Daily Archives: August 24, 2014

Pioneer of transportation engineering dead

RaghavachariTELANGANA24aug2014
Doyen of traffic & transportation engineering in the country and author of the pioneering ‘Hyderabad Area Transportation Study (HATS)’ in the 1980s S. Raghavachari died in Hyderabad on Tuesday. He was 76 and was suffering from cancer.

Born in 1939 in Chetla Mupparam village in Warangal district, he did his civil engineering from Osmania University. Prof. Raghavachari, also post-graduate from University of Roorkee, was also part of faculty of the Regional Engineering College of Warangal, now National Institute of Technology (NIT), training or guiding three generations of engineering students in highway engineering and urban transportation planning. His most notable contribution is the HATS study, conducted between 1983-88, which became a benchmark for urban transportation planning for Indian cities. His comprehensive integrated transportation planning for Mumbai Metropolitan Development Region (MMRDA), also known as Transform or Transportation Study for Mumbai covering more than four thousand square kilometres of area, is another landmark study leading to metro rail, mono-rail and bus rapid systems projects underway.

As an advisor to the Central and State Governments, he had chaired several expert committees and made path braking suggestions to improve urban and inter-city transportation in the country. Hyderabad Metro Rail MD N.V.S. Reddy points out that the light rail system plan for the city proposed by the professor has led to the current metro rail project. He advised GHMC in flyovers building and executing several other traffic & transportation works. Prof. Raghavachari is survived by a son and a daughter.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – August 21st, 2014

Now, ‘rice bucket challenge’ goes viral

Manju Latha handing over a bucket of rice to a beneficiary in Hyderabad. Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu
Manju Latha handing over a bucket of rice to a beneficiary in Hyderabad. Photo: Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Hyderabad-based Manju Latha Kalanidhi devises local version of ‘rice bucket challenge’ on Facebook to assist donors who want to help poor

Here is India’s answer to the ALS ‘Ice Bucket Challenge’.

An Indian woman has come up with the ‘rice bucket challenge’ on Facebook to show a way to potential donors who want to help the poor. The message has now gone viral on social media.

The ice-bucket challenge is designed to raise awareness about ALS, a progressive neuro-degenerative disease that affects the nerve cells in the brain and the spinal cord. Facebook users can nominate friends to take up the challenge of pouring a bucketful of ice water on the head, film it, and upload the same on the web or donate money to the ALS Association within 24 hours.

How it started
The ‘rice bucket challenge’ was the innovative idea of Hyderabad-based Manju Latha Kalanidhi who posted the challenge, seeking friends to cook or buy one bucketful of rice and feed the poor in the locality. One can also donate medicines worth Rs. 100 to the nearest government hospital.

“It’s local, desi and a practical solution to issues in the vicinity. Instead of wasting water on ice bucket challenge, save water and feed the hungry,” Manju Latha wrote on her Facebook page.

Her post has got over 150 responses within 24 hours, and people have started making voluntary donations in their respective localities.

Facebook user Devunifrom Vijeye took the challenge and helped a poor daily labourer, Sathibabu, with a bucketful of rice. Sattibabu earns his livelihood by selling idli and dosa on a bicycle.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> National / by Appaji Reddem / Vijayawada – August 24th, 2014