Students Boycotted Collage For Srilankan Issue

A section of students in the Government Arts and Science college here on Thursday boycotted classes and staged a demonstration. They were protesting against the Sri Lankan army's ongoing offensive in the island nation's northern parts. Meanwhile, 75 students of Government Law college here are observing fast, seeking Centre's immediate intervention to ensure ceasefire in Sri Lanka, police said. The students of Arts colleges, affiliated to SFI, shouted slogans against both Indian and Sri Lankan Governments and demanded that Sri Lanka end the war.

The media here today paid homage to K Muthukumaran, who committed suicide by self immolation at Chennai to express solidarity with Tamils in Sri Lanka. Nearly 60 reporters, photographes and cameramen from various organisations and associations gathered at Red Cross Building junction and lit candles as part of the respect to the departed soul. Muthukumar was working in a Tamil Magazine.

Pricol Has Reported Net Loss Of Rs 16.62 Cr

Pricol has reported a net loss of Rs 16.62 crore in the third quarter ending December 31, 2008 against a net profit of Rs 3.62 crore in the same period last year. Net sales declined by 8.2% to Rs 137.30 crore (Rs 149.56 crore). In the first nine months, the company has reported a net loss of Rs 27.54 crore against a net profit of Rs 13.83 crore during the same period last year. However, the net sales saw an increase of 5.22% at Rs 466.8 crore (Rs 443.66 crore).

In a statement, company CMD Vijay Mohan said, "the loss of market share due to illegal strike during last year has not been regained." Further he added, Increase in raw material and component prices on account of exchange fluctuation has affected the profits for the quarter ended December 31, 2008. "The company incurred Rs 8.21 crore loss consequent to re-statement of foreign currency loans and export receivables. Also, the company lost Rs 8.72 crore consequent to actual settlements," he said.

Youth Was Assaulted By Gang

A youth was reportedly assaulted by a gang on the arterial Avinashi Road in full public view and later beaten up by an inspector at a police station here on Monday. Speaking to reporter on Tuesday, victim Prabhu, 28, of Devarayapuram, said: I was walking along the Avinashi Road after distributing some religious literature, when a gang chased and caught me. Soon more people joined the gang and beat me up.

I was beaten up in the presence of traffic policemen and then dragged by the gang to Race Course police station. Later they took me to the Kattoor police station near Gandhipuram bus stand. At the police station, the gang demanded that the inspector register a case against me stating that I attacked them. Though I expected a fair deal from the inspector, he too assaulted me and warned me not to distribute religious literature in future, he said.

Prabhu claimed that the inspector forced him to stay in a room, preventing him contacting anyone outside. The inspector took away my cell phone also, he claimed. He alleged that he was allowed to go on bail after false cases were framed against him. When reporter called Inspector Manivarman of Kattoor police station, who handled the case, he ad­mitted to have slapped Prabhu, but denied causing any injury.

I just slapped him twice in front of the mob. I have also told the lawyer, who came to bail him out that I had slapped him, the inspector said and added that he booked Prabhu under sections 448 and 323 of the IPC. However, Commissioner of Police K C Mahali said: Police cannot beat anybody at the police station. They should be treated with dignity. Advocate Bhavani B Mohan said: What happened at the Kattoor police station is a human rights violation. We will take the legal route to seek justice.

Commemorative Stamp Released

Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, Pramod Kumar (left), receiving the commemorative stamp on National Police Academy from Mervin Alexander, Director of Postal Services, Western Region, at an introduction function held at the City Police office on Tuesday. City Police Commissioner K.C. Mahali (right) is also in the picture.

The Director of Postal Services, Western Region, Mervin Alexander on Tuesday introduced a postal stamp released to commemorate the completion of 60 years of National Police Academy, Hyderabad, to the police officers serving in Western Tamil Nadu. Deputy Inspector Generals of Police P. Sivanandi (Coimbatore range) and K. Vannia Perumal (Salem), Superintendents of Police Avinash Kumar (Erode), G. Karthikeyan (Coimbatore), A.G. Babu (the Nilgiris), Vidya D. Kulkarni (Namakkal), N.M. Mayilvahanan (Salem), Najmul Hoda (Dharmapuri) and Anisha Hussain (Krishnagiri), and Deputy Commissioners of Police S. Rajendran (Law and Order), K. Shanmugavel (Crime and Traffic) and P. Nagarajan (Headquarters) took part.

Mr. Alexander said that the stamp was released on November 27, 2008 and because of the terror attacks in Mumbai, the release of the stamp failed to reach the public and hence, the decision to introduce it to police officers in Western Tamil Nadu. The National Police Academy started in 1948 was completing 60 years. Mr. Alexander said that the Department of Posts used to release commemorative stamps on special requests.

The Philately Advisory Committee used to receive a large number of representations seeking commemorative stamps but the committee would accord sanction only for a few requests based on merit. Unlike other ordinary stamps, commemorative stamps would be never reprinted.
Recalling the commemorative stamps brought out in honour of security agencies, Mr. Alexander said that in 1982 a stamp was brought out on police patrol,1990 for Border Security Force, 2004 on Central Reserve Police Force, 1989 on Pigeon Post of Orissa Police and 2005 on Kolkatta Police Commissionerate, in 2007 in honour of Randhir Prasad Varma, an IPS officer who won the highest award Ashok Chakra and in 1972 on Interpol.

The NPA commemorative stamp is a se-tenant one wherein in two stamps printed side by side would give a complete picture of the theme. Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, Pramod Kumar recalling his training period at the academy said that it had produced top brass attached to almost all the internal security agencies of the country. He said that the academy served the purpose of building confidence in trainee officers to make them face challenges.

Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore city, K.C. Mahali said that the days at the academy were memorable for the officers in terms of discipline starting right from hair cut on entry and the rigorous training. Mr. Karthikeyan and Mr. Avinash Kumar shared their experiences at the academy.Mr. Alexander later told reporters that the commemorative stamp was available at the head post offices in every district. To a query, he said that the postal headquarters would be intimated of the 150 years of Tamil Nadu Police and if there was a proposal seeking commemorative stamp, further steps would be taken, he said.

Action Must Be Taken Against Encroachers

Steps to check encroachment of reserved sites, to improve water supply and control mosquito breeding were the major demands made by councillors at the Coimbatore Corporation Council’s meeting on Thursday. All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member P. Rajkumar called upon Mayor R. Venkatachalam and Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra to initiate criminal action against persons or groups that forge documents and layout plans to encroach upon reserved sites. He was referring to one such case detected in the city.

Alleging that a syndicate was at work to take over reserved sites by indulging in various types of malpractices, the councillor said this problem could be ended if at least one person was punished severely. He also demanded steps to end the menace of anti-socials abusing parks on reserved sites. Mr. Rajkumar wanted the Corporation to make use of around Rs.100 crore with the Local Planning Authority (LPA) for development works in the city. Apart from the Rs.40 crore that the Corporation had given to the LPA, the authority had some more funds for infrastructure works in the city.

North Zone Chairman and Communist Party of India member C. Padmanabhan said that for the last 10 years no scheme road had been laid in the city. There was no point in scheme roads and other infrastructure being discussed only at meeting convened by the District Collector (who is also the LPA’s Chairman). Infrastructure for the city must be discussed in the Corporation Council or at least at all-party meetings of the Corporation. Mr. Padmanabhan also wanted the water supply department to look into problems in distribution in the eastern parts of the city such as Singanallur.

