To represent India in the Asian Junior Championships
Mysuru:
Diya Bheemaiah, a native of Kodagu and India’s top-seed junior player, secured the Girls’ Doubles title at the Yonex-Sunrise All India Junior (U-19) Ranking Badminton Tournament 2026 held at the Karnataka Badminton Academy in Vasanthnagar, Bengaluru recently.
Partnering with Baruni Paruswal of Haryana, Diya clinched the title by defeating the Tamil Nadu duo of A.S. Anushka Jennifer and Deeshitha Singha Gopinath Singh in straight-sets 21-10, 22-20.
This victory also earned Diya a direct spot to represent the Indian Junior Team at the upcoming Badminton Asian Junior Championships – 2026 to be held in Yatsushiro, Japan, from June 26 to July 5.
Furthermore, her performance has secured her a place in the selection process to represent the Indian Junior squad in the Mixed Doubles category as well. Diya is the daughter of Boppanda B. Bheemaiah, a badminton coach and K.K. Kusuma, a fitness coach, residing in Mysuru.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports /May 13th, 2026
The academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces, with each library consisting of a bookshelf and a curated collection of books based on the preferences of the recipient.
The Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces. | Photo Credit: special arrangement
As reading habits continue to decline in the digital age, the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy has launched a unique initiative aimed at reviving library culture by bringing books directly into houses, offices, and community spaces across Karnataka.
The academy has begun setting up personalised libraries for individuals and organisations interested in creating reading spaces, with each library consisting of a bookshelf and a curated collection of books based on the preferences of the recipient.
Speaking about the initiative with The Hindu, academy president Ajjinikanda Mahesh Nachaiah said that the programme was started with the intention of encouraging people to reconnect with books at a time when libraries and reading habits are slowly fading.
“Today, many youngsters spend more time on mobile phones and social media, while the culture of reading books is gradually disappearing. By setting up libraries in houses, offices, and community spaces, we want to create an environment where books become a part of daily life again. Even a small bookshelf can inspire curiosity, discussions, and the habit of reading among children and adults alike,” Mr. Nachaiah said.
Multilingual library initiative
Under the initiative which started this February 7, the academy collects a charge of ₹10,000, which is utilised for purchasing books and providing a bookshelf to the applicant. Along with books brought out by the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy, additional books are selected according to the interests and language preferences of the individual or organisation.
Mr. Nachaiah said that the initiative was not limited to Kodava literature alone. “Though this programme is being implemented by the Kodava Sahitya Academy, we do not provide only Kodava books. We provide books in Kannada, English, Kodava, and other languages depending on what people prefer. We also collect books through donations and purchase additional titles so that every library becomes unique and useful to the people using it,” he said.
So far, the academy has established libraries in nine locations, including residences, community spaces like Kodava Samajas, offices, and associations in the district. One such library has also been set up at the residence of Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna. The initiative has also expanded beyond Kodagu, with a library already established in Mysuru Kodava Samaja.
Villages, ancestral homes
Among those who benefited from the initiative is Kukera Jaya Chinappa, a resident of Arekadu village in Madikeri taluk.
“I was impressed by the concept when I heard about it. People in our village regularly gather at the association building in the evenings, and now, because of this initiative, we have a proper library there. The collection includes Kodava, Kannada and English books, and many villagers have started reading during their free time,” he told The Hindu.
Similarly, Palandira Jaga Joyappa, a resident of Balamberi village, said the initiative helped preserve the literary legacy of his ancestral home. “Our grandparents were avid readers and were into the literary field and had a large collection of books. Over the years, many books were lost or scattered because we did not know how to maintain them properly. After learning about this initiative, the academy helped us organise the books and establish a proper library in our ancestral house,” he told The Hindu.
“With increasing interest from individuals and organisations, the Karnataka Kodava Sahitya Academy hopes to expand the initiative further across the State in the coming months. Already many people are reaching out to us to have their own libraries,” Mr. Nachaiah added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Darshan Devaiah B.P / May10th, 2026
A file photo of Chikkamagaluru police visiting a resort in the district to check if the owner have implemented measures to ensure the safety of tourists. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
As part of the new measures, every staff member working at these properties, including permanent and contract employees, will have to undergo background verification at the local police station.
Following the sexual assault on a U.S. tourist at a Kodagu homestay, the government of Karnataka has made police verification of staff mandatory for all homestays and bed-and-breakfast properties. Travellers, as per a recent circular, will be able to check whether a property is registered with local authorities before checking in.
Moreover, for police monitoring, all registered properties will be linked to the Karnataka Police Smart E-Beat system, to allow beat constables to make regular visits, verify guest records and log their inspections through GPS-based tracking. District administrations have been told to form joint inspection teams with police and tourism officials to carry out surprise checks and identify unregistered properties operating illegally.
