Category Archives: Records, All

MMC 1964 batch Alumni meet on Dec. 12′

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All

Mysuru :

Fifty years after graduating from the Mysore Medical College (MMC), the 1964 batch of the institution will be holding its alumni meet ‘Sammilana’ at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Auditorium, JK Grounds on Dec. 12.

Addressing press persons at Pathrakarthara Bhavan, Dr. D.Thimmaiah, Convenor of the Meet, said that the event would be inaugurated by former Vice-Chancellor of Mysore University Prof. Dejagow at 10.30 am.

He stated that around 200 students had passed out from the College in 1964. While 30-40 of them had passed away, the rest had settled in various countries across the world. “We have contacted majority of our batch-mates and also trying to contact the rest,” he added.

The event will also feature a Guruvandana programme, during which the organisers will felicitate 10 teachers who had taught them during their days in the College. Dr. K.G. Das, Dr. Jeevendra Kumar, Dr. B. Mariappa, Dr. S. Ramaswamy, Dr. Y. B. Hegde, Dr. C.B. Murthy, Dr. Lakshmibai, Dr. C.D. Srinivas Murthy, Dr. Kannan and Dr. Latif will be felicitated on the occasion.

The organisers will felicitate Prof. Dejagow, who served as the VC of University of Mysore during 1964 when MMC was affiliated to the University. The event will also feature felicitation to 99-year-old Dr. Chandrashekar.

The event will be presided by Dr. B. Krishnamurthy, Dean and Director, MMC &RI. Dr. B.G. Sagar, Medical Superintendent, K.R. Hospital and Dr. Radhamani, Medical Superintendent, Cheluvamba Hospital will be the chief guests.

Alumni at Mahajana

SBRR Mahajana First Grade College, Jayalakshmipuram, has organised its Alumni Association Annual Meet – 2014 at the College Quadrangle on Dec. 14 from 2 pm onwards, according to a press release from the college Principal.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News /  Thursday , December 11th, 2014

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Guruvandana marks Alumni meet of MMC 1964 batch

The 1964 batch of Mysore Medical College felicitated its teachers and current administrators during its alumni meet held at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Auditorium at JK Grounds in city this morning. Seen in the picture are (sitting) K.R. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. B.G. Sagar, MMC&RI Dean and Director B. Krishnamurthy, Dr. C.B. Murthy, University of Mysore former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Dejagow, Dr. C.D. Srinivas Murthy, Cheluvamba Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Radhamani and others along with the alumni of MMC, who are seen standing behind the guests.
The 1964 batch of Mysore Medical College felicitated its teachers and current administrators during its alumni meet held at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Auditorium at JK Grounds in city this morning. Seen in the picture are (sitting) K.R. Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. B.G. Sagar, MMC&RI Dean and Director B. Krishnamurthy, Dr. C.B. Murthy, University of Mysore former Vice-Chancellor Dr. Dejagow, Dr. C.D. Srinivas Murthy, Cheluvamba Hospital Medical Superintendent Dr. Radhamani and others along with the alumni of MMC, who are seen standing behind the guests.

Mysuru:

Fifty years after graduating from the Mysore Medical College (MMC), the 1964 batch of the institution held its alumni meet ‘Sammilana’ at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Auditorium at JK Grounds in city this morning.

Around 40 members of the batch participated in the event inaugurated by former Vice- Chancellor of Mysore University Dr. Dejagow.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr. Dejagow advised the doctors not to discriminate while treating patients. “People consider doctors as god as they can cure many diseases and give a new lease of life to the patients. It is important for a doctor to have a secular frame of mind,” he added.

Dejagow added that he had thought about starting Psychology Unit at the Medical College to help medical students and doctors understand human psychology as many diseases can be cured by talking to the patients.

He further said that his idea of starting an AYUSH Research Centre at the time when he was the Vice-Chancellor could not be implemented for various reasons and added that his recommendation for starting medical colleges at all districts of the State was also not considered by the then Chief Minister.

However, he expressed his happiness over the State Government considering starting medical colleges at all districts.

The organisers of the meet also held a Guruvandana programme during which they felicitated Dr. S. Ramaswamy, Dr. Y. B. Hegde, Dr. C.B. Murthy, Dr. Abdul Latif and Dr. C.D. Srinivas Murthy who taught them while they were medical students at the then Mysore Medical College (MMC). Dr. Dejagow was also felicitated.

