day.

In addition, 21 officers were selected for the same.

Sunil Kumar is now a member of TNUSRB, while Kannappan is head of the Intelligence wing.

In addition, PC Sivakumar, an SSI with the DVAC, too was awarded.

Others include DIG (Coimbatore) Ayush Tiwari, DIG (Salem) Vidya Kulkarni, ASP R Veeraperumal and ASP (Chennai) S Flora Jayanthi.

source: http://www.neewindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service / January 26th, 2015

Padma honours for Carnatic maestro, ex-CEC, N-scientist

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Chennai :

Tamil Nadu had a modest share in Sunday’s Padma awards list. Of the nine Padma Vibhushan awardees, one is from Tamil Nadu, and out of 20 Padma Bhushan awardees two are from the state. Of 75 Padma Shri awardees, three are from Tamil Nadu.

Nuclear scientist M R Srinivasan is the sole candidate from the state to bag Padma Vibhushan, the second highest civilian honor, next to Bharat Ratna. He was conferred Padma Bhushan a quarter century ago, in 1990, and Padma Shri three decades ago, in 1984. A team member of the legendary Homi Bhabha, Srinivasan was involved in India’s first nuclear research reactor Apsara in mid-1950s.

He later became chairman of Atomic Energy Commission and rose to be secretary of department of atomic eergy. Srinivasan was founder-chairman of Nuclear Power Corporation of India, in 1987. He was responsible for a total of 18 nuclear power units in the country.

The two Padma Bhushan awardees from the state are former chief election commissioner N Gopalaswami, and Carnatic singer Sudha Ragunathan.

Gopalaswami, a 1966 IAS officer of Gujarat cadre, was chief election commissioner from June 2006 to April 2009. He was former union home secretary as well, and had held posts of secretery in department of culture, and secretary-general in National Human Rights Commission. “It is a happy feeling to have won the award. I would like to acknowledge the fact that work done by others has helped me fetch the honour. It is not just an individual’s work, but a whole team has worked for me to get this credit. I am grateful for the recognition. Good work never goes waste,” Gopalaswami told TOI.

Sudha Raghunathan is one the best recognizable faces in Carnatic music circles, and among the most sought-after vocalist during music seasons. A distinguished disciple of M L Vasanthakumari, Sudha Raghunathan got her Padma Shri award in 2004.

When contacted, she told TOI: “I am extremely happy and overwhelmed on winning the award. I am grateful to the government for the honour. Through the years, there have been many people who stood by me and motivated me. I want to thank the God almighty. I want to thank my guru M L Vasantha Kumari, mother V Choodamani and fans from all around the world. I want to thank the organisers who have encouraged me from my teen years for all their support.”

A top-notch violinist and this year’s recipient of Padma Shri award, A Kanyakumari is a recipient of TN government’s Kalaimamani award as well.

Two other Padma Shri awardees from the state are former civil servants P V Rajaraman and R Vasudevan.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / January 26th, 2015

All things old

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy
R. Bhoopathy, owner of Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
R. Bhoopathy, owner of Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu

This auction house offers to buy, sell and exchange household items and electronic and electrical goods

Trying to dispose of your rusted stainless steel gas stove? Looking to bring home an antique clock? Your search may end at Majestic & Co. Tucked inside a quiet corner off Anna Salai, the 27-year-old auction house buys, sells, hires all kinds of household articles, furniture, electronic and electrical goods. It also allows exchanges involving these items.

It is run by R. Bhoopathy, who worked as a dealer with Murray & Co. before starting his own auction house.

Majestic & Co has a regular clientele. It gets items from those going abroad who want to sell their belongings. “You will find everything here. If not, we would source it for the client. We even offer to pick the goods from their house,” says Bhoopathy.

The store spread over 6,000 sq.ft. conducts auction every Sunday at 11 a.m.

An antique clock at Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
An antique clock at Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu

Grandfather clocks, paintings and wooden furniture are some of the sought-after items at the store. Air-conditioners, refrigerators, televisions and microwaves are consumer goods that can be hired.

Unlike other shops on the stretch, which have moved out temporarily due to Metro Rail work, this shop has stayed on. “The Metro is going to change the face of Anna Salai and more stores will want to set up shop here. We started here and would continue to be here,” says Bhoopathy.

