Category Archives: World Opinion

Shantha’s Pentavalent Pediatric Vaccine prequalified by World Health Organization

Science & Technology, World Opinion

Shantha’s Pentavalent Pediatric Vaccine prequalified by World Health Organization

– Shan5(TM) is the first vaccine jointly developed by the Indian company

and its parent company Sanofi Pasteur –

– WHO’s decision allows for the purchase of Shan5(TM) by United Nations agencies –

LYON, France, May 5, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi (EURONEXT: SAN and NYSE: SNY), announced today that its pediatric pentavalent vaccine Shan5(TM), developed and manufactured by its affiliate Shantha Biotechnics in Hyderabad, India, has received prequalification status from the World Health Organization (WHO). This status is based on a review of a comprehensive set of data related to the process and the product characteristics, as well as on a positive recommendation of WHO’s auditors following a site inspection of Shantha’s manufacturing facilities. It qualifies Shan5(TM) vaccine for purchase by United Nations agencies, mainly UNICEF. Shan5(TM) prequalification will give more children around the world access to the latest high-quality, fully-liquid, 5-in-1 vaccine and help secure the supply of pentavalent combination vaccines in over 50 emerging and low-income countries.

“Shan5(TM) is the first product that puts together the best of Shantha and Sanofi Pasteur’s assets and talents,” said Olivier Charmeil, Sanofi Pasteur President and CEO. “Today, a significant number of babies born every year do not have access to modern vaccination programs. By delivering large supplies of high-quality and affordable vaccines to emerging and low-income countries, Shantha will be contributing to filling this gap for the benefits of babies and their parents.”

Shan5(TM) is produced at Shantha’s state-of-the-art manufacturing facility in Hyderabad, India, and received Marketing Authorization in India in March 2014.

“The development of Shan5(TM) benefitted from Sanofi Pasteur’s more than 50 years of experience with whole-cell pertussis and combination vaccines – ensuring robust processes and guaranteeing international quality standards” said Harish Iyer, Shantha CEO. Shantha’s manufacturing platform in India will serve Indian needs and provide Sanofi Pasteur access to additional vaccine markets globally.”

About Shantha

Shantha, which was acquired by Sanofi Pasteur Holding in 2009, is a biotechnology pioneer from the emerging countries, founded by Dr. K I Varaprasad Reddy in 1993 in Hyderabad, India. Shantha is a fully integrated biotechnology company involved in R&D, manufacturing and marketing.

Shantha’s mission is to develop, produce and market human health care products which are affordable and meet the highest International standards. Shantha’s products complement Sanofi Pasteur’s portfolio. Besides Shan5(TM), three of its vaccines are WHO-prequalified: Shanchol(TM) cholera vaccine, Shanvac-B(R) hepatitis B vaccine and ShanTT(TM) tetanus vaccine. Sanofi Pasteur and Shantha are also developing a new vaccine against rotavirus and a pediatric combination vaccine based on Shan5(TM),that will incorporate Sanofi Pasteur’s Inactivated Polio Vaccine (IPV) in order to secure polio eradication.

About Shan5

Shan5 is a fully-liquid five-in-one, convenient, safe and high-quality vaccine that provides effective protection for children from 6 weeks of age against five diseases: diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, Hib and hepatitis B. Shan5 vaccine has been developed and is produced by Shantha in Hyderabad, India.

About Sanofi

Sanofi, an integrated global healthcare leader, discovers, develops and distributes therapeutic solutions focused on patients’ needs. Sanofi has core strengths in the field of healthcare with seven growth platforms: diabetes solutions, human vaccines, innovative drugs, consumer healthcare, emerging markets, animal health and the new Genzyme. Sanofi is listed in Paris (EURONEXT: SAN) and in New York (NYSE: SNY).

Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccines division of Sanofi, provides more than 1 billion doses of vaccine each year, making it possible to immunize more than 500 million people across the globe. A world leader in the vaccine industry, Sanofi Pasteur offers a broad range of vaccines protecting against 20 infectious diseases. The company’s heritage, to create vaccines that protect life, dates back more than a century. Sanofi Pasteur is the largest company entirely dedicated to vaccines. Every day, the company invests more than EUR 1 million in research and development. For more information, please visit: www.sanofipasteur.com or www.sanofipasteur.us

Forward Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements as defined in the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives, intentions and expectations with respect to future financial results, events, operations, services, product development and potential, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words “expects”, “anticipates”, “believes”, “intends”, “estimates”, “plans” and similar expressions. Although Sanofi’s management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, investors are cautioned that forward-looking information and statements are subject to various risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of Sanofi, that could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include among other things, the uncertainties inherent in research and development, future clinical data and analysis, including post marketing, decisions by regulatory authorities, such as the FDA or the EMA, regarding whether and when to approve any drug, device or biological application that may be filed for any such product candidates as well as their decisions regarding labelling and other matters that could affect the availability or commercial potential of such product candidates, the absence of guarantee that the product candidates if approved will be commercially successful, the future approval and commercial success of therapeutic alternatives, the Group’s ability to benefit from external growth opportunities, trends in exchange rates and prevailing interest rates, the impact of cost containment policies and subsequent changes thereto, the average number of shares outstanding as well as those discussed or identified in the public filings with the SEC and the AMF made by Sanofi, including those listed under “Risk Factors” and “Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements” in Sanofi’s annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2013. Other than as required by applicable law, Sanofi does not undertake any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information or statements.

Contacts:

Global Media Relations Investor Relations

Alain Bernal Sébastien Martel

T. +33 (0)4 37 37 50 38 T. +33 (0)1 53 77 45 45

alain.bernal@sanofipasteur.com ir@sanofi.com

www.sanofipasteur.com

India Media Relations

Aparna Thomas

T. +91-22-28-27-81-69

aparna.thomas@sanofi.com

www.sanofi.com

Link to PDF of Press Release http://hugin.info/152918/R/1782423/610086.pdf

HUG#1782423

source: http://www.onlinewsj.com / The Wall Street Journal / Home> India Edition / Press Release / May 05th, 2014

From Pastapur to Senegal, widening the network of millets

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, World Opinion
Chinna Narsamma, a member of the DDS, exchanging millet seeds with a delegate from Senegal at Pastapur in Medak district on Tuesday./ Photo: Mohd. Arif / The Hindu
Chinna Narsamma, a member of the DDS, exchanging millet seeds with a delegate from Senegal at Pastapur in Medak district on Tuesday./ Photo: Mohd. Arif / The Hindu

Medak-based DDS, with 10 African nations, strives for Afro-Indian Millet Alliance

The Deccan Development Society (DDS), which is working on various crop improvement programmes, has succeeded in forging alliance with several African nations for research and development of millet cultivation.

The DDS, headquartered at Pastapur in Medak district, along with 10 African nations, is actively participating for the realisation of the Afro-Indian Millet Alliance which has been under planning stage since February last year.

Food security

“Many West African nations are getting ready to pursue agricultural models designed by the DDS that encapsulate ecological farming, biodiversity, food and nutritional security, along with ecological security.

The Millet Network of India (MINI), of which the DDS is the national convenor, has foregrounded the various cultivation aspects of millets including biodiversity, ecology and farmers’ self-reliance,” said DDS Director P.V. Sateesh.

Overseas alliance

Speaking to the media at Pastapur on Tuesday, Mr. Sateesh said that last week the DDS was invited to attend to the West African Regional Assembly of the COPAGEN, a network present in nine West African countries– Senegal, Burkina Faso, Togo, Cote D’Ivore, Mali, Benin, Niger, Guinea, Guinea Bissau–, is engaged with millions of West African farmers.

“We are very happy to see that the research on Bt Cotton pursued by the DDS in Adilabad, Nalgonda and Warangal is being followed to find out the impact of Bt cotton in Burkina Faso, a West African country. Following in the footsteps of the DDS, the farmers there have formed community research groups and are regularly monitoring and colleting data on the cultivation aspects of Bt cotton,” he said.

A DDS team comprising Narsamma, a peasant farmer; Ms. Jayasri Cherukuri, Coordinator of the MINI and P.V. Satheesh, Director of the DDS, made a detailed presentation on the work done by the network here on Tuesday.

