Swastha has rehabilitated many such children
There are 101 such children in Swastha
It has been training special children in various vocations since 2004
Madikeri:
Swastha, a centre for rehabilitation of special children on Sunticoppa-Madapur road in Kodagu, is a “home sweet home” for 101 such children.
Swastha has been taking care of such children and training them in various vocations since 2004.
Ganga Changappa, project head of Swastha, told The Hindu that 19 children, who had been trained in bookbinding, folder-making, screen printing, manufacturing table mats, bags, mushroom cultivation and offset printing, had been shifted to Polibetta, where they were working now.
In Swastha, special children undergo training under the watchful eyes of specialists. As many as 18 children have found placements in Kodagu and elsewhere. Some have been self-employed. Tulasi, who joined Swastha in 1986 and trained there till 2003, is now employed in a garment factory in Bangalore. Manohar, who was admitted in Swastha with cerebral palsy, works as a helper at the KSRTC depot in Kushalnagar. Guruappa, who is partially visually challenged, works in the Bengaluru International Airport.
Three are working as instructors at Swastha itself. Mohini, who is physically challenged, is working as a tailoring instructor, according to Aarti, counsellor and psychologist at Swastha. Two mentally challenged girls got married some time ago. Besides, seven children had joined regular schools under inclusive education stream, she said.
Eighteen-year-old Gaurav from Somwarpet made news recently for a different reason. He is less than two feet in height. But he is unperturbed by this and is preparing for the SSLC examination.
Special skills are needed to handle such children, and the faculty at Swastha has them in abundance. The faculty deals with children with cerebral palsy, autism, mental retardation, and epilepsy.
There are six special educators, a rehabilitation teacher and a speech therapist, apart from the counsellor.
Ms. Aarti said Swastha had also brought the parents of the children under one roof. The parents had formed a self-help group. They would meet on the fifth of every month. The group was planning to buy sweaters for the special children this year.
The children get free vocational education, accommodation, uniforms, and medical care. There is free transport for day scholars. Swastha is funded by the JRD Tata Trust and Coorg Foundation, an initiative of Tata Coffee Limited, Polibetta.
Ms. Ganga Changappa said Swastha incurred an expenditure of Rs. 30 lakh every year. Two hundred children had applied for admission in Swastha, she added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> National> Karnataka / by Jeevan Changappa / August 17th, 2008
Ganga is the trustee and adviser to The Coorg Foundation, an independent social wing of Tata Coffee that has been working towards promotion of the welfare of the local community of Kodagu.
Ganga Chengappa
An organisation is not just known for the products it makes, but also the impact it has on the society at large.
Corporate social responsibility (CSR) is today every large organisation’s focus. As William Clay Ford Jr said, “Creating a strong business and building a better world are not conflicting goals – they are both essential ingredients for long-term success.”
Tata Coffee, too, goes by this way of doing business. One of the largest integrated coffee plantations in the world, it doesn’t only grow, curate, and market coffee but also plays a big role in community development with its independent social wing, The Coorg Foundation, established in 1994.
Its initiative is to empower thousands of women who are employed in the estates, who can earn their livelihood now and lead a financially independent life. Similarly, Swastha, an institution for the mentally and physically challenged children, helps them express their special creativity with vocational training in informal skills. The students also learn the intricacies involved in making envelopes, files, greeting cards, screen-printing and tailoring, which makes them economically independent.
In a conversation with YourStory, Ganga Changappa, trustee and adviser to The Coorg Foundation, Tata Coffee Ltd., talks about empowerment of women workers, skill development, Swastha and further plans for the development of the community.
YourStory: Can you tell us a little about yourself and your journey with The Coorg Foundation?
Ganga Changappa: I am a special educator with over 28 years’ experience in special education, and over 38 years in social work. In 2003, I set up an institution in Coorg called Swastha, a centre for special education. Today, we have two centres – one for special education and rehabilitation and another for training and rehabilitation for boys above 18 years. Initially, we started with 20 students and, in 14 years, the number has grown to 375. Currently, I manage the functioning of these centres.
