Dr. Abdul Kalam calls for mobilising more funds for education

Suggests three-prolonged category to make education more attractive Recommends measures for flood control and water conservation

President's address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day

Aug 14: The President, Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, has called for mobilising an additional 2 to 3 per cent of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for the mission of education. He said that public expenditure alone might not be able to meet the challenge. In his address to the nation on the eve of Independence Day, the President has appealed to the entire corporate sector to emulate the examples set by some corporate leaders who have focused on education to make a national difference. He also suggested a three-pronged strategy to make education more attractive and simultaneously create employment potential.

Dr. Abdul Kalam said that there was a need to find a long-term solution to control floods and to store and utilise surplus water for usage during the dry season as also the linking of regional river basins. He has recommended construction of layered wells at the entry points of Kosi and Brahmaputra rivers. These layered wells would store floodwater at different levels and would control the intensity of damage in low-lying areas by reducing the velocity of flood. The possibility of underground water storage systems at different river basin sites and at other places might also be considered. "A Water Mission has been rightly identified as the priority area of my Government", he added.

51st National awards-2003 announced Vikram-Best actor, Meera Jasmine-Best actress, Gautam Ghose-Best director

Thiruvananthapuram Aug 14: The 51st National awards for the year 2003 have been announced today by a jury headed by Basu Chatterjee. Most of the awards were bagged by regional films, leaving the Bollywood with only very few awards.Vikram bagged the best actor award for his performance in the tamil film 'Pithamagan' and Meera Jasmine won the best actress award for T.V.Chandran's film, 'Paadam onnu oru vilaapam'. 'Paadam onnu oru Vilaapam' also won the best film award on family welfare.

Marathi film 'Shwas' directed by Sandeep Sawant bagged the best film award. The best child artiste award went to Kalidasan for his versatile performance in the film 'Ente Veedu Appoontem' who shared this award with Ashwin Chitale for his performance in 'Shwaas'.

Gautam Ghose bagged the best director and best screenplay awards for his film 'Abar Aranye' which also bagged the best supporting actress award for Sharmila Tagore. The best supporting actor award went to Pankaj Kapoor for his performance in 'Maqbool'. Manoj Bajpai received special jury award for his performance in Dr. Chandraprakash Dwivedi's 'Pinjar', which also bagged the Nargis Dutt award for the best feature film on National Integration.

The best male playback singer award went to Sonu Nigam for his memorable rendition of the title song of the film 'Kal Ho Na Ho' which also bagged award for Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy team for best music. The best female singer went to Tarali Sarma for a tuneful rendition of a devotional song without instrumental accompaniment in 'Akashitorar Kothale'. The best lyrics award went to Ashok Teja for his lyrics in the Telugu film 'Tagore'. The best choreographer award went to Farah Khan for the song 'Idhar Chala mein udhar chala' from Koi Mil Gaya.

The best cinematography award was bagged by Abhik Mukhopadhyay for the Bengali film 'Bhalo Theko' which also won best audiography award for Anup Mukhopadhyay and Deepon Chatterjee. The award for best editing went to Aarif Sheikh for 'Samay' 'Chokker Bali' bagged the awards for best costume and best art direction. B.B.Roy and Sushanto Pal bagged best costume award for the film and the best art direction award went to Indranil Ghosh and Sharmishta Roy. The best special effects award went to Bimmini Special FX and design studios for the effect created in 'Koi Mil Gaya'.

The Indira Gandhi award for the best first film went to Rajiv Vijayaraghavan, producer and director of 'Maargam'. The best popular film award went to Raj Kumar Hirani's film 'Munnabhai MBBS'. The film has been produced by Vidhu Vinod Chopra. The award for the best film on other social issues such as prohibition, women and child welfare, anti-dowry, drug abuse, welfare of the handicapped etc went to Rakesh Roshan's for its compassionate portrayal of a mentally challenged young man who is able to reach out to the wonders of the universe. 'Koi Mil Gaya'. Sanjib Sabhapandit's assamese film, 'Juye Poora Xoon' won the best film award on environment conservation and preservation and the best children's film award went to assamese film 'Tora' directed by Jahnu Barua.

