The implementation of the first power holiday for industrial establishments in Madurai Region of Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (TANGEDCO) went off smoothly on Wednesday.

Official sources said that a total relief of around 280 MW was experienced from the Madurai Region, which comprises the five southern districts of Madurai, Dindigul, Theni, Sivaganga and Ramanathapuram.

While the total quantum of power supplied to HT units in Madurai Region was 400 MW, the lesser amount of relief was due to the exemption accorded to several institutions such as hospitals and educational establishments. Totally, the Madurai Region has 595 HT services, of which 400 come under the quota.

Several top officials undertook a tour of the southern districts to monitor the implementation of the power holiday.

It was monitored by officials at the sub-station and field officers.

A senior official said that the overall compliance level of HT units with power holiday was high with no major violations being spotted.

The power holiday scheme for industrial establishments came into force from March 1 and was being implemented on a rotational basis across the State.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 972739.ece

In an effort to mainstream Transgenders, the district administration has taken a major initiative and has provided them an opportunity to be part of a home products exhibition organised by Women's Project in the city.

The exhibition under way at Pudhu Mandapam for the first time has a stall owned by Transgenders attached to Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) Vizhudhugal Federation, Madurai. They have put up a stall selling snacks and savouries and it occupies the first place from the entrance.

The exhibition has 20 stalls put up by members of various women's self-help groups (SHG) in the city and a lone stall put up by a SHG from Dindigul district. The exhibition has a varied range of handicrafts, handlooms, utility products, homemade items, dry fruits, dolls, bags, indigenous health drinks and other everyday use products.

However, two stalls have caught the attention of many visitors and especially the foreigners — one was a stall selling ‘kolam' stencils of various patterns, and another was the stall were application of Mehndi was being done.

The visitors' feedback was that they were happy to see an exhibition organised exclusively for women and transgenders to sell their products. However many said that they would like to see a bigger exhibition with many number of women participating.

I. Shantini, a transgender attached to TAI at the stall said, “We are happy that the Collector has taken this effort to provide us an opportunity. Transgenders today are beginning to emerge from the severe stigma to which they have been subjected to in the past. Today they are in the midst of claiming their space and rights and these efforts boost us to be part of the mainstream and fight for our rights.”

The exhibition was inaugurated by Collector U. Sagayam in the presence of R. Ganesan, Project Officer / Joint Director, Women's Project-Madurai, on Saturday. On the occasion, Mr. Sagayam handed over cheques and orders to 10 members of transgender community to avail loans worth Rs.60, 000 with a subsidy of Rs.12, 000 each.

The exhibition and related events were organised by Karthigai Selvi, Manager, District Supply and Marketing Society, Madurai, besides Assistant Project Officers Nagarathnam, Tamilarasan, Maharajan, and Thenraj. The exhibition will be open till March 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.


http://www.thehindu.com/news/states/tam ... 251516.ece

In an effort to mainstream Transgenders, the district administration has taken a major initiative and has provided them an opportunity to be part of a home products exhibition organised by Women's Project in the city.

The exhibition under way at Pudhu Mandapam for the first time has a stall owned by Transgenders attached to Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative (TAI) Vizhudhugal Federation, Madurai. They have put up a stall selling snacks and savouries and it occupies the first place from the entrance.

The exhibition has 20 stalls put up by members of various women's self-help groups (SHG) in the city and a lone stall put up by a SHG from Dindigul district. The exhibition has a varied range of handicrafts, handlooms, utility products, homemade items, dry fruits, dolls, bags, indigenous health drinks and other everyday use products.

However, two stalls have caught the attention of many visitors and especially the foreigners — one was a stall selling ‘kolam' stencils of various patterns, and another was the stall were application of Mehndi was being done.

The visitors' feedback was that they were happy to see an exhibition organised exclusively for women and transgenders to sell their products. However many said that they would like to see a bigger exhibition with many number of women participating.

I. Shantini, a transgender attached to TAI at the stall said, “We are happy that the Collector has taken this effort to provide us an opportunity. Transgenders today are beginning to emerge from the severe stigma to which they have been subjected to in the past. Today they are in the midst of claiming their space and rights and these efforts boost us to be part of the mainstream and fight for our rights.”

