The High Court has upheld the order of a maintenance tribunal which had directed three sons of a 88-year-old woman to provide her a maintenence of Rs 3,000 each every month.
In an order which provides a ray of hope to people abandoned by their children, the High Court recently upheld the tribunal order, considering that she cannot earn her own living due to old age.
H S Subramanya, a native of Cherla Srimangala village of Chethalli, Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district had moved the court, challenging the tribunal order directing him and his brothers H S Ganesh Kumar and H S Thimmappaiah, to pay maintenance to his mother H S Lakshmi, who is residing with her widowed daughter H S Mangala Gowri at Hosakeri village in Somwarpet taluk.
The trio had inherited their father H S Srinivasa’s property after he executed a will in their favour by dividing the property. Srinivasa, who died in June 21, 2002, had also stated in his will that each of his sons should pay a sum of Rs 500 each to their mother.
The sons abided by the will, paying her money till 2010. She moved the tribunal in Kodagu district and obtained an order in her favour. Subramanya and Kumar moved the High Court, stating that they stopped paying maintenence because their other brother has not paid any maintenence and also has taken their share from her.
Justice Abdul Nazeer upheld the verdict of the tribunal and asked the sons to pay maintenence. He observed, “Ageing has become a major social challenge because of the decline of the joint family system. A large number of elderly persons, particularly widowed women, are not being looked after by their families. They are forced to spend their twilight years alone, are exposed to emotional neglect and are not provided financial support,” the court observed.
The Court, which dismissed the petition, said, “There is a need to pay more attention to the care and protection of older persons.”
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> City / Bangalore- DHNS, October 12th, 2014
The hockey academy in Kushalnagar isn’t one among those where players eat, drink and sleep hockey. It is a movement that stirred a community’s emotions and gently persuaded it to bond with the game it loved.
What began as a practice session between former international hockey player and coach Len Aiyappa and a local boy who just couldn’t part with his hockey stick is now a training centre that houses around 50 boys in the 8-14 age group.
Coaches, trainers, officials, helpers are all from the neighborhood — former players or enthusiasts who have not only allowed their boys to play the game but contributed generously to the cause.
The academy might not have drastically changed the game’s fortunes but its impact has been telling in a town that had switched to cricket and football, despite being the cradle of hockey once upon a time.
It all started with Len moving to Kushalnagar for a short period late last year to tend to his mother who was battling cancer.
Playing football with his friends at the Government Middle School ground one evening, Len noticed a young boy with a hockey stick watching them from the sidelines. He joined them for a game before asking Len whether anyone would help him sharpen his hockey skills.
“This boy, Trishul, loved hockey. He was forced to play football only because there was no one interested in hockey,” Len told TOI. “I told him I would teach him the basics.”
Practice sessions began in January this year. “Trishul would reach the ground at dawn much before I did. Watching his commitment, two of his friends joined him. The number grew to 10 and within a few weeks I had about 50 young boys training with me.”
As the number grew, so did the demands.
The first — a bigger ground for practice — was met when the Government Junior College physical trainer offered his institution’s facility provided Len trained the hostel students. Len was only too glad to accept the quid pro quo.
Then came the challenge of providing sticks, balls and a healthy morning snack for his trainees. While his contacts helped him get the hockey kit, Kushalnagar residents chipped in to meet the other needs.
“Trishul’s father Ganesh said he was ready to manage the centre. Having trained at the state academy in Kudige, he was confident of being a tutor. I gave him the basic programme and we began sharing the work. We have a trainer too, Yogesh, a retired Border Security Force employee,” Len said.
A few other hockey players from the neighborhood volunteered to help when the number swelled to around 100 during the summer vacation in April-May. “We didn’t charge a penny. It was a grassroots initiative and we realized there were players from modest backgrounds. There were others willing to contribute and that helped us tide over critical times. It was a new Kushalnagar that I saw.”
Once the vacation was over, Len realized he had to put a proper coaching programme in place. He approached former India captain Jude Felix, whose academy in the city had impressed him. Felix helped his boys with basic kitting and held refresher courses at Kushalnagar.
“Len is keen that we run his centre. But we need additional manpower and resources for that. We are keen to help him as our ideologies match. We do it for an orphanage while Len is doing for the masses without expecting any returns,” said JFHA head coach Shanmugham.
Incidentally, Len’s centre does not have a name. “I haven’t felt the need to find a name. Why should a collective cause be named after anybody? It is a community drive and it will remain the same forever. Our aim is to popularize hockey. My first trainee, Trishul, is now in the Kudige state hostel. That has come as a big boost to my confidence.”
