Art goes mobile for a humane cause

Students colour pictures while travelling in autos to generate awareness of tuberculosis control

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Over 160 students from 20 schools took part in the competition

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— Photo: C. Venkatachalapathy

Students taking part in an art competition in an autorickshaw in Puducherry on Sunday.

PUDUCHERRY, India: The cause was awareness of tuberculosis control. The medium was art. But it was the methodology that made a difference.

The Revised National TB Control Programme, Puducherry UT Division along with the Pondicherry State Artists Society embarked on an innovative attempt to spread awareness of TB control – an art competition for students in running auto rickshaws.

State TB Control Officer S. Govindarajan said the competition was conducted on Sunday to mark the World TB Day on March 24.

The World Health Organisation has declared that the theme for this year will be “On the move against tuberculosis innovate to accelerate action”.

41 auto rickshaws

“Over 160 students from 20 schools took part in the competition. There were 41 auto rickshaws. The students coloured the given pictures while travelling in the auto,” he said.

Stickers carrying awareness messages on TB control were also put up on autos, Dr. Govindarajan said, adding,

Funds to health centres

“We have provided funds to all primary health centres and community health centres to conduct community meetings and honour patients who had undertaken regular treatment for the last one year in the service area.”

Funds

Funds have been granted to medical colleges to conduct competitions on World TB Day, he pointed out.

Among others, President of the Pondicherry State Artists Society Ibert was present.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032259460600.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

India's tsunami warning system best in the world: expert

INCOIS – PMSSS ocean weather information centre inaugurated at Puducherry Photo : T.Singaravelou

Director of Indian National Center for Ocean Information Services, Hyderabad, Satheesh C. Shenoi, at the inauguration of the Ocean Weather Information Dissemination Centre . —

PUDUCHERRY, India: The country’s tsunami warning centre, which was set up at the Indian National Centre for Ocean Information Services (INCOIS), Hyderabad, in 2007, is the best in the world right now. In several recent occasions, the centre has provided more accurate information than other centres, Director of INCOIS Satheesh C. Shenoi said on Saturday.

Substantiating this, he explained, “On August 11, 2009, an earthquake measuring 7.8 on the Richter Scale occurred near the Andaman Islands. People panicked and started to call the centre. The warning centres at the Pacific and Japan issued a tsunami warning, while our centre said there was no warning. Our information was more valid.”

He was addressing a press conference after inaugurating the INCOIS – Pondicherry Multipurpose Social Service Society (PMSSS) – Ocean Weather Information Dissemination Centre for Puducherry, Kerala and Tamil Nadu Coast at PMSSS.

The early warning centre was fully functional and was working on 24×7 basis, he said, adding that the digital display boards installed along the coast in various States were equipped with siren, which could be triggered and be audible for 1.5 to 2 km radius.

INCOIS has launched a forecast system for tuna fishery on an experimental basis in the last six to eight months.

INCOIS was providing advice to fishermen based on satellite data on potential fishing areas, sea surface temperature and chlorophyll maps. “At present, we give forecast for five days in advance and are yet to give forecast for longer,” he said.

Such information, according to Mr. Shenoi, could ensure safety at sea and help the fishermen to reduce search time. INCOIS has installed about 65 to 70 digital display boards along the coast from Gujarat to West Bengal. An Indian Ocean Forecasting System Information Dissemination through electronic digital board was inaugurated at Karaikal on Friday.

Mr. Shenoi said the Ocean Weather Information Dissemination Centre was a model and would generate information and provide advice on potential fishing areas and forecast on waves, current and winds.

Archbishop of Pondicherry and Cuddalore Antony Anandarayar, senior scientist, INCOIS, T.M. Balakrishnan Nair, General Manager, BSNL-Puducherry, Marshall Antony Leo and Executive Director-PMSSS V. Albert Thambidurai were present.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032252410300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Cycling to create awareness on climate change

NEW DELHI, India: The Delhi Cycling Club organised a 11-km-long cycle rally dubbed “Climate Bicycle Ride” between Ambedkar Nagar and Moolchand on Sunday to raise awareness about climate change and to promote cycling as healthy and eco-friendly way of commuting between short distances.

