Water Forum delegates visit village near Tindivanam

VILLUPURAM: Twenty-three delegates of the World Water Forum visited Villukkam in Tindivanam taluk on Tuesday to get firsthand information about the involvement of the local community in the water management system.
The delegates were happy with the way in which the officials and the residents were coordinating to achieve the common goal. They felt that what could not be accomplished even through government orders could be so effectively achieved with the cooperation of the people. Pat for departments
The delegates said it was a matter of pride that eight departments were coordinating among themselves to fulfil the requirements of the people, and such a unity of purpose was hard to find even in developed countries.
The departments that have come together for the project are agriculture, agriculture engineering, agriculture marketing, horticulture, fisheries, animal husbandry and public works.
Collector R. Palanisamy, who accompanied the delegates, gave an account of the working of the World Bank-aided IAMWARM (Irrigated Agriculture Modernization and Water Bodies Restoration and Management) project.
He said the project had two other components: “WARRAM” (Watershed and Agricultural Resources Re-engineering and Management project); and “KOODAM” that laid stress on a people-friendly approach. Under the IAMWARM project, micro-irrigation and System of Rice Intensification were being promoted to expand the area under cultivation and to get better yield.

College students take pledge to donate eyes

VILLUPURAM: As many as 160 students of Arignar Anna Government Arts College took a pledge to donate their eyes on the occasion of the birth centenary celebrations of former Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu C.N. Annadurai, organised on the college premises here on Thursday.
They handed over the forms to Public Works Department Minister Durai Murugan through principal K. Subramanian.
Mr. Durai Murugan said Annadurai was hailed for his impeccable speech, which was equated to the oratorical skills of Voltaire, Rousseau, Karl Marx and Lenin.
Annadurai also demolished the myth that Parliament and the State Assembly were meant only for the rich and the mighty. He had proved the powers of the common man through electoral procedures and established that democratic institutions such as the Lok Sabha and the Assembly were very much accessible to the common men, Mr. Durai Murugan said.
Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy said the arts college was known for its high pass percentage and discipline. It was offering two postgraduate courses and, at present, another PG course in Information Technology was being offered.
Two engineering colleges started this year at Villupuram and Tindivanam had been affiliated to Anna University, Chennai. Following demands of the arts college students, he had approached Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu to seek land to lay a path to the college.
Accordingly, Mr. Velu had directed the Railways to part with a portion of the land and through his (Mr. Ponmudy’s) contribution of Rs.10 lakh from his MLA Local Area Development funds, a road was being constructed now. It would be ready in 10 days, Mr. Ponmudy said.
Collector Palanisamy told the students to set up libraries at their houses to broaden the horizon of knowledge.

Ponmudy distributes gas connections

Special Correspondent

VILLUPURAM: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy gave away 121 free gas stove and cooking gas connections to beneficiaries of the free gas scheme at a function held here on Friday.

He said that as against a target of 62,866 free gas connections fixed for Villupuram district, 42,880 had been given.

The State government had earmarked Rs. 220 crore for the implementation of the scheme.

The government was incurring an expenditure of Rs. 1,990 per gas connection: gas stove, Rs. 940; deposit, Rs. 950 and regulator, Rs. 100, Mr. Ponmudy said.

Collector R.Palanisamy and officials were present

HC acquits 6 police officers in gangrape case

CHENNAI: The Madras High Court has acquitted six police officers, sentenced to life term by a lower court for gangraping a 17-year-old Scheduled Caste girl.

A division bench, comprising Justices M Chockalingam and M Venugopal, set aside the sentence of Villupuram Sessions Court for want of evidence.

The bench said neither was proper identification parade conducted to identify the assailants nor prosecution proved that there was a nexus between the accused and the crime.

"It is well settled law that in the absence of identification parade, the court can believe the evidence of victim, who identified the accused before the court, but not in all the cases and that should be in exceptional circumstances," the Judge said.

"The victim had given a statement earlier that she did not know the assailants. She had also given a statement after a period of three years that she could not identify them. Therefore, when she identified the accused in Court hall after 13 years, the Court should have rejected the evidence, but it has believed her version," the Judge said.

