Friday, April 29, 2011

K. Balachander, Veteran Filmmaker Conferred Dada Saheb Phalke Award for the Year 2010

           
                K.  Balachander, the veteran film maker, has been conferred the Dadasaheb Phalke Award for the year 2010.  The award is conferred by the Government of India for outstanding contribution to the growth and development of Indian Cinema.  The award consists of a Swarn Kamal, a cash prize of Rs.10 lakhs and a shawl. The award is given on the recommendations of a committee of eminent persons.
           
Shri K. Balachander has been film director, screen play writer and producer for more than 45 years.  He has written, directed and produced more than 100 films in Tamil, Telugu, Hindi and Kannada.  Shri Balachander is known for his distinct film-making style.  The films he scripts and directs analyze unusual or complicated inter-personal relationships and social themes.  Shri Balachander has the uncanny knack of spotting talent.  He has been responsible for bringing into limelight many stars of the present day, including Rajnikanth, Kamal Haasan, Prakashraaj and Vivek. 
           
Born in Thanjavur District, Tamil Nadu in July 1930, Shri Balachander came into prominence as a playwright with his dynamic plays like ‘Major Chandrakanth’, ‘Server Sundaram’, ‘Naanal’ and ‘Neerkumizhi’.  These plays enjoyed huge popular and critical acclaim.

He entered the film industry in 1965 and shot into fame with his very first film ‘Neerkumizhi’ starring Nagesh.  Since then he has directed and produced a number of movies which have won many National Awards, awards from the State Govts. and other organizations.  Some of the prominent films he has directed include ‘Apoorva Raagagal’, ‘Avargal’ ’47 Natkal’, ‘Sindhu Bhairavi, ‘Ek Duuje Ke Liye’ (Hindi), ‘Maro Charithra, and ‘Rudraveena’ in TeluguandBekiyalli Aralida Hoovu, in Kannada.

For the last few years, Shri Balachander has also turned his attention to the small screen and has brought to it the same perfection and intensity that he exhibited on the big screen.

He was conferred the Padma Shri  in 1987 and was honoured with the title ‘Kalaimamani’ by the Tamil Nadu Government in 1973. He has also won the Golden Nandi award and Silver Nandi awards from Govt of Andhra Pradesh and has also won the Filmfare award as Best Director numerous times.
           
Some of the films of K. Balachander which have won National Film Awards are:

Year
Film
Category
1969
Iru Kodugal
National Film Award for Best Feature in Tamil
1975
Apporva Raagangal
National Film Award for Best Feature in Tamil
1981
Thaneer Thaneer
National Film Award for Best Feature in Tamil and for Best Screenplay

1984
Achamillai Achamillai
National Film Award for Best Feature in Tamil
1988
Rudraveena(Telugu)
Nargis Dutt Award for Best Feature Film on National Integration.
1991
Oru Veedu Iru Vaasal(Tamil)
National Film Award for Best Film On other Social Issues.