The climate ride saw the participation of a large number of environment and health conscious people from different walks of life from Delhi and neighbourhood. Many IT professionals, engineers, architects, scientists, students, researchers, academicians, media, environmentalists and chartered accountants took part in the event.

Voluntary pledge

A large pledge board was also installed at the venue to encourage participants and the public to sign a voluntary pledge to reduce carbon footprint in daily life.

Delhi Government’s Additional Commissioner (Transport) K. Lalnghinglova flagged off the ride. The ride started from Ambedkar Nagar bus terminal and passed through Pushp Vihar, Chirag Delhi, Moolchand on the BRT corridor and culminate at Ambedkar Nagar T-point.

The event was open to all and extra cycles were arranged free of cost for participants who didn’t own a bicycle or found it difficult to bring them to the venue. Participants who were cycling in real traffic for the first time or after a long gap, were given useful cycling and road safety tips by volunteers before the ride.

Sensitising people

The Delhi Cycling Club has been trying through its event to disseminate information and sensitise people on the need to reduce energy consumption, dependence on petrol and diesel, and use more of cycling, walking and public transport and less of private motor vehicles to tackle climate change.

This is the third climate ride event organised by the Delhi Cycling Club, a non-profit group of over 850 members from Delhi and the National Capital Region consisting of bicycle enthusiasts, professionals who cycle to work frequently and people who are concerned about issues like environment, climate change, health and fitness and liveability of our cities. The first two similar events were held in June and December last year.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032253040400.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Save fuel, say children

Students take out cycle jatha to spread the message

Riding on a cause:Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh at the cycle jatha in Hassan on Sunday to create awareness on the importance of saving fuel.

HASSAN, India: Deputy Commissioner Naveen Raj Singh here on Sunday flagged off a “save fuel” cycle jatha with schoolchildren to create awareness on the importance of saving fuel.

The jatha was organised by Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd.

Students carried placards reading, “If oil is not saved in this age, we will go back to stone age”.

Mr. Singh recommended cycle for short distances and urged people to not think that using a cycle was below one’s dignity. Calling China a role model in the context, he said even professors used cycles to go to work. R. Rehaman, chief manager at the oil company, said oil reserves were depleting and “we have to save oil for the future”.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032259040300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Houses for displaced people to be ready before monsoon

Foundation stone laid for shifting of Basapur

B.S. Yeddyurappa

BASAPUR, India (Dharwad District):Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa expressed the hope that the construction of about 65,000 houses for people displaced by floods would be completed before the onset of monsoon.

Addressing a gathering after laying the foundation stone for shifting of Basapur village in Navalgund taluk of Dharwad district on Sunday, the Chief Minister said that of the 305 villages being shifted permanently and partially, land had been acquired in 277 villages and the process of acquiring the remaining land was in progress.

As many as 570 houses are being constructed under Sri Dharmasthala Gramabhivruddhi Yojane at Basapur village.

The Chief Minister said that of the 277 villages, work of creating the required infrastructure for the relocation had been initiated in 265 villages, and in 201 villages, the State Government had signed MoUs with various organisations and companies for construction of houses.

He said construction of 18,000 houses had begun in 55 villages and in another week the construction of 30,000 houses would begin. “In another month’s time we will begin the construction of houses in all the villages that have to be shifted permanently”, he said.

Visit

Mr. Yeddyurappa said that as announced earlier he would be visiting all the 15 flood-affected districts in the State starting from April 4.

Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister Jagadish Shettar said that four villages in the district that were being shifted completely and three villages partially and a total of 1,814 houses were being built for the displaced people. While 1,000 houses were being built under Sri Dharmashthala Gramabhivruddhi Yojane, TV9 news channel was building 150 houses and the remaining houses would be built by Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032263940600.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Women script ‘white revolution' success story in Chittoor district

‘Win-win’ situation for cattle rearers, SHGs and dairies

Success story: Women entrepreneurs collecting milk at the Bulk Milk Cooling Unit (BMCU) in Gajulapalle village of Chittoor district.