Congress member P. Shobana complained that drinking water supply through lorries was irregular in the newly regularised layouts in her ward (No.4). In many areas, the supply was once in 15 or 20 days. Quite a number of areas did not have main lines for water supply. If some areas did have these, the cross connections to the houses were yet to be given. She wanted the Corporation to speed up the process of providing the water lines in her ward. At the start of the meeting, Deputy Mayor N. Karthik drew the attention of the members and the officials to the drinking water position.

“We are getting only 53 million litres a day (mld) even under the Pilloor scheme (as against the assured supply of 65 mld),” he said, pointing at a situation wherein the so-long surplus scheme was now under stress because of the rise in the demand for water. Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam member R. Sivamurugesan wanted more bore wells sunk and the existing ones kept in good condition to tide over any crisis that might come this summer.

Pachauri Addressed Students On Climate Change

Rajendra K. Pachauri, Honorary Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, addressing students on climate change via video-conferencing at PSG College of Technology in Coimbatore on Thursday. The worst affected victims of climate change are developing countries, though those who are responsible for high levels of green house gas emissions are the developed ones. The United States is the largest consumer of energy, Rajendra K. Pachauri, Honorary Chairman, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, said here on Thursday.

Speaking on climate change at The Young Leaders Global Conclave with the theme “Be the Change” at PSG College of Technology, Mr. Pachauri said the developed countries were not suffering from the impact of climate change because they had taken protective measures. “We, as a developing country, have to ensure that we withstand the problem by using energy much more efficiently. We are putting a great deal of pressure on our eco-system. We have to change our value system to revive the natural resources that are depleting,” he said.

Mr. Pachauri appealed to the students to bring about a shift in lifestyle to protect the Earth. “Be the change and start the change from within the college campus. Launch a project to measure carbon dioxide emissions in the campus and then work towards substantial reduction of the same,” he said. Listing the ill-effects of climate change, he said it was heartening to note that a large number of world leaders were convinced that something should be done about climate change.

He cautioned on one of the worst effects of climate change – water availability. Taking the instance of Africa, Mr. Pachauri said that by 2020 there would be a 50 per cent decline in agricultural yield because of scarcity of water there. Touching upon the threat of rising sea level, he said nearly 500 million people in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan and Nepal and 250 million people in China would be affected by this phenomenon. He exhorted the students to use water efficiently. “Availability of water in the future is going to be a serious problem. The manner in which we use water has to change drastically,” he asserted.

Polce Arrested Fraud Persons

Case:1

The Vadavalli police have arrested Saritha Biju Nair (26) and Biju Nair (32) on charge of collecting money to the tune of Rs. 1 crore from various persons promising to install wind mills for domestic purpose. The couple had installed a few wind mills in a few houses and they were found to be not fit. For the remaining applicants, the couple failed to keep their order commitment, the police said. Based on four complaints, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Perur, K. Kumarasamy directed the Vadavalli police who arrested the couple. They were later remanded in custody.

Case:2:

The Podanur Police have registered a case against six persons on charges of wrongful restraint, assault, preventing government servants from discharging duty and attempt to murder. It is learnt that a team of four police personnel led by Palakkad South Police Station Inspector Unni Krishnan came to execute an arrest warrant that was pending against George Stephen, Sebastian and Stanley. They were involved in an abduction case in Palakkad in 2005. On Wednesday, when the police entered the house of the trio at Sundarapuram, they reportedly locked the personnel inside the house and assaulted them. Following information from the local police who went to assist them, the Podanur police rescued the team. They have registered a case against the three and their three family members including two women.

Polio Immunisation Programme On February 1

Mayor R. Venkatachalam called upon all the councillors in the Coimbatore Corporation on Thursday to involve in the pulse polio immunisation programme on February 1.The Mayor’s call came in the backdrop of the previous programme on December 21 getting derailed by rumours of a child dying after taking the oral polio drops at Sathyamangalam in the neighbouring Erode district.

The councillors should tell the people in their wards that the polio drops were safe. The drops would be administered to children in the 0-5 age group at 196 immunisation centres across the city. The councillors should monitor the programme at the centre in their wards, the Mayor said. Corporation Health Committee Chairman P. Nachimuthu told the Mayor that the councillors had did their best at the immunisation centres on December 21 to contain the damage caused by the rumours. They would involve themselves fully on February 1 also to ensure that the immunisation was total, he said.

Members of various parties voiced apprehension over the deteriorating sanitation in the city and attributed this to the lack of adequate workers. They also said that this was the reason for the worsening of the mosquito menace. There were not enough conservancy workers to remove blocks in the storm water drains and stagnant water served as breeding space for mosquitoes, Corporation North Zone Chairman C. Padmanabhan said. Independent councillor N. Revathi said Sanitary Inspectors must be asked to warn residents against letting waste water into storm water drains instead of the underground drainage. She also wanted to know how far the Corporation had progressed in buying equipment to remove blocks in underground sewers.

It took a month to repair the only equipment that the Corporation had, because the technician had to come from Chennai. When three more equipment would be purchased, as per a resolution passed by the Council, the Corporation should also ensure that facilities and technicians for repair were available in Coimbatore.

Be Perpared For Horrendous Experience For Travel AT Avanashi Road

Vehicles trying to squeeze through the Hope College bridge on Avanashi Road in the city. Any motorist heading for areas beyond Hope College or those entering the city through Avanashi Road should be prepared for a horrendous experience. Waiting for green signal and wading through a disorderly traffic are a real test of one’s patience and driving skills. The traffic moves inch by inch because of the ongoing work for construction of another Rail over Bridge (ROB) at the Hope College Junction.

The entire stretch of Avanashi Road from the flyover to Neelambur bypass road measuring about 16 km is being widened into a six- lane road by the State Highways at an outlay of Rs. 27 crore. The project includes construction of bridges replacing the existing 13 small bridges and culverts. While the work for 12 bridges is almost complete, the authorities are hopeful of opening them for traffic within 30 to 45 days.

The bridge at the Hope College Junction over the railway line remains a major cause for concern because of traffic snarls caused every day during peak hours. The Hope College bridge is a narrow two-lane bridge. The railways is constructing a three-lane bridge which is nearing completion. After it gets ready for traffic, the authorities propose to demolish the existing bridge and start construction of another three-lane bridge. Span work will be done by the railways and the Highways department will lay the approach road for the second bridge.

State Highways Divisional Engineer K. Vellingiri said efforts were being made to speed up the pace of the ongoing work while funds were ready for the three-lane bridge. In the diversion path created, the motorists had complained of dust emanating whenever there was heavy flow of traffic. Now efforts were on to lay a road there. Meanwhile, the city police have deployed 10 constables to ensure free flow of traffic within the available space at the junction. Members of the public also step in to regulate traffic assisting the police during the peak hours.

District Rehabilitation Centre Distributed 1.12 Cr Aid

The District Rehabilitation Centre has distributed aid worth Rs.1.12 crore to disabled persons, according to a press release from the district administration. It said 16 physically disabled persons had been provided with tri-cycles worth Rs.56,000 and 25 persons had got wheel chairs at Rs.1.25 lakh. The other assistance included hearing aid totally costing nearly Rs.23,000 to 27 persons and motorised tri-cycles costing Rs.60,000 to two students. Nine persons were given motorised tri-cycles at a subsidy of Rs.90,000. The centre had also deposited Rs.5.34 lakh with a school for the mentally disabled towards funding the rehabilitation of 50 children. It had also provided a subsidy of Rs.15 lakh towards improvements to three special schools.