Meanwhile, the DDS and the COPAGEN are also planning to organise farmer exchange programmes between the Africa and India, with a special focus on the women farmers in both the countries.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Sangareddy – November 22nd, 2013

Cricket star Laxman launches Dubai Campus of IISM

Education, Sports, World Opinion

Indian institute offers two course in sports management for aspiring professionals

Retired Indian cricket great VVS Laxman (second from right) at the launch of IISM's Dubai Campus on Tuesday. (SUPPLIED)
Retired Indian cricket great VVS Laxman (second from right) at the launch of IISM’s Dubai Campus on Tuesday. (SUPPLIED)

Former Indian Test star VVS Laxman launched a sports management institute in Dubai which aims to educate aspiring managers and professionals.

The International Institute of Sports Management (IISM), a venture of Eduhub Education, claims to be India’s first dedicated sports management training institution.

It opened the new campus in Dubai in collaboration with the Wisdom Educational Group that is running a group of professional colleges and training centres in the UAE and India.

The IISM Dubai Campus in Bur Dubai, located near the Burjman Metro Station, is equipped with state-of-the-art sports learning facilities in a 500 square metre facility.

It will be offering two sports management courses.

“Sports is becoming big but there is a huge gap in providing training facility for training professional sports managers. The UAE has spent nearly Dh42 million only to train athletes out of the UAE, but there is a huge shortage of trained sports managers. Experts come from other countries like Australia and Europe at a high consultancy fees. Many young students who are keen to pursue a career in sports management can join the courses offered by IISM in Dubai and its campus in Bombay. By next month we are planning to open a second campus in New Delhi,” said Shall Kapri, Dean of IISM.

Students will undergo training in sports marketing, sports finance, rules and regulations, ethics in sports, sport facility management, sports event staging and sponsorships, sports marketing research, sports journalism and leagues and team management.

Nilesh Kulkarni, an Indian cricketer, the founder and director of Eduhub Education, was present among other sports personalities at the launch on Tuesday.

The IISM Advisory Board includes sports personalities like Indian tennis star Mahesh Bhupathi, Development Officer of BCCI, Professor Ratnakar Shetty, and former Indian captain and commentator Ravi Shastri, among others.

Out of the two certificate courses initially offered by the Dubai Campus of IISM, the first one is a Certificate in Sports Management (CSM) to students who have completed Class XII and is spread over a period of five months, said Ahmed Rafi, Chief Executive Officer, Wisdom Education Group.

He said the second course offers short term executive certificate in sports management for working professionals over course of three to five days.

“We have collaborated with Eduhub to provide sports educational opportunities in the UAE where sports are witnessing phenomenal growth,” he added.

With major sports events like the FIFA World Cup happening in the GCC region (Qatar), there are many career openings in the sports field, he added.

source: http://www.emirates247.com / Emirates 24/7 / Home> Sports> Local / by VM Sathish / Wednesday -April 30th, 2014

ICC surgeon trains Rajahmundry doctor

Science & Technology, Sports, World Opinion

ICCSurgeonHF06may2014

International Cricket Council’s (ICC) shoulder replacement surgeon Jode Bear was first reluctant to train an orthopaedic surgeon from this town, initially.

But looking at his track record and expertise Dr. Jode was convinced and agreed to impart training to the doctor.

Meet Dr. Vijaya Kumar, who received an opportunity to train under Mr. Jode in shoulder replacement and also reverse-total shoulder replacement.

Incidentally, Mr. Vijay Kumar, who runs a multi-specialty hospital in Rajahmundry is the first doctor to be trained by Mr. Bear from coastal Andhra Pradesh.

Expert

Mr. Bear is a reverse shoulder replacement surgeon and an expert in reverse total shoulder replacement. He has treated a good number of cricketers.

Sugical option

According to Dr. Vijaya Kumar, reverse shoulder replacement is a surgical option for patients who could be helped by a total shoulder replacement because of rotator cuff damage along with shoulder osteoarthritis.

After two weeks of training, Dr. Vijaya Kumar is back and says shoulder surgery replacement is a boon for patients who sustain multiple injuries including shoulder injury.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Rajahmundry – April 27th, 2014

MELANGE : Royal treat for bibliophiles

About Seemandhra / Andhra Pradesh, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All, World Opinion
Books restored from different Asaf Jahi dynasties are in the Chowmahallah Palace library./ Photos: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu
Books restored from different Asaf Jahi dynasties are in the Chowmahallah Palace library./ Photos: Nagara Gopal / The Hindu

The Mehtab Mahal library at Chowmahalla Palace throws open a treasure trove from the Nizam’s era

The Nizams, it turns out, had an eye for everything exquisite. From the jewellery they wore to the silks that adorned their wardrobe, the cars they rode in, and the cuisine they partook, everything simply spelt royalty. While these indicate their lavish lifestyle, their interest in books and literature is less known.

