Category Archives: Records, All

Tamil Nadu launches a slew of welfare projects

January 5, 2014About Chennai(Madras) / TamilNadu, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, Alladmin

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

Amidst battle of ideas, cultures meet in Chennai

January 4, 2014Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

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

All differently abled children in Perambalur getting therapy

December 28, 2013Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technologiesadmin

Differently abled children at a day care centre in Perambalur district./ by Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Autorickshaws employed for bringing kids to day care centres

The district has registered a rare achievement in the care of differently abled, with “zero home-based differently abled child” in the district. All the 467 differently abled children in the age group of 0 to 18 suffering from multiple disabilities have been attached to the 10 day care centres run under the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan (SSA).

It was the initiative taken by the district administration with the active participation of the SSA, Pudu Vaazhvu Thittam and the department of differently abled welfare that saw the new horizon in the form of creation of adequate day care centres.

Till a couple of years ago, the district accounted for only four day care centres – one in each block. District Collector Darez Ahamed, a qualified doctor, realising the importance of adequate facilities for the rehabilitation of youth with disabilities, got six more day care centres under the SSA. He allocated Rs. 3.35 lakh for each centre from the Collector’s discretionary funds for improving the infrastructure, besides procuring physiotherapy-related equipment and teaching learning material.

The differently abled children identified at the special screening camps were enrolled and attached to these day care centres and this enabled them get the benefits extended by the government.

In the absence of adequate day care centres, many children with disabilities remained indoors for years and the rehabilitation initiative of the government did not reach them because of the distance involved, absence of adequate trained hands, and so on.

The Collector’s initiative has brought relief to the parents of these hapless children, who undergo special education programme in the centres. Special teachers and physiotherapists had been attached to them. Till recently, one physiotherapist was in charge of two centres, but now each centre accounted for a physiotherapist. The parents could not bring their children to the centres for want of transport facilities. Now, autorickshaws have been hired for bringing these children to the day care centres every day and Rs.12,000 is earmarked for each centre for a month – Rs. 4,300 under SSA and Rs. 7,700 under Pudu Vaazhvu Thittam. The children’s performance is monitored by special teachers and their physical and behavioural patterns are monitored regularly.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Tiruchirapalli / by Syed Muthahar Saqaf / Perambalur – December 19th, 2013

Top portion of ancient burial urn emerges from sand

December 25, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

The top portion of an ancient burial urn, believed to be from the Megalithic period (300 BC to 100 AD) has emerged from sand near Tarangamdabi in the district due to heavy rains and sea erosion, official sources said.

The entire district has been receiving heavy rains due to consecutive depressions in the past three weeks. The sea is very rough and coastal areas are experiencing sea erosion.

Tahsildar Azhagirisamy, who visited the spot and inspected the urn, said some fishermen noticed it emerging from the sand in a coastal burial ground at the sea front at Perumalpettai in Tarangambadi.

He said the urn could not be unearthed immediately as the sea was rough. Also care had to be taken to unearth it without damaging its structure, he said, adding that the procedure would be completed once conditions are normal.

He also said complete details of the urn would be known only after archaeological examination.

It may be noted that the fertile Cauvery Delta in this district, particularly Tarangambadi, Poompuhar, Mayiladuthurai and nearby villages, are believed to have served as great centres of human settlement even during pre-historic periods.

Pottery and urns belonging to these times, particularly the Megalithic period (300 BC to 100 AD) have been unearthed from many places in this area in the past.

In the megalithic period, soldiers were usually buried with their belongings in the urns. Officials feel the urn might also belong to this period.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> PTI Stories> National> News / by Press Trust of India / Nagapattinam (TN) – December 14th, 2013

Heritage museum project kicks off

December 24, 2013Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

Chennai:

The preliminary work on establishing the ambitious Tamil Nadu Maritime Heritage Museum project at the ancient port town of Mamallapuram, near here, has commenced and efforts will soon be initiated to ready a huge platform to haul up the decommissioned INS Vagli.