After initiating the community-based rehabilitation programme that aims at bridging the gap between the differently abled and mainstream children, and to link them with the available services in the Somwarpet taluk, we also conducted several rehabilitation workshops. We succeeded in rehabilitating 150 children by imparting job-based skills. We have successfully trained children for Special Olympics and 10 children represented the country in Australia, the Netherlands and the US and won several prizes. We have also successfully conducted Go-Get in – a sports meet for abled and differently abled children every year.
YS: Can you tell us about the formation of The Coorg Foundation, its goals and its mission?
GC: In 1994, Darbari Seth, the Chairman of Tata Coffee, visited Kodagu district as part of his visit to the estates of the erstwhile Consolidated Coffee Limited. Rechristened as the Tata Coffee Pvt. Ltd in 2000, the company has 13 estates spread across the district of Kodagu. Although coffee estates dot the other districts of the Western Ghats also, the highest concentration can be found in Kodagu. The former Chairman of Tata Coffee felt the need for holistic development of the district. It was with this in mind that The Coorg Foundation was formed. The vision was based on the five pillars of Sports, Education, Environment, Healthcare and Culture.
YS: How have you worked towards women’s empowerment and in what sectors?
GC: My first stint towards women’s empowerment started even before my career with special education. As a newlywed in Munnar, Kerala, I believed women workers or the women of the district could be empowered with soft skills to help improve their livelihood. Self-help group or a ladies’ group was the catalyst that could bring about these changes.
As my husband was working with Tata Tea in Munnar, there was an opportunity within the agriculture sector. The company, being the major stakeholder in Munnar, I floated the idea of a special school with the managers’ wives on the estates. This, at once, empowered women like us and gave us an opportunity to make a difference. Starting a special school in Munnar came with its own challenges, but allowed us to further empower a whole host of women. Starting with the staff and support staff, the women of the district got new opportunities to work and augment their families’ income. This also changed the outlook of the local people, as earlier the only women working were in the tea fields, so this added a dash of inspiration for the rest of the ladies in the district.
The core of our mission, however, was to educate and empower the differently abled, given that there were limited resources for them in the district. The school was co-educational so gave equal opportunities to girls and boys. The crowning glory would be the vocational training and practical skills imparted, beyond basic education. This empowered differently abled girls of the district to stand on their own two feet, thereby becoming a boon to their families that otherwise would neglected them.
YS: How have lives of women changed through your empowerment programme?
GC: There are several examples of women who have transformed their lives through our empowerment programmes. There are two that stand out for me, especially.
Rekha was born with cerebral palsy and after two unsuccessful operations on her lower limbs, which were defective, she was left feeling frustrated and had little hope for her future. This was around the time that Swastha started and she applied for a seat for the skill development programme. She took courses at our vocational training centre and equipped herself with skills in screen printing and the making of different kinds of stationery. Once she completed her course, given her skill levels and interest, we were able to offer her the role of an instructor.
Suma was a quiet and shy 17-year-old when she first came to Swastha. Given the lack of opportunities for a hearing- and speech-impaired student, she sought a training course to give her practical education. The tailoring course gave her the skills and added to her confidence. She went on to teach some of our other hearing- and speech-impaired students who went on to complete Class X, an incredible feat in these parts.
Subsequently, she got married and moved to Mysuru, where she continued her tailoring. Currently, she is working as a tailor in Bengaluru with a premier garment manufacturer.
YS: What are your future plans?
GC: I have been working on this idea of taking special education and rehabilitation services to every individual and every community. By empowering communities to deal with the differently abled, we can create a society of tomorrow where we are respected for our differences and not judged on the same. My aim is to spend my life trying to bring this conversation to the public and to make society more inclusive for the differently abled. I hope I can make a small difference to the community of those with special needs and therefore the world at large. To this extent, I have been working on a ‘community-based rehabilitation programme’ in Kodagu district. My hope is to break the barriers of institutional solutions to the problem and rather have a community-based approach that can solve the problem at a grassroot level and that which can be replicated the world over
source: http://www.yourstory.com / YourStory.com / Home> Her Story / by Rekha Balakrishnan / May 21st, 2018
Harihara Mukkatira to host 23rd Edition at Balugodu
Napoklu (Madikeri): The 35-day Kulletira Cup Hockey tournament, played between Kodava families, drew to a close here yesterday with Chendanda family winning the prestigious Cup for the second consecutive time.