The government of Karnataka is planning to strengthen emergency response by linking registered properties directly to the 112 system to allow distress calls from these locations to be treated as priority tourist emergencies for quicker police response, officials told The Hindu.
The rules were updated following a recent incident where the victim had alleged that her drinks were laced with intoxicants by a homestay staff member who assaulted her. She had accused the homestay owner of attempting to suppress the incident and failing to help her in approaching the police.
Background verification
As part of the new measures, every staff member working at these properties, including permanent and contract employees, will have to undergo background verification at the local police station. Property owners must keep these records ready, either physically or digitally, for inspection by police or tourism officials.
Report by May 15
All Deputy Commissioners, tourism officials, Police and Women and Child Development departments have been directed to co-ordinate and implement the new rules, and submit a compliance report to the Tourism Department by May 15.
For properties hosting foreign tourists, owners and managers will be trained to correctly record and report guest details through the police-prescribed system, with random checks to ensure compliance.
Tourists can verify antecedents of accommodation
As per a senior official, the Tourism Department will publish and regularly update an online list of all registered homestays and bed-and-breakfast properties in Karnataka for tourists to check. Travel agents, tour operators and online booking platforms have been told to work only with registered properties, while non-compliant properties could be removed from listings until they meet the rules. These properties will have to display their registration certificates and licences at the entrance or reception so guests can easily check if the property is authorised to operate, according to a recent circular.
Emergency contact details, including 112, the national tourist helpline (1800111363 or on a short code 1363), women’s helpline and child helpline numbers, along with details of the nearest hospital and local authorities, must be displayed at all properties. Hospitality staff will undergo training on gender sensitisation, the POSH Act, 2013 and the POCSO Act, 2012. Properties will have to display QR codes for the Karnataka State Police SOS mobile app, Tourism Department stated.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Rishita Khanna / May11th, 2026
Over 2,000 coffee plants, 250 pepper vines cut down at Kalakooru village
Madikeri:
In a shocking incident of large-scale vandalism, unidentified miscreants entered a coffee plantation at Kalakooru village near Birunani in Ponnampet taluk of Kodagu district and destroyed more than 2,000 coffee plants and 250 pepper vines, causing losses estimated to run into several lakhs of rupees.
The plantation belongs to Kuppanamada Gautham, who had carefully developed the four-acre estate over the years with seven-year-old coffee plants and pepper vines. The estate was equipped with modern surveillance measures, including CCTV cameras installed at strategic locations.
The incident took place while Gautam and his family were away in Mysuru to attend a wedding ceremony. Taking advantage of their absence, miscreants trespassed into the plantation and carried out widespread destruction.
In addition to cutting down the crops, the perpetrators disconnected and took away the CCTV cameras in an attempt to erase evidence.
The destruction was extensive, with coffee plants and pepper vines cut at ground level, leaving no scope for regrowth. Gautham now faces the difficult and expensive task of re-establishing the plantation from scratch.
Villagers described the act as deliberate and well-planned. They pointed out that the scale of destruction indicated the involvement of at least eight to ten persons.
The incident triggered outrage among villagers and members of the local farming community, who strongly condemned the destruction of crops and demanded immediate action against those responsible.
Hudikeri Revenue Inspector Santhosh visited the spot and inspected the damaged estate. Srimangala Police Station Inspector A.S. Ravindra, along with his team, also visited the plantation. Police deployed a dog squad to gather clues.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 08th, 2026
Dr. Aeklavya Panjali conducting hands-on courses throughout the year in Cicero, New York.
The New York Implant Institute has provided excellence in dental implant education since 2007 at its dental implant institute in Cicero, NY, and the next course will take place May 15 to May 16 with limited seats available.
Aeklavya Panjali, DDS, MS, FAGD, DICOI, who is an international speaker on dental implants, teaches the courses. He is certified in IV sedation dentistry, invisalign, dental implants and cosmetic dentistry.
Prof. Dr. Al Panjali earned his DDS at NYU College of Dentistry and went on to complete a Master’s in Oral Implantology at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany—one of Europe’s leading implantology programs. He holds Diplomate status with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists (ICOI)—a credential held by fewer than 3,000 dentists worldwide. He serves as a Clinical Professor at the Coorg Institute of Dental Sciences and has lectured on 4 continents.
The New York Implant Institute offer hands-on implant training through its dental implant CE courses and live surgery courses that stay with you for life. Join these seminars and take the next step in advancing your skills with implant courses for dentists.
The May 15-16 course is a Level 3 two-day hands-on course worth 16 CE credits, titled “Platelet Rich Fibrin (PRF), With GBR (Guided Bone Regeneration) and Ridge Augmentation.” This is an advanced course for implant site development with autologous growth factors.