The exhibition was inaugurated by Collector U. Sagayam in the presence of R. Ganesan, Project Officer / Joint Director, Women's Project-Madurai, on Saturday.

On the occasion, Mr. Sagayam handed over cheques and orders to 10 members of transgender community to avail loans worth Rs.60, 000 with a subsidy of Rs.12, 000 each.

The exhibition and related events were organised by Karthigai Selvi, Manager, District Supply and Marketing Society, Madurai, besides Assistant Project Officers Nagarathnam, Tamilarasan, Maharajan, and Thenraj. The exhibition will be open till March 30 from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 256674.ece

Smart card to be introduced in Kottanathampatti

With the objective of enabling the common man to access all Government services through a single system, Collector U. Sagayam has proposed the introduction of a multi-purpose smart card, which would contain all details of the card holder right from name, address and community to profession and land holdings.

Pilot basis

According to officials who were briefed about the project, the Collector had evinced interest in implementing the project on a pilot basis at Kottanathampatti village in Melur block.

The village, which has a population of 2,940 as per 2001 census, has been declared as a ‘Model Village' by the Collector. Mr. Sagayam has urged bankers in the district to come up with a software that could enable a smart card to hold all these details. He has suggested that technology of these cards should be capable of instantly updating any subsequent changes in the card holder's status.

At present, banks are in the process of disbursing biometric-enabled smart cards in various villages of the district to enable those in rural areas to access their bank accounts from their villages through Business Correspondents (BCs).

The Business Correspondents have been provided with a hand-held device to read these smart cards and allow the villagers to withdraw or deposit cash.

The Old Age Pension is going to be the first Government scheme to be accessed through smart cards as pensioners would soon be able to draw their pension from their locality.

New software

However, a banking official said, the existing smart cards could hold only limited data and a new software would have to be developed to incorporate the features suggested by Mr. Sagayam. While the bank responsible for Kottanathampatti village has been asked to pursue the project's feasibility with its IT department, efforts were likely to be taken to rope in National Informatics Centre, the premier institution of the Central Government for providing e-Government solutions.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 264985.ece

He told that this village is going to be transformed into a model village in Madurai district a short while back and he does it

மதுரை மாவட்டத்தில் 1,897 பசுமை வீடுகள்

மதுரை : மதுரை மாவட்டத்தில் 1,897 பேருக்கு பசுமை வீடுகள் கட்டப்படுகின்றன.மாவட்டத்தில் 313 ஊராட்சிகளில் வீடுகள் கட்ட ரூ. 34 கோடியே 14 லட்சத்து 600 ஒதுக்கீடு செய்யப்பட்டது. இதில் 7 மனநலம் பாதிக்கப்பட்டோர், 16 மாற்றுத் திறனாளிகள் உட்பட 1,897 பேருக்கு வீடுகள் கட்டப்பட உள்ளன.
திட்ட இயக்குனர் எம்.பிரபாகர் கூறுகையில், ""பசுமை வீடுகள் விரைவில் கட்டி முடித்து பயனாளிகளுக்கு வழங்கப்படும்,'' என்றார்.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=439145

1897 Eco friendly houses under construction. Guys do anybody know the location of these? Wanted to have a look at them.

மதுரை மாநகராட்சியில் கொசுத் தொல்லை கட்டுப்படுமா? :ஆய்வு செய்யும் பூச்சியியல் நிறுவனம்

மதுரை : மதுரை மாநகராட்சிக்குட்பட்ட பகுதிகளில் கொசுக்களை கட்டுப்படுத்துவது குறித்து, மத்திய பூச்சியியல் ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவனம், புதிய திட்டத்தை ஆய்வு செய்து வருகிறது.
மாநகராட்சியில் திறந்தவெளி சாக்கடை கால்வாய்கள், விரிவாக்க குடியிருப்புகளில் தேங்கிய கழிவுநீர், மேல்நிலை நீர்த் தொட்டிகளில் கொசுக்கள் அதிகம் உற்பத்தியாகின்றன. மாநகராட்சியில் கழிவுநீர் வெளியேற்ற வசதிகள் முழுமையாக செய்யப்படாததால், கொசு உற்பத்தி நாளுக்கு நாள் அதிகரிக்கிறது.
மாநகராட்சி சார்பில் கொசு ஒழிப்புக்கு பல முயற்சிகள் மேற்கொண்டாலும், முற்றிலும் ஒழித்தபாடில்லை.
அறிவியல் பூர்வமான அணுகுமுறையே கொசு உற்பத்தியை நிரந்தரமாக கட்டுப்படுத்தும் என மத்திய பூச்சியியல் ஆராய்ச்சி நிறுவனம் அறிவித்துள்ளது.

