Kidnapped baby rescued;

A kidnapped male baby was rescued by a special team of police within 24 hours of the occurrence of the crime on Wednesday.

Police sources said that R. Ramakka of Kamarajar Colony in Berigai in Krishnagiri district lost her three-month-old child at the new bus stand in Krishnagiri on Tuesday.

The child was allegedly kidnapped when Ramakka left the baby to the care of Dhanalakshmi, hailing from Krishnan Koil Street in Krishnagiri, to buy food for her daughter.

On return, she found the woman missing with the baby. She lodged a complaint with the Krishnagiri town police station.

The police traced Dhanalakshmi and on enquiry she confessed that she had handed over the infant to a couple Siva and Girija, residing at Perambur in Chennai.

On direction from A.G. Babu, Superintendent of Police, a special team rushed to Chennai and rescued the baby and handed over to Ramakka on Wednesday.

Dhanalakshmi, Rani and Girija were arrested by Krishnagiri town police.

Higher mango prices leave a sour taste in the mouth

Unusually this mango season has seen lesser arrivals and higher prices, taking the fruit beyond the reach of most of the commoners in Karur district.

With the arrival of summer, several seasonal fruits make their appearance. They include varieties of mangoes, cucumber, watermelon, palm fruit besides coconut from several places. They not only quench the thirst of parched throats but also tickle the taste buds, enticing the people with their everlasting appeal.

Traditional horticulturists say that the yield would be good in alternative years, with one dull year interspersing two good seasons. But this year has fallen in the low ebb as far as yield and consequently arrivals are concerned, pushing up the prices across all varieties from common varieties to exquisite ones.

“This crop season has not been beneficial to us as too hot a climate during the flowering period, windy and rainy germination stage conspired with hot sunny weather conditions during the fruit growth cycle hampered yield,'' points out working president of Cauvery Delta Farmers' Welfare Association and major mango grower Mahadanapuram V. Rajaram.

There have been very heavy losses in the mango gardens raised at Mahadanapuram, Krishnarayapuram, Karungalapalli, Thanneerpalli and Nadupatti in Karur district. The returns have been poor and the produce is not fetching us remunerative prices either, aver the growers. In fact some growers say that they have been offered only half the regular lease rates, courtesy the lesser yield in the gardens in several areas.

In some other areas of Karur district, the yield has been less than one-third plunging the growers into despair. “What to do we are left to the mercy of nature and it has played truant this year,'' rues C. Govindasamy of Karur noting that his gardens have got him only half the regular lease prices and that too after much bargaining.

Whatever was left of the gardens was cleaned up by the recent gale and strong winds followed by rain over the past three days.

As for the retail customers and common man, those fruits that were selling at Rs. 20 to 30 a kg have become dearer by another Rs. 20 or more as the arrivals dwindled. Sendura variety sells for Rs. 30 and 40 a kg, Banganapalli Rs. 50 to 60 a kg, Alphonsa Rs. 60 to Rs. 70 a kg and Himam Pasanth Rs. 100 a kg.

The arrivals even from Salem, Dharmapuri and Krishnagiri besides those from Andhra Pradesh have been pretty less and so the price is reigning high, point out retailers who are hit hard and were finding it difficult to to cart sale and head load sales.

Israeli scientists to train Krishnagiri farmers

Sharing views:Israeli diplomat Avribarzur (left), Counselor - MASHAV (Science & Agriculture) at its embassy in New Delhi, holding discussion with Collector V.K. Shanmugam in Krishnagiri recently. —

KRISHNAGIRI: Israeli scientists will give training to farmers of Krishnagiri on latest technologies available in agriculture sector, Collector V.K. Shanmugam said here recently.

Israeli diplomat Avribarzur, Counselor - MASHAV (Science & Agriculture) at its embassy office in New Delhi, visited the district two days last week. During his stay here, he went round the poly green-houses and studied cultivation of vegetables and flowers under horticulture in Krishnagiri, Hosur and Kelamangalam areas.

He inspected the poly green-houses set up with government subsidy in Chinna Vellatharapalli, Pennapalli and Achettipalli areas in Hosur.

He enquired about the cultivation of capsicum and rose on small land holdings by the farmers with the help of the Agriculture Department.

Methods

With regard to methods of cultivation and fertilization, Mr. Avribarzur advised the farmers to reduce the application of fertilizers and liquefied fertilizers.

He also visited the agriculture fields where cabbage and beans are being cultivated using the precision farming method.

