Category Archives: Inspiration / Positive News and Features

FARMER’S NOTEBOOK : A package of practices for profitable coffee, black pepper cultivation

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu
EMPOWERED: Attending one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation was a turning point in Mrs. Prema Ganesh’s life./ Special Arrangement / The Hindu

Agriculture is no more a male dominated sector, as many women have shown that they are second to none in this field. “Women can be successful agriculturists, if they are supported with timely technological interventions by scientists and encouragement from family”, says Dr. M. Anandaraj, Director of the Indian Institute of Spices Research (IISR), Kozhikode.
Mrs. Prema Ganesh from Maragodu village, Kodagu District, Karnataka is a role model for other women in this field.

Several problems

When she ventured to take over her coffee and black pepper plantation in 10 hectares a decade ago, several problems started surfacing, especially the low productivity of crops, making agriculture a non profitable enterprise.Keen to overcome them, she happened to attend one of the seminars organised by IISR’s Cardamom Research Centre (CRC) at Appangala in Kodagu on spices cultivation.“It was a turning point in my life,” recollects Ms Ganesh.

The scientists at CRC assured full technological support to her ventures. A team from CRC visited her plantation and identified some major production constraints such as high plant density per unit area, prevalence of diseases and pests, problems like spike shedding in black pepper etc.They provided a complete package of practices to be followed including thinning of excess plant growth to maintain optimum spacing among them, adoption of basin management techniques like application of organic manures, micronutrient application, earthing up and mulching for various crops.“In the case of black pepper, special recommendations like basin irrigation at the rate of 40-50 litres of water at 4-5 times per vine at an interval of 5-7 days during May-June in case of delayed monsoon, regulation of shade by pruning the support trees to provide minimum 50-60 per cent exposure to sunlight were suggested,” says Dr. S J Ankegowda, Head, CRC, AppangalaFor diseases and pests, spraying of two rounds of Bordeaux during June and August/September and one round of drenching with 0.2 per cent Copper Oxy Chloride (COC), and need based application of insecticides were also recommended.Trees like balangi, palawan and silver oak were planted at a spacing of 15×15 feet (random) to provide adequate shade to the crops.In addition she readied several rainwater harvesting pits of 10 feet length, 1.5 feet width and 1.5 feet depth between the coffee plants.These pits also serve as compost pits where all the farm wastes are dumped for two years to decompose after which they are removed and applied as organic manure to coffee and pepper, substantially reducing the cost on purchase of farm yard manure.

Composed husks

Ms. Ganesh makes use of composed coffee cherry husk, a by-product of coffee pulping, after mixing with cow dung as an additional source of organic manure.Annually she spends Rs. 35,000 per acre as operational cost and gets about Rs. 25 lakhs a year as net income from both black pepper and coffee. Reducing manual labour was an important initiative by her.“First thing they did was to lay motorable roads inside the plantation. This has reduced the strain in carrying the harvested produce in bags by labourers.Before the roads were laid, a labourer would take about 30 minutes to carry the bag to the main road for loading it on the lorries.“The physical strain was quite heavy. But now this has considerably reduced since the vehicles can come into the plantation,” says Dr. Ankegowda.

Underground irrigation

Another initiative was the underground pipe-lining for irrigation. Today the entire plantation has well connected irrigation line ready for irrigation all through the year.For more details readers can contact Mrs. Prema Ganesh, Prema Estate, Maragodu Village, Madikeri, Kodagu district- 571 201, Ph: 08272-241555, or Dr. S. J. Ankegowda, Head, IISR Cardamom Research Centre, Appangala, Madikeri-571201, Karnataka, mobile: 09663069241 and phone: 08272-245451.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> S & T> Science / Farmers Notebook> Karnataka / by M.J.Prabu / February 26th, 2014

Call to preserve Kodava culture

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Kodava culture is on the verge of extinction as it is not receiving the right kind of encouragement and patronage, said president of the women’s wing of Somwarpet Kodava Samaja Bachinadanda Rita Kushalappa, here, recently.
KodavaKF30jan2014
She was speaking during the inauguration of a get-together, organised by the Samaja. “The rich Kodava culture should be introduced to children in the primary school level itself. Parents should take the first step in this direction,” she said.

