Chennai wakes up to hi-tech electronics

Chennai wakes up to hi-tech electronics," says a Nokia advertisement calling for young people to work at its manufacturing facility to come up in Sriperumbudur near Chennai. The Rs 650-crore investment will create about 2,000 jobs.
Similarly, Flextronics, a global electronics manufacturing services provider, investing Rs 350-450 crore in the same area will create another 2,000 jobs in the first 18 months of starting work on the plant.

And, according to the Union Minister of Information Technology, Dayanidhi Maran, more telecom giants are likely to come to Chennai.

Are there enough people in the market to meet the requirement of these giants? Yes. But, the issue is availability of talent with English speaking capabilities and expertise in niche skills, say officials of recruitment agencies.

The ability to speak and understand English language is critical for all roles. This is an area of concern among the fresh talent pool in Tamil Nadu. "Students aspiring for jobs in trans-national manufacturing brands should actively pursue their English skills by taking up specific coaching programmes," he said.

Nokia advertised for diagnostics technicians, SMT (surface mount technology) technicians and final assembly/packing area technicians and test technicians.

Fresh graduates or those with a few years of experience are available in the required numbers. However, these multinationals look for niche skills not common in Indian industry, says Balaji.

For example, SMT will involve extensive robotics with limited human interface. Such machines take a printed circuit board at one end and bring out a handset at the other in a couple of minutes. There are few Indian manufacturers using such technology. While there are enough people with the required qualification, exposure to SMT is rare to find, he said.

There is now good potential for diploma engineers to work with some of these multinationals. Around 700 jobs are available for diploma engineers (electronics, communications or electrical), and the requirement could grow at 20 per cent, annually. The salary ranges between Rs 1 lakh and Rs 1.5 lakh a year for diploma engineers, said Balaji.

However, the candidates would require training in soft skills and communication skills. In a majority of institutions located in sub-urban or even heartland Tamil Nadu, the quality of English is very poor, she said.

Whether these diploma holders would choose a technical career as compared to selling/ ITES (information technology-enabled services) is not evident. Quite a few experienced diploma holders, especially in upstream oil businesses, get highly remunerative jobs overseas.

For instance, automobile technicians in West Asia earn between Rs 15,000 and Rs 60,000 a month, she said.

Diploma holders at entry level can attract salaries ranging between Rs 1,500 and Rs 4,500. With experience, their salaries can go up to Rs 10,000. Some of them with good communication/selling skills also choose a career in sales.

About 40 per cent of diploma holders do go the sales route since the salaries would be better than in technical jobs.

Nowadays, diploma holders who possess a few years work experience have also moved up the communication skills grid and obtain positions in ITES companies as well, she said.

Resources - Link Exchange

Theme parks in Chennai

Theme Parks around Chennai

MGM Dizzee World:
M.G.M Dizzee World is situated 36 kms from Chennai and is probably the best theme park in chennai. It is on the scenic East Coast Road, at Muttukadu. M.G.M Dizzee
World is accessible by bus and from various parts of the city.


QueensLand:
Queens Land amusement park was established in 2003. Spread over a large area of 70 acres, it is located on the Chennai - Bangalore Trunk road. The well-planned layout and comfortable ambience attract plenty of visitors. The amusement park has rides for the whole family. The longest cable car is the main attraction here. This cable car covers a distance of 1.5 km in 30 minutes. There are nearly 80 twin compartments.


Little Folks:
Located 46 kms towards Mahabalipuram. A great amusement complex for children. It has a Giant-Piano. Toy Train, Rainbow Fountain, Slide-into-pool, Cartoon show & Paddle-Pool.


Kishkinta:
It is located at 10km from tambaram in chennai. This is a 120-acre theme park with an artificially created waterfall. Shady trees, sunken water holes and the abundant greenery are a real treat to the eyes. One can relax and unwind very easily in such surroundings. Kishkinta is a theme park with specially landscaped hills and lakes. The design philosophy behind this green clad leisure center is simple - new and wholesome family entertainment.


Prime Time:
Located at Annanagar, extravagant indoor amusement park, especially for children packed with bumper car rides, play pens and all sorts of new games.