The event was presided by Dr. B. Krishnamurthy, Dean and Director, MMC&RI. Dr. B.G. Sagar, Medical Superintendent, KR Hospital and Dr. Radhamani, Medical Superintendent, Cheluvamba Hospital were the chief guests. Convenors of the alumni meet Dr. D. Thimmaiah and Dr. P.H. Raghavendra Shetty were present on the occasion.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News /  Friday , December 12th, 2014

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Hundreds of  MMC Alumni attend MAA UTSAV – 2014

Dr. S. Chandrashekar Shetty, former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, is seen addressing the gathering at MAA Utsav in city this morning.
Dr. S. Chandrashekar Shetty, former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences, is seen addressing the gathering at MAA Utsav in city this morning.

Mysuru :

As part of the two-day Mysore Medical College Alumni Association (MAA) Utsav-2014, the scientific session featuring lectures and discussion on various medical topics commenced this morning at MMC&RI Platinum Jubilee Hall in JK Grounds here.

The session was inaugurated by Dr. S. Chandrashekar Shetty, former Vice-Chancellor, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences. Dr. Mohammed Ghouse Shariff, MAA President presided. Dr. M.A. Shekhar, Chairman, Scientific Committee, Dr. H.G. Manjunath, Co-Chairman and members of MAA were present on the occasion.

Senior Physician Dr. C.D. Sreenivasamurthy spoke on MAA oration, Orthopaedic Surgeon Dr. Balakrishnegowda spoke on total knee replacement and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Anand Subramanyam spoke on recent trends in Cardiac surgeries.

About 800 Alumni of MMC&RI are attending the two-day event.

The evening session will be inaugurated by Dr. T. Satishchandra, Director, NIMHANS, Bangalore.

City Police Commissioner Dr. M.A. Saleem and former MLC D. Madegowda will be the chief guests.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News /  Saturday , December 13th, 2014

Kota Doria saris fascinate young women in Chennai

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All

Chennai :

Once, these saris used to be woven by master craftsmen in Mysore. In the 17th century, Maharao Kishore Singh, a Mughal general campaigning for emperor Aurangzeb, took back with him some of these master weavers to reproduce these handcrafted, light and colourful saris in his town of Kota in Rajasthan. Over time, these saris came to be known as Kota Doria saris and the town itself became famous for this craftsmanship.

Centuries later, the Chennai youngster, so used to the heavier silk saris of the south, is taking a liking to these light saris. Catering to this demand, Noor Mohammed, 32, whose family has more than a hundred years of history in weaving Doria sarees, is bringing his wares to the city for the fourth time.

Noor Mohammed, who hails from Kaithoon village in Kota, says, where the weavers from Mysore came to between 1684 and 1695.

“This is the sole occupation of our village and we have more than 3,000 loom pits.”

Kaithoon is the biggest producer of Kota Doria in Kota. Mohammed primarily exhibits in Hyderabad, Delhi and Mumbai.

“A few years ago, our villagers were mazdooris (labourers) for businessmen who sold our sarees. Then, every family had an income of only Rs 4,500 a month. So we approached chief minister Vasundhara Raje and the government suggested that we weave and sell our own sarees. That’s when we formed our own weaving society, which has more than a hundred women. Now, the entire family weaves together.”

Mohammed says the family incomes have doubled now.

Kota Doria (Doria means thread) is made of cotton and silk threads in different combinations in warp and weft (vertical and horizontal weaving). The weaving produces square check patterns on the fabric known as ‘khat’. The skilfully made khat becomes transparent which is a unique characteristic of this fabric. An authentic Kota Doria is soft to touch with very little starch. Since the fabric is woven by hand on traditional pit looms, the edges on the side are slightly uneven.

“Contrary to the taste of south Indians, there is a separate crowd- mostly youngsters who go in for Kota because of its lightness,” says city based textile businessman C Balamurugan. “It weighs not more than a dupatta and it is particularly comfortable during summer.”

The exhibition will begin on December 20th at The Palace, T-23A, 7th Avenue, GOCHS Colony, Besant Nagar.