The case against the police officers was that they picked the girl from her aunt's house at Athiyur village in Puducherry on the night of July 29, 1993 for identifying her cousin in connection with another case. They took her to a remote place and allegedly raped her, before dropping her back at the aunt's house.

Mother tongue should be the medium of instruction, says Ponmudy

TIRUCHI: English must be a language for communication, but mother tongue should necessarily be the medium of instruction, Minister for Higher Education K. Ponmudy said on Friday.

Only then can there be a balance between knowledge, growth and communication, the Minister said inaugurating the two-day National Conference on English Language organised by ebek, a learning centre for University of Cambridge ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) Examinations.

Due to the difficulties rural students encounter in colleges, they are permitted to appear for their examinations in Tamil despite English being the medium of instruction at the level of higher education. While the Government can increase the opportunities for higher education by abolishing fee, providing free transport, opening new colleges, and appointing teachers, the onus was on universities to improve the quality.

Conversational abilities

Mr. Ponmudy felt that improving conversational abilities in English should be prioritised over having the language as a compulsory subject for passing in the examinations. Industry looks for candidates with the right communication skills, which could be developed in institutions by encouraging conversations in English, he said, exhorting ebek to extent its operations to rural areas.

Educational institutions must mainly aim at making students employable, fulfilling the aspirations of parents. In India, Tamil Nadu has been ranked third for teaching English effectively. In an overall assessment, Tamil Nadu ranks next only to Punjab. The State has risen to second position from being fourth a year ago.

In his address, Duncan Rayner, Development Manager, Asia Region, Cambridge ESOL, observed that despite having an advantage over China, a need has arisen for Indian institutions to develop infrastructure for learning English skills to sustain the country’s advancements in the service sector.

A rapid economic progress has reflected in a need for workforce trained in English skills, he said, advocating for India international standards of English skills benchmarked under Common European Framework of Reference for Languages.

Transport Minister K.N. Nehru presided. The conference was inaugurated in the presence of the Vice-Chancellor of Anna University – Tiruchi V. Ramachandran, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University – Coimbatore R. Radhakrishnan, Vice-Chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University R. Karpaga Kumaravel, and Vice-Chancellor of Manonmaniam Sundaranar University R.T. Sabapathy Mohan.

Mr. Karpaga Kumaravel said English was learnt in India more as a link language than as a foreign language, referring to its status as Official Associate Language. A good command over English was vital. He suggested formation of a coordinating bodies at State, regional and district levels, to complement the efforts of universities for developing communication skills in English.

Mr. Radhakrishnan called for higher attention for improving the school system while Mr.Sabapathy Mohan emphasised on the imperative need for equipping higher education learners, who are comfortable with subject knowledge, with language skills for effective expression. G. Sreekanthan, Chairman and Managing Director, Ebek Language Laboratories Private Limited, explained the objectives of the conference.

Load shedding schedule in Cuddalore, Villupuram

Special Correspondent

CUDDALORE: Starting from Monday, the following load shedding schedule will be in force in Cuddalore district, according to the Superintendent of Engineer, Tamil Nadu Electricity Board.

The areas falling under the following sub-stations would go without power during the specified hours: Palur, Thoppukollai, Mogantheriyankuppam, Koranampattu and Kullanchavadi – from 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Sethiathope, Kattumannarkoil, Oraiyur and Panruti (urban) – 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and, 11 p.m. to midnight; B.Mutlur, Nallathur and Sornavoor – 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and midnight to 1 a.m.; Capper Hills, Chidambaram and Nathapattu (Cuddalore) – 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 1 a.m. to 2 a.m.

Panruti (Poongunam) – 12 noon to 3 p.m., 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and, 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Ko-Poovanur – 12 noon to 3 p.m., 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and, 3 a.m. to 4 a.m.; Semmankuppam, Veppur, Vadakuthu and U.Mangalam – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and, 4 a.m., to 5 a.m.; Srimushnam, Pennadam and Vriddhachalam – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Villupuram

In Villupuram district, the schedule is as follows:

Vikkiravandi, Madurapakkam, Thiruchitrambalam, Kandamangalam and Thirukkovilur – 12 noon to 3 p.m., 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and 2 a.m. to 3 a.m.; Pedhasamudhram, Ulundurpet, Pillaiyarkuppam, Thiruvennainallur, Sendur and Thiagadurgam – 12 noon to 3 p.m., 8 p.m. to 9 p.m., and, 3 a.m. to 4 a.m.

