Glaucoma Awareness Week in Hyderabad from March 10

Science & Technology

With the focus this year on early detection of glaucoma and prevention, city-based LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI) has decided to organise series of activities during the Glaucoma Awareness Week beginning from March 10.

“To bring public focus on the eye disease that affects both adults and children, we would like to stress the importance of screening the family members of patients with glaucoma, as this disease can affect siblings and children of patients with glaucoma in upto 10-20 per cent,” LVPEI (Glaucoma Care) Head Dr Sirisha Senthil said on Thursday.

Glaucoma is seen as the leading cause of irreversible blindness in India. It is a disorder associated with pressure in the eye, and is characterised by damage to the optic nerve leading to irreversible blindness.

Currently, 1.12 crore Indians suffer from glaucoma, with 11 lakh people bilaterally blind.

Though the exact cause of glaucoma in the majority of cases is not precisely known, it can occur in a minority due to a variety of causes ranging from the use of steroid eye drops, secondary to eye injury, or even complications after an eye surgery.

Glaucoma more commonly affects people beyond the age of 40 years.

High myopes, diabetics and those with a positive family history have higher risk of developing glaucoma, a release from LVPEI said.

What is worrying is that 90 per cent of Glaucoma in the community is undetected, mostly because of lack of awareness.

Most patients are unaware that, early diagnosis can reduce progression of the disease and prevent blindness and all it takes to prevent such a situation is regular eye check-up or screening.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA India / Home> India> Report / Place:Hyderabad, Agency:PTI / Thursday, March 07th, 2013

Get the best of handlooms and handicrafts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

Nirmala Hastakalakar Vikas Samithi, a Hyderabad-based NGO is holding an All India Handlooms and Handicrafts Mela 2013 at the HUDA Community Hall, near Ganesh Temple, Vanastalipuram till March 9.

About 40 craftsmen are participating in this event from all over India. On display at the mela are handlooms, jewellery, handicrafts like cotton and silk saris from Pochampally, Gadwal, Siddipet, Chirala, Venkatagiri, Madhavaram, Bengle, Jaipur, Delhi, Madhya Pradesh, Lucknow, Chikkan saris and exclusive dress materials, Khadi Material and more. Also available are Hyderabad pearls, silver jewellery, stone jewellery, artificial jewellery, Banjara hand emproidery, Crochet Lace from Narsapur, toys and dolls from Kondapally and Etikoppaka and leather utility goods and Jute handicrafts.

The Exhibition is open to public from 11 am to 9 pm on all days and public holidays.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> / Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / March 06th, 2013

FAPCCI organising loan mela for small units

Business & Economy

Hyderabad , MARCH 6:

The Federation of Andhra Pradesh Chamber of Commerce and Industry is organising a two-day conclave and loan mela for the micro, small and medium enterprises in the State from March 9.

Leading lenders in the State, including State Bank of Hyderabad, Andhra bank, SIDBI and Central Bank of India, will be participating in the event.

Apart from bringing the lenders and entrepreneurs on a single platform, the event would also see disbursement of loans to some entrepreneurs. “The event will also help the banks understand the gaps in the loan delivery system and enable them to sharpen their services,’’ Devendra Surana, President of the trade body, said.

He said the event would be organised periodically for better interaction between the industry and the banks.

Andhra Bank, the leading lender in the State, is sharpening its focus on lending to this sector in the ensuing fiscal.

“We will be disbursing about Rs 14,500 crore for the MSME sector across India this fiscal, out of which the MSE segment accounts for Rs 9,400 crore. Lending to this sector has been growing at 30 per cent. But next fiscal we are aiming at a growth of 40 per cent,’’ K.V. Kannan, General Manager of the bank, said.

About 65 per cent of the lending of Andhra Bank is in the State.

State Bank of Hyderabad also intends to come out with new delivery schemes to service the MSME sector better. “Our disbursement to this sector this fiscal has been Rs 12,500 crore, out of which the share of MSE segment is about Rs 10,500 crore,’’ SBH Chief General Manager, said.

amitmitra@thehindu.co.in

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> News> States / by Amit Mitra / Hyderabad, March 06th, 2013

Cyberabad police to set up women help desks

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad , MARCH 6:

In order to curb crime against women, Cyberabad Police has started the process of setting up exclusive women help desks across all its police stations.

