Auditorium for Anna Nagar soon: Mayor

Accepting one of the main demands of the residents of Anna Nagar, Chennai Corporation Mayor M Subramanian has ordered speeding up the process of identifying a location for a multipurpose auditorium at Anna Nagar.
He was speaking at a face-to-face meet with the residents of Anna Nagar, organised by the Exnora Club of Anna Nagar

last week at Jaigopal Garodia Vivekananda Vidyalaya.
More than 150 representatives of block associations and residents welfare associations attended the meet. It may be

noted that the area did not have such a hall: the CMDA had not provided for it when it planned this part of the city four

decades ago.
The Mayor said, 'Most of the representatives have asked for an auditorium. And we also feel that an auditorium is very

much needed here to conduct various public programmes, as Anna Nagar holds numerous programmes either by the

residents associations or clubs throughout a month'.
A few residents have suggested places for the proposed hall; One was a place near L Block which houses a public library

would be a right choice, while another proposed a spot at W Block. The Mayor has consented both of them and said

suitable place would be selected.
Exnora Cub secretary I V Sashikumar, said around 55 petitions have been collected from the residents and handed over

to the Mayor for future course of action.
Outlining some of the complaints to the Mayor, Sashikumar said most of the residents have highlighted three major

problems in the area: An auditorium for public programmes, public convenience on Second Avenue (shopping nerve

centre), as the whole stretch of nearly two kilometres does not have even a single public convenience, and the third one is

about the arrest of mosquito menace in the area by timely desliting Cooum river and Otteri Nullah'.
Besides residents' complaints, the Club wanted revival of the bi-monthly meeting with Corporation officials, which was

abruptly stopped, and trimming of avenue trees at Anna Nagar, as it blocked beams of street lights. The Mayor assured

them that decision would be taken after consulting with officials on these issues soon.
Councillors P K Sekar, Ward 64, Pushpalatha Jayashankar, Ward 66, R Elumalai, Ward 67 and Vasantha Paramasivam, Ward 68, and Exnora International founder M B Nirmal, attended the meet.
Purpose behind more visits
During the meet, the Mayor jokingly said, 'Many in the city are wondering why the Mayor accepts more and more appointments per day even after knowing that he cannot make it to all programmes on time. My answer for those critics is, whenever I make a visit ( though very late) to a part of the city, the area and its adjacent streets would be spruced. On a single day, I attend morethan five programmes and more that 50 streets get a facelift.

"A MAN SETS ABLAZE AN ABORIGINAL TRIBAL WOMAN"
Aspect
(REPRO)

Port Blair, July, 2


IN an incident that took place on Saturday at Port Blair, an woman of Great Andamnese tribal community was set ablaze after pouring petrol by a local man named Dayanand, S/O. Bharat, who is a group "C" employee in APWD. This incident took place at the "Basera" Nivas , which is the stay home for Great Andamanese tribal people here.
The woman named Nu, W/o. Pege has sustained 60% burn all over the body and is admitted in the G.B. Pant Hospital;.
The police has arrested the culprit behind the incident.
A vigilant citizen, who saw the tribal lady at the hospital, as questioned whether the Administration is really serious in extending security & care t the aboriginal tribal people here. The said incident has exposed the level of care , the Administration is giving towards the poor aboriginal tribal people, particularly women of the community.
This incident and the past incidents involving tribal people have defeated the tall claim of Admnistration that tribal are in the safe hands of AAJVS. If the factor safety was something really existing, how, could a person enter into the "Basera" home and pour petrol and set ablaze the poor women.
It is a matter of shame that the facilities and monetary assistance which are sanctioned by GOI and which are supposed to be distributed among these tribal people are being looted away by the Administration authorities. And these poor tribe people are not even provide even the basic need of security and care.

Samir Acharya adds,


The tragic incident that took place in Adi Basera on Saturday last once again calls our attention to the following:
a) That the Administration is not too concerned about visits of non-tribals to the members of PTGs, unless the visitor happens to be a journalist.
b) Adi Basera was a Guest House for PTGs since long. It was declared a protected tribal reserve only after a lady correspondent of NDTV interviewed Lichu and Nu at Adi Basera and NDTVs broadcast of the damaging interview.
C) Adi Basera is guarded throughout the day but not at night, presumably because the journalists do not normally try to interact with PTGs at night.
d) There was no guard at Adi Basera that night, although Nu's son was sleeping in another room. The main building was under repair and as such other tribals were not present. Reportedly the miscreant regularly visited Nu in Adi Basera at night.


