A seminar on ‘Business Challenges – HR Initiatives’ was organised by the Employers’ Federation of South India on 8 November 2006 at Hotel Chola in Chennai. More than 50 HR line and staff functionaries in the middle and senior management level were present. N Venkataramani, Managing Director, India Pistons and President of the Employers’ Federation of India inaugurated the seminar.
The seminar dwelt upon:
Chairing the seminar, hosting and summing up the proceedings was K S Venkiteswaran, Executive Director- IR, The Sanmar Group. Speakers at the seminar were - B Ramachandran, Director- HR, Murugappa Group, G D Sharma, Vice President-HR, L & T (ECC) and G S Ramesh, Senior Vice President-HR, Hyundai Motors Ltd.
From L to R: G S Ramesh, Senior Vice President-HR, Hyundai Motors Ltd., G D Sharma, Vice President-HR, L & T (ECC), B Ramachandran, Director-HR, Murugappa Group, and Shaji Varghese, Senior Vice President (HR), A V Thomas & Company Ltd.
The Chlorochemicals Division (Plant III) of Chemplast Sanmar Limited bagged the second prize for the year 2003 in Group A -‘ Industries employing manhours above 10 lakhs in a year’ under Scheme 1, for the ‘Highest reduction in weighted accident frequency rate as compared to the previous year’.
The freons plant at Mettur has so far won six safety awards, refl ecting its commitment to conform to safety policy standards by seeking employee participation at all levels. State Minister for Labour T M Anbarasan gave away the award on 11 September 2006.
R to L: T M Anbarasan, Honorable Minister for Labour, Govt. of Tamil Nadu, K A Mohammed Aziz, Chief Inspector of Factories, TN, Dr R Harihara Puthran, AGM - Operations, Chlorochemicals Divn., and R Chandrasekaran, AGM - Safety and Environment, Chemplast Sanmar Limited.
Sanmar’s facilities are set in pristine surroundings and the beauty of the regions are a visual treat.
Matrix captures the play of light and the vast expanse of greenery, in and around the Sanmar premises; the beautiful garden county of Karaikal and Mettur, the annual visits of the migratory birds to Vedaranyam - around Sanmar is shown captured on camera in all her finery.
Featured here is Viralimalai in the light of dawn as the trees and foliage wake up to a day of sunshine. Viralimalai is complete with mini woods, sunny skies and a helipad to boot.
Anirudh Balan, a Class XII student of Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School, Adyar, won the ‘Best Interactor’ from among 3000 interactors.
Anirudh qualifi ed for the award ranking fi rst from among 87 participants from over 50 city schools in a competition jointly conducted by the Rotary Club of Madras and the Government of South Australia, on 27 October 2006. The prize is an all- expenses paid trip to South Australia.
L to r: J B Kamdar, District Governor (R.I. District 3230), Mike Rann, Premier of South Australia, Anirudh Balan and George B Cherian, Director, Youth Services, Rotary Club of Madras.
Best Debating Team
The Annual ABS (Association of British Scholars) Debate was organised on 26 August 2006 at the British Council, Chennai, by Tata Steel Ltd., for students of Classes X to XII. The topic for debate - “Developing economies should maintain a low profi le on environmental issues.”
Anirudh Balan of Class XII secured fi rst place, speaking against the motion. N Kaushik of Class XII came second, speaking for the motion.The winner Anirudh Balan participated in the National Debate on 4 November 2006 at Jamshedpur, and was a fi nalist.
The British Council International School Award (ISA) is an accreditation
scheme in recognition for design and implementation of international activities within the school curriculum.Sri Sankara Senior Secondary School is among 22 schools across India to receive the ISA. Vicki Treadall, British Deputy High Commissioner in Mumbai, presented the award on the 11 October 2006 at the British Council, Mumbai.
It was D-Day for the little Krishnas, their teachers and parents at the Madhuram Narayanan Centre (MNC) on 12 December 2006 when the centre’s ittle ones
presented a dance program, “Joyful Times with Krishna” at the seventeenth anniversary
celebrations.It indeed were joyful times for both the audience and the little presenters. The patron of the centre K S Narayanan was present at the event.
The chief guest, D r V Shanta, C hairman, Cancer Institute, A dyar, in her address, expressed her pleasure to b e part of the event and cited MNC’s activities a s an example of commitment and dedication. S he said that K S Narayanan has been especially kind to the Cancer Institute and N Sankar and N Kumar continue with their support towards the institute. She said it was a daunting problem that the MNC
faced in handling varied cases of autism, cerebral palsy, Down’s syndrome, mental retardation and physical impairment. Children make a tremendous emotional impact especially when they are suffering.She herself had experienced it; she sought international collaboration in the management of paediatric oncology and experienced that awareness, early diagnosis and intervention had resulted in a high percentage of cures. The case of exceptional children, she felt was similar, as early detection, intervention and parental commitment were essential to help the children get into the mainstream. A high percentage of cures is possible only when there is public awareness of the condition. “I can understand how much effort has gone into building this excellent centre,” she said.
“Service to the needy whether it is socio-economic, suffering - physical or mental, service without expecting any return, is the most ennobling and it certainly is a pleasure to be part of such a program.” She wished the institution, all success in its efforts to return all those who seek their help to normal or near - normal lives. She commended
MNC’s work and highlighted the importance of prevention, research and cure and awareness in managing children with special needs. Suresh Rao, President of MNC said that the centre was dealing with exceptional children in an exceptional way. Over the past seventeen years, there has been a change in the attitude towards exceptional children from one of sympathy to that of empathy.
“ Things would not be so well but for the unstinting support of The Sanmar Group. Corporate Social Responsibility, a much talked about phrase now, has been practised by them nearly two decades since this institution w as started. N Kumar who has been a silent worker, is mainly responsible for p romoting research in this area and it has been a purely non- profit venture.” He commended t he work of AVM Krishnaswamy who has managed the institution with enthusiasm for nearly two decades. He hoped that the institution would have its own premises soon, to be inaugurated by K S Narayanan.
Dr V Shanta, Chairman, Cancer Institute, Adyar.
“I can understand how much effort has gone
into building this excellent centre.”