The best film award in language other than indian languages went to the English film 'Dance like a man' directed by Pamela Rooks. Nedumudi Venu and Dathathreya received the special attention of the jury.

Awards for Regional Films

1) Best Assamese Film- Aakashitorar Kothare directed by Manju Borah
2) Best Bengali Film- Chokher Bali directed by Rituparno Ghosh
3) Best Hindi Film- Raghu Romeo directed by Rajat Kapoor
4) Best Kannada Film- Preethi Prema Pranaya directed by Kavitha Lankesh
5) Best Malayalam Film-Saphalam directed by Asok R Nath
6) Best Marathi Film- Not Only Mrs Raut directed by Gajendra Ahire
7) Best Oriya Film- Aw Akkare Aa directed by Subas Das
8) Best Tamil Film- Eyarkai directed by S.P. Jhananathan
9) Best Telugu Film- Aithe directed by Chandra Shekhar Yeleti -Keralamonitor.com

Five awards for Malayalam films

Meera Jasmine won the best actress award for T.V.Chandran's film, 'Paadam onnu oru vilaapam' which also bagged the award of best film on family welfare. The best film on family welfare carries a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and a Rajat Kamal.Meera Jasmine was very clearly ahead in a competition with leading actresses like Aishwariya Rai and she expressed her thankfulness to god and her gurus who had helped her in achieving this award. She would be receiving a Rajat Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 10,000.

Ashok R. Nath's 'Saphalam' bagged the best film award in malayalam with a rajat kamal and a cash prize of Rs. 20,000 for its sensitive portrayal of an old couple in their loneliness and togetherness. The Indira Gandhi award for the best first film went to Rajiv Vijayaraghavan, producer and director of 'Maargam'. The prize include a swarnakamal and a cash prize of Rs. 25,000. The best child artiste award went to Kalidasan who has won a rajat kamal and a cash prize of Rs.5000 for his versatile performance in the film 'Ente Veedu Appoontem'. The jury also made a special mention of actor Nedumudi Venu for his extraordinary versatility in a range of roles in malayalam films made in 2003. -Keralamonitor.com

Award for the best book on cinema 2003

Aug 14: The award for the best book on cinema 2003 went to Shri Ramkrishna's "Filmi Jagat Mein Ardhashati Ka Romanch" who will receive a Swarna Kamal and a Cash Prize of Rs. 15,000/- The book has been published by Bhartiya Jnanpith

Citiation

The award is presented to the author for a unique style of chronicling the flip side of film personalities through his own biography. It gives an insight into the history of cinema and film journalism in a refreshingly different style.

Award for the best film critic 2003

Swarna Kamal and cash prize of Rs. 15,000/- to Shri Saibal Chatterjee

Citation

The award is presented for incisive, bold and realistic criticism of the film industry, couched in a refreshing style of writing.

Special Mention

1)The Jury makes a Special Mention of Dipankar Mukhodhyaya for his book "Kathapurush" for a commendable revelation of the personality of the filmaker.

2)The Jury makes a Special Mention of P.N. Srinivas for his book Chalanachitra Nirdeshaka (Kannada) for a unique presentation of the technicalities of filmaking and international film personalities.

3)The Jury makes a Special Mention of Vasiraju Prakasham for introducing film personalities of parallel cinema in the parched atmosphere of Telugu filmdom. -Keralamonitor.com

Nehru Trophy Boat Race

Alappuzha Aug 14: In the Nehru Trophy Boat Race held today Cheruthanachundan won the trophy in a tough race held in the evening. The Kottayam Kumarakom Town boat club team were the ones who lead the Cheruthanachundan to victory. Minister G.Karthikeyan and K.R.Gowriamma attended the function. -Keralamonitor.com

Following is the text of the President's address to the nation on the eve of the 58th Independence Day:

"On the eve of the 58th Independence Day, I extend to you my best wishes for your happiness and prosperity. My greetings to all of you at home and abroad. Let us, on this occasion, remember with gratitude, the selfless and devoted services of our Armed Forces and those of the Paramilitary Forces, who are guarding our frontiers on the land, at sea, and in the air. I take this opportunity on this Independence Day to convey the best wishes of the people of India, to our men and women participating in the Olympic Games in Athens.