A maintenance subsidy of Rs.57.91 lakh had been given to 1,230 disabled persons and more than Rs.1 lakh to 34 persons to set up petty shops. This year, 21,258 disabled persons had been provided with national identity cards and 2,221 had got membership cards of the welfare board for the disabled. As many as 1,345 persons had been provided with free bus pass. The other assistance were scholarships for Rs.9,500, spectacles for Rs.1,500 and insurance cover to 1,050 beneficiaries of the welfare scheme for the disabled.

2 Persons Arrested On Charge Of Bribery

The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-corruption on Wednesday arrested the secretary of a co-operative society at Periyanaickenpalayam and a record clerk at the Avanashi taluk office on charge of bribery. It is learnt that Balakrishnan had taken a loan of Rs. 75,000 from the society by mortgaging documents. After the waiver of the loan, when Balakrishnan approached the society for return of documents, secretary Velusamy demanded a bribe of Rs. 4,000.

On a complaint, the DVAC sleuths laid a trap. When Balakrishnan was giving money to Velusamy the officials arrested him. In Avanashi, it is learnt that Ponnusamy had applied for a chitta adangal revenue record from the taluk office and record clerk Joseph (40) demanded a bribe of Rs. 1,000. When Ponnusamy was handing over the bribe money, the DVAC officials arrested Joseph.

Kerala Policeman Rescued By Tamilnadu Police

Cases have been registered against four persons of Podanur area for allegedly holding two Kerala policemen captive for nearly four hours and assaulting them. According to the police, four policemen from Palakkad had come last night to seek the custody of two persons, in an assault case at Walayar. As two policemen went inside a house in Sidco colony at Podanur to arrest the wanted persons, two others from the house joined them and locked the policemen inside the room and reportedly assaulted them. Two policemen, who were waiting outside, lodged a complaint with the Podanur police station, from where the police rushed to the spot and rescued the Kerala policemen.

Free Training Programme In Goat Farming

The Veterinary University Training and Research Centre here will offer a free training programme in goat farming on February 3 and 4. According to a release, the programme at the centre will benefit farmers and entrepreneurs involved in livestock farming. The centre is a constituent unit of the Tamil Nadu Veterinary and Animal Sciences University, Chennai. It offers technical advice for establishing new livestock farms, prevention and treatment of livestock and poultry diseases. Those interested can contact the centre at Kalappati Pirivu, Saravanampatti P.O.; or call 0422-2669965, for details and registration.

Avinashilingam University Offering Short Term Courses

The Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Extension and Field Outreach, Avinashilingam University for Women will is offering the following certificate courses. Apparel designing, computer applications and accounting software, digital animation, and herbal beauty care. Those who have passed Standard X can apply for these courses which are of six-month duration. Interested candidates can contact K.Vasantha, Reader, Department of Adult and Continuing Education, Avinashilingam University for Women, Coimbatore – 641-043. Phone: 0422-2449715.

Coimbatore Short News 30.01.2009

Students of Shri Nehru Vidyalaya taking out a rally in Coimbatore on Wednesday to create awareness on polio vaccine.

Quiz:
Divyodaya will organise a quiz on Gandhi in different schools. It is also organising a week-long prayer service on different themes. The valediction of the peace week will be on January 30. For details, contact: Divyodaya, 91, Geetha Hall Road, Coimbatore – 641018. Telephone: 0422-2300966, 2301269.

Programme:
The Department of Computer Science and Applications of PSG College of Arts and Science will conduct “Gateway 09”, on January 31 at the GRD Auditorium.

Dindigul Farmer Developed High Yielding Moringa

The farmer Mr. Alagarsamy in his drumstick farm at Dindigul in Tamil Nadu. In agriculture, personal experience and an inquisitive mind are two known ingredients for success. “Often, we come across reports of some farmer developing a low cost invention which becomes popular. Mr. Alagarsamy in Dindigul district, Tamil Nadu has developed a high yielding moringa (drumstick) variety named PAVM which yields for nearly 8-9 months a year,” says Mr. P. Vivekanandan, Executive Director, Sustainable Agriculture andEnvironmentalVoluntaryAction (SEVA), Virattipathu, Madurai.

The variety has become such an instant hit with hundreds of farmers in Dindugal, Coimbatore and Erode areas that even scientists from the Horticultural College and Research Institute (under the Tamil Nadu Agriculture University), Periyakulam are all praise for Mr. Algarsamy’s path breaking finding. “I am basically a post-graduate in arts and my 10 acres of land, unemployment and an inquisitive mind led me to develop the new variety,” says Mr. Alagarsamy.

Through a procedure called air layering, selected branches from the main tree are cut and soaked in Panchagavya solution and coir pith placed over them. A polythene sheet is spread over them and secured with a thread. In about 3 weeks the grafts grow new roots after which they are separated from the main tree. The layers are then planted in polythene bags after removing the polythene sheet.

The polythene bags are placed in the nursery for about 20 days after which they can be planted in the main field.”Compared to other high yielding varieties, PAVM requires less water and starts yielding from the 5th or 6th month after planting. “About 150-200 kg of matured pods can be harvested from a single tree from the second year of planting,” says Mr. Alagarsamy. If organic practices are followed, the fruits become fleshy and weigh about 200 gm each and stay fresh for nearly a week.

Mr. Rajendran, a farmer from Dindugal who has planted this variety says: “I got an income of rupees one lakh from my one acre in a year as this variety yields substantially in my red soil, is resistant to diseases, and responds well to organic practices.” Another farmer Mr. Kuppusamy from Erode district, Tamil Nadu says: “Initially I planted about 200 grafts in my one acre and spent about Rs.50, 000 (for one year) for labour, weeding and manures. The trees came to harvest from the sixth month and the harvesting is done once a week. At present, I am harvesting about four bags a week (a bag weighs 500 kilos). The pods are sold at the rate of Rs.5 to Rs. 20 in the local market.”

“Annually about 20 tonnes of moringa pods can be harvested (at an average of 100 kilos per tree with 200 trees in an acre) from this variety,” says Mr. Alagarsamy. In some fields the trees planted along the hedges recorded more yield than those planted inside the field. A farmer can easily get a gross income of Rs. 2 lakh a year and after deducting Rs.75,000 as expenses, a net profit of Rs.1.25 lakhs can be obtained. Mr. Alagarsamy so far sold more than 10 lakh grafted seedlings to nearly 3,000 farmers in Dindigul, Madurai and Coimbatore districts. Nearly 6,000 acres in these three districts come under this variety.

In a year about 2.5 lakh seedlings are produced from his nursery which fetches him a profit of Rs. 6 lakh a year. Mr. Alagarsamy has been conferred a host of awards from several organisations for his effort. Readers can contact Mr. P. Alagarsamy at No:6/39, south street, Pallapatti, Nilakottai Taluk, Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, mobile: 98653 45911 / 97917 74887 and Mr. P. Vivekanandan, email: vivekseva@dataone.in, phone:0452-2380082 and 2380943.