The existing reception centres in 40-odd police stations under Cyberabad Police Commissionerate will also act as ‘exclusive women help desks’, Cyberabad Police Commissioner Ch. Dwarka Tirumala Rao told PTI.

“The reception centres are being strengthened and in addition to the reception work, they will function as women help desks with the posting of a woman police constable,” the Cyberabad Police chief said, adding that as of now one ‘exclusive women help desk’ is functioning through the police control room.

These help desks will look into the issues relating to women and crime against them by not only taking the complaints of women in distress, but also guide them properly and counsel them, Rao said.

These will be headed by women officials who will be in constant touch with the victims to ensure their safety. “The intention of setting up these help desks is to guide women properly besides following up the matter through regular communication with them once a complaint is lodged,” he added.

“Sensitive cases in which women are victims, will be handled by women inspectors under the supervision of Additional DCP (Crimes), also a woman officer,” the Commissioner said.

The complaints received by the desk would be monitored daily though an online system, another senior police officer said, adding that they have developed a software for petition monitoring system which will help keep a tab on the progress of cases at all stages.

The software which is being now tested, will shortly be updated with all police stations and will act as ‘grievance redressal system’ for all type of complaints, Rao said.

In 2012, 72 rape cases were registered in Cyberabad limits against 84 in 2011. The number of crimes against women decreased from 1,878 last year to 1,642 cases in 2011.

source: http://www.TheHinduBusinessLine.com / Home> News / by PTI / Hyderabad, March 06th, 2013

Hyderabad heritage structures ignored

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

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 Picture for representation only. / Deccan Chronicle

Hyderabad:

The State government declared 15 sites in the city as heritage structures on January 17, but there are still thousands of buildings that could be accorded this status and preserved and protected. Every nook and corner of the historic twin city holds a heritage building that has been ignored and left unprotected, say heritage activists.

The government order (GO) issued by the Municipality Administration and Urban Development department in Jan-uary 2013 lists the following newly declared sites: Shamshabad police station (old), Shamshabad; Maniyar Patt Masjid, Kutbiguda; Daira Kaman, Zamistanpur; Gate portion of Monda Market; St. Sebastian Church, Regimental Bazar; Past Office of Nizam’s government at RTC Crossroads; Madigonda Shankeraiah Mutt, main road Kavadiguda; Ammapally Sita Ramachandra Swamy temple, Ammapally near Shamshabad; Maha-laka Chanda step-well, Eflu, Tarnaka; Islamiah High School, Monda Market; Vivek Vardhini School, Jambagh Road; Sudhir Naik Residence, Gowliguda; Rahat Manzil at Saidabad; Aziz Bagh, Noorkhan Bazaar and State Bank of India building, Koti.

There are a total 166 sites in the heritage list of the Hyderabad Metropolitan Development Authority (HMDA).

Sajjid Shahid, city heritage activist said, “In a city like Hyderabad there are thousands of typical Nizam style sites that still exist, but are badly neglected. Sites like Kachiguda railway station, the former British Residency now Rashtrapati Bhavan, Bollaram, James Street railway station (a unique piece of architecture) and Le Palis- Royal (on the way to Bollaram, near parade ground) deserve the status.”

There are several old police stations adorned by exclusive art work and small police post structures that have been overlooked by the authorities.

He said the State Assembly at Nampally also deserves heritage status as do mini structures around the Paigan tombs near Pisalbanda. “The State needs to come up with a policy for these sites, and release yearly funds in order to maintain the beauty of the city,” said another heritage activist, Moha-mmad Sajjiulla.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / by Coreena Suares /  DC / March 05th, 2013

Nellore to have two more rice godowns

Business & Economy

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 Picture for representational purpose only. / Deccan Chronicle

Nellore: 

Decentralisation of rice procurement through rice millers has begun in SPSR Nellore district to supply the rice produced in the district through public distribution system as part of recently launched ‘Mana Biyyam’ (our rice) scheme.