Later, he visited the mango orchards at Veppalampatti, Mahadevagollahalli and Jagadevi near Krishnagiri.

Later, he interacted with Mr. Shanmugam and officials from Agriculture, Horticulture and Agriculture Engineering Departments at the Collectorate.

Mr. Shanmugam said that the salubrious climate in the district was suitable for mango cultivation.

Hence, he requested Mr. Avribarzur to give training to the farmers on latest technologies to reap maximum benefits and extend technical know-how available in Israel.

Mr. Avribarzur said that he would send a team of agriculture experts in July this year to give training to the farmers in Krishnagiri district.

During the inspection, R Subbaian, Additional Director of Horticulture, accompanied Mr. Avribarzur.

First rural BPO in Krishnagiri District boosts employment

The first government-run rural BPO in Chennai's Krishnagiri District is proving to be a boon for youths wanting jobs.

At present over one hundred rural youth, both male and female, in the age group of 18 to 35 years are employed at Fostering Technologies in Rural Area (FOSTeRA), the BPO established in year 2007 by District of Rural Development Agency (DRDA).

The employees here earn a monthly salary of Rs 5000 to Rs 8,000.

"The objective is to take IT to rural areas and to provide employment and also create entrepreneurship. The rural BPO provides employment for local people in the age group of 18 to 35, with the qualification of plus two, graduate and above," said Ashok Kumar, CEO, FOSTeRA.

The nature of the job is voice process and non-voice process. About 300 young people have already been put through voice and non-voice training.

"Here it is night as well as day shift. I have got job to work in day shift. The call center has hired many rural people," said Anjana, an employee.

FOSTeRA Krishnagiri, is planning to increase its capacity from the present 25 to about 500 by the end of October, and after that it will employee around 1000 people working in two shifts.

Multi-national companies like telecom and banking are looking at FOSTeRA to outsource their help desk, credit card processing, form filling and editing work. (ANI)

Heavy rain lashes Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri

Heavy rain accompanied by thunder and lightning occurred at many parts of Krishangiri and Dharmapuri districts on Monday evening.

Widespread rain occurred at Dharmapuri, Pennagaram, Harur and Pappireddipatti in Dharmapuri district.

Power supply was affected at many places as TNEB officials took precaution to prevent untoward incidents. Trees got uprooted at Anchetti and Denkanikottai.

A coconut tree was caught fire in the lightning at Theerthagiri Valasai village in Vellakkuttai Panchayat near Uthangarai.

Rainfall

Theerthagiri, tahsildar, Uthangarai, visited the affected places.

Anchetti registered a maximum rain of 37 mm. Rainfall registered in Krishnagiri district are: Hosur and Nedungal 26 mm, Denkanikottai 24, Uthangarai 19, Royakottai 18, Krishnagiri 16 and Thaly 7 mm.

Police adopt village in Melpoongurithi

P. Sivanandi, Inspector General of Police, West Zone, addressing at an awareness programme at the Melpoonguruthi village in Bargur Panchayat Union on Tuesday.

The Department of Police, Tamil Nadu, adopted Melpoongurithi village in Bargur Panchayat Union located on the Tamil Nadu-Andhra Pradesh border on Tuesday. Launching an awareness programme at the village, Inspector General of Police, West Zone, P. Sivanandi instructed villagers to alert the police if they found anyone roaming under suspicious circumstances in and around their village.

Mr. Sivanandi said the informer's confidentiality would be maintained and they would be rewarded.

He said such awareness programmes would help strengthen the bond between the people and the police, paving way for crime-free villages in the region.

Through such programmes, the district police along with the local police will help villages get the necessary basic amenities like water, road, street light.

The police will also help identify sponsors to educate children and get employment for educated youths of the village, he added.

As many as 500 children were sponsored by the police in the Coimbatore region alone. A barber's son who could not continue his professional education was supported by the police.

Besides this, the police would arrange loans through banks and financial institutions for buying milch animals to improve the livelihood of the villagers, Mr. Sivanandi said. He also announced a reward of Rs. 1,000 for informers.

Deputy Inspector General of Police G. Venkatraman said the Melpunguruthi village was selected for the awareness programme because of its crime-free record.

V.G. Rajendran, Chairman, Bargur Panchayat Union said, people cultivating in small piece of lands in the forests for a longer period were denied patta by the forest department. Because of this, they were finding it difficult to lead their life.

He requested the police department to take up the issue with the government and help the villagers get patta for the land in which they were undertaking cultivation..