For details call 9840012523.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Chennai / TNN / December 16th, 2014

ZCCK marks its 100th organ donation

Records, All, Science & Technology

Four donations on December 12 and 13 saved the lives of 16 patients

There is a huge potential for cadaveric organ donations in Bangalore and organ donations are slowly catching up in the city. The Zonal Coordination Committee of Karnataka (ZCCK) for Transplantation, the nodal agency to facilitate organ transplantation in the State, has coordinated 100 donations so far since its inception in 2007.

Four of these donations were on December 12 and 13, wherein vital organs from donors helped save the lives of 16 others.

According to ZCCK authorities, ten kidneys, five livers, one heart and three pairs of corneas were harvested and transplanted in 16 patients registered with ZCCK.

Three pairs of corneas were donated to different eye banks in Bangalore. Although ZCCK has been able to facilitate 100 multi-organ donations so far, cadaveric organ donation programme has not picked up at a fast pace because of delay in certifying brain deaths by hospitals.

Kidney transplants

Of the 1,500 persons registered with the ZCCK for organ transplants, 1,300 are waiting for kidney transplants and 209 for liver transplants.

The number could be more as not all patients waiting for organ transplants may have registered with the ZCCK.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – December 16th, 2014

Winning matters

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Partha Varanashi from Puttur becomes first Austswim presenter, aims to boost standards

Partha02BF13dec2014

Partha Varanashi, a 29-year-old from the state, has become India’s first Austswim presenter for swimming and water safety.

With this accreditation under his belt, Partha can coach swimmers in India, instead of a representative from Australia visiting the country. This achievement is part of an initiative by former Indian Olympian Hakimuddin Shabbir Habibulla to improve swimming training standards .

Under the programme Winning Matters, Austwim, Australia’s national organisation for the teaching of swimming and water safety provided professional and systematic training to swimming teachers from across India.

Ceri Weeks, a representative from Austswim, conducted the courses in Mumbai, Bengaluru and Mangaluru.

“With Austswim making its presence felt in India, swimming training is expected to get a whole new dimension. Training is going to be holistic and systematic with a strong foundation. The curriculum is vast, which includes child psychology, behaviour patterns and safety and candidates have to under go online tests. There is a 200page manual and there is an option to interact online,” said Partha, who has received a soft copy of the accreditation and will travel to Australia for the actual presentation.

Partha who trains about 40 budding competitive swimmers at the Balavana swimming pool in Puttur and who was responsible to teach 900 students of a swim school in South Australia before returning to India two years ago, said this was just the first lap.

“Since I worked in Australia, I know the standards. The journey has just begun. In India, the focus is only on competitions, while Austswim focuses on technique. The change will not happen overnight. It may take years like it did in Australia, but I am confident that Austswim will bring in changes in swimming standards of India,” he said.

Partha was the Mangalore University’s champion swimmer for three years (20032005). He was also a threetime national Indian swimming finalist, South Australian Masters Swimming record holder (2009) and has over ten gold medals won in Aussie Masters, SA event in the year 2009 and 2010 and coached and trained over 900 swimmers in Australia.

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> Sport> Others / by Deepthi Sanjiv, Bangalore Mirror Bureau / November 26th, 2014

Setting Aussie standards in Mangalore pools

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
While pursuing a Masters degree in Adelaide, Partha won over 10 gold medals in Aussie Masters
While pursuing a Masters degree in Adelaide, Partha won over 10 gold medals in Aussie Masters

A 28-year-old who resigned from an organisation promoting swimming in Australia to join his family business near Mangalore is trying to raise standards in the locality.

Partha Varanashi is an accomplished swimmer. He was the Mangalore University champion from 2003 to 2005 and a three-time finalist in national swimming contests. While pursuing a masters degree in plant biotechnology at the University of Adelaide, he became South Australian Masters Swimming record holder in 2009 besides winning over 10 gold medals in Aussie Masters.

Working as the swimming coaching coordinator at State Swim, an organisation promoting swimming in South Australia, he went on to coach over 900 swimmers in Australia.
In June, 2012, he returned to India to join his parents’ bio-technology venture — Varanashi Farms — that is into production of organic manure in Adyanadka, Bantwal taluk, about 60 kilometres from Mangalore.

 
As he was winding up in Australia, Paul Mason, owner of State Swim, advised him to start a swimming pool or an academy in India. Inspired by these words, Partha set up the Varanashi Swimming Academy. He says, “In India, a swimming pool is seen as a white elephant. Hence I did not have to put in much effort when I decided to take Balavana Swimming Pool in Parladka, Puttur on lease.” But Partha was not satisfied running the academy. He dreams of taking Indians up to Australian swimming standards.

 
Towards this end, he approached eight schools in Puttur and Vittal with a proposal to coach their students. Vivekananda School in Puttur showed interest in his dream and has now decided to introduce swimming classes from this academic year.

 
Partha says, “Students from Std V to IX will have one swimming class a week from June-July. Every student will get 30 classes a year. We are expecting at least 1,000 students to participate.”

source: http://www.bangaloremirror.com / Bangalore Mirror / Home> News> State / May 12th, 2013

India’s Asha Bhat wins ‘Miss Supranational 2014’ title

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinion
Asha Bhat, after being crowned in Warsaw, Poland.
Asha Bhat, after being crowned in Warsaw, Poland.

India’s Asha Bhat has won the beauty pageant  ‘Miss Supranational 2014’, becoming the first Indian to receive the title.

Asha competed with contestants from 70 countries at the event held in Warsaw, Poland last night. Looking dazzling in a beautiful Gavin Miguel gown, Asha was crowned by the outgoing Miss Supranational, Mutya Datul from Philippines.

“I am ecstatic. It’s an unbelievable feeling and I couldn’t feel more proud. I am happy to have won this title for my country. I am extremely thankful to the Miss India Organization for giving me this wonderful opportunity to prove myself. Now, I am just waiting to come back to my country and meet my family and friends who supported me throughout my journey,” Asha said after her win.

She will be also rewarded with USD 25000.

Earlier in the competition, Asha won the title of ‘Miss Talent’ by giving a sizzling Bollywood  fusion performance, choreographed by Khush Numa Daruvalla on songs like ‘Kajrare’, ‘Yaar Na Mila’ and ‘Dhol Baaje’.
Asha was also seen competing for various sub-titles like Best National Costume, Miss Best Body, Miss Fashion Show, among others.

source: http://www.dnaindia.com / DNA / Home> News> World / Agency:PTI,  Place:New Delhi / Saturday – December 06th, 2014

Asha Bhat felicitated

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All
Asha Bhat with her parents at the felicitation function in Bhadravati on Sunday. ;— Photo: VAIDYA
Asha Bhat with her parents at the felicitation function in Bhadravati on Sunday. ;— Photo: VAIDYA

Asha Bhat, the second runner-up at the finals of the Miss Diva Universe-2014, who proved that success in beauty pageants is not the hegemony of those born and brought up in metropolitan cititis, had been to her hometown Bhadravati on Sunday.

Representatives of various organisations had organised a programme to felicitate Ms. Bhat at the Nayana Convention Hall in Bhadravati.

Interacting with presspersons on the occasion, she said that with hard work and commitment, even girls from rural areas and mofussil centres could also succeed in beauty competitions.

Ms. Bhat is the daughter of Subrahmanya Bhat and Shyamala Bhat, who run a clinical laboratory at Bhadravati. She studied up to 10th standard at St. Charles School here and pursued her Pre-University Course at Alva’s College, Moodbidri. She is pursuing seventh semester of BE at R.V. College in Bangalore at present.

Ms. Bhat, who had enrolled for National Cadet Corps while studying PUC, was selected to participate in the Republic Day parade. She was also a member of the NCC delegation from SAARC nations that visited Sri Lanka. “The stint with NCC instilled confidence in me to face new challenges,” she said.

According to Ms. Bhatm, preparing for beauty pageants was a rigorous exercise. Balanced diet and regular fitness sessions were part of the peparations. There would be training sessions on mannerisms, etiquette and communication skills. “While in NCC, I used to enjoy participating in parades. The catwalk on ramp is all together a different experience. Initially, I experienced pain with high-heeled foot wears. It is essential to endure pain to taste success,” she said.

Ms. Bhat is proud of her traditional middle-class

background. “There is a wrong notion prevailing among a section of society that beauty pageants is all about glamour. My parents used to tell that emphasis should not be given for external appearance, but to keep the heart and soul unpolluted. Beautiful person is one who is compassionate and has firm belief in the path of righteousness,” she said.

