Services of Abul Kalam Azad recalled

Education, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
Yogi Vemana University Vice-Chancellor B. Syamasundar and faculty members paying tributes to Abul Kalam Azad in Kadapa on Tuesday. / Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu
Yogi Vemana University Vice-Chancellor B. Syamasundar and faculty members paying tributes to Abul Kalam Azad in Kadapa on Tuesday. / Photo: By Arrangement / The Hindu

The invaluable contribution of India’s first Education Minister Maulana Abul Kalam Azad for expansion of reach of education to masses and improvement of its quality was recalled on the occasion of his birth anniversary on Tuesday.

Participating in the National Education Day observed in this connection, educationists and other dignitaries paid rich tributes to the man who played an instrumental role in the establishment of the University Grants Commission and the Indian Institutes of Technology. Addressing the faculty and students of Sri Padmavati Mahila Viswa Vidyalayam (SPMVV) at Tirupati, School Guru Eduserve’s Project Manager Prabhakaran predicted a rise in number of courses offered online and said that the online mode of education would facilitate expansion of learning to the grass-root level rather than the face-to-face mode of instruction. The programme was held by SPMVV’s Department of Communication and Journalism.

In a separate event, the members of Muslim Joint Action Committee (MJAC) paid homage to Maulana Abul Kalam Mr. Azad and recollected his contributions to the country. Yogi Vemana University (YVU) Vice-Chancellor B. Syamasundar garlanded Mr. Azad’s portrait in a function held at Kadapa. On the occasion, Mr. Syamasundar pointed out that Azad had rightly accorded more priority to education policy than the industrial policy. YVU Registrar C. Sambasiva Reddy said Azad had strove for national integration and tolerance to all religions. Coordinator of History and Archaeology Ramabrahmam explained Mr. Azad’s role in the independence movement and his support to reservations.

Paying tributes to Mr. Azad at the Congress office, District Congress Committee president Shaik Nazeer Ahmed said Azad had strived for the poor, weaker and downtrodden sections.

At Chittoor, the district administration celebrated the birth anniversary of Azad in a grand manner with the participation of a big number of students, teachers and officials. Mayor Katari Anuradha flagged off the rally with about one thousand students at Gandhi Circle and it passed through arterial junctions culminating at Ambedkar Bhavan.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Andhra Pradesh Bureau / Tirupati-Kadapa-Chittoor, November 12th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh government introduces online booking system for sand purchase

Business & Economy
The doorstep delivery system is a major positive change after the AP government handed over sale of sand to women-run self-help groups in villages.
The doorstep delivery system is a major positive change after the AP government handed over sale of sand to women-run self-help groups in villages.

Hyderabad :

Consumers in Andhra Pradesh can now get sand at their doorsteps with the state government introducing an online booking system for it.

As per the new system, consumers could either go to the nearest ‘Meeseva’ citizen services centre or order sand online through ‘www.sandbyshg.ap.gov.in’ website, an official statement issued today said.
An SMS would be sent to the consumers about delivery of sand and a receipt would also be issued to them. Consumers would be able to find out the status of sand delivery online by using a transaction ID, it said.
The doorstep delivery system is a major positive change after the AP government handed over sale of sand to women-run self-help groups in villages, the release said, adding that gone are those days when the “sand mafia” called the shots in the sale of sand.
Sand sales to the tune of 1.55 lakh cubic metres have taken place after the state government entrusted the system to these self-help groups, it said.
Another 3.27 lakh cubic metres of sand is ready for sale and consumers could register complaints, if any, to a toll-free number mentioned in the release as ‘20201211800’.

source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home> Industry> Ind’l Goods & SVCS> Metals & Mining / by PTI / November 10th, 2014

A heavenly dish that rings in Christmas spirit

Arts, Culture & Entertainment
VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH, 10/11/2014: Women participating in cake mixing festival at a hotel in Vijayawada on Monday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar
VIJAYAWADA, ANDHRA PRADESH, 10/11/2014: Women participating in cake mixing festival at a hotel in Vijayawada on Monday. Photo: Ch. Vijaya Bhaskar

Capturing the spirit of Christmas and New Year, the traditional ceremony of cake mixing began at Fortune Murali Park here on Monday. And the entire lounge smelled of spirits and dry fruits and other ingredients that go into cake mixing.

