Donate to Kerala and Kodagu, get photoshoots and portraits in return: Here’s how

Amazing Feats, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features

Artists around the country are coming together to render their services in exchange for donations made to the flood relief efforts.

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As Kerala and Kodagu in Karnataka reel under heavy flooding, people across the country are making an effort to volunteer, collect relief material or help in some way or the other.

Photographers and artists in Chennai, Bengaluru and other cities are pitching in too – many have joined social media campaigns asking people to donate money for the flood hit areas in return for availing their services for free.

If you look for the ‘Clicks for Kerala’, ‘Click for Coorg’ or ‘Donate for a Portrait’ tags on Instagram, you will come across several artists and profiles, promising everything from caricatures, handmade portraits, family portraits, photoshoots for couples, babies, pets and more.

‘Donate for a Portrait’ campaign

Sharmada Nagarajan, a Chennai-based graphic designer, was as distressed as anyone seeing the devastation caused by the floods in Kerala. Wanting to do something about it, she and her friend Priyadarshini, another graphic designer came up with an idea.

They created the ‘Donate for a Portrait’ where all a person needs to do to earn a caricature, watercolor or digital portrait of themselves, is donate a minimum amount of Rs 750 to Kerala CM’s relief fund. Then they can share the screenshot on social media with the artist in question, and a digital copy of the portrait will be sent to them by the end of the day.

Sharmanda and Priyadarshini
Sharmanda and Priyadarshini

“We only came up with it on Friday afternoon and put it up by evening. Initially it was just 4-5 of us, all batchmates from college who decided to do this. But within no time we got requests from other artists who wanted to join in and be part of the campaign. People from even Delhi, Mumbai and Ahemdabad showed interest,” Sharmada tells TNM.

“We are 22 people now who are making this effort and the numbers are growing as we speak,” the 23-year-old adds. “I think this is working well because when it comes to selling art itself, people are hesitant to buy it. But a portrait or an artwork of themselves is something that catches their fancy more easily.”
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Sharmada and a few others are maintaining an online document where they are keeping track of how many people have contributed and requested portraits, who is making them, and how many of them have been made. “So far, about 60 people have sent us proof of their contributions and we have raised about Rs 70,000 through this,” she shares.

‘Click for Kerala’ and ‘Click for Coorg’ campaigns

Meanwhile in Bengaluru, a similar conversation was happening in a WhatsApp group of professional photographers in the city. Anbu Jawahar and Ankit Singh, two members of the group had done something similar to ‘Clicks for Kerala’ when the Chennai floods happened in 2015.

The idea behind these two campaigns is similar to Donate for a Portrait – except here, donors have to donate a minimum of Rs 5,000 and according to the amount, they can avail services for a photoshoot.

“We came up with this three days ago, and we decided to put up a poster on our Instagram stories. We have received messages from photographers in Delhi, Mumbai, Chennai and even Kerala,” shared Elvin Jacob, a 31-year-old photographer in Bengaluru.

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Sowmya Mense, another photographer who is taking part in this campaign, originally hails from Kodagu. “My aunt lost two houses in the flood. I know several other families who have been rendered homeless,” the 36-year-old says.

She put up the ‘Click for Coorg’ post on her Instagram on Friday and has already received 6 to 7 requests. “They have sent me the proof of their donation and out of the Rs 23,000 raised, Rs 10,000 I am giving to Kerala relief fund. The rest, once I collate more responses to the campaign, will be given to Coorg,” Sowmya says.

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A challenge, both Elvin and Sowmya, say is to work around their bookings for commercial shoots and include the people who have opted for shoots through the campaign. This is why they have a much more decentralized working system – each photographer can accept as many requests as they can manage and there is no centralized tally.

The participating photographers however, are hopeful that more people will come forward so they more funds can reach the affected areas of Kerala and Coorg.

source: http://www.thenewsminute.com / The News Minute / Home> Rains / by Geetika Mantri / August 18th, 2018

Rohini From Kodagu Appointed Judge For Japan Hockey Tournament

Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

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Ponnampet:

Pullangada Rohini Bopanna (Sowmya) from Kodagu has been appointed as a judge by the Asian Hockey Federation (AHF) for the 9th Women’s Asia Cup 2017 to be held at Kakamigahara, Japan from Oct. 28 to Nov. 5.

Earlier, Rohini had been appointed as the judge for the South Asian Games held at Guwahati in Assam in February 2016 and for the 4th Women’s Asian Champions Trophy held in Singapore from Oct. 29, 2016 till Nov. 5.

