Kochi : Former President Dr A P J Abdul Kalam today said if the country could achieve a GDP growth rate of 10 per cent and maintain it for ten years, poverty could be eradicated.
Interacting with teachers on the occasion of the launch of the 'IGNOU-Pragati Finishing School for Teachers' here, Dr Kalam said '''education alone cannot eradicate poverty in the country but it could be wiped off by realizing the vision 2020 statement.'' He said the 'Vision 2020' statement envisages the development of agriculture, agro-based industries, education, healthcare and IT.
Reiterating the importance of teaching, Dr Kalam said the nation needs teachers who love the profession and help in generating quality youth, beneficial for the country.
He also called for a paradigm shift in the evaluation process of students, whereby the pupils were moulded as full-fledged citizens and equipped to face the challenges of life.
To a question thatwhy more people were not opting for the teaching profession, Dr Kalam said the teachers should be taken care of socially and economically, for more to come into the profession.
He said teachers should be particular about developing a creative mind for students. This would augur well for them in the future.
During his interaction with about 1,500 teachers, Dr Kalam also administered a 11-point oath to them. They encourage teachers to love their profession and mould an ignited youth, beneficial for the nation.
When asked about his dream, Dr Kalam said '' my dream is to see one billion smiles in our country.'' He also remembered his teacher Shivasubramanian Iyer who instilled an interest in him to learn more about 'flight' after his lessons on how a bird flew with its wings.
Dr Kalam also stressed the importance of teachers creating five minds --disiplinary, synthezising creative, respectful and ethical mind,in students.
Sunday, January 31, 2010
Munnar's illegal constructions to be demolished
All encroachments at the popular Munnar hill station, including by the Tatas, are illegal and will be demolished, a Kerala minister said Saturday.
A seven-member cabinet sub-committee of Kerala inspected the two check dams constructed by the Tatas here Saturday and termed the constructions as illegal.
'From what we have seen, it is clear that they have spent may be Rs.two or Rs.three crore for the construction of these check dams and it has to be inquired why they did that. We have asked the district administration to see that these are demolished,' State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters after rounding of the visit to several places where encroachments have taken place.
The seven-member team reached Munnar for an on the spot inspection after an emergency meeting of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) liaison committee here Friday asked the V.S.Achuthanandan government to take strong steps against all encroachments at Munnar, including by the Tatas.
Balakrishnan said that a detailed report on their visit would be submitted to the state cabinet that meets Tuesday. Besides, a report would also be filed in the High Court.
'Wehave found out that some of the resorts here came up almost eight years back when the state was ruled by the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Maximum encroachments took place here when the UDF ruled the state. We will also look into the role of government officials,' Balakrishnan said.
Located 2,500 feet above sea level, Munnar in Idukki district is often called the 'tea town' of Kerala as it has more than 50,000 acres of tea estates, first owned by James Finlay and Company. Changing hands a few times since then, it is now with the Tata Tea since 1983.
In one of his last judgments ahead of retirement last week, Kerala High Court Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath lashed out at the Achuthanandan government, saying 'green' Munnar has now become 'brown' Munnar because of the widespread encroachments by the rich and mighty.
Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy visited Munnar Thursday and said the Achuthanandan government has failed miserably in containing encroachments.
In reply to a question on whether encroachers would be evicted, Balakrishnan said that irrespective of big or small encroachments, legal steps would be taken against all those who have violated the law.
A seven-member cabinet sub-committee of Kerala inspected the two check dams constructed by the Tatas here Saturday and termed the constructions as illegal.
'From what we have seen, it is clear that they have spent may be Rs.two or Rs.three crore for the construction of these check dams and it has to be inquired why they did that. We have asked the district administration to see that these are demolished,' State Home Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan told reporters after rounding of the visit to several places where encroachments have taken place.
The seven-member team reached Munnar for an on the spot inspection after an emergency meeting of Kerala's ruling Left Democratic Front (LDF) liaison committee here Friday asked the V.S.Achuthanandan government to take strong steps against all encroachments at Munnar, including by the Tatas.
Balakrishnan said that a detailed report on their visit would be submitted to the state cabinet that meets Tuesday. Besides, a report would also be filed in the High Court.
'Wehave found out that some of the resorts here came up almost eight years back when the state was ruled by the Congress-led United Democratic Front. Maximum encroachments took place here when the UDF ruled the state. We will also look into the role of government officials,' Balakrishnan said.
Located 2,500 feet above sea level, Munnar in Idukki district is often called the 'tea town' of Kerala as it has more than 50,000 acres of tea estates, first owned by James Finlay and Company. Changing hands a few times since then, it is now with the Tata Tea since 1983.