Hitherto millers used to supply the rice procured from farmers to Food Corporation of India (FCI) and Civil Supplies department has been obtaining the same for PDS from FCI.

District administration has earmarked godown fac-ility to store 1,20,000 metric tonnes during the current harvest season. The monthly requirement for PDS is around 1,200 to 1,300 MTs for Mana Biyyam scheme and the authorities will have 10 months buffer at any given point of time.

Rice that was being sold at Rs 25-a-kg in the open market would be supplied at 1kg to the white ration cardholders under the scheme. It may be mentioned here that Nellore district is one among the eight districts in the state chosen for introducing Mana Biyyam scheme.

According to joint collector B. Lakshmikantam, rice millers have already supplied 14,000 MTs of rice as on date to the Civil Supplies department. The rice will be distributed through PDS for cardholders and to schools and hostels for midday meal. Reacting to a question on storage facility, Mr Lakshmikantam said that the newly-built godown to store 30,000 MTs of rice at Chandrasekhara Puram in Kodavalur mandal is ready for inauguration. Simila-rly, another godown to store 8,000 MTs at Vedaya-palem in Nellore town is also ready for opening.

He said that the Chief Minister N. Kiran Kumar Reddy would open these storage points during his ensuing Indiramma Baata programme in the district.

Office bearer of Rice Millers Association Y. Ran-gaiah Naidu said that Civil Supplies department would procure only raw rice (common and grade A variety) and they would give boiled rice to FCI for export to Kerala, Tamil Nadu and West Bengal among other states that prefer boiled rice. FCI would also export boiled rice to countries like Bangladesh, he added.

source: http://www.DeccanChronicle.com / Home> News> Current Affairs / DC, March 05th, 2013

Aditya Sarovar Premium adjudged best 5 star hotel

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All

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The event provided a perfect platform for those from the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants, caterers, spas and clubs among others to interact and exchange notes.

It was a star-studded event on the grounds of Hitex at Madhapur here on Saturday evening with the who and who from the hospitality industry from South India gracing the South India Hospitality Awards-2013 ceremony.

The second edition of the awards, presented to the best of the best in the hospitality industry, was organised by Epicurus in association with South India Hotels & Restaurants Association (SIHRA), Andhra Pradesh Hotels Association (APHA) and hotel associations of Karnataka, Tamil Nadu and Kerala. The New Indian Express was the event’s official print partner.

The event provided a perfect platform for those from the hospitality industry including hotels, restaurants, caterers, spas and clubs among others to interact and exchange notes.

There was loud applause when 60 winners of the 641 applicants took the podium to receive their awards given in token appreciation of their service to people as described by Epicurus chief MS Nagaraju.

As the evening progressed, the guests were entertained with foot-tapping dance to some latest hit songs from Tollywood and Kollywood performed by Satya’s troupe.

The chief guests included Congress MLC P Sudhakar Reddy, commissioner of income tax S Sachdev, Karnataka Hotels Association president Ramachandra Upadhaya and SIHRA president Syama Raju. Epicurus head Nagaraju announced that his organisation was contemplating giving away All India Hospitality Award from next year.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service – Hyderabad / March 03rd, 2013

Now, pay less for stents

Science & Technology

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Central scheme cuts its ceiling rates on stents

In a move that could reduce prices of US Food and Drug Administration (USFDA)-imported Drug Eluting Stents (DES) and encourage domestic manufacturing, the Central Government Health Scheme (CGHS) has cut down its ceiling rates on stents.

The CGHS, which used to reimburse Rs. 65,000 for USFDA-approved DES, has now revised the rates and will pay Rs. 25,000 for a USFDA-approved DES. Interestingly, this rate is on a par with rates of DES that are manufactured by Indian companies.

Persons familiar with pricing of medical devices said that CGHS is the main body in the country that fixes reimbursement rates for costly imported stents and other medical devices.

Usually, almost all the insurance and reimbursement agencies and State governments consider CGHS rates as their yardstick and fix their reimbursement rates accordingly.

Discriminatory pricing

The old prices of DES set by CGHS in October 2011 were discriminatory in nature and discouraged local stent manufacturers who sold Drug Control General of India (DCGI) approved DES, senior doctors in the capital said.