Adi Tamizhal Peravai Activists Arrested

A total of 35 Adi Tamizhal Peravai activists were arrested today when they attempted to stage picketing at the city airport, to protest against Sri Lankan Army&aposs offensive in the northern parts of the island nation. According to police, the activists, who were raising slogans against both Indian and Sri Lankan Governments, were taken into custody when they were proceeding towards the airport.

Basics Opened Exclusive Showroom At Chennai

Basics, among the most popular men’s’ fashion brands, has opened its 10th exclusive outlet in Chennai, at Pycrofts Road, Triplicane. Spread over 1300 sq.ft, the new ‘Basics’ outlet is a treat for young fashion discerning men with its wide collection of Basics lifestyle wear, this also includes the new Basic Denims and slim fit T-shirts, inspired from international design forecasts . The Triplicane store is the first in the line of the latest Basics store design and look, with an international retail ambience, appeal and fashionable display of styles from the newest lines.

The “Basics” Triplicane outlet is the third of its kind in the city to also make available Genesis classic formals and Probase formals and casuals (the 2 other brands from Hasbro Clothing), under the same roof. The autumn winter collection of Genesis classic formals is available in neo-corporate colours and the youngest brand Probase is a perfect blend of both Genesis and Basics at groovy prices.

Entrance Exam For Agriculture Science Is On April 19

All India Entrance Examination for admissions to UG programmes in Agriculture and Allied science subjects, other than veterinary science for filling 15 per cent of total number of seats in State Agricultural Universities, Central Agricultural University would be held on April 19. The candidates, between the age group of 17 and 23 years, must have passed plus two or equivalent security not less than 50 per cent total marks for general, OBC and UPS categories and 40 per cent of the marks for SC/ST categories in the subjects physics, chemistry and biology, Maths, agriculture, home science can take up the exam, Dr K Vanangamudi, Dean, Agriculture, Tamil Nadu Agricultural University, said in a release today.

The candidates seeking admission in other State Agricultural Universities could take up this exam and those who pass through are given a National Talent scholarship of Rs 1000 per month, it said. Selected student should study in any of the Agricultural University for four years, with agriculture, Horticulture, forestry, fishery, home science, sericulture, agricultural engineering, dairy tecnology, food science and technology, agriultural marketing, banking and cooperation, biotechnology and Comercial Agricultural and business managemment, as subjects. Applications can be obtained on cash payment from Syndicate Bank branches and also from Exam Cell, Education division, Indian Council for Agricultural Research (ICAR), Delhi, by post, it said.

Toddy Tapping Agitation Continues....

Coconut and palm growers spearheaded an agitation in Tamil Nadu demanding the State Government to lift a ban on production and sale of ”Toddy”, a traditional drink of the state. ”Toddy”, a local drink extracted from either a coconut tree or a Palm tree flower has been banned in the state since 1987 for being an alcoholic drink. The farmers want the government to exempt toddy from the list of alcohol products banned in the State.

The farmers have now started tapping toddy and distributing it free of cost amongst the people. They claim that Toddy, one of the food items in old times in Tamil Nadu, is quite nutritious and healthy. “For the past 21 years toddy tapping is banned in Tamil Nadu and despite various request made by us to the government to allow tapping toddy, the government refused. But in Kerala and Karnataka tapping toddy and selling it is allowed. But we are not allowed to tap toddy. So now we have decided to tap defying the ban,” said Snethil Kumar, a coconut farmer.

They also claim that allowing Toddy tapping would also benefit hundreds of poor farmers since the state has some 45 million coconut trees. Also the farmers lament that since the sale of coconut products has come down, Toddy tapping would aid them in enhancing their earnings. Toddy is prepared by tying a clay pot over a blossoming coconut flower. A small hole is also made in front of the flower so that the white milk like juice from the flower is collected inside the pot. The mouth of the pot is then covered with a cloth and left for some time. Fermentation starts in the pot and in a day or two, the drink is ready to be consumed. The farmers then sell this Toddy.

Instant Purchase Fares Introduced By NACIL

The National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL), Pune has introduced attractive instant purchase fares called as ‘ZIP’ fares on all types of journeys for travel in economy class on domestic sectors. The ZIP fares will not be applicable on domestic legs of International flights.
ZIP fares are available for sale from Jan 27 to Feb 28 during which travel needs are to be completed on or before Feb 28, said a release here on Tuesday.

Uniform fare of Rs 99 per passenger is extra. No further discount like child or infant is permitted on this fare. Tickets booked under this scheme will be non-refundable except taxes. If a passenger with ZIP fare ticket wishes to change the flight/date/sector, he will have to pay rebooking charge of Rs 500. Tickets can be purchased at Air India offices or its approved agents.
Some of the attractive ZIP fares including taxes in rupees are: Pune-Delhi: 3,024, Bom-Amd: 2,282, Bom-Nag: 2,282, Bom-Del: 3,032, Bom-Maa: 3,032, Bom-Blr: 3,032, Bom-Hyd: 2,282, Bom-Ccu: 3,032. Bom-Cok: 3032, Bom-Tvr: 3,032, Bom-Calicut:3,032, Bom-Madurai: 3,032, Bom-Coimbatore: 3,032, Bom-Mangalore: 2,282.

MicroWorld Eyes Coimbatore

MicroWorld is eying to be among the top five security players in the country this year. For this, the vendor will focus on the SMB market and will tap into the tier-2 and tier-3 cities. Anil Gupta, Head, National Sales, MicroWorld said, “With 60 percent of our business coming from the SMB market, we intend to focus mainly on this segment. Our objective will be supported by our flagship product—eScan 10 just launched in the market.”

It has 75 regional distributors in the country and is now looking to increase company’s footprint in the tier-2 and tier-3 cities like Dehradun, Chhattisgarh, Coimbatore, Indore and Guwahati. On the retail side, the company already has alliances with Reliance and Staples, and is in talks with other majors like Croma, Next Gen and Vijay Stores.

Siruvani Dam Water Level Is Dipping Steadily

Water level in the Siruvani Dam is dipping steadily, warning of trouble this summer. The city looks set for a drinking water crisis this summer, going by the present situation in the Siruvani Dam. And, this time, the Pilloor scheme will not be able to play saviour for the western parts of the city that get Siruvani water because it has to provide water to more layouts than in the previous years.

The water level in the Siruvani Dam (on Wednesday) is 57 ft, as against the full reservoir level of 67 ft. “It is two feet less than the level at this time last year,” Coimbatore Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra said. “The situation is not alarming as of now. But, a crisis may come after March. So, there is need for austerity in the use of drinking water,” he says. The Corporation got a little over 67 million litres of water on Wednesday, as against the 87 million litres a day (mld) of normal supply.

Poor monsoon had reduced the supply to around 70 mld even around October. “A month later, we may get only around 60 mld,” says the Commissioner. This may force the civic body to change its supply schedule from alternate days to once in three days. But, everything depends on how much people co-operate in avoiding wastage of water. Austerity must begin now, according to Mr. Mishra. People should desist from using drinking water to wash cars. Small changes like not using the shower can control wastage, says the Commissioner.

