First Telugu to head All-India Carrom Federation

Records, All, Sports
Proud moment:S. Madan Raj, the newly-elected treasurer of All-India Carrom Federation, seen with the federation’s new president Dr. Neeraj Sampathy, in Hyderabad on Sunday.– PHOTO: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM
Proud moment:S. Madan Raj, the newly-elected treasurer of All-India Carrom Federation, seen with the federation’s new president Dr. Neeraj Sampathy, in Hyderabad on Sunday.– PHOTO: V.V. SUBRAHMANYAM

In a rare show of unity in sporting circles, Andhra Carrom Association and Hyderabad Carrom Association join hands to ensure unanimous election for all posts

He was not born when the All-India Carrom Federation was formed back in 1956. But, 47-year-old Dr. Neeraj Sampathy has achieved the rare distinction of becoming the first-ever Telugu speaking official to head the national sports body, on Sunday.

Nothing could have been more symbolic than one of the founder-members of the AICF, 75-year-old omnipresent B.K. Haranath, ensuring that there are no more hiccups in handing over the baton to Dr. Sampathy, who himself is a passionate carom player besides being an enterprising president of Andhra Carrom Association.

Ironically, despite his vast experience and major contribution to promoting the sport, Mr. Haranath has never headed the AICF. In the new setup too, he was given the post of director (media), as he is known to be adept in handling the media.

And, in a rare show of unity in sporting circles, both Andhra Carrom Association and the Hyderabad Carrom Association joined hands as part of the process to ensure the unanimous election for all the posts at the AGM here. Consequently, S. Madan Raj, secretary of Hyderabad Carrom Association, will be the treasurer.

The new AICF chief says that every effort would be made to see that carrom, which is in Group C in terms of sports discipline priority list – both at the State and the Central-level, gains a place in Group A.

“The only way out is to popularise the sport hosting more events – national and international – to produce more champions,” Dr. Sampathy remarked. “With the School Games Federation of India already including carrom in its curriculum, we will try our best to see that it is introduced at the university level too,” he said.

We will try our best to introduce carom at the university level. Dr. Neeraj Sampathypresident, AICF

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by V.V. Subrahmanyam / Hyderabad – May 16th, 2016

Capital region gets its first SBI paperless, digital branch

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All
SBI chief general manager Hardayal Prasad and DGM Rajiv Kohli (2nd left) and regional manager GV Sastry during the inauguration of SBI Intouch (digital branch) at Governorpet in Vijayawada on Thursday | Express
SBI chief general manager Hardayal Prasad and DGM Rajiv Kohli (2nd left) and regional manager GV Sastry during the inauguration of SBI Intouch (digital branch) at Governorpet in Vijayawada on Thursday | Express

Vijayawada :

First SBI Intouch (digital) branch in Vijayawada was inaugurated at Governorpet as part of the bank’s contribution to ‘Digital India’ initiative of the Central government on Thursday.

It is second such branch in the state after Visakhapatnam. Paperless transaction and online transaction are the focus the branch. By September 2016, SBI management want to have at least one such branch in each of 13 districts of the state.

Addressing the media, after inaugurating the digital branch, SBI Chief General Manager of AP and Telangana, Hardayal Prasad said that ‘SBI  Intouch’ branch will have facilities including instant opening of account, printing and issue of personalised debit card, and expert advice on investment through video conference. “It will have an Online Banking Kiosk, where customers can learn and use Internet Banking. It also has an Express Banking Zone that includes an ATM, recycler (ATM + cash deposit machine), debit card printer, passbook printer (Swayam), and electronic cheque drop machine,” CGM said.

Deputy General Manager (B&O) Rajiv Kohli, Regional Manager G V Sastry and SBI Intouch Branch Manager P Rajeswara Rao were present.

Digitisation First SBI Intouch  at Visakhapatnam

Second at Vijayawada

By September 2016 in all districts

Advantage SBI Intouch

Instant opening of account

Printing, issuing of personalised debit card

Expert advice on investments

Online Banking Kiosk

Express Banking Zone

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / May 13th, 2016

Eamcet engineering topper eyeing iit

Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All
Satti Vamsi Krishna Reddy
Satti Vamsi Krishna Reddy

Visakhapatnam  :

City boy Satti Vamsi Krishna Reddy has topped the APEAMCET 2016 in engineering stream by scoring of 158 marks out the total 160.

As the results were out in the evening after several announced delay on the publication of the results, celebrations began at Vamsi Krishna Reddy’s home at Lalithanagar.

Jubilant parents of Vamsi Krishna Reddy distributed sweets in the locality as congratulations flowed in through texts, WhatsApp and in persons. But, Vamsi said Eamcet was not his ultimate goal, but IIT.