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Bangalore> Namma Metro / by Narain Swamy, TNN / October 13th, 2014
Tennis – Bopanna will split with Qureshi and partner a multiple Grand Slam winner next year
Tennis – India’s Rohan Bopanna will partner Canada’s Daniel Nestor during the start of the 2015 season on the ATP doubles circuit, confirming his split with Pakistani partner Aisam-Ul-Haq Qureshi.
Bopanna and Qureshi have struggled in recent months with the Indian dropping to No. 35 in the rankings while Qureshi has dropped to No. 28. Both players are in Shanghai this week for the ATP Masters event there but are playing with different partners this week.
Qureshi has not yet decided on who his partner will be. Bopanna told Indian daily The Times of India that the duo, who are good friends off the court as well, spoke with their coach Scot Davidoff and came to the conclusion that their partnership on the court was not working and hence it would be better to part ways.
While Bopanna is still looking for his first Grand Slam doubles title, 42-year-old Nestor has won eight Grand Slam doubles titles in his career. Nestor is currently ranked No. 4 in the world and has been playing this season with Serbia’s Nenad Zimonjic.
source: http://www.tennisworldusa.org / Tennis World / Home> Indian Tennis / by Prakash / October 10th, 2014
Prices steam up on fears over the LatAm country’s crop; planters here expand acreage
Chennai :
Your favourite cup of filter coffee or latte or cappuccino is set to get costlier as domestic bean prices have surged to record highs. This follows a rally in the global market on the back of the Brazilian crop running into problems due to dry weather.
Corporates owning coffee estates such as Tata Coffee and Amalgamated Bean Coffee Trading Company – which runs Café Coffee Day – could gain as a result. Nestle and Hindustan Unilever, which source coffee, could be shelling out more for their products.
Record prices
Currently, farm gate prices of Arabica parchment are quoting at a record of over ₹12,000 for a 50-kg bag, while robusta parchment is ruling near ₹8,000.
Robusta cherry is being quoted around ₹3,750 per 50-kg bag. Robusta cherry accounts for over 40 per cent of coffee exports totalling three lakh tonnes in the last couple of years.
Brazilian output
“We are looking at a scenario which we last saw in 1977 when a disastrous frost affected the crop in Brazil. Dry weather earlier this year affected coffee production in Brazil. The crop this year has been estimated at 40.1 million bags (60 kg each). Now, Met forecasts of the crop’s blossom shower being delayed have fired up the market,” said Anil K Bhandari, a planter and former president of United Planters’ Association of Southern India.
Rains are crucial during September-October for the Brazilian coffee crop. But forecasts say that no showers are likely till the end of the month. This means, the already stressed coffee plants could be weakened further and production could be hit next year too, said Bhandari.
Coffee trade across the globe now fears that next year’s crop could be lower than 40 million bags. This has resulted in prices surging to near 30-month high of $2.20 a pound. On Thursday, coffee on ICE US for delivery in December ruled at $2.175 a pound.
“Domestic prices are high in line with global prices. Availability is low since we are at the fag end of the season,” said Ramesh Rajah, President of Coffee Exporters’ Association.
“But, there are no buyers in view of the high prices,” said Bose Mandanna, a grower from Kodagu and former Vice-Chairman of the Coffee Board.
“Since the market is volatile, buyers are staying away. They don’t want to take risk. Once the market stabilises, they will return. Also, coffee prices cannot continue rising and lose consumers,” said Bhandari.
Few deals have been signed for the new crop, said Rajah. “Not much business has been done for the new crop in view of the problems we faced with the crop last year,” he said.
Domestic crop situation
Last year, the Coffee Board had initially projected production of 3.47 lakh tonnes but finally, it turned out to be 3.04 lakh tonnes as the crop was affected by unseasonal rains.
“Indian Arabica is expensive in the global market as also the Robusta. But when Brazil is short, there will be demand for the Indian produce,” said Rajah.
“Coffee export value can increase this year in view of the high prices,” said Bhandari, adding that the key was the new crop that is shaping up well.
“Arabica has suffered loss due to the borer menace but Robusta has shaped up well,” said Bhandari.
“Harvest has begun in Tamil Nadu and in Karnataka, it will start next month,” said Mandanna. “The crop is much better than last year. Robusta will be 10-15 per cent higher, while Arabica has been affected by the white stem borer,” he said.
Rajah said coffee production this year will be in line with the Board’s projection. According to the Coffee Board’s post-blossom estimates, production this year could be a record 3.44 lakh tonnes with Robusta making up 2.39 lakh tonnes and Arabica the rest.
