All districts to be brought under ESIC

Business & Economy

Mangalore :

Soon all employees in the 30 districts in the state will be under Employees State Insurance Corporation (ESIC) cover.

At present, over 17.70 lakh employees attached to 55,000 factories and business establishments in 27 districts are benefiting from the ESIC scheme. ESIC has plans to expand the scheme benefits to workers in Bidar, Chikmagalur and Kodagu districts.

Union minister of state for labour and employment Kodikunnil Suresh said after inaugurating the sub regional office (SRO) of ESIC here on Thursday that a survey in this regard has begun in these three districts. “While Bidar will be brought under Bangalore SRO, Chikmagalur and Kodagu will come under Gulbarga and Mysore SROs respectively,” he said. He added that ESIC has disbursed 50,000 payments amounting to about Rs 10 crore in 2013 in the state.

He said that the corporation has tie-ups with 85 reputed hospitals and nursing homes for providing cashless super specialty treatment in the state. “A total of Rs 126.45 crore has been spent towards super specialty treatment of employees in 2012-13,” he added.

Suresh said that government-level discussions are on to introduce national floor level minimum wages (NFLMW). “The cabinet has already approved the proposed amendments to the Minimum Wages Act, 1948 that will make NFLMW statutory. The matter has been forwarded to the law ministry for its nod. We will pursue the matter to ensure minimum wages for all workers in organized and unorganized sectors in the nation. A Variable Dearness Allowance (VDA) will also be added to the basic wage to neutralize the effect of price rise. At present, VDA is non-statutory and revised generally twice a year. The new act will make VDA mandatory,” the minister said.

Labour minister PT Parameshwara Naik presided over the event, while MP Nalin Kumar Kateel was the guest.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mangalore / TNN / October 25th, 2013

Govt gives green signal for high-tension power lines

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Science & Technology

Amidst opposition from the environmentalists, the State government has given green signal to the Kodagu district administration to re-start the work on Mysore-Kozhikode 400 KV high-tension electricity supply lines.

In a letter written to the the Kodagu DC, State Forest, Environment and Ecology Dept Principal Secretary S Sivashailam has said, “If the electricity wire, that passes through 55 km area in Kodagu is laid above 15 metres above the ground, it would not harm the elephants. Therefore, the electricity wire laying work can be re-started.” It can be noted that normally electricity wires are laid 9 metres above the ground.

The letter, has evoked opposition from the environmentalists. Recalling the recent High Court judgement which had directed the government to re-consider all the work that passes through elephant corridors, an environmentalist said that Lingapur, Maldare, Thithimathi, Kanur, Nalkeri, Kutta and surrounding areas where the proposed hi-tension wire passes through, are habitats of elephants. Several trees will have to be cut for laying the hi-tension wire, which will adversely affect the animal habitat, the environmentalist said.

Following the opposition from the environmentalists, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari had written to the government on October 21, requesting the government to re-consider the matter. In reply, forest department principal secretary has directed the DC to start the work.

Government’s letter

The letter by the forest department chief secretary, states further, “the State government while giving permission to the work on March 1, 2012, had imposed a condition to the Powergrid Corporation that the hi-tension wire which passes through reserved areas of elephants in Kodagu and Mysore, should be laid six metres above the normal height.

The elephants even if they raise their trunk, can not reach the wire at 15 metres height. Therefore, laying wire at this height, would not harm elephants.”

Further, the letter clarifies that the High Court in its judgment on October 8, too has imposed a condition that the electricity wire should be in such a height that elephants should not be able to reach it. Hence, laying wire at 15 metres height would abide by the HC directive too.

The 120 km long 400 KV hi-tension wire from Mysore to Kozhikode will pass through 55 km land in Kodagu. Of this, 4.45 km is forest land, while the remaining is private land and plantations.
The wire laying work has been completed from Mysore to Lingapur (Mysore-Kodagu border) on the one side, and from Kozhikode to Manandavadi (Kerala-Kodagu border) on another side. As the work faced severe opposition from environmentalists in Kodagu, the work was halted for sometime. If the project is implemented, it would provide 520 MW power to Karnataka and 260 MW to Kerala from Koodankulam nuclear power plant.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by Srikanth Kallammanavar, Madikeri / DHNS / October 24th, 2013

Promoted as Dy. Director

Leaders, Science & Technology

Dr. Kannanda P. Aiyappa, Assistant Director, Animal Husbandry and Vet. Service, Veterinary Hospital, Virajpet, Kodagu, was recently promoted as Dy. Director of the Polyclinic in Madikeri.

