Organs donated

TIRUCHI: A team of specialists attached to the KMC Hospital in the city on Sunday, successfully performed cadaver organ transplant.

D. Gurumoorthy (28) of Mayiladuthurai, a pillion-rider, fell from a two-wheeler on June 26. He suffered head injuries and was declared as ‘brain dead’ at a private hospital in Kumbakonam where he was kept on ventilator support. D. Kamala, the youth’s mother, expressed consent for harvesting his organs and the patient was brought to KMC Speciality Hospitals in the city on Sunday.

A team of doctors from Frontier Lifeline Hospital in Chennai harvested the heart. The experts from Global Hospital in Chennai harvested the liver. Specialists from Joseph Eye Hospital in Tiruchi city removed the cornea.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/07/06/stories/2010070650500500.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

NASA prize for student

Anto Ryan Raj.

TIRUCHI: Visualisation of an eventuality depicting humankind to deem orbital settlement as inevitable in the interests of mother earth by 2090 won for Anto Ryan Raj, a standard X student of Campion Anglo Indian Higher Secondary School, the third prize in the Literary Merit Category at the NASA Space Settlement Design Contest 2010 for school students all over the world, conducted by NASA Ames Research Centre.

Anto, the only student from Tamil Nadu selected for the international award, has been invited to make an oral presentation of his research titled ‘Her Children Around Her’ at the 29 {+t} {+h} International Space Development Conference, 2010, at Chicago from May 27-31. Accompanied by his mother P. Celin, Anto will be in the enriching company of several hundreds of students of his ilk from all over the globe for the five days.

Speeding past the time barrier, Anto had transformed himself as an orbital settler in 2020, heaving a sigh of relief every day at the telescopic sight of the beautiful Mother Earth.

His narration takes stock of the struggles she (Mother Earth) had endured in the duration of global warming, reflecting in the melting of glaciers, rising sea levels and submergence of coastal towns consuming lives in multitudes, in the aftermath of the failure of nations to reach a legally binding treaty to check carbon emissions at the 2009 UN Climate Change Conference at Copenhagen. Every nation prioritised economic growth over upkeep of Earth.

The narration replete with a sense of responsibility states: In 2030, when the ocean ecology was shattered terrifically, when massive immigration of coastal population was shaking the Globe, when water and food supply to people had become a huge problem, the orbital settlement project gained support of the space research community.

The first experimental orbital colony built to accommodate 100 inmates was positioned at GEO in 2040. Orbital settlers developed new technologies to enrich the ozone concentration in endangered atmospheric area. Intense research was carried out to avoid cooling of stratosphere and to reduce recombination of ozone and oxygen.

The second orbital community instituted the successful solar power station at space and gave solution to the energy crisis in earth which helped to cut down further emission of GHG. Slowly the earth community understood that the outside activities have turned around the situation even more than they expected. They approved further orbital settlements each with a specific mission.

I am looking at my Mother Earth from the fifth and latest settlement. I was born on this settlement. But I always feel that I belong to Earth. If I was born on Earth, I would have felt that I belong to a particular nation. But I am so lucky to be born on this settlement and to have a strong belief that I belong to Earth.

We are grateful to the earth community for having given us this wonderful opportunity to pay our contribution to our dear mother. We could nurse and dress the wounds of our shattered Mother from this orbital world. Now she is completely healed. She is back on her foot. As long as she is there we will come around her. As long as she lives happily we will also live happily.

We are Her Children Around Her, the narration concludes.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/19/stories/2010051962200300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

School students get training in folk arts

TIRUCHI: Collector T.Soundiah on Tuesday inaugurated the training classes in folk arts for the school students being conducted by the Muthamizh Kalai Panpattu Maiyam. He also released cassettes containing folk songs for the benefit of the students. The Collector said that it would be easy to learn folk dances and songs quickly and in a short period compared to Bharathanatyam.