“I have been dreaming for IIT since I was in class seven. That was precisely why I shifted from Delhi Public School to Sri Chaitanya Techno School. I want to pursue computer science in IIT Mumbai,” he said.

Asked about the Eamcet, he said,”I am elated. I expected to be in the top 10, but Rank 1 definitely a surprise. My mother Bharathi Jyothi has been my inspiration all through.”

Vamsi, who studied intermediate in Sri Chaitanya Narayana Junior college, has got NTSE (National Talent Search Examination) scholarship in class VIII and KVPY (Kishore Vaigyanik Protsahan Yojana) scholarship in class XI.

His father Sudhakar Reddy is an AGM in the Visakhapatnam Steel Plant and mother Bharathi Jyothi is a home maker.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Sri Lakshmi Muttevi /May 10th, 2016

A school that drew many smart students

Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All
St. Anthony 's High School is one of the oldest schools in Visakhapatnam. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam
St. Anthony ‘s High School is one of the oldest schools in Visakhapatnam. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam

St. Anthony’s High School is one of the oldest institutions in Visakhapatnam.

The famous St. Anthony’s High School and St. Anthony’s Church that date back to pre-independence era form a part of Anthony Nagar in Maharanipeta.

One of the oldest schools in the city, on a five-acre plot, St. Anthony’s High School is an institution that drew children from all walks of life. Since there was limited choice available earlier, the school appeared to be the sole option for most professors, doctors, district judges and businessmen to admit their children.

Interestingly, the school has churned out famous doctors including dermatologist G. Raghu Rama Rao.

“Even after a century, the infrastructure of the school is so strong and quality-driven as it is hard to trace a single crack in the premises. The only difference now is that those who belong to below poverty line are admitting their children to the government-aided high school,” says Karnam Prakash, Headmaster of the school and a resident of the colony for the past 30 years. He voiced concern over dearth of teachers as the Government had brought the recruitment process to a halt.

From century-old buildings to brightly-painted individual houses, Anthony Nagar consists of a blend of old and new structures where private employees, businessmen and professionals live in harmony. “The place was once an orchard where cashews and mangoes were grown extensively. Gradually, the neighbourhood became a favourite spot for people who like to tuck into the compact and quiet haven. Ganesh Chaturti is the annual festival that brings us together as we celebrate it with grandeur by installing a pandal,” says Poli Thalli, a 63-year-old resident in Anthony Nagar.

Though the main lanes of the colony appear litter-free, poor maintenance of sewage channels and stagnated drain water pose health hazard to the residents. Residents say special attention is required to unclog the drainage system. “This apart, during rainy season, we are affected by poor water quality as the drinking water gets muddy, giving way to bacterial contamination,” adds S. Rani, another resident.

Zone III Commissioner Bapi Raju; Mobile No: 9848882593; Helpdesk No: 0891-2707299.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam – May 11th, 2016

A helping hand for the visually-challenged

Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology
Cost-effective navigation system:The visional system fixed to the pair of shoes of a visually-challenged person, which is part of the app developed by students of Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science .
Cost-effective navigation system:The visional system fixed to the pair of shoes of a visually-challenged person, which is part of the app developed by students of Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science .

MITS students develop an Android app ‘Blind Vision’

Students of Madanapalle Institute of Technology and Science (MITS), Madanapalle, have designed a system called ‘Blind Vision’ that helps the visually-challenged to tread easily even in crowded spaces.

M. Guru Prasad, P. Asha, S. Bhavya, M. Gunasekhar, Reddy Prasad and Samarasimha Reddy, final year ECE students, have replaced the canes that guide the visually challenged in detection and avoidance of obstacles. Unlike the scores of similar guiding systems developed at exorbitant costs for people with vision impairment, this seemingly simple, portable and cost-effective alternative navigation system focuses on two things, viz., sensing the immediate environment for them to travel and navigating to destinations beyond the immediate perceptible environment, by making use of GPS, voice, Bluetooth and ultrasonic sensor for obstacle detection.

The system has a visional system fixed to the pair of shoes that takes care of the obstacle detection, while the android application named ‘Blind Vision’ receives the signal. Once the application is activated, it automatically opens the Google Maps, traces the present location of the user and seeks his destination. When the user feeds the information, it tries to find the path to reach the destination and gives directions in the form of voice. The app will interface the maps and the obstacle information signals. The Google Maps will then guide the person through voice.

The device has also been selected for the ‘Motorola Scholar Award’ for final presentation. Principal C. Yuvaraj, ECE head A.R. Reddy and guide R. Velmani congratulated the students on their accomplishment.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by A.D. Rangarajan / Tirupati – May 06th, 2016