“People tend to empty a bucket of water stored overnight, when they get fresh water the next day. This should be avoided. What you store for a day is as good as the fresh supply,” he explains. The Commissioner warns that the Pilloor scheme, which supplies drinking water to the eastern parts of the city, will not be able to compensate the shortfall in the Siruvani-served areas. In 2001, the Corporation laid a pipeline to link the Pilloor mainline with the Siruvani scheme tank at Sivananda Colony.

That year and in the three years that followed, the Corporation diverted 15 mld from the Pilloor line to the tank when the water level in the Siruvani Dam dipped drastically towards dead storage. This year, the Corporation cannot do this as 761 newly-regularised layouts are being provided with drinking water lines. This is leading to the Pilloor scheme shifting from a position of surplus to one of deficit. The situation will improve across the city when the Rs.113-crore Pilloor Phase II water scheme is implemented in another 18 months, says the Commissioner.

Police Arrested “Habitual” Two-wheeler Lifter

Special teams of the Coimbatore City Police arrested a “habitual” two-wheeler lifter and ex-convict, and recovered seven stolen motorcycles from him worth Rs 2.64 lakh. Following incidents of two-wheeler theft, City Police Commissioner, K.C. Mahali and Deputy Commissioner of Police (Crime and Traffic), K. Shanmugavel formed special teams.

The teams led by Assistant Commissioner, M. Annadurai arrested a suspect during a vehicle check on Monday. The suspect was identified as Binu Dinesh (20) of Palakkad in Kerala residing at Majid Colony in the city. Inquiries revealed that he had already been imprisoned for two-wheeler theft. Police recovered vehicles stolen in Selvapuram, Kuniamuthur, Podanur and Puliakulam.

Dinamalar Office Attacked With Petrol Bomb

Some unidentified miscreants hurled a petrol bomb at the office of Dinamalar, a Tamil daily, on Madukarai Market Road at Sundarapuram late on Wednesday night. It is learnt that the attack was unleashed on the office premises in protest against the policy of the newspaper. The identity of the miscreants and the motive are under investigation. Security at the office has been stepped up.

OSAI Organising Meeting For Man-Animal Conflict

OSAI, a non-governmental organisation, in association with the Forest Department, Coimbatore district, is organising a meeting of the stakeholders to evolve measures to combat the increasing incidents of man-animal conflict in the fringe areas of the forest. Forest officials, researchers and farmers will attend.

People Should Support Corp For Clean City

Garbage being dumped along a road at Saibaba Colony in the city, despite a board appealing against it. A couple of very visible boards along Bharathi Park Cross Road V at Saibaba Colony in the city make an appeal in Tamil to the people not to dump garbage in that area. But a heap of garbage lies at the same spot. And, as if this is not enough, a resident flings a bag of garbage into the dump. So much for the boards and the appeal they carry.

Residents, the Coimbatore Corporation and citizens’ groups point at a combination of reasons for street corners becoming dump yards. Residents say the capacity of the bin on the street is inadequate. So, a lot of waste ends up around the bin. The Corporation says people must store waste in bins at home and hand it over to the conservancy workers, instead of dumping it along roads or vacant plots.

The Residents Awareness Association of Coimbatore, which runs the Alagana Kovai project for a litter-free city, says that inadequate measures on the part of the Corporation and the attitude of the people towards the waste they generate are contributing to the problem. A Corporation official says littering around the bins is widespread in the city. When the new Integrated Solid Waste Management Scheme is implemented, people cannot directly put garbage into the community bins on the streets.

They have to store the biodegradable and non-biodegradable waste in separate bins in their houses and hand these over to the conservancy workers who come for door-to-door (or primary) collection in the city. The workers will put the waste into the roadside bins (secondary collection). From here, the waste will be taken to transfer stations and then to the compost yard. V. Mohan, a resident of Bharathi Park Cross Road V, points at the bin placed near the boards and says, “It is full. This makes people dump the waste along the road. The Corporation must provide a bigger bin.”

Even as Mr. Mohan explains the view of the residents, a woman walks across the road from her house and hurls into the dump a plastic carry bag full of waste. This is the only option left with the residents if the bins are small, she says. A couple of construction workers drag a synthetic sheet full of small debris and garbage from a site and empty it at the dump. What should be a litter-free zone along the eastern compound wall of the Tamil Nadu Institute of Urban Studies is turning into an eyesore.

RAAC agrees with the residents that inadequate number of bins causes problems. “The Corporation plans to place more bins. But, the people too have to change their mindset,” says RAAC vice-president G. Soundararajan. “We blame the Government or the Corporation for lack of sanitation, but we are against keeping bins at home to store waste,” he laments. ‘I am responsible for the waste I generate’ must be the attitude among residents. “We use a road, but do not take the responsibility of keeping it clean. Sanitation is sought to be restricted within one’s compound,” he says.

UGC Joint Secretary In Coimbatore BU

Rajesh Anand, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission, speaking at Bharathiar University in Coimbatore on Tuesday. Research supervisors and guides should try to be ingenious. They should develop their own research methodologies and ensure that there is no recycling in research. Their projects should be original, said Rajesh Anand, Joint Secretary, University Grants Commission (UGC), here on Tuesday.

He was speaking at the inauguration of the short-term course for research guides organised by the UGC-Academic Staff College of Bharathiar University. He asked the guides and supervisors to go through the website of the UGC to make themselves aware of the research schemes available for faculty. “Every teacher should be aware of the various research facilities and schemes available. The UGC is very liberal to the faculty who come up with good research proposals. There are nearly five lakh research guides in the 408 universities. Though this is a good number, it does not ensure quality,” Mr. Anand said.

He asked research guides to be accessible to the students whom they were guiding. It was necessary for them to remain in touch and updated with the subject. He made a mention of the research awards given to teachers and the sponsorships extended to research seminars. G.J. Samathanam, Advisor, Department of Science and Technology, said the impact of Chandrayaan – 1 had been so high that many Information Technology professionals were quitting their lucrative jobs in IT companies to join the Indian Space Research Organisation.

“Events like the moon mission will bring about a national movement in evincing interest in science. The allotment made by the department for research should be used as a functional investment, which will be enabled by hybridisation of thought,” he said. Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam said the quality of research projects of scholars was drawing flak from many quarters.

“Scholars are exploited in many ways by some guides. There is rampant plagiarism with regard to the projects and the evaluation system is not uniform,” he lamented. To set the system right, he recommended that the UGC draw up an eligibility criteria for selection of guides. Since there were very few Ph.Ds in certain disciplines like computer science, catering science, etc., the UGC should relax the norms for selection of guides in these disciplines.

He asked the UGC to decide on remuneration for the guides for the time and effort they invested and avoid malpratices. R. Elango, Member Secretary, State Assessment and Accreditation Council, Tamil Nadu, K. Natarajan, Registrar, and A. Thanikodi, Director, UGC-Academic Staff College, of the university, spoke.

Graduation Day Of KMCH - College of Nursing

Aswathy Thomas, a student of the College of Nursing, KMCH Institute of Health Sciences, receiving degree certificate from B. Suresh, Vice-Chancellor, JSS University, Mysore (second right), at the graduation day of the institute in Coimbatore recently. Government should explore the possibility of entrusting rural healthcare to private hospitals, B. Suresh, Vice-Chancellor, JSS University, Mysore, said here recently.