TIRUPATI, India: Milk is what Chittoor district is famous for in the state, being not only the largest producer, but also the major supplier to the entire south India.

Dairy has been in the forefront in providing livelihood to the public, on a par with and even more than agriculture in the semi-arid district. It all started with the setting up of two Bulk Milk Cooling Units (BMCUs) on a pilot basis in V. Kota and Gangavaram mandals in the year 2005 to procure milk on a large scale. The two-pronged strategy was to procure milk from the remotest village and as well provide a better price to the cattle rearers.

Now, the BMCUs have made their presence felt in as many as 56 of the 65 mandals in the district, procuring 1.22 lakh litres on an average per day. 80 p.c. of the milk thus collected is sent to Balaji Dairy in Tirupati and the rest to AP Dairy in Madanapalle, for further process and standardisation. After cattle rearers, the other major beneficiary in the process is the women’s Self Help Groups (SHGs). The BMCUs are run entirely by members of the ‘Mahila Samakhyas’, who collect the milk, test its quality (fat content), store and dispatch the same to the dairies. Each unit has a computer operator, two technicians and three helpers. The Samakhya earns Rs.30,000 – Rs.40,000 per month at the rate of Re.1 per litre milk procured. The rural housewives running the units get Rs.5,000 – Rs.8,000 per month as salary after which the Samakhya is left with Rs.10,000. The cattle rearers get Rs.13.10 – Rs.15.80 per litre of cow milk and Rs.20 – Rs.26 for buffalo milk, while the dairies have enough supply to expand their business. This way, the BMCU concept has turned out to be a win-win situation for all the stakeholders.

The government has announced to provide additional fodder for the cattle during the ensuing peak summer season.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032256290300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Centre offers incentives for domestic use of solar power

Harnessing solar energy may address the energy problems in rural areas.

MADURAI, India: Solar power generation units no longer remain in the sole domain of industries as a new scheme of the Central Government offers generous incentives to promote its domestic use.

The Rooftop Power and Stand alone Small Grid-connected Power Plant (RPSSGP) scheme will provide Rs.4.5 lakh in subsidy, which is more than half the total estimated cost of Rs.8 lakh needed to install a 5 kilowatt solar plant in houses. This unit would power all appliances including heavy power consumers such as air-conditioners.

The Centre would also arrange for loans to cover the remaining costs, S.E.S. Syed Ahamed, Tamil Nadu Energy Development Agency (TEDA) Deputy General Manager of Madurai Region, told The Hindu here on Sunday.

The TEDA is the nodal agency for implementing the project in the State. Guidelines for this scheme were issued on March 12. The Madurai Region of TEDA covers 16 districts of south and central Tamil Nadu.

Incentives increased

The scheme would also cover half the cost of installing a solar water heater by individuals. This subsidy was confined to industry and was not available to individuals earlier.

Further, the subsidy for solar cookers has been increased by 20 per cent to 60 per cent at present, he said.

The Centre has also increased the incentives offered to industry and solar power developers to attract youngsters to the sector and spread the technology. While 33 kilovolt was earlier minimum to supply power to State Electricity Boards (SEB), now either 11 KV or 22 KV would suffice for which the number of grid lines available are higher, informed Mr. Syed.

The subsidy component for a 100 kilowatt rooftop solar power plant has been increased from 30 per cent to 40 per cent of the total capital. A developer would get nearly Rs.1 crore of the total Rs.2.5 crore needed at present, he said.

Another very attractive concession offered was that of increasing the duration of the generation-based incentive of Rs.18.44 per unit provided by the Union Ministry of New and Renewable Energy for increasing power supply to SEBs, Mr. Syed said.

While the earlier norms provided the incentive only for the initial five years, now it would cover the entire tenure of the power purchase agreement of the solar power plant with the SEBs, which is usually 25 years.

The Centre has also undertaken to provide soft refinance options, he said.

