Monthly Archives: February 2017

Library on wheels for slum children

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education
Reaching out:Children from Jalaripeta near the Fishing Habour reading books at the mobile library of the WNS Cares Foundation in Visakhapatnam on Monday.K.R. DeepakK_R_DEEPAK
Reaching out:Children from Jalaripeta near the Fishing Habour reading books at the mobile library of the WNS Cares Foundation in Visakhapatnam on Monday.K.R. DeepakK_R_DEEPAK

It is equipped with 4G internet facility to introduce digital tech to them

Nine-year-old K. Sai, resident of Peda Jalaripeta, is a school dropout. Apart from helping his father in the fishing harbour, he dedicates three hours in a week to reading books in a colourful van. The van that arrives in his locality every week is the most awaited sight for Sai and many other children living in the fishing colony of Peda Jalaripeta. For, it is this bus that opens up a world of fantasy, scientific inventions and many magical historical chapters before them. Thanks to an initiative by WNS Cares Foundation (WCF), mobile library carrying more than 1,000 books, has been reaching out to children in slums in the city with an aim to bring about a transformation in the lives of the children from the underprivileged sections.

This novel initiative was first started in Mumbai in 2014 and later expanded to cities such as Chennai, Pune, Visakhapatnam and Nasik. With a total fleet of eight vans across the cities, the mobile library has so far reached out to over 8000 children in underserved areas. In Visakhapatnam, the initiative that was launched four months ago has already covered areas like Madhurawada Kalanagar, Pedda Jalaripeta Ferry Road, Markavalasa, Port Area Jalirepeta, Madhurwada Wamway Colony and Jodigudapalem. A teacher travels with each mobile library to teach the basic academic concepts to children. WCF refurbishes old vans and converts them into ‘libraries on wheels’. In Visakhapatnam, Surendra Revu travels with the van to remote areas and turns the van into a mini school by teaching the kids the basics of various subjects.

Speaking to The Hindu about the initiative, Shamini Murugesh, Honorary Chief Mentor, WNS Cares Foundation said: “The idea is to take education to the doorsteps of the children. Each mobile library is equipped with a solar inverter, fan and an umbrella for the kids to spread out. Children are also provided clean drinking water through water dispensers. In addition to this, the van also has a computer supported by a 4G Internet connection with the purpose of exposing the children to the world of technology and giving them access to more reading material. State Board course curriculum in a digital format is given in each of these vans to aid learning for children.”

The children are encouraged to take the books home and return them during subsequent weekly visits of the van, just the way a library functions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Andhra Pradesh / Nivedita Ganguly / February 28th, 2017

Ponduru weavers make 360-cubit turban for Lord

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
A ritual being performed with the 360-cubit turban at Uma Rama Lingeswara temple at Ponduru, before it was sent to the Srisailam temple | Express
A ritual being performed with the 360-cubit turban at Uma Rama Lingeswara temple at Ponduru, before it was sent to the Srisailam temple | Express

Srikakulam :

Apart form the reputation the khadi weavers from Ponduru has earned over the years for their fine craftsmanship, they have another reason to feel honoured on the eve of Mahasivarathri.

Tradition has it that every year, the craftsmen prepare talapagas (turbans) for Mallikarjuna Swamy temple in Srisailam in Kurnool district for Mahasivarathri and the celebrations begin at the temple after the turban is offered to the presiding deity Mallikarjuna Swamy. The weavers also prepare khadi vastram for Goddess Bramarambha  and Lord Vigneswara too.

This time, the weavers have prepared a turban measuring 360 cubits. Carrying the holy turban, a group of 15 people from Ponduru started journey to Srisailam on Wednesday in a mini bus. A celebration marked at the local Uma Rama Lingeswara Swamy temple prior to the group left for Srisailam.
As for the tradition, a weaver’s family take the task of preparing the holy turban and this year, the onus was on the family of Balla Kumara Swamy of Laveti Street of Ponduru. It took three months to prepare the turban, says Balla Kumara Swamy.