Area expands
Higher prices this year and forecast of the rally continuing next year have resulted in growers expanding the area under coffee.
According to sources, nurseries have run out of coffee plants in view of demand.
“Coffee is being planted on large plantations where the borer menace has resulted in lot of vacant space being available. Some growers are shifting to coffee from crops such as cardamom,” said Mandanna.
Sources said coffee plantations in Karnataka are now extending to plains such as Piriyapatna in Mysore.
“We will have to see how far it can be sustained. Such a development took place in 1977 also,” said Bhandari. “The problem is coffee will take time to give returns. People should be able to sustain till then,” he said.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / Business Line / Home> Agri-Biz / MR Subramani / Chennai – October 09th, 2014
Ranee Vijaya Kuttaiah talks about the intense relationship of her Kodava community with food, her quest for recipes across two States, and reveals secrets of the early years of food styling in India
Bursting with ideasRanee Kuttaiah has collected recipes from households of different communities in Karnataka / Photo: Bhagya Prakash k. / The Hindu
Avid golfer. Kalakshetra student. Bharatanatyam and Kathakali dancer. Great grandmother. Lived the good life in the Nilgiris. Travelled the world giving performances. Anjaneya bhakt. Ford Motors PR in New York. Writer. Food stylist. Lecturer. Hotel manager. A very good cook.
Ranee Vijaya Kuttaiah is so many things rolled into one, it’s difficult to keep pace with this energetic Kodava matriarch as she flits from one story of her life to another. She can hold forth on anything from how politics is dirty to why prostitution should be legalised. And from how to boil lobster just so, to how to make ice cream that won’t melt under bright lights. All this coming from a woman who, when she got married, didn’t know how to make a cup of tea.
“I used to write for The Hindu when I lived in the Nilgiris with my husband. I’m a Kalakshetra dancer. My husband died when he was young. I was just too heart broken and swore never to wear my anklets and dance again. I started writing short stories, started a company called Shadow Light Co-ordinators and we would do high-end food and fashion shoots in Bangalore,” says Ranee, of the beginnings of how she came to write about food.
ITC Windsor and Sterling Paperbacks re-launched a revised edition of her famous recipe book, Cuisine from Karnataka with her other classic Cuisine from Coorg this week at an evening that saw the who’s who of Coorg and Ranee’s friends bond over food and wine. Talking of the strong bond that her Kodava community has with food, she points out: “We worship our ancestors with liquor! On any occasion, we first offer a little bit of whatever we cook in front of the photos of our ancestors. We are a kshatriya race used to good food, and we are big agriculturists.”
While studying for her masters in the United States in the 1960s, during her summer break she chanced upon a food styling course in one of the hotels. She signed up for it and a whole unknown world was revealed to her. “Cooked food doesn’t style well. It creates a mess. Food is best shot uncooked. I’ll tell you a secret. You can’t photograph steam. So when I had to shoot a hot, steaming kettle, I would blow out smoke from a cigarette just in time for the photographer to shoot. Mind you I don’t smoke. Ice-cream melts under lights. So we would whip paint and freeze it to look like ice cream! I would par-boil lobsters and then paint them with lovely orange oil paints before setting it up on a silver platter.” When she styled food for the famous Sangeeta Khanna cookbook, her present publisher appreciatively ate a meal in her house and asked her to write a book on Coorg cuisine. Ranee turned to her mother for the classic recipes of Coorg. It’s a book that’s been going into reprint for the last 14 years.
One book led to another. Having lived 30 years in Tamil Nadu and having performed all over the State, she recalls taking down recipes whenever she travelled in Madurai, Ramnad, Thirunelveli and Thanjavur, recording recipes of Nadar and Thevar cuisine, which featured in her book Cuisine from Tamil Nadu. Her own personal favourite, though, is Syrian Christian non-vegetarian food from Kerala, she pipes in.
She decided to write about Karnataka cuisine because — “it’s my State and largely ignored” she says, with a mix of pride and hurt. “It’s was as if holige and bisi bele bhath were the only things Karnataka had to offer,” she says talking of the limited popularity of food from the state then. She had close friends in political circles like Ramakrishna Hegde. “Many of the ministers were Lingayats and Gowdas. I would travel to Mandya and Maddur, visit the homes of the Gram Panchayat chiefs and ask their wives what they cook at home. I would collect four to five recipes from different families of the same dish, come home and try them in my kitchen and arrive at what I thought was the best of them.” Her book on Karnataka covers food from the Lingayat, Gowda, Bunt, and Madhwa Brahmin community (into which her sister was married).
