Monthly Archives: April 2013

Sachin opens cancer research centre

Business & Economy, Science & Technology
Prateek Sharma, Professor of Medicine, Kansas School of Medicine, in conversation with cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and V. V. S. Laxman at the launch of the Gastro Intestinal and Liver Foundation for Research and Treatment of Cancers in Hyderabad on Tuesday. At left D. Nageswara Reddy, MD, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology. –/ Photo: P V Sivakumar / The Hindu
Prateek Sharma, Professor of Medicine, Kansas School of Medicine, in conversation with cricketers Sachin Tendulkar and V. V. S. Laxman at the launch of the Gastro Intestinal and Liver Foundation for Research and Treatment of Cancers in Hyderabad on Tuesday. At left D. Nageswara Reddy, MD, Asian Institute of Gastroenterology. –/ Photo: P V Sivakumar / The Hindu

Hyderabad : 

Cricketer Sachin Tendulkar has launched a research centre on gastrointestinal cancer. Started by the Asian Institute of Gastroenterology , the centre would study the prevalence and incidence of gastrointestinal (GI) cancers.

Addressing a gathering at the launch here on Tuesday, Dr D. Nageshwar Reddy, Chairman of AIG, said the Gastrointestinal and Liver Foundation for Research and Treatment of Cancers would collect and disseminate latest information on prevention and treatment of digestive cancers.

Besides educating lawmakers and the media on the burden of digestive cancers, the centre proposes to educate and train physicians on prevention and treatment of digestive cancers. Stating that the incidence of gastrointestinal cancers was extremely high in India, he said about 40 per cent of these cancers could be prevented if screened early. G. V. Rao, a senior gastroenterology consultant, said the foundation would start a screening programme to observe the risk factors and other parameters. Aerated drinks, food laced with preservatives and stored in fridges for long, could cause GI cancers.

With highest incidence and mortality rates among all cancers, GI cancers far outnumber lung and breast cancers in the developing countries. In 2008, 22 lakh new GI cancers were registered, with 18 lakh patients succumbing to such cancers.

Dr Prateek Sharma, Professor of Medicine (Gastroenterology and Hepatology) at the University of Kansas in the US, said deaths due to these GI cancers could cross the 1.2-crore mark by 2030.

The data on cancers in India, however, is limited. But quoting a survey done by the National Cancer Registry Programme (Bangalore), Nageshwar Reddy said India might have some of the highest cancer rates in the world.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Home> Features / The Hindu Bureau / kurmanath.kanchi@thehindu.co.in / Hyderabad, March 05th, 2013

A modern traditionalist

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence
Usha Raghunathan at the Singhania store in Banjara Hills | A Suresh Kumar / Express
Usha Raghunathan at the Singhania store in Banjara Hills | A Suresh Kumar / Express

Dressed in a mustard and pink contrast border silk sari, accompanied with a patchwork choli and traditional jewellery, Usha Raghunathan comes across as any other South Indian mother. But, hang on, there’s more to her than just the looks. Despite the most popular celebrities from Bollywood and Tollywood flaunting her creations, she is as humble as one can get. “It feels very nice, when I see them wearing something that I have designed. I believe saris are the most feminine outfits ever. Though the girls in this generation say they can’t handle saris and are more comfortable in their jeans, there is something about this six-yard or the nine-yard beauty that can bring out the best in them,” she believes. In the city for her latest Ugadi collection, she says cotton is the flavour of the season.  And, who can dispute her?

A flying start

Usha Raghunathan lost her mother at a very young age. Her father worked at the Air Force Civil Aviation, while her grandparents raised her. “It was because of my dad that I also wanted to learn flying. So, I got my license in 1956, which was quite something back then. Then, after I got married, my husband was also very supportive, so I was able to follow my dreams,” she recalls. Usha was then asked to write about her experiences of being a pilot, which was when she started writing. “I wrote a lot of radio scripts for the AIR,” she remembers. But, for the last 35 years, she has been completely involved in designing saris. “There were times when I would travel from Yercaud to Salem, sit with the weavers and get some saris custom-designed,” she reveals.

Cotton, silk and more

“I dream about saris and cholis. I have always loved Kanjeevaram, silk and cotton. I like anything that is traditional,” she admits. Being an ardent follower of  Kanchi Paramacharya, who always insisted on cotton as silk led to killing of silk worms, Usha came up with her “Ahimsa saris” which are made of poly-cot fibre, which resembles silk. “Though it is very expensive, it is just like silk. Many people prefer buying these,” she observes. Usha is known for uplifting the traditional sari and putting it in context for the present generation. Her collections are often tagged as “trendsetters with a traditional touch.” And there’s no exaggeration in that.

