Region 3SUNDAY13 AUGUST 2017CHENNAI

NT BureauChennai, Aug 13:

There is a need to evolve a synergy between government, pr ivate sector, public sector organisations, NGOs and committed individuals to ensure effective social outcomes of various social programmes and welfare schemes, said Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao.Participating at the 18th anniversary

of Samudhaya Foundation at Narada Gana Sabha, T Nagar on Saturday, he said time has come to go beyond the corporate social responsibility and practice Indian social responsibility - from CSR to ISR.‘It is reassuring that young India

is keen to discharge Indian social responsibility and contribute to the

social agenda of the country,’ he said.There are many causes that are

awaiting assistance from people.

The children of today are the future of tomorrow. Every child needs to be provided safe and enabling atmosphere to grow and blossom

into an ever fragrant fl ower. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has given the slogan of ‘Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao’, he said. The Governor lauded the initiative

taken by Muscular Dystrophy Associat ion of India founder-president V Viswanathan to design special wheelchairs for children suffering from muscular dystrophy allowing a barrier-free access to classrooms and restrooms.Similarly, he also appreciated

the efforts of environmentalist and founder of Environmentalist Foundation of India (EFI) Arun Krishnamurthy for initiating the campaign to clean various lakes across India and for cleaning 17 lakes in our country.‘It is high time we create awareness

among the people and the youth about the importance of water and conservation of natural resources, especial ly in Tamilnadu,’ the Governor said.Vidyasagar handed over cheques

for Rs 14 lakh to EFI and Rs 12 lakh to the Muscular Dystrophy Association of India on behalf of Samudhaaya Foundation.Samudhaaya Foundation founder

and managing trustee Sudha Ragunathan said the organisation started in July 1999 focussed primarily on children who were affected during Kargil war.Former Chief Election Commissioner

of India and trustee, Samudhaaya Foundation, N Gopalaswami said that Sudha went beyond her music and lent a helping hand to those in need.

Helpline launched to check man

animal conflictCoimbatore, Aug 13 (PTI):

For the fi rst time in Tamilnadu, a toll free helpline number was launched today to alert the Forest department about the movement of elephants and intrusion in human habitats.With increasing number of

man-animal confl icts, especially involving elephants in the region, the toll free number 1800-4254-5456, is expected to benefit people, particularly farmers, after alerting the department offi cials, who will be functioning round-the-clock.The number was launched at

a function held as part of World Elephant Day celebrations in the city, department sources said.Once the department is alerted,

the official would provide the information to the respective forest range offi cers, who would reach the spot and take action to scare away the animals to the jungles, they said..

The Department of Electronics and Communications Engineering of Sri Sairam Engineering College organised the 20th national level technical symposium ‘ZENISTA’17’ at college premises, West Tambaram recently. M Naga Satyanarayana of Satish Dhawan Space Centre of Indian Space Research Organisation inaugurated the symposium. Student chairman E Balaji, ECE HoD A R Rajini, principal C V Jayakumar, senior professor J Raja and assistant Professor M Methini are present.

NT BureauChennai, Aug 13:

Nalaiya Sigarangal, a musical institution training children in music for over a decade in T Nagar celebrated its 11th anniversary at Vidhyodaya School Auditorium, 1, Thirumalai Road, T Nagar on Saturday.A press release said the celebrations

begun with a carnatic vocal by Kavya Rajendran accompanied by Suri Upendra Narasimha (mridangam) and Bala Veeraraghavan (violin). The stage was then taken over bya battery of young vocalists like

Raktaksh, Shivani, Lokesh Raja,

Dhanika, Thaneeksha who joined hands with singers of Nalaiya Sigarangal such as Ganesh, Subatra, Kavya Rajendran, KavyaShankar, Ramya, Pooja, Harini,

Arvind, Murali, Rahul and entertained the audience with variety of fi lms and classical songs. The orchestra was handed by the forum founder Raman and singer Martin.Singers SN Surendar, Vinodh,

