Updated 06/06/05

South Indian cultural festival : KOZHIKODE: At the South Indian cultural festival being organised by the Calicut University Union on June 16 and 17, actor Nedumudi Venu and sculptor Kanayi Kunhiraman will be felicitated, the former for winning an international award and the latter for being awarded the Raja Ravi Varma Prize.

Akshaya invites applications : KOZHIKODE: Those interested in becoming entrepreneurs of Akshaya should submit their applications before June 10. The application forms can be had from the nodal officer in offices of local bodies or from the Akshaya Project office. Applications can also be submitted on the website www.akshaya.net/swr. The district project office of Akshaya programme being implemented to spread computer literacy has started functioning on second floor of Zamorin's Square, CDA building, on Railway Station Link Road. Details can be had at: 0495- 2349014.

Safety guidelines for students, drivers : KOZHIKODE: The City Police Commissioner, H. Venkatesh, has suggested safety guidelines to be followed by students and drivers of vehicles, including transport buses and autorickshaws, on the roads in the city. The suggestions come as schools reopened after the summer vacation on Wednesday. The objective is to make the roads safe for use by students, teachers and parents, and avoid accidents. Transport buses have been directed to halt at stops. Autorickshaws which take students to school should not be overloaded. Students should use the `zebra' line for crossing the road. Vehicles should stop at these lines. Scout and Guides, and Red Cross volunteers have been directed to help students cross the road. Another directive is to use footpaths on the right side of roads. Venatesh has called upon students and bus operators to cooperate with each other and avoid conflicts. In case of emergencies, the police may be contacted at control room (ph: 100); crime stopper (1090); and traffic station (2721017).

NIT-C ranked fifth in GATE-2005 : KOZHIKODE: The National Institute of Technology - Calicut has bagged the all-India fifth rank in the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering-2005 (GATE), riding on the good performance of the students in the test, which is reckoned as a benchmark of the engineering education. Besides, the NIT-C has more GATE-qualified engineering graduates than IITs in Delhi and Roorkee. Out of the 249 NIT-C students who appeared for the GATE, 156 students (62.65 percent) have bagged GATE score for higher studies.

NC(I) opens district office : KOZHIKODE: Assuring party men that sincere and dedicated service to promote and popularise the newly formed National Congress (I) will be adequately rewarded, its State president, K. Muraleedharan, inaugurated the Kozhikode office of the party near the Corporation Office at Beach on Monday. Mr. Muraleedharan reminded a large gathering of supporters who had crowded into the building to witness the inaugural function that Congress party offices had to function from rented premises even when the party had split in 1978. So, they need not feel unhappy that the National Congress (I) had to open an office in a rented building while the ruling Congress group operated from the DCC office. He said that in the official group, party workers had to be servile and sycophantic to get recognition. Even the Indira Bhavan, which houses the KPCC head-office in Thiruvananthapuram, assumed its present form when he (Mr. Muraleedharan) was the KPCC president, he said.

Updated 04/05/05

ALA video film awards announced : KOZHIKODE: `Surakshithar' directed by Sageer Krishnan was chosen as the best film at the Amateur Little Cinema (ALA) Awards Video Festival held recently at Kozhikode Regional Science Centre and Planetarium. The other awards were bagged by Suveeran (director); Gopi Kandassamkadavu (best actor), Deepa Vijayan (best actress); M.G. Sasi (best scriptwriter), Baby Archana (special jury award). `Lavantur' directed by P.M. Prabhu and produced by Victoria College, Palakkad, was adjudged the best campus film; `The Shells' directed by Shimla was the best documentary; `Hridayathil' won the best album award while `Between two tracks' directed by M. Sabaraish won the best five-minute film.

