The Parrot Plus V3, a pocket-sized, battery-operated, talking `personal secretary', manufactured by a company abroad is ideal for the blind, people with low vision, and persons suffering from reading problems like dyslexia.

Based on voice recognition technology, it performs the 7 speaking functions of the phone book, voice notepad, appointment book, clock, calculator, telephone assistance and selection control panel with mike, speaker, digital keypad and function keys for recording, editing and fast forward/rewind etc. There is no language restriction, and it has the facilities of voice feedback, and computer connectivity for data transfer.

For information, contact: Indian Association for the Visually Handicapped, IAVH Electronic Reading Centre for the Blind, Vidyarthi Vidyapeeth Bhavan (University Club House), `B' Road, Churchgate, Mumbai-20, or call on 022-2838550, e mail:iavh@usa.net.

Seva Puraskar award

Ramesh Haralkar, who has been working for the upliftmentof conservancy workers, has been selected for this year's Seva Puraskar, instituted by the Shri Ganesh Mahanidhi. The award, which carries a memento and cash prize of Rs 10,000, will be handed over to Haralkar next month. Haralkar has worked in the conservancy department for several years, and was instrumental in setting up the Safai Kamgar Parivartan Sangh.

Last year, the award was given to Mehrunissa Dalwai of the Muslim Satyashodak Samaj.

Workshop on relationships

Aavishkar Clinic is conducting a workshop on `Financing Relationships' on October 2 at Neral. The workshop is open for all people, women and couples and will cover topics like types of relationships, awareness about interpersonal styles, conflicts in communication and ways to enrich relations. Call on 4227515 for details.