The Hindu : Kerala News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Dec 31, 2004

Kerala

Kerala

Briefly

Army opens more relief camps

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM DEC. 30. The Army has set up five additional relief camps in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam and Alappuzha districts to help the victims of tsunami and those who were shifted from their house today in the wake of the alert by the Union Government.

Army columns with all facilities, including medical team, mobile cook hose and emergency management group, have already been moved from the Pangode Military station, Brig. S.K.H. Johnson, Station Commander, said in a release. Of the camps in the capital district, one will be at Government Girls High School, Manacaud, and the other at BNVHS, Thiruvallam. The two camps in Kollam district are in Karunagapally. The fifth camp being set up in Allappuzha is near Kayamkulam. Army engineers are also undertaking reconnaissance at various bridge sites connecting the worst-affected coastal areas at Allappad in Kollam district.

Plea for liberal aid to State

The Leader of the Opposition, V.S. Achuthanandan, today urged the Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, to provide liberal assistance to the State to tide over the crisis arising from the tsunami onslaught. In a memorandum submitted to the Prime Minister here, Mr. Achuthanandan also urged Mr. Manmohan Singh to ensure that a seawall was constructed in the Alapad-Arattupuzha belt in the Kollam-Alappuzha border.

The Centre should immediately sanction funds for construction of the seawall and for construction of two bridges in Alapad village, he added. He welcomed the Union Government's decision to declare the tsunami attack a national disaster and hoped Central assistance for the State would be released without any delay.

Shastri's call to Congressmen

The working committee member of the Congress Anil Shastri has expressed unhappiness at the party's failure in handing down its rich cultural heritage without any change. Releasing the `Veekshanam' weekly being brought out by the KPCC at the Indira Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram today, he expressed hope that the bringing out of publications at the national level and in different languages would help the party regain that heritage.

He asked the PCC to use the weekly as a vehicle to spread the party's ideas and taking the good work being done by the Union and State Governments to the people.

The KPCC president, Thennala Balakrishna Pillai, who presided said that the publication of the weekly was the first step towards the revival of the `Veekshanam' newspaper.

Person of the Year award

T.K. Jose, executive director of Kudumbashree, has been selected for the first Person of the Year award of the IndiaVision Satellite Communications Ltd. The award consists of a statuette and cash prize of Rs. 1 lakh. He was chosen for the award in recognition of his role in the implementation of the Kudumbashree programme. The jury was headed by the noted journalist Sasikumar. IndiaVision proposes to give the awards every year.

PSC postpones tests

The PSC has postponed all tests except the departmental test scheduled for January 1. The fresh date would be announced later.

Office-bearers elected

M.R. Narayan has been elected the president of Chamber of Commerce, Thiruvananthapuram. The other office-bearers are C. Chandramohan and S. Gouthaman, vice-presidents, S. Thanu Pillai, honorary secretary, P. Murugan, treasurer, and R. Sridhar, joint secretary.

Three missing

PATHANAMTHITTA DEC 30. Three persons, Bindu (21) of Kuttappuzha Aattuchirayil House, near Thiruvalla, her husband, Das of Tirupur in Tamil Nadu and their one-year old child who had gone on a pilgrimage to Velankanni on December 26 are reported to be missing, according to a police complaint filed by their relatives.

The three had gone to Velankanni from Tirupur on December 26.

Tsunami threat: mass prayers

KOZHIKODE DEC. 30. The Samastha Kerala Jam-Iyyathul Ulama will conduct mass prayers on December 31 in the wake of the threat to the coastal areas in the State by a fresh tsumani. In a statement here today, the organisation president, Thajul Ulema Syed Abdurehman Albukari, and general secretary, A.P. Abubacker Musaliyar, appealed to devotees to participate in the prayers.

Fund donation

M.P. Abdu Samad Samdani, MP, has donated Rs. 10 lakhs from the MP's Local Area Development Fund for rehabilitation of those affected by Sunday's tsunami onslaught in Kollam district. Mr. Samdani has also donated one month's salary to the Chief Minister's Relief Fund.

MES gesture

The Muslim Educational Society (MES) has decided to donate Rs. 5 lakhs from its funds for relief activities in the State. It will also mobilise funds from the employees and students of the institutions under its umbrella. The staff will donate a day's salary for the purpose, the MES president, K.K. Aboobaker, and the general secretary, P.A. Fazal Ghafoor, said in a press release here today.

Book fair

A national book fair will be conducted under the aegis of the Chavara Cultural Centre at the Indoor Stadium here from January 7 to 16. An organising committee has been set up with MLA A. Sujanapal as chairman and centre director Father Jolly Alavelil as convener. A wide range of books, including scientific ones, from publishers and book houses across the country will be available at the fair. A 10 to 50 per cent rebate will be offered. Seminars, poets' meet, discussions and the like will be organised as part of the programme.

Tsunami threat: mass prayers

Fund donation

MES gesture

Book fair

Office-bearers

P.M. Sadiqali of Thrissur and P.M. Hanif of Malappuram were elected State president and general secretary respectively of the Muslim Students Federation (MSF) at the State council meeting of the organisation at the League House here on Wednesday. K.C. Mujeeb Rehman of Kozhikode was elected treasurer. A working committee were also constituted at the meeting. The IUML leader P.K.K. Bava, MLA, was the returning officer. C. Mamootty, MLA, and the Muslim Youth League State general secretary K.M. Shaji spoke on the occasion.

Farewell given

The Soubhagya Circle Residents' Association at Chakkorathukulam accorded a farewell to its president, Dr. G. Ganapathi Rao (Professor, Amrita Institute of Medical Sciences), and member Dr. K.R. Girija (Professor, Microbiology Department, Thrissur Medical College) at a function here on Thursday. The association patron V.K.S. Menon presented mementos to them on the occasion.

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