Continuing his spectacular run, A R Rahman today became the first Indian to get three Oscar nominations for his score in British-Indian movie Slumdog Millionaire, which was also nominated for seven other categories, including best film and best director.
Rahman has been nominated for Best Original Score and the numbers ‘Jai Ho’ and ‘O Saya’ have been shortlisted for the Best Original Song. Close on the heels of the dual-language film winning four Golden Globes, including one for Rahman, earlier this month, Danny Boyle and Simon Beaufoy have been shortlisted for best director and best adapted screenplay categories, respectively.
The film also won nominations in picture, cinematography, sound mixing, sound editing and film editing. The nominations were announced at the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences’ Samuel Goldwyn Theatre by Oscar-winning actor Forest Whitaker. The awards will be announced on February 22 at Hollywood's Kodak Theatre.
This is the first time that an Indian has won more than one nomination in the history of Oscars. Reacting to the nominations, Rahman said: “I did not think it will get there. God has been really kind. And I have to really thank all the people for their prayers and their good wishes.
“Something good is happening and I am really happy about it,” he said, adding there is a kind of optimism in the film and so much of positive vibes as you leave the movie hall.
Co-director Loveleen Tandon said: “We have proved everyone wrong. It's a crazy feeling beyond words. Ten nominations is something unbelievable.” She said Rahman’s work has been awarded and the “world has finally woken up to his talent”. In the original score category, Rahman will compete with Alexandre Desplat (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), James Newton Howard (Defiance), Danny Elfman (Milk) and Thomas Newman (WALL-E). Rahman will compete with Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman (‘Down to earth’ from WALL-E) in the original song category. Gulzar has penned the lyrics of ‘Jai Ho’ and Maya Arulpragasam ‘O Saya’.
The romantic periodical The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, starring Brad Pitt, topped this years Oscar race with a whopping 13 nominations. The films in the race for best picture are Milk, Frost/Nixon, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button and The Reader.
Those nominated in the best director category along with Boyle are David Fincher (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button), Stephen Daldry (The Reader), Gus Van Sant (Milk) and Ron Howard (Frost/Nixon).
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Friday, January 23, 2009
Monday, January 19, 2009
Ban directors from other boards: CLB on Satyam scam
The government has approached the Company Law Board (CLB) with a request that all former directors of scam-hit Satyam Computers should be banned from becoming directors in other companies in India.
“One of the provisions in the Companies Act under section 388B(1)(a) is that if CLB finds that directors have not discharged their responsibilities properly, they can be banned from becoming directors in any other company,” said a senior official in the ministry of corporate affairs.
The request was in a petition filed January 9.
The CLB is understood to be waiting for responses to be filed by all nine directors — B Ramalinga Raju, Rama Raju, Ram Mynampati, Mangalam Srinivasan, Krishna Paleppu, Vinod Dham, M Rammohan Rao, V S Raju and T R Prasad — by February 20 on Raju's disclosures.
This development explains why many former Satyam directors have started resigning from other company boards.
Former cabinet secretary TR Prasad has already resigned from the boards of GMR Infra and Taj GVK. Professor M Rammohan Rao stepped down as Dean of the Indian School of Business, the BEL board and a government panel. Vinod Dham resigned from Sasken.
“One of the provisions in the Companies Act under section 388B(1)(a) is that if CLB finds that directors have not discharged their responsibilities properly, they can be banned from becoming directors in any other company,” said a senior official in the ministry of corporate affairs.
The request was in a petition filed January 9.
The CLB is understood to be waiting for responses to be filed by all nine directors — B Ramalinga Raju, Rama Raju, Ram Mynampati, Mangalam Srinivasan, Krishna Paleppu, Vinod Dham, M Rammohan Rao, V S Raju and T R Prasad — by February 20 on Raju's disclosures.
This development explains why many former Satyam directors have started resigning from other company boards.
Former cabinet secretary TR Prasad has already resigned from the boards of GMR Infra and Taj GVK. Professor M Rammohan Rao stepped down as Dean of the Indian School of Business, the BEL board and a government panel. Vinod Dham resigned from Sasken.