The 36-year-old warhorse, belonging to the Vela-class diesel-electric submarine of the Indian Navy, will be towed to the site, located about 60 km from here, once the Chennai port gives the nod.

The vessel could not be shifted to the 30-acre land owned by the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation (TTDC), that is executing the project, owing to squally weather conditions.

“We will have to get the weather clearance report from the Chennai port before towing the submarine,” a senior TTDC official said, adding that the corporation could not take the risk of transporting the vessel when inclement weather conditions persist. The sky has to be clear to tow it.

“We hope to tow it during the last week of January 2014. Towing will not be a problem, but hauling the vessel would surely be an arduous task,” the official said.

A platform running to a distance of 100 m would be readied to haul up the nearly 96 m long submarine. International tenders would be floated to establish the museum on a Public Private Partnership basis.

The preliminary work, especially temporary fencing around the site near the shore temple, has begun.

But before commencing the civil work, the TTDC has to obtain CRZ clearance as the proposed museum comes under an ASI-protected area.

Officials hope to complete the project in a year’s time, which augurs well for domestic and international tourism and will pave to highlight the maritime history of Tamil Nadu.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC / J.V. Siva Prasanna Kumar / December 13th, 2013

In a trailblazer’s footsteps

December 23, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

The four-day Poet Bharathiar Festival saw a variety of music and theatre events being performed./ Photo: K.V. Srinivasan / The Hindu

Speakers recalled Subramania Bharathi’s contributions to literature and culture

The Poet Bharathiar Festival, a four-day literature, music and theatre event, organised at Bharathiar Illam in Triplicane, came to a close on Wednesday.

Many personalities associated with Tamil literature, music and theatre participated. On the final day of the programme, eminent speakers waxed eloquent on Subramania Bharathi during the presentation of the Bharathiar Award 2013.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Thanjavur Tamil University Avvai Natarajan said Bharathiar introduced innovative aspects into Tamil literary realm with his empathy for persons in need. “He paved a new way with poetry,” he said.

Thirupanandal Kasi Mutt Sundaramurthy Thambiran Swamigal pointed to the contribution of Bharathiar in shaping the thoughts of the Tamil speaking world. “His Tamil poems enriched the language and combined Indian nationalism with spirituality. The poems simplified complex political ideas and helped us internalise the significance of national integration. But there are new challenges to such ideas because of modern developments,” said Sundaramurthy Thambiran Swamigal.

Suki Sivam, who received the Bharathiar Award 2013, said Bharathiar’s ideas nurtured and developed him “like mother’s care.”

“Some ideas in the works of Bharathiar may seem to contradict each other. But such ideas actually reflect Bharathiar’s quest for knowledge, news and concern for Tamils suffering in other parts of the world,” said Mr. Sivam.

Residents too found the events informative. “The events helped me understand various dimensions of literary contribution made by Bharathiar,” said P.T. Balaji, a resident from Mylapore.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Chennai / by Staff Reporter / Chennai – December 12th, 2013

Best Teacher Award for Vellore Special Educator

December 22, 2013Education, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, Alladmin

M Selvi, who is employed as a special educator at the Government supported-NGO run Early Intervention Center (EIC) for infants with hearing impairment at the Panchayat Union Middle School at Dharapadavedu, bagged the Best Special Educator Award instituted by the government of Tamil Nadu this year. She received the award from Social Welfare Minister P Valarmathi recently.

The EIC project was launched by the State five years back across the State with the NGO WORTH Trust being the implementing agency in Vellore.

Selvi completed a one-year diploma in Teaching Young Hearing Impaired offered from the NGO Balavidhyalaya in Chennai before being appointed in the first batch of trained special educators at the school. “We train hearing impaired infants of less than 3 years of age to utter words, weave them into sentences, using appropriate hearing aids and so far we have integrated 11 children from the centre into a regular school where they are doing very well” she said.