The tournament was played at General K.S. Thimayya Stadium near Napoklu Cheriyaparambu. Anjaparavanda team, a three-time past winner, ended as runner-up. Chendanda team defeated Anjaparavanda 2-0 to retain the Cup. Chendanda team opened its score with a goal from Bopanna in the first half. The team scored its second goal with International player Nikin Thimmaiah scoring in the second half, to take the lead to 2-0.
Chendanda team could have scored more goals has it not failed to convert three penalty corners into goals. Anjaparavanda team too had its chances, but failed to strike whenever opportunities came in its way.
Although Anjaparavanda team lost, its international goal-keeper Anjaparavanda B. Subbaiah exhibited his skills, earning the applause of the gathering.
A total of 334 Kodava Family teams had taken part in this 22nd Edition of Kulletira Cup.
Speaking at the prize distribution ceremony, former Olympian Maneyapanda Somaiah said that the game hockey has become a festival itself in Kodagu. Highlighting the role of Pandanda Kuttani in hosting this hockey fest, he wished that the Hockey Cup maintains its glory in future too.
Karnataka Media Academy former Chairman Maneyapanda Ponnappa, who also spoke, said that Kodagu was home to sports. Pointing out that there were more than 25 National and International Hockey players in the district, he said that Napoklu was home to many of these players. Stressing on the need for having a turf on this ground, he sought the co-operation of everyone for it.
Journalist Jeevan Chinnappa and Kulletira Cup Organiser Areyada Pavin Ponnanna were felicitated on the occasion. Kulletira family Pattedar Madappa and Kulletira Cup Hockey Committee President Shambu Mandappa presided. Kodava Hockey Association President Kaliyanda Nanaiah, Reva University VC S.Y. Kulkarni, SP Rajendra Prasad, Dy.SP Sundaraj, and others were present.
BS Yeddyurappa greeting KG Bopaiah (right) in 2010. (Photo: PTI)
Even as high tension and drama prevails, the Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala appointed KG Bopaiah, the BJP legislator from Virajpet as the pro tem speaker of the state’s legislative assembly.
The move came after the Supreme Court bench on Friday ordered that a floor test should take place in the Karnataka assembly at 4 pm tomorrow, where Chief Minister BS Yeddyurappa will need to prove majority support. Earlier, Yeddyurappa had been given 15 days to prove majority.
A pro tem speaker is a temporary speaker who administers the oath of office and secrecy to the newly-elected MLAs. According to the norms, the senior-most member of the House is chosen as a pro tem speaker. He/she decides if the trust vote should be held through a voice vote or ballot.
According to convention, 71-year-old Congress MLA Raghunath Vishvanath Deshpande was supposed to be appointed. But in a twist, the Governor invited Bopaiah to take oath as pro tem speaker this afternoon.
WHO IS KG BOPAIAH?
Full name: Kombarana Ganapathy Bopaiah
Born on October 17, 1955
KG Bopaiah was a former speaker in the Karnataka assembly in 2009.
Bopaiah was elected as MLA 4 times, thrice from Virajpet.
Bopaiah was also the former Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly.
He has served as pro tem Speaker for four days after the BJP won the mandate in 2009.
He has been closely associated with the Sangh Parivar since his school days.
He was as an active BJP’s youth wing ABVP member during his college days.
He participated in the movement against the Kambadakada dam project in Kodagu proposed by the government in 1970.
After completing B.Sc., Bopaiah joined the BMS College in Bangalore for LLB course. He was arrested during the Emergency in Bangalore and jailed for some time.
After completing the LLB course as a gold medallist, Bopaiah returned to Madikeri in 1980 and started practising law.
He was appointed as general secretary of the Kodagu unit of the BJP and elevated as its president in the 90s.
He was chosen to contest from the Madikeri Assembly segment in 2004, which he won comfortably.
source: http://www.indiatoday.in / India Today / Home> News> Elections / May 18th, 2018
As part of its 24th anniversary celebrations, Bharani Art Gallery has organised an exhibition of water colour paintings by well-known artist H.P. Rangaswamy at its premises, M-1198, 3rd Main, 6th Cross, Vivekananda Nagar (near Circle), from May 20 to 22 between 10.30 am and 7 pm.