BJYM plans stir against water theme park : KOZHIKODE: The Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) is planning a strong agitation against the water theme park that the CPI(M) has planned in Kannur. To protest against the project, Yuva Morcha, the youth wing of BJP, would be taking out a protest march on May 17, from Plachimada to Parassinikkadavu, the site of the proposed tourist attraction, K. Surendran, State president of the BJYM told mediapersons on Tuesday. He said a massive agitation was being organised since the water theme park, that would be set up at Parassinikkadavu, `would be a grave threat to the eco-system.'' The Yuva Morcha had information that huge quantities of groundwater would be drawn for running the project.

A key stop-over for tourists in Vatakara : VATAKARA: For domestic and foreign tourists visiting Vatakara, known for its distinctive cultural traditions like 'Kalarippayattu' and 'Vadakkan pattu', the 'Sri Krishna International' hotel has now become a key stop-over. The tourist flow is further accentuated as the place is on the Ernakulam - Goa highway route frequented by tourists.The hotel is now on the expansion mode with several facilities, including health resort and roof-top garden facility, to be added in the coming months. ''We are expecting group tourists from the Middle East and from countries like Germany and Australia. We have assured the services of expert Kalari masters to give quality treatment at the proposed resort,'' says N.K. Jeeju, managing partner of Sri Krishna International. The proposed health resort-cum-guest house will come up on the Customs Road before September this year. It will be set up at a place situated close to one of the scenic beach areas in Vatakara.Apart from 'Kalarimarma' treatment and traditional herbal massage, the resort will also have a permanent venue for the performance of folk arts, kalarippayattu and various other traditional art forms of Kerala.

Updated 13/04/05

Doctors to observe black day : KOZHIKODE: Government doctors will observe black day on Sunday in protest against the suspension of the Kozhikode District Medical Officer (DMO), K. T. Remani. The DMO was suspended on charges of alleged irregularities in appointment of part-time sweepers. Condemning the action against the DMO, the district general body of the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association (KGMOA) said all prescribed norms were followed by the DMO while selecting part-time sweepers for appointment. Yet the "just and honest" DMO was suspended on "technical grounds," it said. The association is observing black day on Sunday to press for reinstatement of the DMO into service and has appealed to the Chief Minister, Oommen Chandy, to intervene.
 
World Health Day observed  : KOZHIKODE: With the focus this year on the theme `every mother and child counts', programmes organised here in connection with the World Health Day centred on uplifting the health status of the two. The Department of Community Medicine, Government Medical College, in association with the Department of Social Work, St. Joseph's Devagiri College, and the NGO group Community Health Links organised a photo- poster awareness campaign at the moffusil bus stand here today. Pamphlets were also distributed during the campaign, which evoked good response.
 
Updated 25/03/05

Painting camp of 25 Young painters : KOZHIKODE: A two-day painting camp will be conducted for 25 selected young artists at the S.K. Pottekkat Cultural Centre here. The camp, which is being held in the first week of April, will have sessions on the latest nuances in the field of art. The classes will be led by experts in the field, said the centre secretary P.M.V. Paniker. Young artists who have exhibited their prowess in the field can participate in the camp. For details, contact the secretary, S.K. Pottekkat Cultural Centre, Puthiyara, Kozhikode-673 004. The artists should send their bio-data and a copy of their latest work. Details can be had at: 0495-2742776, 9349102750.

Gramakala Grandhalayam Award : KOZHIKODE: V M Vinu, filmmaker, has been selected for an award instituted by the Gramakala Grandhalayam, Muthukad. The award carries a purse of Rs.5,001, a plaque crafted by artist Paul Kallanode and a citation. The organisers said at a press conference here that the Minister for Public Works, M.K. Muneer, would present the award at a programme to be held soon.

Rotary Children with Cancer project : KOZHIKODE: The Rotary Beach has earmarked a sum of Rs.50,000 for its `Children with Cancer Project.' Under the project, children afflicted with cancer under treatment at Kozhikode Medical College Hospital will be provided the expenses for conducting lab tests for six months. The sum will be handed over to the Rotary District governor, C.M. Aboobacker, at a programme to be held on March 21. Lulu Mathews and Ashraf, of the Medical College Hospital Paediatric Department, will oversee the working of the project.