“CGHS was reimbursing Rs. 65,000 to FDA-approved and Rs. 50,000 to stents that had CE mark, the European regulatory body for medical devices.

They used to reimburse only Rs. 40,000 to drug-eluting stents manufactured by Indian companies who had DCGI approval. The new rates, however, have levelled the playing field,” a senior cardiologist analysed.

Meanwhile, the new CGHS rates have put the authorities at Nizam’s Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) in a dilemma. The NIMS authorities have so far followed the CGHS rates in fixing the cost of drug-eluting stents approved by USFDA.

In fact, while finalising the rate contract of stents for 2012-13, the NIMS management had claimed that it is the only hospital in Hyderabad that has implemented rates of stents based on the ceilings of Government of India.

“So far, NIMS has not affected any revision in its stent rates. But, we are expecting that the NIMS management will act on the issue soon. If not, there will be a contradiction of sorts,” doctors said.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Staff Reporter / March 02nd, 2013

Woman’s Day: Run for your life

Arts, Culture & Entertainment

The Hyderabad 10K Foundation is organising the Go! 5k Walk/Run marathon for women on the occasion of the International Woman’s Day on Sunday, March 3, flagging off at 7 am. Two tracks – a 5 km and 2km track – has been set for women to run, jog or simply walk on. The more adventurous and fit of the lot can also cycle the track, but will have to go all the 5kms. Uma Chigurupati, a regular marathon runner herself and chairperson of the foundation tells us more about the marathon.

“I know the marathon says run but the focus will be on walking because how many people can actually run? If people can, that would be great,” she starts off. Being organised to throw light on the importance of exercise, why is the focus only on women? She responds, “This is in celebration of International Women’s Day, or rather Women’s Week since the marathon will be conducted on the Sunday prior to the actual day. But also, we think that working women and educated women know the importance of physical fitness and are healthy. They are the ones who aren’t fit. If the woman is healthy, the family will also be healthy.”

With the motto ‘My Health My Concern’, she further adds, “The woman takes care of the family. But who will take care of her. Cardio-vascular exercise is important for everybody and this a day that women can come together to motivate each other and get motivated to lead a more healthy life.”

With lifestyle diseases on the rise and the risk of cancer shooting up, Uma points out that at least five days a week of exercise will not only prevent such statistics, but also induce a sense of positivity in people’s lives.

The women’s special marathon which began last year, also features a list activities to entice more women to join in. For instance, a prize was given out for four generations of women taking part. “There was a grandmother, her daughter, her grand daughter and her little girl who took part. This year too we will give out such a prize. There’s more, but it’s a surprise,” Uma shares.

Reporting time for the marathon is 6:30 am, which will be followed by warm ups. Registration for the same is Rs 50. Those interested in bicycling can either get their own cycle or one will be provided at the event by the Hyderabad Bicycling Club. And well, if you can’t run or cycle, just turn up for a pleasant walk in the morning along the Necklace road where the marathon will take place. For further details, contact 040 6464 6003.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express Features – Hyderabad / March 02nd, 2013

Actor Sunil celebrates birthday with blind children

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

Chennai, Feb 28 (IANS):

Instead of throwing a lavish birthday party, Telugu actor Sunil Varma decided to spend the day with the children of Devnar School for blind in Hyderabad. He also donated Rs.2 lakh to the school.

Sunil turned 39 Thursday.

“Sunil spent a few hours with the blind children of Devnar School this morning. He has been planning to meet them for a long time but couldn’t take out time from his schedule. Today, being his birthday, he finally met them and also donated Rs.2 lakh,” Sunil’s agent told IANS.

Sunil’s Telugu romantic-comedy “Mr.Pellikoduku”, remake of Hindi hit “Tanu Weds Manu”, is releasing Friday worldwide.

Isha Chawla plays the female lead in the film.

Sunil plans to have a quiet evening with family.

“He is not keen on hosting a party. He will spend time with his family in the evening and await the release of his film tomorrow,” the agent added.

IANS 2013-02-28 21:06:04

source: http://www.vancouverdesi.com / The Province Vancouver Desi / Home> Bollywood / by South Asia News Services / February 28th, 2013