The Hindu : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Feb 22, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Briefly

Relay fast called off

Cuddapah: Functionaries of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) called off their five-day-old relay hunger strike in front of the collectorate on Saturday following assurance given by the Cuddapah RDO, Khaja Mohiuddin. During discussions held with CPI(M) leaders, the RDO promised to sink two borewells at Gurivireddikunta and ensure electrification of Sundaraiah Nagar within 10 days. The CPI(M) district secretary, B. Narayana, the divisional convener, K. Anjaneyulu, and others took part in the discussions with the RDO.

Offer for farmers

WARANGAL: Sanjivani Herbal Farms proposes to offer free services to the farmers who were ready to opt for cultivation of `Safed Musli (Tella Nelathadi Gadda) in the district. Ch. Venugopal Rao of Sanjivini has said that farmers will be given assistance from the stage of sowing to harvesting and the product will be purchased by the Nandan Agro Farms. Presently, the Sanjivini has been growing the Safed Musli in 30 acres near Dharmasagar. Interested farmers may contact the office located at H. N. 2-5-294, first floor, Nakkalgutta or may contact over 98495-94171.

Transo official's office picketed

Cuddapah: Contract electricity workers picketed the office of Transco Chief Engineer (Transmission Lines and Sub-Stations) at Sankarapuram here on Saturday, under the aegis of United Electricity Employees Union, decrying the abrupt termination of services of a contract worker of Badvel sub-station, Srinivasulu. The Transco Vigilance inspector, T. Ramakrishna, assured to probe the charges.

Ugadi Day fete

MADANAPALLE: The Madanapalle Writers' Association has invited entries from writers' of verses as part of Ugadi Day contest. Entries must reach the association secretary at 2-253-D-5-A Society Colony, Madanapalle 517325, by March 10, the secretary K. Balasubramanyam Pillai, said in a press release.

Health camp for children

NIZAMABAD: The Nizamabad chapter of the Indian Academy of Paediatrics is organising a mega health camp for the children in Dhonelly village of backward Kuntala mandal of Adilabad district on Sunday. The IAP general secretary, N. Ramchander, said that the camp was being organised by the IAP and the United Teachers' Federation. A team of doctors headed by the IAP chapter president, A. Chakradhary, would participate

CM calls for promotion of Telugu

Hyderabad: The Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, has urged Telugus to realise that promoting Telugu was equivalent to promoting their self-respect.

Addressing the concluding session of the International Telugu Day held here under the aegis of the Official Language Commission on Saturday, Mr. Naidu bemoaned the absence of interest among Telugus in their language. The culture of any race depend on its mother tongue and hence, its was all the more important for people to take interest in it, he said.

Recalling the contribution of N.T. Rama Rao to the promotion of Telugu, he said such steadfast commitment was rare to find nowadays. He promised cooperation to the Commission in its mission.

The Chairman of the Commission, Parachuri Gopalakrishna, outlined the work of the department and explained the future projects. The Chief Minister inaugurated a web site containing 2,000 pages on Telugu language. C. Narayana Reddy, Ravuri Bharadwaja and Kolakaluri Inoch were honoured on the occasion for their contribution to the language. V.L. Indira Dut, president of the World Telugu Federation, was the special guest.

TRS sets `deadline' for Congress

HYDERABAD: Serving an ultimatum, the Telangana Rashtra Samithi president, K. Chandrasekhara Rao, has set 11.30 a.m. on February 25 as the deadline for the Congress to accept its `package of seats' for the Assembly and the Lok Sabha.

"We will wait till that time and if there is no positive response by then, we will go ahead and release the first list," Mr. Rao told newsmen here on Saturday. A decision in this regard was taken at a meeting of the TRS Election Committee. He said he would announce the list and leave for the party's public meeting scheduled at Mancherial on that day.

Asked if there was any change in the number of seats he was seeking, he said more than

the number it was agreement on the issue of Telangana that was important. "We have made our stand clear. It is for them to take a decision now".

VSP bags national award

VISAKHAPATNAM: The Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has bagged the ICWAI National Award-2003, instituted for the first time by the Institute of Cost and Works Accountants of India to encourage manufacturers adopting cost reduction and rationalisation programmes.

According to a VSP spokesman, VSP has scored over more than 4,000 companies bidding for this `Certificate of appreciation for excellence in cost reduction-2003' award by effectively implementing the cost and management tools and techniques and by optimum utilisation of resources and productivity.

Partnership Summit: VSP conducted the annual Partnership Summit with its clients at its Ukku Club on Thursday to improve customer satisfaction.

In all, 80 customers and 20 consignment agents from across the country interacted with the Chairman and Managing Director, B.K. Panda, the Director (personnel and finance), C. Appa Rao, and the Chief Vigilance Officer, M.K. Das.

SFI's plea on IIT

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh committee of Students' Federation of India today appealed to educationists and intellectuals to strive for the establishment of an IIT in the State.

N. Satish Kumar, State secretary, in a statement issued here recalled that although the AP Assembly had unanimously adopted a resolution seeking an IIT in the State, it was not implemented. In view of this, it was not proper for the expression of divergent views on the location of IIT, as evident from press reports, he said.

The SFI leader stated that many students were attracted to technical and professional courses in the State. Every year 600-700 students from the State join IITs. The State students constitued 50 per cent to 30 per cent of the strength in the IITs at Guwahati and Kharagpur respectively. Keeping these aspects in view, he said the State government should exert pressure on the Centre to locate an IIT in the State.

Rural bank women employees' meet

TIRUPATI: Women employees of the Regional Rural Banks (RRBs) are planning to hold the first-ever national convention at Tirupati on February 28 and 29, to be hosted by Sri Venkateswara Grameena Bank Employees and Officers' Association. The vice-president of All India Regional Rural Bank Employees' Association (AIRRBEA), P.L. Ananda Reddy, told newsmen here on Saturday that the event was meant to focus on the proactive role of women in social development and bringing in gender equality, besides catalysing the process of women empowerment. Over 500 women employees of various rural banks from across the country would take part in the meet to be held at the TMR kalyana mandapam in Korlagunta here.

OPDR conference

GUNTUR: The NDA Government at the Centre has been claiming credit for the abundant foreign exchange reserves in the country and based on that it launched the `India shining' campaign hiding the fact that source for the reserves was not real development in the country, the Organisation for Protection of Democratic Rights vice-president, V. Hanumantha Rao, has said.

At the inaugural of the State conference of the OPDR here on Saturday, he said that the economic well-being of people and protection of their rights were closely related. Describing the high inflow of forex reserves as a reaction from the Non-Resident Indians to the higher rate of interest being given by the Reserve Bank of India on their deposits, he wanted people not to mistake it for funds inflow for setting up industrial units in the country.

Backward Classes seek more seats

Hyderabad: The Andhra Pradesh BC Welfare Association has asked the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, to spell out policy for socio-economic development of BCs at his party's Vijayabheri meeting.

In a statement here today, its president, R. Krishnaiah, alleged that the development of Backward Classes was hampered in the past eight years of the TDP rule. He urged the Telugu Desam president to announce allotment of 160 tickets for Backward Classes for the Assembly and 24 for the Lok Sabha elections.

Dry weather prevails

Hyderabad: The minimum temperature changed little in the State on Saturday and it was normal. The lowest night temperature for the 24-hour period ending this morning was accounted by Adilabad at 15 degree Celsius.

Weather was dry in the State and it will be so on Sunday also as per the forecast issued by the State Met Office here.

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