Pouravakasa Samrakshana Vedi Project: KOZHIKODE: The Kerala Pouravakasa Samrakshana Vedi has launched a novel project, `Janasree Samrambham'. The State president of the vedi, M. Ashokan, said in a press release here that the sphere of activity of the project included a marriage bureau, employment consultancy, real estate, blood and eye donation. It would also offer services to people during natural calamities, communal riots and disasters.

Ration dealers' request: KOZHIKODE: The district committee of All Kerala Retail Ration Dealer's Association has suggested that the Civil Supplies Corporation procure paddy directly from the farmers and distribute the rice through select Maveli stores and ration shops. The corporation could work out this method by taking a few rice mills on lease to convert the paddy procured from farmers. This would solve the problems of the paddy farmers. A resolution to this affect was adopted at a meeting of the association here today. The State
working president, A.V. Basheer, and the district general secretary, T. Mohammedali, among others, participated in the meeting.

DYFI Deshabhimana Sangamom : KOZHIKODE: The DYFI will organise a Deshabhimana Sangamom in Kozhikode and Payyanoor on March 12.This is to mark the the 75th anniversary of the Dandi Yathra.
DYFI state secretary A. Pradeep Kumar said that the Deshabhimana Sangamom will be held at the Martyrs’ Column in Kozhikode Beach and at the Gandhi Park in Payyannur, where Salt Satyagraha was held. The aim of the Sangamom is to sensitise the young generation on the dangerous trends of capitalism like the patent law reforms and the Seed Bill, Pradeep Kumar said. The ordinance for making amendments in the Indian Patent Law will only help protect the interest of multinational companies. The Seed Bill will sound the death knell of the Indian farming community, he said.

Punjab National Bank customers' meet: KOZHIKODE: Punjab National Bank conducted a customers' meet in connection with the forthcoming public issue of shares at Malabar Gate Hotel on 28 February, 2005. Customers from Malapuram, Calicut and Kannur attended the meeting. B K Jayaprakashan, regional manager, welcomed the gathering. S V Shenoy, zonal manager, Kerala zone, presided. Chief manager T Sasidhara Panicker talked about bank's performance, on the forthcoming public issue and answered queries from the customers.

Seminar on medicinal plant farming: KOZHIKODE: The Ayurniketh Research Foundation here conducted a seminar on medicinal plant farming, their collection and distribution at the Hotel Sea Queen on Wednesday. Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala superintendent Dr P Madhavankutty Warrier inaugurated the seminar. Chief physician of Arya Vaidyasala, Kozhikode, Dr P N Ravindran presided. Director of Areacanut Spices Directorate Dr M Tamil Selvan was the chief guest.

Patanjali yoga hospital featuring old-age home : KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode-based Patanjali Yoga Research Centre will set up a yoga hospital. The hospital will provide assistance to those who choose yoga to cure diseases and to impart training in advanced yoga techniques to aspirants. The proposed Patanjali Yoga Hospital, a comprehensive project of the two-decade-old Patanjali, will have various features including a ‘Jeevitha Darshana Camp’, a centre for temple art forms, an old-age home, a children’s camp and a de-addiction centre. To be set up on a three-acre plot on the bank of Akalappuzha at Kakkodi near Kozhikode, the hospital will become partially functional by April 2005. The initial phase of the project will cost around Rs 1 crore.

IIM Management Development Programme : KOZHIKODE: A three-day Management Development Programme (MDP) on `Advanced data analysis for marketing decisions' will be organised by the Indian Institute of Management, Kozhikode (IIM-K) on its campus at Kunnamangalam, near here, from February 18. It will be useful for marketing, sales or brand managers of fast moving consumer goods. For details, contact MDP Office, IIM-K, Kunnamangalam Post, Calicut - 673571. (Phone number: 0495-2809208; 94471 00539). The e-mail address is mdp@iimk.ac.in

Updated 05/02/05

Mullankunnu set to be placed in the industrial map : KOZHIKODE: Mullankunnu , rustic village near Kuttiadi is about to have a unique place in the industrial map of the state with the opening of the ceiling fan unit launched by a group of handicapped and underprivileged persons next week. Set up by a 40-member team, including as many as 18 disabled, the ceiling fan unit which is supported by the Manjeri-based 'C.G. Fans' and funded by Federal Bank through the Prime Minister's Rozgar Yojana is the first of its kind in the state.

