CAD initiative donates 100 ECG machines in remote areas

January 8, 2019Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

An ECG machine being handed over to a remote Primary Health Centre in Kodagu district.

The PHCs in Guthigar, Bellare and Aranthodu in Sullia taluk can now boast of well-equipped ECG machines thanks to the efforts of like-minded doctors led by Dr Padmanabh Kamath, HoD of Cardiology and professor at KMC, Mangaluru.

Dr Kamath, who started CAD (Cardiology at doorsteps), a crusade against coronary artery disease initiative— a WhatsApp network of over 450 like-minded doctors across eight doctors in Coastal Karnataka and Malnad region, is engaged in screening poor patients for cardiac problems in remote areas for free. The group was set up in February 2018 and has installed 100 ECG machines in the PHCs of interior villages with the help of donors. “When a patient visits with a symptom of a heart attack, an ECG is immediately carried out and the results are shared on WhatsApp. If it’s a heart attack, then the patient is referred to the nearest hospital for treatment,” Kamath told DH.

He said, “We want to instal 250 ECG machines by 2020 and cover three more districts including Hassan and Kasargod. The PHCs in Humcha, Koppa, Muniyala, Shikaripura, Sajipanadu will get ECG machines next week. In fact, one of the pilgrims who suffered a cardiac arrest, supported the CAD initiative to instal ECG machine at Humcha,” Kamath added.

ECG machines are already installed at PHCs in Gonikoppa, Suntikoppa and Siddapura in Kodagu. The CAD initiative wanted to instal it in 15 places in Kodagu. Owing to natural calamities that wreaked havoc in Kodagu district, the initiative saw a setback, he said.

So far, cardiac diagnosis was achieved in more than 1,000 patients and 985 cases of ischaemic heart disease and 345 of unstable angina have been detected. About 124 heart attack patients were picked up and 95 angioplasties have been conducted, said Dr Kamath.

Dr Kamath said 71-year-old Leelavathi, a resident of Sullia and a heart patient, responded to Kamath’s mission of installing ECG machines and donated money from her pension to instal the ECG machine at Guthigaru. Sri Veera Venkatesh Charitable Trust has paid for five ECGs to be installed in village PHCs recently.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> States> Mangaluru / by Naina J A / DH News Service / Mangaluru / June 05th, 2018

Karnataka’s Bapuji Vidyaniketan School charges Rs 7 per day as fee

January 3, 2019Amazing Feats, Educationadmin

The school has 140 children, most of them coming from poor economical background.

Students attend a PT class in Bapuji Vidyaniketan school.

Hubballi :

This school in Hubballi charges Rs 7 per day for LKG and UKG students. The school does not take donation and is run by a retired art teacher. Bapuji Vidyaniketan School in Anand Nagar is successfully running in its third year and the school collects Rs 5 per day for pre-nursery students and Rs 7 per day for LKG and UKG students.

The school has 140 children, most of them coming from poor economical background. The school has all the basic facilities including toilets, play area and CCTVs.

This is the dreamchild of Wallimahammad Dharwad, a retired art teacher from Hubballi who decided to establish a school that does not take donation and whose fee structure is affordable.

“There are nine teachers in the school and the fee collected is used to pay salaries to the teachers. We teach both Kannada and English. The school also gets donations from the local businessmen in Hubballi and Dharwad and many young teachers who come here to teach students for free,” he said.

“When I was studying, my family had difficult times. I wanted to leave studies due to financial issues. Hence, I decided to do something for society and came up with the fee structure. For instance, when I say for UKG the parents have to pay Rs 210 per month, they are exhilarated and ensure that their wards do not leave school,” he said.

He said, “I have seen many families stopping their children from going to school due to high fees. We take Rs 500 at the time of admission and the money is used for the children stationery and other purposes. We also provide free uniform.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Kiran Balannanavar / Express News Service / January 03rd, 2019

Deepika Padukone is now a dosa and a parantha thali!

