Date:20/12/2004 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2004/12/20/stories/2004122008220400.htm

Literacy centres

NELLORE: About 250 `Akshara Bharati' centres are to be opened in Marripadu mandal, as part of providing the facility of continued education to illiterates. A target of 310 centres has been fixed for the mandal.

Officials to meet tomorrow

NELLORE: In tune with the commitment of the district administration to give a fillip to comprehensive land development programme (CLDP), now christened as `Indira Prabha', a meeting of officials belonging to six mandals will be held at Atmakur on December 21. The mandals include, Anantasagaram, A.S. Pet, Podalakur, Chejerla, Kaluvoy and Atmakuru.

Move to develop

hospital

NELLORE: The Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare,

P. Lakshmi, has said that efforts were on to develop the 30-bed hospital at Kota of Nellore district.

The Minister disclosed that a four-year old girl, Prasanti, of Timmanaidupalem village of Kota mandal, who was found to be suffering from cardiac problem, was provided with an assistance of Rs. 30,000 from the Prime Minister's Relief Fund and Rs. 25,000 from the Chief Minister's Relief Fund, to enable her to undergo surgery.

Workshop on good governance

KURNOOL: P. Vasantha Kumar of Centre for Good Governance has said the Indian system of administration was the most expensive in the world. Addressing at a workshop on Good Governance here on Sunday, he said for providing Government to 103 crore people, about two crores servants were recruited. Out of total employees, about 75 per cent was employed by the Governments while only 25 per cent were in the private sector.

Fisherman dies in mishap

CUDDAPAH: A fisherman, Krishnaiah (55), died and another person was hurt when a jeep dashed against a stationary tractor near Chinnamachupalle in Chennur mandal on Sunday. The police registered a case.

Naidu expresses shock

at leopard's death

HYDERABAD: The Telugu Desam Party president, N. Chandrababu Naidu, on Sunday expressed shock at the death of leopard due to bullet injury caused by the police firing.

In a statement, he described the firing at the animal as inhuman. "It is an unpardonable crime. It is unfortunate that timely medicare could not be given to save the leopard."

Mr. Naidu stated that the incident in the Jubilee Hills area reflected the Government's inefficiency and negligence of the zoo officials. He demanded action against those responsible for the death.

Ex-MLAs seek GO

on medical facility

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh Former Legislators' Forum, while welcoming the passing of the bill to increase the pension of ex-MLAs, has demanded GO on one-time treatment facility up to Rs.1 lakh in super speciality hospitals.

K. Subba Raju, convener of the forum, in a statement has said although five months had passed since the Chief Minister, Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, agreed to the treatment, the GO concerned was not issued. Twelve former legislators died during the last five months while awaiting Government decision on it, he said and sought extension of free travel facility for members of the forum in RTC buses.

Interim relief for Government

employees demanded

HYDERABAD: The Andhra Pradesh State Teachers' Union on Sunday demanded 20 per cent interim relief to Government employees, teachers and workers as promised by the Congress before and after the Assembly elections. It wanted the Government to implement the Pay Revision Commission report.

At its two-day State Executive meeting, which concluded here, the union adopted several resolutions on the problems facing teachers. One resolution pointed out that teachers in Visakhapatnam district were agitated by the Collector's insistence that they should reside at their place of work.

The executive demanded immediate revision of service rules, filling of 50,000 posts of teachers and posting of 500 mandal education officers, 1,500 headmasters and 78 DEOs.

Three ryots commit suicide

KURNOOL: A farmer, identified as K. Venkatramudu, 45, allegedly committed suicide at Julepalli in Gospadu mandal of Kurnool district on Sunday.

According to reports, the farmer, who was debt-ridden, took the extreme step by consuming pesticide.

In Chittoor district, a farmer ended his life on Sunday by consuming pesticide while a weaver attempted suicide by swallowing some poisonous seed.

The farmer, Nare Padmanabha Reddy of Vayalpadu, took the extreme step due to mounting debts.

The weaver, Radhakrishna, who migrated to Madanapalle from Gandivempalle in Cuddapah district, caught in debt trap. He is said to have taken loan to get her sister married and also to revive his weaving business. In a fit of frustration, he reportedly attempted suicide.

ital.

In Nalgonda district, a farmer of Gangadevigudem in Kattamgur mandal, Kambalapalli Sudhakar (26), reportedly committed suicide in the early hours of Sunday.

According to reports, Sudhakar consumed pesticide at his fields and died while being shifted to hospital.

Centre criticised for

raising fuel prices

Hyderabad: The BJP State president, N. Indrasena Reddy, has accused the Congress-led State and Central Governments of failing to implement pre-election promises to the people. Addressing the city BJP's executive meeting here on Sunday, he found fault with the Centre for increasing the prices of kerosene and gas. The State Government had promised to increase old-age pension from Rs. 75 to Rs. 225 but had not implemented it. "This is a Government of words and not deeds," he added.

DWCRA Bazaar from tomorrow

Hyderabad: Handicrafts, decorative items and other products made by women self-help groups from 17 States will be marketed at the 12-day DWCRA Bazaar beginning here at Public Gardens from December 21.

The Minister for Rural Development, D. Srinivas, will inaugurate the event in which 500 participants from Andhra Pradesh, West Bengal, Jammu and Kashmir, Uttaranchal, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Karnataka, Sikkim, Tripura, Orrisa, Madhya Pradesh, Assam, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Pondicherry and Goa will display their wares.

The exhibition is being jointly organised by the Union Ministry of Rural Development and the State Government.

Office-bearers elected

Hyderabad: P. Gaddayya has been unanimously elected president of the Andhra Pradesh Survey Employees' Association. The other office-bearers are: K. Pitchaiah (associate president), D.D. Mallikarjuna Naidu, K. Jayaraju, B. Venumadhav, G.L. Ganeshwara Rao (vice-presidents), Y. Abdul Wahab (general secretary), T. Ramakrishna (organising secretary), P.Sathyanarayana, Ch. Jeji Babu (secretaries) and A. Srinivasa Rao (treasurer), according to a press release issued by the association.

Computer firm in Guntur

searched, papers seized

GUNTUR: Police officials on Sunday searched the premises of the Social Computers and Services at Brodipet in connection with Voice Over Internet Protocol (VOIP) calls diversion case and seized some papers. The search was conducted by the Deputy Superintendent of Police, M. Satyanarayana Rao.

The Superintendent of Police, Jitender, said that the police had taken up the case as a model one and would bring all the culprits to book with the technical help of the Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited. Some papers relating to operations of the company and agreements were confiscated and the Circle Inspector of Police (Guntur West), J. Bhaskar Rao, had been entrusted with the job of investigating the case. A chargesheet would be filed in the court as soon as the investigation was over, the SP said. Currently it was being treated as a case under the Indian Telegraphic Act along with cases of cheating and theft, and no case under Cyber Crime rules was made, he said.

Fall in night temperature

HYDERABAD: The lowest night temperature in the State on Sunday fell to 10 degree Celsius. This was recorded by Hyderabad.

The weather was dry in the State. For the 24-hour period ending Sunday morning, the minimum temperature dropped at a few places in Telangana and Rayalaseema and it changed a little in coastal Andhra. The weather will be dry on Monday, according to a forecast issued by the Met office.