The expo will be inaugurated by Ln. P.K. Somaiah, Industrialist andformer President, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru, at 10.30 am on May 20. Also, there will be a lecture on ‘Art and value’ (Kale mattu Moulya) by K.C. Mahadeva Shetty, Principal, Sri Kalanikethana College of Arts, Mysuru.
Theatre artiste Mandya Ramesh will be the chief guest. N.B. Kaverappa, senior artist, chief convenor and curator of the Gallery, will preside. Artist H.P. Rangaswamy will be present.
About the Gallery: Bharani Art Gallery is the first service-oriented private art gallery of Mysuru. Established in May 1994, this gallery is devoted for the exhibition and promotion of visual arts. This is the only rent-free gallery of Karnataka with aesthetic lighting and display walls, along with both attached guest room, being offered to artists.
The Gallery has attained many ‘Firsts’ such as conducting of ‘Art Camp-Exhibition-Discourse’ of 10 senior-most artists of the State, bringing well-known artists of Mumbai, Kolhapur, Sangli and Udupi to exhibit their special art works. Foreign artists from Finland and Australia have also exhibited their Vedic Art creative paintings here, in addition to many other photo exhibitions and art exhibitions. For details contact Mob: 94485-54221.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 18th, 2018
Well-known poet C.P. Surendran’s latest book, Available Light: New and Collected Poems, evokes a sense of disdain with a tinge of optimism in its readers. The book includes poems from earlier collections in addition to brand new creations.
Talking about the book C.P. says, “The past is often as unpredictable as the future. What happened is that I had a kind of a feeling that evolved into a theme as I wrote a few tenuously interconnected poems. I don’t usually write objective poetry. That essentially means that I don’t write a poem about a thing, say, a chair, or the weather or a tree. Therefore, very often a theme in a poem or a sequence of poems is likely to turn out to be your sensibility. In Available Light that sensibility is the dark and its absence, which is light.”
The book opens with a tribute to the renowned Malayalam poet Vijay Nambisan, who passed away in August 2017. Remembering the poet, C.P. says, “There are many literary institutions in India — most of them existing for committee members and employees and a few well connected writers. If one of these institutions had shown some appreciation when he was alive, Vijay might have died a little happier. He was a fine poet.”
Speaking about why he chose poetry to express his thoughts, C.P. shares, “I am in the process of writing a novel, Saving Memory From Stalin. And I can tell you honestly it is much more difficult to write fiction than poetry. In the kind of poetry I write the logic is image-driven and associative. I am not too much dependent on the device of the narrative in my poems. To me, a condition of prose is proselytising. Prose needs to convince, and convert you to the writer’s faith. Poetry doesn’t ask you to convert.”
While some poems from the book are about the incidents that happened in the country recently, like the horrific incident in Dadri when Mohammad Akhlaq was killed by a few Hindu fanatics, a few others take the reader through the time of the World War II. Poems under the title David, Don’t Be Sad, That Was a Dream describes the gruesomeness of genocide and heinousness against the Jews and ends with the poem Available Light, which is addressed to Ilse Koch, wife of the commandant of the Buchenwald concentration camp.
“To me what happened before, during and after World War II defines what it is to be, and not to be, human,” C.P. shares, adding, “The David sequence was precipitated by a dream. Its imagery is perhaps period-specific. But I imagine loose connections with contemporary political reality of India could be read into the David poems,” the poet concludes.
source: http://www.deccanchronicle.com / Deccan Chronicle / Home> Lifestyle> Books and Art / by Namrata Srivastava, Deccan Chronicle / May 17th, 2018
More often than not, Bengaluru-based tennis star Rohan Bopanna is on tour. And every time he returns, he finds his city has changed. So much so that he often drives around just to get a hang of how much.
The landscape behind him may be changing, but Bopanna’s focus remains centred–defending his French Open mixed-doubles title.
Amid all the training and practice though, Bopanna finds his stress buster in the form of social media. At a time when social media and privacy concerns are at the forefront, he bats for the former.