Superintendent of Police A.G. Babu welcomed the gathering. Additional Superintendent of Police D. Magesh Kumar, Deputy Superintendent of Police, Bargur, K. Gunasekaran and Inspector of Police Rajkumar, among others, attended the awareness programme.

Scant rainfall hits export of mango pulp in Tamil Nadu

The export of mango pulp from Tamil Nadu's Krishnagiri region has been adversely hit due to inadequate rainfall during the northeast monsoon this year.

Incidentally, Krishnagiri is the second largest exporter of pulp in India and second largest producer of mangoes in the world.

Krishnagiri and the neighbouring Dharmapuri district boasts of more than 45,000 hectares of mango orchards, with a total annual output of mangoes in the range of over 300,000 tonnes.

A major part of the processed pulp is exported to the Middle East and European countries.

In 2009, around 11,250 tonnes of pulp were exported to foreign countries.

"Last year, we had produced 8,500 containers that is 1,50,000 tonnes of mango pulp. Out of which 75 percent was exported and 25 percent was used for domestic purposes," said Madhavan, Managing Director, Paiyur Fruit Private Limited, Krishnagiri.

The annual total turnover in mango pulp industry is around five billion rupees, but it is speculated that it would be bleak to the extent of 50 percent as compared to the previous season.

"This year the graph of mango pulp production is drastically affected due to monsoon failure. We are expecting only 25 percent of production as compared to last year," said Madhavan.

Seven child labourers rescued in Hosur

Seven child labourers were rescued from brick kilns in Hosur area, said a release from Collector V.K. Shanmugam said here on Monday.

The release said those rescued were: Latha (13), Murali (14), Siva (14), Soundarya (14), Perumal (11), Kalaivani (10), Raman (9).

Officials are taking efforts to admit these children in special schools run by the National Child Labour Project or Residential Bridge Schools in the district.

Action

Legal action has been initiated against employers who had engaged the children to perform hard work in their brick kiln. Inspector of Factories Dinakaran, Medical Officer, Latha, Project Officer, Project Officer, NCLP and Balachandran, Field Officer, NCLP were involved in the rescue operation.

170 students score centum in core subject

A total of 170 students secured centum in core subjects in the March 2010 Plus-Two examinations.

M. Baskaran, Chief Education Officer told The Hindu on Saturday that 82 students secured centum in mathematics, 9 in physics, 26 in chemistry, 26 in biology, 11 in computer science, three in commerce, nine in accountancy and four in economics.

Toppers

The following are the toppers in languages:

Tamil – U. Gayatri (197), S.V. Mandir MHSS, Uthangarai; English – C. Karunya (195), S.V. Mandir MHSS, Uthangarai; Telugu – G. Saraswathi (188), Government G. HSS, Hosur; Urdu – A. Gazala Sultana (180), Govt. Urdu HSS, Hosur; Kannada – A. Madhushree (188), Maharishi HSS, SIPCOT, Hosur; Hindi – K.S. Anupama (191) St. Joseph's MHSS, SIPCOT, Hosur; Sanskrit – R. Shruthi (198), Maharishi HSS, Hosur; French – R. Prasad (180), Maharishi HSS, Hosur.

Mr. Baskaran said that District Education Department is planning to hold intensive special coaching classes for over 900 students who lost in mathematics examinations.

Coaching classes

The coaching classes would be conducted in two batches in Krishnagiri and Hosur towns with the help of NGOs in the district, who have come forward to volunteer themselves for the cause of educating poor children.

These students can write the supplementary examinations to be conducted during June and continue their higher studies without wasting one year, he adds.

Girls outshine boys in Plus-Two examinations

Krishnagiri District Collector V.K. Shanmugam (second right) giving away Rs. 5,000 each and a trophy to State second rank holders C. Karunya (left) and M. Dinesh (second left) at Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Krishangiri on Friday. M. Baskaran (right), Chief Educational Officer, is in the picture.

M. Shantini, Sri Vidya Mandhir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangarai.

M. Shantini, Sri Vidya Mandhir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangarai.

M. Shantini, Sri Vidya Mandhir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangarai.

KRISHNAGIRI: As usual, this year too girls outshone boys in the Plus-Two examinations. A total of 15,909 students (8043 boys; 7866 girls) appeared for the 2010 examinations in the Krishnagiri revenue district comprising Krishnagiri and Hosur Education Districts. Out of this 12,232 students (5988 boys; 6244 girls) passed. The pass percentage of the district jumped to 76.89 per cent this year from 72 per cent during the last academic year.