Prince William and Kate Middleton are married


An elegant, tiara-bedecked Kate Middleton swept down the aisle to marry Prince William at Westminster Abbey as fans packed the streets of London on April 29, hoping to snatch a glimpse of a historic royal wedding expected to revitalise the British monarchy.
As the future king and queen of England began their lives as husband and wife with the simple words “I will,” some 2 billion people across the globe were believed to have tuned in. The couple looked nervous but happy and recited their vows without stumbling before Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Williams.
A million well-wishers — as well as some protesters — flooded into central London, around Buckingham Palace, Westminster Abbey and other landmarks. Crowds were up at dawn waving flags for television cameras under steely gray skies and cool temperatures. Cheers erupted as huge television screens began broadcasting at Trafalgar Square and Hyde Park.
“Will, it’s not too late!” said one sign held aloft by an admirer dressed as a bride.
The biggest secret of the day — Kate Middleton’s wedding gown — prompted swoons of admiration as she stepped out of a Rolls-Royce with her father. Against all odds, the sun emerged at that exact moment.
The ivory and white satin gown — with its low neckline, high lace collar, long lacy sleeves and a train over 2-meter-long — was designed by Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen. Kate Middleton’s hair was half-up, half-down and decorated with dramatic veil and a tiara on loan from Queen Elizabeth II.
Jennie Bond, a leading British monarchy expert and royal wedding consultant for The Associated Press, called it a “fairy tale.”
“It’s a dream,” she said. “It is a beautiful laced soft look which is extremely elegant. She looked stunning.”
Prince William wore the scarlet tunic of an Irish Guards officer, sending a strong signal of support for the armed forces and reinforcing his new image as a dedicated military man.
Wedding present from queen
Hours earlier, the couple received their first royal wedding present from the queen — the titles duke and duchess of Cambridge.
Maid of honour Pippa Middleton wore a simple column dress and naturally styled hair, while best man Prince Harry was dressed in formal military attire. The flower girls, in cream dresses with full skirts and flowers in their hair, walked down hand-in-hand with Pippa Middleton.
The iconic abbey was airy and calm, the long aisle leading to the altar lined with maple and hornbeam trees as light streamed in through the high arched windows. The soft green trees framed the couple against the red carpet as they walked down the aisle.
‘Some very odd choices’
Hours before the ceremony, plumage of Amazonian variety filled the cavernous abbey as some 1,900 guests filed in, the vast majority of women in hats, some a full two feet across or high. Some looked like dinner plates, and one woman wore a bright red fascinator that resembled a flame licking her cheek. A BBC commentator noted there were some “very odd choices” walking through the abbey door.
Most men, however, looked elegant and suave in long tails, some highlighted by formal plaid pants and vests. Others wore military uniforms.
The queen, of course, wore a soft yellow hat and coat dress, just like the bookies had predicted.
The biggest question
All the details — the wedding dress, her hair, their titles, the romantic kiss on the balcony, the honeymoon — were finally being answered. But the biggest question won’t be resolved for years — Will this royal couple live happily ever after?
Will their union endure like that of William’s grandparents — Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, now in its 64th year — or crumble in a spectacular and mortifying fashion like that of his own parents, Prince Charles and Princess Diana?
Recent history augurs badly — The first marriages of three of the queen’s four children ended in divorce. But Prince William and Kate Middleton seem to glow with happiness in each other’s company, and unlike Prince Charles and Diana they’ve had eight years to figure out that they want to be together.
Still, the fate of their marriage depends on private matters impossible for the public to gauge, since any wedding is fundamentally about two people. Will their lives together, starting with such high hopes, be blessed by good fortune, children, good health, productive work?
Much will depend on whether the 28-year-old Prince William and 29-year-old Kate Middleton can summon the things every couple needs — patience, love, wit and wisdom. But they face the twin burdens of fame and scrutiny. Money, power, beauty — it can all go wrong if not carefully nurtured.
These are the thorny issues upon which the fate of the monarchy rests, as the remarkable queen, now 85, inevitably ages and declines.
After the church ceremony, the royal-couple travels from the abbey to Buckingham Palace in an open-topped carriage for two parties, one hosted by the queen for 650 guests, and an evening dinner dance for 300 close friends.
The queen and her husband have promised to go away for the evening, leaving the younger royals free to party the night away— and Prince Harry to make his best man’s speech away from his octogenarian grandparents’ ears.
Hundreds of street parties were under way as Britons celebrated the heritage that makes them unique — and overseas visitors come to witness traditions they’ve admired from afar.
Brenda Hunt-Stevenson, a 56-year-old retired teacher from Newfoundland, Canada, said there was only one thing on her mind. “I want to see that kiss on that balcony. That’s going to clinch it for me. I don’t care what Kate wears. She is beautiful anyway.”
Very English
The celebration was British to the core, from the freshly polished horse-drawn carriages to the sausages and lager served at street parties. Some pubs opened early, offering beer and English breakfasts — sausages, beans, toast, fried eggs and bacon.
The public festivities reflected Britons’ continuing fascination with the royal family, which despite its foibles remains a powerful symbol of unity and pride.
“It’s very exciting,” Prime Minister David Cameron said before he entered the church. “I went on to the mall last night and met some people sleeping on the streets. There’s a sense of excitement that you can’t really put a word to ... It’s a chance to celebrate.”
A number of famous people were left off the guest list, including President Barack Obama and Britain’s last two Prime Ministers, Tony Blair and Gordon Brown of the Labour Party, which is not as strong a backer of the monarchy as the ruling Conservatives. That snub might resonate for years among Labour voters.
The royals fervently hope that a joyous union for the second-in-line to the British throne will rub out the squalid memories of his parents embarrassing each other and the nation with confessions of adultery as their marriage tumbled toward divorce.
And there is no small irony in the sight of Americans waking up before dawn (on the East Coast) or staying up all night (West Coast) after their fellow countrymen fought so fiercely centuries ago to throw off the yoke of the British monarchy and proclaim a country in which all men are created equal.
Brenda Mordic, 61, from Columbus, Georgia, clutched a Union Jack with her friend Annette Adams, 66.
“We came for the excitement of everything,” Mordic said. “We watched William grow up. I came for Prince Charles’ wedding to Diana and I came for Princess Diana’s funeral. We love royalty, England and London.”