Hightech Park project at the Mananchira Square : KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode Corporation has approved the project prepared by ICICI- Kinfra for establishing a Hightech Park at the Mananchira Square. This was decided at a special meeting of the council held here today. The ambitious project includes setting up a cafeteria, an amusement park for children and renovating the musical fountain among other things at the Mananchira Square. The project will be based on a Built-Operate and Transfer (BOT) scheme. Bids for the project would be invited shortly, the Kozhikode Mayor, Thottathil Ravindran, said. The council also reconstituted the working groups for implementing the annual plan for 2005-2006. Mr. Ravindran chaired the session.

Mata in Kalpetta : KOZHIKODE: Mata Amritanandamayi, spiritual leader is to arrive today at Kalpetta in Wayanad to a awesome welcome by her devotees. She was accorded a reception at the SKMJ High School grounds in the evening. Special bus services were arranged to enable devotees to attend the function. Mata Amritanandamayi will leave for Mysore tomorrow after the programme in Wayanad.

Eco-activists meet : KOZHIKODE: A meeting of environmentalists in the State will be held at Town Hall here today. Environmentalist and Chipko movement leader Sunderlal Bahuguna will participate in the meeting, which is being held to discuss the alleged degradation of forests and rivers. The programme is being conducted under the aegis of Wayanad Prakriti Samrakshana Samithi and Malabar Natural History Society. Representatives of environmental groups such as Society for Environment Education Kerala (SEEK), Kerala Sastra Sahitya Parishad (KSSP), Thanal, Neithal and Chalakkudipuzha Samrakshana Samithi will participate in the discussions.

Updated 30/01/05

'Backwaters 2005' : The two-day annual management festival, `Backwaters 2005' began on its campus at Kunnamangalam, near here. The festival is organised by the Indian Institute of Management Kozhikode (IIM-K). Students from 17 business schools and engineering colleges in the country are participating in a series of games, simulations, paper presentations and other competitions. Students of colleges including Indian Institute of Management, Bangalore, XLRI, SP Jain, Management Development Institute (MDI), Gurgaon and NITIE are here to attend the meet. A team from National Institute of Technology, Calicut, is also participating in the event. A two-day IIMK alumni meet began at the campus premises today. Competitions such as dumb charades, Just-A-Minute (JAM), paper dances, antakshari, ad mad and quiz were held today. A concert by Pandit Vishwa Mohan Bhatt, Grammy award winner, in the evening will be the highlight of tomorrow's programme.

Road to be named after late Chief Minister : The Calicut University Syndicate today decided to name the main road leading from the university entrance to the library on the campus after the late Chief Minister C H Mohammed Koya. He had been the Minister for Education as the nominee of Indian Union Muslim League when the university was set up.

Self-employment venture : The group self-employment venture being initiated by the District Industries Centre (DIC) here for physically challenged persons and women below the poverty line (BPL) will be inaugurated by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation (KSIDC) chairman, P H Kurien, at Maruthonkara in Vadakara taluk on January 31. The group venture has been provided with a capital of Rs.40 lakhs for the manufacture of ceiling fan parts. The land and other amenities have been provided by Centre for Overall Development, a non-governmental organisation.

