Ambattur Estate Celebrates Golden Jubilee Year

Business & Economy, Records, All
Vinod Dasari, MD, Ashok Leyland, (3rd from right), releasing a book ‘Dawn of a Golden Era’ during the aiema golden jubilee valedictory function, in chennai on saturday. (EPS)
Vinod Dasari, MD, Ashok Leyland, (3rd from right), releasing a book ‘Dawn of a Golden Era’ during the aiema golden jubilee valedictory function, in chennai on saturday. (EPS)

Chennai :

From 400 small scale units to around 2000 small and medium scale firms, Ambattur Industrial Estate has come a long way.

To celebrate the estate’s Golden Jubilee year, members and officials of the Ambattur Industrial Estate Management Association (AIEMA) from all over the State gathered at ITC Grand Chola on Saturday and awarded its past office bearers for their contribution.

“This industrial estate which was opened in 1963 has grown and is counted among the largest in the country today. This has only been possible because of the support we have got from several Government departments and of course our members. It’s an honour to be a part of its Golden Jubilee celebrations,” said R Shridharan, chairman, AIEMA.

Shridharan went on to read out a few events the Association conducted in the past. “AIEMA has also been a part of the Tamil Nadu State ranking carrom tournament, kabaddi tournament, dental and diabetic camps. AIEMA has also been one of the first industry associations to make voluntary blood donation.”

Vinod K Dasari, managing director, Ashok Leyland presided. He spoke about the association of Ashok Leyland with the units in the estate.

“Today Ashok Leyland is worth `14,000 crore. This would not have been possible without the support of our employees and especially our suppliers, a large number of whom have their workshops at Ambattur Industrial Estate,” he said.

“We have never had a single defect from their side, and we have been able to achieve fine quality because of these suppliers. I hope our relationship with AIEMA grows and strengthens over the years to come,” Dasari added.

Sivagnanam, additional advisor to the Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises, said, “AIEMA has employed over two lakh people which is a herculean task even for ones running a 20,000 crore industry. I thank you for demonstrating your leadership and making AIEMA  a living example of hard work and dedication in this country.”

Also present on the occasion were V Muthuswamy, president, TANSTIA and Gautham Venkatramani, executive director, India Pistons.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by ENS / March 28th, 2015

Local community radio receives national award

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

The community radio of Dhan Foundation has bagged second prize in the category of community engagement awards at fifth National Community Radio Awards.

Minister of finance, corporate affairs and I&B, Arun Jaitley presented the awards at a function held in New Delhi on Monday. The ‘Vayalagam’ community radio has been operational since 2011, operated by the Madurai District Tank Farmers’ Federation under the Dhan Foundation. The station, which is available at an FM frequency of 90.4, covers a 15-km radius.

“Uluthundu Vazhvom”, a radio show focusing on agriculture, is one of the most widely listened-to programmes in the region, overtaking even commercial FM channels. The programme has many takers among the elders here.

The eight-hour channel is estimated to have a regular audience of 5,000 people, mostly farmers in the Kottampatti, Singampunari and Natham blocks. Besides passive listeners, it also has listeners who interact with the programme coordinators.

Popular shows include farmers’ views, experts’ views and harvesting techniques which the listeners claim have benefitted them immensely. Programme designer T Sundarapandian said they planned the shows based on seasons and the farmers’ requirements. The crop of the season is also a deciding factor in the programmes on the channel.

The radio station organises monthly review meetings with the farmers and programmes for the next months are planned based on the farmers’ expectations and reviews. As most farmers use their mobile phones to access the programmes, the station also gives out information on the “talktime” plans provided by mobile networks everyday.

“Gramathu kuyil”, another popular programme, broadcasts songs sung by people from the local community, which are recorded by the programmers either on the field or on the studio. Shows detailing important events in history that had taken place on a specific date also received good response, Sundarapandian said.

