The Illam Thedi Kalvi scheme -- a novel initiative in Tamil Nadu education -- that used volunteers to teach students whose learning had been disrupted by the lockdown has come to an end. Following that, the Tamil Nadu government has launched a programme using the Google Read Along app. The...
Organic produce is often marketed as non-toxic in Chennai but without any certification. Sales depends on trust created by word of mouth. Below is the second part of (read first part here) of the interview with Arogyam Organic Foods managing director S Arumugasamy on this topic. What is the...
The erotic sculptures in Chinnaiyampettai village have been featured in media but this tank is not a one-off occurrence, researchers say. They add that there are many tanks in villages that are 300 to 400 years old and feature such explicit art. But first the Chinnayampettai tank on the...
Organic certification is a must to ensure quality but the costs are prohibitive for small producers. There has been a growing awareness of the need for producing food without using chemicals. Alternatives to farming that uses chemical fertilizers and pesticides are receiving attention. This is...
The palm tree and its products are intrinsic to Tamil culture. Endowed with roots that go deep and hold groundwater, the palm tree takes 15 years to grow and mature. The young palm tree is called Vadali in Tamil. The palm tree is a food bearing life form. It is a source of palm fruit, palm...
A journalist get so many experiences in the process of gathering news. But those experiences rarely get recorded. They go unnoticed though they can reveal a world of information that is not always apparent. Some editors unveil the inside story of what happens behind the news. They share their...
Sandalwood trees are highly valued in many countries. A fully grown sandalwood tree is quite aromatic and is largely found in southern and eastern India. Its bark is oily. The agar that is extracted from the bark is said to have medicinal value. It cools the skin. In the southern states, use of...
When healthcare has become a lucrative profession, Dr Ruby Samuel, a gynecologist, believes in old-world values and ideals of service Healthcare is increasingly a commodity that only those who can spend can get it. When modern medicine spread some 50 years ago, it was still a service. Those who...
The Sangam-era temple near Mamallapuram that had been submerged under the sea but came out because of sea recession during tsunami still remains largely unexplored. Not far from the structure, there is a UNECSO-recognized heritage spot called Tiger Cave. The rock cut temple is maintained by the...
The Sri Lanka government has gone to the IMF for soft loans to help cope with the economic crisis that shows no signs of abating. On April 19, police fired on protesters injuring many and killing one. Prices of essential commodities continue to be high. While declaring that Sri Lanka will...