Everything set for flower show : Arrangements have been made for the conduct of the annual Calicut Flower Show here from February 9 to 14. The show is being organised by the Calicut Agri-Horticultural Society, in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture and Krishivigyan Kendra, Peruvannamuzhi. N Udayan, general convener of the event, said here today that the show being held at Swapna Nagari would showcase a wide variety of flowers and plants, besides aquatic ferns and fish. Carvings in ice, butter and vegetables, which were major attractions at the show last year, would also be showcased. A major item on the agenda was classes and seminars on floriculture, water conservation and aquatic plants. An essay competition was conducted as part of the show for students at the Gandhi Park. The Principal Agriculture Officer, C. Abdul Rasheed, inaugurated the programme.

Legal literacy project : A legal literacy project to enable the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes to safeguard their rights was inaugurated at Kalpetta in Wayanad today by the Chief Justice of the Kerala High Court, B Subhashan Reddy. The project is being executed by the Wayand district legal services authority. The Chief Justice expressed the hope that the project would attain its goal of empowering the scheduled communities and speeding up their development. Under the scheme, SC/ST promoters will work in association with lawyers, judges and representatives of non-governmental organizations to educate these communities to assert their legal and social rights. Awareness about legal rights is expected to enable them to resist exploitation. It will make all concerned in SC/ST development accountable and accelerate their social development. Six legal aid clinics are being opened to collect complaints and seek quick remedial action.

Updated 26/01/05

Yuvadhara award presentation on Jan 26 : KOZHIKODE: Yuvadhara awards would be presented at a function to be held here on January 26 to Baby Thomas and R Jayalakshmi .The awards are instituted by Yuvadhara, the mouthpiece of Democratic Youth Federation of India (DYFI). Baby Thomas gets the award for best short story and Jayalakshmi for best poem. A committee headed by author M. Mukundan chose the best short story. Poet ONV Kurup headed the committee that selected the best poetry. A seminar on "literature in times of globalisation" is also being held on the day, C P Musafar Ahammed, general convener of the programme, said.

"Jwalanam" Wallpaper released : KOZHIKODE: The students of the Government Vocational Higher Secondary School at Cheruvannur has brought out a wallpaper - "Jwalanam" - as part of their project work. The school principal, Abdussamad, released the wallpaper at a function on the campus.

Homoeo Nurses Association Convention : KOZHIKODE :The Kozhikode district convention of the Kerala Government Homoeo Nurses Association has demanded that the Government should drop the move to start homoeo nurse-cum-pharmacist courses in the private sector. The convention was inaugurated by Baby Castro. E K Mohammed presided over the inaugural function.

Trade union meeting of closed PSUs should be called :KOZHIKODE: Trade unions in the district have welcomed the statement of the Industries Minister, V K brahim Kunju, that the Thamarakshan Committee report on sick Public Sector Units (PSUs) in the State would be examined. In a statement here, the AITUC district council said if the Minister was sincere he should call a meeting of the trade unions of closed PSUs in Kozhikode district at the earliest. A meeting of the council here, in this connection, pointed out that the workers of the closed PSUs, the Kerala Soaps and Oils (KSO), Thiruvannur Cotton Mills and Steel Complex, were on a dharna in front of the Collectorate in the last many months. The protest was being held under the Joint Action Council comprising CITU, INTUC, AITUC, BMS, among others. The workers under the aegis of the council proposed to intensify their stir to demand measures to reopen the units. If the Minister was earnest about reviving the sick units, he should take the required measures without delay, it was added. The AITUC district council president, K. Ramachandra Shetty, presided. The secretary, K.M. Kuttikrishnan, the State secretary, Binoy Viswam, MLA, were among those who participated in the deliberations.

Alumni meet: KOZHIKODE: The Alumni Day of Calicut Medical College (CMC) and Silver Jubilee celebrations of the 23rd batch will be held at the Medical College auditorium here on Sunday. Prem Menon, president, Association of Kerala Medical Graduates (AKMG) in U S and Canada, will be the chief guest on the occasion

Vaccination for Haj pilgrims: KOZHIKODE: Vaccination facilities are being provided to the 9409 hajis undertaking pilgrimage through private Haj groups. Arrangements to this effect have been made at all district medical centres according to a press release from the secretary, All India Haj Umrah Tour Organisers Association.

