P.A. Seema is the first woman to hold the post of Director, Nagarahole Tiger Reserve

Prioritising the well-being of frontline staff while safeguarding the rich wildlife of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, several initiatives have been implemented to prevent man-wildlife conflicts, stated P.A. Seema, Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

In an exclusive interview with Star of Mysore on the occasion of International Women’s Day, P.A. Seema, a 2017-batch IFS officer and the first woman to lead the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, shared insights into the conservation measures undertaken under her leadership.

Having previously served as Deputy Conservator of Forests (DCF) in Mysuru, Mandya, Kodagu and the Elephant Task Force (ETF), P.A. Seema has earned praise for her commendable work. She is currently serving as the Director of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

Seema expressed her pride in being appointed as the first woman Director of the Nagarahole Tiger Reserve. “I learned from the media that I am the first woman to hold this position and it fills me with pride. My goal is to live up to this recognition through dedicated service,” she stated.

Hailing from Napoklu in Kodagu district, Seema developed a deep interest in forest conservation from an early age. After completing her PUC in Napoklu and pursuing B.Sc. and M.Sc. at Forestry College in Ponnampet, she prepared for the Indian Forest Service (IFS) exam.

Seema cleared it in the 2017 batch and has since been serving in the Forest Department with a great enthusiasm.

Safeguarding staff and wildlife

The Nagarahole Tiger Reserve is not only a key wildlife sanctuary in Karnataka but also one of national significance. “Our primary focus is both the conservation of wildlife and the well-being of frontline staff. The Reserve has 54 anti-poaching camps, and over 350 contract-based watchers working tirelessly to protect the forest,” Seema explained.

Various initiatives have been introduced to ensure the welfare of frontline staff. Seema reaffirmed her commitment to increasing wildlife density in Nagarahole Tiger Reserve.

“Working in a tiger reserve presents greater challenges compared to social forestry,” Seema explained. Protecting wildlife, preventing illegal intrusions, curbing poaching, mitigating man-animal conflicts, increasing animal density and preventing forest fires are some of the key challenges.

Despite these hurdles, Seema remains focused on strengthening forest and wildlife conservation while minimising man-animal conflicts. She acknowledged the strong support of frontline staff and officers in overcoming these challenges.

P.A. Seema (extreme right), Director of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve, during a field visit.

No security concerns for women officers

There is no shortage of security for women officers serving in the Forest Department. Senior officials and Department staff provide full support, ensuring a safe and encouraging work environment. While some may initially find fieldwork challenging, the department does not make it difficult for anyone.

Having studied at a Forestry College, Seema found fieldwork manageable. She emphasised that the department fosters a conducive atmosphere for women officers to take up responsibilities.

Increasing presence of women officers

In the past, the number of women officers in the Forest Department was relatively low.

However, inspired by women in other departments, more women are now stepping forward to take up roles across various positions in the department.

More women are now joining the Forest Department, breaking barriers and proving their capabilities through equal participation. It offers a platform to demonstrate commitment to nature conservation while building confidence, Seema noted.

Determined not to remain passive as a woman officer, Seema strives to implement innovative programmes. In the initial phase, efforts have been made to improve the welfare of frontline staff and maintain camp conditions.

Through coordinated operations, the number of man-wildlife conflict incidents in the Nagarahole region has significantly reduced over the past three to four months, she added.

Strong family support

Seema credits her family’s unwavering support for her career in the Forest Department. As the first officer in her family, she received encouragement from her parents, Kamala and Anand.

After marriage, her husband, Ranjan and children, Deshna Gowramma and Dev Ganapathi, have been equally supportive. She acknowledged that field visits often lead to late return to home, but her family, especially her children, have been understanding.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Features / by M. T. Yogesh Kumar / March 05th, 2025

The United Planters’ Association of Southern India (UPASI) has expressed concern over declining productivity and mounting costs faced by coffee growers in India due to climate change.

Erratic weather patterns leading to prolonged dry spells, unseasonal rains, and increased pest infestations continued to pose a serious challenge to coffee production in India, the Association said in a press note.

India’s average coffee productivity declined from 947 kg per ha in 2000 to 814 kg per ha in 2023, with Arabica productivity seeing a drop from 815 kg per ha to 464 kg per ha during the same period.