I met 200 freedom fighters from different parts of the country on 9th August 2004. I saw in their ripe age, their enthusiasm to bring back nationalism as a living movement. I salute all our freedom fighters on this occasion. Let me dedicate this Independence Day broadcast to those great souls who pioneered our Independence Movement. We remember them with reverence and gratitude for liberating us from centuries of foreign rule. Their saga of sacrifice has led to the realization of the singular and noble vision of heralding an independent nation.

Dear citizens, we must realise the significance and the value of our freedom movement. Fortunately after our independence in 1947, we have come a long way in the field of education and have moved towards a knowledge society, as a result of the vision of our educationalists and the policies and actions of successive governments. Many of our educational institutions have excelled in the world. In order to revitalise our self-esteem and culture, it is vital to emphasise the role of the education system in creating an enlightened, dynamic and prosperous society utilising the advancement of science and technology. I, therefore, propose to discuss the education system in some detail in the later part of my address.

General Elections

The nation is happy that the conduct of the recent general elections and transition to a new government has taken place in a peaceful and orderly manner. In an increasingly complex world environment, this significant achievement emerging from India is yet another valuable contribution to world peace and stability. Now that the government is in place, we all have to get on with the work of building the nation.

External Relations

We are steadily strengthening our presence in regional and international institutions including the United Nations. We also realize that it is essential to strengthen and restructure the United Nations to make it more purposeful. We cherish and advocate multi-polarity in the world order that respects the principles of sovereignty, non-intervention, freedom and democracy. While not forgetting the painful lessons of history, our foreign policy is aimed at a vision that seeks to establish India, the largest democracy in the world, as a developed country with its rightful place in the international fora.

Defence And Security

With the rapidly changing global security environment, our nation's domains of security concerns have greatly expanded from what they were after Independence. Another measure of our nation's strength is the effective, firm and fair handling of a series of internal low intensity conflicts and the proxy war. I note with satisfaction of our continuing efforts towards good neighbourly relations, particularly the sustained progress of the peace process between India and Pakistan.

Economy

Our economy has yielded a growth rate of the Gross Domestic Product by over 8 per cent, driven by broad based accelerated growth in agriculture, infrastructure, manufacturing and services. Sustaining our growth, containing the annual inflation rate, containing the revenue deficit through prudent revenue enhancement and expenditure management are other challenges for the Centre and the States. The root cause of poverty lies in illiteracy, unemployment and lack of basic healthcare and there is a need to sharply increase public spending in these areas.

Water Management

Certain regions of the country like Bihar and Assam are constantly affected by floods every year, and we are witnessing that even now. There is a need to find a long-term solution to control floods and to store and utilize surplus water for usage during the dry season and also the linking of regional river basins. In the Gangetic plain and in the Northeastern region, I would recommend the construction of layered wells at the entry points of the Kosi River flowing from Nepal and the Brahmaputra River flowing from Tibet. These layered wells will store floodwater at different levels and will control the intensity of damage in low-lying areas by reducing the velocity of the flow. In addition, we may consider the possibility of underground water storage systems at river basin sites and also at other places. The water thus stored will be useful during the time of need. A Water Mission has been rightly identified as a priority area by my government.

Employment Generation

Our employment generation system has not kept pace with the inflow of educated youth. A three-pronged strategy is needed to make education more attractive and simultaneously create employment potential - how do we do that? Firstly, the education system should highlight the importance of entrepreneurship and prepare students right from college education to get oriented towards setting up of enterprises. Diversity of skills and perseverance in work makes an entrepreneur. In addition, college syllabi even for arts, science and commerce courses should include topics and practicals where such entrepreneurship is possible. Secondly, the banking system should provide venture capital right from the village level to prospective entrepreneurs for undertaking new enterprises. Banks have to be proactive in supporting innovative products for enabling wealth generation by young entrepreneurs by setting aside the "conventional tangible asset syndrome". Thirdly, there has to be an economic pull for generation of marketable products and enhancement of purchasing power among the people. This can come through the implementation of mega programmes such as rural connectivity, regional linking of rivers, infrastructural missions, power missions and tourism.