Monday, January 12, 2009
Rahman wins Golden Globe for Slumdog Millionaire
Music maestro A R Rahman, who became the first Indian to win the prestigious Golden Globe Award, dedicated it to the "billion people of India," as British Director Danny Boyle's Mumbai-based saga 'Slumdog Millionaire,' bagged four prizes at the ceremony today. A Mumbai underdog's rags-to-riches story, 'Slumdog Millionaire', swept all the four categories it was nominated for, winning the best director award for Boyle, the best music score for Rahman, best screenplay for Simon Beaufoy and also in the category of best drama.
Rahman, who won the coveted prize for his music score 'Jai Ho' in the film, thanked the director and his fellow musicians in Mumbai and Chennai, besides the "billion people from India".
"Unbelievable..! I thought, I would not win, so anyways thanks to the almighty God for bringing me here... Danny Boyle, Fox pictures, all my musicians in Chennai, Mumbai,.. and the billion people from India," he said while accepting the award.
Director Danny Boyle bagged the best director award, while Simon Beaufoy won the best screenplay award for the film that starred Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and British Indian Dev Patel.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was at the ceremony to represent India, introduced the film to the foreign audience with 'Slumdog' actress Frieda Pinto. It is also the first Golden Globe for 52-year-old Boyle, who is expected to be among the favourites at next month's Oscars following the phenomenal success of the film at award circuits.
Rahman, who won the coveted prize for his music score 'Jai Ho' in the film, thanked the director and his fellow musicians in Mumbai and Chennai, besides the "billion people from India".
"Unbelievable..! I thought, I would not win, so anyways thanks to the almighty God for bringing me here... Danny Boyle, Fox pictures, all my musicians in Chennai, Mumbai,.. and the billion people from India," he said while accepting the award.
Director Danny Boyle bagged the best director award, while Simon Beaufoy won the best screenplay award for the film that starred Bollywood actors Anil Kapoor, Irrfan Khan and British Indian Dev Patel.
Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan, who was at the ceremony to represent India, introduced the film to the foreign audience with 'Slumdog' actress Frieda Pinto. It is also the first Golden Globe for 52-year-old Boyle, who is expected to be among the favourites at next month's Oscars following the phenomenal success of the film at award circuits.
Monday, December 15, 2008
Govt banks lower home loan rates
Private banks say they’ll wait and watch.
After a week of discussions, government-owned banks today lowered interest rates on new home loans up to Rs 20 lakh.
The rate cuts, part of a government-driven initiative to provide a fillip to the struggling real estate sector, caps the interest rate on new home loans up to Rs 5 lakh at 8.5 per cent, and on loans between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh at 9.25 per cent.
The new rates, which apply only to new borrowers, will help reduce equated monthly installments (EMIs) by Rs 185 to Rs 233 per lakh for loans of 20-year tenures.
BUILDING ON RATE CUTS
EMI (Rs per lakh) Old * New Savings
Up to Rs 5 lakh 1,101.09 867.82 233.37
Rs 5 to 20 lakh 1,101.09 915.87 185.22
* Calculations based on 12% fixed rate from State Bank of India
Banks also said they are reducing the interest rate on loans to micro enterprises 50 basis points and small and medium enterprises 100 basis points. To help these units tide over the liquidity crunch, extra credit in the form of a 20 per cent additional working capital limits will also be provided.
Private sector banks and large housing finance companies like HDFC are, however, yet to take a call on how they will respond.
Keki Mistry, managing director of HDFC, the largest player in the home loan segment, said Indian consumers do not transfer their home loans so frequently. “The interest rate for the new loans has virtually been at the same level for the last couple of months, but we have not seen any such trend,” he added.
On the possibility of a decline in the interest rate, Mistry said, “It is a function of availability of funds in the system and inflation. Since the inflation rate is coming down there is a possibility of an overall softening of interest rates.”
An Axis Bank source said the private sector lender will decide over the next two to four weeks.
"We are clearly seeing some softening of rates. Our cost of deposits, which was going up earlier, has plateaued now. Although it is difficult to predict how much we’ll cut, we may cut both lending and deposit rates across the board in the next two to four weeks," the bank executive said.
ICICI Bank said it is evaluating all options. The bank recently lowered the interest rate on new home loans up to Rs 20 lakh to 11.5 per cent.
