Date:03/03/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/03/03/stories/2006030305790400.htm Tamil Nadu
Briefly Plea to fill vacant posts CHENNAI: In the absence of adequate revenue staff it will be difficult to carry out election-related works, including verification of 19 lakh claims for inclusion or deletion of names in the electoral rolls, the Tamilnadu State Revenue Officials Association said here on Thursday. In a statement, association general secretary M.Kamalanathan said about 200 posts of assistants and typists were vacant. Existing strength of Tahsildars and Deputy Tahsildars was insufficient. If the vacancies were not filled, it would have serious repercussions on the elections. Office-bearers of the association met Chief Electoral Officer Naresh Gupta, who assured them that he would discuss the issue with the Chief Secretary and the Revenue Secretary. They met the Revenue Secretary and submitted a memorandum. Among other things it demanded that junior assistants in the election wing of the Revenue Department should be allowed to take the special Tamil Nadu Public Services Examination, being conducted for temporary junior assistants.  Special Correspondent EC observers for Tirupur, Theni NEW DELHI: The Election Commission will send observers to Tirupur and Theni Assembly segments between March 3 and March 7 to oversee revision of electoral rolls. The Commission has deputed Shashant Goel, Additional Secretary, Commerce, Andhra Pradesh, to Tirupur constituency and Manmohan Singh, Commissioner, Tribal Welfare, Andhra Pradesh, to Theni.  Staff Correspondent Tsunami rehabilitation initiative CHENNAI: Manpower India has launched its second vocational training centre at Nagapattinam as part of its tsunami rehabilitation initiative. It aims at facilitating long-term rehabilitation of victims by equipping them with skills for new employment and entrepreneurship. It has committed $1 million for setting up and running vocational training centres in Tamil Nadu, a release said. Manpower has drawn up a detailed implementation plan for the next 15 years. About 1,000 people will be trained each year. The first centre at Tharangambadi is offering training in computer applications, servicing of appliances, construction and tailoring. The project will also provide seed money for self-help groups and create at least 70 businesses for women. Soumen Basu, Executive Chairman, Manpower India, during a visit to Nagapattinam said they were looking to provide third party employment opportunities for students.  Special Correspondent Slogan competition CHENNAI: UNESCO and the United Nations-ISDR (International Strategy for Disaster Reduction) will launch a two-year-long campaign worldwide to mobilise students and teachers of primary and secondary schools. As part of it, a slogan-writing competition will be held for students in the age group 6 to 18. The slogan should focus on the theme `disaster reduction starts at school.' The last date for submission of entries is March 31. Slogans should be sent to sc.disaster@unesco.org. More information can be had from the website (www.unisdr.org) or Brigitte Leoni, communication officer of ISDR, at leonib@un.org, according to a press release.  Special Correspondent Farmers hail verdict on Mullaperiyar dam CHENNAI: The Tamil Nadu Vivasaigal Sangham has welcomed the Supreme Court judgment on the Mullaperiyar dam.  Special Correspondent Left stir against Bush visit KARUR : Cadres belonging to the Communist Party of India and the CPI (Marxist) staged a demonstration in Karur on Thursday protesting the India visit of United States President George W. Bush. Over 65 cadres belonging to the two major left parties gathered at the Light House Corner in the town and raised anti-US and anti-Bush slogans. They also criticised the ``hegemonistic policies'' adopted by the Bush administration on world affairs. Speakers at the protest took strong exception to various ``anti-Third World'' attitude of the US. The CPI district secretary, M. Rathinam, and his CPI (M) counterpart, D. R. Periathambi, led the demonstration. Elsewhere, the Makkal Kalai Ilakkiya Kazhagam, the Viviasayigal Viduthalai Munnani, the Puratchikara Manavar Ilaignar Munnai and the Puratchikara Jananayaka Thozhilalar Munnani protested Mr. Bush's visit by hanging by neck a caricature of the US President near the bus stand. Protest fast KARUR : A total of 26 employees of the Tamil Nadu Asbestos Limited, Mayanur, staged a protest fast on Thursday along with their family members demanding that the Government pay the four months salary due to them and also demanding that the factory, that has remained closed for the past few years, be revived immediately. Eight women also participated in the fast. Career guidance programme Thanjavu r: A career guidance programme was organised by Industry Institute Interaction Cell of Periyar Centenary Polytechnic College, Vallam, in association with Central Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region) here recently. H. Parveen, Dean of Continuing Education, said that our country's population was an advantage and our resource was knowledge. She advised the student community to have application and analytical