To start the ceremony, all guests, chefs and staff were handed gloves, aprons and chef hats. The ingredients along with spirits were mixed thoroughly. Before this the fruits have been placed in casks to soak in all liquid and mature beautifully by Christmas. It will then be used by the hotel to make plum cakes, puddings and other delicacies.

“The cake mixing ritual has now acquired social face. But it has not diluted its religious importance and remains to be one of the most awaited events in the Christian households,” said hotel general manager P.K. Venkatesh. Huge quantity of dry fruit and nuts with wine were soaked. The mixture would be allowed to settle for a period of forty days from which plum pudding with brandy sauce, exotic cakes, fudges would be made, he explained.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by Staff Reporter / Vijayawada – November 10th, 2014

Naidu marks boundaries in Guntur for AP’s new capital

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Records, All

Asserts that farmers will greatly benefit by parting with their land

NaiduANDHRA09nov2014

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu on Saturday defined the boundaries for the state’s new capital on the Krishna Riverfront in Guntur district and sought to allay the fears of farmers whose land falls in the area.
With the common capital of Hyderabad set to go to Telangana in ten years, Naidu held a meeting with members of his Cabinet subcommittee at his Banajara Hills residence to discuss land acquisition for the construction of Andhra Pradesh’s new capital.

The chief minister addressed a press conference later, where he asserted that villages that fall under the boundaries of the future capital will benefit greatly by volunteering their land.

“I will see to it that farmers who part with their land for the construction of this world class capital benefit in many ways,” Naidu said, and added that opposition partiers were misguiding people.

Putting and end to speculation by defining the boundaries, he said: “The new capital will extend 10.5 km from Guntur Autonagar in the east to Prakasam barrage, from Borupalem in the west to Prakasam barrage and in the south from Autonagar Y Junction to the 75 km Ring road, covering almost 16 kilometers.”

The chief minister also promised that he would stop unscrupulous realtors from cheating farmers in the villages around the Mangalagiri and Tullur mandals, which form the core of the capital.

The cabinet subcommittee, comprising Municipal Minister P Narayana, Agriculture Minister P Pulla Rao, Irrigation Minister Devineni Umamaheswar Rao and Tadikonda MLA Shravan Kumar, will begin their tour to the two mandals on Tuesday.

They will explain to farmers the mode of land acquisition and try to convince those in five villages, including Venkatayapalem and Rayapudi on the river front, who have decided not to contribute, to part with their land for the development of the capital.
For each acre of their land, farmers of these five villages are demanding 1,200 square yards of residential land, 200 square yards in the commercial zone and employment for one eligible person.

Other demands were complete liquidity and legal sanctity in transfer documents, alternative sources of revenue for temples in case of endowment land, higher price for land near highways and village-wise meetings before a final decision is taken.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> National / DHNS – Hyderabad, November 09th, 2014

Green Toilets Introduced in Some Trains

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology

Visakhapatnam :

The eco-friendly bio-toilets, jointly developed by the Railways and DRDO, have been introduced on Visakhapatnam-Shiridi-Visakhapatnam and Visakhapatnam-Chennai-Visakhapatnam weekly express trains. The bio-toilets were fitted on the trains on Thursday and the trains titled Green Trains.

The specially designed toilets use anaerobic bacteria culture which converts the collected waste into biodegradable matter as gases like methane, carbon dioxide and water which were then discharged in specified discharge pits ensuring clean and hygienic environment.

According to divisional railway manager Anil Kumar, rail users have to be aware of utilisation of the bio-toilets as they are unlike the normal ones. Passengers should not dump things like plastic, empty bottles, paper and other garbage into the pans as otherwise they get choked and become unfit for use, the DRM said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 07th, 2014

Stepping into the glamour world

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Final rounds of Miss Vizag 2014 will be held on November 30

Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Names from the glamour world like Sobhita Dhulipala and Ipsita Pati, who have their roots in Vizag, have been great source of inspiration for many girls in the city to step out and give wings to their dreams. Over the years, the Miss Vizag contest has turned into an ideal platform for girls to get a taste of the glamorous world of fashion and build up a career in the fashion industry.

Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

The contest that was rescheduled this year to a later date due to the cyclone saw over 100 entries from participants who auditioned to participate in the Miss Vizag 2014 contest. Out of this, 22 contestants have been short-listed for the final rounds that will be held on November 30 at The Park.

Ajay Agarwal of Creative Plus Events who has been organising the event from the past couple of years feels there has been a great change in the way a career in the fashion industry is perceived in the city and it is waking up to the latest fashion trends in a big way. .

“International brands are coming up in the city and that has increased the fashion awareness. With Vizag girls like Sobhita winning the title of Miss India Earth last year, the entire perception about the fashion industry has changed. Now parents are eagerly coming forward to encourage the girls to take part in events like Miss Vizag,” says Ajay.

The contestants are in the age group of 18-25 years and hail from different backgrounds.

Says Laxmi Bharadwaj, who worked in the aviation industry for two years as an air hostess before embarking in the world of fashion: “It was my passion to get into the fashion industry. My experience in the airline sector has really helped me to develop my personality.”

Laxmi idolises Sushmita Sen and believes in a diet regime that she feels suits her body type.

“Contests like these are a test of one’s overall personality,” she says.

Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu
Aspirants of Miss Vizag-2014 pageant on the catwalk at the auditions. Photo: C.V. Subrahmanyam / The Hindu

Others like Meghna Kintalli feel that Miss Vizag is an ideal platform to get noticed in the film industry. A B.Sc Biotechnology graduate, Meghna is currently shooting for her first film Nowadays at the Rama Naidu Studio in Hyderabad.

“My dream is to get into the film industry and make it big. I feel Miss Vizag contest will groom me to face the fashion world and get me closer to my final destination,” she says. To keep her fitness quotient high, she jogs every morning and goes for dance classes.

The contestants will go through a grooming session a week before the final round. The team of grooming experts comprising Amit Pandey from Delhi for choreography, Deepa Deval for fitness and nutrition, Miss Eva for make-up and hairstyles, will put the participants through rigorous training sessions.

Deepa Deval says that awareness of high fitness levels is generally high among the participants these days as compared to what it was five years ago.

“The girls follow a diet regime and are eager to lap up new techniques like Zumba to stay fit. Exercising not only builds the stamina, it also improves body posture which is very important when you are walking the ramp,” says Deepa, who has been in the fitness industry for the past two decades.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Fashion / by Nivedita Ganguly / November 07th, 2014

Young boxers from Guntur district win laurels

Sports
Boys and girls from Guntur who, won medals in School Games Championship held at Visakhapatnam recently, pose with medals. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu
Boys and girls from Guntur who, won medals in School Games Championship held at Visakhapatnam recently, pose with medals. Photo: T. Vijaya Kumar / The Hindu

Young boxers from the district have won laurels at the State-level boxing championship conducted by the School Games Federation of India in Visakhapatnam. Trained by national level boxing champion and coach R. Viswanath, K. Karthik (91 kg) and A.K. Divya (69) won gold medals in boys and girls (under-19 category) sections while Sk. Yasin (81 kg), and B. Srilatha (48) have won silver medals. The girls have also secured runners up championship.

Complimenting the young boxers at a felicitation function held at LVR & Sons Club here on Thursday, Deputy Commissioner of Excise Kullayappa said that young boxers achieved so much in spite of having poor facilities and added they needed encouragement to excel in the sport and promised all help.

Secretary of LVR & Sons Club Movva Chandramouli said that the club has been extending all help to budding sports persons. The budding boxers have been allowed to use the facilities in the gymnasium where they fine tuned their abilities under boxing coach R. Viswanath.

Guntur District Boxing Association secretary Venugopal, Assistant Commissioner of Excise Adiseshu, vice- president Kosana Venkateswara Rao and School Games Federation secretary Murali were present.

Seeking the assistance of various members in providing a boxing ring, Mr. Venugopal said that the Guntur Municipal Corporation had already allotted site opposite tennis court complex at NTR Municipal Stadium and sought the approval by the commissioner. Cotton Association president Pavuluri Krishna Kumari promised that he would speak to the Sports Minister and get the required boxing ring.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / Staff Reporter / Guntur – November 06th, 2014

Children’s festival planned from Dec. 11

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education

ChildrenANDHRA05nov2014

To strengthen the culture and tradition, Srirama Charitable Trust, L Kota in Vizianagaram district is conducting a three-day Children’s Festival 2014 on its premises, starting December 11.

