Tamil Nadu - Tiruchi   

Reporter's Diary

Come elections, new breeds of politicians crop up from unexpected quarters. The Rock City is no exception to this rule.

`Tamil Nadu Makkal Nala Iyyakkangalin Kootamaippu,' a conglomeration of welfare associations, women's organisations, consumer organisations, farmer's associations and social service organisations, has fielded a candidate for the Tiruchi II Assembly constituency, with the promise of ushering in peace and tranquillity, creating social and spiritual awareness, and paying special attention to environmental issues.

Another city-based organisation Parisuthaperavai Makkal Nala Inthiya Kazhagam, which claims to have helped scores of disabled and poor people by offering them capacity building training, has plans to field candidates in all the 234 Assembly constituencies in the State.

The promises of the Kazhagam are: making every voter rich, providing gainful employment to all job seekers, and realising the dream of the President, Abdul Kalam.

While the official machinery takes assiduous care to prevent public places from getting defaced by poll graffiti, residents of populated localities seem to be left to fend for themselves.

Particularly, people residing along main roads in localities such as Thillai Nagar, K.K. Nagar and Ramalinga Nagar are gripped by a fear that their compound walls could be `decorated' with poll graffiti by over-enthusiastic cadres of political parties in an overdrive to prove their worth to their political satraps.

In fact, many a house-owner spends sleepless nights these days, for, the cadres usually choose the dead of night to fulfil their `responsibilities.'

It is, however, entirely a different case for those residents, who themselves grab the opportunity to flaunt their political leanings.

Jebamalai Raja, Reader in Economics, Urumu Dhanalakshmi College, received the `Jewel of India' award for his outstanding academic achievements and social service from the Minister of State for Finance, Pawan Bansal, at New Delhi, earlier this month.

Dr. Jebalamalai Raja, one among 50 persons in the country to receive the award, had served in St. Joseph's College, Tiruchi, as Vice-Principal (evening college), Director of Alumni Association and Director of Library. While pursuing his doctorate at the Fordham University, USA, he had presented many research papers at national and international levels and has guided 45 M.Phil. and five Ph.D. scholars. The award was in recognition of his contribution for societal harmony at times of caste conflicts in Pondicherry, Cuddalore, and Vellore.

The Indian Solidarity Council, in association with the International Institute of Educational Management, and the International Business Council, New Delhi, presented the award.

The joy of visually disabled persons knew no bounds, when their dream to establish a work shed of their own came true at their native place, Nagamangalam, near Tiruchi last week. For, the prolonged delay in establishing a unit for making eco-friendly plates using paper and areca leaf as raw materials had made them apprehend whether the training they had undergone a year ago would go a waste.

"We underwent several training including the making of hollow-blocks. We have a vision to make Nagamangalam a hub of small and tiny industries and we see the light of the day today," observed A. P. Saravanan, general secretary, National Federation of the Blind, Tiruchi unit, which sanctioned the project. S. K. Rungta, national general secretary, NFB, declared open the work shed.

It was an exemplary performance by the Railway Protection Force constable recruits at the passing-out parade held here recently.

Their smart turn out, perfect coordination and synchronising movement earned appreciation from the dignitaries and the public. It was a very special moment for each one of the 582 recruits including 59 women, taking their first step in the uniformed service after undergoing training.

Southern Railway General Manager Thomas Varghese said that he had an opportunity to witness many parades but "this is the best turn out I have ever seen."

Director General of RPF A.K. Suri became nostalgic when he addressed the recruits. "I am reminded of my training 35 years ago." His advise to the recruits was thus: "Your must be held in awe and must achieve that status."

Contributions from R.Krishnamoorthy,

M. Balaganessin and

R. Rajaram in Tiruchi

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