Preserve folk arts

He pointed out that folk arts should be preserved as it focussed on our culture and heritage. Folk arts like Karagattam, Oyilattam, Poikal Kudirai, Kummiattam and Mayilattam should be preserved, he said. R.Gunasekaran, Regional Assistant Director of Art and Culture department, Sevai Govindarajan, secretary of Muthamizh Kalai Panpattu Maiyam, Kalaimamani Revathi Muthusamy and others attended.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/12/stories/2010051255840300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Differently-abled women undergo beautician course

In the three-month course, each trainee gets a monthly stipend of Rs.300

VOCATION:Differently-abled women undergoing a beautician course in Tiruchi.

TIRUCHI: The Department for Differently-abled Welfare has organised a beautician course for women who were orthopedically-challenged. The training programme is sure to ensure a decent vocation for them.

The three-month course covers facial bleach, eye-brows, manicure, mehendhi and bridal make-up.

“It is the bridal make-up which is an assured vocation for the trainees,” says M. Thilagavathy, the resource-person who imparts the training. Each trainee gets a monthly stipend of Rs.300. The programme also aims to instil confidence among the differently-abled persons. The demand for beauticians is on the rise, both in the urban and semi-urban areas. The training was imparted last year on a trial basis and it evoked an overwhelming response from the eligible trainees, says Ms. Thilagavathy.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/05/03/stories/2010050350530200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Prospective entrepreneurs derive confidence

Meeting on entrepreneurship opportunities organised

TIRUCHI: Prospective women entrepreneurs could realise that it is motivation and commitment rather than the volume of investment that determines success in entrepreneurship ventures, during a meeting on entrepreneurship opportunities organised here recently by the Women Industrial Entrepreneurship Club (WIPEC) in association with R.K. Charitable Trust.

At the meeting to discuss opportunities in fabricating, machining, food processing, textile and other areas, they learnt how an industrial unit in Tiruchi that started off as a sub-contractor to the BHEL, Tiruchi, with modest investment could today emerge as a company with a turnover exceeding Rs. 150 crore.

Addressing the participants, V. Shankar, Joint Managing Director, Veesons Energy Systems (P) Ltd, who delivered the key note address, said the unit was started with an initial investment of Rs. 60,000. “We have huge orders and have set a turnover target of Rs. 250 crore,” Mr. Shankar said, expressing readiness to outsource jobs to interested women entrepreneurs.

Presiding over, G.M.Rajendran, Additional General Manager – Valves, BHEL, Tiruchi, said the power sector requirement was very high and that there will be enormous demand for the next two decades. Prospective women entrepreneurs were promised of guidance for setting up units by WIPEC that functions with support from the Chennai-based Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises – Development Institute, and the Vellore Institute of Technology.

Ramasamy Desai, Project Director, Periyar Technology Business Incubator, said that under the aegis of the project of the National Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development Board of the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, awareness programmes will be conducted for unemployed youths and women to start industries. The Periyar TBI, he said, promotes new innovations in herbal and food processing, and incubates projects by providing technology, space and necessary infrastructure. Financial assistance will also be arranged through banks for starting new units, Mr. Desai said, informing that the Periyar TBI will conduct skill-development programmes in all parts of Tamil Nadu alongside providing guidance to start industries.

BHEL Small Industries’ Association (BHELSIA) president Rajappa Rajkumar said that the BHEL, Tiruchi, was likely to announce ‘best performance award’ for tiny units run by women entrepreneurs under the Science and Technology Entrepreneurship Development project of the Department of Science and Technology, New Delhi, that was implemented by the Tiruchi District Tiny and Small Scale Industries’ Association.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/29/stories/2010042960790600.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Bag-making training for 20 suffering from cerebral palsy

Each trainee gets a monthly stipend of Rs. 300 PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM

ACTIVITY-BASED: Differently-abled children undergoing training on making paper bags at Spastic Society in Tiruchi. —

TIRUCHI: Persons with cerebral palsy need some physical training. Making paper bags comes in handy to them. The Department for the Differently-abled Welfare has organised a three-month training for the benefit of 20 persons with cerebral palsy.

