After cricket, now it's real estate for Mandira Bedi

Mandira Bedi with VGN Enterprises Managing Director V.N. Devadoss (right) and VGN Director D. Pratish at a press meet in Chennai on Wednesday.After selling cricket to thousands of television viewers, Mandira Bedi is now looking to sell property. Chennai-based real estate firm VGN Enterprises has roped in the actor to promote its residential apartments.Signing up celebrities as brand ambassadors for real estate products is the new publicity technique of property developers. Recently, real estate firm Arun Excello brought in actor Madhavan to promote its township `Estancia' near Guduvanchery. Earlier this year, Bollywood star Bipasha Basu became brand ambassador of property developer EMGEE.

Ms. Bedi, who was in Chennai on Wednesday, told reporters that she was delighted "to be blessed with so many opportunities". Her first assignment is to endorse La Parisienne, a 176-apartment residential colony, developed by VGN Enterprises in West Mogappair.The apartment blocks will be named after French landmarks — Louvre, L' Opera, Montmartre, Eiffel, Notre Dame and St. Germain.

When Ms. Bedi was asked if she would have a new apartment in La Parisienne, she said, "I would be happy to live in the Eiffel Block. Maybe I will." She declined to reveal how much she would earn from endorsing the properties.V.N. Devadoss, Managing Director of VGN Enterprises, said the company decided to have an ambassador to improve brand value among customers.VGN Director D. Pratish said Mandira's style would appeal to customers looking for modern, trendy homes.

A square foot of apartment space in the new complex costs Rs.3,100. The property is to be developed on three acres and will offer relaxation facilities such a pool, theatre, a jogging track and a courtyard.The target set for project completion is June 2008.The company is also planning residential apartments projects in Avadi, Tambaram, Ambattur and GST Road.

LIC's satellite office soon

Chennai: Soon, you can approach any satellite office of Life Insurance Corporation of India (LIC) for matters relating to claims settlement or survival benefit payout.The LIC plans to use Wide Area Network technology to facilitate the scanning of documents and storing the images on a central server — the same mode that is currently enabling customers to remit the premium at the nearest branch office. This means that customers will be able to access a copy of the policy document and go ahead with a transaction at any satellite office. At present, the accessibility of policy documents only at the parent office posed a drawback to broaden the spectrum of services at a satellite utility.

LIC's Zonal Manager B. Mathivannan told a press conference, convened to announce the launch of a new scheme `Jeevan Amrit', that the project was being undertaken as part of the Enterprise Data Management System that uses technology for a range of solutions.The plan is designed for people wishing to have long-term insurance cover with a short-duration premium commitment, said V. Vijayaraghavan, LIC's regional manager (Actuarial).The premium payment term is limited to three, four or five year cycles, while the policy term is from 10 to 30 years. The plan, open to those in the 12-60 age group, is said to be best suited for non-resident Indians, young software professionals and persons in the entertainment industry.A key feature aspect is the simple reversionary bonus format where the payout continues even after the policies are paid-up.

The scanning of documents will commence in offices of Chennai divisions I and II, Kottayam and Madurai on June 1 and is expected to be completed in a year. The LIC expects to complete coverage of the remaining eight divisions in three years.For the life insurance behemoth, this would also mean taking forward the mission of evolving into a world class customer-oriented organisation, as reaffirmed at the recent Hyderabad meet of Senior Divisional Managers.

A major activity undertaken during the LIC's golden jubilee year was the setting up of a corpus of funds for corporate social responsibility initiatives. The Golden Jubilee Foundation was now vested with a corpus of Rs.50 crore and it is proposed to add Rs.10 crore each year over the next five years, to raise Rs.100 crore, said Mr. Mathivannan.The highlights of LIC's performance for 2006-07 include completion of 3,82,08,575 policies for a cumulative premium value of Rs.39,541.57 crore. The South Zone completed 47,33,715 policies for a premium worth Rs.5,862.40 crore.