Valavanur, Kanjanur and Ariyalur – 3 p.m. to 6 p.m., 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 4 a.m. to 5 a.m.; Eduthavainatham, Kallakurichi and Tindivanam – 3 p.m., to 6 p.m., 9 p.m. to 10 p.m., and 5 a.m. to 6 a.m.

Ginjee and Thayanur – 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and, 10 p.m. to 11 p.m.; Karanai, Thiruchanur, Sankarapuram and Chinnasalem – 6 a.m. to 9 a.m., 6 p.m. to 7 p.m., and 11 p.m. to midnight; Villupuram and Arasur – 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and midnight to 1 a.m.; and, Thirupachanur and Murukkeri – 9 a.m. to 12 noon, 7 p.m. to 8 p.m., and 1a.m. to 2 a.m.

Ponmudy inaugurates rice scheme

VILLUPURAM: Higher Education Minister K.Ponmudy inaugurated the Re.1-a-kg rice scheme at a fair price shop on Dhanalakshmi Garden Street here on Tuesday. He said that in all, 9,27,752 ration card-holders would benefit from the scheme.
Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had made the dream scheme of former Chief Minister and Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam leader C.N.Annadurai a reality.
The party had given a poll promise that if elected to power, it would make available rice at Rs. 2 a kg through fair price shops. After having fulfilled the promise, the government had further reduced the price to Re. 1 a kg, Mr. Ponmudy said.
As per the new scheme, the entitlements would be as follows: one unit – 12 kg of rice, 1.5 unit – 14 kg, two units – 16 kg, 2.5 units – 18 kg, and three units and above – 20 kg. As regards Villupuram district, the total rice requirement on this score would be 19,266 tonnes a month to be supplied through 1,899 fair price shops.
Mr. Ponmudy said there were 1,541 full-time fair price shops, 300 part-time shops, 50 run by self-help groups and eight retail shops run by women.
If any shortcomings were pointed at, they would be corrected.
The government would also give a package of 10 essential commodities at subsidised rates from October 2. With this, the poor and the downtrodden could fulfil their monthly requirements of essential commodities by spending just Rs 70. Mr. Ponmudy said such a scheme would be a boon to daily wage earners.
He listed out schemes launched for the uplift of the economically weaker sections. A total of 522 Scheduled Caste candidates would soon be appointed as lecturers in government colleges, he added.
Collector R.Palanisamy, MLAs T.Udayasuryan, K.Thirunavukkarasu, A.Angayarkanni, A.Kannan and S.Pushparaj, Deputy Registrar of Cooperatives K.C. Ravichandran, and Villupuram Municipal Chairman K.Janakaraj were present.

Students block traffic

VILLUPURAM: The death of a final year student of a private polytechnic college located on the Tindivanam-Tiruvannamalai highway near here sparked tension on Friday.

Students of the college blocked traffic for over an hour.

According to the police, D. Sampath (20), a third year mechanical course student, committed suicide at his house in Molassur Kovadi near Tindivanam.

He was said to be involved in eve-teasing of a second year student and the latter had reported the matter to the Principal.

The Principal, in turn, warned Sampath and told him to bring his parents.

The police said that following the incident, the college management promised to take action against the principal .

