Category Archives: World Opinion

Dutch firm to prepare sanitation plan for Vizag

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, World Opinion

Visakhapatnam :

Noida-based consultancy firm Royal Haskoning DHV, part of the Dutch Royal Haskoning group, has been commissioned by the Union ministry of housing, urban development and poverty alleviation to undertake a study and prepare an action plan for implementing a clean sanitation programme covering the entire Greater Visakhapatanam Municipal Corporation (GVMC) limits.

The project, called capacity building for urban development, is expected to be completed within the next four months, GVMC commissioner MV Satyanarayana said, pointing out that the consultancy firm will prepare an action plan and submit a report to the central government. The report will also include the requirement for necessary funds from the Centre and state, apart from the share to be put in by GVMC, based on the financial status of the civic body.

Showcasing the highlights of the preliminary studies to various stakeholders on Wednesday, team leader Ashit Neema said their team had been conducting a study for the last 20 days in the city and had looked at drinking water supply, sanitation, drainages and solid waste management.

As per the 2011 census, Neema said 68% of the houses in the city were getting clean drinking water whereas 17% were dependent on borewells and another 15% on wells. Furthemore, coming to the sanitation aspect, he said about 86% people had access to toilets, 4% were dependent on public toilets and 10% has no access to toilets. Also, he said that only 60% of city had drainages and that there was a need to strengthen the city’s solid waste management system.

Neema said the project would be taken up in eight phases, with the first phase being constituting a city sanitation task force, followed by various rounds of workshops to make stakeholders understand the problems and resolve them . He said that a final city sanitation plan would be released after four months or so as part of the project in order to make Vizag a clean city.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Visakhapatnam / TNN / June 05th, 2014

Europeans bowled over by Kalamakari

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, World Opinion

 

A foreigner selecting Kalamkari products at Pedana in Krishna district. / Photo: T Appala Naidu / The Hindu
A foreigner selecting Kalamkari products at Pedana in Krishna district. / Photo: T Appala Naidu / The Hindu

Nicolas Sarkozy’s sister to Oprah Winfrey’s designer, many prefer it.

Traditional Kalamkari artisans of a tiny town on the Indian East Coast have a valid reason to cherish and celebrate their work, for to which Europeans are doffing their hats in awe. If anything to go by the sale of Kalamkari products, exporter P. Srinivas and his New York-based business partner Mary Mulcahy, France President Nicolas Sarkozy’s sister, designer for Oprah Winfrey and world famous interior designer Jacques Grange are a few who fell in love with the exquisite work done by the rural artisans.

The swelling register of the Kalamkari lovers also tempted the ‘Vogue Magazine’ that ran a green campaign referring natural fabric designs and products of the Kalamkari in their Christmas issue. In Hollywood, Kalamkari product made in Pedana can be sighted in the Academy Award winning movie Dallas Buyers Club, an American biographical drama film directed by Jean-Marc Vallee.

Referring to orders pouring in from across the Europe, in an e-mail to Mr. Srinivas, Ms. Mulcahy wrote earlier that “I wanted to tell you that the crown princess of Greece contacted me and wants to use our fabrics for her products and her shops in London, Athens and New York. That is quite an honour!!!”.

“Many a times I am helpless to meet the demand from my customers, particularly in the rainy season. It was a great honour for every artisan for the recognition that our art has received around the world,” opined Mr. Srinivas. Kalamkari artisans and renowned Kalamkari block-designers Gangadhar brothers have expressed that they have a greater responsibility in maintaining the standard and quality of the rural industry for the sake of well-being and survival of the traditional art – Kalamkari.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Pedana – June 03rd, 2014

Pedana Kalamkari art form gets GI tag

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, World Opinion
A Kalamkari artist immersed in designing a piece of cloth. / File Photo / The Hindu
A Kalamkari artist immersed in designing a piece of cloth. / File Photo / The Hindu

Now, the production of Machilipatnam Kalamkari will be geographically limited to Pedana town and its neighbouring villages

Kalamkari, renowned for natural dye art or designs on fabrics, has been registered in the Geographical Indications Registry (GIR) of the Government of India under the Geographical Identification of Goods (Registration and Protection) Act, 1999.

Members of Vegetable Dye Hand Block Kalamkari Printers’ Welfare Association, Pedana received the registration certificate from the GIR, Chennai. In the GI Registration, this art form has, however, been recognised as ‘Machilipatnam Kalamkari’. Pedana is 15 k.m. from Machilipatnam.