Stockholm meet favours elimination of endosulfan

The conference of parties at the Stockholm Convention on Friday approved the draft proposal for elimination of production and use of endosulfan and its isomers worldwide, subject to certain exemptions. The decision will not be binding on India unless specifically ratified by the country.
However, the Indian delegation to the Convention has concurred with the proposal after its concerns regarding exemptions and financial assistance were addressed.
The Persistent Organic Pollutants Review Committee to the Convention will work with parties and observers to come up with alternatives to endosulfan. The convention will also provide financial assistance to developing countries to replace endosulfan with alternatives. The actual decision of the Convention is to list endosulfan and its related isomers in Part I Annex A to the Convention with specific exemptions for production as allowed in the Register of Specific Exemptions and/or use on crop-pest complexes as listed.
Exemptions will apply to 22 crops — cotton, jute, coffee, tea, tobacco, cow peas, beans, tomato, okra, eggplant, onion, potato, chillies, apple, mango, gram, arhar dal (pigeon pea), maize, paddy, wheat, groundnuts and mustard.
The conference took the decision after considering the risk profile and risk management evaluation for endosulfan done by a review committee.

Thursday, April 28, 2011

From Next Year ‘World Water Day’ Celebrations to be Extended as ‘World Water Week’

From next year the ‘World Water Day’ will be extended to a full week and celebrated as ‘World Water Week’ to reach out to all the states, schools, colleges and media to highlight various issues relating to water.  while inaugurating the Annual Conference of Principal Secretaries/Secretaries of various States and Union territories dealing with Water Resources Management aspects, Salman Khurshid, Minister for Water Resources, also emphasized the necessity of taking up the issues of interlinking of rivers/inter-basin linking, flood management, etc. for better water management. The one- day Conference was convened by the Ministry of Water Resources to discuss important issues related to the development and management of water sector. It was attended by the representatives of 27 States & UTs as well as by the representatives of related Central Ministries/Departments.

Tuesday, April 26, 2011

India to Host Asia-Pacific Earthquake Response Exercise

National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in association with International Search and Advisory Group (INSARAG) and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) will be hosting the Regional Group Earthquake Response Exercise at Agra, Uttar Pradesh from May 04-06, 2011.

This Regional Group Earthquake Response exercise is a tabletop exercise and provides a unique opportunity to all the participants at the National and International level to learn the best practices of Urban Search and Rescue from various participating national/international responders. With a view to provide international level exposure to the officials involved in the management of earthquake disaster at different level, officials/ personnel from the Ministries/ Departments/ NGOs dealing with such disasters are participating in the above exercise. About 80-100 international participants including representatives of UN/ INSARAG and similar number of Indian counterparts are participating in the Exercise.

United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs conducts a Regional Earthquake Response Exercise every year in the Asia-Pacific region. UNOCHA had requested Govt. of India to host this exercise in 2011.

As a prelude to the international exercise NDMA today conducted a Mock Exercise in Agra and Disaster Management Plan (DM Plan) of Agra was put into action.