Due to the constant efforts of the district administration, education department with the help of the non-Governmental agencies, the performances of the Government Higher Secondary Schools rose by 5 per cent than the last year, V.K. Shanmugam, Collector told The Hindu.

Constant efforts and inspections of schools that have performed poorly during the last academic year (2008-09) and through personal motivation helped a lot, Mr. Shanmugam added.

C. Karunya, M. Dinesh of Sri Vidya Mandir Matriculation Higher Secondary School, Uthangarai, scored 1,186 out of 1,200 becoming second in the state. M. Dinesh scored centum in physics, chemistry, biology and mathematics and 193 each in Tamil and English.

C. Karunya of the same school got centum in biology and mathematics, 198 each in physics and chemistry and 195 each in Tamil and English. Both of them are district toppers in Krishnagiri district.

M. Shanthni and M. Saranya of the same school came second scoring 1,182. Shanthini got centum in physics and mathematics and scored 198 in biology and 199 in chemistry, 190 in English and 195 in Tamil. Saranya scored 199 each in physics, chemistry and biology, 198 in mathematics, 194 in Tamil and 193 in English.

R. Vinodhini of the same school came third in the revenue district with a total of 1,181 with centum in mathematics and physics. All these candidates are district toppers in the Krishnagiri Education District.

In Hosur Education District G. Sandhya of Maharishi Matriculation Higher Secondary School came first by scoring 1,180 marks.

P. Balasubramani of the same school came second with 1,178 marks. Kaviya K. Srinivasulu, K. Kathiresan, G. Kalpana and Sabana Sulthana came third scoring 1,172 marks.

Certificate verification process for teachers' posts begins

The process of verifying the certificates of 732 candidates to fill in the vacancies for the post of Graduate Assistants in Government High and Middle Schools began in Krishnagiri on Wednesday.

Chief Education Officer M. Baskaran inspected the verification process at the Government Boys High Secondary School in Krishnagiri.

Speaking to The Hindu, he said that nine teams were involved in verification process. The selection would be done on the basis of 1:5 of the total candidates invited through employment exchanges for the certificate verification on seniority basis.

The process would lasts for another three days. The list of candidates (subject wise) called for the verification has been released in the website of the Teachers Recruitment Boar (TRB).

Those who have not received letter from TRB for certificate verification can download the selection list and participate in the verification camp. Candidates have been asked to bring four copies of passport size photograph and identity card with their photo pasted and attested by a competent authority.

As many as 31,170 candidates were called for filling up of the 6,332 posts lying vacant in various Government High and Middle schools across the State.

392 vacant posts

in Krishnagiri

Over 390 posts are vacant for Graduate Assistants out of the 2,042 sanctioned in various subjects in Krishnagiri district, Mr. Baskaran said.

Demonstration on trapping fruit fly in mango held

A demonstration was held at Moongilpudur village, near Krishnagiri, on Tuesday on how to trap fruit flies that affects the growth of mango.

Inaugurating the demonstration, District Revenue Officer P. Prabhakaran said such demonstration would be held in all the Panchayat Unions in the district for which the Government has allocated Rs. 1 lakh through Dr. Perumal Krishi Vigyan Kendra.

Agriculture experts from the Kendra explained about the cheap equipment designed by them called ‘Phermones Trap' to save the fully-grown mango from fruit fly called ‘Bactocera Dorsalis'

Mango varieties such as Bangaloora, Alphonsa, Senthura, Banganapalli and Malgoa are cultivated on more than 35,000 hectares in Krishnagiri and Dharmapuri districts.

Fruit fly affect mango production during April and May by nearly 30 per cent to 40 per cent.

The ‘Bactocera Dorsalis' used to lay two to 15 eggs inside the skin of the mango. When the larva comes out from the eggs, these mango get rotten.

Explaining the features of Phermone Trap, T. Sundararajan, Project Coordinator, Dr. Perumal KVK said that they had designed the trap to help mango growers to save it from the flies at the harvest stage itself. The trap cost Rs. 65.

To safeguard from this fly, farmers can keep at lease six pheromones trap to attract the male flies and control their population.

K. Gunasekar, Technical Expert (Soil) welcomed the gathering. T.I. Ramesh Babu, technical expert (Horticulture), proposed a vote of thanks.

K. Rajan, Joint Director (Agriculture), N. Arulmozhi, Executive Engineer, Agriculture Engineering, H. Arulmozhi Devan, Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry among others participated.

