The Hindu : ITDC camp to be held later

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Dec 28, 2003

Southern States

Southern States - Kerala-Kochi

ITDC camp to be held later

By Our Staff Reporter

KOCHI DEC. 27. The State-level study camp of pre-primary computer teacher trainees, which ended in a fiasco soon after inauguration here yesterday, will be held later. The general secretary of the Information Technology Development Centre (ITDC), S. Jayaprakash, said here today that the camp would be held in the city. The date will be decided after a board meeting of the ITDC, he said.

The ITDC had organised a three-day camp for the 2000-odd women doing computer pre-primary teacher training course (CPPTTC) at 98 centres across the State. The camp at the Government Girls Higher Secondary School did not take off yesterday as the organisers failed to provide accommodation and food for all participants as guaranteed.

After a prolonged dialogue with the organisers, many participants returned collecting the money they paid. Those who did not get their money stayed back until they were partly reimbursed.

The 13-member team from Malappuram centre was the last to leave the venue this afternoon. Apart from them, those who stayed here last night included the centres of Mavelikkara, Tirur, Payyannur and Chemmad. The police had provided security to the women at the school.

The ITDC chairman, K. Ravindranatha Kurup, said all participants would get their full money back and their certificates. A section of the angry participants had taken away a few of the computers set up at the camp for demonstration.

Mr. Kurup said they did not expect such a large turnout on the inaugural eve on Thursday. He said they had arranged accommodation for the participants at a five-storey building of the Greater Cochin Development Authority (GCDA) at the eastern entrance of the South Railway Station.

The GCDA authorities today confirmed that the ITDC officials had booked the building by paying Rs. 1 lakh, for December 26, 27 and 28. The GCDA secretary, P. Satyarajan, said the deposit amount of Rs. 25,000 would be returned. The rent for three days was Rs. 75,000.

The five-storey building, if converted into a dormitory, can accommodate hundreds of people in its 40,000 sq ft space. Each floor has a space of 8,000 sq ft, with eight toilets. Even though the booking was only from December 26, the GCDA authorities were willing to hand over the building on the previous evening itself, Mr. Satyarajan said.

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