Facts about Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant

Jaitapur Nuclear Power Plant derived its name From Jaitapur lighthouse which is mentioned in many international maps. Government of India has decided to promote nuclear power at a large scale in view of rapidly rising demand for electricity, limited and depleting fossil resources, environmentally benign and safe nature of nuclear power etc. Accordingly, Government of India accorded its sanction in October 2005 to set up the Nuclear Power Plant at Jaitapur besides three other locations.

Technical and Economic Reasons for Selection of  Jaitapur Site

The Site Selection Committee recommended setting up a nuclear power plant at Jaitapur, based on the suitability of meeting criteria like  which include availability of land vs. population density, available source of cooling water , seismicity, safe-grade elevation at site (flood analysis etc), environment aspects and proper access for transportation of heavy/over-dimensional equipment to plant site. Along with these conditions and based on some other considerations the Government approved Jaitapur site for the establishment of the NPP.

The site selection for is carried out by the Site Selection Committee, notified by the Government of India which selects site for  setting up a nuclear power plant, revied various parameters as per the requirements laid down in the code of Atomic Energy Regulatory Board and the laid-down criteria.

Earthquake-prone Site

The Jaitapur site is not considered earthquake-prone. As per seismic zoning map of Government of India, Jaitapur site falls within zone III. The longitude and latitude of the land covered for Jaitapur nuclear power project are given below:

Latitude of JNPP site: 16° 34’ 38” N to 16° 36’ 29” N
Longitude of JNPP site: 73° 19’ 02” E to 73° 20’ 48” E

As per the Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) codal requirement, there should not be any active fault within 5 km radius from the proposed site of an NPP. Further, based on the studies carried out by various government institutes/ organisations, there is no active fault found up to 30 km radius from JNPP site. Hence, the site is not considered earthquake-prone. This is to further confirm that based on the available data of seismicity prevailing in the geographical region, all the structures, buildings and equipments of JNPP would be designed to qualify the “ground motion acceleration”

Benefits of the Project

The benefits of project are-

i) The project will augment electricity generation in the country, in a benign and environment-friendly way, which is the need of the hour.
ii) Development of areas around project site.
iii) Direct and indirect employment opportunities.
iv) Contribution of National Power Corporation of India Limited (NPCIL) in social and community development of surrounding areas, especially nearby villages, in the field of education, health and infrastructure facilities.

Generation Capacity of JNPP

One unit of 1650 MWe plant operating at full capacity shall generate 36-39 million units per day. Presently, generation capacity of six units is 1650 MWe capacity each. Evolutionary Pressurised Reactors (EPR) from AREVA, France is under consideration of the Government of India.

Number  of  Reactor Units

There will be six reactor units of 1650 MWe each at JNPP. The distance between each adjacent reactor unit is planned to be 250-300 meters.

Completion of Project

            5 to 6 months’ time is required to declare commercial operation after completion of construction. The time required for completion of each unit is approximately six years  from the start date. Approximately all the six units of 1650 MWe each will be constructed in a twin-unit mode in phased manner and implemented in a period of 15-18 years.
  Life Span of Each Plant
The guaranteed life of the proposed plant is 60 years.

 Type of Fuel

This plant will be “PWR-type”, based on enriched uranium fuel. Irrespective of the fuel type, all the safety guidelines based on International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)/Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) regulations are strictly adhered to by NPCIL to ensure that there is no adverse effect on environment, health and life of people through air, sea and land as a result of the operation of the NPP.The uranium will be supplied by AREVA, France, which will be also supplying the reactor units.

Source of Fresh Water

The fresh water requirement of the plant units and the proposed residential complex of JNPP will be met from a desalination plant facility installed by (NPCIL).

