The Videsh Sanchar Nigam Ltd (VSNL) has announced free internet accounts for contributors to the National Defence Fund. A 25-hour internet account will be offered free for a contribution of Rs 5,000 and a 50-hour account for a contribution of Rs 10,000. The accounts will be valid for one year. To avail of the promotional offer, all contributions to the National Defence Fund need to be routed through VSNL. The remittances can be made by demand draft payable at New Delhi, drawn in favour of National Defence Fund and forwarded to the deputy general manager (marketing), VSNL, 12th floor, Videsh Sanchar Bhavan, M G Road, Fort, Mumbai-1. The contributions should be accompanied by the name and address of the applicant.

The board of VSNL has separately approved a contribution of Rs one crore to the National Defence Fund.

Fellowships for women graduates

The International Federation of University Women, Geneva, has announced its fellowships and grants competitionfor the 2000/2001 academic year. The grants and fellowships are only open to women graduates and are intended to help finance short graduate and post-graduate study, research and training projects.

Award for planetarium founder n PROFESSOR Arvind Bhatnagar, former director of the Nehru Planetarium and the Udaipur Solar Observatory, has been awarded the Manubhai Mehta Award for his contribution to advance astronomy and popularisation of science in India.

MTNL directory

Mahanagar Telephone Nigam Limited (MTNL) will soon issue a new edition of the printed telephone directory. MTNL has made extensive arrangements for varifying their own entries against any discrepancies. Amendment forms for the same is available at all Quick Customer Service Centres located at all Exchanges and at the Area General manager offices as well as MTNL office at Lower Parel.