Date:01/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/01/stories/2008070154320500.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Local body school students honoured

Special Correspondent

Stalin presents cheques for Rs. 10,000 each to 52 students for their performance in public examinations

CHENNAI: Local Administration Minister M.K. Stalin on Monday presented cheques for Rs. 10,000 each to 52 students of schools run by municipal corporations and municipalities for their sterling performance in Std. X and Plus-Two examinations.

Of the 52 students, 45 were girls. Thirtyfive belonged to the Backward Classes; nine from Most Backward Classes; 6 of the Scheduled Castes and one each from the Scheduled Tribes and Other Communities. The local body schools registered a pass percentage of 76.34 per cent in the Std. X examination, and 80.83 per cent in Plus-Two, says an official release issued on Monday.

In the Std. X examination, the first rank was secured by S. Thayyal Nayaki who got 487 marks out of 500, and T. Kausalya secured the 25th rank with 480 marks. In the Plus-Two examination, S. Vaishnavi, the first-rank holder, scored 1,142 out of 1,200 marks and R. Priyadarshani, who finished 25th, scored 1,094. This time, more students of the schools of the Coimbatore and Tirupur municipal corporations came within the prescribed slots.

Under the scheme, the students of the local body schools who bagged the first 25 ranks would be given the financial assistance and certificates. In the case of higher secondary students, the higher education expenses (the fee for tuition, hostel accommodation and food) of the poor students among the top rankers would also be reimbursed.

To administer the scheme, the proceeds from a deposit of Rs. 2.53 crore made with the Tamil Nadu Urban Finance and Infrastructure Development Corporation was being utilised. The sum was drawn from the education fund of the local body schools, while the government had given a grant of Rs. 2 crore.

K. Deenabandu, Municipal Administration and Water Supply Secretary; Niranjan Mardi, Municipal Administration Commissioner; R.S. Bharathi, chairperson of the Alandur municipality and the Chamber of Municipalities of Tamil Nadu; and R. Venkatachalam, Mayor of Coimbatore, were present.