Loco Pilot in Bengaluru digs deep into his pockets, feeds hungry amid lockdown

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Cooking begins here at 9 am and by 12.30 pm, the packets are ready for distribution.

Ravi and his family prepares food for the hungry. (Photo| EPS)
Ravi and his family prepares food for the hungry. (Photo| EPS)

Bengaluru :

Upset over witnessing the rise of starving people around him following the nationwide lockdown, a loco-pilot and his friend decided to pool in their own resources to help others in whatever way they could. Loco pilot B Ravi and S Somashekhar have been cooking and distributing an average of 120 food packets to the needy for the last five days and plan to continue doing so as long as they can sustain it.

Ravi, with 20 years of experience as an express driver, was choked with emotion when narrating his experience to The New Indian Express on Wednesday. “Public are overwhelmed with gratitude and bless us. I cannot put into words how overwhelmed with emotion I am personally to be able to help people like this,” he said.

His wife, Anu Surya, a homemaker, and daughters Deepika and Keerthana are helping out in whatever way they can in their house in BEML Layout, Basaveshvaranagar. “We carried out the distribution of 120 packets of tomato rice on Ring Road on Tuesday afternoon to passersby who were in need. On Wednesday afternoon, we made 130 vegetable rice packets and distributed them at on the same road as well as at a slum in Kamakshipalaya,” Ravi said.

When asked what pushed him to take the step, the loco pilot said that the unprecedented situation faced by the world due to the coronavirus was the main motivation.

It costs nearly Rs 3,000 a day to feed the poor. “Somashekhar, my friend who works in the private sector and I are managing the cost as of now by pooling in from our pockets. We began doing it on April 7 and plan to continue until we are able to sustain it. Neighbours have now started chipping in with rice, vegetables and other essentials to help us out.  They are also now helping us in cutting vegetables and taking turns in doing the cooking. Two other friends Nagaraj and T Swami are also helping out,” he added.

Cooking begins here at 9 am and by 12.30 pm, the packets are ready for distribution.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by S. Lalitha / Express News Service / April 12th, 2020

Veteran writer Chandrakanth Kusnoor passes away in Belagavi

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Chandrakanth Kusnoor. | Photo Credit: P.K. Badiger
Chandrakanth Kusnoor. | Photo Credit: P.K. Badiger

Veteran writer and translator Chandrakanth Kusnoor died of age-related illnesses in Belagavi on Saturday night. He was 90. His last rites were conducted in the early hours of Sunday.

A multi-faceted personality, he earned fame as a writer, translator, novelist, poet, playwright, painter, art critic, and institution builder. He was among the few artistes to have won awards from the Karnataka Nataka Academy, Karnataka Lalitha Kala Academy, and Karnataka Sahitya Academy.

A polyglot, he worked as a cross-translator between Kannada, Marathi, Hindi, and Urdu. His translations of the works of U.R. Ananthamurthy and Srikrishna Alanahalli into Hindi were well-received.

He is hailed by literary historians as the first person to introduce the Haiku format of poetry into Kannada.

He was also among the pioneering abstract writers in Kannada. His plays such as Dindi, Vidushaka, Ratto Ratto Rayara Magale, and Ani Bantu Ondu Ani were widely performed. His biographical novel Gohar Jan chronicles the growth of professional theatre music tradition.

He was also an abstract painter and had converted his home in Channamma Nagar into a mini-art gallery. He continued to paint till the very end, said artist Balu Sadalage. He hailed from Kalaburagi, where he worked as a college professor for some years. He settled in Belagavi after his retirement as the Deputy Director of Kannada and Culture.

Along with friends, he founded the Ranga Madhyama in Kalaburagi and the Gulmohar Belgaum Arts Group in Belagavi.

The State government honoured him with the Karnataka Rajyotsava award.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – April 19th, 2020

‘Sahaya Setuve’ Web app launched

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The BBMP on Tuesday launched the ‘Sahaya Setuve’ Web application, a one-stop platform that will allow citizens to register as volunteers in the fight against COVID-19 and also connect with NGOs.

