The accidental discovery of Thorium deposits by the Geological Survey on India in Bayyaram of Khammam district has taken the government by surprise. The Thorium reserves were earlier found only in sea coast area of Andhra Pradesh. This surprise information came to light when the government had commissioned the Geological Survey of India to survey Bayyaram to estimate the quality and quantity of iron ore available there for setting up a steel plant. Thorium is used as fuel in nuclear plants.
The state government is planning to seek the help of Atomic Minerals Directorate (AMD) to make further studies on the quantity and quality of Thorium available in Bayyaram. It will also ask the AMD to find out whether Thorium reserves are available in any other part of the state, besides Bayyaram.
‘’Thorium is available in the sea coast area in AP from Srikakulam to Nellore district. It will be found in beach sand,” official sources told Express on Saturday. Meanwhile, the official sources said that the GSI survey on iron ore availability was continuing in Bayyaram area. The report of GSI on iron ore is likely to be available in the coming months. Setting up of steel plant by the Central government in Bayyaram will be decided only after the GSI report is out.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 03rd, 2016
GITAM University students with the delegates of TEDx in Medak on Thursday.— PHOTO: Mohd Arif
Go North Ventures CEO Sanjay Jesrani appeals to students to make use of opportunities that the start-upswill provide
Go North Ventures CEO and founder Sanjay Jesrani, who is also an active member of Indian Angle Network, said start-ups were the next big thing to happen in the country and it was time to make use of the opportunity that they provide. He was, however, quick to add that only five per cent of the start-ups were surviving.
Delivering a lecture at TEDx held at GITAM University Hyderabad campus here on Thursday, Mr. Sanjay said that investing in start-ups was a risky experiment and suggested students that they start their career by dealing with a problem rather than a solution.
“Do something unique, do it better and do it differently. Form a team of two or three members for a start-up. Do not have any illusion that technology is everything. Its role is only 20 per cent and it is only a facilitator,” he said, adding that at least 10 to 15 years of commitment was required to sustain a new start-up.
He said that investors were ready to invest in start-ups if they were convinced about the growth involved in it. He suggested the students to read ‘failure stories’ of start-ups and understand the reasons why they failed.
Mr. Sanjay quoted the success of Flipkart, which rose with an investment of $10 million in 2008 to $16 Billion in 2015 and Uber taxi service that now stands with a market value of $65 billon.
Venky, a famous photographer from Karimnagar who made a mark in his field at the national level, said only hard work and sincere commitment would yield result and one should be patient enough till he/she reaches the goal. He asked the students to always have Plan B – some alternative to bank on if their experiment fails.
“I could have been a priest like my father if I had failed as a photographer,” he said answering a query from a student.
P.B. Sajan, architect and Joint Director of COSTFORD, said a large number of people were still living in slum areas. “About 17.2 per cent of urban families are living in slums. The number was much higher – 35.6 per cent – in the united Andhra Pradesh,” he said, adding that it was only 1.5 per cent in Kerala.
Ankur Thakuria, business development manager, talked about his travel to various countries and Thushar Lall about his passion for music.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Telangana / by R. Avadhani / Rudraram (Medak District) / April 01st, 2016
With an aim to encourage startups working in deep domain technology, the International Institute of Information Technology, Hyderabad (IIIT-H) launched one of the first accelerator programme named ‘Avishkar’ here on Friday.
The programme launched in partnership with 50K ventures, T Hub and Co-creation Consulting will be a 6-month programme and will be open for startups working on machine learning and AR/VR (Augmented and Virtual Reality) technologies like image and speech recognition and natural language processing.
Revealing details about the accelerator programme, IIIT dean Prof. Vasudev Varma said that the programme is designed to help entrepreneurs.
Ramesh Loganathan, board member of IIIT-H Foundation said that Deep-tech solutions are the answer to the most complex problems of modern technology. “IIIT Hyderabad as a research institute enables a supportive atmosphere for startups working in areas of deep-tech. These startups would be hand-picked, funded and mentored by the IIIT-H Foundation, he said. Under the programme, the investment committee will select up to 10 startups over a period of one year. Each startup will be given a seed fund of `10 lakh, wherein IIIT-H Foundation and 50K Ventures will co-invest .The investment will be in the form of a convertible note, which is considered more startup friendly. Other partners will be taken on board in case there is a requirement of more seed funding for the startups.
Srinivas Kollipara, one of the founders of T-Hub, said the programme will encourtage startups working on deeper issues. “There are deep problems existing in the society and nobody is ready to tackle these issues. With this program, we would encourage startups working on deeper issues and they will be able to avail the benefit of the large business mentor network of T-Hub,” he explained. The application process will start on April 10 and close on April 30. Those shortlisted will be announced on May 10.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / April 02nd, 2016
A linguist and a classical vocalist, young Varun Chenichery faces challenges with élan
Being challenged is no drawback. Give them an opportunity and see them fly. Seventeen–year-old Varun Chenichery is slowly making waves. In 2015, he won special recognition at the annual Pt. Jasraj-Rotary Club of Hyderabad Scholarships for Music and Fine arts and had the opportunity to sing before Panditji himself.
Credit for his achievement must go to his parents Madhavi Adimulam and Mohan Chenichery and Hindustani vocalist and Harini Rao. Harini says that singing before Panditji is something all musicians aspire for. “Varun was calm and sang beautifully. It was all the more special for me because this was the same stage and award that I had received years ago and today I was seeing my student receive it. It was overwhelming! All credit goes to my guru Swati Phadke,” remembers Harini.
Pandari Nivasa Sakhya PandurangaVarun has no stage fright and once opened Harini Rao’s concert at a temple and surprised the audience. At his concerts, Varun always sings popular natyageet, Narayana rama ramana
Many studies have proved strong link between music and language learning and this is substantiated in Varun’s case. “Once I came to know about the link and his inclination towards music, I started music therapy and there was no looking back for Varun,” says Madhavi. She says that from the time Varun was diagnosed with ASD (Autism Spectrum Disorder), they started working with him on his communication. “We started with Sign Language and then moved on to Pictures Exchange Communication and then to words/speech, she says.
On initiating him into music, Madhavi says that ever since he was a baby, he loved music. “While he was in kindergarten he would not sit in his class. If any other class, in the school, had a music class, he would insist on attending that music class,” the mother says. Varun’s interest in music arose even though not hailing from a musicians’ family,” says Madhavi.
Madhavi plays as much music as possible for Varun as music is calming for him for all his communication challenges. In music class, Harini makes him explore swaras. “Yes, he does have a lot to improve upon, but the key is to be happy while singing. I constantly appreciate his singing and keep giving him high-fives,” says Harini.
Learning music under Harini for the last three years, Varun is also attending a group class at Swati Phadke’s. Recalling,her association with Varun, Harini says that when she was asked if she could teach Varun, she was hesitant but took it up as a challenge. “It’s the best thing I have ever done as a teacher – to have gone ahead to teach Varun. He’s very intelligent and understands and grasps different taals quickly! His learning ability in patterns of notes is amazing! It is always fun teaching him,” she says.
Quizzed on his plans, his mother says he wants to become a ‘big’ singer. “Let him learn music as much as he wants,” Madhavi says. Proficient in 20 languages, young Varun loves to learn scripts, travel, cook and bake. A big fan of Nigella Lawson, he excitedly watches her cookery programmes on TLC. An amicable child, Varun never gets into conflict with his younger brother Pranav, but likes to be left alone.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus> Society / by Lakshmi Ramakrishna / Hyderabad – April 01st, 2016