Dr. Aiyappa, who passed out in 1976 from Veterinary College, University of Agricultural Sciences (UAS), Bangalore, joined government service on 8.4.1976.

He had been serving as Asst. Director since 1.6.1998.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> In Brief / October 21st, 2013

Lakhs throng Talacauvery

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Historical Links / Pre-Independence, Nature

Devotees thronging Triveni Sangama at Talacauvery in Bhaghamandla on Thursday | Express photo
Devotees thronging Triveni Sangama at Talacauvery in Bhaghamandla on Thursday | Express photo

The Madikeri- Bhaghamandla- Talacauvery Road was jampacked from early Thursday as lakhs of devotees arrived for the ‘theerthodbhava’ near Brahmakundike.

It is believed that every year on this day at a specified time water from the Cauvery springs up in the form of a small fountain from ‘Brahmakundike’ at Talacauvery. And this water from this temporary fountain is considered to be holy.

A team of archakas, led by Ananthesh Kedilaya, announced the arrival of theerthodbhava at 12.01 pm, following which they sprinkled the holy water on the devotees near the Bramhakundike.

Kodagu police had enforced strict monitoring around the region to ensure that people do not enter Bramhakundike until after the theerthodbhava to prevent any untoward incidents such as a stampede.

SP M N Anucheth was seen standing near the pond and personally supervising arrangements with his subordinates.

Cultural programmes were performed by various artistes throughout the day. Ninada from Ponampet sang Kodava devotional songs while B A Ganesh from Shanthalli rendered Kannada devotional songs. Padmanabha and team from Melkote played the Nagaswara and Ramanajneya Bhajana team from Madikeri sung bhajans.

For the second consecutive year, the temple committee provided lunch for the devotees. MLA K G Bopaiah and Kodagu ZP vice-president B Usha Devamma supervised the catering arrangements.

The theerthodbhava was witnessed by the temple Thakka’s Kodi Madappa, Kodi Motaaiah, Balladka Appaji, MP A H Vishwanath, Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tiwari and others.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service – Madikeri / October 18th, 2013

Re-elected to Orange Growers’ Co-op. Society

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders

ArunMachaiahKF26oct2013
Kodagu :

Former MLC C.S. Arun Machaiah has been unanimously re-elected as the President of Kodagu Orange Growers’ Co-operative Society for the term 2014-2018.

Kodagu Cooperative Association’s Deputy Registrar R. Sridhar was the election officer.

Rest of the office-bearers too were re-elected unanimously and they vowed to revive orange cultivation in Kodagu, which has seen improvement in the past few years.

K.G. Appaiah of Mekoor village is the Society’s Vice-President. The Directors are: Sunil Madappa of Gonikoppa town, K.U. Arun Poonacha of Devarapura, Arvind Kuttappa of Gonikoppa, S. Vishwanath of Mayamudi, C. Somanna of Balele, A.R. Krishnakumar of Devarapura, Sumi Subbaiah of Aruvathoklu, Shobha Kuttappa of Mekoor, K.K. Dinesh of Hathur and S.S. Suresh of Mayamudi.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 21st, 2013

Girisha, Poovamma honoured by SWAB

Sports

PoovammaKF24oct2013
Karnataka’s athletes and sports writers came together at the Sports Writers Association of Bangalore Awards ceremony here at the M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday to celebrate their long-standing relationship.
The achievers of 2012-13 were felicitated by former world professional and amateur billiards champion Geet Sethi, who was also the chief guest.

HN Girisha, who won a high jump silver medal at last year’s London Paralympics, was awarded the Best Male Sportsperson while athlete MR Poovamma received the female Best Sportsperson award for her exploits in the 400M.