The total nation-wide target under this RPSSGP scheme, which is operation till 2013, was 100 megawatt. The beneficiaries would be chosen on a ‘first-come first-serve’ basis and the registration would be done between May 1 and June 30, he said.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032253360500.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Indian universities to be e-linked

COIMBATORE, India: All universities will become Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) enabled in three years through an exclusive optic fibre network. They will all be e-linked as part of the National Knowledge Network at a cost of Rs.6,000 crore, Union Minister for Communications and Information Technology A. Raja, said here on Saturday.

Speaking at a function after inaugurating the Wi-Fi facility at Avinashilingam University for Women, he said every university, be it medical, agricultural, arts and science, or engineering, would be part of the Network.

Chancellor of the university T.K. Shanmuganandam, said that gradually, the examination system would be made online.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032262380500.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

College students do their bit for nature

They spend their Sundays cleaning mouth of Adyar estuary —

Social work: College students cleaning up the banks of the Adyar estuary recently in an effort to protect the mangrove saplings.

CHENNAI, India: Quite a few environmental movements started off as small acts of defiance. To observe one in action, head to the grimy banks of the Adyar estuary on a lazy Sunday afternoon where a group of young college students have been descending every weekend of late. The unkempt bunch, armed with trash bags, spend their Sunday evenings taking care of the more than 100 mangrove saplings (Avicennia Marina) that have taken root after the beach clean-up that was organised on January 30.

For this bunch of youngsters, hanging out with friends on a weekend seems mundane in comparison to clearing the estuary mouth of plastic trash or adopting a mangrove sapling.

“This gives me happiness. I feel like I’m doing by bit for nature,” said Rahul Roshan, a student of Madras Christian College.

The organising for the ‘Reclaim Our Beaches’ (ROB) initiative is done through social networking and updates on their site http://www.letsrob.org.

Pointing out that there was dense mangrove cover along the stretch just 30 years ago, T.D.Babu, researcher at the Central Institute of Brackishwater Aquaculture, said, “Mangroves serve as a survival ground for all young aquatic animals. They prevent erosion and hence can significantly reduce the formation of sand bars at the river mouth. The saplings might be the first step towards the revival of the Adyar ecosystem.”

J.Muthuvel, a final year engineering student at Anna University, said since environmental science, part of his coursework, has not taught him much, the drive to protect the mangroves was just an act of self-learning. “We are doing it to give the mangroves a chance,” he said.

However, repeated clean-ups have not achieved much because the Adyar itself is heavily polluted. Every high tide deposits a layer of plastic and garbage along the estuary banks. But students like Muthuvel are not giving up. “Garbage would accumulate every week, suffocating the mangrove saplings. But we too will come every week,” he said.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032252470300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Library restored, beauty of architecture preserved

It is being computerised for easy book selection: Principal —Photo: M_Moorthy

WINDOW TO THE WORLD: A view of the re-constructed library at H.H. The Rajah’s College in Pudukottai.

PUDUKOTTAI, India: With the completion of work on its re-construction, the library at the H.H. The Rajah’s College here has been re-started recently, benefiting the student community. The library of the college suffered a roof collapse in November 2003 at this college which was constructed 125 years ago. The height of the library block is 13.6 metres; length is 25.8 metres and breadth is 7.2 metres. Originally, the library had balconies to its full height of 13.6 metres, each on either side, reflecting the architecture of the Pudukottai Samasthanam era. At one corner, it had an underground passage. There were wall-racks for arranging books. After the collapse, the library books were kept at various departments.

Heritage preserved

During the course of re-construction, care was taken to retain the exquisite heritage features in the exterior of the block. The height of 13.6 metres was divided into two floors in the structure. Higher Education Department sanctioned Rs.28 lakh in 2006 for its restoration by the Public Works Department. The re-construction has been carefully executed ensuring the architectural beauty, acording to PWD sources. The process of injecting cement slurry was adopted to achieve this end.

The hollow portions were strengthened and 20 pillars had been raised during re-construction.

The library, however, lacks adequate number of almirahs, as the tall shelves are not to be seen now.,

M. Chidambaranathan, Principal of the College, says that the entire library was being computerised facilitating book selection without any difficulty.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/22/stories/2010032253670700.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu