While pressure is mounting on the state government to declare the Sathyamangalam Wildlife Sanctuary as a tiger reserve, there is mounting resentment among tribals living on the forest fringes, against attempts of the forest department to curb access to the jungles to collect forest produce and graze cattle. Forest officials have already directed them to sell their cattle and look for alternative means of livelihood.  Irked by the move, over 10,000...

-The Hindu   Raising concerns at the introduction of pentavalent vaccine in the universal immunisation programme in Tamil Nadu on a pilot basis, Makkal Nalavazhvu Iyakkam (MNI), Tamil Nadu chapter of Jan Swasthya Abhiyan, has urged the Centre to reconsider its decision and asked the State government to put the introduction of the new vaccine on hold. In a statement issued here on Thursday, the MNI said that mere technological solutions without the...

-The Hindu The National Commission for Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes has sent notice to the Director-General of Police (DGP) and the Home Secretary of Tamil Nadu demanding that they furnish all details about the need for opening fire at Dalits in three places – Paramakudi, Ilayangudi in Sivaganga district and Madurai – on the same day on September 11. Speaking to The Hindu over phone on Tuesday from New Delhi, Latha...

-The Hindu   “Church premises used for stir against Kudankulam plant” As some of the churches are being used to disseminate anti-Kudankulam Nuclear Power Project (KKNPP) messages urging the people to join the ongoing protest against the nuclear power project, the police here have started registering cases against priests who either allow or indulge in such activities. After the St. Lourdes Church premises at Idinthakarai was converted into anti-KKNPP protest venue, a number of...

People's activists want the Kudankulam nuclear power plant shut down completely; Tamil Nadu's politicians have the less ambitious aim of halting work on the project until the fears of local people are allayed. The plant was originally scheduled to begin operations later this month. The two groups submitted separate memoranda to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during their 40-minute meeting with him on Friday. Atomic Energy Commission Chairman Srikumar Banerjee, National Security...