Dolphin City
Dolphin City & Little Folks are situated on the East Coast (New Mahabalipuram Road) and is 46 km from Chennai - Tamil Nadu. The landmark being 10 km before Mahabalipuram and 4 km after the Crocodile Bank. You can enjoy American Sea Lion performance that is first of its kind in India. The other activities to keep you and your family busy are Under Water View, Leisure Boating, Slide Swimming pool, Open Air Theatre for variety entertainment, Chuck Wagon, Disco Scooter, Tea Cup, Space Ship, Dragon Ride, Chuck Chuck, and Animal Simulator etc. It is open on Weekdays & Holidays - from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. The Multi-Cuisine Restaurant caters to a variety of tastes and the eating outlets stock - Popcorn, Ice Creams, Confectioneries & Soft Drinks. The complex houses shops where you can buy batteries, cameras, gift articles, toys, games, sun glasses, caps, swimwear, etc. Coaches (Bus) can be arranged on request at affordable rates.


Dash-N-Splash
Located 30 kms from Central Station. It is South India's exclusive water park. Go for wave spiral and free fall slides and flumes from height of 12ft to 35ft.
Spread over 21 acres of land located on the banks of the Telugu Ganga Project Canal, in Mevallur Kuppam Village, South India's first ever exclusive water park is spread over three acres of land with beautiful landscape and lots of shaded sitting area.It is another place in Chennai to enjoy a day amidst fun and frolic. Situated 30 kms from Chennai on the Chennai Bangalore highway, just 3 kms before Hyundai Car Factory and 12 kms prior to Rajiv Gandhi Memorial, Sriperambadur, Dash 'N' Splash has some thing to offer to all age groups. Go for the Exciting Wave, Free-Fall, Sprial. The slides park is exclusively for children. It is open from 10 a.m. till dark (365 days) and free bus services on all Sundays. The other highlights of the resort are well-equipped pure vegetarian cafeteria. Separate change rooms with deposit lockers. Souvenior shops selling costumes, toiletries, eatables, etc.


VGP Golden Beach:
30 kms from Chennai. A popular beach resort and amusement park filled with children's games, parks and seaside restaurant.


VGP Golden Beach Resort
Located on the East Coast Road, VGP Golden Beach Resort is perhaps the only Beach Resort within City. A short 20-minute drive from Chennai City, it offers a serene and relaxing atmosphere in today's stress-driven world. A trailblazer in the field of fun, frolic and entertainment, it has a charm of its own with cool breeze and beautiful pathways flanked by shady trees amidst green lawns. Children can have fun at the rides like super trooper, giant wheel, aero-ship, jumping frog, children's merry go round, super jet, break-dance, dragons belly and many more. The Spectacular Go-kart, Dashing Car and Water Chute comprise the premium rides. Regular cultural shows, folk and contemporary dances organized add to the special cultural touch. Special additions for sight seeing such as Jurassic Park and Aquarium offer education with fun. The Rain Forest" restaurant, is a Multi-cuisine Eatery and "The Golden Bar", is the licensed Permit Room. Room Service facilities are available round the clock for In-Room Dining. It has one of the best traditional meals & Tandoori items. Ecstasy Land is an integrated complex offering Banquet and Conferencing facilities, Dance Floor for Discotheques, Stage with open-air seating, Bar and an almost private beach.

Its Raining in Chennai.

There has been a heavy downpour of rain in the last few day. The latest rain in Chennai's catchment has gladdened the city water managers as this has resulted in the much need flow into the reservoirs, though in a modest way. Consequently, the combined storage of the reservoirs catering to the city needs went up by 30 million cubic feet.
The authorities are confident of maintaining the present level of 640 million liters a day(MLD) in the coming months as Krishna water is also expected to be available next month.

So it is anticipated that there would not be any drinking water problem in Chennai for the next 1 year

Chennai police

With the appointment of three new women officers as Deputy Commissioners of Police, the city, now for the first time, has a total of five women DCPs.

The city police, under Commissioner Letika Saran, has two Additional Commissioners, three Joint Commissioners and 12 Deputy Commissioner of Police. .

The three new women officers are Vijayakumari, posted as DCP, Kilpauk, Kamini, DCP, Washermenpet and Lakshmi DCP, T. Nagar.

Recently M. V. Jayagowri was posted as DCP, Anna Nagar. The city traffic wing has a woman DCP Lakshmi.