“The registration will enable us to initiate legal action against those who copy the art or design in any form. It also restricts the production of fabrics with Kalamkari art in the areas falling out of the registered geographical area,” said the Welfare Association executive member Bandaru Anand Prasad.

According to GIR’s authorised user no – AU/396/GI/19/12, production of Machilipatnam Kalamkari is geographically only limited to Pedana town and its neighbouring villages of Machilipatnam, Polavaram and Kappaladoddi in Guduru mandal of Krishna district.

The ingredients used in the preparation of colours, stages of applying the dye and designs on fabrics were also submitted to the GIR authorities for the conservation of the art as well as easy identification of violators anywhere. Nevertheless, the geographical identification was limited for a few areas of production – such as textiles and textile goods, bed and table covers, clothing, carpets, rugs, linoleum and other materials for covering existing floors and embroidery.

“Since the new status deals with promising the registered standards of the Kalamkari, even local artisans and production houses have no exemption from the guidelines, framed for conservation of the art, if they fail to maintain the respective standard,” added Mr. Anand Prasad.

“Now we have every right to seek legal action against the violators – who copy the art form on the registered products,” he added. On the other hand, the scientists of National Academy of Agricultural Research Management, Hyderabad were engaged in producing new colours meant for Machilipatnam Kalamkari and a special training programme on applying new colours was also completed this week.

As a witness of the existence of the art form, a wall hanger dating back to 15th Century AD, is still being displayed in Victoria Museum, London.

The article has been edited to correct an editing error.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by  T. Appala Naidu / Pedana (Krishna District) / August 18th, 2013

Historian of Bandar pens encyclopaedia

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion
Machilipatnam-based historian Mohammed Silar./ The Hindu
Machilipatnam-based historian Mohammed Silar./ The Hindu

‘Machilipatnam Sarvasvam’, (Encyclopaedia of Bandar), written by Bandar-based modern historian and numismatist Mohammed Silar, is all set to be released by the end of June. The book focuses on the flourishing of Buddhism and Jainism in Krishna district as well as individuals and institutions which brought laurels to the port town.

In 2010, he wrote his first book ‘Tara Tarala Bandar Charitra’, which became a reference guide for history research scholars. It was reprinted in 2013. “My second book has a detailed narration about the rule of several dynasties in Masula – from Mughal, Dutch to British and French. The history of India’s third municipality, Machilipatnam Municipality, is also one of the key chapters of the encyclopaedia,” Mr. Silar said.

Based on Battiprolu inscription in Pulinda script, Mr. Silar is trying to establish the birth of Telugu language in Machilipatnam. As Machilipatnam played an important role in the evolution of education and literature in Andhra Pradesh, the book chronicles the lives of many luminaries including Madras University’s first elected Vice-Chancellor Raghupathi Venkataratnam Naidu of Machilipatnam.

Mr. Silar, a retired Special Grade Tahsildar and a Food Inspector during the cyclonic storm in 1977, has been engaged in documenting the glorious past of the town. “Bandar population was 64,000 in 1865 as against 9,000 of Vijayawada. The demography shows the glorious past and development of the tiny town in those days”, he says.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by T. Appala Naidu / Machilipatnam – June 02nd, 2014

Cops clear Australian lady’s adventurer

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, World Opinion
Sandy Robson (Photo: DC archive)
Sandy Robson (Photo: DC archive)

Nellore:

Fishermen of Palaverkadu village located on the Tamil Nadu side of Pulicat Lake stopped an Australian sailor named Sandy Robson, who was on a world tour from Germany to Australia through the sea on a pedal boat, suspecting her bonafides on Sunday.

Nellore SP Navdeep Singh Grewal deputed Tada SI Abdul Razak to the spot after the woman called on Coast Guard and the police. The SI verified her passport and visa and arranged for her stay at Chinna Mangodu village located on the Tamil Nadu side of Pulicat Lake near Tada in SPSR Nellore district.

According to the SI the woman entered Indian Ocean at Gujarat and  travelled via the Maharashtra, Kerala and Kanyakumari coasts.  Two coordinators from Tamil Nadu, Ghouse and Muneer, who were monitoring her  journey, spoke to the fishermen who stopped her and cleared their doubts  after Sandy alerted them.

The Tada sub inspector  managed to find her in a fishermen’s village in Tamil Nadu and found declarations of the Maharashtra, Kerala and Tamil Nadu police with her. He said the woman was trying to break the 1930 record of a similar   expedition and  they are going to allow her to continue her expedition  on Monday.