Instead of setting up more primary health centres, which were at a constant risk of facing shortage of manpower, health care could be outsourced to rural areas, he observed. Delivering the convocation address of the KMCH Institute of Health Sciences, Mr. Suresh said that corporate hospitals had already started the practice. Even though the healthcare delivery system in India had witnessed significant improvement over the last several years, 70 per cent of the health infrastructure was located in urban areas. More than 73 per cent of the Indian population that lived in rural areas did not have access to the kind of facilities enjoyed by their urban counterparts.

Hence, there was a need to make a paradigm shift from a bio-medical model to a social-cultural one and concentrate on the preventive aspect of healthcare. Also, the Government should ensure that rural health centres had sufficient paramedical force. If paramedical force were involved in the rural health centres, there would be a positive change in the present situation of health care in remote areas, he said. In the face of a global economic recession, the amount the Government spent on healthcare could be cut. Nalla G.Palaniswamy, Chairman and Managing Director of Kovai Medical Center and Hospital, said the demand for paramedical staff had gone down owing to the global economic meltdown. Compared with the situation about three years ago, the demand for the candidates was set to experience a slump.

All-party meeting of the Coimbatore Corporation

An all-party meeting of the Coimbatore Corporation on Tuesday wanted the civic body’s budget for the next financial year to list the infrastructure development schemes for the city. The budget should reflect a spirit to implement all the schemes, than merely being a case of old wine in a new bottle, they said.

The meeting was convened by Mayor R. Venkatachalam and Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra to elicit the view of the leaders of the parties in the Corporation Council on what the budget should contain for the development of the city. According to councillors who took part in the meeting, they wanted the budget to mention clearly the funding pattern for the schemes to be implemented under the Jawaharlal Nehru National Urban Renewal Mission. The budget must specify the cost of each project, the grants from the Government, the Corporation’s share of the cost and the interest on loans, they said.

The councillors said Vacant Land Tax, Profession Tax and the user charges for underground sewers could be discussed and finalised in the Council. The Opposition parties were opposing the charges, saying these would put a huge financial burden on the people. When the work on the scheme itself had not taken off fully, there was no need to discuss the user charges now, they said. An official said the councillors wanted more funds allocated for development works in the newly regularised layouts and also for the construction of houses for slum dwellers under the Basic Services for Urban Poor project.

The leaders of the parties also called for the creation of good sports and recreation facilities in the city. They also wanted to know why works to construct subways at Gandhipuram, the Coimbatore Medical College Hospital and Ukkadam had not begun despite the proposals for these having been made some years ago. According to the councillors, the Commissioner told them that the Hyderabad model of public-private partnership could be examined to implement the subways project. The meeting also discussed the scheme to construct a modern Council hall.

Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme

The National Research Development Corporation (NRDC) has tied up with the Department of Science and Technology to motivate women students who are in their final year to become entrepreneurs, Ramarani Tripathi, Deputy Manager, NRDC, New Delhi, said here recently. She was inaugurating a Women Entrepreneurship Development Programme – Challenges and Opportunities organised by Centre for Women’s Studies at the Avinashilingam University for Women.

“We have more than 7,000 technologies that can be put to use by budding entrepreneurs. They are in varied fields such as herbal, pharmaceuticals, agriculture, electrical and electronics, etc. Any one of the areas can be selected to start an industry that has commercial potential. Identification of a product is very important for production of that product,” Ms. Tripathi said. She also said the NRDC would assist in technology transfer and preparation of feasibility reports before choosing a viable product for production and marketing.

K. Venkatesan, Consultant, NRDC, New Delhi, said the Central Government had implemented various schemes for the benefit of women. “This has not reached the target group because there is no awareness about these schemes. There is much scope to promote entrepreneurship along with scientific temperament. Women empowerment will lead to family’s empowerment and that in turn will lead to society’s empowerment,” he said.

He elaborated on the subsidies the Government had earmarked for women entrepreneurs. He assured the students who were interested in pursuing entrepreneurial work of advice and financial assistance from NRDC. Saroja Prabhakaran, Vice-Chancellor, and K.C. Leelavathy, Director, Centre for Women’s Studies, of the university, spoke.

TANSTIA Awareness Programme For Innovations

The Southern India Engineering Manufacturers’ Association (SIEMA) and the TANSTI FNF Service Centre will organise here a presentation on “Fostering Innovations for Better Society” under the L-Ramp – TANSTIA Awareness Programme for Innovations on January 28.

A release from the association said L-RAMP was a joint initiative of IIT-M and Rural Innovations Network and supported by the Lemeison Foundation. It was in operation for the last two years and aimed at improving the quality of the life of the poor through innovations and innovations-led enterprises. The presentation here would focus on: agriculture (agricultural products), water (water resources, products and techniques), energy (wind, solar, biogas, their instruments and techniques), dairy and manufacturing industries. The programme would be held at the SIEMA Hall.

ISCA Executive Committee Member Re-elected

Secretary and Director of Kongunadu Arts and Science College, and President of the Association of Management of Private Colleges, M. Aruchami, has been re-elected a member of the executive committee of the Indian Science Congress Association (ISCA), Kolkatta, for 2009-10. According to a college release, Mr. Aruchami is also the convener of the Coimbatore Chapter of the ISCA.

Workshop Of 'Short Term Course Of Research Guides'

Many young software engineers were applying for posts in ISRO after the success of Chandrayaan-1, a top official in the Department Of Science and Tecnology (DoST), said today. These engineers have stated during interviews that they lacked professional satisfaction in IT companies and their jobs and wanted to work in space related programmes, by which they could at least be proud and part of a great mission, Dr G J Samathanam, Advisor, DoST, said today.

Speaking at a workshop of 'short term course of Research Guides,' at UGC-Academic Staff College here, Samathanam said the success of Chandrayaan-1 has put India in the elite lunar club comprising of Russia, US, Japan, China and European Space Agency. Stating that by 2025 India would land on the moon, he said considering the potential in science and technology, Rs 1.25 lakh crore have been allocated in the 11th five year plan.

However, the concern today was that how this huge allocation would become functional and mission oriented investment, he said, adding multidisciplinary approach or hybridisation of thoughts should be the need of the hour in India. Samathanam said that as against the 25 per cent going for higher education in developed countries, only 10 per cent of the eligible students were continuing their studies in India.

Padam Shri Award To President of TEA

Mr A Sakthivel President of the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO) has been awarded Padam Shri. It is first time in the history of Padma awards that an exporter has been honoured with this prestigious awards for his contribution to Indian exports and yeoman services rendered for development of infrastructure in Tirupur.President FIEO Mr Sakthivel is known for his unforgetful contribution to the growth of Indian textile industry and especially for development of MSME segment.

He single handedly brought the little known town of Tirupur on the World map and made it nucleus of knitwear exports from India.A great visionary and hands on professional Shri Sakthivel was one of the first to gauge the impact of US and EU slowdown on exports and suggested numerous ways to contain its impact.

Exporting community is fortunate to find him at the helm of affairs at most difficult time in Indian exports history.Exporting community has thanked the Government for recognising the self less services of Shri Sakthivel who truly deserved this honour.Mr. A Sakthivel, Managing Director, Poppy's Knitwear, Tirupur is also President of Tirupur Exporters Association(TEA).