Ms. Bhat has been selected to represent India in Miss Supranational 2014 competition to be held in Poland. No Indian has won the crown at Miss Supranational event so far. My immediate aim is to emerge victorious in the event and bring laurels to my nation,” she said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Veerendra P.M. / Shimoga – October 27th, 2014

Completing a starry two decades

Records, All, Sports

The Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy is 20 years old, and has a lot to remember

urning dreams to realityPrakash Padukone with Anup Sridhar and Vimal Kumarphoto: murali kumar k.
urning dreams to realityPrakash Padukone with Anup Sridhar and Vimal Kumarphoto: murali kumar k.

The who’s who of Indian badminton — past and present — assembled at a city hotel a few days ago to celebrate the Prakash Padukone Badminton Academy’s 20th anniversary. Dronacharya awardee and 2001 All-England champion P. Gopichand, nine-time national champion Aparna Popat, Olympian Vimal Kumar, Asian Championship bronze medallist Ashwini Ponnappa and many others spoke about their association with the PPBA, which was initially set up at the Canara Union courts (Malleswaram) before moving to the Karnataka Badminton Association premises.

The academy, founded by Padukone, Vimal and Vivek Kumar was launched to give young Indian talent the best chance to reach their true potential. The initiative has been an undeniable success, with the PPBA producing several international and national champions. The thoroughly enjoyable occasion, with former India international and PPBA product Vijay Lancy excelling in his role as the master of ceremonies, was also graced by the presence of former India leg-spinner Anil Kumble, veteran athletics coach V.R. Beedu (he has also provided fitness training to many of the PPBA stars) and ace archers Deepika Kumari and Jayanta Talukdar.

Plain-talker Prakash Padukone:

Aparna (Popat) won the silver medal in World junior championship in 1996, but it seems like just yesterday. There is an upswing in Indian badminton now, and the seeds were laid with the founding of the PPBA in 1994. When BPL came forward to sponsor us, we became the first privately-funded badminton academy in the world. Before that, the facilities that most players take for granted now were not present. When some of the current players complain about not having the best of facilities, my mind recalls the 1974 national camp at New Delhi.

We did not have beds or water. The toilets were filthy, and we had to make our own food. All this, however, did not bother us. We went on to win the men’s team event bronze medal at the 1974 Tehran Asian Games. Now, there seems to be all sorts of complaints about lack of sponsorship, support, grants and other things. Players need to realise that success lies in his/her own hands. Everyone needs to accept what is given to them, and just carry on. Players have to find a way to succeed; they must use their energy to win matches.

An emotional Vimal Kumar :

Have we really completed 20 years? I just can’t believe it; my elder daughter was born in 1994. In the early 1990s, Vivek and I wanted to start a badminton academy, so we met Padukone, who was then the Chairman of the Karnataka State Sports Council. Padukone told us that he had the same idea, and asked: ‘May I join you?’ The first task was to find a sponsor. We had made a project report and I took it with me wherever I took part in tournaments.

I once travelled to Chennai to play a tournament, when a close friend introduced me to Vinay Kamath (a senior journalist at The Hindu Business Line). Kamath had arranged for an interview with Rajeev Chandrasekhar (BPL Mobile founder) and Ajit Nambiar (BPL Chairman), and he agreed to take me with him. I met Chandrasekhar and Nambiar with the project reports, and we got our first sponsor. BPL gave us everything we needed, from funds to infrastructure. I must thank Kamath for facilitating this association.

I am also grateful to our current sponsor, Tata Capital, for their tremendous contribution.

An appreciative Anil Kumble:

Growing up, Padukone was my hero. I looked up to him as an iconic Indian who had achieved so much, at a time when success in badminton was unimaginable.

He was the one who showed all of us that we could dream big. And now, with the PPBA, he has passed on this confidence to his wards. To sustain an academy of this size for 20 years is no joke. I was told that 90 per cent of Indian badminton players have been produced by the PPBA, which is a tremendous achievement.