She is the wife of former international goal keeper Pullangada U. Bopanna and daughter of Nellamakkada Sabu Monnaiah and Devamaji.

Rohini has been actively participating in nationals as well as events held in local region. She was appointed as a technical judge for 7th Hockey India Sub-Junior Women’s National Championship held at Ramanathapuram in Tamil Nadu this year for B-Division and as an Assistant Tournament Director for A Division.

She was also appointed as a technical officer for the 7th Hockey India Junior Women National Championship held at Bhopal this year and she was a judge for the Bengaluru Hockey Association All India ‘A’ Division Super league 2017 (Men).

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / October 18th, 2017

Kodagu Model School Excels In Zonal Sports

Records, All, Sports

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The students of Kodagu Model School, Mysuru, participated in the Hobli-level Zonal Sports Meet conducted by the Education Department for Higher Primary School recently and won the runners-up spot in Kho-Kho competition for boys and qualified for Taluk-level.

The shield, medals and certificates were distributed to the students by School Patron K.B. Ganapathy, Editor-in-Chief, Star of Mysore and Mysooru Mithra.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / August 14th, 2018

Brahmagiri Kodava Assn. Moots Blood Bank

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature

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Urges members to join greening drive

Mysuru:

Brahmagiri Kodava Association, Vijayanagar (3rd & 4th Stages) held its Annual General Body Meeting and annual get-together function recently at Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Community Hall in Kodava Samaja, Mysuru.

President of the Association, Ponnachanda Bheemaiah, addressing the members, said the objective of Brahmagiri Kodava Association should not limit itself only to the welfare of members and their family members but also aim at serving the society. He suggested them to plant a few fruit bearing saplings wherever feasible close to their houses and maintain them for a few years.

Stating that a few members of the Association urged him to create a ‘data base’ with the details of voluntary blood donors among the members in the age group of 18 to 55 years, he suggested the name as ‘Brahmagiri Blood Bank.’ He said that the aim of maintaining blood donors’ details is to locate voluntary blood donors who could immediately donate the required blood to any needy member of the Association in emergency cases.

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The President of Brahmagiri Association also lauded the efforts of recently launched “Tree Lovers Club” in Vijayanagar, headed by Association member Mandetira N. Subramani (President) and Secretary of the Association Appachattolanda Bojappa (Secretary of Tree Lovers Club) for impressing upon the Forest Department in availing over 2,000 flower and fruit bearing tree saplings that were planted in Vijayanagar 3rd Stage and 4th Stage in the past one and a half month.

Those interested in joining the Club as Honorary members or to give their suggestions may send email to: tree.lovers@yahoo.com

During the get-together, various indoor games were organised for members and their family. Meritorious children of members were felicitated with cash awards to motivate them.

Kullachanda Vinutha rendered the invocation and welcomed. Treasurer of the Association Mundotira Changappa proposed a vote of thanks.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / August 14th, 2018

Instant messaging, first line of defence against moving herds

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

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WhatsApp group launched by Forest Department staff goes a long way in reducing human deaths

Like many of us, Deputy Range Forest Officer K.M. Devaiah scans his WhatsApp messages every morning. And, they trigger him into instant action. Far from being ‘good morning’ messages, these are SOS from estate workers and owners in Ammathi range of Virajpet forest division in Kodagu district seeking his help to clear a wild herd of elephants from their terrain.

A routine act initiated among the Forest Department staff at the beat level, has become the first line of defence for people facing the brunt of conflict with elephants in the coffee plantations of Kodagu.

A WhatsApp group launched by Mr. Devaiah in 2016, with eight guards as members of the group, sharing information on elephant herds, has expanded and is now christened ‘Rapid Response Team’.

It has now become the most popular interface between the people and the department in tracking the movement of elephants in the estates around Ammathi.

“Ever since the WhatsApp group was launched, we have been on our toes following the herds wherever they are. Our very presence is an indication to the local community that the herds are not far off and they become more alert and cautious,” said Mr. Devaiah.

With almost half a dozen alerts received daily, Mr. Devaiah and his team map the areas of elephant presence and this information is passed on to all stakeholders, who take precautionary measures to stay safe.

A senior forest official said it is a small initiative that has made a big difference at the ground level by minimising human deaths. Between 2011 and 2016 there were about 8 to 10 human deaths reported every year. But in 2017, the number of human deaths was down to one or two and there have been none so far in 2018, the official added.