She trains the parents, especially the mothers, to understand the new approach. “The focus is to make the infants experience the words directly without which they normally resort to sign language. Sign language may be handy to communicate with other hearing impaired but not with the general public. We emphasise lip-reading despite using hearing aids,” she said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Education> Student / by V NarayanaMurthi – Vellore / December 11th, 2013

Lanco Tanjore Power Company receives SWORD OF HONOUR award from British Safety Council

December 21, 2013Business & Economy, Records, All, Science & Technologies, World Opinionadmin

Lanco Infratech Limited (LITL), one of India’s largest integrated infrastructure enterprise, has announced that its unit, Lanco Tanjore Power Company Limited (LTPCL), operating 120 MW combined cycle power plant in Tamil Nadu has bagged the coveted SWORD OF HONOUR award from British Safety Council in the category of ‘Health and Safety Management System’ for the year 2013.

The award which acknowledges the company’s excellence in the health and safety bracket was presented to LTPCL’s Chief Executive Officer Mr P. Panduranga Rao from Mr. Alex Botha, Chief Executive Officer of the British Safety Council in a grand ceremony at the Goldsmith’s Hall in London.

Commenting on the occasion, Mr. P. Panduranga Rao, CEO, Lanco Tanjore said: “This is a proud moment for Lanco Group. Very few companies have received this award from the British Safety Council till now. It marks the sincere and responsible efforts that Lanco put into each of its projects to ensure the maintenance of the highest safety standards and creation of an amicable, secure work environment for its employees.”

In order to compete for the SWORD OF HONOUR award, LTPCL first had to attain FIVE STAR rating in the British Safety Council’s health and safety management audit scheme with a minimum score of 92%. LTPCL had to achieve another 80% to receive SWORD OF HONOUR, making it the first ever gas-based combined cycle power plant in India to scale the heights of achievement in the field of Health and Safety.

British Safety Council’s SWORD OF HONOUR award is designed to recognize and celebrate health, safety and welfare management excellence. The award is open to organizations around the world who have achieved the maximum five stars in the British Safety Council’s audit programme.

source: http://www.equitybulls.com / Equity Bulls / Home> Stock Report / December 08th, 2013

Momentous season for stamp collectors in Trichy

December 21, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Trichy :

Philatelists don’t mind a little struggle to get hold of their target stamps. It is not often they come across rare stamps or special releases. Stamp collectors in Trichy won’t easily forget November as much to their delight 10 extraordinary new stamps or miniature sheets were released at the head post office here in one month alone. There was a scramble for the first-day covers of the commemorative stamps and souvenir sheets.

In May this year, 53 stamps were released, but 50 of them were commemorative pieces on 100 years of Indian cinema alone. Though, only 10 were released last month, each marked different events or personalities. V Jambunathan, who is in-charge of the Trichy Philatelic Bureau , told TOI that November was indeed extraordinary. It has to be so as significant events like Sachin Tendulkar’s 200{+t}{+h} test match and retirement. Besides, The Times Of India celebrated its 175th year.

The 10 new commemorative stamps that were issued were sold out soon after they were released. Unlike definitive stamps that are issued periodically depending upon demand, commemorative stamps are released only once, and normally a little more than four lakh would be issued across the country. A few of the significant events for which India Posts released commemorative stamps in November are: 50 years of Central Bureau of Investigation, 125 years of Intelligence Bueau , 150 years of Railway Workshops, 175 years of Times of India, Sachin Tendulkar’s 200th Test match.

At the counters a few mistook the TOI’s popular cartoon character ‘Common Man’ to be a “Standing Mahatma”. The first-day cover on the recent visit of Emperor and Empress of Japan (December 5) was popular, even though it featured only Qutub Minar and Tokyo Tower, and not the royal couple.

The stamp to commemorate 125 years of Intelligence Bureau, which was originally released on November 23, was re-released in a special function in Trichy by the deputy commissioner of police Abinav Kumar in the presence of assistant commissioner of IB Mathiyalagan and others. “Since it is an important event, we wanted to create some more awareness locally,” Kumar told TOI on Tuesday soon after the release of the stamp in Trichy.