Monday, April 25, 2011

Museum at Lalitgiri

The Buddhist relics found during an excavation at Lalitgiri in Orissa are proposed to be housed in a museum. The Excavated Buddhist Site, Lalitgiri was notified as Centrally Protected in the year 1937. The site has been extensively excavated by the Archeological Survey of India (ASI) during the year 1985-1992. The remains of a massive Stupa including a relic caskets consisting of four containers made of Khondalite, Steatite, Silver and Gold containing corporal remains have been recovered during the excavation, besides other important structure and archeological remains. At present, the relic caskets are in the safe custody of Superintending Archaeologist, Bhubaneswar Circle, ASI, Bhubaneswar, Orissa. Further, In order to set up a site museum at Lalitgiri the site has been inspected and preparation of detailed drawing (Plan, Elevation, Design) of the proposed museum building have been initiated by the Bhubaneswar Circle, ASI.

The relic –caskets containing Buddhist bone relics would be housed and displayed for the public under adequate security and surveillance.

spiritual leader Sathya Sai Baba passes away

Iconic spiritual leader Sri Sathya Sai Baba passed away at Puttaparthi in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh on April 24th morning, leaving behind millions of mourning devotees in India and abroad, and a sprawling system of educational, medical and philanthropic services that has huge resources at its command. He was 85.

He had bravely battled complications of the heart, lung and kidney for four weeks. The end came at 7.40 a.m., after 28 days of intense anxiety among his followers and frenetic activity by doctors of the Sathya Sai Institute of Higher Medical Sciences (SSIHMS). The medical team gave him expert care but could not save his life as multi-organ failure set in. After his admission to the hospital on March 30, a cardiac pacemaker was implanted. As his condition deteriorated, doctors put him on a ventilator system and on dialysis.

After the passing of Sai Baba, a vast empire spread across Puttaparthi, Bangalore, Kodaikanal, Hyderabad, Chennai and Mumbai, and overseas centres, needs to be administered as effectively as before. The spiritual guru was the Chairman of the Sathya Sai Central Trust that manages funds pouring in from devotees across the globe, as well as the affairs of a string of service and spiritual organisations.

The Trust, which has as its members well-known persons such as the former Chief Justice of India, P.N. Bhagwati; the former Central Vigilance Commissioner, S.V. Giri; former IAS officer K. Chakravarthi, who is the Trust Secretary since 1994; and the former CII president, V. Srinivasan, has now to select an eminent person acceptable to the devotees to chair the Trust.

Huge march against n-power in Japan

Thousands of people marched in Tokyo April 24th to demand an end to nuclear power in Japan and a switch to alternative energy after the crisis at an atomic plant hit by the March 11 earthquake and tsunami.

Brandishing placards bearing the slogan: “Bye Bye Genpatsu” (Goodbye Nuclear Power), demonstrators including many young people and families — walked along a route from Yoyogi Park in the centre of the capital.

Organisers estimated 5,000 took part.

“We are worried. Before Fukushima, I wasn't thinking about it but now we must act, we must do it for our children,” said Hiroshi Iino, 43, who joined the “Energy shift parade” with his wife and two boys, aged five and nine.

Schoolteacher Yoko Onuma (48) said she was demonstrating for the second time since the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi plant where radiation leaks have forced the evacuation of some 80,000 people within 20 km of the site.

“Before, I wasn't aware of the dangers of nuclear power,” she said. “But now we have to mobilise many people, as has happened in other countries, such as Germany.”

Greenpeace Japan director Junichi Sato, one of the organisers of the protest, said until now few had protested about nuclear power following the quake-tsunami disaster which left more than 26,000 dead or missing.

“Over the past month, everybody was focusing on the victims of the tsunami ... on how to end the crisis," Sato said.

“Outside [in other countries], they jumped directly on the energy issue,” he said. “But mobilisation is going to increase in Japan.”

Resource poor

Around 2,000 people took part in a separate anti-nuclear demonstration under the slogan “Anti-TEPCO,” referring to the operator of the atomic plant, held simultaneously a few kilometres away at Shiba Park.

Before the tsunami which led to the shutdown of a dozen reactors, nearly 30 per cent of Japan's electricity was generated from nuclear power. Resource-poor Japan is highly dependent on West Asian oil but its high-tech companies are also world leaders in many environmental and energy-saving technologies.