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Features> MetroPlus / by Bhumika. K / October 17th, 2014
International coffee prices rose sharply this week, as fears resurfaced that Brazil’s crop could get adversely affected by a drought
A thin harvest may be bad news for Brazil but is good news for growers in other countries. Indian coffee producers are seeing firm crop trends in 2014-15. Photo: Bloomberg
International coffee prices rose sharply this week, as fears resurfaced that Brazil’s crop could get adversely affected by a drought. This comes just a fortnight after Brazil’s agricultural organization Conab released its September estimate, which had assuaged market fears and even saw prices drop.
But on Monday, the three-month forward Arabica coffee contract rose by 9.2% intra-day, according to The Wall Street Journal, and closed the day with a gain of 6.9%. This marked a two-and-a-half-year high for this contract. On Tuesday, its level was unchanged. If the news on the weather from Brazil continues to support higher prices, then this uptrend could be sustained. But recent months have seen volatile price movements; so, there is risk of a reversal, too.
The International Coffee Organization’s price data show the prices of all grades of Arabica coffee have moved up, in sync with Brazil. Though Brazil’s effect is felt more by the Arabica variety, even the lower Robusta grade has perked up in October. It has recovered losses sustained in September.
A thin harvest may be bad news for Brazil but is good news for growers in other countries. Indian coffee producers are seeing firm crop trends in 2014-15. The country’s coffee crop is estimated to increase by 13.2% to 344,750 tonnes. The Arabica crop is expected to increase by 3.2%, while Robusta, which is the main local crop, is expected to rise by 18.3%.
Thus, one can expect the plantation business of growers such as Tata Coffee Ltd and CCL Products India Ltd to post good results. But this uptrend poses a challenge for coffee marketers such as Nestlé India Ltd and Hindustan Unilever Ltd (HUL). Rising input costs will force them to hike prices, which can hurt volume growth.
source: http://www.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Money / by Ravi Ananthanarayanan / Tuesday – October 07th, 2014
After spending days together in the royal city, it was time for the Dasara jumbos to bid farewell to each other and return to their abode in the forests. Of the 14 elephants camping in the city, 11 left on Tuesday while three jumbos, Gajendra, Srirama and Durgaparameshwari, will head to their habitat in K Gudi in Chamarajnagar district on Wednesday.
Before they bid adieu to city life, they got a traditional farewell at the Mysore Palace from bureaucrats and politicians led by district minister V Srinivas Prasad. The herd led by howdah elephant Arjuna started their journey at 3pm as they were loaded on to trucks. Their mahouts, kavadis and family members too accompanied the jumbos in the trucks. By 6pm, Arjuna had reached Nagarahole national park.
Veteran Abhimanyu too has returned to the forest. “He is healthy and doing well. That is why we chose to send him back along with the 10 other jumbos,” vet D N Nagaraj told TOI denying that the 48-year-old tusker was injured. Abhimanyu has been part of Dasara festivities for 15 years now and is traditionally assigned the job of pulling the musical chariot, known as Aane Gaadi.
source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / Home> City> Mysore / by H.M. Aravind, TNN / October 08th, 2014
After three Kodava celebrities — Shwetha Chengappa, Deepika Kamaiah and Harshika Poonacha — participated in the just concluded TV Reality Show Bigg Boss Kannada Season-2, here is another Kodavathi from Mysore — Cheeyakapoovanda Ravika Somaiah — taking part in another Reality Show on the television, Pyate Hudigiru Halli Lifeu – Season 3, which got off to a grand start on Oct. 6, after the grand finale of Bigg Boss.
She is one among the 10 contestants participating in Pyate Hudigiru Halli Lifeu, a happening reality show on Suvarna Channel everyday at 8 pm.
Ravika Somaiah has been a top model for Needle Works under Jayanthi Ballal for the last two years.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> General News / October 08th, 2014
Tournaments to be held in various locations in the district from Oct. 10 to Dec. 28
Virajpet :
The Hockey Kodagu Association will be conducting Kodagu League-2014 Hockey Tournament on knock-out basis at the Junior College Grounds in Ponnampet from Oct. 10 to 20.
Kakotuparambu Grounds will play host for the District Level Hockey Tournament for registered teams from Oct. 22 to 26.
The Kodanda A. Poovaiah Memorial Inter-School Boys and Girl’s Hockey Tourney will be held at the Junior College Grounds in the month of November and the Chowrira Acchaiah Memorial Inter-Collegiate Hockey Tourney will also be held in November.
Addressing the media here yesterday, Association President Paikera Kalaiah said that the best teams from the Hockey Kodagu League-2014 will be selected for the district level tournament to be held in Napoklu in November. He said that the Kodava Champion League would be held at Ammatti High School Grounds from Dec. 2 to 14 and added that the tournament would be held between 16 teams that had entered the quarter finals of Kodava Family Hockey Tatanda Cup.
He further said that the District Level Tournament among the 12 teams selected through Kodava Champion League will be held from Dec. 18 to 22 in Somwarpet and added that eight teams would fight in the District-Level tournament in Kandangala from Dec. 26 to 28.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>Sports News / Tuesday , October 07th, 2014
Ashwini Ponnappa and Vladimir Ivanov, who have teamed up for mixed doubles events, talk to RIR about their badminton partnership and the upcoming Denmark Open.
Vladimir Ivanov. Source: Grigoriy Sokolov / RIA Novosti
Indian women’s doubles badminton player Ashwini Ponnappa and Russian multi-format men’s player Vladimir Ivanov have partnered for mixed doubles events sanctioned by the Badminton World Federation. They would be seen in action together at the upcoming Denmark Open Super Series.
Both Ponnappa and Ivanov have established credibility in women’s and men’s doubles events, respectively. Ponnappa is the current Commonwealth Games silver medalist in women’s doubles. Ivanov has been riding on a winning streak in men’s doubles along with his partner Ivan Sozonov. They are the reigning European Champions.
However an ideal mixed doubles partnership has eluded them till now. Given their shared aspiration to do well in the mixed doubles format, this partnership could be their best shot. “My career began with singles matches and then I also started playing doubles,” Ivanov says. “It’s really hard to compete in both the formats simultaneously at the top most level. I am good enough at doubles, but I haven’t had a strong mixed doubles partner for the international circuit. Now I have this chance and I hope this partnership will be good for my career. It could also help me balance my efforts towards singles and doubles categories.”
Ashwini Ponnappa (right). Source: AP
Ponnappa also believes that their ambitions can be aligned. “I want to focus on mixed doubles some more. I was looking for someone outside the country,” she says. “I had seen Ivanov play at the Indian Badminton League and I think he did really well. He was also looking for a mixed doubles partner.”
Ivanov caught the fancy of badminton followers during the inaugural edition of the Indian Badminton League (IBL). He achieved an upset by defeating the Indian star P Kashyap in men’s singles and also contributed some significant doubles wins for his team.
This Indo-Russian team has got the nod of the governing authorities of both the countries. “In badminton, the associations play an active role and help their players a lot,” Ponnappa says. “That is why it was important for us that the Indian and Russian badminton associations approve of our team. Fortunately and thankfully we’ve got their support.”
In this sport, players mostly travel as national teams. Unlike tennis, it is hard to find a precedent of international pairing in badminton. The only other such team is that of Petya Nedelcheva of Bulgaria and Imogene Bankier of Scotland who participated at the World Championships earlier this year. With prominent players such as Ponnappa and Ivanov teaming up, international collaborations will surely gain popularity. It would also create participation opportunities for players from those countries where badminton is not played extensively.
The foremost challenge in this arrangement is that of geographic distance. Ponnappa and Ivanov are ready to deal with it. “We haven’t played together as yet,” Ivanov reveals. “It is difficult to draw any conclusion at the moment. But I think it will work out for us. I’ve watched her play and I can say that we have a similar approach in mixed doubles. The key here is to be clear about what each player has to do in each game.”
Ponnappa is also positive about their teamwork. “We are both experienced in playing doubles. I believe that it won’t be a major problem for us to coordinate with each other. We’ll have a few days to practice before the Denmark Open and we’ll take it from there. I am sure our strategy will evolve with every game,” she says.
Both the players assert that the upcoming tournament wouldn’t be just a trial run. They plan to compete together in the French Super Series and the Bitburger Open events that follow the Denmark Open.
Ivanov has already established synergistic association with Indian badminton players owing to his experience at the IBL. “It is an exciting and charged atmosphere during the games and also among the teammates. This experience is really close to my heart,” he says. “This psychological comfort is important in our profession, that’s why besides expectations about winning in mixed doubles, I think our partnership will lead to an even stronger connect with the Indian players and fans.” Ivanov, who had to depend on a translator when he first arrived in India, now feels a certain affinity with the Indian badminton fraternity.
This Indo-Russian badminton partnership can be a game changer not just for Ponnappa and Ivanov, but also for the sport itself, provided that they manage to serve an ace.
source: http://www.in.rbth.com / Russia & India Report / Home> Culture> Sports / by Priyanka Gera, specially for RIR / October 05th, 2014
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