Throwing light on their urge to discover and relate to the world around is the Royal Library in Chowmahalla Palace; its collection of books includes The Life of Samuel Johnson, History of Don Quixote, John F Kennedy – Portrait of a President, Glimpses of India,The Princes of India and an array of Encyclopaedias and much more .

Situated in the Mehtab Mahal of the Chowmahalla, the Royal Library houses more than 10,000 books and “is a haven for researchers and book lovers.”

The library that was thrown open to book lovers last year has been digitized recently, not only to help book lovers but also ensure safety of the royal treasure.

The idea of the library is to protect and preserve the valuable collection of the Asaf Jahi kings. The collection mostly belonged to the Mir Mahboob Ali Khan (VI Nizam), Mir Osman Ali Khan (VII Nizam) and Nizam Mukarram Jah. The books have been sourced from different Asaf Jahi palaces like the Nazri Bagh, Chiran Palace and Chowmahalla to be housed in the Royal Library here.

The books thus collected were sorted and segregated into various categories.

Books restored from different Asaf Jahi dynasties are in the Chowmahallah Palace library. / The Hindu
Books restored from different Asaf Jahi dynasties are in the Chowmahallah Palace library. / The Hindu

“A lot of work went into making them ready to be put in the cases for readers to read them in the library. Various professionals worked to clean, bind and make the books fit for reading. We have applied all preservation techniques, including fumigation, to protect the books,” informs G. Kishan Rao. He adds, “The collection of books range from history, literature, poetry, philosophy, geography, culture and religion. This library also houses the exclusive collection of Qurans by the Nizams which was inaugurated recently.” A few books also hint at the Nizam’s passion to learn languages. The number of English books is close to 3000, followed by Urdu, Persian and Arabic.

“There is also a good number of Persian manuscripts containing the firmans issued by the Asaf Jahis as well as several volumes of Mir Osman Ali Khan’s poetry,” informs the librarian. Qurans of different sizes are in the process of being restored and will find place in the library after that.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Prabalika M. Borah / Hyderabad – April 25th, 2014

Radisson Hyderabad Hitec City opens its doors for guests

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

Radisson Hyderabad Hitec City welcomed guests on April 1, 2014 at the opening of the first Radisson hotel in Hyderabad and the sixth Radisson property in India for Carlson Rezidor. It was previously known as Aditya Sarovar Premiere and has undergone refurbishment to include international brand hallmarks and is now a Radisson hotel. The hotel is owned by G. Yoganand, CMD, Manjeera Group, under the banner of Manjeera Hotels & Resorts Private Limited and will continue to be managed by Sarovar Hotels Private Limited under the Radisson brand. Sarovar operates 61 hotels in India and Africa including several Park Plaza and Park Inn hotels across India.

Raj Rana, CEO, Carlson Hotels (South Asia) Private Limited said, “We are honoured to be partnering Sarovar again for another distinguished hotel. Radisson Hyderabad Hitec City is a wonderful addition to our growing portfolio of more than 100 hotels in operation and under development in India. The hotel is in a great location and now it has all the international service hallmarks of the Radisson brand. We are confident that the hotel will have a strong appeal to both international and domestic business and leisure travelers.”

Radisson Hyderabad Hitec City has 202 guest rooms and 24-hour room service. There are various room categories to suit every need, including Business Class Rooms for business guests and a Presidential Suite for lavish vacations. All rooms feature free Wi-Fi access so that business travellers can check emails and leisure travellers can enjoy social interactions and entertainment.

For small meetings, seminars or large gatherings, the hotel has a dedicated Banquet Co-ordinator to assist in planning a successful event. The hotel’s business center, which has printing facilities and free Wi-Fi, also offers on-site secretarial support. For diners, the hotel includes Cascade and an award-winning restaurant, The Oriental Blossom. There is also Zyng lounge bar, and the Poolside Grill for some barbecued delights.