We need the education system to focus on high value and productive employment opportunities. A recent study indicates that the unemployment level in the country is 9 per cent of 400 million employable people. That is around 36 million. We can definitely find productive employment for all 36 million people by launching certain missions like bio-diesel generation through plants such as Jatropha, dry land and herbal farming in the available 33 million hectares of waste land earmarked for cultivation.

Mission Of Education

Education is the most important element for growth and prosperity of a nation. India is in the process of transforming itself into a developed nation by 2020. Yet we have 350 million people who need literacy and many more who have to acquire employable skills to suit the emerging modern India and the globe. Children who belong to weaker sections of our society are undernourished and only a small percentage of them manage to complete eight years of satisfactory education. We need to think specifically about them. Education is indeed a fundamental right of every Indian child. Can we allow the situation to continue in which millions of these children are forced into life long poverty? The requirement is that the parents should be able to go to any school nearby and admit their children and happily come back home with the confidence that their children will get a good and value based quality education in that school. The conditions of differently-abled children require equally important attention. In view of such critical issues and their importance and also to break out of our historical mindset, an effective and self-renewing education system is therefore fundamental to the survival and growth of civilizations. Therefore, I now propose to address the issues pertaining to education in some detail and suggest some solutions, which can be considered for implementation.

Inequality Of Access To Educational Resources

Let me share with you one important concern: unequal access to educational resources still exist due to a variety of reasons. For example, I have seen in our villages three types of families. The fortunate ones who realise the importance of educating the young ones at any cost, guide them at all critical stages due to their economic well-being. There are those families, who might realise the importance of education, but are not aware of the opportunities in time, nor the procedures and ways to realise these opportunities for their children. There is a third category of families who are economically weak and do not realise the value of education and hence for generations together, their children are neglected and continue to live in poverty.

It is essential that we enlighten and create widespread awareness of education among all sections of society particularly in rural areas and among the urban poor. We should use technology for this important social purpose. It is possible for NGOs, other social and philanthropic institutions and the media to focus on this area of creating awareness. We should also mobilise necessary resources for providing education to the underprivileged people. Let us elaborate the way ahead.

Mobilising Resources For The Mission Of Education

Over the last 50 years, successive Governments have been committed to achieving the national goal of universal education and has steadily increased the budgetary allocation for education. However, 35 per cent of our adult population is yet to achieve literacy. The expenditure on education as a percentage of our Gross Domestic Product has a direct impact on our literacy. Today our expenditure on education in India is little more than 4 per cent of our GDP. If we have to achieve nearly 100 per cent literacy, it is necessary to increase expenditure on education to about 6 to 7 per cent of GDP. This 2 to 3 per cent increase has to be sustained only for a few years. Thereafter, a lower percentage of GDP allocation to education will be adequate to sustain the high degree of literacy in this country for all time to come.

Clearly public expenditure alone from governments at the Centre and in the States might not be able to meet the challenge of mobilising an additional 2 to 3 per cent of GDP for the mission of education. It is here that we have to generate additional resources for this noble mission. Expenditure on education, whether in the Centre or in the States, can no longer be provided only by respective Ministries or Departments for human resource development. Indeed, every Department of the Government must play a significant role as a partner in human resource development organisation and contribute resources in terms of budget and infrastructure for implementing the mission of providing quality education to the whole nation.

To augment Government resources, I appeal to the entire corporate sector to emulate the example set by some corporate leaders who have focused on education to make a national difference. Different regions of the country may be adopted by the corporate sector within an overall national mission for education. The mechanism should enable persons to have freedom to innovate and deliver directly.