The officials of the philately department had a hard time explaining to stamp collectors about the non-availability of a couple of limited-edition stamps that were sold out soon. Trichy head post office gets commemorative stamps to the tune of Rs 7,000. Considering, the soaring demand, authorities have now demanded raising the limit to Rs 10,000. “There are around 1,000 account holders with us who will get the stamps on the first day of release and this would amount to Rs 5,000. Thereafter, stamps for Rs 2,000 would be sold to the general public on first-come, first-served basis,” explained Jambunathan.

Since the first-day cover would fetch a fortune later, collecting it has become a must, said an avid philatelist involved in buying and selling of rare stamps.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Trichy / by Dennis Selvan, TNN / December 21st, 2013

Bat count falls as old temples undergo renovation

December 17, 2013Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, Alladmin

Tirunelveli :

On the dark roofs of old, derelict temples hang these nocturnal mammals, oblivious to the buzz during day. As sun sets, they leave their abode and chart their path using their echolocation instincts. The seemingly insignificant bird, however, plays a pivotal role in agrarian ecology as it can check the growth of pests. However, the habitat of temple bats is in danger as many old temples are being renovated across the southern region.

The number of bats residing in temples has fallen drastically from 4,166 to hardly 2,000 within one year, says a recent study carried out by M Mathivanan, a member of Ashoka Trust for Research in Ecology (ATREE), and two foreign volunteers. The previous study was carried out a year back. Most of the 61 temples visited by the team in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin, were a century to a millennia old.

“Lot of renovation is carried out in temple towers. This is destroying the habitat of temple bats. They leave as the once-dark spaces are illuminated after renovation and the rough surface where they perch is polished. It is difficult to hang from smooth ceilings and bright light scares them,” Mathivanan explained.

Experts said disappearance of bats will definitely impact agriculture. “Every bat consumes approximately 600 insects per hour and most bat species feed on insects. They play a crucial role in controlling pests in the field and environment in general,” said R Marimuthu of Zoo Outreach Organisation. “The fruit-eating bats on the other hand are crucial for pollination. The seeds are germinated better in their guts, hence they help in reviving forest species,” he pointed out.

Till a few decades back farmers used bat droppings as nutrients for chilly cultivation, the study noted. Rakshamuthu, a farmer of Ayansingampatti, said they used to collect the droppings from forests as well as temples. “Bat droppings should be mixed with cow dung as using the former alone would prove to be an overdose for plants due to its nutrient profusion. One sack of droppings will be enough for one acre and it was used predominantly in chilly cultivation. The practice disappeared with the usage of modern chemical fertilisers,” the old farmer recalled.

ATREE has decided to test bat droppings in agriculture. “We are testing it on paddy because most chilly farms in this region have been turned into paddy fields,” Mathivanan said.

Though temples need timely renovation, conservationists advocated that bat habitats could still be saved by avoiding lights on renovated towers. Further, bat houses could be established near agricultural fields so that they stay near the fields, helping pollination and pest control. “Considering the contribution of bats to ecology, we have decided to promote awareness on the need to conserve temple bats and their habitat in the region. We hope using bat droppings in paddy cultivation will yield good results,” Mathivanan added.

Factfile:

* The bat species found in temples: Schneider’s leaf-nosed bat (Hipposideros speoris), Greater False Vampire Bat (Megaderma iyra), Leschenault’s rousette (Rousettus leschenaultii), Black-bearded tomb bat (Taphozous melanopogon) and Egyptian free-tailed bat (Tadarida aegyptiaca)

* Leschenault’s rousette is a fruit-eating one, while the rest are insectivores

* Insectivorous bats help to check growth of pests, while fruit-eating bats help in pollination and germination

* The number of temple bats declined by half in the last two years – from 4,116 to 2,000

* Study covered 61 temples in Tirunelveli and Tuticorin districts

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai> Renovation / by J. Arockiaraj, TNN / December 03rd, 2013

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