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Schools re-open in tsunami struck Kadyapattanam

     Kadyapattanam: Schools in Tamil Nadu's Kadyapattanam reopened to a full attendance this week helping the shocked children get back to normal routines after the tsunami disaster. WHO has said that children need to be a particular focus of counselling programme and has advised schools to increase their "play-centred" programmes besides training teachers to recognise the signs of distress and provide basic emotional counselling. Though most of the schools have been severely damaged, government and UNICEF officials have almost forced them to reopen, asserting getting children back in class is essential, even if it takes place in tents and other makeshift arrangements. In Kanyakumari district, all the 38 schools are bustling with children, many of who spoke for the first time since the tragedy struck. For days, 10-year-old Sidu Manuel, who studies at the St. Peter's Middle school in Kadyapattanam, enquired about his best friend, who had gone missing. "I lost my friend. His dad recognised him after searching for many days. His father identified him by his birth marks," he said.

     Though facilities are still bare minimal with children being crammed into the few undamaged classrooms and groups as big as 10 made to share a single book, the move has come not a minute too soon. In many areas aid workers have already begun reporting the rising number of children, even toddlers, exhibiting what western psychologists would call post-traumatic stress disorder with symptoms ranging from sleeplessness to depression, rage and despair. Even those who show no immediate effects may be at risk. "We lost about eight students. We are trying our best to function smoothly. We will also begin individual counselling for from tomorrow. The students need it. We did start with a prayer ceremony today," said J. Jeromias, the headmaster of the school.

Junior Sankaracharya's bail plea deferred to Jan 25 (Go To Top)

     Chegalpattu: A court in Chengalpattu today deferred the hearing on the bail application of Kanchi mutt's junior seer Sankaracharya Vijayendra Saraswati to January 25. The bail petitions of Vijayendra Saraswati's brother Raghu and mutt manager Sundreshan Aiyar, on which the hearing was to be done today, will also be heard on January 25 now. The junior pontiff was arrested on Jan 10 in connection with the murder of temple official A. Sankararaman, and was remanded in judicial custody till Jan 24. He is lodged in the Chennai central prison. Earlier, the bail petition of the junior seer was adjourned till Jan 19 by Judge Vanangamudi on Monday, January 17. Adjourning the case, the judge said, Vijayendra Saraswati's plea would be taken up along with the bail petition of the two other accused in the case, his brother Raghu and the manager of the mutt N. Sundaresa Iyer.

Don't use Banerjee report during campaigning: EC (Go To Top)

     Ranchi: The Election Commission has warned of strict action against those exploiting religion to influence the electorate. The CEC, T S Krishnamurthy today said it would be "unfortunate" if parties rake the Justice U C Banerjee report on the Godhra train carnage incident during the election campaign. Pointing towards the reports that the RJD chief, Lalu Prasad Yadav had blamed the BJP and RSS for post-Godhra riots in Gujarat in his election campaign in Bihar, Krishnamurthy said "We have to verify the authenticity of the statement. But the commission will take action if religion is used for political exploitation." Union Railways Minister, while campaigning in rural areas of Gaya and Aurangabad districts on January 18, referred to the Justice U C Banerjee report and alleged that the BJP and Sangh Parivar were "deeply involved" by spreading mis-information campaign after the train tragedy which led to riots in which hundreds of innocent people were killed. The CEC took a strong note of Lalu's comments and said that the Commission is yet to go through the interim report of Banerjee panel, and it would be unfortunate if such things were used for political purposes. "We are certainly disturbed and quite unhappy if such things are used for personal acrimony and vendetta," said Krishnamurthy. The CEC further appealed to all political parties to concentrate on issues of development and good governance.