Film festival from January 26: KOZHIKODE: A film festival will be organised as part of the `Malabar Maholsav' to be held from January 26 to 31. A website on the festival will be made. The main venue for the programme will be the stadium grounds. Details of the `Malabar Maholsav,' annual tourist attraction in Kozhikode, were discussed at a meeting of people's representatives, representatives of social and cultural organisations and officials at the Collectorate.

MYL to take out rally: KOZHIKODE: The Muslim Youth League (MYL) State president, Syed Sadiquali Shihab Thangal, will lead a State-wide rally from Kasaragod on February 1 demanding that the United Democratic Front (UDF) Government implement a special recruitment drive based on the Narendran Commission findings.

The rally will culminate with a march to the Secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on February 28, the Thangal and the MYL State general secretary, K M Shaji, told presspersons here yesterday.

Updated 26/11/04

Sudheeran to inaugurate KUWJ's convention : KOZHIKODE: The Congress leader V M Sudheeran will inaugurate a convention on protection of media freedom at 4 p m at the Press Club Hall here on November 26.

The convention is being organised by the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) as part of its State-wide campaign against attacks on media in the wake of recent attacks on mediapersons at Karipur, Kozhikode and Kochi. Conventions titled `Media and power centres' will be held in all districts. The Kozhikode convention, which will be the State-wide inauguration of a series of conventions planned, will be presided over by the KUWJ president, Bobby Abraham.

Level-crossings to be closed for repair : KOZHIKODE: Some railway level-crosses in the district will be closed down on November 24, November 30 and December 5 due to repair work. The Nandi railway level-cross will be shut down from 8 pm. on November 24 to 5 a m. on November 25; the Kollam railway level-cross from 8 a m to 5 pm. on November 30 and the Pookode level-cross from 8 a m to 5 pm on December 8, a Public Relations Department release said here yesterday.

Philosophy conference today : KOZHIKODE: The fifth State conference of the Kerala Philosophy Association will be held at the Calicut University seminar complex on November 25. M P Veerendrakumar, MP, will inaugurate the conference being hosted by the University Philosophy Department.

U RAnanthamurthy, noted academician and former Vice Chancellor, Mahatma Gandhi University, will deliver the keynote address.

Keralolsavam on Dec 4 : KOZHIKODE: The Kozhikode district Keralolsavam will be conducted at Kandamkulam Jubilee Hall here on December 4 and 5, the district panchayat vice president, V Kunhali, said here yesterday. Five hundred persons from various parts of the district would take part in the cultural events. Competitions as part of the national youth festival will also be held on the occasion.

A reception committee with the district panchayat president, M K Nalini, as chairperson, the District Collector, Rachna Shah, as organising secretary and the district panchayat secretary, E K Krishnan, as convener was constituted in this regard at a meeting held here yesterday.

IA flight timings : KOZHIKODE: Owing to operational reasons, the following Indian Airlines flights on November 18 and November 19 have been rescheduled:

IC595 Kozhikode-Sharjah flight on November 18, scheduled to depart at 6.15 p m, will leave at 11.45 p m.
On November 19, IC596 from Sharjah will arrive at Kozhikode at 10.15 a m instead of at 7.45 a m On November 19, IC596 Kozhikode-Mumbai flight, scheduled to depart at 8.35 a m, has been rescheduled to leave at 11 a m, the Indian Airlines area marketing manager said.

Calicut VC inaugurates Training : KOZHIKODE: The Calicut University Vice Chancellor, Syed Iqbal Hasnain, on Tuesday inaugurated the pre-conference skill training residential camp for psychologists organised by the Department of Psychology in connection with the national conference of the Community Psychology Association of India to be held on the campus from November 22 to November 24.

The Minister for Local Administration, Kutty Ahmed Kutty, will inaugurate the two-day national conference.

