Over 200 fishermen taken into custody

MLA G. Aiyappan and municipal chairman T. Thangarasu along with partymen during a protest in Cuddalore on Wednesday.

CUDDALORE: 

        MLA G.Aiyappan, municipal chairman T. Thangarasu and over 200 fishermen owing allegiance to the ruling Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam were taken into custody when they tried to besiege the Cuddalore Port office here on Wednesday.

         They were protesting the arrest of 106 fishermen from Akkarapettai in Nagapattinam district by the Sri Lankan Navy. They raised slogans decrying the action of the Sri Lankan Navy. It was reported that 106 fishermen had set sail from Akkarapettai on February 12 in 18 boats. They were surrounded by Sri Lankan fishermen and handed over to the Sri Lankan Navy. Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam, who addressed the gathering in front of the Port office, said that though the agitation was organised at short notice, there was huge gathering of fishermen and it indicated the seriousness of the problem.

           The State government had been expressing displeasure over the ill-treatment meted out to Tamil Nadu fishermen by the Sri Lankan Navy on the high seas and, therefore, it had taken up the fishermen's cause with the authorities concerned. If justice is not rendered to the Tamil Nadu fishermen, the agitation would continue, Mr. Panneerselvam said. After the Minister left, the police personnel rounded up the protestors. Before boarding the police van, Mr. Aiyappan said that the Sri Lankan Navy should free the Tamil Nadu fishermen unconditionally and immediately.

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19 differently abled students selected for State-level competitions

Differently abled students participating in the sports events held at Anna stadium, Cuddalore, on Friday.

CUDDALORE: 

             Over 500 students of special schools participated in district-level sports events conducted exclusively for the differently abled at Anna Stadium here on Friday.

            Cuddalore constituency MLA G. Aiyappan inaugurated the event. The students took out a march past before the competitions began. Mr. Aiyappan announced a monetary grant of Rs. 1,000 each to 15 special schools from his personal funds. Through the District Welfare Board for the Differently abled Persons, a total of 30,205 national identity cards and 11,441 welfare board identity cards had been distributed.

           Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi had provided several benefits to the differently abled, including a hike in the travelling allowance of government employees from Rs. 300 to Rs. 1,000, he said. The cash award for visually impaired students scoring first rank in Standard X public examinations at the district-level had been increased from Rs. 2,000 to Rs. 6,000. Cash award for the Plus Two student getting top mark had been increased from Rs. 4,000 to Rs. 12,000, Mr. Aiyappan said.

             Marriage assistance for the differently abled had been enhanced from Rs. 20,000 to Rs. 25,000. On the recommendations of Collector P. Seetharaman, the Oasis service organisation, with government support, had started a special school for the mentally challenged students at Kattumannarkoil, Mr. Aiyappan said. Competitions were held in three age groups - 5-8, 9-11 and 12-14. Participants competed in events such as 50 metre sprint, discuss throw, long jump, frog race, bead collection, filling water in bottles, threading the needle, and tri-cycle race.

           In all, 19 persons were selected to represent Cuddalore district at State level competitions to be held later. Joint Director of Health Service P. Kamalakannan gave away prizes to the winners. Welfare Officer for the differently abled persons Srinivasan, Public Relations Officer Pon. Muthiah, representatives and students of special schools were present.

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Cooperative bank begins evening services

CUDDALORE: 

           Health Minister M.R.K. Panneerselvam inaugurated evening services of the cooperative bank on the premises of the Cuddalore District Central Cooperative Bank here on Thursday.

            He said that this was the 26th branch of the Cooperative Bank to carry on banking transactions during evening hours. The bank would function from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m. He hoped that the timings would be suitable for petty shop-keepers and pavement vendors to operate their accounts conveniently. Members of self-help groups could also take care of household chores during the day and transact business in the evenings. Mr. Panneerselvam said that demand draft services would soon be started and locker facility provided at the bank. He gave away a loan of Rs. 25,000 to differently abled persons and Rs.10,000 each to six beneficiaries. Collector P. Seetharaman, Cuddalore MLA G. Aiyappan, municipal chairman T. Thangarasu, Joint Registrar of Cooperative Societies S.R. Venkatesan were present.

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Awareness rally on Tamil conference

Periyar Government Arts College students taking out a rally in Cuddalore on Monday.

CUDDALORE: 

                Students of the Periyar Government Arts College here took out a rally to create awareness of the World Classical Tamil Conference scheduled to be held at Coimbatore in June. The rally started at the Thirupadiripuliyur Sub-Registrar's Office and went to the Collectorate. Cuddalore MLA G. Aiyappan, college principal K. Ranganathan, municipal chairman T. Thangarasu, vice-chairman Thamarai Selvan and faculty members participated in it.Speakers dwelt at length on ancient heritage and culture of Tamil Nadu.

                 Quoting from literary works, they highlighted the richness of Tamil language. The “classical language status” conferred on the language had restored its past glory, they said. The world conference would see a congregation of scholars from around the globe analysing and scrutinising the evolution of Tamil and how best it could serve the contemporary developments in the scientific and technical fields, the speakers said.

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