women’s engineering colleges are going to rock this year!!!

The State this year is set to witness a significant jump in the number of exclusive engineering colleges for women.

Out of about 100 more new engineering colleges likely to be sanctioned for the 2008-09 academic year, about 30 are expected to be exclusively for women.

The State already has 338 engineering colleges with a pool of 1.2 lakh seats. With the addition of new colleges, the number of engineering seats will touch 1.5 lakh, say officials.

The All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) has already approved the applications of 46 new engineering colleges with 11,850 more seats and the list has been forwarded to the State government.

Of this, 17 are exclusive colleges for women, according to the Department of Technical Education.

Apart from the growing preference of women for engineering courses, AICTE’s decision to relax rules for setting up women’s engineering colleges as a step towards women’s empowerment, had managements and societies queuing up before it with applications, said Chairman of State Council for Higher Education K. C. Reddy.

The AICTE increased the intake of seats from 60 to 90 per branch in women’s engineering colleges and also relaxed the infrastructure norm of 10 acres of land to five acres as special concession, he said. “This is a typical case of supply driven by the demand. Engineering course is becoming attractive for women because of better job prospects as education these days is increasingly getting defined by the ability to land a job,” Mr. Reddy said. The AICTE had set a cut off date as June 30 for considering applications for setting up new engineering colleges. The counselling for engineering admissions will commence from July 16.

VEGA The 'V' IT PARK

Ascendas, a Singapore-based business space provider, on Tuesday opened its fifth and last building in its 19-acre IT park, ‘The V’, which was initially promoted by Vanenburg IT Park.

Minister for Major Industries J. Geeta Reddy inaugurated the building. The fifth phase, christened as ‘Vega’, has 4.02 lakh sq. ft. of space to accommodate 3,000 employees. It has a six-storeyed parking. President and CEO of Ascendas Chong Siak Ching said that 92 per cent of the space in Vega was already occupied. ‘The V’ had 1.3 million sq. ft. area accommodating 10,000 skilled IT & ITeS professionals.

The Vega was named after constellation of stars, while its earlier siblings were named ‘Auriga’, ‘Mariner’, Capella’ and ‘Orion’.

She said that Ascendas was managing 1.8 million sq. ft of space in the city, including the Cyber Pearl. The two IT parks together were valued at 290 million Singapore dollars and occupied 31 per cent of total assets managed by Ascendas. The company was also managing IT parks in Pune, Chennai, Nagpur, Bangalore and Hyderabad.

The company was also developing two IT special economic zones – one in Gurgaon and the other in Coimbatore. She said that the company was exploring opportunities to increase its presence in the State.

Acting Minister for Manpower in Government of Singapore Gan Kim Yong was also present.

Robbery at SBI in Tolichowki

A youngster, who looted a bank to clear his debts, landed behind bars when locals caught him while he was fleeing with Rs. 10 lakh at Tolichowki on Tuesday.

Mohd. Jameel was running with the cash bag when he hit a road divider and fell. Two knives and a revolver were seized from him. The youth from Jirra of Karvan was working as a personal loan executive. He secured a Rs. 3.5 lakh loan from two persons a few years ago but failed to repay it.

With the interest, the total debt amount rose to Rs. 5.5 lakh over the years. Jameel tried to secure a loan from SBI’s Tolichowki branch by mortgaging some land documents. However, the idea did not materialise since he failed to complete the required formalities.

“That was when he decided to loot the bank and secured two knives and a revolver through his acquaintances,” the Golconda police said. As he regularly visited the bank in connection with his earlier loan application, he was familiar with the bank’s topography and the transactions.

He observed that the total cash deposits would be handed over to the head cashier Rajani by 4.30 p.m. With the help of the attender, she would deposit the money in the strong room. Jameel lay in wait at the bank. Just when the grills of the bank gate were locked and the shutter was downed half, he rushed to Rajani and held a knife to her throat even as her colleagues were shocked.

He directed one of them to collect the cash and keep it in the bag threatening to kill them if anyone raised an alarm. Then he collected the bag, got the gate lock opened and hurried out. As he passed the gate, the bank staff buzzed the security alarm. A businessman, Sirajuddin and dairy farm dealer Sheru Bhai chased the fleeing youth for over 30 yards.

Scared of being chased, Jameel ran across the road only to hit the divider. As he fell, the locals handed him over to the police.

Fortune favours brave heart

Tender hearts do not stop making wishes, even when a life-threatening ailment chips them away physically. Even in their suffering, they could pine for a cute little teddy, a cycle, a celebration or a desire to meet a celebrity. That’s where the Make A Wish Foundation steps in.

Monica wished for a pink dress, Bhagyalaxmi for a ‘pattu langa’, Triloknath for a remote car in red colour while Mouli wished for a doctor kit and Obulesh desired a birthday celebration complete with all frills and fun.

These were a few among children afflicted by life-threatening health condition for whom wish fulfilment and a smile on lips was made possible by the Foundation.

1,150 children helped

“In the last four years, we helped 1,150 children in the city realise their wishes that ranged from a toy to a celebrity meeting,” says C. Madhumita, the programme director. The Foundation has 25 volunteers to interact with children in the age group of three to 18 undergoing treatment at different city hospitals, to collect their wishes and return to fulfil them.

Celebrities such as film stars too have been forthcoming whenever there is a wish from a child for meeting and spending some time with them.

“We have been receiving very positive support from the celebrities too,” she says.

Every wish is unique

“For every child, his or her wish is unique and it could range from a colourful toy to visiting a place,” says programme co-ordinator Madhuri.

Many of these children happen to be from the rural side and in some instances, with worried parents not really in a mood to take care of their child’s small wishes.

One boy at a city hospital nurtured a desire to celebrate his birthday with all pomp and gaiety.

But the problem was his parents did not remember his birthday.

So the Foundation team got together and organised a party in such a fashion that it filled the child’s heart with joy and brought tears to the eyes of parents.

Another boy wanted to be a police officer and realised the wish when he could spend a day at a police station complete with an officer’s uniform and salutes from other staff.

The wish fulfilment is classified between publicity and not-to-be publicised as opted by the parents of the child.

In the latter case, it is ensured that the activity is taken up rather quietly, Ms. Madhuri says.

Financial resources are mobilised by the Foundation (Ph.23557772) through fund-raisers while volunteers contribute their time.

Hyderabad life became tougher and tougher!!!

Earlier when people would come down from the West, hyderabadis would say that if one has money there is no better place than hyderabad. Now the situation is gone, life has become difficult for those have enough money as well. Inflation is the most iniquitous tax hurting everyone. Everyone is feeling the pinch. Do we have to live with high prices all through the year? The govt has been promising the situation will stabilise by sept but the inflation rate may take 6-7 months to come down, given the global pressures on fuel and food. And in hyderabad, there are new kings in the form of auto drivers, it is better to own a car than pay these drivers. Every road has a commuter fighting with an auto driver, fleecing is the order of the day. The traffic police have given up.