She called upon Kodava women, in the taluk, to enrol with the Samaja.

Former district Scouts and Guides commissioner Manavattira Sharadha Mandanna said, Kodavas are being reduced to a minority population in the district due to migration of the people to other districts, States and nations, in search of better opportunities.

Non-residents

“At least, those who are residing in the district should strive to take steps to safeguard the interest of the Kodava people. Those who are residing should encourage their counterparts in Kodagu district. They should contribute whenever possible,” she said.

Women took part in several cultural programmes and games. Samaja secretary Apadanda Asha Viraraj, vice-president Paruvanda Saru Ramappa, Biddatanda Seetha and others were present.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / Somwarpet (Kodagu Dist.) / DHNS – January 15th, 2014

Tributes paid to war hero Devayya

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah and others offering floral tributes to the portrait of Ajjamada Devayya at the Circle named after him in Madikeri on Saturday.
Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah and others offering floral tributes to the portrait of Ajjamada Devayya at the Circle named after him in Madikeri on Saturday.

Rich tributes were paid to late Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, a Kodava hero who showed exemplary courage to shoot down a Pakistani Supersonic F104 aircraft in the 1965 war under adverse conditions, at the Circle named after him at the private bus stand in Madikeri on Saturday. Sq. Ldr. Devayya carried out the attack on this day in 1965 to lay down his life for the nation.

Garland

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, Ajjamada family members, officials, and guests garlanded the portrait of Devayya in the morning to remember the heroics of the war veteran with Mr. Bopaiah promising to find a suitable location to set up a statue in the city in honour of Devayya for upholding military traditions of Kodagu.

Sq. Ldr. Devayya was born on 24 Dec 1932. He was the only one among the members of the strike force who sacrificed his life for the nation after carrying out the task of attacking the Sargodha airfield in Pakistan on September 7, 1965.

This was revealed in a book written by English journalist John Fricker, after he was party to the description of an episode by the then Flight Lieutenant, Amjad Hussain, of Pakistan.

The private bus-stand circle in Madikeri was named after the war hero on September 7, 2009.

Sq. Ldr. Devayya was conferred with the Maha Vir Chakra for his illustrious service to the nation posthumously which was received by his wife Sundari from the President of India.

Delay

Though the State government sanctioned Rs. 5 lakh for setting up a statue of Devayya, the project was being delayed over a court order, he said. Efforts were on to talk to Bal Bhavan authorities to secure land to set up the statue of Devayya, he said. Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tewari, Ajjamada family members Karumbaiah, Katti Mandaiah, ex-servicemen, officials of Department of Sainik and Resettlement Board, Madikeri, were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Madikeri – September 08th, 2013

‘Create awareness on Aids’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

AidsKF10dec2013There is need to create an awareness on HIV/Aids among people, said Zilla Panchayat Vice President Biddanda Usha Devamma.

She was speaking at a World Aids Day programme organised by the district administration, zilla panchayat, department of health and family welfare, District Aids Control unit, district Legal Services Authority, here on Monday. Zilla Panchayat standing committee (education and health) Mani Nanjappa, Zilla Panchayat Chief Executive Officer Srividya, District Health Officer Dr O R Srirangappa and others were present.

Protest

The contract workers of Karnataka State Aids Prevention Society staged a protest demanding the fulfillment of their demands, by wearing black badge.

The staff members of ICTC, ART, DSRC, Link ART and blood bank took part in the protest.
Addressing the protesters, Contract Workers district unit leader Sadananda said that Karnataka tops in controlling the spread of Aids. However, the workers who have been striving for the purpose are not given facilities.

The protesters urged to regularise the services of contract labourers and double the wages of the contract workers. The wages which were pending for the last few months should be released at the earliest.

Mudigere

Students who become victims of wrong selections, tend to miss a lot of opportunities in life, said JMFC Principal Civil Judge Padmaprasad.