Ajay Bakaya, Executive Director, Sarovar Hotels Pvt. Ltd. said, “Our association with the Manjeera Group as well as CarlsonRezidor Hotel Groupis decades old and we are happy to be continuing as the management partner. With the combination of the hotel’s new branding as a Radisson and our management we are sure that guests will enjoy an enhanced experience at this upscale property.”

source: http://www.hospitalitybizindia.com / HospitalityBizIndia.com / Home> News Track / by HBI Staff, Mumbai / April 23rd, 2014

Engineering grad shows the way

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
K Nikita who won the Leo of the Year award at a function in Visakhapatnam on Thursday
K Nikita who won the Leo of the Year award at a function in Visakhapatnam on Thursday

Being a civil engineering student doesn’t stop her to reach out to the deprived lot and serve society in the best possible manner.

It is this selfless attitude that made K. Nikita, III year student of Dr. L. Bullayya College, stand out from the crowd and win an international award ‘Leo of the Year 2012-2013’. As part of Leo Club Visakhapatnam Greater, a community-based youth wing of Lions Clubs International, Nikita got selected for her consistent effort serving diverse communities. Nikhita is the first person to win the award from the State and second in the country, says her father K.L.V. Krishna Rao.

Apart from being a brilliant student and an NCC cadet, Nikita has designed several projects that heighten the happiness quotient of the needy. “The club, involving 20 youngsters, provides me a platform to meet different people and understand their requirements. Visiting places such as Central Jail, Juvenile Home for Girls, old age homes and slum areas made me think beyond classrooms,” she says.

Community projects

Nikita feels creating tailor-made community projects provide an avenue to foster leadership qualities. She says, “service is contagious. It gives me immense pleasure when people benefit out of our programmes and spread the smile. The recent week-long workshop at the Central Jail saw inmates participating in a series of sports and quiz contests. I feel these people have been brushed aside by society due to varied reasons. And it is our responsibility to bring change in their lives.”

Drawing inspiration from her parents and team-mates, Nikita is confident about living her dream by utilising her time efficiently. Shuffling between studies and community work, according to her, is an art that one nurtures over a period of time. “Everything is time bound in life. It is important to plan your day. With so much to do in life, the art of living lies in enjoying what you do. And in the process, you will end up finding time for anything you want to do,” she adds.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / by Rani Devalla / Visakhapatnam – January 31st, 2014

Dr. Reddy’s Announces the Launch of Eszopiclone Tablets C-IV

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad , India (BUSINESS WIRE)

Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories (NYSE: RDY) announced today that it has launched Eszopiclone Tablets (C-IV) 1 mg, 2 mg and 3 mg, a therapeutic equivalent generic version of LUNESTA® (eszopiclone) tablets C-IV in the US market on April 15, 2014, following the approval by the United States Food & Drug Administration (USFDA).

The LUNESTA® (eszopiclone) tablets C-IV brand and generic combined had U.S. sales of approximately $887 Million MAT for the most recent twelve months ending in January 2014 according to IMS Health*.

Dr. Reddy’s Eszopiclone Tablets (C-IV) 1 mg is available in bottle counts of 30. Eszopiclone Tablets (C-IV) 2 mg and 3 mg are available in bottle counts of 100.

source: http://www.news.investors.com / Investors.com / Home> News> by Business Wire / April 16th, 2014

Heritage of negligence

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

Hyderabad :

The International Council on Monuments & Sites (ICOMOS) adopted ‘Heritage of Commemoration’ as the theme for this year’s World Heritage Day celebrations. Celebrated globally on the 18th of April, the event aims at promoting the concept of heritage being a shared asset of mankind. The theme this year highlights the inherent desire in humans ‘to remember and transmit their memory to others’. Architecture being the most immediately apparent manifestation of the past, successive generations have added commemorative markers to record and transmit their history. The choice of theme is said to have been influenced by the fact that 2014 marks the centenary of commencement of hostilities in that dreadful international conflict known in history as the Great War of 1914-1918 or World War I.