January 2, 2019Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Deepika posted a photo of the menu at an eatery in Texas which sells dosas named after her and captioned it ‘hungry anyone?’

Bollywood actor Deepika Padukone (File | PTI)

Newly-weds Deepika Padukone and Ranveer Singh briefly interrupted their honeymoon to enjoy a laugh about a Texan restaurant that sells dosas named after the actress.

A fan shared a picture of the menu of Dosa Labs, an eatery from Texas. Deepika later posted a photo of the menu, which says the dosa is “topped with fiery hot ghost chilli and stuffed with our potato mix.” She captioned the post “hungry anyone?”

Ranveer posted it too, saying “I’d eat that!”

Another fan tweeted out to the actress, saying that there is a parantha thali named after her in a restaurant in Pune.

Deepika Padukone

✔@deepikapadukone

Rohit Bhasy@RohitBhasy

Replying to @deepikapadukone

@deepikapadukone you are also a Parantha Thali in Pune

It is not known when the lovebirds will return from their honeymoon, but Deepika would soon start work with Meghna Gulzar’s ‘Chapak’, where she will play the role of acid attack survivor Laxmi Agarwal.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Entertainment> Hindi / by Online Desk / January 02nd, 2019

Iceberg lettuce in drylands of Kalaburagi?

January 1, 2019Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environmentadmin

Raju Teggalli (extreme left), head of Kalaburagi’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra, along with scientists and students inside the shade-net where exotic vegetables are being grown .

Scientists are experimenting to see if foreign crops can thrive in this environment

If agricultural scientists in Kalaburagi succeed in an experiment they are carrying out, farmers of this dry northern district could soon be growing exotic vegetables such as iceberg lettuce and broccoli in their farms.

To help farmers of the backward district get better income, scientists of Kalaburagi’s Krishi Vigyan Kendra (KVK) are experimenting if high-income yielding foreign crop varities can thrive in this environment. In the first phase, they have imported five exotic vegetable seeds — iceberg lettuce, straight lettuce, cherokee lettuce, broccoli and red cabbage — from the Netherlands and planted them on the campus.

“These vegetable seeds can be produced only in cold environments, in areas with less than 20 degrees Celsius temperature. But, they can be grown in Indian conditions during winter. We have planted half of these seeds inside the shade-net and remaining outside. We are giving organic fertilizer and water to both. If there is not much difference between those grown inside and outside, we will recommend the farmers to grow them outside the net so that the shade-net costs too can be saved,” Vasudev Naik, a horticulture scientist, told The Hindu.

The scientists have formed a couple of teams for a survey to assess the marketing potential of the new vegetables.

“Domestically grown cabbages and cauliflowers are sold at around ₹25 a kg or less as compared to ₹80 a kg that red cabbage and broccoli are sold at. Iceberg lettuce is sold at over ₹200 a kg. These are supplied from faraway places to Kalaburagi market in limited quantity,” Akshata Biradar, a student who participated in the market survey, said.

Scientists feel that the experiment could pave way for better utilisation of shade-net and polyhouse farming in the region. “The government is offering subsidies for shade-net, polyhouse and drip-irrigation equipment. But farmers are failing to use them,” Raju Teggalli, a senior scientist and the head of Kalaburagi KVK, said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Kumar Buradikattikalaburagi / December 31st, 2018

Now, Harpanahalli officially part of Ballari district

December 31, 2018Records, Alladmin

People rejoice by bursting crackers and exchanging sweets

After almost two-decades Harpanahalli taluk, which was in Davangere district, has been merged with Ballari district.

The State government issued a notification on December 24 this year effecting the transfer of Harpanahalli taluk back to Ballari district.

People of Harpanahalli rejoiced by bursting crackers and exchanging sweets, as news about the government issuing the notification spread.