“The making of turban starts in the Khartika masam, which is said to be the favourite month of Lord Siva. We started the works on the day of Yekasadi. My entire family took deeksha. During the period of weaving, we eat only vegetarian food, take head bath every day and pray Lord Siva. We, the weavers, believe that our families are blessed ones, if we prepare the holy cloth for the Lord,” Kumar Swamay says.
The endowment authorities pay some amount to the weavers for preparing the turban, but it is insufficient, say the weavers. Some Samaritans also donate for the holy turban too.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / February 24th, 2017

An ode to weaves, crafts

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Education
Sizzling: Actor Pranita walking the ramp showcasing the collections designed by students at a fashion show in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. | Photo Credit: K_R_DEEPAK;K_R_DEEPAK -
Sizzling: Actor Pranita walking the ramp showcasing the collections designed by students at a fashion show in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. | Photo Credit: K_R_DEEPAK;K_R_DEEPAK –

Students showcase their collections at fashion show

The mood was electrifying at the AU Convocation Hall as models, with smouldering eyes and sensuous smiles, sashayed onto the ramp. The evening was filled with creativity, artistic talent and fashion extravaganza on Saturday as students of Queenz Institute of Fashion displayed their work in the annual designer show. Organised in association with Kanchi Kamakshi, some 32 students of the advanced diploma and diploma courses in fashion design offered by the institute showcased their collections which were uniquely themed to reflect the rich handloom and handicraft tradition of AP.

Creating a line that caught everybody’s eye the young designers added the much needed oomph factor to city’s fashion calendar. The event created a platform for aspiring fashion designers to think out of the box, come up with their own label and make a smart entry in the fashion circuit.

This year, the students had their fashion pulse on exploring different traditional weaves and crafts of the State. Right from spending time with the weavers and craftsmen of villages like Mangalari, Machilipatnam, Dharmavaram and Chirala to creating a fusion of styles that brings out freshness in the fashion scene, the young designers have gone a step further in their pursuit of capturing a different fashion essence.

“The students have spent more than six months in designing the creations. The main purpose of the show is to provide them a platform to innovate and tell the story of a rich textile and craft tradition of AP through the creations. Showcasing their work in the public domain gives them exposure,” said D. Satyaveni, faculty of the institute. The collection was showcased in groups which included cocktail wear, street wear, western party wear, indo-western, traditional drapes and saris. The Indo western collection designed by Sandhya, Padma and Deepti Patnaik was an ode to Dharmavaram silk. Draped in a bright orange and maroon ensemble, actor Pranita was the show-stopper of the sequence.

The team of young designers Sravani, Nilima, Nirisha and Anisha brought out a cocktail wear designing dresses with the traditional Uppada fabric and crochet. Designers Manisha, Sirisha, Jai and Shanti Priya took the Kalamkari prints of Machilipatnam and designed it in Khadi. Street wear got a fresh look with a fusion of Khadi and Venkatgiri. The collections were fused with Kondapalli toys in handbags and footwear, which are worth a mention.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Visakhapatnam / Nivedita Ganguly / Visakhapatnam – February 25th, 2017

Visakhapatnam gets public botanical garden

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Visakhapatnam :

The city’s first non-private tropical botanical garden has been developed in Andhra University at the botany department block under the watchful eyes of professors J Venkateswarulu, BS Rao and MOP Iyengar.

Way back in 1946, the trio initiated plant growth in the department and specifically scourged the tropical region of north-coastal AP for rare specimens such as Red Sanders. Even today, the garden can be seen in all its full splendour, especially in the courtyard area and is still very well preserved.
However, AU which was once a green haven is now being converted into a haven for ornamental plants which do not even belong to the sub-continent.

The old botanical garden though tiny has retained its charm with more than 40 species of tropical plants and trees.

“The botanical garden in AU is probably the first non-private botanical garden in the city. A lot of people do not realise that till then, Vizag had a whole lot of private garden residences full of exotic tropical plants. However, there was none which could have truly belonged to the public,” professor P Venkateswarulu  said.

