In Brief — Pune

Award for Chidambaram
Dr R Chidambaram, chairman, Atomic Energy Commission and Dr S. K. Sikka, director, Solid State and Spectroscopy Group and Head, High Pressure, physics division of Bhabha Atomic Research Centre will be awarded the H K Firodia Awards for excellence in science and technology at Balgandharva Rangmandir tomorrow. The awards have been instituted by the H K Firodia Memorial Foundation. Former recipients include Dr. A.P.J. Abdul Kalam, Dr. Vijay Bhatkar, Prof C.N.R. Rao and Anil Kakodkar. Noted nuclear physicist Dr. Raja Ramanna, will give away the awards, a release said.

Walkathon pays off
The Walk-a-thon at Lonavla has earned a hansome amount of over Rs 86 lakh for the proposed Sadhu Vaswani International School for Boys at Wagholi and also for performing free cataract operations of the poor village folk. Dada J P Vaswani, sipiritual head of the mission handed over the cheque to the chairperson of the mission on Sunday. About 300 persons hailing from different states and countries, participated in the walk-a-thon. Everyone who walked found sponsors who paid for every kilometre walked. Dada Vaswani also walked a distance of 6 kilometres.

Marriage meet
Nearly 700 youth from all over the State enrolled themselves in the “Vadhu-Var parichay melava,” a gathering to get acquainted with their prospective mates, organised by the Bharatiya Jain Sanghatana on Sunday. Shantilal Mutha, president of the sanghatana said that it was more important that the couples who meet their prospective mates at such meetings manage to stay together for the rest of their married life. Numbers do not really matter, he said. Mutha cautioned parents not just to fulfill their responsibilities by registering their child’s name at such gatherings, but also enquire about the prospective bridegroom’s families. Dr K H Sancheti released a souvenir on the occasion. Mayor Vatsala Andekar was also present.

Agro students’ strike
Maharashtra State Agriculture Students Organisation have launched a chain hunger strike in front of the Agriculture College main gate today. The strike will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday.