ChennaiPlus

Universities in southern states have reached a consensus on the need for collaborative projects amongst them apart from giving a push to research by establishing university-industry interfaces.

The south zone vice-chancellors’ conference has also adopted a resolution to get ‘complete’ autonomy from regulating agencies.

Several vice-chancellors have voiced their concern, particularly over the tight string budget available for research, social sciences in particular. The collaboration will necessarily mean focus on sharing generic resources like library, research materials and human resources with a contextual orientation for integration, problem solving training, learning and strengthening of capabilities.

Under the new initiative, universities could come together for a joint research programme to avoid overlapping in terms of topics and content of research.

Maharishi Vidya Mandir Higher Secondary School, Chetpet, celebrated its 26th Annual Day at Kamaraj Aragam, Teynampet, on October 25.

The chief guest was Mr. S.S. Nathan, CEO and principal, Bala Vidya Mandir Senior Secondary School and secretary, Chennai Sahodaya School complex.

The Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Chennai North, has directed the Indian Bank to pay a compensation of Rs.15000 to each of its 144 employees, who retired from service voluntarily under the Voluntary Retirement Scheme (VRS), for the delay in disbursing the retirement benefits.

The Forum comprising its president Mr. G. Frederick Kanagaraj and member Mr.J. Kadrivel gave the direction recently, while passing orders on a batch of complaints from Ms.Swarnalatha and 143 others.

Following the introduction of VRS in 2000, the complainants opted for the scheme on various dates. They contended that there was enormous delay in paying the pension amount.

Men who use mobile phones face an increased risk of infertility, according to a new study, although scientists say it was too early to advise men whether they should limit their mobile phone use.

Researchers from US and India led by Mr.Ashok Agarwal, director of the Reproductive Research Centre at the Cleveland Clinic, Ohio, looked at more than 361 men undergoing checks at a fertility clinic who were classified into three groups according to their sperm count, reported the online edition of the Daily Mail.

Men who used mobile for more than four hours a day had a 25 percent lower sperm count than men who never used a mobile, the researchers found.

The men with the highest usage also had greater problems with sperm quality, with the swimming ability of sperms–a crucial factor in conception–down by a third.
They had a 50 per cent drop in the number of properly formed sperms, with just one-fifth looking normal under a microscope, the researchers said. The findings suggest millions of men may encounter difficulties in fathering a child due to the widespread use of mobile phone.

Corruption is the most virile and malignant cancer that eats away the vitals of national life. It debilitates a nation’s prosperity, standing as a well-entrenched, monstrous roadblock to progress. The Transparency International Perception Index puts India among the world’s most corrupt nations.

Periodically we read reports about nationwide CBI raids and registration of cases against ministers, politicians, government officials and other persons It is primarily to sensitize people about the need to fight corruption that the National Vigilance Week is observed from October 31, coinciding with the birthday of Sardar Vallabhai Patel who was a major influence in establishing the administrative structure of India. The observance of the week commences with a pledge, which the highest functionary in the office administers to all officials and staff members. Debates, essay competition, seminars, poster display and workshops as well as cultural activities to highlight the harmful effects of corruption are organized during the week. It also focuses on the education of citizens about their rights and the role they can play in fighting corruption.

Vigilance is an integral part of management function. There should be a pro-active approach to encourage incorruptibility in every sphere of human activity. A strategy of preventive vigilance should be implemented to evolve an environment of integrity and to add values to the system for increasing transparency and accountability in all aspects of working. Steps should be taken to empower the general public to approach the authorities concerned for redress of their grievances. Ethics in corporate governance is not only necessary for the moral satisfaction of its practitioners but is also a must for survival in the present era of globalisation. No organization can flourish without a strong ethical base of corporate activities. People should be educated about the evil consequences of corruption, teaching them how to remain a bulwark against it.

The Domestic Violence Act 2005, envisaging protection of women, came into force on Thursday. A notification was issued to bring it into effect from October 26.

The Act was passed by Parliament in August 2005 and President Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam gave his assent on September 13, 2005.

Implementation was pending, as detailed consultations were required with state governments and other agencies for framing the rules.

The Centre has requested all state governments and Union Territories to ensure that necessary administrative arrangements are immediately put in place for implementation of the Act. Beating or insulting wife can land the spouse in jail, with a fine of up to Rs.20000. The ministry has simultaneously issued another notification, laying down rules framed for implementation of the Act. These rules provide for appointments of protection offices, service-providers and counselors.