Meanwhile, as a follow-up to the government notification, Davangere Deputy Commissioner Bagadi Goutham on Wednesday wrote letters to the Chief Executive Officer of Davangere Zilla Panchayat, the Superintendent of Police and other district-level officers to initiate immediate steps to transfer all files in their respective departments pertaining to Harpahanalli taluk to Ballari district.

Harpahanalli was de-linked from Ballari district in 1997 and merged with the newly carved out Davangere district during the J.H. Patel regime.

After that, people of Harpanahalli, who were eager to be part of their earlier district (Ballari), began mounting pressure on the successive governments to consider their demand. However, it was during the end of the Siddaramaiah government, that too, owing to the relentless efforts and pressures mounted by late M.P. Ravindra, who was the Harpanahalli MLA, that an order merging Harpanahalli with Ballari district was issued.

As a result, Harpanahalli taluk will now be eligible to avail of all the benefits of the Special Status granted under Article 371 (J) to Hyderabad-Karnatak region and also get a share in the allocation of funds under the Hyderabad-Karnatak Region Development Board.

With the inclusion of Harpanahalli in Ballari district on the one hand and the creation of three new taluks on the other, the number of taluks in Ballari district has gone up to 11 from seven.

Another development has been that the State government has proposed to create another Revenue sub-division (third in the district) with Harpanahalli as its headquarters and having jurisdiction over Hadagali and Kottur taluks.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States / by M. Ahiraj / Ballari – December 29th, 2018

Veteran journalist, writer A. Ishwarayya passes away

December 31, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainmentadmin

A. Ishwarayya | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement

The 78-year-old journalist A. Ishwarayya passed away in Udupi on Sunday.

A multifaceted personality, Mr. Ishwarayya entered the journalism field by being part of the editorial team of Udayavani. His columns “Lalitaranga” and “Kalavihara” that appeared in the newspaper’s magazine were popular. It was through these columns that he gave special importance to Yakshagana.

Mr. Ishwarayya was the editor of Tushara magazine. He was a good writer and one among his notable works was his Kannada translation of the 16th volume of encyclopedia on plays that was edited by writer Niranjan. This book came out during the 50th anniversary of Nava karnataka publications.

A music lover, Mr. Ishwarayya started “Ragadhwani” organisation in Udupi that held music concerts in houses every month. More than 60 of his short stories have been publised in Sudha, Kasturi and other Kannada magazines.

Few days ago, a biography on Mr. Ishwarayya’s life “Kalalookada Chintaka – A Ishwarayya” was released in Udupi.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Special Correspondent / December 30th, 2018

American Tulu researcher Peter Claus no more

December 30, 2018Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, All, World Opinionadmin

Peter J Claus interacting with Siri Paddana artiste Kargi Pujarthi. Photo credit: S A Krishnaiah, senior folklorist, Udupi.

American researcher Dr Peter J Claus, who extensively studied Tulu culture and folklore, passed away on Sunday. He was 87.

Dr Claus headed the Department of Anthropology at the California State University.

He had carried out research on Tulunadu from 1967. He had followed the participation method and was well-versed in the use of Tulu and Sanskrit.

Before coming to Dakshina Kannada for research, Dr Claus learnt Kannada through interaction with Prof M B Krishnamurthy and Dr A K Ramanujan. He was also honoured with the Gaurava Prashasti by the Tulu Sahitya Academy in 2004.

He studied the kinship system in the Bunt community and was also attracted to folk art like Paddana and Siri cult.

According to researcher Prof A V Navada, after Dr Claus’ study on kinship among Bunts, he visited the coastal district four to five times and expanded his knowledge of Tulu culture.

Prof Navada and Subhashchandra have translated eight research articles of Dr Claus and published as ‘Tuluva Darshana’. Up to 15 articles of Dr Claus, related to Tulu will be published by Prasaranga of Mangaluru University next month.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Naina J A / DH News Service / Mangaluru – December 30th, 2018

Snazzy, tech-savvy solutions, thanks to Bengaluru students

December 30, 2018Education, Records, All, Science & Technologyadmin

Installing close circuit television cameras might just be a thing of the past.

