Mumbai Notes

Meet of bridesand bridegrooms

The Maharashtra Padmashali Mahasangh has arranged a meeting of prospective brides and bridegrooms on May 1 at 4 pm at Dr Kharude Mandai Hall Bengal Chemical Market, Adarsh Nagar, Worli. Those interested can contact Dr Ashok Vadigoppula 4947754, Ramula Dussa 4920153, Ramalingam Injamuri 5791206, Ramchandra Pichuka 52, Sakhhar Chawl, G K Marg, Lower Parel, Mumbai-13. The mahasangh8217;s registered office is at 88-J Nagu Sayaji Wadi, New Prabhadevi Road; phone no 4229882.

Fund-raising drive by Lions

Lions Club of South Hill Bombay Dist 323-AI has organised a fund raising programme on April 17 at Sea Palace Hotel, Colaba at 7.30 pm. The programme hopes to raise funds for future projects. Donor cards for the programme are available on 2871042 between 10 to 5 pm or on 2021251 after 6 pm.

PG diploma in psychology

Applications are invited for a post graduate diploma in counselling psychology beginning July 1999. Only those with a Master8217;s degree in psychology, socialwork or human development may apply. The course has only 25 seats, and the last date for applications is May 15. Contact Father Berkie SJ at the St Xavier8217;s Institute of Education, 40-A, New Marine Lines, Churchgate; or call on 2072307.

Aptitude tests for SSC students

Nemlekar8217;s Tutorials at Shree Bhavan, Lokmanya Tilak Road, Dahisar W will hold aptitude tests and vocational counselling for SSC students on April 24. This will be in collaboration with the Guidance and Counselling Department of the SNDT University. The test will be held between 1 pm and 5 pm.

Registration has to be done before April 22. For more information, contact Bhushan D Nemlekar or Vijaya B Nemlekar at 8957292.

Summer camps for children

Boston8217;s Cyberkids, part of Boston8217;s Education Software Technology, is holding summer camps for children from April 17 upto the first week of June. The camps are oriented towards children between four and 14 years. Cyberkids currently has seven centres in Mumbai. Established in1996, Boston8217;s Cyberkids has seven centres in Mumbai. Contact Snehal Chitneni or Delnaz Ravji on 3054887 or 3001112.

CR reports Rs 342-cr profit

Central Railway CR recorded a profit of Rs 342 crore on a turnover of Rs 4854 crore for the financial year 1998-1999.

The CR carried 45.04 million tonnes of freight and earned Rs 2940 crore last year, which was 3.2 and 4.2 per cent more than 1997-98. On the passenger side, CR carried 1160 million passengers earning Rs 1732 crore last year. This was nearly 12 per cent rise from the earnings recorded the year before last.

The performance of CR has also helped the Indian Railways to cover up its losses to a certain extent. After losing nearly Rs 1000 crore in the first half of 1998-99, the Railway Board had declared a volume-discount-scheme in December last year. This scheme offered a 10 per cent discount to companies which transported five per cent more goods between October-March than it had transported between April-September. Officials believedthat the scheme helped the Indian Railways cut its losses a great deal.

Media survey IRS-99 released

In Mumbai, Hindi continued to be the most read and understood language 82 per cent, followed by Marathi 69 per cent, English 50 per cent and Gujarati 17 per cent, according to the Indian Readership Survey-1999 released on Thursday. The survey was conducted by ORG-MARG during January to December 1998 and covered 741 towns and 2365 villages and a total sample size of 212,872 across India.

The national survey revealed that in Maharashtra for every 100 male, 56 female had access to the press, whereas in Bihar for every 100 male only 26 females had access to the press. Internet came out as the fastest growing medium, with over one million users. Its usage had grown by over 75 per cent in 10 lakh-plus towns while in lower towns usage had doubled, it revealed.

Course for NBFC personnel

The College of Agricultural Banking of the Reserve Bank of India, Pune, will conduct a special trainingprogramme for the benefit of the personnel working in non-banking financial companies NBFCs. The training programme aims at familiarising officials of the NBFCs with the regulatory and statutory framework prescribed by the RBI and to provide the necessary skills to ensure compliance with the RBI8217;s new regulatory framework.

The programme includes a session on Chapter III-B of the Reserve Bank of India Act, 1934. It will also familiarise participants with RBI directions on acceptance of deposits for equipment leasing companies, hire-purchase finance companies, loan companies, investment companies and residuary non-banking companies. For more information, contact the RBIs Press Relations Division, Central Office PO Box 406; call on 2660502.

Programme for epilepsy patients

The Indian Epilepsy Association Bombay Chapter in collaboration with Natyashala has organised Umang, a programme for epilepsy patients between eight and 18 years. The programme will be conducted from April 20 to 25 from 9.30 amto 1.30 pm at the E-Cell at Jagannath Shankar Sheth Municipal School, Nana Chowk, Grant Road W, next to Shetty8217;s restaurant.

For enquiries and registration forms, contact: the E-Cell from 2 pm to 6 pm on 3850563 or Dr Pravina Shah, Hon Secretary on 3806582 or 3805783.

Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi

The Srirangam Srimad Andavan Periashramam will celebrate Sri Ramanuja Jayanthi on Wednesday, April 21 at 6 pm at 205, Chandragupta, IOB Apartments, Raheja Township, Malad east. For more information, call on 8750901.