A reverential P. Gopichand:

When I began playing badminton at Hyderabad, it did not boast of much infrastructure. To become the State champion was the maximum reward that you could expect. I can recall that leading into the 1992 National championship, we played only football, because we did not have shuttles to practice with. When I moved to the PPBA, all this changed. The academy gave us funding, and provided courts, racquets and shuttles. I remember those long and tiring practice sessions with Padukone. We dreaded those sessions, but we also knew that we were learning from the master.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / December 08th, 2014

Karanji Park gets Orchidarium

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, Travel

Wildlife photo expo inaugurated; Great Indian Rhinos released for public viewing at Zoo

Mysuru :

Adding to the existing attractions at Karanji Lake Nature Park, an Orchidarium with 98 Orchid plants of various varieties was inaugurated by Rehana Banu, Chairperson, Zoo Authority of Karnataka (ZAK), at the Park premises on Lalitha Mahal Road in city this morning.

RehanaBanuMPOs10dec20134

Orchidarium is an indoor enclosure for keeping and cultivating plants and observing them under natural conditions, especially for the cultivation of various types of Orchids.

Orchidarium is an area that provides the desired environmental conditions for different varieties of Orchids grown abundantly for cultivation and conservation of Orchids both endangered and otherwise.

It is provided with optimum lighting conditions for the plants while protecting them from direct and harsh sunlight. The structure is covered with mesh with a roof to protect the plants from direct sunlight.

Prior to the inauguration of the Orchidarium, the Wildlife Photography exhibition was inaugurated at the Zoo Library by MLA M.K. Somashekar.

The expo, which is being held in two categories like Zoo Animals and Wildlife Photography has a total of 220 pictures clicked by both amateur and professional photographers.

In the Zoo Animals category, pictures of Hippo and its baby, playful bear cubs, tiger and its cubs playing and other pictures of Zoo animals are on display.

In the Wildlife Photography category, prize winning photos of World Wildlife Day contest clicked by photographers S.R. Madhusudhan, G.S. Ravishankar, M.K. Sapthagirish and others has been put on display.

A pair of Great Indian Rhinos, three-year-old Virat and one-year-old Bablee, brought to Mysuru Zoo from Patna’s Sanjay Gandhi Biological Park about two months ago, were released for public viewing by Mayor R. Lingappa and MLA M.K. Somashekar at an enclosure made for them at the Zoo premises.

Zoo Executive Director B.P. Ravi, Manager Shivanna, Zoo Veterinarian Dr. Suresh, RFO Girish and others were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News  /  Thursday , December 04th, 2014

Karnataka citizens can now access over 4,000 services on their smartphones

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, Science & Technology
President Pranab Mukharjee, Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and Governor of Karnataka Vajbhai R. Vala at the launch of the Unified Mobile Governance Platform for citizens "Karnataka MobileOne" in Bengaluru on Monday. Photo: G.R.N. Somashekar.
President Pranab Mukharjee, Chief Minister of Karnataka Siddaramaiah and Governor of Karnataka Vajbhai R. Vala at the launch of the Unified Mobile Governance Platform for citizens “Karnataka MobileOne” in Bengaluru on Monday. Photo: G.R.N. Somashekar.

The country’s and the world’s largest multi-mode mobile governance platform – Mobile One – will offer 4,000 services. A unified mobile platform will enable services to citizens from both the government and private sector.

President Pranab Mukherjee will launch the initiative at BIEC in the presence of Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and Governor Vajubhai Vala.

These anytime, anywhere, anyhow services will be available round the clock throughout the year at any location in the state on any mobile device.

Through this initiative citizens can now pay utility bills, property tax, book bus and railway tickets, file income tax returns, m-passport, driving licenses and many other activities with their smartphones. Over 4000 services including G2C, B2C and G2B services can be availed through this mobile governance initiative.

Citizens can even take a simple picture of road potholes or street lights and send it automatically to the concerned officials for redressal.

This initiative named as “ICARE”, is one of a kind government-citizen engagement model.

The app is available for download on android and iOS platforms and all major mobile service providers such as Airtel, BSNL, Vodafone, Aircel, Idea, Reliance among others. Citizens can access services through this platform by dialling unique 3-digit number 161.

The Karnataka ‘Mobile One’ will integrate digital media and advertising going forward to enable it to be a self-sustaining model for some select services via advertising revenue, user fees and subscription models. Payments through a variety of modes including debit, credit cards, online wallet, PayGov are enabled.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Nagesh Prabhu / Bengaluru – December 08th, 2014