The Hyderabad Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) organizes an annual awards function as part of its Heritage Awareness Program in which select heritages of the city are acknowledged. Through sustained efforts over the past two decades, the program has succeeded in highlighting numerous unique examples of the city’s cultural assets which, though known to a majority of the public, had been relegated to some deep recess of the mind. Taking inspiration from the ICOMOS theme, the focus of the selection process this year was on cultural assets which have strong linkages with personalities, events and movements from our past. Though the concept of recognition based on associational value is not new for the awards program and quite a few examples of commemorative heritage having been recognized in earlier years, the criteria took center stage this year. The change from an evaluation primarily based on typology, architectural merits and state of preservation was also motivated by the fact that INTACH’s own office at Hyderabad is housed in one such edifice. A rather nondescript structure with no architectural merits whatsoever, the Ronald Ross Building assumes great importance solely due to its association with Nobel laureate Sir Ronal Ross and his landmark discovery regarding the malarial parasite.

It is said a nation is merely the custodian of inherited heritage and as such charged with the responsibility of protecting and preserving what it has received so as to hand it over intact to the succeeding generations. In the process people of a particular time in history have the unique opportunity to add, with reasonable justification, all that they consider as being representative of their own times. Unfortunately, if the present apathy of the government continues unchecked, Hyderabad will soon be bereft of any vestiges of the past and the present generation would be blamed for erasing the past and leaving nothing for posterity except the monstrosity called Metro Rail to commemorate its existence.

At Hyderabad, the World Heritage Day is no longer an occasion for the celebration of shared heritage and has instead, unfortunately been transformed into an annual ritual of collective lamentation. The dirge has as yet failed to draw any sympathy from a state which refuses to honour international commitments made by the nation, assuring the protection and preservation of cultural assets. The indifference is amply manifest in the callousness of the government which has failed to reconstitute the Heritage Conservation Committee even though the last one having expired long ago. All attempts at reasoning with the authorities regarding heritages of the city have proved futile and the rampage continues unchecked.

With constitution of the HCC in a limbo, heritage violators can now wreck destruction with impunity. Playing out a charade which is said to have been originally conceived by mandarins of the secretariat, miscreants apply for permission to the GHMC and their applications are dutifully referred for clearance by the non-existing HCC. With no action forthcoming, a claim inordinate delay helps perpetrators in obtaining orders from the court directing speedy disposal. With no possible change in status, the ‘aggrieved’ party files for contempt and gets away with murder! In Hyderabadi lingo, the playing out such a sham is aptly put in the idiom “main maare jaisa kartaon, tu roye jaisa kar” (I will feign a punch, you pretend to cry). The ruse worked perfectly in the case of Victoria Maternity Hospital a few years back. Alain de Botton, author of The Architecture of Happiness claims “It is in dialogue with pain that many beautiful things acquire their value. Acquaintance with grief turns out to be one of the more unusual prerequisites of architectural appreciation. We might, quite aside from all other requirements, need to be a little sad before buildings can properly touch us.” Unfortunately our own dialogue with pain has not attained that requisite threshold of grief essential for architectural appreciation. If the present trend continues, we may end up commemorating heritage rather than appreciating the heritage of commemoration.

(The writer is a well known heritage activist)

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Hyderabad / by Sajjad Shahid, TNN / April 20th, 2014

Global honour for Vizag Steel Plant IT wing

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The IT Department of Visakhapatnam Steel Plant has been conferred with Capability Maturity Model Integration (CMMI-Level 3) accreditation for its systematic and quality approach for development and maintenance of software applications.

Executive Director (Automation & IT) P. Ramudu received the certificate from lead assessor of Quality Assurance International (QAI India) V. Seshadri at a function held in the plant on Wednesday.

VSP IT Department has been assessed for CMMI Level-3 certification, Version 1.3 of Software Engineering Institute, Carnegie Mellon University, USA, by QAI India in the areas of its capabilities of project management, process management, organisational process focus and its software quality assurance processes, methods and practices.

General Manager and Head of IT Department K.V.S.S. Rajeswara Rao was present. DGM (IT) B Govardhana Reddy earlier made a presentation on the journey made by the department towards the achievement.

Meanwhile, RINL Chairman-cum-Managing Director P. Madhusudan congratulated the IT Department Collective on achieving the coveted accreditation and observed that RINL was always in the forefront in adopting innovative IT solutions to achieve excellence in IT, the lifeline of today’s business.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – March 26th, 2014