In one of his last judgments ahead of retirement last week, Kerala High Court Chief Justice S.R. Bannurmath lashed out at the Achuthanandan government, saying 'green' Munnar has now become 'brown' Munnar because of the widespread encroachments by the rich and mighty.
Leader of Opposition Oommen Chandy visited Munnar Thursday and said the Achuthanandan government has failed miserably in containing encroachments.
In reply to a question on whether encroachers would be evicted, Balakrishnan said that irrespective of big or small encroachments, legal steps would be taken against all those who have violated the law.
Kerala politicians serve storm in Munnar tea cup
29 Jan 2010, ET Bureau
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the misty heights of Munnar's tea plantation-rich hill slopes, the serenity has just been broken with political posturing.
Nearly three years after the CPM-led Kerala government demolished resort buildings allegedly constructed on encroached land, Munnar's tourism industry is left to shudder again as the government and the opposition are pointing fingers at each other regarding the reasons for repeated encroachments in the region.
Following reports of more encroachments in Munnar, chief minister VS Achuthanandan has vowed "not to spare a single person" involved in encroachments and opposition leader Oommen Chandy made a dash to the hill station, challenging the government to act, rather than list out its plans.
Next in line to make a first-hand assessment of the goings-on in Munnar is a BJP team, scheduled to visit the destination on Saturday.
Munnar's tourism industry players who are still trying to put behind the bad memories of 2007 when large-scale demolition of resort buildings scared tourists away, followed by the global economic slowdown, the latest developments have created fresh apprehension.
"There is indeed anxiety among tourists and travel agents. We are getting calls from travel agents in Mumbai and Delhi, asking if everything is alright in Munnar", says Rajan Kumar an official of T&U, a 30-room property in Munnar. He says the situation has also prompted some travel agents to try and get a discount, in the backdrop of news about likely disruptions in the tourism sector in Munnar.
Another resort official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says it is not only the tourism sector in Munnar, but all of Idukki district that is being affected by the doubts cast over land deals in the district. "It is now virtually impossible to pledge your land for a bank loan", says he.
KC Chandrahasan, managing director of Kerala Travels, a leading travel sector player, feels the latest Munnar imbroglio is little more than a storm in a tea cup. "It is the latest complication in the mess that Munnar has turned out to be. The destination is mature enough to tide over the situation", says he.
But resort operators in Munnar are worried about the bad publicity being generated about the destination. And they are equally worried about the large-scale destruction of the immaculate hill slopes of Munnar. For the moment, though, ideology rather than ecology is ruling the Munnar mountains.
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: In the misty heights of Munnar's tea plantation-rich hill slopes, the serenity has just been broken with political posturing.
Nearly three years after the CPM-led Kerala government demolished resort buildings allegedly constructed on encroached land, Munnar's tourism industry is left to shudder again as the government and the opposition are pointing fingers at each other regarding the reasons for repeated encroachments in the region.
Following reports of more encroachments in Munnar, chief minister VS Achuthanandan has vowed "not to spare a single person" involved in encroachments and opposition leader Oommen Chandy made a dash to the hill station, challenging the government to act, rather than list out its plans.
Next in line to make a first-hand assessment of the goings-on in Munnar is a BJP team, scheduled to visit the destination on Saturday.
Munnar's tourism industry players who are still trying to put behind the bad memories of 2007 when large-scale demolition of resort buildings scared tourists away, followed by the global economic slowdown, the latest developments have created fresh apprehension.
"There is indeed anxiety among tourists and travel agents. We are getting calls from travel agents in Mumbai and Delhi, asking if everything is alright in Munnar", says Rajan Kumar an official of T&U, a 30-room property in Munnar. He says the situation has also prompted some travel agents to try and get a discount, in the backdrop of news about likely disruptions in the tourism sector in Munnar.
Another resort official, speaking on condition of anonymity, says it is not only the tourism sector in Munnar, but all of Idukki district that is being affected by the doubts cast over land deals in the district. "It is now virtually impossible to pledge your land for a bank loan", says he.
KC Chandrahasan, managing director of Kerala Travels, a leading travel sector player, feels the latest Munnar imbroglio is little more than a storm in a tea cup. "It is the latest complication in the mess that Munnar has turned out to be. The destination is mature enough to tide over the situation", says he.
But resort operators in Munnar are worried about the bad publicity being generated about the destination. And they are equally worried about the large-scale destruction of the immaculate hill slopes of Munnar. For the moment, though, ideology rather than ecology is ruling the Munnar mountains.