அதன் இயக்குனர் (பொறுப்பு) பி.கே. தியாகி கூறியதாவது: ரோட்டிலுள்ள சிறு பள்ளங்களில் மழைநீர், பயன்படுத்திய தண்ணீர் தேங்கி நின்றால், கொசு உற்பத்தியை தடுக்க முடியாது. மாநகராட்சியில் ராட்சத சாக்கடை குழாய்களில் கழிவுநீர் செல்லும் போது, மழைக்காலத்தில் குப்பையை அடித்துக் கொண்டு போய்விடும்.
இதில் இணைக்கப்பட்டுள்ள குழாய்கள், ஆங்காங்கே மேடு, பள்ளங்களில் இருப்பதால், வெயில் காலத்தில் கழிவுநீர் தொடர்ந்து செல்வதில்லை.
இதனால் புல், தாவர இனம் வளர்ந்து, தண்ணீர் பாதையை நிரந்தரமாக அடைக்கின்றன.
இது கொசு உற்பத்திக்கு ஏற்ற இடமாக மாறுகிறது. இதை ஒழுங்குப்படுத்துவதன் மூலம் கொசு உற்பத்தியை தடுக்கலாம்.
அத்துடன் பாதாள சாக்கடை திட்டத்தை முழுமையாக நிறைவேற்ற வேண்டும்.
மாவட்டத்தின் சுற்றளவு, மக்கள் வசிப்பிடம், கொசு உற்பத்தி அதிகமாக உள்ள பகுதி மற்றும் வானிலை சார்ந்த தகவல்களை சேகரித்து வருகிறோம். சுகாதாரத் துறை, மாநகராட்சி, மற்றும் சில துறையினருடன் கூட்டம் நடத்தப்பட்டு, மே மாதத்தில் புதிய செயல்திட்டம் உருவாக்கப்படும்.
பின் அரசு ஒப்புதல் பெற்று மாநகராட்சியில் செயல்படுத்தப்படும், என்றார்.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=439138

Collection of data on population of an area, sprawl of the district area is being done for a mosquito eradication scheme which will be sent to TN Govt for approval in May.

April 02, 2012 (India)

The Sellur Handloom Cloth Manufacturer’s Association has placed several demands for consideration by the state as well as the Central Governments for revival of handloom sector.

The association, based in Sellur region of Madurai district in Tamil Nadu, contended that some private individuals not associated with the textile businesses are stockpiling cotton yarn so as to induce an artificial dearth of commodity. The association urged the state and Central Governments to take necessary measures to stop hoarding of cotton yarn.

The association urged the Central Government to impose a lifetime ban on exports of waste cotton in view of its great demand in local market.

It demanded that the yarn price fixing committee should introduce measures to lower cotton yarn prices. It said the bank loan interest rates should be fixed at six percent for all those engaged in textile production.

Further, the demands included making a provision for making yarn available to handloom weavers at a subsidised rate of Rs. 25 per kg, and to extend the subsidies and tax rebates being provided to cooperative sector weavers to private weavers also.

Moreover, the association called for abolishing the levy of sales tax on cone yarn for powerloom weavers and urged the government to make sincere efforts to end power outages and introduce incentives for handloom exports so as to revive the domestic industry.

Fibre2fashion News Desk - India

http://www.fibre2fashion.com/news/texti ... _id=109615

The Lawyers Association of Madurai District Court (LAMDC) is organising a State-level seminar here on April 14.

The seminar will discuss the issues of accountability of judges, advocates and people and will take stock of the functioning of the three pillars of Indian democracy since Independence.

Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, its secretary M. Subramanian said that the objective of the seminar was to instil a sense of confidence among young lawyers, making them feel that it was a noble profession, seen by many as the last resort of justice.

Its president K.C. Gurusamy said the seminar assumed significance for the legal fraternity since it was almost close to three decades now that Madurai hosted a State-level seminar.

N.S. Ponniah, executive council member, said that the seminar themes would try to bridge the gap between advocates and people.

Justice V. Gopala Gowda, Chief Justice, High Court of Odisha, and Justice D. Murugesan, Judge, Madras High Court, would participate in the seminar.

A souvenir containing articles on legal discourse would be released and resolutions such as interlinking of rivers and need for restructuring election laws would be adopted.

Senior advocate S. Muthukrishnan said that the association expected participation of close to 1,000 lawyers from across the State.


http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Mad ... 303330.ece

இசைக்கூடமாகும் சிறைக்கூடம் :இசைப்பயிற்சி பெறும் கைதிகள்

மதுரை: மனஅழுத்தத்தை போக்க, மதுரை சிறையில் கைதிகளுக்கான இசைப்பயிற்சி நேற்று துவக்கப்பட்டது. கலெக்டர் சகாயம் துவக்கி வைத்து பேசியதாவது : கைதிகள் சுதந்திரம் இழந்த மனநிலைக்கு செல்ல வேண்டாம். மனஅழுத்தம், மனஇறுக்கத்தை போக்க, சிந்தனையை ஒருமைப்படுத்துவதற்கு இசை ஒரு அருமருந்து. கைதிகளின் வாழ்க்கை முன்னேற மாவட்ட நிர்வாகம் சார்பில், பல்வேறு பயிற்சிகள் அளிக்க நடவடிக்கை எடுக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது.
கைதிகள் மனஅழுத்தத்தை குறைக்க, இசைப்பயிற்சியை துவக்க, சிறைத்துறை தலைவருக்கு நான் விடுத்த கோரிக்கையை ஏற்று, அனுமதி அளிக்கப்பட்டுள்ளது. இசைப்பயிற்சியை பயன்படுத்தி, எதிர்காலத்தில் இசையமைப்பாளர்களாக கைதிகள் உருவாக வேண்டும், என்றார். சிறை கண்காணிப்பாளர் ஆனந்த், ஜெயிலர் இளவரசன், இசைக்கல்லூரி முதல்வர் சுவலட்சுமி, சிறை சமூகநல அலுவலர் பாஸ்கரன் பங்கேற்றனர்.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=449368

Collector Sahayam ji rocks

மீனாட்சி சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் திருக்கல்யாணத்தை காண "ஏசி' வசதி

மதுரை: மதுரை மீனாட்சி அம்மன் கோயிலில், மீனாட்சி சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் திருக்கல்யாணத்திற்கு வரும் பக்தர்களுக்காக முதன் முறையாக "ஏசி' வசதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இக்கோயில் சித்திரைத் திருவிழா, ஏப்.,23ல் கொடியேற்றத்துடன் துவங்குகிறது. ஏப்., 30ல் இரவு 7.30 மணிக்கு மீனாட்சி பட்டாபிஷேகமும், மே 1ல் அம்மனின் திக்குவிஜயமும் நடக்கிறது. முக்கிய நிகழ்ச்சியான மீனாட்சி சுந்தரேஸ்வரர் திருக்கல்யாணம் மே 2 ல் காலை 9.15 மணிக்கு நடக்கிறது. வடக்காடி, மேற்காடி வீதிகளில் இதை காண, நான்கு வண்ண அனுமதி சீட்டுகள் வழங்கப்படவுள்ளன. கடந்தாண்டு வரை பக்தர்களுக்காக மின்விசிறிகள் தற்காலிகமாக பொருத்தப்பட்டன. தற்போது கோடை காலம் என்பதால், முதன்முறையாக, 100 டன் திறன் கொண்ட "ஏசி' வசதி செய்யப்படுகிறது. இதற்கான செலவை உபயதாரர் ஒருவர் ஏற்றுக்கொண்டுள்ளார். மேலும், மணமேடையை அலங்கரிக்க, பெங்களூரூவிலிருந்து வண்ண மலர்களும் வரவழைக்கப்படுகின்றன.


http://www.dinamalar.com/News_Detail.asp?Id=450055

A 100-tonne air conditioner is being installed at the Meenakshi Sundareswarar Temple ahead of the celestial wedding of Goddess Meenakshi with Lord Sundareswarar, the main ceremony of Chithirai festival.