After cyclone Hudhud in October 2014, a lot of replanting work was done mainly because much of the old trees such as Red-Sanders and Sweet Tamarind took a heavy beating and had to be replanted again. Regarding the damage done, sources in the department said, “The damage was huge all across the district. However, the botanical garden is back on track.”

Way back in 1946, professors J Venkateswarulu, BS Rao and MOP Iyengar initiated plant growth in the botany department and specifically scourged the tropical region of north-coastal AP for rare specimens such as Red Sanders. Even today, the garden can be seen in all its full splendour, especially in the courtyard area and is still very well preserved

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / by Venkatesh Bayyal / TNN / February 26th, 2017

Andhra’s first multi modal logistic park starts operations

Business & Economy, Records, All

Visakhapatnam  :

The state’s first multi modal logistics park (MMLP) being promoted by Container Corporation of India Ltd (Concor) started its operations here on Saturday.

The Union government had committed Rs 500 crore to set up an MMLP in the port city after bifurcation to enhance the container cargo handling capacity.

Situated close to Vizag Airport along the national highway, the MMLP was inaugurated by East Coast Railway’s Waltair divisional railway manager Chandralekha Mukherjee on Saturday.

The DRM said the railways would extend all support to the MMLP for hassle-free movement of containers on railway lines to various destinations across the country from here.

“Two container cargo trains were operated on a trial basis in the past three weeks. Now, a train carrying empty containers has successfully left for Vedanta Alumina plant at Brundamal in Odisha from the MMLP here on Saturday. The railways is committed to promoting container traffic. I urge the industries to use the railways from the MMLP to reduce their logistics and inventory costs,” Chandralekha Mukherjee said.

“Also, travelling by rail is six times energy efficient and two to three times economical than road transport,” Chandralekha Mukherjee said.

Speaking to TOI, MM Yelvender Yadav, general manager (engineering) of Concor and head of the MMLP Visakhapatnam, said Concor earlier used the Vizag Port and Visakha Container Terminal Pvt Ltd with their available warehouse space of nearly 20,000 square feet. Now, Concor has developed the MMLP on 105 acres of land for Rs 500 crore.

“We have so far invested Rs 300 crore to develop the MMLP and we will invest the balance Rs 200 crore in the next phase. We have so far built a container freight station and a warehouse with 50,000 square feet space. We are planning to handle 50 to 60 rakes (trains) in a month to various parts of the country from here. It will be of great use to the small, medium and large scale industrial units in the city and its neighbouring districts,” Yadav said. The administrative office of Concor is currently located near the Sea Horse Junction close to Vizag Port and it will be shifted to the MMLP soon, Yadav said.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News> City News> Visakhapatnam News / by V. Kamalakara Rao / TNN / February 26th, 2017

From Ghana to Vijayawada, just to play cricket

Sports, World Opinion
Narra Mahesh receiving a trophy from a Ghanaian cricket official at Accra.
Narra Mahesh receiving a trophy from a Ghanaian cricket official at Accra.

Narra Mahesh literally eats, breathes and sleeps cricket and his irrefutable passion for the game brings him from Ghana to Vijayawada to play in the annual Power League organised by Krishna District Cricket Association.

In fact his club – Everest Cricket Club –won the Power League for three consecutive years and it is his club which introduced professionalism into city cricket by inducting Ranji Trophy players in their team for a price. In a low-scoring final, Everest CC defeated Royal in the final recently at Mulapadu.

Mr. Mahesh, who runs an import and export enterprise – MKNG Traders – at Accra, capital city of Ghana, is also busy developing cricket there by actively participating in local tournaments.

His club – Everest CC – won a couple of major leagues and tournaments in Ghana and it is backed by sponsors like Golden Dragon Casinos and Agarwal Eye Hospitals. “Three Ghanaian national players — David Ankara, Simon Ateeq and Vincent Ateeq — are in our team,” says Mahesh.

He says his club comprised players of Andhra Pradesh settled in Accra for several years. “The local leagues are fiercely competed there. Other communities such as Patels and Malayalis also have their own teams.” Many cricket buffs and administrators feel that the innovative step taken by Everest CC saw many other clubs packing their playing eleven with professional players.