Mr. Sakthivel is on the Board of Director with the IDBI Bank. In addition, he is a member on the Small Scale Industries Board, Govt. of India; the Board of Trade of the Commerce Ministry and the National Advisory Committee of SIDBI. He is also Director of New Tirupur Development Corporation.Mr. Sakthivel also holds the positions of Chairman of the India Knit Fair Association, President of the Indian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Coimbatore.

RTI Needs Adequate Powers For State

It has become imperative to fine-tune the Right to Information Act (RTI) by bringing in amendments, besides giving more powers to State Information Commissions. While Speaking Coimbatore Consumer Cause secretary Kathir Mathiyon said the RTI Act introduced in 2005, a path-breaking initiative by the Congress-led government, had failed to achieve its purpose. Lack of adequate powers for State Information Commissions to take penal action against the official concerned for either delay or denial of information is the reason for the sorry state of affairs, he said.

There is no denying the fact that a majority of the government departments to whom the applications are sent for seeking certain information under RTI Act, seldom respond to the applicants queries within the stipulated time limit. What is irking is that even the directives of the State Information Commission werent being adhered to by the officials, Kathir alleged.No doubt the Centres intention was to bring in transparency in the administration and increase the efficiency and reduce corruption by implementing the RTI Act. To ones chagrin, the provisions of the RTI Act were not very stringent with government department officials adopting delaying tactics in providing information to applicants.

Hence, the Central Government should explore the possibilities of amending the RTI Act and extend more powers to State Information Commissions (SIC). Citing the RTI Bill introduced in Parliament on May 11, 2005, Kathir said the Prime Minister in his speech pointed out the removal of penalty of imprisonment to officials for declining to provide information, with the hope that civil servants would see RTI Act in a positive angle. In this connection, Kathir Mathiyon also urged the Centre to include the provision of penalty of imprisonment while amending the RTI Act.

Even the Appellate Authority, to whom the first appeal is sent, should not be spared from penal action, since Public Information Officers (PIOs) who fail to provide information within the specified time are punished under Section 20 of the RTI Act. Regarding government departments declining to provide the Government Orders (GO) directly connected to the public, he said the Central Government should make it mandatory for all government departments to provide GOs to applicants.

Another hardship faced by applicants while remitting the prescribed fees for seeking information from Central Government departments is that they have to take demand drafts along with the commission in different names for different offices. This is not only a laborious task, but a costly affair for the applicants, Kathir said, adding that in the event of any return of DDs, the cancellation commission was higher. To remove the anomalies, the Centre should come out with a common head for all departments for payment through banks, as in the case of State Governments, he added.

Eye Donation Camp

Vice-Chancellor of Bharathiar University G. Thiruvasagam (left) placing an eye donation pledge certificate of the Principal District and Sessions Judge G. Chockalingam and his family members at the latter’s residence in Coimbatore on Monday as part of "Vizhi Koduthu Oli Koduppom" programme. The judge (second right) and his wife are in the picture.

National Service Scheme (NSS) volunteers of Bharathiar University and its affiliated colleges have made another community service project of the university a success by exceeding the target. The third consecutive project of the university, “Vizhi Koduthu Oli Koduppom”, after the “Kaitharikku Kai Koduppom” in 2008 and “Padithathai Piraruku Padikka Koduppom” in 2007, implemented on Republic Day, has once again proved the strength of student power.

The university had fixed a target of collecting one lakh eye donation pledges. The project was to be implemented in three stages. First was the stage of creating awareness among the public, the second getting signatures on the pledge certificates and the third and final stage was to present the donor with a laminated version of the pledge on Republic Day, to be hung in the living room of the house. Monday saw the volunteers going from house-to-house to present the eye donors with laminated certificates of their pledge.

P. Hemalatha and J. Jennifer of Nirmala College for Women were a sample of the contented lot who had collected the pledges. “Though we initially started off with some hesitation, the positive response from the first few gave us courage and motivated us to approach those who were unwilling to pledge (out of fear of disfigurement) with no difficulty,” they said after hanging the pledge in the living room of M. Irudayaraj, a resident of Puliakulam. There were four donors from his family.

Vice-Chancellor G. Thiruvasagam too visited a few homes and personally hung the certificates in their living rooms. While visiting the home of G. Chockalingam, Principal District and Sessions Judge, whose entire family had pledged eyes, a suggestion was made by the Judge to the Vice-Chancellor that a common telephone number be identified for the State to enable those on transferable jobs to contact their nearest Government eye bank.

The Vice-Chancellor told The Hindu that owing to the overwhelming response of the public, the university decided to continue the project with support from the Lions Club International. A.S. Ravichandran, Lions District Governor, said the club had been trying to motivate people to pledge their eyes for a long time. “But, students have achieved this in a very short time and the results are there for all to see. More than 60,000 died in India everyday. If all their eyes are used, the four million people who are visually impaired will be able to get their sight restored within a week.”

There were many interesting stories about the reaction of people to the campaign. While some students said it was easy to convince the educated, there were a few others who said otherwise. True to this, the donors were from all walks of life. Those with minor ailments, who did not know that they also could donate, too pledged their eyes, thanks to the awareness caused by students.
Among those who had pledged their eyes were the 80-odd inmates of the Missionaries of Charity.

Republic Day celebrations At VOC Park

District Collector V. Palanikumar presenting the Chief Minister’s Constabulary Medal to police personnel at the Republic Day celebrations at VOC Park Grounds in the city on Monday. District Collector V. Palanikumar distributed welfare assistance worth Rs. 39.32 lakh to as many as 154 beneficiaries after unfurling the Tri-colour at VOC Park Grounds and took the salute from the police personnel as part of the Republic Day celebrations on Monday.

The Collector also honoured freedom fighters. Inspector-General of Police, West Zone, Pramod Kumar, Commissioner of Police, Coimbatore City, Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Coimbatore range, P. Sivanandi, Corporation Commissioner Anshul Mishra, District Revenue Officer S. Prabhakaran, Deputy Commissioners of Police S. Rajendran (Law and Order), K. Shanmugavel (Crime and Traffic), P. Nagarajan (Headquarters), and Kesavan (Armed Reserve) and Superintendent of Police, Coimbatore, G. Karthikeyan attended the function.

The Collector distributed free house site pattas to eight persons, distress relief scheme assistance to 48 people, financial assistance to 14 widows, free sewing machines and iron boxes to 18 people, financial assistance to those injured in war, marriage assistance for daughters of widows and for widow re-marriage, financial assistance for the capital to start small units, agricultural inputs, wheel chairs and financial assistance to physically and visually challenged. He also gave away the Chief Minister’s police medal to 64 police personnel. A special award was presented to one person for successful implementation of the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme.

An Assistant Engineer, four Sanitary Inspectors, six conservancy workers, two Office Assistants and an Assistant were given certificates for meritorious service at the Republic Day celebrations organised by the civic body. The VOC Park grounds where the parade took place was cordoned off and unprecedented security blanket was in place with access control measures and the visitors were subjected to frisking using Door Frame Metal Detectors and Hand Held Metal Detectors. Aerial surveillance by binocular wielding police personnel also formed part of the security arrangements.

