Date:19/08/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/08/19/stories/2008081957630300.htm

Karnataka - Mysore

College students to be volunteers

Special Correspondent

Those selected by Dasara committeee will be trained at Infosys Training Centre

They will provide information to tourists, help streamline seating arrangements
Awards to be given to students who make outstanding contribution

MYSORE: The Dasara Special Committee is planning to train 300 college students as volunteers to help the various committees to make the festivities a major tourist attraction.

The volunteers selected will be imparted training at the Infosys Training Centre to enable them to man the kiosks set up in important places such as railway station, bus stands and busy roads. They will be entrusted with the responsibility to provide information to visitors on places of tourist interest, programmes, hotels and so on. Those manning these kiosks will also give information about hospitals, pharmacies and so on, according to a release issued by the committee.

It said that the volunteers would be asked to welcome visitors to programmes at the palace grounds and Kalamandir, and help streamline admission and seating arrangements.

In the first such initiative during Dasara, the volunteers would monitor garbage clearance in the city. They would also participate in the lighting and beautification work, the release said.

Meanwhile, two preliminary meetings have been held under the chairmanship of the Deputy Commissioner and the Commissioner of the Mysore City Corporation and was attended by representatives of leading colleges in the city. The colleges had shown a great deal of interest in taking part in the Dasara celebrations, it said.

Ramesh Venkateswaran, Director of the SDM Management Institute said, “We are looking forward to contributing to this world- class city and the world-class Dasara celebrations”.

The Chamarajendra Academy of Visual Arts (CAVA) will help in designing the kiosks that are expected to attract the attention of tourists. The volunteers will be selected based on their , personality, their ability to communicate and to function under stressful situations.

The volunteers will be told to be courteous and to extend all the help needed to visitors and make them feel as Mysore’s honoured guests. They will be attired in specially designed uniforms and given certificates for their participation. There will be awards for outstanding volunteers.

The public can send their suggestions sent to tanusamak@yahoo.com or contact the Dasara office on Ph: 0821-2418888.