'Guru Varsham-150' inauguration on Nov 24 : KOZHIKODE: Congress leader V M Sudheeran will attend the 'Guru Varsham-150' programme to be held here on November 24. The meeting is being organized by SNDP Corodination Committee, a platform of those who support SNDP Yogam president C K Vidyasagar, who has fell out with Yogam general secretary Vellappalli Natesan.

Education Minister E T Mohammed Basheer will inaugurate the meeting which will be presided over by Vidyasagar. Mayor Thottathil Raveendran will release the souvenir. Swami Adyathmananda Saraswathi will deliver the benediction address and Sudheeran the keynote address.

The meeting will be a show of strength of the Vidyasagar faction in the Yogam. The 'Guru Varsham' programme is planned as parallel to the one organized by Natesan in Kollam a few months ago.

Cartoonist B M Gafoor remembered : KOZHIKODE: B M Gafoor, cartoonist, was remembered by people from all walks of life, including politicians who had been the characters of most of his cartoons, at a meeting held here yesterday. The meeting was organised by the Kozhikode Press Club and Department of Information and Public Relations (PRD) in connection with the cartoonist's first death anniversary on November 13.

The Minister for Public Works, M K Muneer, inaugurated the meeting by drawing a caricature of Gafoor. In his inaugural speech, Muneer said that he had been influenced by Gafoor's cartoons. A collection of political cartoons by Gafoor would serve as a synopsis of the political history of the State.
M P Veerendrakumar, MP, released a CD on the life of the cartoonist, by handing it over Gafoor's son, Tanveer Gafoor.

Literary competitions on Nov 10 : KOZHIKODE: Natyacharya Chemancheri Kunhiraman Raman will inaugurate the `Northern Cluster Arts and Literary Competitions' to be organised at the Amrita Vidyalaya at Vadakkara for the Amrita Vidyalas in Kozhikode, Kannur and Wayanad districts, on November 10 and 11.

Updated 05/11/04

Sale of Deepavali sweets: KOZHIKODE: The Tali Brahma Samooham has arranged for sale of Deepavali sweets from November 9 till 12 noon on November 11. The sale of coupons for purchasing the sweets was inaugurated today by T V Krishna Iyer, an office-bearer of Tamil Sangham. For details, contact the Samooha Madam office on phone number 2701781.

Bhajan on Bhagavan Sai Baba's birth anniversary : KOZHIKODE: A 79-hour akhanda bhajana yagnam began at the Sathya Sai Seva Sangham office in Koilandi, near here, yesterday to mark the 79th birth anniversary of Bhagavan Sree Sathya Sai Baba . The programme has been organised by the Kozhikode chapter of Sree Sathya Sai Seva Sanghatana. Sanghatana president P P Bhaskaran lit a traditional lamp to mark the beginning of the programme.

Vakkom to inaugurate Arts Festival : KOZHIKODE: The Excise Minister, Vakkom Purushothaman, will inaugurate the third edition of the Kerala State Excise Arts and Sports Festival at the Kozhikode Medical College grounds on November 5. One thousand officials and their family members would take part in 18 matches in six games categories, 81 competitions in 22 track and field events and 16 contests in 34 cultural events in the three-day programme.

Musical programme for fund mobilisation : KOZHIKODE: The Society for Mental Health, a voluntary organisation working for the rehabilitation of intellectually challenged patients, will organise a musical programme on December 19 to mobilise funds for completing a new block with modern facilities and features at the Tamton Abdul Azeez Manas Centre at Thalakkulathur here. The musical programme will feature young singers such as Nikhil, Afsal, Vidhu Pratap, Rimy Tomy, Ranjini Jose and Gayathri. Comedian Saj Palluruthy will compere the programme.

Recruitment rally : KOZHIKODE: An open recruitment rally by the Branch Recruiting Office at West Hills Barracks here will be held from November 6 to 15 at Sulthan Bathery in Wayanad. This was stated by Colonel Ragubir Singh, Director (Recruitments).