Krishnagiri (Tamil Nadu), Mar 16 : Women residing in the interior regions of Krishnagiri District in Tamil Nadu should be indebted to the National Rural Employment Guarantee Scheme (NREGS) for their recent good fortune.

Under the NREGS, women have been motivated to set up cottage industries to make different items of daily use.

Known as the Swarnajayanti Gram Swarozgar Yojana (SGSY), the primary objective of the scheme is to enhance livelihood security of households in rural areas. Around 8,500 rural women are working under this scheme.

Mudumalai (Tamil Nadu), Mar 15 : The death of Subramani, a dedicated elephant that was the strength of the Forest Department in Mudumalai Range of Tamil Nadu, has not only shocked officials, but other elephants.

Subramani was a Kumki (a tame and trained elephant) and aged around 57 years at the time of its death. Its last rites were performed on Saturday.

When it was alive, it had participated in many operations such as driving out wild elephants from nearby human habitations.

A phone helpline, named ‘Manasu’ has been launched in Tamil Nadu for transgenders on Friday.

The helpline number '044-25990505' will assist transgenders, whose population is about 50,000 in the state.

The Tamil Nadu AIDS Initiative is being administered by Voluntary Health Service (VHS).

Dr. Lakshmi Bai, Project Director, TAI –VHS, said, “For those who want to understand the issues related to transgenders, this helpline will serve as a gateway of information and counselling.”

Kolakombai (Tamil Nadu), Mar 13 : Forest authorities rescued a four-year old bear, which got trapped in solar fencing in Tamil Nadu.

The bear was rescued at a cardamom estate in Kolakombai village of Nilgiri district of the state.

According to the officials, the bear must have got trapped in the fencing while searching for food in the estate.

The animal was discovered by an estate official who was doing the early morning rounds of the state and then informed the forest officials.