Sandy is going to West Bengal as part of her voyage.  Nellore SP Navdeep Singh said that she called him and their men have  traced her with the help of GPS Coordinates she gave to him.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Nation> Current Affairs / DC  Correspondent / May 19th, 2014

Hyderabad to get a taste of British curry again

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, World Opinion

London :

Foodies in Hyderabad can loosen their belts to tuck into authentic British curry this summer when seven of the UK’s best chefs will present some 80 dishes, including favourites like British Chicken Tikka Masala.

The 10-day Taste of Britain Curry Festival returns to India from June 12-21 after a successful show last year.

Seven of the UK’s best chefs will produce 80 dishes, many high street favourites, including

Balti and Jalfrezi at the foodathon which takes curry back to its spiritual home.

Prime Minister David Cameron has also lent his weight to the festival, saying he is “delighted to see that more than 200 years after the first curry house opened in Britain, our unique brand of Asian cuisine is now being sought in the countries where it originally came from”.

Cameron said: “In recent years, curry has become part of the British identity – a firm favourite that is enjoyed by more than two million people every week. But it’s so much more than just good food.”

“It’s about talented restaurateurs and chefs; it’s about hard-working families; it’s about enterprising small businesses that provide tens of thousands of jobs and it’s about bringing in billions of pounds into our economy.”

Celebrity chef Dominic Chapman will produce some of his ‘Best of British’ signature dishes, including a selection of fish, meat and vegetarian dishes besides his famous desserts.

Dominic, who will be on his second trip to India, said: “I loved my last visit to India and jumped at the chance to come back. It was a great personal experience and also the chance to work alongside some experts of Indian cuisine.

“British curry chefs have their own unique take on Indian food and public reaction during the last festival was great.”

Lord Karan Bilimoria, founder of Cobra Beer, has also lent support to the festival, saying he is “a proud Hyderabadi myself so am looking forward to the reaction the chefs get”.

He said: “I have every confidence this year’s festival will be the greatest yet.” “Hyderabad is famous for its Biryani so it will be interesting to see what the people of Hyderabad think of it.”

India could prove a lucrative market for Britain’s chefs if public reaction to the dishes proves as popular as it did in Kolkata last year at the festival.

Festival founder and the editor of Curry Life, Syed Belal Ahmed, said: “Taste of Britain Curry Festival promotes the skill and creativity of British curry chefs and this is also a celebration of the amalgamation of two very diverse cultures.”

“The cooking process in the United Kingdom is different from that of India. For example, in India they cook with a big pot like a Nowabi or Mogul style dinner. Here in the UK we follow the completely different style of cooking, like the French. We cook each dish individually with premier quality ingredients.”

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> City> Hyderabad / TNN / May 16th, 2014

RGUKT students for space conference in USA

Business & Economy, Education, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The contingent of 32 students of Rajiv Gandhi University of Knowledge Technologies (RGUKT) who won prizes in the NASA Ames Space Settlement Design Contest 2014 will be participating in the 33rd NSS International Space Development Conference in Los Angeles, scheduled to be held from May 14 to 18.

The State Bank of Hyderabad and the State Bank of India have come forward to provide sponsorship to the tune of Rs.30 lakh and Rs. 5 lakh respectively to fund the participation of the students. The university is also providing partial support, said R.V.Raja Kumar, Vice- Chancellor, RGUKT.

Prof. Kumar said that RUGKT students have been participating in this global competition for the last three years. This year they have won prizes for all the 19 projects done by them. “We are proud of our students for the recognition they got. They get a chance to interact with space scientists of high reputation from different countries.”

The NASA Ames Space Settlement Contest is an annual contest, which invites students from around the world, to design permanent orbital settlements in space, not on any planet or moon, and the best designs are awarded prizes.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – May 13th, 2014

Andhra Pradesh doctor makes leadless pacemaker

Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
Dr Vivek Reddy (Photo: PTI)
Dr Vivek Reddy (Photo: PTI)

New York: 

The world’s first wireless pacemaker, developed by an Indian-origin scientist, has shown promising results after one year of human trials.

The device, resembling a tiny, metal silver tube and smaller than a triple-A battery, is only a few centimeters in length, making it less than ten per cent the size of a traditional pacemaker.