Challenges faced by weavers

Talking about the plight of the weavers today, she says, “They have been facing a major challenge in making their products appealing to the current market. But, if you sit with them and ask them to make a few changes, they willingly do it. We need to now focus on making their products accessible to people. There are many who want to wear traditional saris.”

Clothes do not provoke

Disturbed by the recent rape incidents in the country, Usha says, “Women were more respected a few decades back. These days, we see young boys at 17 committing these crimes. And the kind of allegations they make about clothes provoking men is all rubbish. If a woman in a small skirt can get raped, women in saris have also been raped. It is the mindset of men that has to change. Clothes do not send out a message.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Kruthi Gonwar / ENS – Hyderabad / April 04th, 2013

AP Govt plans truck terminal, logistics hub in Nellore district

Business & Economy

The three non-major ports on the AP coast, including Gangavaram and Kakinada ports, together handle a throughput of 40 million tonnes.

Hyderabad :

The Andhra Pradesh Government is planning to set up a dedicated truck terminal and logistics hub in Nellore district as part of the logistics requirement in the Bangalore-Chennai-Krishnapatnam port freight corridor.

The project, which will be taken up by the AP Industrial Infrastructure Corporation, with financial assistance from the Centre, is likely to become operational within a year. The facility will come up at Venkatachalam with an estimated investment of about Rs 40 crore.

“This corridor is experiencing increased movement of trucks and container vehicles flowing in and out of the Krishnapatnam and other non-major ports on the Andhra Pradesh coast. There is a need for a truck terminal and logistics hub,” J. Geetha Reddy, AP Minister for Major Industries, told media persons here today.

Currently, cargo-laden trucks are parked haphazardly in this region. The proposed terminal, to be set up over 51 acres, will initially provide basic logistics services and later add other services related to export and import of cargoes.

Krishnapatnam port, which has five multi-purpose berths with a draft of about 15 mts, handles a little over 16 million tonnes, as against the phase-I installed capacity of 25 mt.

The three non-major ports on the AP coast, including Gangavaram and Kakinada ports, together handle a throughput of 40 mt. A bulk of these cargoes moves down south, passing through the Bangalore-Chennai-Krishnapatnam port freight corridor.

In addition to these ports, another two are coming up at Machilipatnam, with a proposed initial capacity of 20 mt and Nizampatnam (15 mt).

“The land for the project has been acquired. The complex will be processing 300 tonnes of hides and skin per day. The Centre has released Rs 15 crore as grant, while the State Government released Rs 10 crore to start off the project,” Geetha Reddy said.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> Industry> Logistics / by The Hindu Bureau / amitmitra@thehindu.co.in /  Hyderabad, April 01st, 2013

Siva fest celebrated at Vemulawada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Siva Kalyanotsavam, the marriage of Lord Siva and Goddess Parvati was performed as a part of the annual Brahmotsavam at the Sri Raja Rajeshwara Swamy temple in Vemulawada on Saturday.

Hundreds of devotees thronged the temple which reverberated with the vedic chants of priests as devotees offered their akshintalu, rice mixed with vermilion and turmeric, to the deities.

Vemulawada panchayat commissioner Venumadhav offered silk clothes to the deities on the occasion of the wedding.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Services – Karimnagar / March 31st, 2013

CD of tele-film on environment released

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature
Vijay Kumar of Vijay Nirman releasing a CD of a telefilm 'Kotta Bichchagadu' on environment produced by Mokkala Mohan at a function in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: C. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Vijay Kumar of Vijay Nirman releasing a CD of a telefilm ‘Kotta Bichchagadu’ on environment produced by Mokkala Mohan at a function in Visakhapatnam on Sunday. / Photo: C. V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

The release of the compact disc of a tele-film on the importance of planting saplings to save the environment brought out by Ch.R.K. Mohan, popularly known as ‘Mokkala’ Mohan, provided a platform to speakers to stress the importance of safeguarding trees. CMD of Vijay Nirman Company Limited S. Vijay Kumar released the 40-minute CD “Kotta Bichhagadu” at Visakhapatnam Public Library on Sunday evening. Not only trees should be saved but the next generation should also be made aware of its responsibility, he said.

A professor of Environment Science of Andhra University, E.U.B. Reddy, described plants as carbon lockers and oxygen cylinders.

MD of Sukhibhava Real Estates G.S. Krishna Murthy presented Rs. 15,000 to help Mr. Mohan make another film on environment.

Actor “Kallu” Chidambaram, who presided, lauded the sustained efforts of Mohan to promote green cause. Besides him, 39 artistes from the city acted in it.