Standardisation Of Teaching

The preferred school concept is arising because of differential quality and standards of teaching. There is a need to make the quality of teaching high in all schools. There also is a need for preparatory education even in rural areas to make the child competitive when he or she joins the regular school. NGOs and the corporate sector can play a vital role in running such schools in rural areas. Rich parents who can afford can also adopt a certain number of rural children for educating them in preparatory schools.

Planning For Good Education For Children In Villages

I would like to recall a question asked by Master Kuldeep Yadav of Class X from Etawah during my visit to Saifai, he asked me: "Mr. President, villages are also full of talent but facilities are available in the towns and cities only. Have you planned something for these children so that they can get good education in villages"?

I was glad to see a child's concern for his rural counterparts. We need to address this problem, which has multiple dimensions. It tells us about the non-availability of infrastructural facilities in schools, the problem of syllabi followed in the school and the non-availability of quality teachers.

Job opportunities being national, the syllabus should be structured in such a manner that it should meet changing societal needs, fulfill the needs of the occupation and inculcate high moral values among students in addition to learning skills. The delivery of quality education is possible only through quality teachers. The teacher has to be a committed teacher who loves teaching and children. The teacher also has to be equipped with all the knowledge required for effective teaching. The self-esteem of the teacher must be high and the teacher must have the quality to become a role model for children. Some element of competitive reward is to be done based on performance. This competency has to be built up throughout the country through a massive teachers education programme delivered through a tele-education system and continuously updated. This can be funded and implemented by a consortium of Government and educational institutions with the corporate sector providing value added services.

There is an urgent need that every school should have basic amenities such as a good building equipped with ventilation and lighting. The rooms should be airy and have spacious classrooms. The school should also have a library, laboratories including the latest Information Technology tools and infrastructure, safe drinking water, clean toilets and a playground. This is possible by earmarking the additional 2 to 3 per cent of GDP.

The Role Of Parents

Parents have an important role in the education of their children and making them enlightened citizens. They must be aware of the need for good education of the child, male or female. Like teachers, parents also should set an example for the child in their overall behaviour and conduct. This will enable the child to develop love and respect for their parents and see them as role models.

Reducing Dropouts

It is reported that 39 per cent of children, drop out from school after studying 5th Class and 55 per cent drop out after studying up to 8th Class. This situation needs remedial action, especially since assent has been accorded to the 86th Constitution Amendment Act - The Right to Education Bill for children between the age group of 5 and 14 years. But an Act alone cannot achieve the goal, unless education is delivered in a manner, which will take into account the socio-ecnomic reality and perception of the people to whom it is addressed. Apart from attracting children to schools, the education system should be able to provide nourishment and inject creativity among them. The aim of the education system should also be to build character, human values, enhance learning capacity through technology and build confidence among children to face the future.

I have seen an education model implemented in Karnataka, which provides accelerated learning using computer aids so that children can have creative learning with the tools of creative animation through computers. Dropouts are identified and brought to the school. This holistic phenomenon of learning once ingrained in the primary stage, where there is a happy learning process and non-threatening evaluation, has led to voluntary learning by the participants.

System Of Entrance Examination

I recently received many e-mails from children and parents regarding too many entrance examinations which children have to appear in from nursery up to plus-two level for entry into schools, colleges, universities and professional courses. I consider this as a heavy burden on children. It also has led to the proliferation of tuition and coaching institutes for preparing students for entrance examinations. We have to devise a common All India examination to be conducted by a nominated institution of the Government for entry into universities and professional colleges. Examinations must also be so designed that attending a coaching course would not provide undue advantage to privileged students. Entrance tests should be more in the nature of aptitude assessment rather than creating a seniority list.

Examination Reforms

I find there is a demand for a more transparent and reliable system of examination, evaluation and reporting. It is also noticed that examinations primarily test the memory of students. I remember during my studies at the Madras Institute of Technology in Chennai in the mid 1950s, that they used to conduct open book examinations. This used to be one of the toughest examinations for students. I would recommend that examining bodies may consider the introduction of the open book system of examinations. This will promote creativity among teachers in setting questions and the evaluation of the creative ability of the students. A secure examination system is the need of the hour.