The device can alert users of unusual activity

Bengaluru :

Installing close circuit television cameras might just be a thing of the past. Imagine getting alerts on your phone for every person — known and unknown — that enters your house. This might soon be a reality, said Roshan Fernandes, Anisha Rodrigues and Sudeepa KB, from Nitte Mahalinga Adyantha Memorial Institute of Technology, who recently presented a paper on facial recognition systems that improvise on the existing ones in the market.

The trio were among the 150 delegates present at the three-day international conference on Information Processing, organised by Bangalore University.According to Fernandes, a face is detected in a live video and the system tries to extract features for facial recognition. “This system also secures homes from theft by instantly detecting unusual activity, as well as allowing users to view the theft details.

The system then transmits the face details over IoT, to be viewed by users on their phone or tablet anywhere. Thus, it can recognise whether he is a known or unknown person,” he added, in his presentation. Users will also be notified when the person comes home. “The proposed work can be useful to the differently-abled as the system includes voice recognition to help and guide them,” read their paper.

Automatic spring cleaning
Chores like sweeping and mopping are droll-worthy tasks for anyone. SWAKSH, an automatic vacuum cleaner, offers a solution for this at `2,000. The device has been developed by Siddharth Srivastava of IIT Kanpur, Ayushi Nigam of Rama University, Kanpur, Monika Arya of PES Institute of Technology, Bengaluru, and Shalini Lamba of Lucknow’s National PG College.

“This version currently uses a simple concept of image depth recognition. It basically uses two cameras to monitor the area under consideration and finds the distance where unclean patches are present,” said Srivastava.

Professor KR Venugopal, vice chancellor, Bangalore University, said, “It is not easy to translate papers into prototypes and get patents for the same. At the every least, this conference, held for the 14th year now provides a platform for brainstorming and so many ideas have been generated.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Suraksha P / Express News Service / December 26th, 2018

Karavali Gaurava award for Hilda Rayappan

December 30, 2018Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Records, Alladmin

The Dakshina Kannada District Karavali Utsava Samiti has chosen social activist Prof Hilda Rayappan for the Karavali Gaurava Prashasti 2018-19.

A press release from Additional Deputy Commissioner Kumar has said that the award will be present to Prof Rayappan in recognition of her contribution in the field of social service, education and women’s empowerment, among others.

Prof Rayappan will be given the award during the valedictory of the Karavali Utsav at Panambur beach on December 30.

Prof Rayappan was a professor at School of Social Work Roshni Nilaya. She is the founder and managing trustee of the Prajna Counselling Centre, which was launched in 1987 and was the first counselling centre in Mangaluru. She has been providing shelter to poor destitute children at Makkala Kuteera and Chinnara Tangudana and has been engaged in rehabilitating child labourers by imparting them education.

Through the Prajna Counselling Centre, Prof Rayappan has been providing short stay home for needy women. The Centre is also running Santwana, a women’s helpline in Mangaluru.

In addition, women self help groups have been started that have been helping women to achieve financial independence. She is the recipient of many honours such as ‘Best Student Award’ on the 125th anniversary of the University College, ‘Social Service Award’ during the Taluk Kannada Sahitya Sammelana 1997, ‘Women Empowerment Award’ by St Agnes College in 2000 and others.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Naina J A / DH News Service / Mangaluru – December 30th, 2018

This constable in Karnataka leads hundreds to donate blood and pledge organs

December 30, 2018Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, Alladmin

The 29-year-old constable has made it his mission to encourage and educate people about organ and blood donation and sign them up for the cause.

Haveri :

As a policeman, it is Karabasappa Manohar Gondi’s duty to save lives. Tackling crime is, however, not the only way the constable tries to achieve it. Gondi is often the first contact point for most people in the area whenever the need for blood donation arises.