mind. She emphasised that the students must possess technical and communication skill to succeed in life. A. Ayyakannu, Regional Director, Central Board of Apprenticeship Training (Southern Region), said that there was an ample opportunity for diploma holders than engineering graduates in multi-national companies. Industries are looking forward to the candidates with right attitude. B.Vimala, senior lecturer of architectural assistantship, welcomed the gathering. R. Malliga, Vice-Principal, participated in the function. A. Hemalatha, Placement and Training Officer, proposed a vote of thanks. Mettur level TIRUCHI: The level at the Mettur dam stood at 112.48 feet on Thursday. The inflow was 1,412 cusecs, and the outflow 1,000 cusecs. Local holiday TIRUNELVELI: The district administration has announced local holiday on March 4 in view of the birth anniversary of `Ayya Vaikunda Swamy.' A statement said all government establishments and schools would remain closed. However, banks would function normally and sub-treasuries would be working with minimum workforce. To compensate this holiday, government establishments would function on May 13. Woman commits suicide Nagercoil: A woman committed suicide by consuming poison on Thursday. According to police, Dhanalekshmi (39) of Monday Market came to know that her husband had an illicit affair with a girl. So she took this extreme step. The police rushed to the spot, recovered the body and sent it for post-mortem. Dies in accident Nagercoil: A merchant was killed in a hit-and-run accident at Thottiyode on Thursday. The police rushed to the spot and recovered the body of Gnana Selvan (23) of Villukuri. Fast observed TIRUNELVELI: Cadres of Students' Federation of India and some students observed fast at Palayamkottai here on Thursday protesting "anti-student policies," being pursued by the administration of a private engineering college, about 15 km from Palayamkottai. Student killed in accident ERODE: A college student was killed in an accident and another sustained serious injuries. According to police, Akila, a student of a college in Perundurai road, was driving a motorcycle with Piju, 21 of Thindal, Erode, seated in the pillion. When she tried to negotiate a turn in Sakthinagar junction on Perundurai main road, she ran into another motorcycle from the opposite direction. Both Akila and Piju sustained serious injuries, were removed to a private hospital in Coimbatore, where Piju died on Wednesday. - Staff Reporter Blue metal scarce in Erode ERODE : Road works worth Rs one crore have been delayed due to the non-availability of blue metal in Perundurai area. The Perundurai Special grade Panchayat and Karumandichellipalayam panchayat have decided to develop the panchayat road at a total cost of Rs one crore. Tender for the works were also issued. But the contractors said that due to sudden hike in the prices of blue metal by Rs 200 per unit and also non-availability of the product, they could not undertake the works. They urged the Collector to instruct the quarry owners and quarry crusher factories to supply the blue metal. - Staff Reporter Police postings ERODE: As per the directions of the Election Commission, the Superintendent of Police P. Nagarajan transferred nine Sub Inspectors working for more than three years in a Police sub-division. They were shifted to other subdivisions. Similarly the Deputy Inspector General ordered the transfer of 13 Inspectors of Police from Erode district to Coimbatore and Nilgiris districts. Mr. Nagarajan said that 16 new Inspectors from other districts had been posted to Erode district. - Staff Reporter Rs. 8 cr. for road works ERODE: The long-pending Rs 8 crore road development work started on Wednesday at Mettukadai. The State Government has sanctioned Rs 8 crores for the development of Perundurai Highways. Under the scheme, the present Erode-Perundurai road from Paneerselvam Park to Perundurai Police station area will be developed. The Perundurai MLA K.S. Palanisamy, the Perundurai MLA, said as a result Perundurai road would have easy access to SIPCOT Industrial growth centre. - Staff Reporter Rice bags seized ERODE: The Railway Protection Force Police on Thursday seized 20 bags of ration rice found abandoned in the Fourth Platform of Erode Railway Junction. - Staff Reporter © Copyright 2000 - 2007 The Hindu
The Ayya Vaikunda Avatharam is a festival celebrated in a grand scale in the southern districts of Tamil Nadu. People from almost all the districts of Tamil Nadu visit Swamithoppe Pathi, the religious headquarters of Ayyavazhi. And for the comfort of the devotees, for a long time the religious leader of Ayyavazhi Bala Prajapathi Adikalar and some other Ayyavazhi Movements demanded from the government, a leave of absence for the districts of Tirunelveli, Chennai, Madurai, Thoothukudi and Virudunagar. 

Taking into consideration, the government of Tamil Nadu have announced the day of Vaikunda Avatharam (March 4) as a holiday for the districts of Tirunelveli and Thoothukudi, the districts in which the Ayyavazhi followers was populated mostly, from this year. 

Still, they request for a leave for the districts for Chennai, Madurai and Virudunagar.