Drivers who want to avail this service can call Ashok and breakfast or lunch will be readied in half an hour’s time.
A former ambulance driver himself, Ashok (in pic) says he knows the stress they go through (Photo | Special arrangement)
Madikeri :
A resident of Kodagu has come up with a unique initiative to help ambulance drivers during the COVID-19 lockdown. Ashok BS, who hails from Madenadu village, is offering free food to ambulance drivers across Kodagu.
Ashok is a jeep driver by profession. He also owns an earth mover and often works at construction sites. From Wednesday, Ashok has started a unique initiative to help the numerous ambulance drivers who are working amidst the curfew.
“I worked as an ambulance driver for 12 years in Bengaluru. I know the stress that they have to go through. At this time of curfew, they won’t be able to eat on time as everything shuts by 10 am. I wanted to do my bit during this time of the pandemic,” shared Ashok.
Ashok has shared his phone numbers across social media platforms and has offered to provide free food (take-away) to ambulance drivers. Drivers who want to avail this service can call Ashok and breakfast or lunch will be readied in half an hour’s time. He will pack the home-cooked food and wait near Madenadu Main Road, where ambulance drivers can collect the take-away free of cost.
“I prepare simple food – dosa for breakfast and rice & rasam for lunch. If I avail fish on the day, I make a dish out of the same and pack them. On the first day, three drivers availed the facility. I would be happy if more drivers benefit from the initiative,” shared Ashok. To avail the facility, ambulance drivers can call Ashok on the mobile numbers 9902270046 and 9483069621.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / April 29th, 2021
Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez have packed the bodies of all 93 COVID victims in Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year.
Syed Hussain and Robert Rodriguez (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
“I had not observed Ramzan last year and I won’t be able to take part in the festivities this year too. Work occupies a major part of my life now and my job has forced me to stay away from my family and friends,” said Syed Hussain, a forensic department staffer of Madikeri District Hospital, who is involved in packing the bodies of COVID-19 victims.
Syed joined the forensic department staff in the hospital nearly four years ago and there were moments when he questioned his career choice. “There were times when we had to conduct a postmortem of fetuses and it was heart-wrenching to carry out the job. But it was my duty,” he recalled. Syed, however, stuck to his choice and today he has offered exceptional service as a frontline COVID warrior.
Syed and Robert Rodriguez (the only other staffer in the forensic department) have packed all the 93 bodies of COVID-19 victims of Kodagu and continue to work day and night without any leave since March last year. “We have stayed away from our family since last year. It’s painful not to be a part of the festivities. But we do not want to risk others’ lives. I, however, visited my family last week. It was a short visit and I went to collect a few belongings,” said Syed.
He noted how it is stressful to always work wearing PPE kits and added that all healthcare workers including D-Group employees are working under stress to ensure the safety of citizens. “We have to do away with food and sometimes even drinking water as we are always wearing PPE kits,” he explained. He added that the government has not made new appointments to the district hospital and the existing staff is working under stress. “We do not get incentives for working overtime. Yet, we cannot demand things at this time of crisis and we go about doing our job,” he said.
He spoke out against publicity-seekers on social media and said, “We are working 24/7 under stress. Yet, some people shoot videos inside the hospital and make false allegations against healthcare workers. We do not expect anything huge in return for our work. The least we can ask from the public is respect. There might be a few loopholes in the hospital. But the public cannot highlight this illogically across social media for a minute’s fame. My only request to the public of Kodagu is – please respect all the healthcare workers. We too have family. But we are working for the greater good.”
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / Express News Service / April 27th, 2021
The Covid Care Centre set up at Morarji Desai Residential School in Koodige.
Deputy Commissioner Charulata Somal said that five Covid Care Centres have been opened in the district as the Covid-19 pandemic is spreading fast.
Chairing a meeting at her office on Monday, she said that nodal officers have been appointed for Covid Care Centres.
She directed the officials concerned to ensure proper food and other basic facilities for Covid-19 patients undergoing treatment at the Covid Care Centres.
Facilities of books, newspapers and indoor games should be provided. Cleanliness and hygiene should be maintained at the centres and the premises should be sanitised on a regular basis. There should be no room for any complaint, she said.
Stating that the management of containment zones is good, she felt there is a need to pay more attention to ensure adherence to guidelines.
The statistics related to the pandemic should be properly maintained and disseminated to the authority concerned, she added.
Charulata Somal also noted that posters are not displayed at several containment zones in the district and directed the officials concerned to do the needful.