Renewal Of Evaluation System

The examining bodies should have a reliable evaluation system and timely declaration of results. After the initial evaluation of the answer paper, a centralised core group can draw random samples from each batch and carry out independent evaluations. If there is no discrepancy between the initial evaluation and the core group evaluation and it is consistent with the performance of the students, it will be presumed that the batch marking is satisfactory. In case of a discrepancy further samples should be drawn for verification. Special training must be carried out by examining bodies for certifying the examiners in the evaluation process. In short the examining bodies must evolve very good procedures and then get ISO Certification for their evaluation system.

Need For Adoption Of Safety Measures

The recent tragedy involving school children at Kumbakonam must have rung some bells in all educational institutions in the country. It is the responsibility of sponsoring organisations to see that their schools maintain basic minimum norms both in the academic field as well as in the physical facilities, which they provide on their campuses. Certain safety features must be built in our school buildings without which it should not be possible to get affiliation by these schools. There should not be any discretion available with anyone to waive off these conditions. Honesty in implementation is vital at all levels.

Technology Enhanced Education

Constraints of time and space together with the rapid obsolescence of knowledge in some areas of science and technology, have created a huge demand for different courses from different institutions in the distance mode. There is a need for a working digital library system that alone can, in the long run, provide the kind of access required for a Knowledge Society. Technology Enhanced Learning is a solution. It attempts to exploit the rapid developments in Information and Communication Technology. As the communications bandwidth continues to increase and the cost of computer power continues to drop, Technology Enhanced Learning will become an economically viable solution. Virtual classrooms of the future will have students from many locations taught by a team of geographically distributed instructors through the tele-education delivery system.

Ultimately, education in its real sense is the pursuit of truth. It is an endless journey through knowledge and enlightenment. Such a journey opens up new vistas of development of humanism where there is no scope, nor room for pettiness, disharmony, jealousy, hatred or enmity. It transforms a human being into a wholesome whole, a noble soul and an asset to the universe. Universal brotherhood in its true sense becomes the sheet anchor for such an education. Real education enhances the dignity of a human being and increases his or her self-respect. If only the real sense of education could be realised by each individual and carried forward in every field of human activity the world will be so much a better place to live in.

The mission of education by the government at the Centre or States or their combination is the foundation to ensure the creation of enlightened citizens who will make a prosperous, happy and strong nation. May God bless you". -Keralamonitor.com

NAC Meeting finalises National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill and right to Information Act

Aug 14: The third meeting of the National Advisory Council (NAC) was chaired by Smt. Sonia Gandhi, today and was attended by nine members of the Council. The discussions began with further consideration of the proposed legislation in respect of an Employment Guarantee Programme and the provisions relating to Right to Information.

It was agreed that the draft National Rural Employment Guarantee Bill, 2004 and the suggested amendments to the Freedom of Information Act, 2002 (proposed to be called the Right to Information Act, 2004), as finalized in the meeting, be forwarded to the Government for further action.

Discussions took place on issues pertaining to health in the light of the papers circulated for the purpose, including a scheme for health insurance for poor families which is a component of the National Common Minimum Programme. It was agreed that a detailed Agenda for Action would be formulated for further consideration in the Council. The Education sector, including the Mid-day Meal Scheme and the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan, the ICDS programme, Governance, Tribal Welfare and Development and the status of incomplete irrigation projects in different parts of the country are amongst the subjects to be discussed in the coming weeks.

The NAC also decided to engage in wider consultations with experts and practitioners in their respective fields. The next Meeting of the Council is scheduled for August 28, 2004 when the education and irrigation sectors will be discussed. -Keralamonitor.com

15 prison personnel to get Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service

Aug 14: 15 prison personnel are to get Correctional Service Medal for Meritorious Service on the occasion of Independence Day, 2004.