For a home buyer who borrows from State Bank of India, which is at present offering a 20-year housing loan of up to Rs 30 lakh at 12 per cent, the saving on a loan of Rs 5 lakh will be around Rs 1,000 a month. For a loan of Rs 20 lakh, the borrower will pay more than Rs 3,500 less every month.
Elaborating on the special home loan package, SBI Chairman OP Bhatt said the scheme will be open till June 30, 2009. The loans will be offered at a fixed rate for five years after which the borrower can switch to the floating rate option without paying any charge.
Banks will also not charge any processing or pre-payment fee on home loans under the package and will bear the insurance cost on such loans.
However, existing borrowers from private sector banks will not be able to transfer their loans to public sector banks.
State-owned banks expect to disburse additional loans up to Rs 20,000 crore under the new package and by adding margin money that home owners have to pay, the amount sanctioned could touch the Rs 30,000 crore mark. SBI, a largest lender, expects to sanction loans worth Rs 6,000 crore under this package.
Over 80 per cent of home loans disbursed by public sector banks are below the Rs 20 lakh slab. According to Indian Banks' Association (IBA) data, the total housing loan portfolio of the 28 state-run banks stood at Rs 1,86,137 crore at end of September 2008.
Rates on home loans under the stimulus package could fall more if interest rates in general fall further, said IBA Chairman and head of Bank of India T S Narayanasami said.
Asked if this package was enough to boost demand, Narayanasami said banks have done their bit, and builders and real estate companies have to reduce housing prices to encourage people to buy new homes.
Besides reducing the lending rate for micro enterprises and SMEs, state-owned will set up cells to redress grievances regarding these loans, Bhatt said banks will give soft loans to these units and an ad-hoc credit of additional 20 per cent of their outstanding fund based limits to meet their working capital needs.
Currently, state-owned banks' loans to such sectors are growing at 25 to 28 per cent, Small Industries Development Bank of India's Chairman and Managing Director R M Malla said. Outstanding loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises are estimated at Rs 2,60,000 crore.
After a week of discussions, government-owned banks today lowered interest rates on new home loans up to Rs 20 lakh.
The rate cuts, part of a government-driven initiative to provide a fillip to the struggling real estate sector, caps the interest rate on new home loans up to Rs 5 lakh at 8.5 per cent, and on loans between Rs 5 lakh and Rs 20 lakh at 9.25 per cent.
The new rates, which apply only to new borrowers, will help reduce equated monthly installments (EMIs) by Rs 185 to Rs 233 per lakh for loans of 20-year tenures.
BUILDING ON RATE CUTS
EMI (Rs per lakh) Old * New Savings
Up to Rs 5 lakh 1,101.09 867.82 233.37
Rs 5 to 20 lakh 1,101.09 915.87 185.22
* Calculations based on 12% fixed rate from State Bank of India
Banks also said they are reducing the interest rate on loans to micro enterprises 50 basis points and small and medium enterprises 100 basis points. To help these units tide over the liquidity crunch, extra credit in the form of a 20 per cent additional working capital limits will also be provided.
Private sector banks and large housing finance companies like HDFC are, however, yet to take a call on how they will respond.
Keki Mistry, managing director of HDFC, the largest player in the home loan segment, said Indian consumers do not transfer their home loans so frequently. “The interest rate for the new loans has virtually been at the same level for the last couple of months, but we have not seen any such trend,” he added.
On the possibility of a decline in the interest rate, Mistry said, “It is a function of availability of funds in the system and inflation. Since the inflation rate is coming down there is a possibility of an overall softening of interest rates.”
An Axis Bank source said the private sector lender will decide over the next two to four weeks.
"We are clearly seeing some softening of rates. Our cost of deposits, which was going up earlier, has plateaued now. Although it is difficult to predict how much we’ll cut, we may cut both lending and deposit rates across the board in the next two to four weeks," the bank executive said.
ICICI Bank said it is evaluating all options. The bank recently lowered the interest rate on new home loans up to Rs 20 lakh to 11.5 per cent.
For a home buyer who borrows from State Bank of India, which is at present offering a 20-year housing loan of up to Rs 30 lakh at 12 per cent, the saving on a loan of Rs 5 lakh will be around Rs 1,000 a month. For a loan of Rs 20 lakh, the borrower will pay more than Rs 3,500 less every month.