National Panchayat Diwas Awards

On the occasion of National Panchayat Diwas on 24th April, 2011, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has decided to give the annual PEAIS 2011 Awards to the best performing States under the Panchayat Empowerment & Accountability Incentive Scheme and the Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha 2011 Awards to best Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats in the country (7 Nos), the e-Panchayat Awards 2011 and present the award to the winners of the nationwide Drawing and painting competition and Essay competitions held during the “Year of the Gram Sabha” ( 2nd October 2009-2nd October 2010. The detail of awards to be given by the Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh and NAC Chairperson Smt. Sonia Gandhi is as under:

Panchayat Empowerment & Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS) - Assessment of the States for 2010-2011

Panchayat Empowerment Accountability Incentive Scheme (PEAIS ) was implemented by the Ministry of Panchayati Raj (MoPR) in 2005-06 to motivate states to empower the Panchayats by devolving Funds, functions and functionaries ( 3Fs). The scheme aims at encouraging the States for empowering the Panchayati Raj Institutions (PRIs) and putting in place mechanism for transparency and accountability of the PRIs. Performance of the States in these respects is measured through a Devolution Index (DI) formulated by an independent institution. A token award is also given to the States, for which the annual provision is currently at Rs. 10 crore.

This year in addition to the cumulative achievement of the state, the DI study also took into account incremental achievement since 1st April 2009.For 2010-11, the Indian Institute of Public Administration (IIPA), New Delhi was engaged for the task of preparation of DI and ranking the States.

Rashtryira Gaurav Gram Sabha Puraskar 2011:

In order to appreciate and devise an appropriate structure of incentives and to recognize and encourage the Panchayats for outstanding performance through effective Gram Sabhas, especially in respect of improvements in the social and economic structure of the village, the Ministry of Panchayati Raj has instituted National level Awards for Best Gram Sabhas and name it as “ Rashtriya Gaurav Gram Sabha” .

The broad objective for instituting this award is to incentivise excellence in performance of Gram Panchayats through effective gram sabhas. It is expected that the Award will not only be a step to energise the Gram Sabahs will encourage the Gram Panchayats to organise more gram sabhas and encourage people’s participation. The prize money for this award is Rs Ten lakhs ( Rs 10 lakhs only). The Award money will be utilized by the Panchayats for public purposes such as augmentation of civic services like primary education, primary health care, safe drinking water, public utilities; provision rural infrastructure in the Panchayat jurisdiction etc.

It is very interesting to note that among the nominated Gram Panchayats for the RGGS Award 2011, three GP are headed by female Sarpanches. This list of awradees present an interesting representation of efforts made by the Elected Women representatives in excellence observance of “The Year of the Gram Sabha”.

This year the following Gram Sabhas and Gram Panchayats have merited for RGGS 2011:

S. No.

Name of the District

Name of the Block/Taluka

Name of the Gram Panchayat/ Gram Sabha Nominated

State

Name of the Sarpanch

( recipient of the Award)

1

Belgaum

Athani

Shiraguppi

Karnataka

Sri Vinesh Iragouda Patil

2

South Goa

Sanguem

Kirlapal Dabal

Goa

Shri Rama Sonugaonkar

3

Rajkot

Padadhari

Depaliya

Gujarat

Smt Rasilaben Dalsaniya

4

Rohtak

Rohtak

Assan

Haryana

Shri Raj Singh

5

Jalgaon

Chopda

Chahardi

Maharashtra

Smt. Sangitabai Koli

6

Ajmer

Shrinagar

Aradaka

Rajasthan

Smt Raheesa Khatoon

7

South District

Melli

Mellidara-Paiyong

Sikkim

Shri Ganesh Rahi

e Panchayat Puraskar 2011

This Year a national award in the category of e panchayat Puraskar has been instituted by MoPr in order to appreciate the excellent achievent of various States in the implementation of Model Accounting system for Panbchayats ( MAS) and PRIASoft. A prize money of Rs 50 lakhs for first prize , Rs 30 lakhs for second and Rs 20 lakhs for third prize will be given to the winning states. It is expected that the prize money would be uti;lised for further strengthening / development of MAS/ PRIASoft initiative in the state viz., provision of computers , training to concerned functionaries etc. It is pertinent to mention here that the MAS and PRIASoft has enhanced accountability and transparency of the Panchayats and also institutionalized robust but simple finanacial management system. This year One First , two Second prizes and three third prizes are being given.The following States will receive the e Panchayat Puraskar:


