Updated 04/12/03
 
Entries invited for award : PALAKKAD: The Palakkad District Consumers Association has invited entries from organisations and institutions to recommend an outstanding paediatrician for the Consumer Protection Award 2004. The award consisting of a citation and a shield would be distributed at the National Consumer Day celebrations to be held on December 24. The award will be presented to two paediatricians one each from the government and the private sector. Voluntary organisations and colony welfare associations can also nominate and recommend the names of doctors. The entries for the award should reach the secretary of the Consumer Association, Kits College, Court Road, before December 12.

Updated 23/07/03

Plea to CM against water theme park
PALAKKAD: The international Human Rights Organisations for the Right to Feed Oneself (FIAN), with consultative staus at the United Nations, has urged the Chief Minister, AK Antony, to "discard the plans to build a water theme park and a check dam in the cathment area of Malambuzha Dam".

 Updated March 19

Yuva Samavesh begins on Mar 13
PALAKKAD: The four day 'Yuva Samavesh' of the Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha will be inaugurated by BJP president Venkaiah Naidu on March 13. The delegates meet of the Yuva morcha will be opened by the Morcha national president Kishan Reddy on March 14. The valedictory function of the youth meet will be opened by the Union Minister for Human Resources Development, Murali Manohar Joshi. Debates were organised by the Morcha at the Municipal bus stand here from March 8 as part of the youth meet. A debate on 'Tribal society and administration' was held yesterday

Govt plans job-oriented training to Gulf returnees
PALAKKAD: Parliamentary Affairs Minister M M Hassan has said that the state government was planning to impart job-oriented training to Gulf returnees who availed the general amnesty offered by the United Arab Emirates.

Speaking to reporters here, Hassan said that when it was announced that 40,000 Malayalis would be returning from the Emirates, the government constituted the UDF sub-committee to look into the issue. He said Chief Minister A K Antony would consult Prime Minister A B Vajpayee to make available the Air-India flights at concessional rates to airlift the returnees from the Gulf. The state government would commission KSRTC buses to pick up the passengers from the airport and drop them at their native places.

"Exhibition on Wheels" reaches Palakkad
PALAKKAD: "Exhibition on Wheels", a unique concept of showcasing the 150 years of existence of the Indian Railways reached Palakkad Railway Junction yesterday. The exhibition rain would tour various junctions of the Palakkad Railway Division till January 12. The exhibition is open to public from 10 am to 6 pm. The exhibition is being held as part of the 150 years of Indian Railways. The exhibition is chartered to travel all over the country touching major stations to show the people the developments of the Indian Railways.

Farmers conduct Malampuzha electricity office march
PALAKKAD: Demanding to abandon the decision to sell rivers to foreigners, the farmers with the leadership of All India Kisan Sabha will conduct Malampuzha Electricity Office march on January 6. Malampuzha dam is constructed for agricultural purposes. But now the water is not available for this purpose today. Knowing all these things the government try to sell the river, they said

KJU seeks probe into police harassment
PALAKKAD: The Kerala Journalist Union (KJU) has urged the Chief Minister, A K Antony, the Governor, Sikandar Bhakt, and the Director General of Police K J Joseph, to order an inquiry into the incidents of police highhandedness and misbehaviour to press persons during the visit to the president, APJ Abdul Kalam, of Attappady on November 17.

Attapadi all set to receive Kalam on Nov 17
PALAKKAD: The Attapadi tribal belt is all set to receive President A P J Abdul Kalam on November 17. The President, who will be on a two-day visit to the state, is scheduled to arrive from Kozhikode by helicopter. He is expected to land on the helipad set up at the government goat farm at Naikkarpaadi near Kottathara. Kalam will be spending more than an hour at Attapadi. One of the main programmes on the agenda of the President is administering an oath to the public of Attapadi that they would fight against arrack and ganja till it is eliminated from the Attapadi tribal belt. Though the government had declared the Attapadi area as a prohibition zone long ago, illicit liquor continues to flow in Attapadi contributing mainly to the backwardness of the people and their exploitation. It is the tribals who are used by the mafia to carry liquor and ganja from the interior areas and ultimately they become a prey to the vice.

Chembai Sangeetholsavom from Dec 1
THRISSUR: The Guruvayur Devaswom has decided to organise this year's Chembai Sangeetholsavom from December 1 to December 15.

A Devaswom release said here that a special concert by renowned musicians will also be held during the last 10 days of the festival. Those who desire to participate in the festival will have to submit applications in prescribed forms, which will be available free of cost at the Guruvayur Devaswom office during working hours from September 27 to October 16. No Photostat copies of applications will be entertained. The applicants should be above eight years of age and should have learned Carnatic music for a continuous period of 3 years.

Rs 17. 5 m Malampuzha garden renovation
PALAKKAD: The government has sanctioned a sum of Rs 17.5 million for the development of the Malampuzha garden in the first phase and the work would begin soon, opposition leader V S Achuthanandan said.

Speaking to reporters at the guest house in Malampuzha, Achuthanandan said that though Tourism Minister K V Thomas had said a few months back that Rs 45 million had been earmarked in the budget for the project the government had not taken any meaningful step for the release the funds. It was in this context that he had met the tourism and irrigation ministers and Rs 17. 5 million was sanctioned for the renovation of the garden.

The renovation works would be undertaken by the Irrigation Department and the District Tourism Promotion Council (DTPC) would co-ordinate the programmes. The work would be monitored by a panel headed by District Collector Anil Xavier and two elected representatives -- A Prabhakaran, member of the Malampuzha division in the district panchayat and V Karthikeyan, president of the Block panchayat.

CU invites applications for PG courses
KOZHIKODE: Calicut University has invited applications for admission to first year MA, M Com, BLISc and diploma/certificate courses. Application forms can be obtained from various centres. The duly filled applications will be accepted till August 31.MA subjects include History, Philosophy, Psychology, Development Economics, Hindi, Malayalam, Sanskrit, English, Comparative Literature, West Asian Studies, Folklore and Music. The applications for Automobile Engineering and Air-conditioning and Refrigeration courses being conducted.