He was speaking after inaugurating legal literacy programme jointly organised by the law department, NSS unit and health department, to observe World Aids Day at Government Boy’s PU College on Monday.

“Adolescence is a period which takes youth in wrong direction. Only those who aim high and are spirited throughout, achieve in their lives.”

“Life gives several opportunities, therefore students should come out of negative and unwanted thoughts that come to their mind. Even the parents should shower love on children so that they will not succumb to bad habits,” he said.

Taluk Health Officer Dr Yogesh called ‘awareness’ as the only medicine for Aids.
Students should educate themselves about Aids and also spread awareness in the society, he said.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> District / by DHNS – Madikeri / December 02nd, 2013

1st Soliga KAS does his tribe proud

Amazing Feats, Education, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Bangalore :

Ravi Ramaiah is on cusp of setting a record by becoming the first KAS officer from the Soliga tribes. But to his misfortune, this 28-year-old, selected to be a Class I officer in 2011, is yet to receive his appointment order. The reason: the recruitment process has been kept in abeyance because 25 of the 362 successful candidates were found to have indulged in malpractices.

But Ravi, who hails from a hamlet near Nagarahole in Mysore district, has not given up hope. Working as a police constable in Mysore’s Jayalakshmipuram police station, Ravi began dreaming of becoming a bureaucrat after his primary school teacher Suresh and lecturer Rudrappa felt he could achieve more.

“They encouraged me to take the KSPC exams. I cleared both exams and the interview in my first attempt. I used to study at least eight hours a day,” Ravi said. He scored 956 marks out of 1,800 in the Mains exam and 150 out of 200 in the interview.

“The imbroglio over appointments has ruined my dreams,” Ravi says.

Coming out with flying colours in the face of adversity is not new to Ravi. “I did my primary education at a government school in Beeranahalli, walking alone 3 km from and to my house in the jungle. These lonely treks made me decide to be a self-made man. Jungle made me a brave and bold man,” he says.

Ravi’s father, Ramaiah, studied till class III, while mother Jayamma never went to school. “He is a born naturalist. He can smell the air and predict rain two days in advance,” Ravi says of his father. His eldest brother is an SSLC dropout, while the second brother completed his II PUC.

Ravi’s teacher Suresh took him to Hunsur and got him admitted to a government high school.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Government School / by Rajiv Kalkod, TNN / November 28th, 2013

‘Doctor’ Brijita Lobo celebrates 101st birthday

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nature

Centenarian Brijita Lobo with her daughter Philomena Lobo.
Centenarian Brijita Lobo with her daughter Philomena Lobo.

Rotary Club of Mysore Royal

by Rtn. Pius Saldanha

This doctor neither has a medical degree nor has she gone to any school but she was an expert in herbal medicine. Meet Brijita Lobo, who celebrated her 101st birthday recently.

Born on Sept. 30, 1913 in Betolli village of Virajpet taluk, and settled down in Beppunad (Kedamullur village) after marrying M.P. Lobo (late), who was a Shirastedar in Virajpet court, she celebrated her 101st birthday on Sept. 30 at Bangalore. Many joined the celebrations which included a Thanksgiving Mass and prayed for her good health.

Like a Kannada saying goes, ‘Aadu muttada soppilla,’ there is no ailment that she did not handle and was an expert as Gynaec. The nearest town, Virajpet being six kilometres away, she was often disturbed for midnight emergency. Any difficult delivery, she handled with confidence. She was fondly called as ‘Badavara Bandhu’ (Messiah of the Poor) by the villagers.

I was her neighbour and in the summer of 1977 came down on holidays from Haryana. Following day, I was relaxing under a tree, talking to my neighbours. I saw her coming down from a hillock, situated a kilometer away. On seeing me, she came and enquired fondly, ‘how are you my son!’ (kosuasaiputa?). I said, ‘Moushe, (O Aunt) I can’t lift my right hand, a dozen boils under my arm due to the heat of summer. On examining me, she went back to the hillock, and returned after 45 minutes and treated me with her herbs. Next day, I could lift my hand with ease and on the following day, I was cured totally.