Stressing on the tracking of primary contacts of Covid-19 patients, she said that the target set by the government towards the tests should be met without fail.
The deputy commissioner also sought from the nodal officials, the day-to-day information on the admission of Covid-19 patients in Covid Care Centres and the availability of vacant beds.
“Regular check-ups of people who are availing treatment at hospitals and Covid Care Centres should be carried out. The health condition of people in home isolation should be tracked regularly,” she added.
Charulata Somal also told officials to ensure the availability of medical oxygen in sufficient quantity.
The controller of drugs has been appointed as the nodal officer for the supply of medical oxygen, she added.
District Health and Family Welfare Officer Dr K Mohan said that medical students have been appointed at the Covid-19 helpline centres. The peoples queries on their health issues will be addressed through the resource persons.
There is a stock of Remdesivir and medical oxygen in the required quantities and 24 jumbo jet cylinders filled with oxygen have been provided to Somwarpet and Virajpet taluks.
Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KoIMS) Director Dr Cariappa, Government Medical College Superintendent Dr Lokesh, Community Health Officer Dr Mahesh, local resident officer Dr Rupesh and Dr Anand provided necessary information during the meeting.
Zilla Panchayat CEO Bhanwar Singh Meena, Additional Deputy Commissioner Raju Mogavira and Assistant Commissioner Srinivas were present.
Covid Care Centre at Morarji Desai Residential School
In the wake of an increase in Covid-19 cases in various villages in Kushalnagar limits, an 80-bedded Covid Care Centre has been set up at Morarji Desai Residential School in Koodige.
People who are diagnosed with mild symptoms are being admitted to the Covid Care Centres. The same centre operated during the previous year as well.
After a health check-up, the inmates who are fit to be home isolated are discharged from the Covid Care Centre.
The patients are treated at the centre for 10 days. They will be admitted to the designated Covid hospital only if there is no improvement in their condition.
A total of 18 people have availed of treatment at the centre during the last three days. Around 600 people who visited the centre have been subjected to home isolation.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / April 26th, 2021
After a long delay amidst losing hope and living in despair, 2018 flood victims of Kodagu district have finally got houses of their own, built by the State Government. The victims have either completely lost their houses due to floods and landslides or the destruction of houses was to such an extent of beyond repairs.
In 2018 and 2019, unprecedented rains triggered by cloudbursts, floods and landslides brought untold misery to the people of Kodagu and over 30 percent of land in Madikeri and Somwarpet taluks was destroyed in previously unheard of havoc that was unleashed by nature, rendering hundreds of people homeless.
On Friday (Apr. 23), Kodagu District Minister V. Somanna symbolically handed over houses to 162 families. He handed over the keys to the beneficiaries at a simple ceremony. As many as 22 houses were provided in Biligere village and 140 houses in Galibeedu village.
Each house has been built by the Rajiv Gandhi Housing Corporation with pre-cast concrete. Rs. 9.80 lakh has been spent on each house and the areas that have been identified to build houses are certified by Geological Survey of India (GSI) as flood-and-landslide-proof. Each concrete mould house has been designed according to ‘M-20 Grade Design’ and the built area is 425 square feet.
Modern techniques have been used to build the houses and each house has 2 bedrooms, a hall and a kitchen. The houses are fire and earthquake-resistant and have modern facilities, said Rajiv Gandhi Rural Housing Corporation Project Director Srinivas.
Somanna said 660 houses had been handed over to the flood victims so far in three phases. As many as 35 houses in Karnangeri, 80 houses in Madenadu, 383 houses in Jambur and 162 houses in Biligiri have been handed over to the beneficiaries so far. This adds upto 660 houses. Over 76 houses are under construction at K. Nidugane and they too will be handed over in the next two months, the Minister added. Infosys Foundation is building 200 houses in Jambur and the work is in progress.
“A total of 836 families had lost homes during the natural calamity. Houses have been handed over to 660 beneficiaries so far. Houses that are being built at K. Nidugane village will be handed over in a month,” he said.
Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah and Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 25th, 2021
According to sources, more number of patients are reportedly coming to the hospital from neighbouring district including places like Sulia.
Oxygen supply unit at COVID-19 hospital in Madikeri. (Photo | Express)
Madikeri :
The Government Covid-19 Hospital in Kodagu, which is the only hospital treating coronavirus patients in the district, is efficiently handling the pandemic despite a spike in cases and shortage of staff.