Rs. 1,432-crore credit plan for Krishnagiri

Krishnagiri Collector V.K. Shanmugam (third left) releases the Annual Credit Plan for Krishnagiri at a District Consultative Meeting.

A Rs. 1,432-crore Annual Credit Plan was released for Krishnagiri district for 2010-11 by V.K. Shanmugam recently. The first copy was received by M. Vijayakumar, Manager, Reserve Bank of India.

The plan envisages Rs. 1,299-crore bank loan under the priority sector, which is 19.76 per cent higher than the last year's.Releasing the Credit Plan at the district consultative meeting here, Mr. Shanmugam directed officials of the Mahalir Thittam and Non-governmental Organisations to identify credit rated groups before the end of April 2010.

Such credit rated groups would be segregated by the district administration in all the blocks and they would be linked to the banks.

He asked bankers to accord priority in extending loans for drip and sprinkler irrigation systems, precision farming, cut flower cultivation and other allied sectors of agriculture.

Of the total credit outlay, agriculture sector gets the lion's share of Rs. 786.06-crore including a crop loan of Rs. 457.53-crore, 29.80 per cent higher than last year. Rs. 328.53-crore has been projected for agricultural term credit.

Of this, Rs. 29.78-crore has been allocated for minor irrigation and land development, Rs. Rs. 80.18-crore for horticulture and Rs. 5 2.45-crore for allied activities of horticulture.

For other Non Farm Sector, the envisaged credit outlay was Rs. 167.90 crore and for other priority sector such as retail trade, small business, transport, housing loans, education loan have been allocated Rs. 360-crore which includes Rs. 56.32 crore has been allocated for education loans. Rs. 401.41-crore has been projected for government-sponsored schemes.

Cooperative banks

Of the total credit outlay, Rs. 1187.86-crore would be extended from commercial banks, which constitute 91.44 per cent of the outlay, and the remaining Rs. 111.23-crore loan from Cooperative banks and other lending institutions. G. Muthappan, Deputy General Manager and Dharmapuri Circle Head, Indian Bank said 158 villages with over 2000 population were identified in Krishnagiri district to bring them under the financial inclusion, which would pave way strengthen the rural banking services.

V. Thirumalai, Assistant General Manager, NABARD; B. Vadivel, Manager, Lead District Bank; and M.R. Rajendran, Chairman, District Panchayat; spoke on the occasion.

Number of HIV-affected persons has come down in Krishnagiri district

The number of HIV-affected persons has come down considerably in Krishnagiri district during last year, K. Chandramouli, Director, National Aids Control Organisation, said here on Friday.

Mr. Chandramouli inspected the operations of Anti-Retroviral Testing (ART) centre at the district headquarters hospital, STD clinic, blood banks and counselling centre in Krishnagiri along with Shambu Kallolikar, Project Director, Tamil Nadu Aids Control Society.

Inspecting the blood bank, Mr. Mouli enquired with the officials whether they had enough stock of blood to meet emergency requirement and also about the refrigeration system at the bank.

He enquired about the number of patients visiting the ART centre daily and how the HIV-affected persons were counselled at the 17 centres called ‘Nambikkai Maiyam' across the district.

He was informed that on an average 50 to 70 HIV affected persons were visiting the ART centres and as many as 120 to 140 new HIV-affected persons were registered at the centre.

They were being counselled or given treatment on a continuous basis. Apart from this, those identified through the 17 counselling centres were also given continuous treatment.

He also enquired about the number of patients visiting the STD clinics and how they were motivated to undergo treatment at the clinic.

He also visited the community care centre run by the District Aids Control Society and asked the inmates about the treatment given at the centre and how they felt after the treatment.

Mr. Mouli instructed the officials to identify HIV-affected persons through blood donation camps and give continuous guidance and counselling. Those suffering from STD should be sent for HIV test. Those afflicted with HIV should be given continuous counselling through field workers. Awareness camps should be conducted on a regular basis in the district.

Later, he along with Mr. Kallolikar distributed education assistance of Rs. 3000 each to 100 children.

During the inspection, V.K. Shanmugam, Collector, M. Masilamani, Joint Director (Health), T. Kavin, Project Manager (Aids Control), P. Shanmugam, Secretary, Red Cross Association and G. Karunanidhi, founder, HIV-Positive Network, accompanied him.

Rain with strong wind uproots trees

Heavy rain with strong wind uprooted trees and advertisement banners and hoardings were torn on Wednesday morning.