It can be downloaded as an app on phones or accessed on desktops. NGOs can register through the web-based portal and add their respective inventory donation form including items, number of units, and area.

Those organisations willing to donate goods to the BBMP will be given delivery route passes and the items can be deposited at a designated collection centre. The civic body also aims to use the platform to list its requirements.

Volunteers also can register for various activities that will be employed by the BBMP based on demand and need. Even doctors can register for consultations. Their location and other basic information will be displayed on the app. A BBMP official said, “The platform also acts as an efficient inventory management solution to upload and update requirements, assign and track activities.”

Speaking after the launch, Revenue Minister R. Ashok said that the initiative was timely and would help avoid duplication of work. “Though various NGOs and individuals are tirelessly working to feed and reach out to the needy, many times they end up reaching the same set of people. This can be avoided now,” he said.

All the data will be fed into a portal which also provides a dashboard view to the War Room officials.

The app can be accessed on 

https://play.google .com/store/apps/ details?id=in.bbmpgov. covid.er or http://bengaluru cares.bbmpgov.in

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Staff Reporter / Bengaluru – April 15th, 2020

Dental technician makes masks to address shortage

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To address the shortage of mask to doctors and those working on the frontline in health services, a dental technician has developed a transparent face shield.

PankajBF18apr2020

Pankaj Sharma has manufactured around 500 pieces of face shields for doctors who are need of personal protective equipment to reduce risk of exposure and limit the spread of COVID 19, while treating patients.

Speaking to The Hindu on Friday, he said that in the last couple of days, he had distributed the masks to the doctors in many private hospitals in the city and at the taluk hospital in Chincholi.

A couple of doctors working at the ESI isolation ward and many others from private hospitals had approached him for masks. Mr. Sharma has used thick transparent sheet, straws and threads for making the mask. His aim was to develop a mask that can be assembled easily using supplies from the stationary shop and comfortable to wear.

Mr. Sharma and his family have prepared around 500 masks within a week.

“It’s truly a team effort, we are trying to produce as many face shields as possible,” My family members have joined hands for the noble cause,” he said.

He asked doctors to feel free to contact him on 9916567777 to get a mask for free.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Karnataka / by Praveen Para / Kalaburagi – April 18th, 2020

COVID-19: BEL develops wrist, chest bands for AIIMS to monitor people under quarantine

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The first batch of ten each were despatched on Saturday by post to the Rishikesh-based institute. It was a pure labour of love for the team at BEL headed by scientist Matukumalli Rajasekhar.

Wrist and chest bands to monitor those with COVID-19 (Photo | Special Arrangement)
Wrist and chest bands to monitor those with COVID-19 (Photo | Special Arrangement)

Bengaluru :

The Bengaluru-based PSU Bharat Electronics Limited has been roped in by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Uttarakhand to develop wrist and chest bands to monitor those with COVID-19 or suspected of having it.

The first batch of ten each were despatched on Saturday by post to the Rishikesh-based institute. It was a pure labour of love for the team at BEL headed by scientist Matukumalli Rajasekhar of its Central Research Lab who churned out the products within a week’s time.

Rajashekhar told TNIE, “The concept was proposed by AIIMS to BEL. The software, sensors and cloud system to store them were all developed by us here. We have also developed a mobile app. A total of 40 of us were split into three teams.”

Both the bands have to be worn together by a patient, one around the wrist and the other around the hip like a belt. “It is GPS enabled and connected to a common server. The wrist band will send the temperature and other details to the server. All patient movements will be tracked through it. The chest belt will show the respiratory status of the patient. Alerts are sent to the Chief Medical Officer in each district. The CMO will alert the health workers in the area who can track the patient.”