Elaborating on the special home loan package, SBI Chairman OP Bhatt said the scheme will be open till June 30, 2009. The loans will be offered at a fixed rate for five years after which the borrower can switch to the floating rate option without paying any charge.
Banks will also not charge any processing or pre-payment fee on home loans under the package and will bear the insurance cost on such loans.
However, existing borrowers from private sector banks will not be able to transfer their loans to public sector banks.
State-owned banks expect to disburse additional loans up to Rs 20,000 crore under the new package and by adding margin money that home owners have to pay, the amount sanctioned could touch the Rs 30,000 crore mark. SBI, a largest lender, expects to sanction loans worth Rs 6,000 crore under this package.
Over 80 per cent of home loans disbursed by public sector banks are below the Rs 20 lakh slab. According to Indian Banks' Association (IBA) data, the total housing loan portfolio of the 28 state-run banks stood at Rs 1,86,137 crore at end of September 2008.
Rates on home loans under the stimulus package could fall more if interest rates in general fall further, said IBA Chairman and head of Bank of India T S Narayanasami said.
Asked if this package was enough to boost demand, Narayanasami said banks have done their bit, and builders and real estate companies have to reduce housing prices to encourage people to buy new homes.
Besides reducing the lending rate for micro enterprises and SMEs, state-owned will set up cells to redress grievances regarding these loans, Bhatt said banks will give soft loans to these units and an ad-hoc credit of additional 20 per cent of their outstanding fund based limits to meet their working capital needs.
Currently, state-owned banks' loans to such sectors are growing at 25 to 28 per cent, Small Industries Development Bank of India's Chairman and Managing Director R M Malla said. Outstanding loans to micro, small, and medium enterprises are estimated at Rs 2,60,000 crore.
Tuesday, September 9, 2008
Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan dead
Renowned violinist Kunnakudi Vaidyanathan, whose majestic bowing widened the circle of rasikas for Carnatic music, passed away here on Monday after a brief illness. He was 73.
He is survived by wife V. Bagirathi, sons V.R. Shekar, V. Srinivasan, V. Sridhar, V. Balasubramanian and daughter Bhanumathi Ramakrishnan.
Born on March 2, 1935, he trained under his father Ramaswamy Sastry. As a youngster, he accompanied stalwarts, including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Maharajapuram Santhanam and Chittoor Subramanya Pillai. He also performed with legendary nagaswara vidwans such as T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai and Thiruvenkadu Subramania Pillai.
He made a mark in classical music as well as film music, and made conscious attempts to make music more accessible to the common man.
His foray into the film industry began with A.P. Nagarajan giving him a break in ‘Vaa Raja Vaa.’ From then, he gave several magical numbers and super hits that are among the eternal melodies in Tamil films.
In the film ‘Deivam,’ he had all his playback singers including Madurai Somu appear on screen.
His composition ‘Marudamalai mamaniyae murugaiyya...’ in Darbari Kanada made waves in the industry like not many songs have. Several other films such as ‘Agathiyar’ and ‘Raja Raja Chozhan,’ for which he scored music, were also phenomenal hits.
His interest in new attempts and innovations led him to work with veteran thavil vidwan Valayapatti Subramanian. They performed over 3,000 shows together which were also very successful. He also made a significant contribution to Tamil devotional music.
An able administrator, Mr. Vaidyanathan served as Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram and also conducted the Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Utsavam for several years.
Known for his dexterity and subtlety in handling the violin, he catered not only to the music scholar but also to the layman. His play reflected his own different moods and the demands of his audience with whom he established and enjoyed a good rapport.
He stopped accompanying vocal artistes in 1976 to concentrate more on solo concerts and was famous for his experiments on violin, which he referred to as fingering techniques.
Vaidyanathan, who had a long association with All India Radio, won several prestigious awards including the Padma Shri, Sangeeth Natak Academy award, Sangeetha Mamani and the Carnataka Isaignani award.
He also served as president of the Raga Research Centre.
Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K. Vasan expressed his deep shock and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
He is survived by wife V. Bagirathi, sons V.R. Shekar, V. Srinivasan, V. Sridhar, V. Balasubramanian and daughter Bhanumathi Ramakrishnan.