Classes in new colleges begin

VILLUPURAM: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy inaugurated the first-year classes of the newly started government engineering colleges at Villupuram and Tindivanam on Monday.
In all, 481 candidates have joined these colleges through counselling conducted by Anna University-Chennai.
Mr. Ponmudy said of the 78,270 candidates selected through counselling, 34,309, constituting 50 per cent of the total strength, had come from Tamil medium schools, so the faculty should start teaching the courses in Tamil until the candidates were familiar with the subject. They should not scare the Tamil medium students by teaching the lessons in English. In 2005, the number of candidates from Tamil medium schools was only 8,506. The Villupuram college would function from the old taluk office buildings, with the boys hostel situated on the DIG office premises and the girls hostel on the DANIDA office campus.
The Tindivanam college would function from the defunct cooperative mills, with the boys hostel on the campus itself and the girls hostel in a rented building. The State Transport Corporation would run buses linking the hostels to the colleges. At least for one year, these colleges would have to put up with temporary structures.
Highly qualified faculty have been inducted in these colleges that come under the purview of Anna University-Chennai. Mr. Ponmudy said that since the Tindivanam cooperative mills had fallen sick, 17 of its employees had sought jobs in the college. He promised them that they would be provided with suitable employment depending upon their educational qualification.
The Minister said that of the six-seven lakh engineering candidates passing out every year in the country, one lakh were from Tamil Nadu. As of now, the State had 332 engineering colleges, including 80 colleges started this academic year. Because of the reduction in tuition fees, increased government quota in the private colleges and abolition of the entrance examination, the number of candidates taking to engineering courses had increased considerably.
Mannar Jawahar, Vice-Chancellor of Anna University-Chennai, said the students of these colleges would also get campus placements, and the colleges would soon get all the facilities.
Collector R. Palanisamy participated.

Ponmudy inaugurates underground drainage project work

VILLUPURAM: Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy inaugurated the work on an underground drainage project here on Wednesday. The project, estimated to cost Rs. 27.63 crore, will cater to 10,000 households and 1,000 commercial establishments.

The funds will be mobilised as follows: through loans – Rs. 1,176 lakh, subsidy – Rs. 829 lakh and contributions of the municipality – Rs. 758 lakh. The project, for which Local Administration Minister M.K.Stalin had laid the foundation last year, will be completed within 24 months.

Mr. Ponmudy said that during the project implementation period, people would have to bear with minor inconveniences.

The project was designed with long-term perspective to meet the future demand. It would be executed in two phases: zone – 1 and zone 2: while the pumping station and draining of the sewage for zone 1 would be located at Xavier Colony and Ka.Kuppam, both the facilities for zone 2 would be set up at Erumananthangal.

The pipeline would be laid for a total distance of 86 km – 62 km in zone 1 and 24 km in zone 2 — at a depth of four to five metres.

The Tamil Nadu Housing Board Colony and the integrated Collectorate complex and the new bus stand would also be covered under the project.

Mr. Ponmudy said maintenance cost of Rs. 46 lakh a year would entail on the Villupuram Municipality.

Collector R. Palanisamy, Municipal Chairman K. Janakaraj, Municipal Commissioner J. Balasubramanian, and Executive Engineer of Tamil Nadu Water and Drainage Board Veerasamy participated.

Six new engineering colleges inaugurated

CHENNAI: Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi on Monday said that the DMK government was following the path of former Chief Minister Kamaraj by providing higher education to students of Tamil Nadu.

Inaugurating six engineering colleges affiliated to Anna University, the Chief Minister said while Kamaraj ensured basic education for those who were denied it, the DMK government was providing them higher education, too.

Further growth in higher education would make Tamil Nadu bloom.

The colleges have been set up at Tindivanam, Villupuram, Panruti, Ariyalur, Thirukuvalai and Ramanathauram.

Reacting to Anna University Vice-Chancellor, who compared him to Bhishma and Drona, Mr. Karunanidhi said it was regrettable he was likened to a character who demanded the thumb of Eklayva, an archer who belonged to the lower caste.

The Chief Minister laid the foundation for Tamil Nadu Open University building and the Tamil Nadu State Council for Higher Education office, and released books published by the council.

The Open University building would be constructed at a cost of Rs.12.5 crore at Saidapet.

The office of the Higher Education Council is coming up on Kamaraj Salai at a cost of Rs.80 lakh.

Earlier Mr. Karunanidhi distributed cash prizes and certificates to 10 best teachers, 6 researchers and 3 best educational institutions.

Higher Education Minister K. Ponmudy said abolition of common entrance test had paved the way for the entry of more and more rural students into engineering colleges.

Higher Education Secretary K. Ganesan said 13 per cent of the students in the age group of 18-24 were getting higher education in Tamil Nadu while the national average was only 7 per cent.