Gummidipoondi branch (Chennai Division II) is all India topper in terms of achievement to budget for issuance of policies, exceeding target by 193 per cent, while the Tiruvannamalai branch under Vellore division tops the zone in number of policies sold (43,159) and non-single premium (Rs.86 crore).The south zone plans to open 80 new centres this year.

Madurai under scanner of Police

Madurai:The Collector, S.S. Jawahar, centre, addressing a meeting of police officials in Madurai on Wednesday.The Madurai West Assembly constituency, where by-election is slated for June 26, has come under the scanner of the police and district administration.Special teams of election officials have been deployed to initiate pre-poll arrangements as filing of nominations begins on June 1.Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, the Additional Director General of Police and Commissioner, A. Subramanian, and the Collector, S.S. Jawahar, said that all steps would be taken to ensure a free and fair election. The code of conduct would be implemented in letter and spirit.

Mr. Subramanian said that the police were closely monitoring all the 216 polling stations in the constituency. Vigil had been stepped up at lodges, unoccupied houses and marriage halls to prevent the entry of "outsiders." Police personnel were briefed of the rules pertaining to the conduct of processions/meetings and use of vehicles for campaign.An elaborate election security scheme was being prepared. Besides the local police, additional forces would also be roped in for bandobust.

Mr. Jawahar said that the police and revenue officials had been instructed to gather intelligence with regard to the movement of outsiders in the constituency. All officials involved directly or indirectly in the election process would come under the "superintendence, control and discipline" of the Election Commission."If any official is found to be violating the code of conduct, disciplinary action will be taken, apart from transfer," he warned.A review meeting of police and elections officials was held where the procedures of filing nomination, campaigning etc were discussed. The Madurai SP, T.S. Anbu, the DCPs, R. Ramrajan (Law and Order), V.H. Mohammed Haneefa (Crimes), J. Ravindran (Headquarters) and K. Veerasekharan (Armed Reserve) were present.

Clash for Good

Salem:AIADMK members arguing with Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini and DMK members in the Salem Corporation Council meeting on Wednesday. The Salem Corporation council meeting on Wednesday witnessed heated exchanges between the ruling and opposition members over the supply of water mixed with mud in the city.

The AIADMK members brought water samples to the council hall and showed them to Mayor J. Rekha Priyadarshini. They demanded that the Corporation initiate immediate action to ensure supply of protected drinking water to the people. They claimed that many areas were supplied with water mixed with mud for the past 10 days. The ruling DMK councillors said that the problem had already been sorted out. This sparked off a heated debate between the councillors of two parties.

When DMK councillor M. Mohan (ward 50) interrupted Opposition Leader Venkatachalam (AIADMK), who was speaking on the issue, the AIADMK councillors opposed it. They came to the well of the council hall and entered into an argument with the Mayor. They protested that the DMK councillors were not allowing the opposition members to express their views in the council freely.

Later, Mr. Venkatachalam criticised the Corporation for delaying the revival of Panamarathupatti Lake - Salem water supply scheme. He urged the Corporation to ensure supply of water on alternate days. He asked the Corporation to regulate toll collection in the wholesale vegetable markets in the city.

Councillors, cutting across party lines, demanded that the civic body remove pigs and stray dogs. Stringent action should be initiated against pig rearers, who prevented the Corporation workers while removing pigs recently. The council passed a resolution seeking removal of pigs and their sale through public auction. P. Ashokan (DMK) urged the Corporation officials to initiate steps to prevent miscreants from entering the Kitchipalayam dump yard and setting the garbage heaps afire.

Replying to the queries, the Mayor asked the people who possess dogs as pets to obtain licence from the Corporation within June 15. The birth control programme for stray dogs would continue. She said that all the sheds in the burial grounds would be repaired within a month. The removal of garbage and drainage cleaning would be carried out through private parties in 21 wards from the first week of July. Corporation Commissioner M. Jayaraman and senior officials were present.

