Kalam brings smiles to Cheshire Home

For the inmates of Cheshire Home in Ranchi, mostly physically challenged, it was a dream come true when A P J Abdul Kalam accepted their invitation and paid them a visit. The former president also had an interaction session with them, answering all their questions and giving them hope. Vincent Kacchap, an inmate for the past 18 years who is doing his Plus 2, asked Kalam what he needed to do to become the President of India. Kalam replied: “If you have an aim in life and you are willing to work hard to acquire knowledge with the attitude of solving the problems in life, then nobody can stop you from becoming the President.” The home, set up by the Daughters of Charity in 1972, imparts skill-based training in bookbinding, computers, candle-making and painting.

Anand faces heat over unregistered JOA

Jharkhand Olympic Association (JOA) president R K Anand has been forced to answer some tough questions after an FIR was lodged on June 27 at the Lalpur police station in Ranchi. The FIR lodged by Bamshankar Prasad of the Dhanbad District Badminton Association has alleged that the JOA had been receiving funds in lakhs every year since 2001 in spite of not being a registered body. This was confirmed by Director (Sports) P C Mishra. When asked how the state government granted funds to the unregistered JOA, Mishra said, “We are inquiring into it.” Anand claimed that the JOA was an affiliate of the Indian Olympic Association, a registered body and as such it was not necessary for the JOA to get registered. “The allegations are motivated and baseless,” he said.