Other courses later this year include:
• LEVEL 4 – Live Patient Surgical Course – 5‑Day Intensive Program Overview
July 1–6, 2026 – 2 seats available
August 9–14, 2026 – Weekday – (Monday–Friday) November 4–9, 2026
• LEVEL 5 – IMPLANT PROSTHODONTICS
• LEVEL 6 ALL ON “X” – The Workflow with Hands on Clinical Sessions. June 12 – 13, 2026
• LEVEL 7 – LIVE SURGERY FOR ALL ON “X” WITH SAME DAY CONVERSION
August 28 – 29, 2026
DIGITAL WORKFLOW FOR FULL ARCH WITH NEODENT – A HANDS ON COURSE
Amid loud cheers from a packed crowd of over 25,000, the Kulletira family team clinched the ‘Chenanda Cup’ at the 26th Kodava Family Hockey Tournament defeating the Cheppudira family 3–1 yesterday.
The final of the month-long Kodava Family Hockey Festival was held yesterday at General Thimmaiah Stadium in Cheriyaparambu near Napoklu. With this win, Kulletira lifted their fourth title in the prestigious tournament.
The summit clash saw an evenly fought first half, with Cheppudira earning several penalty corners but failing to convert them. Both teams scored once in the third quarter to keep the contest open. However, Kulletira took control in the final quarter, striking twice to seal the victory.
Roshan Lokesh, Avaneesh Mandappa and Shubham Chettiyappa scored a goal each for Kulletira, while Vachan Chinnappa netted the lone goal for Cheppudira.
The winning Kulletira family team was awarded Rs. 3 lakh and a silver rolling trophy. Runners-up Cheppudira family received Rs. 2 lakh and a trophy, while Paradanda family, who finished third, received Rs. 1 lakh.
The festival concluded with the ceremonial handover of the flag to the Ajjikuttira family, who will host the 27th edition in 2027. The Chenanda family, organisers of this year’s event, handed over the flag.
Mandaviya assures support
Union Minister for Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya, who was the chief guest, assured financial support to promote sports, stating that such assistance is the Government’s responsibility and not charity.
He said he had long heard about the Kodava community’s passion for hockey and was glad to witness it first hand. Referring to the International Olympic Committee’s vision of sports as a unifying force, he noted that the Kodava community had upheld this spirit for generations.
“This land has produced 18 Olympians. It is the duty of both the Centre and the State to nurture Kodagu’s sporting talent,” he said. He added that sports should remain free from politics and promised to promote shooting in the region by identifying and training young talent.
Mysuru-Kodagu MP Yaduveer Krishnadatta Chamaraja Wadiyar said the festival reflects the growing sporting culture in the country. Highlighting Kodagu’s contribution to Indian sports, he said the family hockey tradition inspires youth, encourages women’s participation and strengthens national unity.
He urged the Centre to set up a shooting academy in Kodagu under the Khelo India scheme.
Virajpet MLA A.S. Ponnanna termed the festival a model initiative for the district. He said work on an 11-acre sports training centre at V. Badaga village in Virajpet has already begun with State support and appealed to the Centre for assistance in building a stadium.
Kodagu Hockey Academy, President Pandanda K. Bopanna, retired Justice Ajjikuttira S. Bopanna, SLN Coffee CEO Saheed Singh, Dr. Santosh Uthappa of Narayana Hospital, Sports Authority of Karnataka Vice-Chairman Cheppudira Arun Machaiah and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / May 03rd, 2026
Despite sufficient time being given to homestay owners, it has been observed that many establishments remain unregistered. | Photo Credit: File Photo
All homestays operating in Kodagu district have been instructed by the Tourism Department authorities to be mandatorily registered.
As per government orders, it is mandatory for all homestays operating in the district to register with the Tourism Department. Despite sufficient time being given to homestay owners, it has been observed that many establishments remain unregistered, said a press statement issued by the office of the Deputy Director of the Tourism Department in Madikeri on Friday.
The instructions by the Tourism Department have come in the wake of an alleged sexual assault on a woman from the U.S. in a homestay in Kodagu district.
Pointing out that the district administration has taken serious note of many homestays remaining unregistered and had earlier directed that all unregistered homestays complete their registration immediately, the Tourism Department said, “Homestays operating without registration must cease all unauthorised activities forthwith.”
Licenses of homestays operating illegally in the district have already been cancelled, the Tourism Department said, before warning that legal action will be initiated against those continuing to operate in violation of the rules, without registration with the Tourism Department.
The homestays that have already obtained licenses from the Tourism Department and whose validity of five years is nearing expiry have also been instructed to renew their licenses.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / May 01st, 2026
Ganesh BM, an electrical contractor and philanthropist, is helping the poor lead more comfortable lives by building houses and providing free electricity connections.
