Date:14/06/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/06/14/stories/2004061410120400.htm

Promoting tourism and removing poverty

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. To show that India was keen to attract foreign tourists, the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) chose to highlight the work done in two Indian villages with the aim of making them model tourist destinations at a seminar held in Cambodia and Vietnam recently.

Organised by the World Tourism Organisation, the five-day seminar from June 8 to 12 had "Promoting Cultural Tourism and Poverty Alleviation" as its theme. The INTACH Chairman, S.K. Misra, decided to showcase work done in the villages of Pragpur and Raghurajpur in Himachal Pradesh and Orissa respectively.

INTACH, the State Government concerned, the Central Government and village community had jointly undertaken the responsibility of the development of these two villages that has brought about socio-economic benefits to its inhabitants. A large number of palatial havelis in Pragpur are deserted as their occupants have left the village in connection with their business while Raghurajpur has the unique distinction of having a painter, sculptor, dancer and toy maker in every family. The late Kelucharan Mohapatra, a Padma Vibhushan recipient, belonged to this village.

Workshop for children

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. Nikhar, a social and cultural organisation, organised a 15-day workshop for tiny tots at Mayo School in Indraprastha Extension this past week.

According to the director of Nikhar, Sayar Bothra, the workshop tried to give maximum exposure to children through interactive talks with experts from diverse fields. The Limca Book record holder for memory, Mahavir Jain, was the centre of attraction at the workshop. He gave the children tips for improving their memory.

Theatre personality Praveen Bharti taught the children acting, scripting, body languages, voice modulation and other aspects of drama. Meditation sessions were also conducted to enhance the memory power of children. This apart, they were taught social and communication skills.

New Shemrock branches

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. The Shemrock group of schools is opening new branches in Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR) this summer. With more than 45 branches all over northern India, it recently opened its first branch in east and south India at Patna and Hyderabad respectively.

From the next academic session, Shemrock International -- an upcoming senior secondary school -- is opening a new school at Peeragarhi Chowk in West Delhi. It has also entered into a tie-up with the Delhi Public School (DPS) and opened a branch of DPS in Pinjore. It will be a boarding school of international standard.

The founder Director of Shemrock, Bimla Arora, has also started an educational institute offering nursery teachers training course to groom teachers.

New B-School launched

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. The Jaipuria Institute of Management launched its second B-School in Noida this past Tuesday. According to the president of the Institute Sharad Jaipuria, the new school would provide management education and training which would meet the professional pre-requisites of the fast developing industrial sectors.

Beginning its academic session in July, JIM Noida would offer a two-year AICTE approved MBA programme and four one-year post-graduate diploma courses in Journalism and Mass Communication; Insurance and Risk Management; Construction Project Management and Construction Risk Management.

The MBA course, affiliated to the UP Technical University has a common admission test like other Indian Institutes of Management while the Construction courses are offered in collaboration with the Michigan State University under the aegis of the Construction Industry Development Council (CIDC).

With the strong corporate support of the Jaipuria Group, the Institute provides an equally strong network with the Corporate and Industrial Sector and the Global Service Business Firms to ensure quality placement opportunities for its students. By offering internships and placements with reputed agencies such as the World Bank, Asian Development Bank, Indian Express, and the UNDP, JIM lays emphasis on providing practical and not merely theoretical training for its students.

Photo exhibition concludes

NEW DELHI JUNE 13. An exhibition of photographs entitled "Thandi Hawa-Cool Breeze" by aspiring photographers of the Applied and Professional Photography course (APP) of the Delhi-based Pearl Academy of Fashion (PAF) concluded at the India Habitat centre here recently. The show was a collaborative effort by 14 students encompassing several aspects of photography.

Through a breath taking display of landscapes, still life, glamour and glimpses of everyday life, the young photographers exhibited technical expertise and above all, love and respect for the medium. Trained in the art of photography, each one of these budding photographers shot a set of photographs and put together a cooperative document, signifying the title of the show.

Inaugurated by ace photographer, Raghu Rai, the show was judged by an eminent jury, comprising photographers Hardish Dhingra, and Ashok Dilwali. A.K.G. Nair, Executive Director of PAF said the exhibition was aimed at encouraging the budding photographers of the Academy.