All above 18 years of age

The trainees, all aged above 18 years, include ten women. Apart from making paper bags, they also undergo training in making bags from out of cardboard and banana fibre sheets.

Sturdy

“These bags are sturdy and can be easily marketed at wedding halls for use as tamboolam bag,” says R. Shyamala, District Differently-abled Welfare Officer.

Every part of the training provides the needed movement of the body.

Marked improvement

The persons with cerebral palsy can feel a marked improvement through the training. Collector T. Soundiah has suggested making quality bags ensuring its marketability.

Each trainee gets a monthly stipend of Rs. 300.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/26/stories/2010042657470600.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Disabled youth on awareness mission

Nelson heading for Chennai

CLEARING DOUBTS: Collector T. Soundiah interacting with A. Nelson of Tirunelveli district in Tiruchi on Monday.

TIRUCHI, India: A differently-abled man from Tirunelveli district A. Nelson who has embarked on a journey in his tri-cycle since October creating awareness among public about HIV /AIDS met Collector T. Soundiah at the Collectorate here on Monday.

Twenty-six-year-old Nelson, a diploma holder in Cooperative Business, had started his 200-day campaign from Dindigul on October 21 last year.

He will conclude his campaign in Chennai.

An official press release here said at the Collectorate that Nelson spoke about HIV/ AIDS besides highlighting the role played by ‘Nambikkai Maiyams’ in clearing doubts about HIV/ AIDS.

The Collector appreciated the effort made by Nelson, the release added.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/06/stories/2010040658770200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Breaking caste barriers

Cultural night organised by Tamizhnadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram —PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM.

GRIPPING: Artistes of Tamizhnadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram staging a play in Tiruchi on Saturday.

TIRUCHI, India: Deafening sounds of explosions create a scene of panic. The country is at the crossroads owing to mindless violence and attack by external forces. “Where to go! What has fate in store for me?” laments the hero of the sequence.

At this juncture, a senior citizen sings the heart-rending popular number ‘ Tamizha Tamizha, Naalai num naalae’, keeping the audience spell-bound.

The climax sequence gained more significance, as the senior citizen appears on the stage, waving the National Flag on the right hand, giving a ray of hope for those affected.

This is one of the plays staged at the ‘Makkal Kalai Iravu’ organised as part of the state conference of the Tamizhnadu Kalai Ilakkiya Perumandram in the city on Saturday.

The cultural programme witnessed the participation of a number of artistes in different age-groups. Children also exhibited their talents. In fact, there was an exclusive play by children which was directed by Puducherry Velusaravanan.

Every performance — folk dance by the Kumari Murasu art troupe; plays by Kumari Vandhanam art troupe and Kovi. Selvaraj; dance-cum-drama by Puducherry Jayamoorthy; song on ‘native soil’ by Tiruchi Jeeva — had a common goal: emancipation of Dalits; dignity and honour for women; breaking the caste-based discrimination in the society.

The cultural programmes also sensitised the parents to give up the mania and obsession for English language when it comes to educating their wards.

A cross-section of poets and writers offered felicitations on the occasion. K. A. Gunasekaran, one of the progressive writers, said that though the Perumandram has been taking efforts through intensive campaign, the desired goals of eliminating untouchability and other social evils were yet to be achieved.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/04/05/stories/2010040556150200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

Painting the foot-print for a cause

Vasavi Vidhyalaya’s 600 students make a bid for a Guinness entry —PHOTO:R.M. RAJARATHINAM

NOBLE EFFORT: Footprinting paint to mitigate AIDS by students and parents at Vasavi Vidhyalaya Matriculation School in Tiruchi on Sunday.

TIRUCHI, India: Hundreds of students of Vasavi Vidhyalaya in the city, accompanied by their parents and grandparents, embarked on a unique venture on Sunday for the cause of creating awareness on HIV/AIDS.