Former Vice-Chancellor of Acharya Nagarjuna University V. Balamohandas complimented Mohan, a recipient of Vrukshamitra Kannam Srinivasa Rao award, for spreading awareness by presenting saplings instead of bouquets. He described worshipping Lord Vinayaka as an introduction with nature. Scholar Vedula Subrahmanya Sastry detailed the affinity for ages between life in the country and nature. Even the meal contained several natural ingredients derived from various plants. Joint Chief Engineer of AP Pollution Control Board K.V. Rao spoke on the various activities carried out to spread awareness on the perils of pollution.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / April 01st, 2013

USFDA lifts import alert on Aurobindo Pharma’s Hyderabad facility

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The health regulator lifts the import alert for non-sterile products manufactured at Unit VI cephalosporin facility

The US health regulator had audited the cephalosporin facility, Unit VI of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd located at Chitkul Village, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, in December 2010. / Photo: Ramesh Pathania/ Mint
The US health regulator had audited the cephalosporin facility, Unit VI of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd located at Chitkul Village, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, in December 2010. / Photo: Ramesh Pathania/ Mint

New Delhi:

Aurobindo Pharma Ltd  on Thursday said the US health regulator has lifted the import alert on its Hyderabad-based antibiotics facility, thereby allowing the company to export 9 products from this plant to the US market.

 

US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA) has lifted the import alert for non-sterile products manufactured at Unit VI cephalosporin facility based in Hyderabad, thereby, paving the way for resumption of exports of 9 products to the US market, Aurobindo Pharma Ltd said in a statement.
“Prior to import alert, the unit was having annual US sales of $33 million for the said products,” it added. In 2011, the USFDA had issued an import alert on products from the company’s Hyderabad-based cephalosporin facility, as a result of which its exports to the US market were affected.
The US health regulator had audited the cephalosporin facility, Unit VI of Aurobindo Pharma Ltd located at Chitkul Village, Hyderabad, Andhra Pradesh, in December 2010.
Subsequent to the audit findings, USFDA had imposed an import alert for detention on Aurobindo Pharma Unit VI products. Cephalosporins are a class of antibiotics which are indicated for the treatment of infections caused by bacteria.
Shares of Aurobindo Pharma were trading at Rs.141.90 on the BSE in the afternoon trade, up 8.61% from its previous close.
source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint & Wall Street Journal / Home> Companies / by PTI / Thursday, March 28th, 2013

This AP village has many lessons to teach

Uncategorized

If India lives in its villages, then the model it perhaps must follow is Gangadevipalli, a hamlet in Andhra Pradesh’s Warangal district where every house has the bare necessities of life, and more.

From regular power and water supply to a scientific water filtration plant, a community owned cable TV service and concrete, well-lit roads, Gangadevipalli has been steadily gaining in prosperity thanks to a disciplined and determined community that has also managed to work in harmony towards goals set collectively.

The village, about 200 km north of the state capital Hyderabad, has won several awards, including the “Nirmal Gram Puraskar” for health and hygiene.

Now, the village headman has been invited to Nepal to recount Gangadevipalli’s success story.

“Our village has been stealing the limelight for all the right reasons. I have now been invited to Nepal to explain how we work so cohesively,” headman K Rajamouli said.
With a population of a little over 1,300, the village has 100 per cent adult literacy. The school dropout rate has been zero since 2000.

“The unity of the village and the realisation of the need for community development are at the root of the achievements of Gangadevipalli,” says S S  Reddy of Bala Vikasa Social Service Society, an NGO that has been working closely with villagers.
The village has over two dozen committees, which manage areas like health and hygiene, the provision of drinking water, cable television and literacy.

Another remarkable achievement for the village is that its married population under the age of 35 does not have more than two children.

The village now boasts 100 per cent survival of new-born babies, their inoculation and immunisation, as well as regular vaccination of children below five. The supply of nutritious food to children and pregnant and lactating women, along with regular health check-ups, is also among the unique achievements of the village. The gender ratio of women and men is almost the same. Each woman is also a member of a self-help group, making a significant contribution to the family income.

Apart from having savings of at least Rs10,000 each, every family has a life insurance policy, prompting authorities to give the village the “Beema Gram” award. The farmers’ development panel looks into improvements in agriculture; experts explore ways of increasing productivity as well as reducing farming costs.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> National / by Agencies / Gangadevipalli (Andhra Pradesh) / March 31st, 2013

Sania volleys into academy glory

Leaders, Sports
Sania with her father Imran Mirza at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy at Murtuzaguda in Hyderabad on Saturday. / Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Sania with her father Imran Mirza at the Sania Mirza Tennis Academy at Murtuzaguda in Hyderabad on Saturday. / Photo: V.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

 

‘ I want this Academy to be the hub of tennis not just in Hyderabad but in all of Asia’, says the two-time Grand Slam winner.

