The Hindu : Tamil Nadu News : Reporter's Diary

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Monday, Dec 20, 2004

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu

Reporter's Diary

The Union Minister of State for Finance, S.S. Palani Manikam, became nostalgic while inaugurating the 25th annual conference of Association of Economists of Tamil Nadu at St. Joseph's College in Tiruchi the other day by mentioning the names of the institutions where he had studied.

He said that he felt proud of being a student of Khader Mohideen College at Adhiramapattinam, from where he graduated, Pachaiyappa College in Chennai from where he got his Master's Degree and the Law College, which laid the foundation for his political career.

However, he felt sore that he could not get a chance to study in three prestigious institutions in Tamil Nadu — St. Joseph's College at Tiruchi, Madras Christian College at Tambaram and Annamalai University at Chidambaram.

* * *

The Government is bent on elimination of the child labour menace from the society once for all by 2007 and has launched a series of campaigns for achieving the same.

The Child Labour Elimination and Effective Rehabilitation Society, which is spearheading the campaign for putting an end to this menace in Tiruchi district under the auspices of the National Child Labour Project, has been organising cultural programmes for creating awareness among the people, particularly rural masses.

In association with the various Kalajatha Troupes, it has been conducting street plays in different parts. In the last few months alone, over 20 performances have been held. Response of the locals, the government machinery and the elected representatives has cheered the organisers, says its project director, Jaisee Suwetha.

* * *

Students of the special child labour school functioning on the premises of the Annai Mariammal Girls School in Tiruchi vied with one other in exhibiting their talents to the visiting officials even as the Labour Welfare Minister, P. Annavi, was conducting a surprise inspection.

They would not leave the Minister before they witnessed their programmes. They were a bit serious till the Minister raised various questions about their academic performance. Later, they formed into batches and every batch was making all-out efforts to offer its best performance. A group staged a play depicting a domestic tussle among couples belonging to the economically weaker section.

Giving up all their inhibitions, they attempted to outsmart one another. They assured the Minister that they would not go back to their workshop. Mr. Annavi advised them to plan their future career right now. "The governmental assistance is available for your career development. Develop an ambition to become an IAS officer."

* * *

The Central Bus Stand in Tiruchi might be a throbbing place in terms of traffic and the presence of floating population. But hoteliers leave nothing to chance.

They do their bit of canvassing for the extra turnover for their restaurants at the end of the day. Employees could be seen, especially during the lean hours, urging people to taste `high quality' food. At times, over enthusiastic employees get into `aggressive marketing.'

But this business strategy has not quite enthused the traffic police. The flow of traffic on the road opposite the Central Bus Stand being high, they are apprehensive that matters could turn worse if the trend becomes irreversible.

* * *

(Contributions from

R. Rajaram, Syed Muthahar Saqaf,

M. Balaganessin and

R. Krishnamoorthy

in Tiruchi)

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