Cultural performance by nearly 700 students of Presentation Convent, SBOA Matriculation School, Bishop Upaharam Higher Secondary School, Coimbatore Cloth Merchants Association Corporation Higher Secondary School, St. Mary’s Girls Higher Secondary School, Nachiar Girls Higher Secondary School – Pollachi, Kongu Nadu Arts and Science College students and CSI Girls Higher Secondary school for nearly 45 minutes entertained the audience. Republic Day was celebrated across Tirupur city with pomp and gaiety. Revenue Divisional Officer P. Murugesh and Mayor K. Selvaraj took the salute at the functions organised by the Revenue Department and the Corporation respectively.

Police Starting Counselling Centre To Avoid Suicide

The police in Coimbatore range have started opening counselling centre in each police station to provide counselling to those having suicidal tendencies. The centre was inaugurated by the Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Coimbatore range, P. Sivanandi, on Sunday at Perur sub-division. According to Mr. Sivanandi, in 2008, the districts of Coimbatore, Erode and the Nilgiris accounted for 2,445 suicides.

Of this, Coimbatore accounted for 1,368, Erode - 806 and the Nilgiris – 271 suicides. The reasons for suicides were varied such as family disputes, debts, bad debts, monetary disputes, illicit relations, love affairs, addictions and so on. Police could start a counselling centre wherein they could offer solution to disputes and counselling in case of problems so that through such measures the suicide rate could be brought down by 10 per cent to 20 per cent. In many cases, people resort to the extreme decision in life owing to lack of avenues to get their problems redressed.

The counselling centres would have a Deputy Superintendent of Police, a lawyer, a social worker, a government servant and a psychiatrist. If the police step in at the right time, suicides due to debt problems and exorbitant rates of interest could be prevented. These centres would function from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and there would be eight centres in Coimbatore district, seven in Erode and five in the Nilgiris district. Deputy Superintendent of Police, Perur, K. Kumarasami, Perur Thavathiru Santhalinga Ramasamy Adigalar, Law College lecturer Thamaraiselvi, Tamil College Principal Umapathy and others took part.

The Coimbatore Rural police on Sunday opened a counselling centre at the office of Deputy Superintendent of Police in Tirupur to provide palliative care to people who have a tendency to commit suicide. “Our aim is to bring down the incidence of suicides in Tirupur,” Superintendent of Police G. Karthikeyan, said. During last year, a total of 263 suicides were reported in Tirupur sub-division limits.

Police Recovered Rs 1.5 Lak

The Coimbatore rural police on Monday recovered Rs. 1.5 lakh from J. Zakir Hussain, one of the accused involved in robbing a real estate businessman at Kovilpalayam. According to police, Vasan, a real estate businessman, was intercepted by a three-member gang at Kovilpalayam, near here, on December 18 last year.

The trio, including the Kovilpalayam Inspector Dhanapal, were accused of robbing Rs. 25 lakh from the businessman by resorting to intimidation. The police had arrested Zakir Hussain and Dhanapal. The police had taken Zakir Hussain into custody recently for four days. The Deputy Inspector General of Police, Coimbatore range, P. Sivanandi, and the Superintendent of Police, G. Karthikeyan, formed a special team to interrogate the accused.

Baby Elinstein Toys In India

Baby Einstein, an international brand of toys, is now available in India. According to a release from M.N. Kapasi, Managing Director, My Baby Excels, the collection of products offered by the brand will include DVDs, music CDs, books, toys and gear. The interactive toys would engage babies and provide parents with tools to introduce their babies to their surrounding world by using real objects, music, art, language, and poetry in fun and enriching ways, he said. “Baby Einstein also enhances the interaction between the parent and the child,” Mr. Kapasi added.

Congressman Held

Sadakathullah (48), a congress activist, was taken into custody by police after he set ablaze flags of the Congress party and its human rights wing near Aatuppalam on Monday evening. The incident led to rumours and caused a commotion. It is learnt that Sadakathullah indulged in the act in a fit of rage after Congress functionaries failed to turn up for a flag-hoisting function organised by him. Police have registered a case.

Airtel Expands Its Service

Airtel, cellular service provider, has expanded its services in Coimbatore district by adding five new towns to its existing network. A press release from Rajiv Rajagopal, Chief Executive Officer of Mobile Services, Bharti Airtel Limited, Tamil Nadu, said that the new cell sites added are Kalipalayam, Oorapalayam, Velampalayam, Sevanthampalayam and Annur.

Black Flags Hoisted In Many Homes At Coimbatore

Black flags were hoisted a top nearly 120 houses at various places in the district today, to show their protest against the Centre's failure to intervene in Sri Lankan Tamil's issue and pressurise the country for a ceasefire. According to police, black flags were hoisted on 50 houses in Tirupur, under a common banner of 16 various organizations, including Periyar Dravida Kazhakam, extending support for separate Eelam for Tamils. Blackflags were hoisted atop 50 houses in Palladam and about 20 houses in Kaliyappangounden Pudur near Pollachi. The members of the organizations expressed solidarity to the suffering Tamils in Sri Lanka.

Dhanush At Coimbatore

Dhanush's adulation for his father in law, Superstar Rajinikanth has reached new heights. As the actor tours the state to see the response for his Padikkadhavan he has been questioned by fans if he will adopt the title of the Chinna Superstar. Dhanush to keep them in good humour has been telling fans that he will consider this and will take a decision on it soon. But when he was in Central Theatres in Coimbatore, he took everybody by surprise. When he spotted a fan carrying a handkerchief that carried the image of Rajini with the words Endhiran below it, he wanted to grab it The actor apparently asked the fan to part with the handkerchief and the overjoyed fan gifted it to him his priced procession!

100% Literacy Programme In All Jails

The Tamil Nadu prison department will kick-start its 100 percent literacy programme in all the jails in the state on Repuplic Day. According to a report, at least 50% of the inmates of prisoners in the state are illiterate and another 25% in the early stage. "We will provide them with a slate and writing sticks. We expect to make all the inmates literate in another three months. We are having tie-ups with the local chief educational officer, apart from Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan and Human Resource Development department," director general of police (DGP Prisons) R Nataraj told .

"We will maintain a record about each and every inmate undergoing the literacy course. Now, we have separate classrooms in the major prisons at Chennai, Vellore, Madurai, Palayamkottai, Tiruchi, Coimbatore, Salem and Cuddalore. We have instructed all prison superintendents to make available a class room in the sub-jails," Nataraj said. Prison sources said there were at least 17,300 prisoners in the state's prisons. These included more than 5,000 convicts, apart from undertrials and remand prisoners. Several prisoners, at the time of entering the jail, claim to have passed class II or class III. However, "when asked to sign the register, they fail," a prison official said. "In the programme, we are enrolling inmates based on their ability.

They will be given a few sentences in Tamil to write and read. If successful, they will be termed fit for the Valar Kalvi Scheme' the next level. Those who cannot read or write will be enrolled for the training. We have contacted HRD officials, Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, apart from the chief education officers in the district level and local NGOs, who will provide teachers. The trainers will teach the inmates the basics of Tamil. They will taught to sign their names. Three months is supposed to be more than enough to bring them on track. The interested inmates will be provided with opportunities to study and pass several classes from standard I to XII.

We have a facility to conduct examinations inside the prison," the officer added. Prison officials have been asked to buy blackboards for conducting classes. The inmates enrolled for the literacy programme will be given a slate and writing sticks to learn how to write and read on their own. "This will be more suitable to start the new scheme on Republic Day and to ensure 100 percent literacy in another three months," another senior prison official said.