With an active and often updated online presence, the tennis ace says that it is his way of blowing off some steam. “I love posting on social media. Many times my managers tell me that they will do it for me instead, but I like doing it myself. I don’t stress about it so much, and instead use it to destress,” he says.
source: http://www.economictimes.indiatimes.com / The Economic Times / Home / by Maleeva Rebello, ET Bureau / May 11th, 2018
Looks like Karnataka’s Most Desirable Woman of 2017 is not just a hot property in Sandalwood, but in Tollywood too. Following her debut in Telugu with Naga Shaurya and then signing a film with Vijay Deverakonda, Rashmika Mandanna has now bagged her third film in Telugu and it’s with none other than Nagarjuna and Nani.
While the grapevine had it that she had been approached for the project, up until now there was no confirmed news about the same.
Now sources confirm that not only has has Rashmika already shot for a few days for the same in Hyderabad. “Some major scenes were filmed in the metro and Rashmika was part of the shoot. She plays Nani’s love interest in the film. And since it’s a multi-starrer, Rashmika will also share screen space with Nagarjuna,” adds our source.
Directed by Sriram Aditya, the untitled film is touted to be a mass entertainer. Rashmika in the meanwhile is also busy with Darshan-starrer Yajamana in Kannada.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> News> Entertainment> Kannada> Movies> News / by Madhu Daithota / May 07th, 2018
Kolkata Knight Riders’ Robin Uthappa reached a memorable milestone with his innings against the Mumbai Indians, becoming just the sixth player in the history of the IPL to cross the 4000-run mark. He reached the landmark after hitting a six off Markande in the eighth over of the innings.
Robin Uthappa |Photo Credit: AP
The Kolkata Knight Riders lost out to the Mumbai Indians in a hard-fought encounter at the Wankhede Stadium on Sunday, falling short by 13 runs. It was the home side that batted first, putting up a strong total of 181/4 in extremely challenging conditions with valuable contributions from Suryakumar Yadav, Evin Lewis and Hardik Pandya, with Yadav scoring a half-century opening the innings.
In the chase, Robin Uthappa survived an early scare to reach the half-century mark himself and with Nitish Rana, he forged a valuable partnership that looked to take his team to the total. However, he gave away his wicket to Mayank Markande after scoring 54 off 35 and from there on, his side lost the needed momentum and stumbled in their pursuit of the target.
However, Uthappa reached a memorable milestone with this particular innings, becoming just the sixth player in the history of the IPL to cross the 4000-run mark. He reached the landmark after hitting a six off Markande in the eighth over of the innings and was 17 runs short of the mark at the start of his knock.
With this latest feat, he enters an elite club that features four Indian superstars, including Virat Kohli, and an Australian dynamo.They are Virat Kohli (4775 runs), Suresh Raina (4801 runs), Rohit Sharma (4438 runs), Gautam Gambhir (4217 runs) and David Warner (4014 runs).
Uthappa had joined KKR in 2014 and was an important member of the Knight Riders side that won its second IPL trophy.
source: http://www.timesnownews.com / TimesNowNews.com / Times Now Digital / Home> Sports> Cricket> IPL 2018 / May 07th, 2018
Courtesy our friends Pemmanda Jepu and Jemy Ganapathy, we spent four wonderful days at the Ooty Club, a place steeped in colonial history. The trophies, the silverware, the honour lists and the photographs of the ‘Masters of the Fox Hunt’ date back to early 1840s.
During our stay, I got an opportunity to read a well-documented book titled ‘Ootacamund – A History,’ written by Sir Frederick Price in 1908, which is otherwise kept in the safe locker. Only two copies of this book exist. I was particularly interested in the visit of Governor-General Lord Dalhousie to Ooty in 1856, few details of which I had gathered while writing about Victoria Gowramma. However, what I stumbled upon was even more interesting — Governor-General William Bentinck’s journey to Bangalore, Mysore and Ooty in 1834. This trip was primarily to coordinate the attack on the ‘problematic’ Raja of Coorg: Chikka Veerarajendra.
Chikka Veerarajendra and the East India Company were at loggerheads since 1830. Governor-General William Bentinck, who was more interested in reforming India than in annexing new territories, had to finally deal with the Raja of Coorg who had dared the British by keeping in custody one of their emissaries — Kullapalli Karunakaran Menon.
A frontal view of the Ooty Club, which was originally Sir William Rambold’s Large House.