“To come from a small village in Hassan and go on to be a legend is not something I had ever expected,” said Girisha.

Arvind Savur, the flag-bearer of cue sports in Karnataka for close to four decades, was honoured with the Lifetime Achievement award.

List of awardees: Best sportsperson (male): H N Girisha (paralympian); Best sportsperson (female): MR Poovamma (athletics); Best junior sporstperson (male): Girish A Koushik (chess); Best junior sportsperson: Prema Huchannavar (wrestling); Coach of the year: Raman Vijayan (football); Team of the year: Karnataka State Senior Tenpin bowling team (both men and women); Behind the scenes: KS Rajshekar (volleyball) and Mohan Kumar (basketball); Lifetime achievement: Arvind Savur (cue sports).

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> Sports / DHNS / Bangalore – October 06th, 2013

Inter-Kodava Samaja hockey tourney from Oct.22 at Madikeri

Sports

Madikeri :

17- The Inter-Kodava Samaja Hockey tournament organised by the Kodava Samaja Federation will be held from Oct. 22 at the Balugodu Hockey Grounds here.

Disclosing this at a press meet here yesterday, the Sports Committee Chairman Kambiranda Kittu Kalappa said that 16 teams will be participating in the tourney.

He further said that the final would be played on Oct. 26 which also features tug-of-war competitions for men and women.

He added that a few important rules have been incorporated in the tourney.

Kalappa further said that only students of Sports Authority of India Hostel would be allowed to play for Bangalore Kodava Samaja. He added that the winner of the tourney would get a cash prize of Rs. 30,000 and the runner-up Rs. 20,000; the semi-finalists would get Rs.10,000 each and winner of tug-of-war would get Rs.10,000 and the runner-up Rs. 7,500.

Tourney Secretary Kotera Raghu Karyappa, members Neravanda Bharath, Iynanda Jappu Achappa, Tambu Kuttera Madhu Mandanna and Bolliyangada Dadu Poovaiah were present.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports News / October 17th, 2013

Rohan Bopanna has task cut out

Sports

Shanghai :

Leander Paes, playing with Canada’s Daniel Nestor, and Rohan Bopanna, combining with Frenchman Edouard Roger-Vasselin, are in the 32-team draw of the Shanghai Rolex Masters.

While Paes has already made the season-ending event the ATP World Tour Finals in London next month with Czech Radek Stepanek, Bopanna, who won the Japan Open last week, has his work cut out, placed as they are in the 13th position of the team rankings. Bopanna and Vasselin, seeded sixth here, are in the same quarter of the draw as the top-seeded American twins Bob and Mike Bryan.

India no.1 Somdev Devvarman, ranked 95 in the word, fell in the final round of the men’s singles qualifying competition of the Shanghai Rolex Masters, falling in straight sets to Japan’s Tatsuma Ito 6-7 (6-8), 0-6.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> Sports> Tennis> Rohan Bopanna / TNN / October 07th, 2013

Bangalore, N. India to take turns hosting coffee festival

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg)

Concerted efforts are needed for coffee consumption to increase in northern India, said Hameed Haq, Managing Director, Tata Coffee, principal sponsor of the India International Coffee Festival (IICF).

“Thrust should be there to take coffee consumption from the South to North of India,” he said.

“We have taken new direction under India Coffee Trust to bring focus to the domestic consumption in India, which is low by any standards and, therefore, are trying to focus on North India which is a huge market to explore,” he said.

The fifth edition of the India International Coffee Festival (IICF) will be held in Bangalore at Lalit Ashok during January 21-25.

The Coffee Board and India Coffee Trust held its fourth edition of the IICF at New Delhi in 2012.

It was the first event outside Bangalore to give a wider exposure among the coffee drinkers in non-traditional areas such as Delhi to boost coffee consumption. “The event was taken to Delhi at the risk of adventuring in unknown waters but the resultsurprised us as we were greatly satisfied with the event.

It was a grand success by any standards,” said Jawaid Akthar, Coffee Board Chairman.

Now the steering committee of the IICF has decided that ideally the event should be alternated between Bangalore, the headquarters of coffee, and another destination preferably a consuming destination in the south.