“This is the first time we’ve seen one-year follow-up data for this innovative, wireless cardiac pacing technology and our results show the leadless pacemaker is comparable to traditional pacemakers,” said Dr Vivek Reddy, Director of Arrhythmia Services at The Mount Sinai Hospital here, who is the study’s co-investigator.

In comparison to a conventional pacemaker, the new-age leadless pacemaker eliminates the need for a surgical pocket and no visible pacemaker device under a patient’s chest skin, no incision scar on the chest, no connector wires or leads, and no restrictions on a patient’s daily activities. The device’s benefits may also allow for less patient discomfort, infections, and device complications and dysfunction.

“Our latest findings further support the promising performance and safety of this minimally-invasive, non-surgical pacing device. More long-term follow-up of these LEADLESS study patients will further our understanding of the potential advantages, benefits, and complication risks of leadless pacemaker technology, along with additional ongoing, larger trials,” Dr Reddy said.

The study’s long-term follow-up has evaluated 32 patients with a slowed heartbeat, bradycardia at two hospitals in Prague and one in Amsterdam, the hospital said in a statement. The miniature, leadless cardiac pacemaker is placed directly inside a patient’s heart without surgery during a catheter-guided procedure through the groin via the femoral vein. It works by closely monitoring the heart’s ele-ctrical rhythms.

source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> World> Americas / PTI / May 11th, 2014

Braille books

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, World Opinion
Chetana Guthikonda asks students in Laurie Miller’s fifth-grade class questions about the project after they finished.
Chetana Guthikonda asks students in Laurie Miller’s fifth-grade class questions about the project after they finished.

Students in grades 3-5 at Creek Valley made braille books to send to the Devnar Foundation for the Blind in Hyderabad, India, organized for Global Youth Service Day by EHS junior Chetana Guthikonda.

Guthikonda, a member of the HandsOn Twin Cities Youth Advisory Board, created the project based on whether it was simple, sustainable and affordable.

She contacted the school in India to ask about its needs before deciding on the project.

Students created books for beginner readers with words like giraffe, bear, tiger and lion spelled in braille. Each book cost less than $1 to make in Edina, compared with more than $1,000 with a braille machine.

Making the books teaches Edina students about braille while teaching students in India how to read, Guthikonda said.

Fifth-grader Aakash Narayan creates a braille book for the Devnar Foundation in Hyderabad, India, near where he’s from in India. (Sun Current staff photos by Lisa Kaczke)
Fifth-grader Aakash Narayan creates a braille book for the Devnar Foundation in Hyderabad, India, near where he’s from in India.
(Sun Current staff photos by Lisa Kaczke)

source: http://www.current.mnsun.com / Sun Current / Home> Education / by Lisa Kaczke / May 09th, 2014

Hyderabad to host software engineering conference

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Eight-day conference from May 31 to June 7 would see around 2,000 individuals, including 600 international and 800 Indian delegates attending it.

SoftwareHF16may2014

Hyderabad, which will host the 36th edition of International Conference on Software Engineering (ICSE), 2014, will act as the meeting point of researchers, professionals, students and faculty from the departments of software engineering from India and across the globe.

This is the first time India is hosting the conference.

The eight-day conference from May 31 to June 7 would see participation of around 2,000 individuals, including 600 international and 800 Indian delegates.

Some of the speakers for the event include James D Herbsleb, professor, Institute for Software Research in Carnegie Mellon University and Charles Lee Isbell, Jr Senior Associate Dean, College of Computing and Professor at Georgia Institute of Technology .

Around 100 PhD students will share their research findings and experiences.

For the first time in the 36-year history of ICSE, live video streaming of the keynotes will be made available for those who won’t be able to attend the conference.

“Through this conference, we aim to bring together eminent scholars to provide an opportunity for the young minds to learn and grow,” said Ramesh Loganathan, president of  IT and  ITeS Association of Andhra Pradesh (ITsAP).

The key highlights include presentation of technical research papers, software engineering education and training, new faculty and researcher symposium, student research competition and future of software engineering among others.

“The industry forum will enable young professionals to understand the global standards and get a peek into some of the best works in software industry research in the world,” said Professor Vasudev Varma of IIIT-Hyderabad.

The next edition of the conference will be held in Italy from May 16-24, 2015. The previous edition happened in San Francisco, USA.

For hosting the event, Hyderabad outstripped other contenders– New Delhi, Pune and Bangalore– in terms of well-placed IT ecosystem and an easy drive to international airport, said organisers of the event.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Current Affairs> News> National / by N Madhav / Hyderabad – May 05th, 2014