Monday, January 25, 2010
Sankaranarayanan sworn in Maharashtra Governor
Mumbai: Kateekal Sankaranarayanan was today sworn in as the Governor of Maharashtra here.
The swearing-in of Sankaranarayanan, earlier Governor of Jharkhand, took place at 10 am at the Raj Bhavan where
Acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court J N Patel administered the oath of office to him.
Outgoing Governor S C Jamir, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, members of the
state cabinet were among those present on the occasion.
79-year-old Sankaranarayanan brings with him a vast and varied experience in public life and had dominated the
political firmamentof Kerala for nearly five decades.
Born on October 15, 1932 in Kerala, Sankaranarayanan's initiation into politics started early when he became a member
of Students Organization in 1946.
He rose to the position of Kerala Congress president in 1977 after serving as General Secretary and President of
the Palghat district unit of the party and also served as the Working Committee Member of the AICC.
Sankaranarayanan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly several times and represented Thrithala,
Sreekrishnapuram, Ottappalam and Palghat constituencies. He was also a member of the ministries of K Karunakaran and A K Antony. PTI
The swearing-in of Sankaranarayanan, earlier Governor of Jharkhand, took place at 10 am at the Raj Bhavan where
Acting Chief Justice of Bombay High Court J N Patel administered the oath of office to him.
Outgoing Governor S C Jamir, Chief Minister Ashok Chavan, Deputy Chief Minister Chhagan Bhujbal, members of the
state cabinet were among those present on the occasion.
79-year-old Sankaranarayanan brings with him a vast and varied experience in public life and had dominated the
political firmamentof Kerala for nearly five decades.
Born on October 15, 1932 in Kerala, Sankaranarayanan's initiation into politics started early when he became a member
of Students Organization in 1946.
He rose to the position of Kerala Congress president in 1977 after serving as General Secretary and President of
the Palghat district unit of the party and also served as the Working Committee Member of the AICC.
Sankaranarayanan was elected to the Kerala Legislative Assembly several times and represented Thrithala,
Sreekrishnapuram, Ottappalam and Palghat constituencies. He was also a member of the ministries of K Karunakaran and A K Antony. PTI
Union Minsters from Kerala hve o work in Delhi - V. S.
Thrissur:Kerala Chief Minister V S Achutanandan derided that union ministers from Kerala have no work in Delhi and they are content with issuing statements against the state government. These junior ministers whose condition is so pathetic that they have to get passes to visit their own cabinet ministers might even start strikes to enjoy this privilege, he added. He was inaugurating the closing ceremony of the three day state meeting of C.I.T.U at Thekkinkadu ground in Thrissur.
'one minister of state had alleged that the state govt. is doing nothing to curb the price rice and is selling the central quotaof rice to the black market ', the C.M. said. Was reducing the central quota from 1,17000 tons to 17000 tons the generosity of the centre, he asked.
The central govt. which is bending backwards to help the monopolies recover from global recession had forgotten the problems of the common man, he charged. Global capitalism which is built upon speculative trading and speculative capital is bursting like a bubble, he said.
'one minister of state had alleged that the state govt. is doing nothing to curb the price rice and is selling the central quotaof rice to the black market ', the C.M. said. Was reducing the central quota from 1,17000 tons to 17000 tons the generosity of the centre, he asked.
The central govt. which is bending backwards to help the monopolies recover from global recession had forgotten the problems of the common man, he charged. Global capitalism which is built upon speculative trading and speculative capital is bursting like a bubble, he said.
Thursday, January 21, 2010
Navya Nair enters wedlock
January 21, 2010: Navya Nair, the Malayalam film actor entered wedlock at the specially prepared auditorium of Harippad Cheppad CKHSS School.
Santhosh Menon, the vice president of Sreechakra Udhyog Limited Mumbai, is her groom.
CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, G. Sudhakaran, R. Balakrishna Pillai, Ganesh Kumar, G. Karthiyakan and renowned cine actors were participated in the function.
Navya’s neighbours and her admirers are also welcomed in the function
Shiv Sankar Menon is India's new National Security Advisor
New Delhi: Former Foreign Secretary Shiv Shankar Menon has been appointed as India's next NationalSecurity Advisor (NSA). Menon succeeds M K Narayanan who was appointed the Governor of West Bengal.
The post of NSA will be of the rank equivalent to a Minister of State.
Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was also in the race.
The post of NSA will be of the rank equivalent to a Minister of State.
Former Foreign Secretary Shyam Saran was also in the race.
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