Action to be taken in the event of the respondent, breaching the protection order passed by the magistrate in favour of the aggrieved woman, is also prescribed in these rules.

Former Indian captain Krish Srikkanth, through his website www.krishcricket.com, has launched “Live Simulation” version of the cricket matches being played now. The viewer/s will be able to see the ball-by-ball action live in a 2D animated form. With live audio comments also being included, the viewers are treated to a “real match situation”.
In addition, the viewers get to see the graphical analysis of the matches in the form of Wagon Wheel, Pitch Map, and the Man-Hattan Charts. One could say that it is a wholesome cricket ing experience. The other features include some exciting games titled the Krish Pro Cricket Challenge and the Krish Cricket Challenge.

Viewers are also treated to the Live Audio Comments during the matches by an expert panel with expert comments on the game by Krish Srikkanth himself.

The website offers other goodies too. You could buy the 1983 World Cup Final CD, which captures all those exciting moments and is the ‘collectors’ item. Bat Like the Master CD provides some useful batting tips. Around 30 exciting moments called” Magic Moments” are available as video clips for down loading on mobiles. There is a video section which features Krish Srikkanth’s cricket related reviews.

Log on to www.krish cricket.com enjoy you, play games and win exciting prizes.

India’s slump in ODI form over the last six months has had many experts touting various explanations, but whichever way you look at it, the one inescapable fact they come back to is the collective batting failure of a star-studded line-up. The failures of Virender Sehwag, Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina have hurt the team, but the single-biggest factor, which has hurt them more than any other, is the sudden slump in form of their captain and their most vital cog in the batting wheel, Rahul Dravid.

Since scoring a century in guiding India to victory in the first ODI on their tour to the West Indies, Dravid has scored 145 runs in 11 innings, with a highest of 49. India have gone on to win just two of those matches.
Over the last four years and a bit, Dravid has shown the kind of versatility that has enabled him to translate his success in Tests into the shorter version of the game as well. Since the tour to England in 2002, he averages 42 in all ODIs, but a staggering 59.60 in wins, pointing to the fact that when India win, Dravid usually has a huge role to play. Combine that with his average in defeats during this period, and it’s clear that Dravid’s performances have had a huge impact on India’s ODI fortunes.

In fact, Dravid’s average in wins is outstanding even when compared with the other leading batsmen in the world during this period - among batsmen with at least 1500 winning runs, only Ramnaresh Sarwan has done better. West Indies, Pakistan and South Africa are the only teams with two representatives on that list, while it might surprise some to note that the only Australian in the top ten is not Ricky Ponting, but Andrew Symonds.

It’s also interesting that a couple of batting heavyweights don’t figure in the table below - Ponting’s average of 48.42 only puts him in 15th place, while Sachin Tendulkar is seven places further down with an average of 44.52.

It’s no-one’s contention, though, that these four years have been Tendulkar’s best ones. His peak was clearly much earlier, and though he played a few sizzling knocks during this period - most notably in the 2003 World Cup - he just didn’t do it consistently enough to be among the top batsmen.

The Rotary Club has inaugurated an Interact Club exclusively for school students.
Of Ramakrishna Mission Matriculation Higher Secondary School, T.Nagar.

Mr. Vinod Sarogi, president of Rotary Club of Madras central, inaugurated the club and spoke on the salient features of the ‘Interact Club’ and its impact on student community in acquiring leadership qualities.

Secretary of the school Swami padmastananadaji said the club would help give exposure to the latent talents of the students.

The principal Mrs. Leela Parthasarathy welcomed the gathering and Ms. Vaneetha Kumar proposed a vote of thanks.

The Old Boys Association of the Hindu Higher Secondary School, Triplicane, organized a three-in-one function: “Old boys meet,” “Honouring of retired staff” and commemoration of 150th year celebration of the school.

Mr. T.V. Venkatraman, former chief secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu, was the chief guest. Mr. R. Nataraj IPS, Additional DGP, Dr. T.K. Parthasarathy, former Vice-Chancellor, Sri Ramachandra Medical College and Research Institute, Mr. V. Janaki Raman, former Managing Director, SBI, Mr. L. Lakshmanan, chairman, Rane group, attended.

Dr. C.V. Vel Murugendran, president, school committee Mr, Narayan Ramaswamy, secretary, school committee, participated, offered felicitation.

The head master Ln. S. Namasivayam welcomed the gathering. The function was a chance for all the alumni to meet and share their feelings about the school.