Official sources told The Hindu here on Tuesday that the air-conditioner was intended for devotees seated in the North and West Adi streets during the wedding, slated for May 2 (Wednesday). The wedding would be performed at the ‘tirukalyana mandapam' located at the junction of West and North Adi streets on the 10th day of the festival. The entire cost of the air-conditioner has been borne by a donor.

The 12-day annual Chithirai Brahmotsavam of Meenakshi temple would begin with the traditional flag hoisting on April 23 (Monday).

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 326286.ece

Madurai is all set to host an international tennis tournament for the first time. The TVS-ITF Futures Championship will be held from April 23 to 28 at the Madurai Union Club.

The US $ 10, 000 prize money tournament will have participants from various tennis playing countries. The tournament, sponsored by T.V. Sundaram Iyengar (TVS) & Sons, is to be conducted under the auspices of Madurai Tennis Foundation and Tamil Nadu Tennis Association.

According to the organisers, there will be 32 players in the main draw, among whom 24 will get entry as per their world ranking. The rest of the pack have to go through the qualifying rounds to be held on April 21 and 22. The objective of organising an international tournament in Madurai is to promote the game of tennis in south Tamil Nadu.

More details can be had from R. Subramaniam of Madurai Union Club at 9894949025 and 0452 2530105. — Special Correspondent


http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-sports/article3309483.ece

Screenshot from their website :




http://www.itftennis.com/procircuit/tournaments/men%27s-tournament/info.aspx?tournamentid=1100026251

Nice to see some sports activities in Madurai

Corporation Commissioner inspects parking lots in bus stands
A day after warning the contractors of parking lots with a stern action on collection of excess fee from vehicle users, the Corporation Commissioner (in-charge), N. Arumuga Nainar, made two of them pay the collected excess fee back to the customers.

Mr. Arumuga Nainar, along with the Deputy Commissioner (in-charge), A. Devadoss, inspected parking lots at the Shopping Complex Bus Stand, Arapalayam Bus Stand and the Mattuthavani Integrated Bus stand.

Shockingly at the Shopping Complex Bus Stand, where the Corporation itself is managing the parking lot, the local body staff had collected Rs. 5, instead of Rs. 3, for each of the two-wheeler. When the officials enquired, the vehicle users complained that they were forced to pay Rs. 2 in excess.

The Commissioner made the Corporation contract worker, Saravanan, repay Rs. 2 to the vehicle users. “We have transferred the erring employee. A regular Bill Collector has been appointed to collect the parking fee,” Mr. Arumuga Nainar said.

However, there was not any complaint from the parking lot users at the Arapalayam bus stand. “We have asked him to put up a board to display the actual parking fee. We will ensure that those boards are displayed at the parking lots in all the bus stands,” he added.

When the officials came to Mattuthavani Integrated Bus stand, a youth complained that he had been paying only Rs. 3 till last week. “But, these days they have been asking for Rs. 4,” he said. The officials asked the contractor to return Re. 1

Mr. Devadoss told the two-wheeler riders not to pay more than Rs. 3 (for 12 hours). “If they (people manning the parking lot) demand more, kindly complain to us,” he said. Many of the vehicle users thanked the corporation officials.

The vehicle-users also pointed out that the contractor had printed “Service tax extra” on the ticket along with the parking fee of Rs. 3 and was collecting Rs. 4. The officials asked the contractor to strike down the “Service Tax Extra” before issuing.

The Commissioner also ensured that the board displaying the fee (Rs. 2 for bicycles and Rs. 3 for motorcycles) was prominently placed.

The Commissioner said that if such malpractices continued the contractors would have to face penal action.

http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp ... 330345.ece