Born on March 2, 1935, he trained under his father Ramaswamy Sastry. As a youngster, he accompanied stalwarts, including Ariyakudi Ramanuja Iyengar, Semmangudi Srinivasa Iyer, Maharajapuram Santhanam and Chittoor Subramanya Pillai. He also performed with legendary nagaswara vidwans such as T.N. Rajarathinam Pillai and Thiruvenkadu Subramania Pillai.
He made a mark in classical music as well as film music, and made conscious attempts to make music more accessible to the common man.
His foray into the film industry began with A.P. Nagarajan giving him a break in ‘Vaa Raja Vaa.’ From then, he gave several magical numbers and super hits that are among the eternal melodies in Tamil films.
In the film ‘Deivam,’ he had all his playback singers including Madurai Somu appear on screen.
His composition ‘Marudamalai mamaniyae murugaiyya...’ in Darbari Kanada made waves in the industry like not many songs have. Several other films such as ‘Agathiyar’ and ‘Raja Raja Chozhan,’ for which he scored music, were also phenomenal hits.
His interest in new attempts and innovations led him to work with veteran thavil vidwan Valayapatti Subramanian. They performed over 3,000 shows together which were also very successful. He also made a significant contribution to Tamil devotional music.
An able administrator, Mr. Vaidyanathan served as Secretary of the Tamil Nadu Iyal Isai Nadaga Mandram and also conducted the Thiruvaiyaru Thyagaraja Utsavam for several years.
Known for his dexterity and subtlety in handling the violin, he catered not only to the music scholar but also to the layman. His play reflected his own different moods and the demands of his audience with whom he established and enjoyed a good rapport.
He stopped accompanying vocal artistes in 1976 to concentrate more on solo concerts and was famous for his experiments on violin, which he referred to as fingering techniques.
Vaidyanathan, who had a long association with All India Radio, won several prestigious awards including the Padma Shri, Sangeeth Natak Academy award, Sangeetha Mamani and the Carnataka Isaignani award.
He also served as president of the Raga Research Centre.
Union Minister of State for Statistics and Programme Implementation G.K. Vasan expressed his deep shock and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.
Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Several shop floors gutted on Ranganathan Street
A fire that broke out in a multi-storeyed shop, Saravana Stores, on Ranganathan Street on Monday morning spread to the abutting utensils shop, damaging several floors in the two buildings.
Officials said two employees of the shop, Kottaisamy and Ramajeyam, were reported missing and efforts were on to locate them. Police and fire service personnel rescued 13 staff members from the shop. Fire service personnel said until the debris on the sixth floor of the utensil shop cooled, they would not be able to confirm whether there was any casualty.
Shop assistants were sleeping on the upper floor of the shops. More than 100 people spent the night in the building. The fire was contained around noon.
City Police Commissioner R. Sekar said they received a call at 6.10 a.m. and special teams were formed to cordon off the area and assist fire service personnel in extinguishing the flames. “With minimum traffic diversions, we ensured that the fire did not spread to adjacent buildings,” he said. “The cause of fire apparently seems to be a short circuit,” Mr. Sekar said.
Eyewitnesses said the fire was noticed around 5.45 a.m. on the second and third floor of Lucky Plaza that houses the godown of Saravana Stores.
It spread to the lower floors of the Plaza, a shopping mall with scores of small shops and to the nearby Saravana Stores building, housing the utensils shop. Within two hours, even as fire fighters were trying to put out the blaze, it spread to the adjacent jewellery shop.
Smoke billowed several metres above the buildings radiating heat. The smell of acrid smoke hung in the residential areas around Ranganathan Street, which remained congested with thousands of spectators mutely watching the flames in awe. Police used megaphones to regulate curious pedestrians thronging Usman Road.
Tension prevailed for an hour after the fire began, as people in Suganthi Mansion that shares a wall with Lucky Plaza were not aware of the commotion. A few men ventured into the building and police urged the groggy residents to vacate the premises.
Fire tenders and Metrowater lorries were parked on Ranganathan Street and Natesan Street and a sky lift was positioned on each street to fight the fire.
Three hours after the fire broke out, four explosions rocked the building causing fear that the building might collapse.