An old tamarind tree was uprooted on Tirupattur road, near Bargur, and damaged the compound wall of a school. Due to it, traffic on the route was affected for more than hour. As a precautionary measure, power was shutdown in many parts of the town on Wednesday night.

Power supply was affected in and around the Government General Hospital due to sudden failure of the transformer in the Papparapatti area in Krishnagiri town till Thursday evening.

Though the temperature during day time was at its peak, the cool breeze and the rain brought respite in the evening. Residents spent a sleepless night due to power failure. Denkanikottai registered the highest rainfall of 25 mm on Wednesday night.

Rajaji ‘illam' kept under lock, tourists disappointed

First Indian Governor General of India C. Rajagopalachari, affectionately called Rajaji, was born in Thorappalli village near Hosur in Krishnagiri district.

A small tiled house, where he was born and brought up, was taken over by the state government on December 10, 1978 on his birth centenary. It is now being maintained by the Department of Information and Public Relations.

The village is 10 km from Hosur and 2.5 km from the Bangalore-Chennai National Highway. A bronze bust of Rajaji was commissioned by the government at a cost of Rs. 2 lakh and was unveiled by Minister for Information and Public Relations Parithi Ilamvazhuthi on December 24, 2009.

“Though the government of Chief Minister M. Karunanidhi has been honouring the leaders of the yesteryear and Tamil scholars by creating Mani Mandapams and memorials, it has kept the Rajaji Illam under lock for more than a month,'' said a tourist from Karnataka.

Rain lashes Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri districts

Rain-hit: The compound wall of the Forest Ranger's office on Bangalore road in Krishnagiri collapsed on Friday night due to heavy rain.

DHARMAPURI/KRISHNAGIRI: Rain with thunderstorm and lightning lashed many parts of Krishnagiri, Dharmapuri districts on Friday night.

This brought down the mercury level on Saturday.

Weather was pleasant and the sky remained cloudy all over the districts.

Some parts of the Dharmapuri district experienced rainfall for three days from April 20.

Rainwater stagnated in the low-lying areas in the town.

Rainfall registered in Dharmapuri district: Dharmapuri town 89 mm, Collectorate 65 mm, Pennagaram 64 mm, Palacode 45 mm, Pappireddipatti and Marandaalli 40 mm and Harur 35 mm.

Rain lashed Krishnagiri district from evening till mid night Friday.

In some place it was drizzling till morning. Shoolagiri registered a maximum of 95 mm rainfall.

Farmers expressed happiness as the ground water level is expected to increase.

Compound wall collapse

Compound at the Forest Ranger's office in Krishnagiri collapsed due to the rain.

No one was injured as it happened at night.

Rainfall registered in many parts of Krishnagiri district: Shoolagiri 95 mm, Krishnagiri Reservoir 85 mm, Krishnagiri town 75 mm, Thaly 73 mm, Nedungal 68 mm, Royakottai 51 mm, Hosur 50 mm, Barur 47 mm, Denkanikottai 25 mm, Uthangarai 23 mm and Anchetti 16 mm.

Rs. 4.98 cr. disbursed under Agriculture Workers' Scheme

As many as 4,690 people benefited under the State Government's Agriculture Workers' Protection Scheme to the tune of Rs. 4.98 crore for the past one year, Collector V.K. Shanmugam has said.

A review meeting was held at the Collectorate recently. Presiding over the meeting, Mr. Shanmugam scrutinised the applications received for various assistance such as marriage assistance, compensation for natural death and accidents and old-age pension etc.

Applications

The applications received from the agriculture workers were scrutinised block-wise by the Collector and the action taken on the applications was taken up for review at the meeting.

During the meeting, Mr. Shanmugam said that under the marriage assistance of the members Rs. 7.43 lakh was disbursed to 187 persons, for the marriages of sons and daughters Rs. 47.68 lakh to 1164 persons, for natural death and last rites Rs. 2.07 crore to 1,659 persons, for accident deaths and last rites expenses Rs. 1.89 crore to 185 persons and old-age pension totalling Rs. 45.66 lakh was given to 1,485 people during the past one year.

Officials were instructed to scrutinise the applications from the agriculture labourers on priority basis and disburse the assistance as early as possible.

Likewise the applications received for educational scholarships, maternity assistance and Janani Suraksha Scheme should be disbursed to the agriculture workers without any delay through the concerned departments.

P. Prabhakar, District Revenue Officer, K. Alagesan, Special Deputy Tahsildhar (Social Security Scheme), K. Rajagopal, Tahsildhar and other officials participated in the review meeting.