Neyveli Book Fair begins tomorrow

CUDDALORE: 

        The Neyveli Book Fair-2011, sponsored by the Neyveli Lignite Corporation, a Navratna company, will begin on July 1 and go on till July 10.

       On the occasion, as many as 150 publishers will exhibit thousands of publications/titles on a wide range of topics. Termed as the book-lovers' fete, the fair would further stimulate the intellectual environment and hence would attract the bibliophiles from various parts of the State to Neyveli.

         The salient aspect of the event is that every day one new title would be introduced and one writer and publisher would be honoured. Hence, it has emerged as an attractive business proposition for the publishing trade and the aspiring writers. A statement from the NLC points out that special discount would be offered on every purchase. In connection with the fair, short-story, essay writing and short film competitions would be conducted. There would also be a quiz competition for school students and on-the-spot competitions for the visitors on a daily basis. The evenings would be devoted to cultural programmes, literary discourse, light music, magic show, debate, comedy show and magic show.

            There would be lot of recreational avenues on the fair grounds and a delectable menu to pamper the taste buds. The fair would be open on all days from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Read more »

Cuddalore Students participate in campaign for blood donation

A State-wide mobile campaign for blood donation in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: 

        Blood is a vital fluid for the living as well as those struggling for life after an emergency such as an accident or a surgery. Its importance will be felt when there is a chronic need for blood and a frantic search for the suitable blood group to save a life, said U.Tamilarasi, a second-year undergraduate student in the Periyar Government Arts College here.

          She reflects the concern shown by the youth in general for those who are in a critical condition to require blood transfusion. Ms. Tamilarasi was one among the group of students who turned up at Anna Stadium on Wednesday to become part of the State-wide campaign for blood donation, launched jointly by the Tamil Nadu AIDS Control Society and the National Blood Transfusion Council in connection with World Blood Donor Day (observed on June 14).

         A National Service Scheme volunteer, Ms. Tamilarasi had come forward to donate blood for the first time. She dismissed the notion that blood donation would sap energy because the body would recoup the requisite quantity of blood within 36 hours. Her classmate S.Krishnaveni too was of the view that by taking nutritious food the donated blood could be replenished. It was a soothing thought for them that the donated blood would save the life of someone, somewhere. They would not mind donating blood whenever called for.

         For S.Muthukumaran, final-year diploma student of Krishnaswamy Polytechnic College, it was the maiden blood donation. Soon after donating blood, he munched biscuits and gulped down the soft drink and a bottle of drinking water supplied by the organisers. Two ultramodern air-conditioned buses equipped with pushback cushioned seats and cold storage facilities are touring the State, in two different directions — south and north — to collect blood from voluntary donors ever since June 14, and the trip would culminate in Chennai on July 2.

         A medical team is being deployed from the district headquarters government hospital to collect the blood from the donors, and at the end of the day, the entire collection would be handed over to the hospital concerned. From men, 350 ml of blood and from women 300 ml of blood each is being extracted. S.Vidyasankar, Medical Officer (Blood Bank), told The Hindu that after the blood swabs were collected by using fresh needle for each candidate, the blood grouping was determined.

        Those in the age group of 18 to 65 years, weighing 45 kg and above, and having Hb count of 12 gm/dl and a blood pressure of 90/60 to 160/100 could donate blood once in three months in the case of male and once in four months in case of female (Because of the menstrual cycle it might require one more month for women to recoup the blood). Dr. Vidyasankar further said that after a thorough screening blood free from the symptoms of five diseases such as HIV, HBsAg and HAC (two types of hepatitis), malaria and VDRL (venereal diseases) would be put to use.

Read more »

Traffic constable assaulted by AIADMK group near Chidambaram

CUDDALORE: 

        The police have booked cases against Thoppu K.Sundar (40), Chidambaram town secretary of the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam, and a group of his supporters on charges of assaulting a traffic constable.

         Traffic constable Ravanan (36) has been admitted to Chidambaram government hospital. In this connection, the police have secured two persons - Purushothaman, an anti-social element, and Sudhakar, a car driver. The Chidambaram police are on the lookout for others, including Sundar, Suresh Babu, Arul, Sivakumar and some others. Police sources said that on Wednesday morning, Mr. Ravanan was posted at the Pachaiyappa school road junction to regulate traffic when he noticed two cars cruising through Sabanayakar Street, unmindful of the stretch being a one-way.

        Sundar and his supporters were travelling in one of the cars. It was followed by another car, in which Kumaratchi union AIADMK secretary A.K. Pandian and his followers were travelling. When Mr. Ravanan signalled the cars to stop, they did not oblige. When he tapped on the bonnet of one of the cars as it passed by, the AIADMK functionaries stopped the vehicle and picked up a quarrel with him. However, Mr. Ravanan said that he would not allow the vehicles to pass through the wrong side of the one- way. The irate AIADMK men forcefully opened the car door, pushing down Mr. Ravanan, who standing close to the vehicle. They assaulted him and sped away.

Based on a complaint from Mr. Ravanan, the Chidambaram police booked cases on the AIADMK men under the following sections: 

Sections 307 (attempt to murder), 

506 (2) (criminal intimidation), 

353 (deterring a government servant from discharging duty), 

332 (causing hurt), 147 (rioting) and 

294 (indulging in obscene act) of Indian Penal Code.

Later, Superintendent of Police P.Pakalavan called on the constable at the hospital.

Read more »