In case any of the bands is thrown away by a patient, alerts will be sent indicating that they are not being used, he added. “Such bands are not in use anywhere in the country and it is the first such initiative,” the scientist said, adding, “AIIMS wanted to test the first batch to ensure all readings are fine. We will be doing it in bulk as soon as we get the green signal from them.”

AIIMS is likely to ask BEL to produce 25,000 pairs of bands, he added. Asked about the business part of it, the scientist said, “We are not looking at it as a profit venture. The cost incurred in readying the apparatus for each patient works out to around Rs 10,000 and the institute is likely to pay that to us. We are not charging them as it is our contribution during this crisis-ridden time.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by S. Lalitha / Express News Service / April 18th, 2020

COVID-19: HAL produces, hands over protective boxes

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Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) has produced and handed over more than 300 aerosol boxes to various State governments including Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra and Kerala to be used in hospitals.

HAL said in a release that the transparent box acts as an insulator between the doctor and the patient and significantly reduces the possibility of COVID-19 transmission to doctors and medical staff treating patients.

“The results are encouraging and we can cater to more hospitals and States in this hour of need,” said R. Madhavan, CMD, HAL. The boxes are produced at various divisions of HAL across the country.

HAL management has already announced a contribution of ₹26.25 crore to the PM-CARES Fund, said the release.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – April 16th, 2020

This doctor from Karnataka working in US has successfully treated five coronavirus patient

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Dr Arun Ranganath says the best supportive care on a ventilator with the pulmonologist, anaesthetist and intensive intervention is the key for early recovery.

Dr Arun Ranganath
Dr Arun Ranganath

Tumakuru :

“No one has died from COVID-19 under my care. One patient had cancer and he died of cancer,” asserted Dr Arun Ranganath, who has been treating the intubated patients in the ICU of Maine General Medical Centre, Augusta, USA.

The physician who hails from here has treated five patients aged between 63-80 successfully and they have been discharged with one more person still getting treatment under his supervision

The expert doctor, who has had stints at hospitals in the UK, at Safdarjang in New Delhi, has been in Maine Centre for eleven years. For four years, he has been the director of the ICU and is triple board-certified in internal medicine, pulmonary and critical care.

Speaking with The New Indian Express, the shy doctor shared his experience as he has been working for over 14 hours daily at the 200-bed hospital. The young doctor says the best supportive care on a ventilator – with the pulmonologist, anaesthetist and intensive intervening at the right time – will make a difference as the rate of patient recovery will be high.

“We have also treated with some steroids, hydroxychloroquine, and azithromycin but I am not sure if it made a huge difference. I am not sure about their efficacy but at least they don’t hurt as some of the studies done in France show a mortality benefit,” he explained.

Interestingly, the doctor’s wife Nagaveni Thimmappa also works as a data analyst with the hospital as his colleague and the couple have risked their lives, leaving their little daughters aged twelve and seven years under the care of a nanny.

Hailing from Sira town, which witnessed a death due to COVID-19 and a positive case, Arun did his MBBS at Mysuru Medical College. Sadly, he lost both his parents Ranganath and Shivakumari in his childhood.

“My aunt, father’s sister, Dr Jayalakshmi, working at the government hospital at Challakere in Chitradurga district motivated me to become a doctor. My paternal uncle Panduranga educated me,” he informed.

He suggested that the shared responsibility is the need of the hour as the entire community including the doctors, the staff at the hospital and the public, in general, are at the risk of contracting the virus.

“There are definitely risks involved in the process. I can’t imagine any other better person than the physician to take that risk. On the same note, they have to protect themselves with appropriate masks and hand hygiene. They have to take care of themselves first to take care of others but that doesn’t mean that they should shy away from the responsibilities,” he advised.

He also suggested that in a country like India, the general duty doctors at the hospital should also be trained in handling critical care including the ICU as soon as possible.

