Date:02/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/02/stories/2005010204580400.htm

Homage to tsunami victims

NEW DELHI JAN. 1. A prayer meeting was held by Gandhi Smriti and Darshan Samiti to pay homage to those who lost their lives in the tsumani disaster and express solidarity with their families. Organised in association with the Foundation for Religious Harmony and Universal Peace and National Council of Churches in India, the inter faith prayer meet was held at Tees January Marg today.

NCC Republic Day camp begins

NEW DELHI JAN. 1. The Republic Day Camp of the National Cadet Corps (NCC) began at the Garrison Ground, Delhi Cantonment on Saturday. Around 1,800 cadets from 16 NCC Directorates covering the various States and Union Territories of the country are participating in the camp.

To culminate with the Prime Minister's rally on January 27, the camp will see the cadets take part in a number of cultural activities, national integration awareness and institutional training competitions.

In his opening address, the Director General of NCC, Lieutenant General M.C. Bhandari told the cadets that the camp was a ``mini India'' where they could learn about each other. The aim of the camp was not only to give the cadets a glimpse of the Capital, but also to project to the nation the value for which NCC stands, he said.

School principal honoured

NEW DELHI JAN. 1. The founder principal and director of Manav Sthali School, Mamta V. Bhatnagar, has been honoured with the "Shiksha Rattan Award'' by the Institute of Economic Studies for her contribution in the field of education. The award was presented to her by the former Governor of Tamil Nadu, Bhishma Narain Simgh, at a function organised here this past week. A seminar on "Emerging Indian Economic Scenario'' was also organised on the occasion.

Martyrs remembered

NEW DELHI JAN. 1. On the occasion of the 241st Army Medical Corps anniversary, Lt. Gen. J.R.Bhardwaj, Director General of the Armed Forces Medical Services, along with the Director Generals Medical Services of the Navy and Air Force laid a wreath at Amar Jawan Jyoti today to pay homage to the soldiers of the Army Medical Corps who laid their lives for the country. General Bhardwaj emphasised the role of the Army Medical Corps in providing medical help at the time of disasters. He said all necessary medical help has been provided to the tsunami victims to prevent the outbreak of an epidemic. Three naval ships have been converted into hospitals and despatched to provide medical help to the victims, he added.