Much to their delight, farmers receive special wishes on their birthdays and anniversaries as the volunteers in the village information centres work closely with the farmers, obtain information from them and pass it on to the radio. Farmers are hoping that the station would go from being an 8-hour channel to a 24-hour service like other FM channels.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / TNN / March 18th, 2015

‘Andal Perfect Role Model for Women’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Records, All

Chennai :

Showering praise on Tamil poet-saint Kothai Andal, BJP MP Tarun Vijay on Wednesday said the Vaishnavite icon had challenged male supremacy 1300 years ago, inspiring women to assert their rights to make personal choices.

Not only did he mention the lone woman saint of Vaishnavite tradition at the Women in Parliament Global Summit 2015 held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, he also presented a portrait of Andal to the global chairperson of the summit, Sylvana Koch.

Tarun Vijay said Andal’s legacy must be followed by women across the continents to make this planet happier and safer for women. “Gandhi said women don’t need protection, but a freedom to make choices and freedom to make decisions. Poetess Andal, who was born in Tamil Nadu 1300 years ago is a great symbol of that power. Making choices for her and challenging male domination in that era”, the BJP MP said.

“India’s legacy is to respect women. I begin from Andal to Lal Dyad of Kashmir and to Sister Nivedita and Rani Gaidinliu, who fought against the British at the age of 16, and Indira Gandhi to our present day world boxing champion Mary Kom, India is a saga of women empowerment in a sea of gender discriminations.”

He said India was leading the world with highest number of micro level women members of gram panchayats which is about 1.4 million. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s campaign to help women resulted in a mission to build 12 million toilets helping girls and women. Revolutionary Jandhan scheme empowered women most and just a signature enabling exercise made them feel good and empowered.

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“I was in Ladakh to inaugurate this scheme when a bank manager asked a woman to sign on a form. She was perplexed and said, but sir, only big and influential people sign, I can merely write my name. When manager taught her to sign, that was a defining moment for her and she felt empowered. A mere opportunity to put a signature brings about a change in her life. Its the decision making power that she enjoys”, Tarun Vijay said. Place technology in the hands of women to change the world for betterment, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Express News Service  / March 26th, 2015

Best breeder to get Rs. 20,000

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Science & Technologies

BargurCowsCF27mar2015

Bargur farmers have a lot to expect from the Government following the exhibition of indigenous cattle at Thurasanampalayam on March 29.

At the outset, the prize money has been doubled this time. The first prize winner for the best breeder will receive Rs. 20,000. The second and third prize winners respectively will receive Rs. 10,000 and Rs. 5,000.

There will be two first prizes, four second prizes, and eight third prizes.

Besides, there will be consolation prize of Rs. 2,500 each. In all, there will be 13 prizes for cows and same number of prizes for oxen.

The prizes will be distributed by Animal Husbandry Minister T.K.M. Chinniah.The Minister is also expected to announce formation of a milk society for Bargur cattle rearers, it is learnt. Presence of the society would logically lead to increase in animal population, which has come down drastically, in due course

At preset, the milk sourced from Bargur cows are being used for self-consumption since the yielding capacity of the cows is low.

With the Bargur Cattle Research Station coming up, there is scope for enhancing the yield through selective breeding, sources said.

In the long run, the idea of Aavin is to source the milk yielded by Bargur cows separately and sell it in the premium category, sources said.

Casein 2 protein present in the milk of Bargur cows is considered ideal for consumption by people with cardiac problems, sources said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Tamil Nadu / by R. KrishnaMoorthy / Erode – March 27th, 2015

Old TN netas set gold standards in politics

Leaders
'Traffic' Ramaswamy, 83 in action on the roads of Chennai.
‘Traffic’ Ramaswamy, 83 in action on the roads of Chennai.

Chennai :

Age for them is a number, not a limitation. At 80 and 90, these Tamil Nadu politicians, bent on going the extra mile, defy ailments, confinement to wheelchairs and take to the streets campaigning vigorously against corruption and on other national issues.