Even for the Jarawas the Administration's Efforts stop with religiously publishing to cease and desist from taking tourists into the tribal reserves and allowing interactions


--
Society for Andaman & Nicobar Ecology
P.B.No. 63
Middle Point
Port Blair-744101
A & N Islands

Ph: (03192) 232929, 234624
Fax:(03192) 236014

Faulty entry in NSS

The question of who is to be blamed for errors and miscalculations of interests and subsequent faulty closing balances on National Savings Scheme (NSS) deposits haunts M S Ramachari, an elderly resident of J Block, Anna Nagar.Ramachari, who retired from a reputed private firm, had opened two NSS accounts, ANE-20453 and ANE-20454 when the scheme was first introduced, at Anna Nagar East post office. One account was in his wife's name and the other in his name. These accounts were maintained and controlled by Park Town HPO. But, his NSS passbook, which was supposed to be neat (without additions and deletions) in terms of interest entries, looks like a revalued mathematics answer- sheet. The 'revaluation' had begun in 2001, well after computerisation in Postal Departments, and still continues on his passbook. For the last seven years, since the problem began, he had paid many visits to Park Town HPO near Ripon Buildings to get the figures corrected. During his visit every year, he got an assurance from the officials concerned that things would be sorted out this year and from next year onwards, there would not be any problem with the calculations. But it still continues.Upset over the Postal Department's callous attitude, Ramachari spoke to News Today a few days ago.'Just tell me what is computerisation? Was it for miscalculation and revaluation?', he asks angrily. His point of contention was right. When the officials said that all the interest calculations were computerised, how could the difference in interest calculation arise? Valid question indeed. Ramachari says, 'I was surprised that the Postal Department cannot calculate simple interest accurately and maintain an NSS account properly'. 'Regarding the issue, every year since 2001, I spoke to the person in-charge at Park Town HPO, but nothing was done. Normally, interest for the amount deposited in National Savings Scheme is credited annually on 1 April. Whenever I seek credit-entry at Anna Nagar East post office, they ask me to submit the passbook. Once the statement of interests reached them from Park Town HPO, they enter the figures and return the passbook to me'. The problem starts here. 'When I verified the figures, I found it inaccurate. So, I approached the Anna Nagar East post office. They advised me to go to Park Town directly, so that things could be sorted out at once, as the accounts were maintained by them. It is painful for a person like me, being a heart patient to climb three floors. Initially, the officer incharge would argue with me citing those interest calculations are computerised, so there was less chances of an error. After my detailed explanation, he got convinced and asked me to come after 10 days. I have to visit once again to get the correct figures entered.'When contacted, a Postal Department official attached to the Anna Nagar post office said, 'It is the problem with the official concerned. Every interest calculation is made only on the figures provided to them, and any sort of manipulation is very difficult at their level.' When asked about whether they get such type of complaints from depositors, he said, 'we get very few complaints, but this case is seems to be very peculiar'.