Further, the coffee plantations were highly labour-intensive, making wage costs a crucial component of production.

Lack of sufficient reinvestment in estate infrastructure due to poor profitability over the years had exacerbated the decline in land and labour productivity.

The UPASI president K. Mathew Abraham said coffee prices were subdued for a long duration and during this phase, the cost variable had increased manifold. India, with 3.6% share of global production and 4.8% of global export, was a price taker and the current price increase was largely on account of global shortfall.

The present hike in coffee prices were mainly because of the global shortfall in production. Concerns on Brazilian crop and Vietnam crops due to bad weather conditions and Columbia, the third largest producer, facing geo-political tensions contributed to market volatility in prices.

However, these do not support the coffee plantations to meet the mounting costs, the UPASI said.

The Association sought implementation of labelling standards distinguishing pure coffee and coffee chicory mixture with specifications on the front side of package as proposed by Coffee Board.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Business / The Hindu Bureau, Coimbatore / March 01st, 2025

Madikeri / Hassan:

The State Government’s move to close nine Universities including Kodagu University citing a lack of funding triggered protests from the Akhila Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) and Kodagu BJP workers. Yesterday, they organised a 16-km padayatra from the Kodagu University campus at Chikka Aluvara to Kushalnagar.

Led by former MLA M.P. Appachu Ranjan, MLC Suja Kushalappa and former BJP District President B.B. Bharateesh, hundreds of students and BJP workers participated in the march, voicing strong opposition to the Government’s decision.

The rally passed through Chikka Aluvara, Koodige, Hebbale and Kanive before reaching Kushalnagar, where villagers welcomed students with flower showers. At Field Marshal Cariappa Circle, protesters formed a human chain, briefly blocking the road before submitting a memorandum to Tahsildar Kiran Gowraiah.

Appachu Ranjan criticised the decision, recalling that during B.S. Yediyurappa’s tenure as Chief Minister, Rs. 15 crore had been allocated to establish Kodagu University. When funds fell short, he contributed Rs. 5 lakh to build a compound wall.

He noted that while Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had inaugurated the university, the Congress Government had since failed to allocate a single rupee to it.

The ABVP march received support from Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar, who joined the protest near Hebbale and walked with students till Kushalnagar.

He called it a grave injustice, particularly to Scheduled Caste students who make up a significant portion of the institutions.

ABVP National Executive Member Mandara, District President Ambika, Divisional Student Pramukh Amruthamba, State Executive Members Gandharva and Kaushalya, BJP Taluk President Gautham, Vice President B.B. Ajeesh, Mahila Morcha Mandala President Kavitha Virupaksha, City President M.A. Charan, and several other leaders and activists were present.

SFI protests in Hassan

Students’ Federation of India (SFI) staged a protest in Hassan yesterday against the closure of Hassan University and submitted a memorandum to the District Administration.

Addressing the gathering, SFI District Secretary Ramesh condemned the State Cabinet Sub-Committee’s decision to shut down nine universities, calling it a blow to students’ interests. He argued that closing institutions in backward districts would severely impact rural students, particularly female students, limiting their access to higher education and hindering regional development.

Lecturer Dr. Mahesh stressed that instead of shutting them down, the Government should have focused on providing essential infrastructure, including full-time faculty, non-teaching staff, libraries, laboratories, hostels and adequate funding.

SFI Assistant Secretary Vivek, State Vice President Basavaraj Guledal, DYFI leader M.G. Prithvi and others participated.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / March 01st, 2025

Mercara (Madikeri), Coorg (Kodagu) / Roseville, MN, U.S.A :

Celine Rita Stanton peacefully passed away on February 27, 2025, in Roseville, MN after a long battle with Alzheimer’s.

Celine was born at home on November 3, 1940, to her parents Thomas & Caroline D’Souza. She was born in a small village in the state of Karnataka in Southwest India in what was then still British India. Her family were coffee plantation owners and Anglo-Indians (with British & Indian roots). She was the 5th of 10 children. Celine grew up in an amazingly loving and close family. Celine was passionate about sharing her love of God, starting at an early age within her family in India. She would continue to lean into her faith throughout her life.

