The first organ donor literate village!!!

THRISSUR: In the morning of 29th September 2010, residents of Pootharakkal in Thrissur will gather at an open ground in the neighbourhood for a noble cause—and to create history as the first organ-donor literate village. More than 2,000 adults from 600 families of this little-known village will hand over letters of consent to donate their organs, according to Father Davis Chiramel, chairman of the Kidney Federation of India.

Local MLA Geetha Gopi, Thrissur district panchayat president K V Dasan, collector P M Francis, senior police officers, representatives from all religions and political parties will witness the noble moment.

"We are happy that the residents of Pootharakkal have promised to donate their organs. We would like to spread the noble gesture to the entire state and so have decided to start a journey on the day with a mission to collect about 10 lakh consent letters from people across the state. The letters of consent will be handed over to the Prime Minister later," said Fr Chiramel.

The priest, who had set an example by donating a kidney, said the idea to hold a public 'consent meet' germinated at a recent interaction with the villagers.

He then launched a door-to-door campaign, ensuring the participation of all adult villagers. "This is just a beginning. We are sure of spreading the mission to the whole of Kerala and then to other states," he added. 

Source:TOI

Faced with drought...Karnataka spends 17 crores to please the rain gods!!

Bangalore: Karnataka is staring at its worst drought in 42 years and its government has asked all the 34,000 temples in the parched state to conduct a special pooja seeking rain. At about Rs.5000 each, the special prayers will cost Rs. 17 crore.


The order comes from the state's endowments ministry. The minister, KS Poojari, whose last name means "priest", has hastened to clarify that tax-payers' money will not be used for these rituals to propitiate the rain gods. Temple trusts will fund the poojas, says Mr Poojari.


Churches and mosques in the state have also been asked to conduct special prayers for rain. The BJP government of Jagadish Shettar wants these prayers conducted on July 27 and August 7.


The state government is yet to calculate the extent of crop loss in this monsoon season of deficient rain. Among the many states of India now facing drought, Karnataka is one of the worst hit. Large parts of north and central Karnataka have recorded almost 27 per cent deficient rainfall.


the big question which comes out is, should such a great amount of money be spent on prayers alone??

source:NDTV