N Korean Refugees See North Thailand as Entry Point

Repro (Article)By Sai SilpMay 28, 2007
Researchers say there may be as many as 200,000 North Korean refugees living illegally in China, Laos and Burma, and many of them are waiting for an opportunity to enter Thailand to seek political asylum.
Tomoharu Ebihara, a Japanese lecturer at Payap University in Chiang Mai who is a volunteer with a Tokyo-based aid group, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees, says there is no way to know for certain how many refugees have fled North Korea, but Thailand is a destination of choice, because of its humane treatment of all political refugees.
He said that a typical North Korean refugee will live in China for three or four years in order to earn enough money to make the crossing into Thailand.
In 2006, about 900 North Koreans were arrested for illegal entry into Thailand and are now in custody. Most entered through Chiang Rai Province or the northeast. Almost all will be sent to South Korea.
Thailand is a favorite destination because of its commitment to Article 31 of the 1951 Geneva Convention, which prohibits punishment of political refugees who enter a country illegally and also by virtue of Thailand's status as a member state of the Executive Committee of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.
Those commitments have led to a flood of refugees from neighboring countries, not only North Korea, but also from Burma, Laos, Cambodia and China. The sharp increase in political refugees has lately led to national security concerns on the part of Thai officials.
For North Koreans, a favorite entry point is a 100-mile strip of land bordering the Mekong River in northern Thailand and Laos. Residents of Chiang Saen District in Chiang Rai Province say North Korean refugees are easy to spot once in the Kingdom and quickly do everything they can to identify themselves to local police or immigration officials.
“They even run up to whoever dresses like an official and expect to be arrested,” says Wichai Srimuang, a resident of the area.
After arrest, they are sent to a local immigration detention center and later transferred to Bangkok, where the resettlement process is carried out through the joint efforts of the Thai government and the South Korean Embassy. The Thai government has no special policy toward illegal North Korean refugees, a foreign ministry official told The Irrawaddy. However, Thailand has increased efforts along the Mekong River border to prevent all illegal entries.“We don’t want to be the transit point for illegal entry from other countries,” he said. Prevention is difficult, however, because the border between Thailand, Burma and Laos on the Mekong River is more than 100 kilometers long and very isolated terrain.Resettlement to South Korea is a slow process, involving about 40 people each month. About 400 North Koreans are waiting processing now at the Bangkok Immigration Detention Center. In early May, Life Funds for North Korean Refugees submitted a letter to interim Thai Prime Minister Surayud Chulanont urging the government to expedite the deportation process and to improve the living conditions in the center, following a hunger strike by detainees. Since the hunger strike, the Immigration Office has provided less information about North Koreans at the detention centers.
Researcher Ebihara said he is now unable to meet with detainees in the northern detention center and must wait to meet with them in Bangkok, where the process is more complicated.
Ebihara says the political refugee issue is sensitive, because the Thai government doesn't want to be in the position of Vietnam in 2004, when the North Korean government protested its aid to asylum seekers.
Ebihara said refugees prefer to cross into Thailand from Laos rather than Burma because they are unsure about Burmese policies, particularly since North Korean and Burma now have official diplomatic relations and a much closer relationship.
However, some North Koreans still try to cross through Shan State in areas controlled by ethnic armies and far from Burmese government control.
Officials are aware of several South Korean aids groups operating in Chiang Rai and restaurants that serve as gathering points for North Koreans.
Ebihara noted that if China recognized North Koreans as political refugees and helped them resettle to third countries, it would reduce illegal entries through Southeast Asia. However, that is unlikely to happened, he said.

Pirates and prices, a pressing problem

World Book and Copyright Day is being celebrated on 23 April to give due importance to books. It is United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural Organisation's (UNESCO) aim to promote reading and copyright laws. But in the Indian context, it seems withering, with the 'pirates' unscrupulously invading the industry by 'dumping' pirated books and siphoning off revenues meant for the original publishers.
In connection with the World Book Day, News Today spoke to Gandhi Kannadasan, president of the Booksellers and Publishers Association of South India (BAPASI), on various issues related to books and importance of copyright for writers and publishers.
Kannadasan said, 'First of all, for bookworms and any serious readers, every day is Book Day. Books are as good as our father's and mother's, who nurture good values in us with their guidance so also, books which nourish us with good thoughts'.
Seeking celebrations for the day, Kannadasan says, 'For many readers, the day is meant for gifting books to their friends and relatives. The day also helps them to instil the habit of book reading'. On pirated books, he said, 'To my knowledge, publishers' mentality is contributing to it. For example, if you take any English books, its prices range anywhere between Rs 400 and Rs 500. For a bookworm, it's a huge amount.
And, that price range is out of range for many serious readers, apart from higher middle class. So, 'thirsty readers' never feel guilty in buying the same (pirated) book available on pavements and with other book stalls, as they are priced well below than the original cost'.
So, what is the solution for piracy? A bookseller at Anna Salai said, 'It can be tackled by reducing hefty price tag into a reach of a common reader. By doing this, many, who are not habitual readers, can become serious readers'.
'We do not have any pirated books in Tamil or any other regional languages, because, its prices are market driven and well in the reach of its readers,' said another bookseller at Triplicane.
Falling back wholly on writers of yore April 23 is a symbolic date for world literature for on this date in 1616, Cervantes, Shakespeare and Inca Garcilaso de la Vega all died. It is also the date of birth or death of other prominent authors such as Maurice Druon, Haldor K Laxness, Vladimir Nabokov, Joseph Pla and Manuel Mejía Vallejo. It was a natural choice for UNESCO's General Conference, held in Paris in 1995, to pay a worldwide tribute to books and authors on this date, encouraging everyone, and in particular young people, to discover the pleasure of reading and gain a renewed respect for the irreplaceable contributions of those who have furthered the social and cultural progress of humanity. By celebrating this day throughout the world, UNESCO seeks to promote reading, publishing and the protection of intellectual property through copyright.