Her parents also helped raise her mother’s four half-siblings when their mother died. Celine’s parents were known for always helping the poor and those around them. Something that Celine would continue in her life in the US. Celine attended primary school in Mercara, Coorg District, State of Karnataka and attended boarding school in Mysore where she graduated high school from Good Shephard Convent in 1958. She attended Mt. Carmel College in Bangalore from 1958-1961 and finished her B.A. degree in History and English at St. Philomena college, Mysore. While there she played basketball and field hockey for the college at the state level. She taught English in Bellary, Karnataka at Good Shepherd Convent from 1963-1964. She taught at Cluny Convent in Bangalore from 1964-1965 and finished her teaching experience in India in Ooty, Tamil Nadu State from 1966-1967. She finished getting her teaching degree from University of Mysore in 1967. Her students described her as, “a well-loved popular teacher who wowed her students with her skills in Basketball. We loved her to bits! She was an ace in basketball and represented the state.”

In 1967 Celine met her future husband Dale, while he was serving in the US Peace Corps from 1966-1968. Her eldest sibling Vincent had brought Dale and other Peace Corps Volunteers to their family coffee estate in Coorg for a weekend. They married June 22, 1968, in Mercara, India. Celine immigrated to the US with Dale, and they made a life together that would take them all over the US with Dale’s career for Goodwill Industries, raising their kids. They lived in Los Angeles, CA; Lyle, MN (where daughter Heidi was born across state lines in Iowa in 1969); Moose Lake, MN (where she gave birth to son Heath in Duluth, MN; Milwaukee, WI; Racine, WI; Yakima, WA; Stockton, CA; Detroit, MI; Bloomfield Hills; MI, Albuquerque, NM; Austin, MN and Roseville, MN. Dale & Celine would spend many summers in Northern MN & WI on lakes as the kids were growing up.

In addition to being a loving mother and wife, Celine worked as bank teller for Peoples Bank (Yakima, WA), Bank or America (Stockton, CA) and US Bank (Austin, MN). Celine was always the favorite teller, and customers would wait longer to have Celine help them! She would often win awards for the most sales (including a trip to Hawaii.

She was loved for her kind and helpful nature. Kind and helpful are just two of a thousand different words that could be used to describe Celine. Humble, resilient, strong, silly, prayerful, college basketball star, expert gardener (it was said you could drop Celine in the middle of Africa and within minutes she’d know what to plant), creative chef, fickle, caregiver, community volunteer, and food connoisseur. Celine’s sisters said she was fastidious growing up in India. She took great care of her family; she was very particular that her saris always being pressed and cared for. She loved having pen pals from around the world. She loved shopping (making many trips with daughter Heidi to SF and Carmel, CA) and bringing gifts to bring her family in India. She developed a great love for Mexican food and gardening upon moving to California. In her Minnesota retirement days, she became an expert garage sale hostess (and shopper). She looked forward to her weekly Friday lunches with her son Heath, choosing from her favorite spots (Applebee’s, Chinese food or Olive Garden) before watching an episode of Criminal Minds. Celine loved to travel and enjoyed going to Lake Vermillion with her son Heath and family, and making lots of trips to Chicago, Atlanta, and Los Angeles to visit Heidi & family. Another love was cooking, collecting recipes, and playing games (especially Five Hundred) with her husband, in-laws, aunts & uncles in her husband Dale’s final years. She always found time to help Stephanie in her garden and joke with David.

Celine spent 15 years caring for her husband Dale when he was diagnosed with a rare blood disease and cancer. She gave him the ultimate gift when she gave him one of her kidneys in 2003. Ultimately, Celine’s greatest joy in her retirement years were her grandchildren. The joy, love, education, and humor she gave them was a lingering trait from her years as mother to Heidi & Heath. She would not hesitate to pick up her grandson Ely from school (with a stop at the gas station for snacks). She loved attending Ely’s soccer games in MN, Stephen’s baseball games and Caroline’s horse shows in GA. Even in her end-stages of Alzheimer’s she was thrilled to meet her great-granddaughter Zahara. Celine cherished family. She was the only sibling to ever leave India. She cherished her trips home. She was lovingly welcomed by her large extended American family whom she would forever love. To say we are all grateful that she was our mother, wife, nana, sister, aunty, cousin, and friend is an understatement.

