Kids get Rs 1 lakh for collage

A massive 20 x 8 metre fabric collage painting by children of the SOS village had impressed an Austrian company so much that it adopted the painting for its Christmas cards and gave its creators Rs 1 lakh in appreciation of their work. The collage depicts Mahatma Gandhi with his walking stick and trademark spectacles, a sailboat crossing choppy waters, a man milking a cow, a Christmas tree adorned with a huge yellow star and a peacock in all finery.

Actress's husband fined

The Supreme Court has imposed a fine of Rs 250 on the husband of noted Tamil actress Padmapriya (since deceased) for contempt of court in a proceeding which was initiated nearly eight years ago. The suo motu contempt proceedings initiated in 1992 against C.R. Srinivas were the offshoot of an appeal by his actress-wife against a Madras High Court judgement upholding the grant of interim maintenance to him by a Chennai Civil Court, pending a divorce petition filed by the wife.

Herbal compound to kill TB germ

Scientists have isolated a herbal compound that can kill the antibiotic-resistant tuberculosis bacteria. In the laboratory tests, the compound isolated at the Central Institute for Medicinal and Aromatic Plants (CIAMP), Lucknow, has been found to be more potent than some antibiotics, Ms Suman S. Khanuja, the scientist heading the project said. Animal tests and clinical trials to determine the safety and efficacy of the compound are yet to be carried out, he informed.

Turning rail coaches into classrooms !

All hell broke loose when papa and mamma left them with the long-moustached watchman at the school gates.Little Kittu and Bittu would throw their heads back, roll on the ground, and howl like mad. Their problem: if papa-mamma could take the chhuk-chhuk train to office, why couldn't they too have the chhuk-chhuk train for school? Now, in what could only be called a landmark cure for potentially a thousand everyday tantrums, Kittus and Bittus clamber up a train and have it to themselves for the greater part of the day. They are studying under a new experiment in schooling, whereby train compartments have been converted into a day-boarding school.

Their train, 'Gurukul Express', never leaves the railway platform, which is how the nearby buildings have been shaped, but the children sure take off in a jolly good mood on the track to learning. With the luxury of a pantry serving them breakfast and lunch, they do not have to bring their own tiffin. They get no homework and need not carry heavy school bags to school.

Set up by the Saraswati Education Society at a cost of Rs 80 lakh, four compartments bought at auctions have been converted into classrooms. From 9 a.m. sharp to 5 p.m., 450 children uptil standard eight study here.

Producer moves HC against DD

Producer of TV serial "Ujale Ki Oar" with veteran actor Ashok Kumar in the lead role, has moved the Delhi High Court against Doordarshan's alleged decision to cancel its telecast "arbitrarily". Mr Justice C.M. Nayar, taking cognizance of a civil writ by Suri Productions, recently issued notices to Prasar Bharati and Doordarshan and directed them to file replies by December 9, the next date of hearing.

20 students suffer burns

Twenty school girls received burn injuries while participating in a programme during their annual sports day function in Secunderabad. The police said the incident took place when around 26 girls of St. Ann's Girls High School, dressed as Santa Claus, were taking a round in a van in the school playground waving pencil crackers.

Rotary award for NGO group

Venkatarangaiya Foundation, a Hyderabad-based NGO working for elimination of child labour through universalisation of education has been selected for the Rotary India Award for 1999. The award carries a cash prize of Rs 2 lakh and a citation, Rotary Award for Service to Humanity (India) trust said in a press statement.

Dwarka built in 1700 BC

Dr S.R. Rao, a noted marine archaeologist and president of the International Centre for Indian Art and Cultural Studies (ICIACS), Bangalore, who excavated Dwarka, the mythological birthplace of Lord Krishna, says the city could have been built during 1700 BC itself. The city of Dwarka was submerged during 1600 BC, Rao told reporters at the temple-town of Dharamasthala during a session of Indian Art and History Congress recently.

With father's body for 20 days

An-11-year-old boy was forced to live alone with the body of his father for more than 20 days, while another helped a team of doctors reach an inaccessible village in the cyclone-ravaged Orissa.These incidents came to light, when volunteers of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) took up relief and rehabilitation works in the areas affected by the century's worst disaster.When the RSS workers entered Pottanai village in Kanjanga block of the worst-hit Jagatsinghpur district on November 19, they were shell-shocked to find a boy sitting near his father's body with no one to look after him.

When the volunteers enquired from the boy, he said: "I am the only surviving member of the family. There is no one to do the needful".When they asked the villagers why they did not help the boy, they said without enumeration, the government would not provide any relief to him.

Again, a nine-year-old boy led a team of doctors to an inaccessible Narsagpur village. When the villagers surrounded the team, the boy exhibited his organising skills by making the villagers form a queue, much to the astonishment of the doctors.

In another village it was pathetic to find a 25-year-old woman sobbing with three children beside the body of her husband.

There was plot to defeat me: PM

Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee said organised attempts were made to ensure his defeat in the Lok Sabha elections from Lucknow.

Mr Vajpayee said under a deep conspiracy, candidates of rival parties joined hands and they transferred their votes to the Congress candidate to see him defeated. "These candidates were contesting but not to win," he said.He was speaking at a function at the historic Roomi Gate to welcome him on his arrival in his constituency here for the first time after winning the elections.