Hong Kong varsity keen to tie up with Indian institutions

VILLUPURAM: Lingnan University, Hong Kong, is keen on tying up with Indian institutions for student and faculty exchange programmes. Willim K.M. Lee, Professor of Sociology, said his university had 80 exchange partners in the U.S., Europe, Korea, Japan, Thailand and in the mainland China, but none in India. Therefore, he along with Merry Chey, Assistant Registrar, visited Theivanai Ammal College for Women in Villupuram on Saturday, to explore the possibility of signing a memorandum of understanding in this regard.

It was a reciprocal visit to the one made to the university by college Secretary S. Senthil Kumar and Principal Kasthuri Bai Dhanasekaran.

Addressing an interactive session on the college premises Mr. Lee said in view of the ageing Hong Kong population and globalisation, it had become necessary to maintain the skill level.

In the backdrop of BRIC formation (comprising Brazil, Russia, India and China) Hong Kong was trying to explore what India could offer by way of education.

He hoped that India would play a significant role in this regard because India and Hong Kong shared values and synergy and both were paying attention to economic and social development of the underprivileged. Mr. Lee underscored the point that associated development was far better than segregated development. The university was sending students to Yunnan, a mountainous region, to improve the literacy level and economic condition of the people there. Under the new educational system (3 + 3 + 4) that would come into force in colleges and universities in 2012, the duration of the undergraduate courses would be four years and all students would have to necessarily stay in hostels, Mr. Lee added.

Mr. Senthil Kumar said the exchange programme would benefit students in acquiring additional skills and in improving their employability at the international level. It would also help the faculty to take up research programmes in a big way. Ms. Dhanasekaran, Principal, said, the college, run by the E. Swamikannu Educational Charities, had to its credit “A” grade from the National Accreditation and Assessment Council, and, ISO: 9001 – 2001 standards.

Health insurance scheme explained

CUDDALORE: Collectors of Villupuram and Cuddalore districts, R. Palanisamy and P. Seetharaman respectively, gave a detailed account of the Kalaignar life-saving health insurance scheme at mass contact programmes held within their jurisdiction on Wednesday and Thursday.

Speaking at the programme held in Pallakacheri on Wednesday, Mr. Palanisamy said that the process of issuing identity cards to the prospective beneficiaries of the health insurance scheme would start soon.

If people belonging to the target groups were to get treatment prior to the issuance of the health cards, they could produce either their ration cards or ID cards issued by the welfare boards, with endorsement from the Village Administrative Officer concerned. Mr. Palanisamy received 450 petitions and disbursed financial assistance to the tune of Rs. 10 lakh to 58 persons.

Mr. Seetharaman told a gathering in Thillaividangan on Thursday that a photograph session would begin for beneficiaries in their polling stations on August 30.

Congress, DMK join hands on Sri Lankan Tamils issue

CHENNAI: The Sri Lankan Tamils Welfare and Liberty Peravai, an umbrella organisation formed by the DMK, on Saturday launched a campaign with the active participation of the Congress, demanding a political solution to the crisis in Sri Lanka.

Members of the Peravai took out a rally, which started from Royapuram and culminated in a public meeting near the Mint Clocktower. It was flagged off by Finance Minister K. Anbazhagan and Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K. Vasan. Union Minister T.R. Baalu, TNCC president, K.V. Thangkabalu and Fisheries Minister K.P.P. Samy came in an open jeep.

Addressing the meeting, Mr. Anbazhagan said as of now there was no better option than pressing the Centre to intervene and stop the war and find a political solution to the problems of Sri Lankan Tamils. “Sri Lanka cannot ignore the voice of India, a big neighbour, if the Centre makes consistent efforts,” he said and explained that Chief Minister M.Karunanidhi was fully aware of the implications, which was why he was avoiding a confrontation .

The DMK was not interested in weakening the Congress-led UPA government at the Centre because there was no guarantee that the new regime would listen to the views of Mr. Karunanidhi and protect the interests of the Tamils. “We don’t want to lose the government in Tamil Nadu and we are equally firm that the Congress government guided by Sonia Gandhi should continue at the Centre,” he said.

Mr.Thangkabalu said that the Congress and the DMK were working together to find a durable political solution to the Sri Lankan Tamils problem. MGR Kazhagam leader R.M. Veerappan said former Chief Minister M.G.Ramachandran wanted to work with the DMK leaders to find a solution to the Sri Lankan issue, and had asked the then Speaker K.Rajaram to speak to Mr.Karunanidhi to give up plan to resign from Assembly.

Dravidar Kazhagam leader K.Veeramani; Tamil Maanila Indian Union Muslim League leader K.M. Khader Mohideen; Jananayaka Munnetra Kazhagam leader Jagatrakshakan; and Gingee Ramachandran, MP, participated.