They are as follows:

Shri G. Tamaraiselvan, Deputy Jailor, Madurai, Tamil Nadu Shri P. Radhakrishnan, Assistant Jailor, Tiruvanamallai, Tamil Nadu Tr. M. Ramasamy, Assistant Jailor, Trichy, Tamil Nadu Shri M.K. Munusamy, GR. 1, Warder, Vellore, Tamil Nadu Tmt. C. Rani, Grade 1 Warder, Vellore, Tamil Nadu Tr. J. Gunasekaran, Grade II Warder, Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu Shri Prabhu Dayal Verma, Dy. I.G.. Raipur, Chhattisgarh, Shri Jawahar Lal Panday, Asstt. Jailor, Ambikapur, Chhattisgarh Shri Dharam Deo Singh, Head Warder, Bilaspur, Chhattisgarh, Shri Deepak Kumar Tamboli, Warder, Raipur, Chhattisgarh Shri P. Narasimha Reddy, Addl. Inspector General of Prisons, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh Shri Krishna Prakash Shrivastava, Jailor, Chhatarpur, Madhya Pradesh Shri Mrityunjaya Singh Baghel, Jailor, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh Shri Radharaman Shrivastava, Dy. Jailor, Rewa, Madhya Pradesh Shri Krishan Dut Pandey, Jail Warder, Azamgarh, Uttar Pradesh -Keralamonitor.com

21 Police personnel to get President's police medal for gallantry

90 police personnel to get Police Medal for Gallantry

17 police personnel are awarded Gallantry awards posthumously

Aug 14: Twenty one Police personnel of Jammu and Kashmir State, BSF, CRPF and ITBP will be awarded President's Police Medal for Gallantry and 90 police personnel of 15 states and Central Police Organisations will be awarded Police Medal for Gallantry. These include 17 Police personnel who are being awarded Gallantry medals posthumously. -Keralamonitor.com

Commemmorative stamp on Murasoli Maran on his seventieth birth anniversary

Aug 14: To honour the life and works of Shri Murasoli Maran, the Department of Posts will bring out a commemorative stamp. The stamp will be released at a function to be held at Chennai on 17th August, 2004 on the 70th Birth Anniversary of Shri Murasoli Maran. The stamp is in the denomination of Rs. 5.

Born on 17th August, 1934 Shri Maran rose from humble beginnings to become one of the pillars of Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (DMK) party. He was a writer of repute in Tamil Language. He authored books on politics and short stories. He published a number of Tamil weeklies and was also a founder-member of the Madras Press Club. A multi-faceted person, Shri Maran excelled in films and journalism as well. He was essentially committed to the welfare of Backward Classes.

Shri Murasoli Maran was a Union Minister in the Cabinet of Shri V.P. Singh, Shri Deve Gowda, Shri I.K. Gujaral and Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee. He was a Member of Parliament for 36 years, since 1967. Shri Maran was instrumental in establishing the Chennai Trade Centre and was the driving force behind the plan to set up a Special Economic Zone at Nanguneri in Southern Tamil Nadu. He played an important role in the setting up of the TIDEL Park for Software Technology in Chennai.

Shri Murasoli Maran scripted 20 films, directed two and produced five. In 1956, his films, 'Kula Deivam' and 'Annaiyin Aanai' respectively got President's Certificate of Merit as the best and the second best feature film (Regional). The Tamil Eyal Isai Nataka Manram conferred the title "Kalai Mamani" in 1975 for his contribution to screen-play and dialogue writing. His film 'Engal Thangam' got Tamil Nadu Government's award in the year 1970 as the second best feature film of the year. -Keralamonitor.com

Five member team of experts to study the water flow at Lepcha in Pare Chu river in Himachal Pradesh

Aug 14: The Home Ministry is sending a five member team of experts to Lepcha in Himachal Pradesh to study the flow of water from the Pare Chu river on which an artificial lake has been formed inside China. The team comprises experts from Central Water Commission, Surveyor General of India, Geological Survey of India, the National Remote Sensing Agency and a representative from Nathpa Jhakri Power Project. The team will visit the site tomorrow.

According to latest information available here water level in Pare Chu river at Lepcha went up by two and half feet in the last 24 hours. -Keralamonitor.com