Display of wooden products for sale at Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu
Display of wooden products for sale at Majestic Auctioneers. Photo: K. Pichumani / The Hindu

Majestic & Co. is at 811, Anna Salai, Vummidiars Shopping Centre, opp. LIC. Phone: 9385511209, 9382700086.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> Downtown / by Liffy Thomas / Chennai – January 10th, 2015

Heard about a public stem cell bank in Chennai?

Science & Technologies

Chennai :

There is a public stem cell bank in Chennai where people can donate stem cell stems, but most clinicians and people are unaware of it.

In her presentation at the 58th All India Congress of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Dr Saranya Narayan, medical director and co-founder of Jeevan Stem Cell Bank, said many clinicians were not aware of the existence of the public stem cell bank in the city that could store stem cells for free of cost and help patients with hematological illnesses like thalassemia and blood cancer.

“The only operational public stem cell bank is in Chennai. We function with the grant from the Tamil Nadu government and help from the World Bank. But many clinicians are not aware of this public bank,” the doctor said.

She explained that stem cell is separated from the umbilical cord blood which is collected during the birth of a baby and is stored.

While awareness is important, the doctor had also observed that many clinicians feel that counselling families for donating cord blood is eating into their consultation time.

“We have sent our staff members for counselling families in some hospitals. But with the pamphlets and awareness material, it is easy to convince families to donate. We also found that some doctors say they do not have an infrastructure to collect cord blood. We give them the kit to collect the cord blood,” she explained.

The lack of awareness among people on the benefits of stem cells leaves about 90 percent of cord blood ending up as a medical waste, the doctor said.

“There is a 60 to 80 percent success rate in stem cell transplant treatment for hematological illnesses. So a donor’s stem cell is used on someone else with the illness. But if the donor or donor’s family has an illness and needs it, they can approach us. We will either give the donor’s own stem cells or find a suitable match and provide them at a concessional rate,” Dr Saranya said.

While the level of donation of umbilical cord blood is low, the doctor noted that about 40 percent of cord blood donations are rejected for various reasons, including volume below 60ml, leaks from blood bag, large clots in blood bag and delay in transportation of the cord blood for preservation.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by U. Tejonmayam, TNN / January 25th, 2015

Veteran actor V.S. Raghavan dies

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

RaghavanCF27jan2015

Veteran film and theatre actor, V.S. Raghavan, 90, died on Saturday after battling pancreatic cancer. He is survived by two sons.

Mr. Raghavan had the distinction of acting in more than 1,000 Tamil films over the past six decades.

The actor, who became the darling of mimicry artistes, began his career with Vairamalai in 1954. Some of his memorable roles were in films directed by K. Balachander.

His role in Iru Kodugal , where he played a father with negative shades, earned him critical acclaim, as did his role as an Anglo-Indian dad in Nootrukku Nooru .

He has also starred in popular films such as Kadhalikka Neramillai , Pattanathil Bootham and Urimai Kural . In the 2013 film, Idharkuthane Aasaipattai Balakumara, he appeared in the song, Pray Pannuven , which went on to become a huge hit.

Mr. Raghavan was also a well-known theatre artiste. His troupe, INA Theatres, was popular with the masses.

Following the announcement of his death, many film personalities offered condolences. Former Chief Minister Jayalalithaa, in a statement, said she was pained to hear about Mr. Raghavan’s death.

“He was kind, gentle and friendly with everyone. He has been doing character roles for the past 58 years. It’s a great loss to the Tamil film industry. I offer my condolences to his family and members of the film fraternity,” she said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Udhav Naig / Chennai – January 25th, 2015

Docu fest treats you with both old, new films

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, World Opinion

Chennai :

Slaughterhouses are not meant for intimate relationships. But it proves otherwise in the case of Efrain, who has been working as a reaper in a slaughterhouse for more than 25 years.

The protagonist in this Mexican documentary filmmaker Gabriel Serra’s ‘La Parka’ (the Reaper) tells a tale of his stuggle to live on the face of death.

Chennai International Documentary and Short-film Festival 2015 that commenced from Monday is treat to all the movie lovers.