FOCUS ON ENVIRONMENT

In addition to domestic consumption, the IICF is also to focus on environment.

“We as coffee growers have to keep in mind the changing demand on the environment. Globally, there is a lot more consciousness on coffee and the environment and during this festival, we will try and cover it all,” said Haq.

Haq further said the IICF started in 2002 and has evolved into a very mature international event and is being held at a right opportune time. Especially at a time when global coffee majors are eyeing Indian market.

NEW DIMENSIONS

“The coffee festivals are the right place to showcase Indian coffee globally; this festival has evolved over a period of time and taken certain new dimensions,” he explained.

IICF is also laying emphasis on quality.

“Of course, quality remains the benchmark and will be the differentiator to get us the premium in the world coffee market.

SMALL GROWERS

It is important to note that 95 per cent of coffee produced in the country is by small growers.

Corporates are very small, Tata Coffee being one of them,” said Haq.

FOCUS ON COORG

“We are hoping to extend our learning initially to the growers in Kodagu (Coorg) which forms a large part of the production base through the coffee trail, conference and workshops,” he added.

source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Industry> Agri-Biz / by The Hindu Bureau anil.u@thehindu.co.in / Bangalore – October 16th, 2013

Coffee Board kicks off branding initiative

Business & Economy, Coffee News

Seeks Andhra govt’s help to market coffee grown in Araku Valley
CoffeeKF21oct2013

In a bid to fetch higher prices in international markets, the Coffee Board of India has kicked off a branding initiative for Indian coffee. The Board intends to create a common brand to market Indian coffee, especially those grown in the Western Ghats and Araku Valley in Andhra Pradesh.

“Almost 98 per cent of coffee produced in India is grown in the Western Ghats region and some new areas in Araku Valley. Indian coffee, grown under tree shade, is very popular in the international markets. It contributes to intrinsic quality and internationally it is known as eco-friendly coffee. So, we are trying to make use of the Western Ghats tag to market our coffees in the overseas markets,” Jawaid Akhtar, chairman of Coffee Board, told Business Standard.

The Board will sell Indian coffee as “good coffee” and “organic coffee” to fetch higher prices in the overseas markets.

Akhtar said Indian exporters are able to command 40-50 per cent higher margins on the benchmark International Coffee Organization (ICO) prices for washed Robusta and 25 per cent for Robusta Cherry. “We are contemplating to come out with a common brand for Indian coffee. We are also planning to promote our coffee through international trade fairs, exhibitions and release advertisements,” Akhtar added.

For the first time, coffee grown in Araku Valley in parts of the eastern Ghats of Andhra Pradesh is coming to market this year, Akhtar said, adding the Board plans to market this coffee as “organic coffee”. In Araku Valley, the coffee is largely grown by tribals.

Popularly known as non-traditional areas in the coffee circles, this region includes the states of Andhra Pradesh, Odisha and to a small extent Madhya Pradesh. The region is predominantly inhabited by a wide variety of tribal groups, who are known for their traditional agriculture practices and ‘podu’ (shifting cultivation) over centuries.

The trees are planted at an elevation of 3,200 ft above the sea level.

“We have requested the government of Andhra Pradesh to help tribals market their coffee, so that we can reduce the role of middlemen. There are some non-government organisations like Naandi Foundation that are assisting tribals in cultivating coffee,” said Akhtar.

Araku Valley is expected to produce about 6,500 tonnes of coffee this year. Over 100,000 tribals have brought 55,000 hectares area under coffee plantations in the Valley and the average holding is one acre per person. The tribals have used mainly organic practices to grow the coffee.

Arabica coffee is the main variety and the arabica station breed selections such as S.934, Sln.4 (agaro) and Sln.5 occupy major areas in Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, Cauvery is the main variety under cultivation. Pepper is the main inter crop adding substantially to the net returns of coffee farms. The coffees of this region are classified as medium body, medium to sharp acidity and intense aroma with a spicy tinge.

source: http://www.business-standard.com / Business Standard / Home> Markets> Commodities> Food & Edible Oils / by Mahesh Kulkarni / Bangalore – October 14th, 2013