It’s all love-all serve at Sania Mirza Tennis Academy. And to the delight of the first batch of young talent which assembled to get a feel of the Academy before its formal inauguration at the end of next month, India’s best-ever women’s tennis player Sania Mirza donned the role of a coach, albeit briefly.

“Oh! It is a wonderful feeling to share whatever you know about the game and the thoughts and experiences having played with the best across the world,” exclaimed 26-year-old Sania in an exclusive chat with The Hindu after a stint with the ‘future’ star players.

“I want this Academy to be the hub of tennis activity not just in Hyderabad but for the entire sub-Continent and Asia,” says the excited champion who redefined the levels of excellence in tennis by an Indian woman player.

For the love of sport

“I keep telling parents that let the kids play the sport for the love of it and enjoy. If one starts playing it with an eye on the fame and name, then things might go awry, however talented one is. The passion has to be complemented with hard work, commitment,” reminds Sania.

Dream project

“It is great to see kids turn up at this Academy, which has been my dream project for so long. Honestly, when we started off, we never expected it to turn out to be of this scale,” says Sania about the project which has nine synthetic courts right now.

Everything is in place for the formal inauguration and there were quite a few players like Amreen, Sharmeen, Adam and Ganesh, who were trying to master the nuances of the sport.

“Essentially, this Academy caters to each category of players from under-14 to under-50 years differently. Since we have nine courts, time slots will not be a factor and the players should really enjoy the whole ambience,” says the two-time Grand Slam winner about the Academy, located at Murtuzaguda – a 20-minute drive from the posh Jubilee Hills locality.

“Yes, we are waiting for a couple of foreign coaches (some Hyderabad-based coaches are already on the job) before we make the formal launch of the Academy,” insists Imran Mirza, father-cum-mentor of the ace tennis player.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V. V. Subrahmanyam / March 31t, 2013

Nuzvid ‘chinna rasaalu’ flooding the market in Vijayawada

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nature
Enticing:Chinna Rasalu being sold in Vijayawada.— PHOTO: V. RAJU / The Hindu
Enticing:Chinna Rasalu being sold in Vijayawada.— PHOTO: V. RAJU / The Hindu

With harvesting of Nuzvid ‘chinna rasaalu’, a mango variety, starting this week, the fruit has begun to arrive in the city. Barely two-days after the summer fruits’ arrival in the market, people scurried to get a taste of the fruit despite the skyrocketing prices. Tempted after spotting the yellow fruit on their way home, many of the people are found skipping their traditional obligation of waiting till Ugadi to taste mango. “Seeing the Nuzvid Rasaalu on the busy road junctions is something exciting. We are also fortunate to get this variety of rasaalu, for which people across the State and parts of India are crazy,” said a Bengali Jayanthi Karki, who settled down in Vijayawada. Farmers and petty fruit vendors believe that early flowering of rasaalu variety was the reason for their early ripening.

Besides the local vendors, many others are coming to the city all the way from Nuzvid, Railway Koduru, Agiripalli, Nunna and few parts in Nuzvid mandal. Instead of depending on local fruit market, G. Saikumar, who belongs to Agiripalli village in Nuzvid mandal, purchased bags of rasaalu at Nuzvid and transported them to the city for sale. “As the demand from public is unprecedented, many seasonal fruit vendors like me have come down to Vijayawada expecting good returns. Chances of the prices coming down are very less till other mango varieties arrive in the market,” said Mr. Siva Kumar.

Price

Based on the size of the fruit, the price of chinna rasalu is ranging between Rs. 200 and Rs. 400 a dozen. Largely, the fruit vendors are tapping the seasonal demand from the public by making availability of the mangos on footpaths and busy junctions in the city. However there is no chance for customers to choose as only ‘chinna rasaalu’ are available in the market.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by T. Appala Naidu / Vijayawada, March 25th, 2013

NATA Investment Seminar

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Nri's / Pio's

NATA Workshop Promotes Financial Investing and Retirement Planning Seminar

Atlanta (March 23, 2013):

North American Telugu Association (NATA) organized a free workshop on Financial Investing and Retirement Planning on March 23rd in Alpharetta, GA. In the spirit of looking ahead, NATA leaders Dr Prem Reddy and Dr Malla Reddy and President Dr. Sanjeeva Reddy and other leaders, felt it prudent to facilitate discussions on these important areas to all members of our Indian community.