Gets competitive

“Vijayawada’s Power League is no longer a run-off-the-mill competition. Following our footsteps other clubs are spending money to make their outfits competitive with quality players. For youngsters playing and against the experienced players it is a learning curve,” says Girish Varadharajan, who manages Everest Cricket Club at Accra.

Mr. Girish says the professionalism attracted the sponsors to the league. “Hotel Midcity, Chandana Brothers, Twills, Ramyam Intel and MKN Ventures have pitched in enthusiastically. We gave star hotel accommodation to all players and took care of all their travel needs.”

However, Mr. Mahesh wants the announcement of the Power League two months in advance so that clubs can take up their preparation. “Of late there is uncertainty over the league. A prior schedule will be helpful especially for a club which operating away from India.”

Mr. Mahesh came from Australia to Vijayawada, his native place, to hone his cricketing skills and graduate as a first class cricketer. His efforts paid off as gradually he went on play junior State teams and also in Butchi Babu Tournament. He was in the stand-bye in the Ranji Trophy team and unfortunately an injury brought an abrupt end to his fledging career.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / by J C Shridharan / Vijayawada – February 02nd, 2017

APNRT helps get eight IT firms to Vijayawada

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

They will operate from a plug-and-play facility in Autonagar

The building in Vijayawada from where IT companies will start functioning shortly.
The building in Vijayawada from where IT companies will start functioning shortly.

Vijayawada:

The capital city of Amaravati is all set to take its baby steps in attracting IT industry with eight small and midsize software companies deciding to kick-start their operations from a four-storeyed plug and play building at Autonagar in Vijayawada shortly.

The building will be inaugurated by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu soon. The companies are MSRCosmos, Adept IT Solutions, Horizon IT, Advance Software, Intellisoft, Intelli Asia, Timesquare IT and Accel IT. They could hire about 500 IT professionals and some of them could be fresh engineering graduates.

“Öur relentless efforts in creating a proper IT ecosystem through innovative policy initiatives and providing best of accommodation is bearing fruits now,” Dr. Ravi Kumar Vemuru, Advisor to AP Government, Non-Resident Telugu Affairs and Investments and CEO, AP Non-Resident Telugus Society (APNRT), told The Hindu on Tuesday. Ït could be treated as a prelude to the arrival of more such companies to Amaravati where space has been earmarked for a 27-storeyed IT Tower. Not just small and medium companies but big ones like Microsoft and HCL have shown interest, thanks to some aggressive promotion by the Chief Minister. “The head count when more companies are set up could go upto 5000 and this could happen by this year-end.”

The Andhra Pradesh Government’s two initiatives have been well received by the NRTs — 50% of rent for three years and subsidy of ₹1 lakh for every job created till 2020, he said. “We want to develop Visakhapatnam, Amaravati and Tirupati as IT hubs. It is not an easy task getting these companies to a place that is starting from the scratch unlike the well-established Hyderabad or Bengaluru.”

With more and more NRT and other companies willing to set up shop here, “we are now concentrating on making more and more engineering students employable by honing the right kind of skills and developing communication abilities in them,” Dr. Ravi said.

A Bengaluru-based training institute has been roped in to develop the communication abilities of the final year students.

As part of these efforts, the APNRT has taken up a massive awareness programme along with the engineering colleges in each district, where representatives of the IT and other companies spell out their requirements to help the colleges inculcate the right skills among the students. “The need for personnel is not just IT but the health and automobile sectors.” The awareness programme held at Ibahrimpatnam for Krishna district on Tuesday is among the first where 3000 students have attended.

The APNRT has been set up by the government to bring global investments and companies into the State and enthuse NRTs to be part of Andhra Pradesh’s growth story. The organisation is facilitating village development under the Smart Village Smart Ward programme while developing partnerships with foreign universities. It also provides services for NRTs like facilitating temple visits and assisting them in government documentations or procedures, legal help and migration issues.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Vijayawada / K. Venkateshwarlu / February 15th, 2017