My cousin Trecilla, a teacher delivered a baby girl in a hospital, and was suffering with acute stomach ache. After a week, this ‘doctor’ treated Trecilla with her herbal medicine, the dead twin baby was flushed out. Trecilla is enjoying her retired life with good health now. Her first twin girl is a mother of two now.

The grand-mother, Brijita Lobo is living with her children in Bangalore. Last year, well-wishers and friends wished her for her 100th birthday. She can be contact on Mob: 9482220399.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by Rtn. Pius Saldhana / October 04th, 2013

J&K terror attack : Commanding officer from Kodagu amongst injured

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Kodagu :

Twelve persons, including a Lieutenant Colonel, died in two militant attacks on Police and Army formations in Kathua and Samba districts of Jammu and Kashmir yesterday.

The Commanding Officer of the unit, Col. Avin Uthaiya, who was seriously injured in the firing by terrorists, was one of the first people in the unit to react to the attack. He was evacuated to the Military Hospital at Pathankot with injuries in his arm and leg.

Col. Uthaiya is the son of Vir Chakra awardee Mandetira Ravi (retired), a resident of Kakotuparambu village in Kodagu district. He is presently recouping in a hospital in Delhi.

It is said that three unidentified militants in combat military uniform, who were believed to have infiltrated through the meticulously fenced international border in the Raj Bagh area on Tuesday, appeared in an interior neighbourhood of Hiranagar, in Kathua district, in the morning. They commandeered a load-carrier at gunpoint, and on sighting a police station at Hiranagar, they alighted and trooped into the premises, killing the sentry. There they killed three more Policemen and injured three others.

The militants also fired upon the driver and left him wounded when he attempted to escape. Thereafter, they hijacked a truck towards the highway after killing its cleaner who reportedly offered resistance. They abandoned the truck on the highway and used another vehicle to reach an Army camp at Samba, on the road to Jammu.

Both the drivers later revealed to the Police that there were three militants. Sources said the three heavily armed militants stormed the military formation and took positions close to the officers’ mess. Two soldiers and a Lt. Colonel died and two more soldiers sustained injuries. The DIG Jammu said that early reports of six fatal casualties were not true. Some officials initially mistook the injured for the dead, he added.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / September 27th, 2013

TOI Social Impact Awards: Wonder doctor’s success mantra

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Science & Technology

Mysore :

As a child M Jadeyegowda first saw Dr H Sudarshan dispense medicines to tribals at Biligiri Ranaga Hills near here. Initially, he stayed away from the doctor. Later, curiosity drew the tribal boy to the doctor. Dr Sudarshan and his Karuna Trust became the biggest influences on his life.

(Other than providing medical…)
(Other than providing medical…)

Other than providing medical help, Dr Sudarshan taught children in the tribal parts of Karnataka’s Chamarajnagar district. Jadeyegowda was a reluctant student. Today, he’s an assistant professor at Kodagu’s College of Forestry. “As a kid, I saw the doctor conduct surgeries with minimum facilities,” Jadeyegowda,43, says.

In October 2006, when the Vivekananda Girijana Kalyana Kendra (VGKK) — to which Karuna Trust is affiliated — celebrated silver jubilee, Jadeyegowda, MSc, shook hands with President Abdul Kalam. He was one of the six students who had attended the tribal school set up by the NGO 25 years back. Jadeye now heads VGKK and is a trustee of the Karuna Trust. “I’m more comfortable being recognised as a beneficiary,” he says. “Jadeye is a beneficiary of our health and education programmes. That helped him,” Dr Sudarshan says.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore> Silver Jubilee / by H M Aravind, TNN / February 01st, 2013

Tributes paid to war hero Devayya

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah and others offering floral tributes to the portrait of Ajjamada Devayya at the Circle named after him in Madikeri on Saturday./ The Hindu
Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah and others offering floral tributes to the portrait of Ajjamada Devayya at the Circle named after him in Madikeri on Saturday./ The Hindu

Rich tributes were paid to late Squadron Leader Ajjamada B. Devayya, a Kodava hero who showed exemplary courage to shoot down a Pakistani Supersonic F104 aircraft in the 1965 war under adverse conditions, at the Circle named after him at the private bus stand in Madikeri on Saturday. Sq. Ldr. Devayya carried out the attack on this day in 1965 to lay down his life for the nation.