Nearly 2,000 swab samples are being collected daily at the lone Covid-19 testing lab of the district.
According to sources, more number of patients are reportedly coming to the hospital from neighbouring district including places like Sulia.
A video alleging mismanagement at the Covid Hospital went viral recently, causing fear among many residents. The person recording the video alleged that the Covid hospital in Madikeri did not have enough beds and four persons were made to share a single bed at the centre.
Nevertheless, this allegation is far from the truth as one of the doctors working at the Hospital clarified, “once a patient tests positive, they will have to undergo many other tests including CT Scan. While the Hospital is equipped with a CT Scan facility, the center is not appointed with a radiologist. Hence, there is a minor delay in availing the CT Scan report as they are availed from a private hospital in Mysuru. Hence, patients are required to wait for nearly two hours at the hospital wards equipped with beds during the waiting period.”
However, this issue was wrongly publicised by a patient who alleged that three to four patients share a bed, while they were just waiting inside a ward for their CT Scan report.
“The Covid Hospital is equipped with 150 beds attached with the oxygen supply facility. An additional 100 beds equipped with oxygen supply will be operational from Monday. A total of 13,000 liters of oxygen is available at the hospital and the same will be refilled once in 12 to 15 days,” confirmed Dr Kariappa, dean of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences. He, however, said that there is a shortage of staff at the hospital.
The existing staff and doctors are working overtime to ensure efficient treatment and consultation to the patients.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna G R, Express News Service / April 25th, 2021
She was the first woman referee from India to officiate in 88 international hockey matches
The first Indian woman umpire who started her international career in 2004 and the first woman referee from India to officiate in 88 international hockey matches Mundanda (Puchimanda) Anupama, wife of Mundanda Mithun Mandanna of Nelaji village in Kodagu, passed away in Bengaluru this morning. She was 41.
She was selected by the Federation of International Hockey as one of the youngest umpires among ten men and women in the world. She had a passion for sports when she was nine and since then she never looked back. She was the first woman referee from India to officiate in 88 international hockey matches, junior world cup and three Commonwealth Games.
Born to Puchimanda Shivappa and Shanthi Shivappa (Achhandira) at Bittangala, Anupama was awarded the Best Umpire (Women) India by Sardar Gyan Singh Memorial Hockey Society in 2007. Anupama represented India in the umpires seminar held at Singapore, Hyderabad, Chennai, Chandigarh and New Delhi and represented Karnataka as a player in the sub-junior and senior women’s National Hockey Championships. She officiated as the umpire in the four-nation tournament held at Singapore in 2007 and refereed the finals between Australia Vs Malaysia.
She was the umpire in the three-nation tournament held at Italy and also umpired the Central American and Caribbean games, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic in 2006. In 2008, Anupama officiated as the umpire for two four-nation tournament at Rotterdam in Holland and also at Bremen in Germany. Anupama umpired the Junior Asia Cup held at Malaysia in and was the umpire in the youth Olympic Games held at Australia in 2009.
She started her sports career at the age of nine as an amateur athlete at Sports School Kudige in Kodagu. At 13, she joined the Sports Authority of India, Madikeri, where she got into hockey. She represented the State in sub-junior and senior national championships several times. She has also officiated in events in Asia, Africa, and America and European continents.
She had a passion for umpiring and she cleared the umpiring exam in 2001 and first officiated as an umpire at Cheppudira Family Hockey Tournament in Kodagu and went onto make international name and fame. Anupama’s goal was to be an Olympics umpire. “I am happy I chose this profession. This motivates me to focus more on the job and I will be happy if one day I get to officiate in the Olympics,” she had stated in one of her interviews.
Recently Anupama was selected as Executive Council Member by Karnataka State Hockey Association.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / April 18th, 2021
Artist B R Sathish in the Kunchagayana in Virajpet.
To create awareness about the ill effects of narcotic drugs, artist B R Sathish conducted a Kunchagayana programme on social media.
Speaking on the occasion, Kodagu Press Club president Ajjamada Ramesh Kuttappa said that there is a need to fight against the drug menace. Everyone should join hands to create a drug-free Kodagu.
In the Kunchagayana, T D Mohan sang songs while artist B R Sathish made drawings to create awareness.
Janapada Parishat district president Ananthashayana and others were present.
Shravan Manjunath Nagesh, a native of Kodagu, has been appointed as Justice of the Peace (JP) in the State of New South Wales, Australia. He took Oath of Office in Court during February 2021.