Announcing the dates of the festival here on Tuesday, chairman of the trust T. Subba Rao and secretary K. Madhuravani said that the platform is open for all the schoolchildren across Visakhapatnam and Vizianagaram districts. “The objective of the festival is to encourage children to exhibit their creativity and involve them in fun-filled activities,” they said.

The festival includes competitions such as poetry recitation, essay writing, elocution, painting, singing and dancing, among other groups. Students from nursery to Class X can take part in the competition which is divided into three categories – sub juniors (Nursery to Class IV), juniors (Classes V to VII) and seniors (Classes VIII to X). Interested candidates should bring letter of permission from their respective schools.

Apart from free entry, breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided to the participants free of cost. Last date for registration is November 30. Winners can walk away with trophies, cash awards and prizes. Further details can be had by contacting 9441140375 or 7382030399 or by logging on to www.sriramacharitabletrust.org.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Staff Reporter / Visakhapatnam – November 05th, 2014

Marathon event for Visakhapatnam relief

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features
All For a cause: Recently, another event for Kashmir relief saw the likes of Shriya Saran put up a show
All For a cause: Recently, another event for Kashmir relief saw the likes of Shriya Saran put up a show

It is official! Several popular film stars and prominent industry personalities have come forward to be part of an event in Hyderabad on November 30 that will aim at collecting relief for the cyclone-hit Vizag and neighbouring areas.

According to a press release, celebs have also made substantial monetary and material donations. Additionally, this collective effort will provide a chance for others to contribute as well.

“Beyond these individual acts of kindness and philanthropy though, lies a greater responsibility of inspiring collective action from the vast majority of the rest of the people,” say producer Allu Arvind and Murali Mohan, president of Movie Artists Association (MAA).

“The Industry is making efforts to put together a massive mara-thon entertainment event on the November 30 in Hyderabad to prompt the Telugus in India and across the world, to participate and contribute as per their capabilities,” says, N.V. Prasad, president of the Film Chamber.

“The event, while aimed at ensuring an unprecedented scale of entertainment and excitement for movie lovers, is also essentially aimed at evoking compassion, camaraderie and secure wider participation from all audiences,” said noted producers D. Suresh Babu and Dil Raju.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Entertainment> Tollywood / DC / by Suresh Kavivayani / November 05th, 2014

Government , Leaders Pay Tribute to Yerran

Leaders

Srikakulam :

The death anniversary of former Union minister and TDP leader K Yerran Naidu was observed at his native village Nimmada in Kotabommali mandal in the district Sunday. The government declared it an official mourning, which is the best tribute to Yerran, K Rammohan Naidu, his son and Lok Sabha member, said, and expressed his gratefulness for the government’s gesture.

The statue of former Union minister K Yerran Naidu in Srikakulam on Sunday | EXpress Photo
The statue of former Union minister K Yerran Naidu in Srikakulam on Sunday | EXpress Photo

Yerran Naidu’s mother Kalavathi, wife Vijayalakshmi, Rammohan Naidu and brothers Atchchan Naidu, Hari Prasad and Prabhakar paid floral tributes at the Yerran Naidu ghat. MLAs G Shyam Sundar Sivaji, B Ramana Murthy, G Lakshmi Devi, government whip K Ravi Kumar, ZP chairperson Ch Dhana Lakshmi, MPTCs and ZPTCs followed suit. Collector Gaurav Uppal, representing the government, garlanded Yerran Naidu’s statue and called on the bereaved family members and enquired about their welfare.

On the occasion, Labour minister Atchchan Naidu said that Yerran brought Srikakulam district to the nation’s notice. As Union minister he saw that even remote areas in the district got road connectivity, Atchchan Naidu said.

Rammohan Naidu promised to implement his father’s cherished ideals. He also inaugurated a blood donation camp at Prajasadan on the occasion. A condolence meeting was held in the town in the evening. As per his father’s wish, a blood bank should be set up in Srikakulam, the MP said. He said he would contribute from his MPLAD fund for the establishment of the blood bank, he said.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / November 03rd, 2014