Fire officials attributed the explosions to bursting of refrigerators and air-conditioners in the godown.
When the fire fighters eventually entered the buildings they found four-foot high hot debris on the sixth floor of the utensil shop, said S. Veeramani, Divisional Fire Officer.
“We had warned the shopkeepers but they paid no attention. Even now they contend that it is the first time a major fire had broken out in the area,” he said.
“The building may require a stabilisation certificate from the Public Works Department officials before the owners can take up repair work.”
Officials said two employees of the shop, Kottaisamy and Ramajeyam, were reported missing and efforts were on to locate them. Police and fire service personnel rescued 13 staff members from the shop. Fire service personnel said until the debris on the sixth floor of the utensil shop cooled, they would not be able to confirm whether there was any casualty.
Shop assistants were sleeping on the upper floor of the shops. More than 100 people spent the night in the building. The fire was contained around noon.
City Police Commissioner R. Sekar said they received a call at 6.10 a.m. and special teams were formed to cordon off the area and assist fire service personnel in extinguishing the flames. “With minimum traffic diversions, we ensured that the fire did not spread to adjacent buildings,” he said. “The cause of fire apparently seems to be a short circuit,” Mr. Sekar said.
Eyewitnesses said the fire was noticed around 5.45 a.m. on the second and third floor of Lucky Plaza that houses the godown of Saravana Stores.
It spread to the lower floors of the Plaza, a shopping mall with scores of small shops and to the nearby Saravana Stores building, housing the utensils shop. Within two hours, even as fire fighters were trying to put out the blaze, it spread to the adjacent jewellery shop.
Smoke billowed several metres above the buildings radiating heat. The smell of acrid smoke hung in the residential areas around Ranganathan Street, which remained congested with thousands of spectators mutely watching the flames in awe. Police used megaphones to regulate curious pedestrians thronging Usman Road.
Tension prevailed for an hour after the fire began, as people in Suganthi Mansion that shares a wall with Lucky Plaza were not aware of the commotion. A few men ventured into the building and police urged the groggy residents to vacate the premises.
Fire tenders and Metrowater lorries were parked on Ranganathan Street and Natesan Street and a sky lift was positioned on each street to fight the fire.
Three hours after the fire broke out, four explosions rocked the building causing fear that the building might collapse.
Fire officials attributed the explosions to bursting of refrigerators and air-conditioners in the godown.
When the fire fighters eventually entered the buildings they found four-foot high hot debris on the sixth floor of the utensil shop, said S. Veeramani, Divisional Fire Officer.
“We had warned the shopkeepers but they paid no attention. Even now they contend that it is the first time a major fire had broken out in the area,” he said.
“The building may require a stabilisation certificate from the Public Works Department officials before the owners can take up repair work.”
Central-Egmore link: Railways presses for NOC
The Railway ministry has asked the Tamil Nadu government to reconsider its decision to deny ‘no objection certificate’ (NOC) to the project that would provide 2.5-km rail link between Chennai Central and Egmore railway stations in the city.
The link, on elevated structures, would save both passengers as well as the railways considerable amount of money, since South-bound trains from the North and vice-versa take a 11.2-km circuitous and congested route via Beach, Royapuram, Washermanpet and Basin Bridge stations to reach their destinations, said Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu.
He told The Hindu that on his instructions the railway authorities in Chennai had once again written to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary seeking NOC. “I am planning to pursue this project vigorously.”
He said the main contention of the government was that the elevated rail structure would obstruct the implementation of the proposed metro rail project and the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated highway, which would pass through Central station. The railways have pointed out that the metro rail track is going to be laid underground; and to cross the expressway, the rail line could be laid either beneath or above the expressway. “In a number of places in Delhi, railway lines, metro lines and flyovers criss-cross without any hurdle. I hope the State government will give its nod this time,” Mr. Velu said.
The link, on elevated structures, would save both passengers as well as the railways considerable amount of money, since South-bound trains from the North and vice-versa take a 11.2-km circuitous and congested route via Beach, Royapuram, Washermanpet and Basin Bridge stations to reach their destinations, said Union Minister of State for Railways R. Velu.