STATE

PRIZE

PRIZE MONEY

1

ODISHA

FIRST PRIZE

RS 50 LAKHS

2

MAHARASHTRA

SECOND PRIZE

RS 30 LAKHS

3

TRIPURA

SECOND PRIZE

RS. 30 LAKHS

4

PUNJAB

THIRD PRIZE

RS 20 LAKH

5

ASSAM

THIRD PRIZE

RS. 20 LAKHS

Prizes for the National level winners of Drawing Painting and Essay Competitions held during the “Year of the Gram Sabha “ ( 2nd October 2009-2nd October 2011)

A nationwide sensitization programme was organized by Ministry of Panchayati Raj during the “ Year of Gram Sabha” ( from 2nd October 2009-2nd October 2010). For this, the services of Directorate of field Publicity ( DFP) , MoI&B was availed for mass media awareness campaign at the grass root level, followed by national level for Drawing painting and Essay competitions.

The DFP through their Regional units conducted one programme per Unit, in one district under their jurisdiction. The special programme designed by DFP for MoPR focused on Sensitizing the people on Panchayati Raj through film and other inputs material, oral communication based on various people centric schemes and important aspects of Gram Sabha ands Gram Panchayats followed by national painting and Essay competition open for all.

The main objective of these competition were , in one hand, to sensitize people on aspects of Gram Sabha / Gram Panchayat and various schemes of Panchayati Raj and also to seek peoples participation including one, in the last mile , to participate in this mass campaign for the Year of Gram Sabha.The participation of younger generation especially from remote areas , in these were overwhelming.

The District and State level winners were judged by the Satte Panchayat Departments and Regional Units of DFP. Among the state level winners , the national winners of Drawing Painting and Essay competition on “ Active Gram Sabha”. The following are the national level winners.

LIST OF WINNERS OF DRAWING PAITING COMPETITION AT THE NATIONAL LEVEL

S. No.

Name of the winner

Tehsil / District

State

Prize Money

1

Shri Parasad Dattatreya Chavhan

Tehsil Koregaon

Dist. Satara

Maharashtra

Rs 25,000

2

Ms. Meghawi Saini

Nasibpur, Narnaul,

Dstrict Mahendragarh

Haryana

Rs. 15,000

3(1)

Shri Ajaz-Ul-Haq

Akramabad Village

District Doda

Jammu & Kashmir

Rs. 10,000

3(2)

Ms. Jyoti Manoharrao Mate

District Aurangabad

Maharashtra

Rs. 10,000

LIST OF WINNERS OF ESSAY COMPETITION AT NATIONAL LEVEL

S.No.

Name of the winner

Village/Tehsil/ District

State

Prize Money

1

Ms. Rini Joshi

New Cera, District -Pithoragarh

Uttarakhand

Rs. 25,000

2

Ms. Diana Thomas

District- Malkapuram,

Vishakapattanam

Andhra Pradesh

Rs. 15,000

3

Shri Kalluri Eswar Datt Adarsh

Chillakur Village

District-Nellore

AndraPradesh

Rs. 10,000

Highlights

Maharashtra bags maximum awards – ( RGGS, PEAIS -3rd prize, 2 prizes for national drawing and painting and Second Prize in e Panchayat puraskaar)

Haryana bags three awards ( RGGS , PEAIS 5th in incremental index and Winner of National Drawing Painting Competition -2nd prize).

J & K bags one prize in Drawing and Painting competition.

Karnataka bags three awards ( RGGS and 2 PEAIS awards)

Odisha bags first prize in e Panchayat Puraskar.

Sikkim bags two awards ( RGGS and PEAIS)

Rajasthan gets two awards ( RGGS and 1st prize in PEAIS Incremental devolution)