Meet “Traffic” Ramaswamy . He’s 82 and going after illegal hoardings. Congress veteran Kumari Ananthan is a year senior and on a Madurai-Tuticorin walkathon demanding prohibition. CPI’s R Nallakannu has touched 90, but there’s nothing stopping him from protesting against illegal sand mining.

Of course, nothing can hold back DMK chief, 91-year-old M Karunanidhi. He’s leading a protest in south Chennai against the “anti-poor, anti-farmer” land acquisition bill.Guess who’s leading the stir in north Chennai? It’s party general secretary K Anbazhagan, 92.

A respected PIL petitioner; Ramaswamy is respected for being re lentless. All things illegal make him see red: Illegal hoardings, illegal buildings, encroachments, traffic violations, politicians and bureaucrats violating laws. He was in prison till Tuesday . When he was freed, he immediately went ripping illegal hoardings.On Thursday the fearless activist struck at the AIADMK headquarters.

“I’ve been filing PILs from 1998; I’ve filed more than 500 in Madras HC and 25 in SC. I’m getting more aggressive with age. Though I get threats from politicians and toughs, I never give up,” Ramaswamy tells TOI. On March 13 Madras HC gave the city police an earful for arresting him in a 4am raid, calling it totally unjustified.

Kumari Ananthan proudly flies the Congress flag in a state where it’s struggling for survival. A Gandhian, his struggle now is for total prohibition. He started his 12-day Madurai-Tuti corin march on his 83rd birthday on Thursday . This is his 10th padyatra, his first was n 1967.

Nallakannu, 90-year-old CPI veteran, is a former state party secretary . He’s valued for his simplicity and has been a fighter of long standing, having joined politics at age 15. “We need to meet people and be with them for their issues…Merely issuing statements isn’t enough,” he says.

As for DMK stalwarts M Karunanidhi and K Anbazhagan, they need no introduction.Their party faces criticism for corruption and other issues, but both have been involved in many protests against the state and Centre.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / by Karthigaichelvan.s,  TNN / March 21st, 2015

He listens to the tinkles of history

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Brigadier Mohan Thomas with his coin collection.
Brigadier Mohan Thomas with his coin collection.

This numismatist’s collection includes one quarter anna by the East India Company in 1835.

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It started in a small way as a childhood hobby. It is now a collection, focussed and growing.

Brigadier Mohan Thomas, a resident of Selaiyur, has been collecting coins of various countries that were in currency during the earlier parts of the last century. The United States of America, United Arab Emirates, France, The United Kingdom, Liberia, Ceylon and Kuwait are among the countries that figure in his collection of more than 300 coins. “I started collecting coins from my relatives and friends. When I was in the Indian Army from 1967 to 2002, I couldn’t pursue the hobby. Post-retirement, I have been collecting coins of significant value — to give just examples, the 100 year of Civil Aviation of India 2011 and Saint Alphonsa Birth Centenary 2009. The pre-Independence coins were given to me by my relatives. The coins are valuable,” he said.

Other sparklers in his kitty are: One-Quarter Anna by East India Company in 1835, King George V one-by-twelve Anna in 1935, One-Quarter Anna King George V in 1936, One Penny in 1936, Five Francs in 1950, 20 Francs in 1952, and One Cent in 1957, The Second Queen Elizabeth, and Five Cents in 1944, George VI King and Emperor of India.

He celebrates the birth years of his family members by collecting coins issued by countries that year. Other coins of significant value that I have collected include Jawaharlal Nehru Birth Centenary Year 1989, Five Rupees coin, 200 year of State Bank of India (1806-2006) Two Rupees 1982 Asian Games, ONGC 50 year (1956-2006) and Reserve Bank of India Platinum Jubilee 1935-2010 One Rupee Coin, and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board 2012 Silver Jubilee Five Rupees Coin, he pointed out.