The 29-year-old constable, currently attached to Adur Police Station in Hangal taluk of Haveri district, has made it his mission to encourage and educate people about organ and blood donation, and sign them up for the cause.

For the last five years, he has been spreading awareness about the subject on every possible occasion in the area, and has led over 670 villagers in Hangal taluk to pledge their eyes while 11 people, including women, have pledged to donate their bodies. His mobile number is now widely in circulation, and he is often the first person called up by people during a medical emergency.

Gondi, who is now a household name in his native village of Akkialur of Hangal taluk and the surrounding region due to his zeal to save lives, has created a group of about 1,500 like-minded people who are ready to donate blood at any time. His efforts have led to a number of people becoming regular donors, such as Akkialur Virkat Mutt pontiff Shivabasav Swamiji, who donated blood for the fifth time on December 6, and Tanaji Gorphade of Adur village, who has donated blood 30 times so far.

Gondi’s wife and his three-and-a-half-year-old son, Hoysala, have also pledged their eyes and other organs.

All the people who have pledged their eyes are enrolled for the cause with M M Joshi Eye Hospital in Hubballi. His efforts have led to a restoration of eyesight in nine persons who suffered from corneal defect in Hubballi and Sirsi.

Agricultural labour Fakkeriappa Talwar of Gejjihalli village in Hangal Taluk, who injured his right eye while he was cutting maize crop, cannot thank him enough. “I’m a poor man and did not have the means to pay Rs 40,000 for an eye transplant. Hence I approached Karabasappa and got my eye operated upon. I am thankful to Karabasappa for the favour,” says Talwar, who underwent an eye transplant in August this year at Shankar Eye Hospital, Shivamogga.

Gondi’s commitment to the cause took roots in his mind when he faced a sight problem in childhood. He underwent laser eye surgery in 2009 before joining the police department. “I always thought of doing something for the society in terms of eye care and eye donation,” says Gondi. “After I joined the police force, I started organising eye camps in my free time and convinced people to sign up for donations.”
Gondi organised the first eye check-up camp and donation drive at Akkialur five years ago.

He now holds an eye camp for villagers on the last Sunday of every month. He also visits schools to make children aware of the significance of blood and organ donation. In the last few years, he has also started using the social media to promote the cause. Gondi has Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp and Instagram accounts on which he posts updates about eye camps, etc.

“In the beginning, it was not easy to persuade people in small towns and villages about donating their eyes. I had to convince them slowly before villagers started signing up,” says Gondi, who is a graduate and a diploma holder in education. He often takes the help of mythological stories to dispel superstitions and taboos from people’s minds, narrating to them, for instance, how Bedara Kannappa donated both his eyes to Lord Shiva.

“Initially it was very difficult to influence them, and they even made fun. But I did not lose hope,” he says. “I ask people to pledge their eyes on occasions such as marriages, anniversaries and birthdays. This will send a positive message in the society,” he adds.

Gondi’s mobile phone numbers — 8861118881 or 8088318888 — are also used by people during a medical emergency.

“Gondi has a large network of friends who have enrolled themselves for blood donation. The group comprises about 1,800 blood donors in eight districts of Karnataka. Whenever any patient requires blood, we call Gondi and we are never disappointed,” Shankar, a villager from Adur, says.

Inspiring Act

All the members of Gondi’s family have pledged their bodies to Haveri Sindagi Shantveereshwara Ayurveda Medical College. Inspired by their act, several families from Akkialur, Haveri and Shiggavi have also come forward to sign up for organ donation at the college. Mahantesh Salavatagi and Parvatewwa Shankrappa Bellad, both residents of Akkialur village, say, “We have pledged to donate our eyes willingly. No one should suffer from lack
of vision.”

Green Thumb

Karabasappa Gondi is also passionate about environment conservation. He has so far planted 16 trees at his house in Akkialur village in memory of his ancestors.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Gangadhar Hugar / Express News Service / December 30th, 2018

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