He told The Hindu that on his instructions the railway authorities in Chennai had once again written to Tamil Nadu Chief Secretary seeking NOC. “I am planning to pursue this project vigorously.”
He said the main contention of the government was that the elevated rail structure would obstruct the implementation of the proposed metro rail project and the Chennai Port-Maduravoyal elevated highway, which would pass through Central station. The railways have pointed out that the metro rail track is going to be laid underground; and to cross the expressway, the rail line could be laid either beneath or above the expressway. “In a number of places in Delhi, railway lines, metro lines and flyovers criss-cross without any hurdle. I hope the State government will give its nod this time,” Mr. Velu said.
Monday, September 1, 2008
Marathon turns Chennai, Sunday livelier
The city turned out in its sporty best for the GiveLife Chennai marathon on Sunday. The number of participants went well above the registered 50,000 as celebrities, students, senior citizens, corporate firm employees and representatives from voluntary organisations gathered for the run. At 8 a.m., bunches of white and green balloons went up in the air amid loud cheers of ‘We love Chennai’. The event was the biggest marathon in the city in terms of the huge response it drew. The 7-km run was flagged off by Union Minister for Sports M.S. Gill. Actor Surya charmed the swarming crowd: “Be safe. Take care of the person beside you. You are running for Chennai.” Actor Napolean and Member of Parliament Kanimozhi added their words of caution.
Participants carried placards or banners bearing messages such as ‘Paint the plant green’ and ‘Please avoid plastic bags’. The marathon began near the Island Grounds entrance on Anna Salai and ended at Gandhi Statue on the Marina. The 21.09-km half marathon for professional athletes and a 3-km run for those above 50 years were also organised.
Participants carried placards or banners bearing messages such as ‘Paint the plant green’ and ‘Please avoid plastic bags’. The marathon began near the Island Grounds entrance on Anna Salai and ended at Gandhi Statue on the Marina. The 21.09-km half marathon for professional athletes and a 3-km run for those above 50 years were also organised.
More Tamil medium students make it to engineering colleges through counselling
Over the last three years, the percentage of Tamil medium students making it to engineering colleges in the State through the government’s single window counselling system has almost doubled. Three years ago, the percentage of students from Tamil medium higher secondary schools opting for a BE degree through Tamil Nadu Engineering Admissions was just 23 per cent. This year, the figure shot up to 43 per cent of the more than 74,000 students who were allotted seats, according to Anna University Vice-Chancellor P. Mannar Jawahar. He agreed that one reason for the jump could be the abolition of the common entrance examination two years ago. The year before the test was removed, the share of Tamil medium students was 35 per cent; the very next year, it had risen to 41 per cent. Simultaneously, the share of rural students has also gone up to 64.5 per cent.
College life could be tough for students for whom the city setting and the language of instruction is new. Last year, several freshers who had been toppers in their Tamil medium schools found themselves failing in an English medium university. Being unable to understand concepts in an unfamiliar language, several students said they were forced to resort to memorisation. The university had started special bridge classes to help such students. Dr. Jawahar said the practice would continue in all the university department institutions, though they would not be identified as sessions specifically meant for Tamil medium students.
The university does not want to give students an inferiority complex by labelling them that way, said Dr. Jawahar. Students with language difficulties also get special coaching by English Department staff.
Apart from academic coaching, students are also introduced to activities and lectures that help build their confidence and put them at ease, he said. Career counselling and self-esteem sessions are part of the itinerary for first year students, through activities sponsored by the NSS, NSO and Alumni Club.
College life could be tough for students for whom the city setting and the language of instruction is new. Last year, several freshers who had been toppers in their Tamil medium schools found themselves failing in an English medium university. Being unable to understand concepts in an unfamiliar language, several students said they were forced to resort to memorisation. The university had started special bridge classes to help such students. Dr. Jawahar said the practice would continue in all the university department institutions, though they would not be identified as sessions specifically meant for Tamil medium students.
The university does not want to give students an inferiority complex by labelling them that way, said Dr. Jawahar. Students with language difficulties also get special coaching by English Department staff.
Apart from academic coaching, students are also introduced to activities and lectures that help build their confidence and put them at ease, he said. Career counselling and self-esteem sessions are part of the itinerary for first year students, through activities sponsored by the NSS, NSO and Alumni Club.
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