Lord William Bentinck set out from Calcutta on 3rd February 1834 on board the Curacoa to Madras. Bentinck reached Madras on 15th February 1834 and journeyed to Bangalore via Vellore. Travel those days was by horse carriages, bullock carts, palanquins and on horseback, with frequent camping en route.
He wanted first-hand assessment of the situation in Coorg, and for this purpose, the Commander-in-Chief Sir Robert O’Callaghan was in attendance. Strategies on military action against Coorg were finalised in consultations with Sir Robert O’Callaghan while at Bangalore. The Governor-General also had administrative issues concerning Mysore to be discussed. The reason for him to visit Ooty for an extended stay was to improve his rather poor health.
Lord Bentinck stopped over in Mysore and was put-up at the precursor to the Rajendra Vilas Palace atop Chamundi Hill, which was originally built by Robert H. Cole who was the earlier British Resident at Mysore (1811-1827). Bentinck set out for Ooty and it was while camping at Gundlupet on 15th March 1834 that he officially declared war on Coorg. Col. James Stuart Fraser was in overall command. Coorg was encircled from three fronts. Chikka Veerarajendra surrendered on 10th April 1834 and Coorg was annexed by the East India Company. Incidentally, Coorg was the only province to be added to the John Company during William Bentinck’s tenure, for which he came under criticism back home in England.
Lord Bentinck’s entourage reached Ooty on 22nd March. At Ooty the only suitable accommodation for the Governor-General and his staff was ‘Sir William Rambold’s Large House.’ It was a grand hotel built in 1832 by an influential British entrepreneur named William Rambold. However, Rambold soon ran into financial difficulties. The hotel was frequently rented for extended periods of time by senior officers of the East India Company. It was in 1842 that ‘Rambold’s Large House’ became the Ootacamund Club, or the Ooty Club. During Lord Bentinck’s sojourn in Ooty, Lord Babington Macaulay arrived at the hill station on 25th June 1834. The Governor-General and Macaulay met each other for the first time at Rambold’s Large House. Macaulay chose a small cottage nearby where he lived for several months to draft the Indian Penal Code (IPC).
Governor-General Bentinck stayed on in Ooty till the end of September 1834. On his return journey he again passed through Mysore and reached Bangalore on 9th October. He sailed aboard the Curacao on 26th October from Madras and reached Calcutta on 14th November 1834.
Rajendra Vilas Palace atop Chamundi Hill, Mysore.
I checked on Lord Dalhousie’s sojourn in Ooty from 7th March 1855 to 29th October 1855. Dalhousie’s visit was also for health reasons, and he was due to retire soon. However, he was not too comfortable in Ooty, and shifted to Kotagiri.
During Dalhousie’s stay in Nilgiris, one of his ADCs took permission to visit Coorg, where the ADC’s brother was a coffee planter. It was in 1852 that Dalhousie had reluctantly given permission to the ‘rascally Raja of Coorg’ to travel to England along with his daughter Gowramma.
The ADC, on his return, narrated an amusing incident to his boss. Coorg being a rather remote province, news from the outside world took time to percolate. Very often, wild rumours floated amongst the small but growing community of British planters and officers. One such rumour was that the British and their allies had lost the Crimean War, and that Queen Victoria and her family had fled to India! However, Dalhousie who had had a temporary telegraph line installed at Nilgiris had already received the news that the British and their allies had in fact wrested Sevastopol from the Russians.
On his journey back to Calcutta, Dalhousie stopped over in Bangalore during early November 1855, and was the guest of Sir Mark Cubbon. Dalhousie narrated the ‘Coorg rumour’ to the British officers, much to their amusement. After inspecting the troops, he formally announced the British victory at Sevastopol. Fast forward, 2014: Vladimir Putin has Crimea back in the Russian fold.
About the author: C. P. Belliappa, born in 1946, is a Chemical Engineer. Currently settled in Coorg, he is known for his writings on issues pertaining to Kodagu. Four of his books — Tale of A Tiger’s Tail & other Yarns from Coorg, Nuggets from Coorg History, Victoria Gowramma: The Lost Princess of Coorg, and Tongue of the Slip, have been published by Rupa Publications.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Feature Articles / by C.P.Belliappa / March 2018
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