“India can just not relax as the cases detected are less but should keep in mind that there might be ten times more asymptomatic carriers and the latter should be subjected to diagnosis and kept in quarantine. Early detection is the key,” he warned.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News  / by Devaraj B. Hirehalli / Express News Service / April 15th, 2020

Freedom fighter Mohan Desai passes away

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He joined movement at the age of 16

Freedom fighter, Khadi promoter and senior journalist Mohan B. Yamakanamaradi Desai passed away here on Monday. He was 99.

Known as M.B. Desai, he joined the freedom movement at the age of 16.

He also participated in the Hyderabad Karnataka Liberation movement in the 1940s.

He started Lok Darshan, a Kannada weekly, in Belagavi in 1956. He turned it into a daily by 1963.

His final rites were conducted at Hudali village in the evening on Monday.

Only a few of his family members were present, as others were unable to travel due to the lockdown.

Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi has expressed condolences on the passing away of the freedom fighter.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Belagavi – April 14th, 2020

Former Union Minister and veteran Cong. leader M.V. Rajashekaran passes away at 91

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M. V. Rajasekharan MLC during the Legislative Council session in Bangalore on June 03, 2011. | Photo Credit: K Bhagya Prakash
M. V. Rajasekharan MLC during the Legislative Council session in Bangalore on June 03, 2011. | Photo Credit: K Bhagya Prakash

Son-in-law of former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa, he was MoS for Planning in the Manmohan Singh Ministry

Former Union Minister and veteran Congress leader M.V. Rajashekaran died in Bengaluru on Monday. He was 91.

The veteran leader, who was ailing for sometime, passed away in a private hospital.

He was the son-in-law of former Karnataka Chief Minister S. Nijalingappa.

Mr. Rajashekaran served as Union Minister of State for Planning in the Manmohan Singh Ministry.

Yeddyurappa’s condolence

In his condolence message, Chief Minister B.S. Yeddyurappa said that Mr. Rajashekaran, who served as an MLC, MP and Union Minister, was a politician with simplicity, humility and great maturity.

“May his soul rest in peace and may God give the strength to his family and followers to bear this loss,” the Chief Minister said.

He was an authority on rural economy and had set up an institute to make studies on rural development. Known for value-based politics, he represented Kanakapura constituency in the Lok Sabha.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Bengaluru – April 13th, 2020

This Bengaluru doctor is working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 battle

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Dr Kala Yadav ML’s day in the hospital may wrap up by 6pm but the calls don’t stop pouring in until 10pm.

Dr Kala Yadav ML
Dr Kala Yadav ML

Bengaluru :

Dr Kala Yadav ML’s day in the hospital may wrap up by 6 pm but the calls don’t stop pouring in until 10 pm. But as a frontline worker at the Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, which is a designated supervised isolation centre in the city, Yadav is no stranger to this tense pace of work.

Along with being in-charge of hospital infection control and biowaste management at the hospital, the 45-year-old is also a professor and in-charge of the microbiology department at Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute.

“Nobody thinks of it but this is a major aspect of a COVID-19 hospital. If the waste disposed of is not treated beforehand, it could lead to a major infection, or community transmission even,” she says solemnly.

With Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital posing as the second standby hospital in the city, Yadav explains how the facility does 20-25 screenings a day.

Currently, staff members operate on three shifts, where once team is done with their duty for a week, they are quarantined for 14 days while the next team takes over.

“Everyone is worried. Some staff members even ask me to not assign them to COVID duty, so a rotational system works best. Each one of them is given adequate training,” she explains.

As in-charge of hospital infection control, Yadav’s job involves many things, including immunisation of staff, ensuring the premises are disinfected and preparing an infection control manual for everyone to follow. The task doesn’t get easier when she returns home.

“My two daughters are at my in-law’s place. Since they live in a joint family, I thought this would be better since they’d have the company of their cousins. This way, I can also isolate them and my other family members from me,” she says. But this doctor has managed to remain calm despite the gloom around her. “You don’t have time to think of this when you are in the thick of things,” she shares, adding that yoga and devotional music has come to her rescue in these times.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Bengaluru / by Express News Service / April 13th, 2020