The audience of over 150 people from various walks of life gathered at the “Taste of India” banquet hall in Alpharetta by 6 PM, to be greeted with melodious music and soothing melodies from Venkat Chennubhotla & Bhanusri Vavilikolanu. The social hour that followed, helped the audience to interact with each other and network actively. The mood was upbeat and the spirits high as the tone was set for an open and informative discussion on the key areas of investing and asset planning.

NATA RVP Ravi Kandimalla welcomed the gathering and talked about NATA organisation, NATA leadership of Dr. Prem Reddy, Dr Pailla Malla Reddy, President Dr Sanjeev Reddy and the activities taken up by NATA in service of Telugu community in US and India. He requested everyone to join as NATA members and support the high ideals and lofty goals of NATA. Srini Vangimalla, NATA 2014 Convention Coordinator introduced the first guest speaker, Rajesh Jyotishi from Shalin Financial Services. Rajesh Jyotishi talked about Retirement Planning, Estate Planning and Insurance Planning. The informative discussion helped everyone to understand the options to safe guard one’s income and to utilize the legal process to establish a safe process to pass on the assets to the children and dependents. NATA 2014 Convention Co-Convenor Satyanarayana Reddy, introduced the second speaker Tom Singh from BoA Merrill Lynch. Tom presented a thought-provoking discussion on financial investments and investment outlook for 2013.

The guest speakers were felicitated by NATA BOD & Convener Bala Indurti, and other NATA team members including Srini Vangimalla (Ccordinator), Satyanarayana Reddy (Co-Convener), Ravi Kandimalla (RVP), Ramesh Chaparala & Goutham Goli (Core Committee members).

Speaking on the occassion Bala Indurti greeted and thanked the audience for their active participation. NATA is committed to providing an opportunity for all people to safeguard their family’s interests. Only then the global community will be able to spread out and take care of others. The vision and objectives of Dr Prem Reddy and Dr Malla Reddy can only be met when willing hands and hearts unite in a spirit of progressive thinking and careful planning. He lauded the speakers for laying the groundwork for a fruitful discussion. A special mention was made for the tremendous enthusiasm and support from the community in Atlanta for making every event from NATA a memorable one. So far, NATA has been blessed to enjoy a lot of goodwill and participation from the telugu community for it’s stellar list of events that include: NATA day charity golf, Sai Health Fair, Ghantasala Program, Gurjada Swarnotsvalu, Amutha varshini Annual day cultural event & the current Investment Planning seminar.

Bala also took the opportunity to share a few important chair & Co-chair positions for upcoming NATA convention to be held in GWCC, Atlanta on July 4th,5th, 6th of 2014.
Ramana Reddy Doddla (Food Committee Chair),
Dilip Reddy Tunki (Venue Chair),
Venkat Chennubhotla (Cultural Chair),
Madhav Durbha (Literary Chair),
Raghu Kotha (Souvenir Chair),
Phani Dokka (Co-Chair Cultural & Literary),
Ram Durvasula & Neelima Gaddamanugu (Co-Chair Cultural),
Gireesh Reddy Meka (Registration Chair),
Srenivas Reddy Kotlure & Ram Maddi (Ch-Chair Registration),
Guru Paradarami (Stalls Chair),
Hari Pothukuchi (Program Guide),
Vijay Gandapodi (Decorations Coordinator) ,
Siva Gaddamanugu (Web committee Chair),
Kiran Reddy Kandula (Publicity Chair)

NATA team is also actively looking for interested members with appropriate fit and interest for chairing and volunteering for other committees. An announcement on these remaining key positions will be coming soon after member engagement.
Kiran Kandula , Sreenivas Reddy Kotlure & Gireesh Reddy Meka coordinated the membership online process and registered about 100 Life members. It is a well known fact that NATA Atlanta has always been in the forefront in membership recruitment and new member initiation drives. The year 2013 has only seen the group of dedicated NATA community grow in leaps and bounds.
NATA Community Services Co-Chair Venkat Reddy Mondeddu concluded the program with Vote of Thanks. Special thanks are due to Sridhar Reddy Vakiti (Video), Venkat Garidepalli (Photography), Jagadeesh Reddy Cheemarla (Food & Venue arrangements). Ramana Doddla and Jagadeesh Cheemarla went out of their way to ensure smooth food arrangements and guest sign-up coordination.Taste of India restaurant management provided an excellent venue and delicious food. Everyone felt that the evening was a time well spent and well invested.

source: http://www.nataus.org / NATA – North American Telugu Association / Home / March 26th, 2013