Organised by Marupakkam, at least 50 documentaries will be screened at various venues in the city namely the Panuval Book Shop, the Discovery Book Palace, Periyar Thidal and the University of Madras as part of the festival.

Indian as well as foreign documentaries, music, experimental films are the centre of attraction in the festival. The festival has it all from screening of old to new films. “We are screening a number of Indian as well as international documentaries as part of this seven-day festival. The idea is to reach out to people from all walks of life,” said R Amudhan, curator of the festival.

The documentary has a list of films made by veteran filmmakers like SNS Sastry, Mani Kaul and S Sukhdev under the Film Division.

Released in 1967, SNS Sastry’s ‘I Am Twenty’ is a 20-minute documentary interviews those who were born in 1947. Shubradeep Chakravorthy’s ‘En Dino Muzaffarnagar’ is s et against the backdrop of the Muzaffarnagar riot. The festival will conclude on Februrary 1.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by  M.T. Saju, TNN / January 27th, 2014

Veteran actor V S Raghavan dead

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

CHENNAI: Tamil film actor V S Raghavan passed away in his sleep at a hospital in T Nagar on Saturday evening after a battle with pancreatic cancer. He was 89 and is survived by his sons K R Srinivasan and K R Krishna, daughters-in-law and a grandson.

A seasoned veteran of more than 1,000 films, Raghavan was seen recently in “Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum” (2014) and TV serials Valli, En Iniya Thozhi and Uyirmei. He began his career as a sub-editor at Maalathi magazine and went on to act in stage plays. After acting in a play “Vairamaalai”, Raghavan went on to make his film debut in the screen adaptation of the play under the same title in 1954.

Former chief minister J Jayalalithaa paid tributes to the veteran artist in a press release: “He treated everybody with love and affection. His death is a great loss to the film industry. I convey my heartfelt condolences to his family and his friends in the film fraternitym,” she said.

One of the few actors to have played ‘father’ to legends M G Ramachandran and Sivaji Ganesan in several films, Raghavan’s most memorable movies include ‘Nenjil Ore Aalayam’ (1962), ‘Karnan’ (1964), ‘Kaadhalikka Neramillai’ (1964), ‘Bommai’ (1964), ‘Iru Kodugal’ (1969) and ‘Urimaikkural’ (1974).

He shared a special friendship with late director K Balachander who directed him in several films. Raghavan was noted for his role in Balachander-directed tele-serial Anni in the early 2000s and headed the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Naadaga Manram in the early 1990s.

The cremation will be held at 5pm on Sunday in Besant Nagar, his family said. “Many of his close friends from the film and television industry have been calling to convey condolences. We expect a large gathering of film personalities tomorrow,” said Janaki Srinivasan, his daughter-in-law.

Raghavan began his career as a sub-editor at Maalathi magazine and went on to act in stage plays. He was seen recently in “Oru Kanniyum Moonu Kalavaanikalum” (2014) and TV serials Valli, En Iniya Thozhi and Uyirmei.

Vaniyambadi Gets Ozone Healing Centre

Science & Technologies

Vellore :

A second Ozone therapy centre in Vellore was inaugurated in Vaniyambadion Thursday, a testament to the fact that this form of therapy is gaining momentum, with over 400 qualified medical practitioners across the country using this therapy to cure several diseases.

Dr Karnam, a pioneer in this field, while inaugurating the Ozone Healing Centre, speaking to Express, said that the first centre was inaugurated in Arcot last year.

The concept behind ozone therapy is that exposing ozone to the body enables the body to replace disease-causing pathogens with ozone, providing relief from pain and disorders. The underlying principle is that disease-causing pathogens do not survive in an oxygen-rich environment inside the body.

“This is a cost-effective healing approach as it has no side effects and oxygenates the body to cure any kind of illness,” Karnam pointed out. R Chandrasekaran, president of Udahvaum Ullangal,  that took the initiative to set up the ozone centre both at Arcot and Vaniyambadi said that the concept of flooding the body with oxygen through optimum breathing, natural foods such as green vegetables and fruits was preached by Indian medicine thousands of years ago. With the help of technology, flooding the body with oxygen in the form of ozone to cure illnesses is quick, harmless and effective, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Tamil Nadu / by Express News Service / January 23rd, 2015