Mohan and Ganga who were special guests on the occasion also rendered songs from few popular fi lms.Na la iya S igaranga l can be

reached at 94444 21264, email at Nalaiyasigarangal@gmail.com

NT BureauChennai, Aug 13:

Over 360 students from 58 schools took part in ‘Brahma 2017’, a science and technology fest organised by Curio Kidz in association with Ramakrishna Mission Science Centre at Ramakrishna Mission School, Dhandapani Street, T Nagar recently. The event also marked fourth anniversary of Ramakrishna Mission Science Centre.A press release said 180 projects

were exhibited in physics, chemistry,

technology, biology and models including latest IOT applications, resolving complex algorithm in computing, water conservation solutions, make bio-plastic from banana and many more were displayed. Professors from Indian Institute of Technology, DG Vaishav College and Madras University stood as judges and appreciated the efforts of students. Besides top three winners, 56 children were awarded under several categories. For details, contact 94442 5554.

NT BureauChennai, Aug 13:

Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust, GN Chetty Road, T Nagar celebrated 68th Medical Day on Friday at Rajagopal Hall, Satyamurthy School, Giriappa Road. Dancer and founder of Hot Shoe Dance Company Jeffrey Vardon was guest of honour. He did a demo with the children for Jai Ho and stressed that exercise was important for good health, strength and fl exibility. Vardon also offered free classes once a week for the children, an announcement which received thunderous response from the children present.Earlier, Dr Suchitra conducted a

quiz competition for the children and Premila Rajan, member in charge of

medical units of Bala Mandir, read out the annual report and activities of the trust. Premila also thanked Rajan Eye Care, Baskar Dental Foundation

and Dr Kopikars Homeopathic Clinic for providing continuous support for the trust. The trust can be reached at 96000 40011.

Chennai, Aug 13 (PTI):BookASmile, the charity initiative

o f on l ine t i cke t ing p la t fo rm BookMyShow, in collaboration with Round Table India, an NGO, on Saturday organised screening of movie ‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’ for 13,626 children.‘The motive to showcase this movie

was to inculcate right hygiene habits in kids. Round Table India also shares the vision of Prime Minister Narendra Modi -- To Make India open Defecation free,’ a press release said.‘We are delighted to work with

BookASmile for this init iative.

The screenings were immensely successful and has helped create more awareness..,’ Round Table India president Christopher Aravinth said.‘We decided to take over 16,000

children for the movie. Of these, Round Table India alone helped us mobilise 13,626 less fortunate children,’ BookASmile’ head Farzana Cama Balpande said.‘While the screenings acted as

a perfect day outing and mode of enjoyment, we more importantly hope tha t th rough ou r j o in t efforts, we were able to create a positive long lasting impression

on children,’ she added.Round Table India is involved in

building classrooms, toilets and drinking water facility to government or government aided schools across the country. Since 1997 Round Table India has built over 5,736 classrooms in 2,371 schools at an outlay of Rs 212 crore.‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’ starring

A k s h a y K u m a r a n d B h u m i Pednekar revolves around a newly-wed couple Keshav and Jaya in a small town and problems that crop up after Jaya leaves her husband since there are no toilet facilities in the house.

Anti-poaching watchers get

insurance coverCoimbatore, Aug 13 (PTI):

In view of the risk involved in the jobs of anti-poaching watchers, Western Ghats Wildlife Conservation Trust (WGWCT), an NGO, brought 141 such persons under group personal accident insurance policy on Saturday.The decision to fund the policy

amount was taken considering that the watchers, who had been roped in to protect the forest and wildlife were in need of the accidental medical insurance to save their lives from wildlife confl icts and poachers, WGWCT president Parthiban said in a press release. The policy is worth Rs one lakh

worth covering accidental medical extension (hospitalisation), he said. The insurance scheme was

g i ven to 141 an t i -poach ing watchers in Coimbatore forest division consisting of Coimbatore, M a d u k a r a i , B o l u v a m p a t t i , Periyanaickenpalayam, Karamadai, Mettupalayam, and Sirumugai range, he said.