After passing the ‘Justice of the Peace’ exam with 100 percent marks, Shravan was nominated by a Member of Parliament (MP) following which the Governor of New South Wales State approved his appointment.
A native of Gonikoppal, Kodagu, 28-year-old Shravan was born to Nagesh Krishna and Deena Nagesh.
As his father was working as a Senior General Manager at a Multi-National Company in Sydney, Australia, Shravan did his basic education at Australia and completed his graduation in Mechanical Engineering at BMS Engineering College in Bengaluru.
His mother Deena is a realtor.
Shravan is the grandson of late B.S. Ganesh Kumar, Joint Director of Agriculture, Mysuru district.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / April 15th, 2021
Describing the 37 Coorg Medium Regiment as a matter of ‘pride for Karnataka’, ex-Sergeant of Indian Air Force Mandetira Subramani, who is also the president of VeKare Ex-Servicemen’s Trust (VKET), has emphasised the need to post a few more willing young officers, junior commissioned officers (JCOs) and jawans among Coorgs to the regiment and make it more meaningful.
Representation needed
Even though the regiment uses the insignia of Coorg i.e Odi Kathi and Peeche Kathi, and displays the insignia in sports track suits, besides celebrating the two major festivals Puttari and Kaipodh, it is surprising to note that there is no significant representation of Coorg officers, jawans and JCOs in the regiment as of now, said Mr. Subramani while addressing the recent 9th annual general body meeting of T. Shettigeri Ex-Servicemen Association, Kodagu.
He urged the president of the association Kattera Vishwanath to approach the Chief of Army Staff and request him to post a few willing young officers, JCOs and jawans among Coorgs already serving the army in different artillery regiments to the regiment.
Youth training
He also said the Army recruitment rallies should be held in Kodagu more frequently. He urged the members of the association to motivate and train the youth in Kodagu to join the Indian Army as officers or as combatant soldiers depending on their educational qualification.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / Mysuru – April 14th, 2021
Four sailors from India to compete at this year’s Tokyo Olympics
Mysore/Mysuru:
In a historic first for India, four sailors from the country will compete at this year’s Olympics after the pair of Kelappanda Chengappa Ganapathy – Varun Thakkar and Vishnu Saravanan made the cut for Tokyo at the Asian Qualifiers in Oman on Thursday.
This was after Nethra Kumanan became the first Indian woman sailor to qualify for the Olympics in the laser radial event in the Mussanah Open Championship, which is an Asian Olympic qualifying event, held on Wednesday. It is also the first time that India will compete in three sailing events in the Olympics.
“Yes, history has been scripted. Four Indian sailors have qualified for Olympics to compete in three events. It’s the maximum number of sailors qualified and also in number of events,” Yachting Association of India Joint Secretary General Capt. Jitendra Dixit said.
Chengappa – Thakkar pair finished on top of the points table in the 49er Class. The duo had to finish in the top six in the medal race to make the grade, but the duo finished fourth and first overall to qualify.
“We got the result we wanted. All our hard work has paid off. We are grateful for all the people who supported us. It was a shaky (final) race, but we did it. Now the work starts,” Chengappa and Varun said after their achievement. Vikas Thakkar and Ganapathy had also won the bronze medal in 49er men’s sailing event at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia.
“I congratulate Indian athletes Nethra Kumanan, K.C. Ganapathy and Varun Thakkar who have qualified for Tokyo Olympic in sailing. I’m particularly proud of the quota of Nethra, who is India’s first-ever female sailor to qualify for the Olympics!” tweeted Union Sports Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Twenty-six-year-old Ganapathy is the son of Kelappanda late Deepak Chengappa and Reshma Chengappa (from Allaranda family). His mother Reshma runs a furniture business in Chennai and the family is settled there. His grandparents are Kelappanda late Pratap and Padma Prathap. Padma resides at Kolthodu village near Hatur village in South Kodagu.
Speaking to Star of Mysore, Padma said that it was a proud moment for India in general and Kodavas in particular as Ganapathy has achieved the distinction of being the first Kodava Yachtsman to qualify for the Olympics.“He has been sailing all through his life and started sailing at the age of six. He won the Under-12 National Championship and has come a long way. I pray for his success every moment and I am confident that he will make India proud,” she said.
In fact, Ganapathy quit school to pursue full-time sailing and won the Asian Games bronze. Later he enrolled himself at an Open School.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News> Sports / April 10th, 2021
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