Date:23/11/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/11/23/stories/2005112306020200.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Students take part in design-a-stamp competition

Staff Reporter

TAMBARAM: About 225 students from 15 schools in Tambaram took part in the `design-a-stamp' contest organised by the Department of Posts at the Jaigopal Garodia National Higher Secondary School in East Tambaram on Sunday last.

Organised every year since 1998, the contest aims at inculcating students' interest in stamps.

There were three categories: Students from first to fourth standards, fifth to eight standards, and ninth to twelfth standards.

The themes for today's contest were `my favourite mythological character' and `my favourite fairy tale.'

Sunday's contest was organised by the Tambaram postal division. Similar contests were organised by other divisions of the Chennai region and in other parts of the State as well.

Three paintings from each of the categories from all over India will be selected at the national level and given cash awards of Rs. 10,000, Rs. 6,000 and Rs. 4,000 for the first, second and third places respectively.

Stamps will be brought out by the Department of Posts based on the prize-winning designs in the junior category. Prize-winning designs from the senior category will be used to make stamp sheets, first day covers, maxim cards and also find a place on the cover of philately newsletters, according to K. Chinnadurai, Senior Superintendent of Posts, Tambaram.

Though the contest is usually held on November 14 every year to coincide with Children's Day, it was postponed this year due to rain and administrative reasons.

About 850 students appeared for the contest held at Sri Padmam and Sri Alamelumanga wedding halls in T. Nagar.

The three best entries will be selected at a regional level for the three age-wise categories in which the contest was held.

The first prize in all segments will be sent to the Director General of Posts, New Delhi, for participation in the national level contests.

The national prize winning entries will be chosen for being printed as postage stamps and First Day Cover to be released on Children's Day, 2006. The common theme for the contest was "My favourite mythological hero" or "My favourite fairy tale". R. Anand, Director of Postal Services, Chennai, visited the competition venue.