Chennai, Aug 13 (PTI): The Madras High Court has issued

notices to the Centre and the Tamil Nadu government on a PIL seeking to launch an online RTI portal for getting information from various departments of the State government. A Division Bench comprising Justice M Sathyanarayanan and Justice N

Seshasayee issued the notice to Secretary, Department of Personnel and Training and Director General, National Informatics Centre, New Delhi, on a petition from A S Mohamed Khader Meeran, an MBBS student from Tiruchii. The judges also issued a notice to the state government, returnable by 4 September.

‘Hold Panchayat polls for rural development’

Puducherry, Aug 13 (PTI):Voicing concern over lack

of e lected local bodies in Puducher ry , L t Governo r Kiran Bedi on Saturday told the government ‘to be serious about rural development and remove technical impediments to holding Panchayat polls for holistic development.’ S h e s a i d s h e f e l t s o r r y

that the present system of having Commune Panchayat Commissioners with ‘thin staff and no resources is leading to neglect of rural Puducherry.’In a message circulated to

reporters through WhatsApp, the former IPS offi cer contended that the government should focus on rural development ‘by creating grass-root people’s accountability by their participation.’

Puducherry, Aug 13 (PTI):Chief Minister V Narayanasamy

said fl ight services from Puducherry airport, which remained dormant for the last three years, would be resumed from 16 August, with operations to Hyderabad in the fi rst phase.Talking to reporters here on

Saturday, he said Spice Jet would operate services to Hyderabad in the fi rst phase adding revival of air connectivity would bring more tourists to Puducherry and also

help boost trade.Spice Jet would fl y to Hyderabad

and Vijayawada initially, he said and added that services to Bengaluru, Kochi and Tirupati were in the offi ng.Also, Odisha Air had come forward

to operate fl ights from Puducherry to Salem and Bengaluru, he said.Narayanasamy said the plea for

revival of air services from here was made to the Union Civil Aviation Ministry and through an agreement and through sustained steps taken by the administration, Puducherry

is being linked to Hyderabad now. Puducherry port would also go on

stream shortly as a satellite port of Chennai Port Trust to boost cargo transactions, the Chief Minister said.He also urged the Centre to include

the Union Territory as a member of Central Finance Commission (CFC) so that Puducherry would be earmarked funds to meet its fi scal commitments.Narayanasamy sa id he had

requested the Union Finance

Minister to include Puducherry as a member of the CFS. ‘Once we are part of the CFC, we will get enhanced allocation as is available for the States,’ he said.He said that Puducherry was

getting a central allocation of Rs 567 crore every year under non-plan though Puducherry’s commitments to meet liabilities arising out of implementation of Central Pay Commission and payment of pension for government staff had been heavy.

PRACTICE INDIAN SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY: GOVERNOR

� Participates at 18th anniversary of Samudhaya Foundation

Governor Ch Vidyasagar Rao presenting donor cheques to Muscular Dystrophy Association of India founder-president V Viswanathan and EFI founder Arun Krishnamurthy during 18th anniversary of Samudhaya Foundation in T Nagar in Chennai on Saturday. Samudhaaya Foundation founder Sudha Ragunathan, former CEC N Gopalaswami, columnist Gurumurthy are among those present.

When students turned Brahmas� Science and tech fest held at

Ramakrishna Mission School

Students in action at the Brahma 2017 science exhibition held at T Nagar in Chennai recently.

Over 10,000 kids watch ‘Toilet-Ek Prem Katha’� To inculcate right hygiene habits in children

‘Exercise must for good health’

� Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust celebrates 68th Medical Day

Jeffrey Vardon dancing with children at Medical Day celebrations of Bala Mandir Kamaraj Trust at T Nagar in Chennai on Friday.

HC notice to Centre, TN govt on online RTI portal

Nalaiya Sigarangal turns 11� Songs from popular films rendered

Members of Nalaiya Sigarangal at the 11th anniversary celebrations held at T Nagar in Chennai on Saturday.

‘Flight services from Pondy to resume 16 Aug’� CM urges Centre to include Union Territory as a member of CFC