Ganesh BM inaugurates Shankru and Vasanthi’s new house
Madikeri :
When we exit this world, we don’t take with us the assets we earned in this lifetime. So instead of concentrating on gaining more and more assets, keep what is required to lead a decent life and donate the rest to the needy,” is the mantra Ganesh BM lives by. A resident of Arji panchayat in Kodagu, Ganesh is an electrical contractor and a philanthropist who has donated houses to the poor.
Recently, Ganesh celebrated his 50th birthday and instead of a lavish celebration, he cut a cake with a poor family to whom he gifted a two-bedroom house. “Hard work and determination helped me earn a decent living. I was born in a poor family and lived in a straw hut for the longest time. However, I am now in a well-to-do position and have the urge to help the needy,” he shared.
Lighting up homes
In 2000, Ganesh won the Betoli Gram Panchayat (now known as Arji panchayat) election by five votes. “During this time, I travelled across the panchayat limits and learnt about the living conditions of the people. I was re-elected to the panchayat in 2005 and served as vice-president. I then became a Taluk Panchayat member,” recalled Ganesh.
It was then that he came across a girl from a financially weak background who had scored 95 per cent in the SSLC examination. Her story went viral as she studied under an oil lamp, as the hut she lived in did not have electricity connection. “Her story inspired me and I enabled free electricity connection to her house,” he recalled.
Meanwhile, in 2023, during a routine panchayat survey, Ganesh was introduced to a tribe called Kala. “No one in the panchayat limits lived in such a pitiable condition as Kala and his family. I wanted to make a difference in his life and promised to build him a house,” he shared.
He constructed a four-bedroom house for Kala and the keys were handed over to the family on January 22, 2024, to coincide with the inauguration of the Ayodhya Ram Mandir. “I wanted to the day to have a special memory, so I handed over the keys on the day the Ram Mandir was inaugurated,” he added.
After
In April 2024, Ganesh was alerted about a family which had lost their house. “I am the taluk president for the Billava Community Association, and I was told that the house of a poor woman from the community had collapsed. I decided to build her a house,” he shared. He built a four-bedroom house for Kamala and her family, who had lost their shelter. He spent up to Rs 2.5 lakh each on the two houses.
After these donations, Ganesh was approached by many from financially weak families who sought his help. A total of five families from the panchayat limits reached out to him, seeking help for electricity connections to their houses. “I helped them get electricity connection free of cost,” he explained.
A birthday gift
To mark his 50th birthday celebration, Ganesh built a two-bedroom house for Shankru and Vasanthi’s family. “I was visiting the Theremekadu paisari area for some work when I met Shankru and his family. They were living in a straw hut that was nearing collapse. I assured them I would build them a house,” he said.
While the couple was living on paisari land, they received the rights for the land a few years ago. Spending Rs 1.60 lakh, Ganesh built a house on the land and handed over the keys to the house on his birthday. “A rich person looks forward to earning more assets, but we all have to leave this world behind one day. When you are alive, keep what is necessary and help those in need,” concluded Ganesh.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Bengaluru / by Pragna GR / January 12th, 2025
The Minister said the mandate for production, development, research and domestic marketing of spices other than cardamom is vested with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare.
Union Minister for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada /Credit: X/@JitinPrasada
New Delhi:
Union Minister of State for Commerce and Industry Jitin Prasada on Tuesday said that black pepper production in Kodagu may increase by about 16 per cent in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25.
Replying Yaduveer Wadiyar question, the Minister said the mandate for production, development, research and domestic marketing of spices other than cardamom is vested with Ministry of Agriculture & Farmer’s Welfare. The Ministry informed that it has conducted a quick pre-harvest survey in Kodagu district which indicates that black pepper production in Kodagu may increase by about 16 per cent in 2025-26 compared to 2024-25, he said.
Spices Board under the “Sustainability in Spice Sector through Progressive, Innovative and Collaborative Interventions for Export Development (SPICED)” scheme provides assistance to the growers of spices, including pepper growers of Kodagu district for post-harvest improvement by providing pepper thresher, graders /cleaners etc, conducting capacity building programmes and undertaking market linkage initiatives organizes buyer seller meets, he said.
He further said at present the import policy for pepper is ‘Prohibited, with a provision permitting import only if the Cost Insurance & Freight (CIF) value is Rs. 500. per kg or above. The said MIP of Rs. 500/kg continues to remain in force and is not applicable to imports under Advance Authorization Scheme for export production, imports by 100% Export Oriented Units (EOU) and units in Special Economic Zones (SEZ) and imports for extraction of oleoresin for re-export by manufacturer-exporters, subject to applicable policy conditions, he said.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> India> Karnataka / by Ajith Athrady / March 11th, 2026