Celine was preceded in death by her parents Thomas & Caroline D’Souza, her siblings in India Vincent, Martin, Stephen, Lionel & Theresa, her in-laws Don & Olga Stanton (Austin, MN), several brothers and sisters-in-law, her niece Monisha (India) and beloved cat Tito. She is survived by her daughter Heidi (David), Johns Creek, GA; son Heath, Roseville, MN; daughter-in-law Stephanie Stanton, St. Paul, MN; her grandchildren Stephen, Johns Creek, GA; Caroline, Columbia, SC; Ely, St. Paul, MN; her great-granddaughter Zahara (Johns Creek, GA); sister-in-law Sharon (Ron), Yakima, WA; sisters in Mysore, India – Tiny Ganapathy (Suresh); Lovey Platel (Phillip); Sheela Mathew (Babu); and many nieces and nephews in the US, India, UAE, Oman and Australia.

Our family is forever grateful to the residents & care staff at Good Samaritan Roseville, New Perspective Roseville, MN and Health Partners Hospice for their amazing care, love and support to our family these past 5 years. A celebration of life will be planned for a later date this year. Memorial gifts may be made to the Alzheimer’s Foundation and Guild Services, her son’s favorite non-profit in St. Paul, MN (www.guildservices.org).

Sympathies & Memories can be sent to Heidi Riechel, 11110 Linbrook Lane, Johns Creek, GA 30097 and Heath Stanton 320 Minnesota Ave, Roseville, MN 55113

source: http://www.legacy.com / Legacy / Home> US> Obituary / post by Legacy Remembers / February 28th, 2025

Madikeri:

The Kandanda family in Kodagu recently inaugurated their newly built Ainmane (ancestral house) in the heart of Kolakeri village, Napoklu-Nad, Kodagu.

The original Ainmane, believed to be around 600 years old, has been rebuilt while retaining its heritage aesthetics. The reconstruction, completed with a budget of approximately Rs. 1 crore, was funded by contributions from family members and close relatives.

The Pattedara (senior male family member), Kandanda A. Subbaiah, inaugurated the Ainemane by lighting the lamp. Kandanda Paridhi Poovamma rendered the invocation, seeking the blessings of Goddess Cauvery.

Picture shows the old ancestral home.

Before the ceremony, guests and well-wishers, including Thamane daughters (married Kandanda women) were formally welcomed and escorted from the Kaimada (a family shrine dedicated to ancestors) to the Ainmane amid the rhythmic beats of Komb Kott (traditional drums).

The celebrations featured vibrant welcome dances by Kandanda women and their daughters, dressed in colourful traditional attire, captivating the audience. Guests and relatives shared their thoughts on preserving the traditions and cultural heritage of the dwindling Kodava community, emphasising collective efforts for the prosperity of village families.

Kandanda A. Subbaiah (extreme right) lighting the lamp to inaugurate the family Ainmane recently as (from right)  Kannambira Changappa, Kundyolanda S. Subbaiah, Kandanda B. Joyappa, Biddatanda Dikki Somaiyya and Kandanda Chermana look on.

Kandanda M. Ponnanna and Rekha Ponnanna served as the event’s MC. Prominent senior guests honoured at the event included: Kundyolanda S. Subbaiah, Boliyadira Raja Somaiyya, Puchimanda Sabu Kuttappa, Mandepanda Sundari Kuttappa, Biddatanda Dikki Somaiyya, Boliyadira Bollavva, Kannambira Changappa, Bottolanda Appanna, Ketolira Kuttappa, Kaliyanda Shambu Madappa, Appachira Suresh Belliappa, Kumbarada Chomuni, Kandanda Ammunu Chondavva, Chermana, Joyappa and Bopanna.

Jaya Karumbayya, Secretary of the Kandanda family, was felicitated for his contributions. At the same time, Kandanda M. Ponnanna, Secretary of the Ainmane Renovation Committee, was honoured for his dedicated efforts in ensuring the smooth completion of the project.

The event concluded with a vote of thanks by Kandanda B. Joyappa, followed by the National Anthem.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / February 28th, 2025