have been associated with AWPT (Animal Welfare & Pro- tection Trust, Chennai), a vet-

erinary hospital cum shelter serving abandoned and sick ani- mals. Everyday, hundreds of abandoned animals are treated here for various illnesses.

AWPT has now extended their hospital space by constructing extra sheds so as to accommo- date more needy animals.

They are in need of some new/ old ceiling fans (in working con- dition) for their vet hospital.

Since the summer is at its peak in Chennai, the animals that have undergone surgery and are being treated for other illnesses would really love a fan for some relief and a speedy recovery.

of these animals. If you have an extra fan or if you know any kind hearted people who might be willing to donate fans for this no- ble cause, please get in touch as soon as you can.

The Trustees are also in need of a basic model digital camera that they can use to take rescue pho- tographs for their records and for adoption columns in newspap- ers.

If you have a digital camera that you aren\u2019t using, please con- sider gifting it to help them.

You can contact Mrs. Padma- vathy at 788 (New No. 3/140), Ka- laingar

Street, Santhoshapuram, (Velacherry - Tambaram Road), Chennai - 601 302.

Please do not worry about the transportation as AWPT will col- lect it from you as soon as you give them a call, wherever you are in Chennai.

Visit http://awptrust.co.cc for more information on this organi- sation and the work that they do.

Marg Swarnabhoomi, an integrated
infrastructure company, joins hands with
Guitarist R. Prasanna of \u2019Smile Pinki\u2019 fame
to start a professional music college in
namma Chennai.
According to G.R.K.Reddy, chairman and
managing director of MARG Group, the
Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music will open
in July 2010 with a one year diploma in
music and has plans of starting a full-
\ufb02edged 4 year degree program later. The
college will have renowned faculty of
reputed musicians from around the world.
As part of this ongoing initiative, the
college will present an intensive one-week
workshop on contemporary music with
international faculty during August 17 to 21
this year followed by a concert on August

The Dax Memorial Animal Welfare Center is in the process of being set up in
Urapakkam near Vandalur. The Center will rehabilitate abandoned birds and also
raise awareness on important animal issues. They\u2019re starting from scratch and will
be happy to receive your help raising the seed money. If this sounds interesting,
get in touch with Ranjit Daniels of Care Earth Trust at ranjit.daniels@gmail.com.

AWPT is in need
of some new/
old ceiling fans
(in working
condition) for
their vet

(from left) Vivek Harinarain, executive director - Industrial Clusters, MARG, GRK Reddy, chair- man, MARG Ltd, R Prasanna, Guitarist and Music Composer and his trainer A Kanya Ku- mari at the launch of Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music

s a result of professionals like doctors, lawyers and pi- lots coming together, Cen- tral Chennai will be seeing a

For the \ufb01rst time, Youth and Students Party (YSP) will be con- testing from the Central Chennai constituency. Thomas T. Jacob, a lawyer practising in Madras High Court, will be representing the party.

YSP became a registered party in 2004 and participated in the 14th Lok Sabha elections for the \ufb01rst time from the Nilgiri constituency, where they garnered 0.84 per cent of the votes and stood fourth. Founded by P. Kumaran, YSP\u2019s major mantra is \u2018Change\u2019. \u201cWe en- visage a political system infused with youth from all walks of life. We believe there should be at least 75 per cent representation of the youth in Parliament, so as to in- fuse fresh ideas and need-based policies,\u201d says Thomas.

As the name suggests, YSP is keen on uplifting the nation with youth as the pillars of upliftment. \u201cWe believe that after 65 politic- ians must have a more advisory role in the party.

They can be involved in deci- sion-making but young people must get a chance to prove them- selves,\u201d says Thomas emphatical- ly.Ageing doesn\u2019t make people in-

competent but it does slow them down, feels YSP. \u201cThere should de\ufb01nitely be a retirement age for politicians so that new people can

YSP has more than 10,000 mem- bers distributed in various districts of Tamil Nadu, with nearly 300 ac- tive members in Chennai. Anyone who is above 18, is accountable and patriotic and doesn\u2019t have a criminal background can join as a member.

YSP members don\u2019t intend to align themselves with others as they claim to stand for accounta- bility in politics. \u201cThe primary du- ty is to the people, not the party. We believe in bringing about legis- lation in which people who aren\u2019t happy with their elected represen- tatives have the power to recall them back,\u201d says Thomas.

\u201cThose who don\u2019t vote are usually those who are educated. We want voting to be made com- pulsory so that the educated come out and vote,\u201d he adds.

YSP uses new-age campaigning tools like Twitter, YouTube, Orkut, Facebook, SMS and blogging for its urban audience and street plays and theatre for the rural.

\u201cI came across YSP\u2019s activities at various places and found that they were not just there for the heck of it but for a good reason. After en- quiring in-depth I decided to join them as I felt this is what India needs,\u201d says 24-year-old Anu Ge- orge, who is an active campaigner of YSP as well as a lawyer in Ban- galore.

With the increasing entry of new parties and independent contes- tants, YSP is con\ufb01dent. \u201cWe won\u2019t repeat the mistakes that we and others made last time. We learnt from our mistakes and have cor- rected ourselves,\u201d says Thomas.\u25a0