New Delhi, Nov 7: Trichi District in Tamil Nadu has bagged the highest number of Nirmal Gram Puraskar Awards for 2008.

Hundred and ten panchayats in the district have got the award this year, followed by 98 panchayats in Tiruvannamalai and 96 in Nagapattinam districts in the state.

The Central Government gives the annual awards for cent percent achievement in village sanitation.

Out of 1,966 villages in the State that applied for the award this year, 1,249 have been chosen after an assessment made by a screening committee from New Delhi, in the first half of May this year.

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New Delhi, Nov. 5 : The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has taken suo-motu cognizance of a violation of human rights of Dalits in Tamil Nadu’s Tirunelveli District.

The Commission has issued notice to the District Collector and Director General of Police, Tamil Nadu seeking their comments in the matter within a month.

A report published in The Hindu on October 29 alleged that around 200 Dalits of 70 families of Panthapuli village had been forced to leave the village to ensure their safety as they were reportedly under serious threat from upper caste Hindus.

Chennai, Oct. 31 : For the first time in Indian cinema, a real life urchin will be seen on the big screen playing a major role in a Tamil movie on beggary and child exploitation here.

Directed by eminent film director Vinayan, the film ‘Naallai Nammathe’ meaning tomorrow belongs to us, is aimed to create awareness about the life, which the beggars and pavement dwellers have to live. It also highlights how mafia goons have a say in beggary and exploitation of families.

Film producer Jose Maveli spotted the nine-year-old Babu who was roaming and begging on the streets of Hyderabad (Andhra Pradesh). He was facing starvation and homelessness at that time. The boy was admitted to a hospital by a Kerala-based NGO.

Hosur (Tamil Nadu) Oct. 27 : Factory workers and industrialists in Tamil Nadu’s Hosur area are upset over the acute power shortage, which is causing lay offs and a concern for social security for all here.

Hosur is a town and a municipality in Krishnagiri district here. But consequent to heavy load shedding, the small, medium and even large scale units have felt compelled to lay off their workforce.

The pre-paid subscribers of Aircel in Chennai and rest of Tamil Nadu circle can be happy, since the company has slashed ISD call rates for them. 

The calls specifically made to Malaysia and Singapore will benefit from this scheme. A subscriber would be able to make ISD calls to Malaysia and Singapore at Rs 3 per minute, if he gets a recharge coupon worth Rs 96. If incase he gets coupon for Rs 29, the call would cost Rs. 3.5 per minute. 

This offer has been started off since there is vast numbers of Tamilians residing in Malaysia and Singapore.