How about a return of historical artefact?

Though the Tamilnadu government had announced year-long celebration of the 2550th maha parinirvanam of Lord Buddha in February this year, it would be more apt and befitting if the government could bring back the copper plate inscribed with details of Chudamani Viharai (Buddha temple) built in Nagapattinam in 1008 AD by the then Chola king Rajendra -I but are now in Leiden city in Holland, where it is kept in a museum.
In this regard, News Today spoke to V Nagasundaram, secretary of Anna Nagar Tamil Peravai and Anna Nagar Tamil Sangam, who has an indepth knowledge about the issue.
He says, 'If steps were taken in the right direction to bring back the inscription record (copper plates) and place it back after renovating Chudamani Viharai, importance of Nagapattinam would increase, and in other words, it would bring a good number of tourists there'.
According to South Asian history between 985 AD and 1014 AD, when the great emperor Raja Raja Chola was ruling Chola kingdom, emperor Mara Vijayotunga Varman of Srivijayam Empire has requested permission to construct a viharai (Buddhist temple) in Nagapattinam in memory of his father-emperor Chudamani Varman as he has named the viharai which he has constructed as Chudamani Viharai.
It was also called Raja Raja Viharai. He also constructed another viharai and named it as 'Rajendra Chola Perum Palli'. The king (Raja Raja Chola) not only gave permission for the construction of viharai, though, not only himself but all other Chola kings were 'saivaites'; but also donated a few nearby villages for the proper upkeep of the viharai. King Rajendra Chola-I, who succeeded him, inscribed all the details of the viharai in copper plates and placed them on its premises.
Nagasundaram says, 'According to details available today, that copper plates are now at the Leiden Museum, and they are called as 'Leiden Grants'.
He further says, 'Even now, we can see the remains of old viharais and Lord Buddha's statues in Nagapattinam district. Some of the bronze Buddha statues excavated in this area by the Archaeological Department are now at Chennai Museum. Among them, a few has inscribed words on their pedestal confirming the location of the Chudamani Viharai and Rajendra Chola Perum Palli'.
Advocating strongly for the 'return' of those copper plates, Nagasundaram says, 'If possible, through our External Affairs Ministry, the Tamilnadu government should try to obtain 'Leiden Grants'. If our attempt fails, a replica of the same should be made in copper plates and placed in the renovated viharai as a tribute to our great kings'.
He further says a great memorial can be constructed at Nagapattinam on any one of the models at Sanchi, Gaya, Saranath etc., and declared as a research centre on Buddhism in South-East Asia.
Will the Tamil scholars look into this and make this sweet and great dream reality? Only time has the answer.
- G Saravanan

Dhanraj hits out

REPRODUCTION OF NEWS
'I am still fit enough to play for India'


Indian hockey has plumbed to new depths. The team's performances in recent times has been abysmal, to say the least. Controversy over various matters, including team selection has cropped up now and then.
Veteran star Dhanraj Pillay, who has figured in three Olympic Games and has represented the country in over 400 matches, today took a dig at the
Indian Hockey Federation (IHF) top brass saying 'the IHF president K P S Gill and secretary K Jothikumaran ruined my career and that he was still fit enough to play for India.
Speaking to the media after presenting awards to meritorious students of Velammal School (West), who brought laurels to their school by participating in national and international-level competitions, he said, 'the duo (Gill and Jothikumaran) had been instrumental in bringing down the standard of Indian hockey to new levels, as a result of which the team needs to go through qualifying tournaments to get a berth in the Olympics to be held in China next year.'
On the issue of appointing a foreign coach, Pillay said, 'We have several Indians who can do the job. It is wrong to assume that the Indian team will shine only if it has a foreign coach.'
To a question on the present coach's (V Baskaran) performance, the veteran player said, 'He (Baskaran) is a failed coach. When he took over, he had then said I got a good team to put up a good performance in the World Cup and Asian Games. The results are there for you to see. India finished well below expectations, failing to even qualify for the semifinals in the Asian Games.'
Speaking about the ongoing Premier Hockey League in Chennai, Pillay said, 'It was conceived to develop the sport and to groom players for the national side. But the very objective is lost.'
On not playing in the PHL, Dhanraj said, 'I was ready for the tournament. In the earlier editions, I had played for Maratha Warriors. But this year, due to some internal politics, I could not make it'.