His parents, K. A. Thomas and Ponnamma Thomas, who served in security establishments of Madras between 1940 and 1945, are recipients of three George VI Medals. He can be contacted at 9444934080.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by T.S. Atul Swaminathan / March 21st, 2015

Madurai youngster lays first brick for ‘Make in India’ campaign

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives/ Environment, Science & Technologies

Madurai :

If Prime Minister Narendra Modi tried to wean international manufacturers from China with his ‘Make in India’ campaign, in Madurai an entrepreneur has made the first inroads, albeit with a humble battery-operated cart.

Tejus Motors, a firm based in Thirumangalam here, will supply indigenous battery carts to FreshWorld, a start-up venture in Bangalore that supplies vegetables to households directly from farms. FreshWorld has been importing battery-run cars from China but has now ordered 20 such vehicles from the Madurai firm. Tejus will supply the first lot of carts in a month, its managing partner P Girithar Raja said. “Our vehicles are fully indigenous. We make our own batteries and mould the chassis of the vehicles too,” he said.

Raja, at a session organized by Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), said time had come to prop up green technology and provide impetus to the industry such that it could manufacture vehicles that could readily ply on roads. The symposium – entitled ‘Clean Tech – Problems and Opportunities’ — pitched for use of green technology in new-age entrepreneurship.

In her keynote address, Mridula Ramesh, executive director of Sundaram textiles, said ‘clean tech’ provided several opportunities. And Tejus, which was put in touch with FreshWorld by Nativelead Foundation (a non-profit organization), wants to explore those as it has plans to manufacture battery-operated tractors which Raja says would help farmers in cutting costs incurred in transporting their produce.

Saying that entrepreneurship was the way forward, P Vasu, chairman, CII Madurai zone, noted: “It is predicted that India will have the largest employable population in the world by 2020. Entrepreneurship is the best way to utilize this resource.”

Shyam Menon, investment director, Infuse ventures (IIM-A), echoed similar sentiments and said start-ups were no longer limited to urban centres and could be initiated in villages too. “It is no longer related to IT and providing solutions to somebody sitting elsewhere. Now, you can become a start-up by finding solutions in water, energy and waste management in your own backyard and also help others in the process,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Madurai / by Padmini Sivarajah, TNN / March 22nd, 2015

Watch him

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
Mohan Sundaram with some of his rare watches. Photos: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
Mohan Sundaram with some of his rare watches. Photos: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu

Mohan Sundaram’s passion for watches started in school and is growing with time

For neighbours, N. Mohan Sundaram is a stainless steel businessman with a shop at Kondithope. But, for watch collectors , Mohan Sundaram is a man with a treasure trove.

“Often neighbours wonder why I have guests coming in luxury cars,” says the 54-year-old businessman who is an avid collector of watches.

Sundaram’s fascination for watches started in school when his father gave him a Hendry Sandoz. “The watch cost Rs. 65. I was the only student in class VI to sport a watch but after a few days my teachers asked me to stop wearing it to school,” says this resident of Old Washermenpet.

In high school, Sundaram would buy steel watches and improvise on them. “My father was into steel business and somehow watches and steel had a role in developing my hobby,” he says, showing the Omega winding watch ‘C’ on his wrist.

Mohan sundaram (not in picture) with his collection of old clocks at Old Washermenpet . Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
Mohan sundaram (not in picture) with his collection of old clocks at Old Washermenpet . Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu

Sundaram says he has nearly 5, 000 watches and his passion has only been growing with time. HMT watches and Sequoia, a watch that slips into the ring finger, and a gold-watch coated are part of his collection.

Mohan sundaram (not in picture) with his collection of old clocks at Old Washermenpet in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu
Mohan sundaram (not in picture) with his collection of old clocks at Old Washermenpet in Chennai. Photo: B. Jothi Ramalingam / The Hindu

His most prized collection is a Jagar Le Culture (JLC) made in solid gold.

Sundaram spends two hours regularly meeting watch collectors and learning about lesser-known models. He also visits places like Bangalore and Mumbai to meet collectors.

