National Youth Awards for 2006-07 to be given away at Chennai
Wednesday, January 9, 2008

New Delhi, Jan 9 (ANI): The National Youth Awards for the year 2006-07 will be given away at the 13th National Youth Festival, scheduled to be held in Chennai from January 12 to 16.

These awards are conferred on youth who have demonstrably excelled in different fields of developmental activities and social service.

The award to individual comprises a medal, a scroll and Rs 20,000/-. The award of one voluntary organisation comprises a trophy, a scroll and Rs. 1,00,000/-.

The theme for the 13th National Youth Festival is "Youth for progress and excellence".

About 4000 youth from all over India will participate in the festival. Each State/UT administration is expected to send a contingent of participants for competing in designated events and also participating in other activities.

Variety of cultural programmes (both competitive and non-competitive), youth convention, suvichar and exhibition will be organised to show the talent and creative energy of our youth.

The National Youth Festival is held annually in one of the States willing to host the festival to commemorate the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand.

The January 12, being the birth anniversary of Swami Vivekanand is also observed as National Youth Day. (ANI)
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Labels: Education

10,000 kg sweets on sale for poor schools and AIDS patients in Coimbatore
Wednesday, November 7, 2007

AA: By Jehovah. G

Coimbatore, Nov.7 (ANI): Rotary Club in Coimbatore is selling 10,000 kilograms of sweets this Diwali to raise funds for poor schools and patients having dreaded diseases in rural areas here.

A variety of sweets including Laddu, Sonpapri, Jalebi, Mysorepak, Cashew cakes and Mixture have been put on sale at a big stall opened in the heart of the city for the first time. Prepared with pure Ghee or, clarified butter, these sweets are cheaper than the market price.

Organisers anticipate a sale of sweets worth a million rupees. The stall was opened on Monday and will last till Diwali.

"We are making best quality sweets and making money for the poor. The people will benefit by getting the best quality sweets at less than the market price. The profit would go for a noble cause," said Prabu Kesavan, President of Rotary club of Coimbatore (East).

A major part of the collections raised through selling sweets would be utilized to arrange basic infrastructure like desks, benches, etcetera in schools, as many local schools in the rural areas do not need them.

Besides, the funds will also be used to support poor patients suffering from dreaded diseases like AIDS, Cancer and Leprosy.

For customers, it's a special feeling to buy Rotary sweets for the festive occasion and a joy of contributing to a noble cause.

"Every year we buy all sorts of sweets on Diwali. But this year I would like to buy the Rotary sweets not just because they are delicious but for the reason that they are part of a noble cause," said Sheela, a customer.

Meanwhile, many customers have already started making advance bookings in wholesale from the manufacturing point itself much before the stalls are thrown open for public.

On Diwali, people exchange sweets with friends, neighbours and relatives along with the heartiest greetings for prosperity and happiness in life. (ANI)

Labels: Education

Civil aspirants number falling
Sunday, October 28, 2007

The number of persons preferring civil services is falling due to the growing job opportunities in Information Technology and related fields, Prof E. Balagurusamy, member, Union Public Service lamented. The general aptitude of those appearing for civil service exams was also not of the required standards, according to him. The aspirants generally lacked in-depth knowledge, analytical and communications skills, Prof. Balagurusamy said after making a round of the venue where the civil services main examination 2007 was held. Over 600 candidates appeared for the examination in the city. In all about 9,300 students wrote the exam at 19 centers across the country.

Labels: Education

SC, Tribal girls training to become air-hostesses
Friday, October 26, 2007

Chennai, Oct.22 (ANI): At least 100 girls belonging to the scheduled caste and schedule tribe communities from rural areas are being trained for Air-hostesses’ job under a course started by the Tamil Nadu Government in association with the Air Hostess Academy (AHA) here.

Affiliated to the Cambridge University, the Air Hostess Academy has offered two—one-year and two-year diploma courses—for young girls. After completion of the respective course and initial training, the girls will be eligible to become air-hostesses. The job would fetch them a handsome salary. “This is the first time that the Tamil Nadu Government has announced this scheme. It is going on in a very good way.

It is being monitored directly by the ministers and Managing Director of Tamil Nadu Dravida Association. They monitor it through personal interactions with students and inspections," said Kannan, the Manager with the Air Hostess Academy in Chennai.

"During last six months, there have been a lot of students who have been placed in the airlines industry also. Nearly 20 students have got the job in the airlines and they have started working for these companies,” Kannan added. The air-hostess course is a part of the Tamil Nadu Government's initiative to provide better opportunities in aviation, travel and hospitality for the girls from rural and tribal communities under the banner of The Adi Dravida Housing and Development Corporation Limited (TAHDCO).

Many students at the Air Hostess Academy opine that the course has instilled confidence in them. "This is really a good step taken by the Tamil Nadu Government. I have got to learn a lot more things and have experienced a lot during this time. I am thankful to the Tamil Nadu Government," added Sowmiya, a student of AHA. "This Academy is teaching a lot of things to us. We are learning international languages like German and we are improving our skills," said Arati Vidya, a student of AHA. Parents of the students are happy, as they believe their daughters will have a better standing in society.

"I wanted my children to have higher studies and take up a good job. They got this with the help of the Tamil Nadu Government. It will add to our family’s prestige. My daughter's lifestyle has changed. It makes me really happy," said Gunashekar, father of Sowmiya. Authorities at the Air Hostess Academy say that the earlier scenario when India had only two operators -- Air India and Indian Airlines-- has drastically changed with 17 more airlines operating 571 daily flights.

As such there is tremendous scope for career as an air hostess. The Tamil Nadu Government has sanctioned rupees one lakh for training of each student. Out of the hundred students at AHA, only 10 are from Chennai and the rest hail from interior and rural areas of Trichy, Madurai, Tirunelvali, Coimbatore, Tanjore and Thiruvalur. (ANI)

Labels: Chennai, Education

Violence at Presidency College

The police has stepped up vigil outside the Presidency College and have posted policemen at several other colleges in the city after the violence that broke out at the college on Monday. The situation has been brought under control. We have registered cases against some of the students and will be taking appropriate action, said deputy commissioner of police (Triplicane) M. Ramasubramani on Tuesday.

Labels: Education

Ragging in engineering college

An 18-year-old student, son of a city sub-inspector, doing his first year aeronautical engineering in a private college in the city, was allegedly beaten up by his seniors who ragged him in the college bus while they were returning from Pondichery. Fellow students admitted him to the Balaji Hospital in Guindy where he was given first aid.

Labels: Education