Buddha statue identified

Thanjavur: A granite Buddha statue has been identified by B. Jambulingam of Tamil University at Valayamapuram in Valangaiman taluk of Tiruvarur district.According to Mr. Jambulingam, who has done an extensive study on Buddha statues for his doctorate entitled `Buddhism in the Chola Country,' this is the 64th statue found in the Chola country, comprising the composite Thanjavur, Tiruchi and Pudukottai districts. The statue is 92 cm in height and without the head.

The usual sacred thread with a wider fringe on the left chest extending to the navel is found. Chakra is found on the right palm.The statue has powerful and broad shoulders and wider chest. In the `Chola Country,' Buddha statues are found without the head in three places. They are Rayapmpuram in Peramblaur district, Gopinathaperumalkoil near Patteeswaram and Keelakurichi in Tiruchi district.The prevalence of Buddha statues at many places proved the existence of Buddhism in a flourishing stage in the Chola Country, Mr. Jambulingam said in a press release.

Set back for Mayor's dream project

Tiruchi: The Mayor Sarubala R. Tondaiman's dream project of establishing a water theme park here has suffered a setback with the Corporation Council refusing to clear an initial investment of about Rs.2.22 crore for it.An official resolution on the subject, moved at an urgent meeting of the council on Wednesday, was kept in abeyance after a majority of the councillors disapproved the investment for the proposed park at Anna Nagar.Establishing a theme park was one of the prominent poll promises of Mrs. Tondaiman (Congress).

Councillors, cutting across political lines, felt that the Corporation could ill afford to make a huge investment on an entertainment project when it was struggling to provide basic amenities in several places.It would affect the other development works and the Corporation could take up the project through private promoters, they said.The theme park was planned at the Corporation grounds at a total cost of Rs.7 crore, based on a plan drawn up by J. Ramanan, an architect.The project was to be taken up in three phases with the Corporation making the initial investment.

Congress councillor Jerome Arockiaraj argued that the project would be totally unviable as the site available measured hardly 2.15 acres, while 10 to 20 acres was required to establish a water theme park.He suggested that an alternative site be identified on the outskirts to attract tourists.Mrs. Tondaiman said the park could be set up on a small scale with initial investment from the Corporation.Once its viability was established, private promoters could be roped in for developing it further under the Build Operate and Transfer Scheme.The Commissioner B. Balachandran suggested that the Corporation could take a policy decision on establishing the theme park and seeking expert opinion before venturing into the project.Issues relating to public safety, continuous supply of water and maintenance had to be examined, he said.M. Abdullah, Independent councillor from Anna Nagar, the sole member to support the project, staged a walkout in protest against the council's decision to keep the resolution pending.

Medical camp @ Nellai

Tirunelvali: A medical test being conducted at Tirunelveli Railway Hospital on Wednesday. The Tirunelveli Railway Hospital at the railway junction here organised a medical camp exclusively for the women members of the families of railway employees on Wednesday.

As many as 77 women attended the camp, which mainly concentrated on ensuring health of pregnant women, detection of breast cancer, ailments relating to menstrual cycle and uterus.Senior Divisional Medical Officer and gynaecologist, S. Yasodha, examined the women. Samples were collected from 19 persons to be sent for biopsy. Two cases were referred to the Railway Hospital in Madurai for specialised treatment, the Senior Divisional Medical Officer, Tirunelveli, A. Sukumar, said.

Veterinary camps in each panchayat union

Tuticorin: Similar to the `Varumun Kappom' medical camp, the Department of Animal Husbandry will organise veterinary camps in each panchayat union every month to ensure the health of livestock, the Minister for Animal Husbandry, Geetha Jeevan, has said.She was inaugurating a veterinary dispensary at Karungulam on Tuesday.

Ms. Jeevan said that the proposed camp would be of great help to the farmers in and around Karungulam and adequate stocks of medicine would be maintained.The Collector, R. Palaniyandi, said that a range of examinations would be conducted at the new dispensary.The Sattankulam MLA, Rani Venkatesan, the Regional Joint Director, Department of Animal Husbandry, P. Wilson, and the Assistant Director, Department of Animal Husbandry, T. Natarajan, spoke.