Garland

Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah, Ajjamada family members, officials, and guests garlanded the portrait of Devayya in the morning to remember the heroics of the war veteran with Mr. Bopaiah promising to find a suitable location to set up a statue in the city in honour of Devayya for upholding military traditions of Kodagu.

Sq. Ldr. Devayya was born on 24 Dec 1932. He was the only one among the members of the strike force who sacrificed his life for the nation after carrying out the task of attacking the Sargodha airfield in Pakistan on September 7, 1965.

This was revealed in a book written by English journalist John Fricker, after he was party to the description of an episode by the then Flight Lieutenant, Amjad Hussain, of Pakistan.

The private bus-stand circle in Madikeri was named after the war hero on September 7, 2009.

Sq. Ldr. Devayya was conferred with the Maha Vir Chakra for his illustrious service to the nation posthumously which was received by his wife Sundari from the President of India.

Delay

Though the State government sanctioned Rs. 5 lakh for setting up a statue of Devayya, the project was being delayed over a court order, he said. Efforts were on to talk to Bal Bhavan authorities to secure land to set up the statue of Devayya, he said. Deputy Commissioner Anurag Tewari, Ajjamada family members Karumbaiah, Katti Mandaiah, ex-servicemen, officials of Department of Sainik and Resettlement Board, Madikeri, were present.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Madikeri – September 08th, 2013

On eve of Arjuna award ceremony, Joshna Chinappa wants boost for squash

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All, Sports

Joshna Chinappa will receive the Arjuna award today, a recognition that has come after a long wait for the Chennai squash player.

The 25-year-old became the first Indian girl to win the prestigious British Junior under-19 title in 2003 and followed it up with a gold at the South Asian Federation Games gold in 2004.

Joshna Chinappa
Joshna Chinappa

Chinappa, currently ranked 27 in the world, spoke to MiD DAY on what the Arjuna award means to her and other aspects of the sport.

Excerpts:

What does the Arjuna award mean to you?
It means a lot to me. This is one of my biggest achievements. I have been recognised by the government and the feeling is special.

With you and Deepika Pallikal being the only two faces in Indian squash, what will it take for more of your kind to emerge?
Hopefully, there will be more kids taking up squash after us and pursuing it as a career. But for that, there has to be better structure to develop squash and reach out to all sections of people in different parts of the country. There is a need for good coaches, facilities, conducting tournaments all over the country and helping kids financially to play international as well as national tournaments.

How has the progress of you and Deepika changed the popularity of the sport in the past few years?
I think more people are aware of squash because of what Saurav Ghosal, Deepika Pallikal, Siddharth Suchde, Harinder Sandhu and myself have been doing on the international circuit. There have been some international events that have helped in bringing more recognition to the sport. Squash has grown a lot in Chennai, but needs to develop more in other parts of the country.

What needs to be done to give the sport a boost? It is restricted to cities and has not entered rural areas…
Squash is still a club-level sport in many cities and not everyone can afford a membership to play. We need to develop courts that are easily accessible at the grassroots level. Courts have to be built with the help of the central and state governments along with the federation. Also, a program to develop squash in particular areas. Hopefully, with a good plan, corporates will come on board to support squash and then we can see more kids
taking up the sport.

Since squash has been short-listed now for the Olympics, how difficult will it be for the federation to convince the International Olympic Committee for the final spot?
Squash being short-listed is amazing and hopefully, we can make it to the Olympics as it deserves to. But we are competing with wrestling which has a better chance of getting back in. I’m just hoping for the best.

source: http://www.mid-day.com / Mid Day / Home> Sports / by Sundari Iyer / Mumbai – August 31st, 2013