A library-cum-reading room was inaugurated at the Mahatma Gandhi Memorial Government Hospital attached to the K.A.P.Viswanatham Government Medical College in the city last week. The rare facility in a government hospital was inaugurated by the Dean of the college, P. Karkuzhali.
Established by the Rotary Club of Tiruchi, it would be maintained by the Rotaract Club of the college. The facility would offer a welcome diversion for the kith and kin of patients undergoing treatment at the hospital. Relatives of the patients, who normally hang around on the hospital premises, can spend some time reading newspapers and magazines made available at the facility. The only sore point is that the reading room is on the sixth floor of the new block; it would serve people better if located on the ground floor.
**********
The massive peepal tree which was relocated to a public park from the Vayalur Road has regenerated, much to the delight of the Vasan Valley residents. The tree, which was to be cut to make way for a road-widening project in the city, was given a fresh lease of life, thanks to a group of environment-conscious residents. The Vasan Valley Welfare Association in partnership with Thaneer, a voluntary organisation, got the tree shifted to the park from the roadside in a two-day exercise last month.
A month after the relocation, tender shoots have come up, much to the delight of those who had taken up the effort. The initiative also shows the way for others on how trees could be saved when they face the axe for development.