The students and their parents assembled at the sprawling grounds of the school in the early hours of Sunday and started leaving the foot-print of their right legs on a large piece of canvas cloth.

With their rights legs immersed in paint, the participants left the impression on the cloth. About 3,500 persons, including 600-odd students, participated in the event which is to be sent for entry in The Guinness Book of World Records.

Every inch of the cloth, 24 metres long and 27 metres wide, was marked with the foot-print. The entire area of 648 square metres was conveniently divided into different slots, each slot having the foot-prints in a specific colour.

In the middle of the cloth were a couple of slogans “3G (generations) promise to mitigate AIDS” and “Save future India” which were also marked by foot-prints all over.

The event, which started at about 5 a.m., was completed five hours later.

School secretary A. Madhava Manoharan said that this was yet another effort by the school to enter The Guinness for the second time. He appreciated the cooperation by the parents and grand-parents.

A rally was taken out at the end of the event. A. Kaliyamoorthy, Superintendent of Police, Tiruchi, who offered felicitations, appealed to the parents and teachers to impart values to the students. K. Swaminathan, Chief Educational Officer; N. Jayakumar, Inspector of Matriculation Schools; and G.R. Kalki Varadarajulu, president of the school, were participated.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/15/stories/2010031551140200.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu

A friendly measure to woo tourists

Tourism Department’s autorickshaw scheme has evoked overwhelming support — File Photo: M. Moorthy

Hospitality team:A fleet of tourist-friendly in Tiruchi.

N. Rajasekar, National Secretary, Indian Welding Society: “More drivers can be included under the scheme.”

K. Selvaraj, auto driver: “It has bestowed a greater responsibility on us to render our service with a smile to the tourists.”

A. Noordeen, auto driver: “Not only tourists, but public have also realised the importance of autorickshaw drivers’ services through the scheme.”

TIRUCHI, India: Tiruchi city, by virtue of its topography, in the central part of the State, has been attracting a good strength of floating population round-the-year. The city, in general, and the district, in particular, are also blessed with a number of tourist-attraction centres, pilgrim places and historically important monuments.

Rightly cashing in on the potential, the Tourism Department introduced a ‘Tourist-friendly auto-rickshaw scheme’ in the city in October last year, which has come as a boon to the visitors.

The distinctly-painted auto-rickshaws carry pictographs of places of tourist attractions painted on the back with the Tamil Nadu Tourism Development Corporation’s logo.

The auto-rickshaws are being operated as per the fare shown in the meter and tourists avail their services for point-to-point travel.

The vehicles are also engaged for half-a-day or a full day sightseeing trips at fixed rates.

A total of 26 auto drivers in the city have been issued photo identity cards.

“The scheme has evoked an overwhelming support from not only tourists, but also customers who avail themselves of the services of these auto-rickshaws,” says R. Dhandapani, District Tourist Officer.

He said that as many as 35 applications were received and were first sent to the Regional Transport Office concerned for verification of the vehicle history and followed by a verification of the antecedents of the auto drivers by the police. Based on their report, the certification from the Home Department has been issued.

“With tourism promotion being the primary objective, the auto drivers were provided orientation training on behavioural and language aspects so as to ensure friendly service and hospitality to visitors,” he said.

A booklet containing the names and telephone numbers of the auto drivers is also provided to tourists.

Auto drivers who enrol under the scheme also stand to benefit by way of insurance cover and medical tests.

The auto-rickshaws are stationed at various places, including the Junction, the Central Bus Stand, Golden Rock, Srirangam and Mainguard Gate.

The scheme has attracted a large number of auto-rickshaw drivers to enrol themselves as members.

“We have received applications from 48 more drivers and will shortly notify them as tourist-friendly auto-rickshaw drivers,” he says.

Reference Link
http://www.hindu.com/2010/03/14/stories/2010031461940300.htm

Courtesy
The Hindu