“All watches are not original. On quite a number of occasions, I have been cheated,” he says.

With his years of experience, Sundaram has many VIPs consulting him before buying an antique watch.

“Is the watch a duplicate? Have some of the parts been changed? Its make… I know it all,” he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> DownTown / by Liffy Thomas / March 21st, 2015

Liquor to milk: Distillers turn dairy farmers

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Inspiration/ Positive News and Features, Nature

Coimbatore :

R Ravi, 43, from Shankara Nagar, was once a sought after man in the village just outside of Mettupalayam. Long before noon, at least half-a-dozen men would be waiting at his hideout on the forest fringes for a glass of the village’s best arrack. With every passing day his clientele increased because his arrack was known to have the best bite.

However, for the past 10 years the village’s best arrack brewer has been cutting trees and clearing fields for a meagre 150 to 200 a day to feed his family of four. “I learnt how to distil arrack because I started hanging around an arrack distiller in the village when I was eight years old and dropped out of school,” said Ravi. “I began serving customers and slowly learned the art of distilling,” he said. After his master died, he took over the business. “I would work till 11.30pm, earning up to 800 a day,” he said. Ravi’s reformation from an illegal arrack distiller to a tree cutter was not easy. “We would never know when we’d get caught by police,” he said. “Once we were picked up, our family members would have to go from station to station to trace our whereabouts,” he added.

In 2005, at least 80 arrack distillers in Mettupalayam and Karamadai panchayats were forced to leave their arrack business. “We kept them in jail for three months and counseled them, promising to give them jobs if they kept away from the illegal business,” said a senior inspector in Mettupalayam. “We told them that if they showed us that they had reformed, they would get a reward,” he said.

The government began distributing cows to reformed arrack distillers in 2011. We distributed around 120 cows in the district, said a government official.

The beneficiaries have been given medical and life insurance for the cow for three years, free periodical visits by the animal husbandry department and a one-day training programme on how to care for the cows. “This is to give the reformed men an alternative livelihood as dairy farmers,” said district collector Archana Patnaik.

S Arumugam, president of Palepalayam panchayat, said at least 50 men who received cows in last year have reformed. “Earlier, these arrack distilling units destroyed several families in our village. It is only in the last 10 years that men can be seen holding a job,” he said.

“The distillers are also working hard to sell their milk, keeping their cattle sheds clean and taking care of their calves,” he said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Coimbatore / by Pratiksha RamKumar, TNN / March 21st, 2015

Cops Get Website to Help Trace Missing Persons

Resources of Free Materials
Chennai :
The police department has opened a website, wherein, the details of missing persons or unidentified bodies can be viewed and tips furnished to the police by the general public.

A submission to this effect was made by Additional Public Prosecutor A N Thambidurai before a division bench of the Madras High Court comprising Justices S Manikumar and Aruna Jagadeessan during the course of hearing a habeas corpus writ petition, to trace a missing man, last week.

Thambidurai said that the details of the website, with phone numbers, have already been published in the news papers in all districts. In respect of Chennai, necessary publication would be effected shortly, he added.

Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan submitted that the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in New Delhi has already formed a national portal — Track Child — under the Integrated Child Protection Scheme (ICPS), for which guidelines too have been issued. The Ministry for Women and Child Development, New Delhi, has taken steps for effective computerised network to link Central Project Support Union (CPSU), State Child Protection Society, District Child Protection Units (DCPU), Child Care Instructions (CCIs), all police stations, Chief Welfare Committee Members (CWCs) and all Juvenile Justice Board Members (JJBs) to facilitate quick and early restoration of the missing children to their families. The website link is being made known to the public at large. Nodal Officers have been appointed to the ‘Track Child’ units in States and Union Territories.

All directions contained in the earlier order of the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dated September 25, 2014 would be implemented by the central government, in its letter and spirit, he added.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Chennai / by Siva Sekaran / March 22nd, 2015