The Hindu 14.08.2009

Tirupparankundram Primary Health Centre gets Rs.50 lakh

Special Correspondent

MADURAI: The State Government has sanctioned Rs.50 lakh to the Primary Health Centre (PHC) at Tirupparankundram near here for improving infrastructure there.

According to Health Department sources, an oral communication to this effect was conveyed to the Deputy Director of Health Services, A. Palanichamy, on Thursday.

The Director of Public Health, S. Elango, had asked the district health authorities to prepare a plan estimate/building blueprint and take steps for starting construction work immediately, official sources said.

Requirements of the Tirupparankundram PHC were explained to the Health Minister, M. R. K. Panneerselvam, during his visit to the city on Wednesday. Construction of a 20-bed maternity ward, fully-equipped operation theatre and a postnatal ward would come up in the PHC, Dr. Palanichamy said.

“There is an urgent need for new buildings because of the increase in delivery cases in the recent months. If there are no buildings and maternity facilities, users will be put to much inconvenience,” he said.

On Tuesday, the Joint Secretary of National Rural Health Mission, Amarjeet Sinha, also visited Tirupparankundram to assess the PHC’s performance and the requirements.

The Hindu 14.08.2009

Will lead ‘India 2020’ movement: Kalam

Staff Reporter

— Photo: S. Siva Saravanan

FELICITATION: Former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam handing over a trophy to a university rank holder at the Hindusthan College of Arts and Science in the city on Thursday. Chairman T.S.R. Khannaiyann (left), and Secretary Sarasuwathi Khannaiyann (second left), Hindusthan Educational Institutions, are in the picture.

COIMBATORE: Listing out a 10-point agenda that India should work on for making ‘India 2020’ a reality, former President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam said that he would lead the ‘India 2020’ movement to its fruition.

He was speaking at a function organised at the Hindusthan College of Arts and Science to felicitate the university rank holders of Hindusthan Educational Institutions here on Thursday.

Mr. Kalam called for narrowing the socio-economic divide between rural and urban India, water, electricity and medical facility for all, eradication of poverty and equal status for women.

Ideal ambience

“Agriculture, industry and service sectors should take the people forward. The country should provide an ideal ambience for scientists, intellectuals and industrialists to work in. It should become a peaceful, clean, hygienic and corruption-free society and should be governed by incorruptible leaders. All these will help transform India into a developed country and will help realise the dream of ‘India 2020’, Mr. Kalam said.

He called for rejuvenation in agriculture through value-addition.

There were many opportunities for youth to try their hand at entrepreneurship through the Providing Urban Amenities for Rural Areas (PURA) project, he said.

He emphasised that agricultural scientists and farmers should work hand in hand to implement scientific methods of cultivation.

Food grain production

“At present, India’s food grain production is 230 million tonnes which is just enough for the today’s population. We do not have to import. But, by 2020 our need will increase and we will have to produce 350 million tonnes,” he said.

He urged the students to do well in their studies and develop the habit of reading.

He made them take an oath that they would set up a home library starting with 20 books and also sought the help of the parents gathered to help their wards in expanding the library from 20 to 200 and ultimately 2,000 books.

Reading

He also made them promise that they would spend an hour reading everyday.

Mr. Kalam gave away certificates, medals and trophies to university rank holders of the various institutions of the Hindusthan Group. T.S.R. Khannaiyann, Chairman, and Sarasuwathi Khannaiyann, Secretary, Hindusthan Educational Institutions, spoke.