However, the authorities admit that in the perception of the public, the larger issue — of the presence of elephants in plantations and estates and threat posed by them — remain, and this is only a temporary reprieve.

But given the potential to reduce loss of life, the model is now being replicated across the district.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by R. Krishna Kumar / Mysuru – August 13th, 2018

Crispy slice of Coorg

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized

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Oink serves up pork cooked sans oil, and delivered in boxes made of sugarcane waste

A 10-year-old leans against the bright yellow and grey counter at Oink. “I’ll have pork ribs,” he grandly announces. It’s barely been four days since this kiosk opened shutters, but it already has its regulars, most of whom know the menu by heart. “We start at 12.30 in the afternoon and by 3 we are sold out,” says Shanthala T Medappa, who started it with Rohini Chandrakumar.

As the name suggests, Oink dishes out everything pork-based. The menu has pandi curry, pork ribs (with delicious caramelised onion), green chilli pork sausage, porky pao, pork hot dog, chicken hot dog and wedges (the sole vegetarian entry on the menu). And you can end your meal with a piping cup of fragrant Coorg coffee, a blend of Robusta and Arabica.

“I am from Coorg and everytime I entertained guests and cooked pandi curry, it would be a hit. My friends asked me to start selling it. There was a large demand and I couldn’t supply enough from home. Rohini and I were also taking about how there are no joints that cater only pork. So we started this place,” says Shanthala.

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Two months were spent training the staff — two in the kitchen and two in the kiosk. “While Shanthala handles the kitchen, I do the tasting and give feedback,” laughs Rohini who also takes care of operations and marketing.

They make 10 kilograms of each dish. The pandi curry is slow cooked and it takes four hours and the ribs take around two and a half hours. The recipes are largely Coorg-inspired. “We don’t use a drop of oil. Everything, except the wedges, is cooked in its own fat,” adds Shanthala. The pork comes from Bangalore. “We buy 140 kilograms every week. Our sausages are custom made in Pune,” says Rohini.

They get queries from vegetarians who want the same dishes recreated with mock meat. “But we don’t want to dilute the menu. We just want to keep it simple and do what we do really well,” says Shanthala. “Starting something like this, to me, was a calculated risk as are cutting out a lot of people. But Shathala was confident from the start,” says Rohini.

Their clientèle is a mixed crowd of college students, sportspersons who stop by to grab a quick protein-filled snack before a match, and hungry passers-by. “The sweetest compliment we received was when a granddaughter picked up ribs for her grandmom. She then sent a video of her grandmother saying, ‘In all my 88 years this is the best pork I’ve eaten’,” says Rohini, showing us the video.

“We try to be eco-friendly. We request our clients to send their own boxes. Our takeaway boxes are made of sugarcane waste, and we don’t use any plastic,” adds Shantala.

Oink is located at 5/47 Sterling Avenue, Nungambakkam. The menu starts at ₹150 for the pork dishes. They deliver through Taskhopper and Genie. Call 7358415430.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> Life & Style> Food / by Priyadarshini Paitandy / August 10th, 2018

NITK experts to visit Virajpet to inspect road

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology
Technical experts from the Mines and Geology Department, Bengaluru, paid a visit to Virajpet on Monday and inspected the condition of Perumbadi-Makutta-Kootupole Road, which was damaged due to rains.
Technical experts from the Mines and Geology Department, Bengaluru, paid a visit to Virajpet on Monday and inspected the condition of Perumbadi-Makutta-Kootupole Road, which was damaged due to rains.

Experts from the National Institute of Technology, Karnataka, along with the officials of Public Works Department will visit Virajpet on August 7, to inspect the condition of Perumbadi-Makutta-Kootupole Link Road, which was damaged due to the recent rains in the district.

The expert team will give suggestions towards the maintenance of the road and also on safeguarding the passengers plying on the road.

The concerned department will be guided by the team in preparing a scientific design for road construction.

The Karnataka government has sanctioned Rs 6 crore for the permanent maintenance of the road, which connects Kodagu with Kerala. A proposal in this regard was sent by the PWD to the government, along with the submission of an estimate.

A team of technical experts from the Mines and Geology Department, Bengaluru had recently visited the place to inspect the road. The soil from the spot has been collected as a sample for scientific tests and the report on the same is expected.

source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by DH News Service, Virajpet / August 06th, 2018

Marshy field sports meet in Kodagu on August 11

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Leaders, Nature, Records, All, Sports

The 27th state-level open-to-all marshy field sports meet will be held at a field belonging to C D Bopaiah in Kaggodlu village in the taluk on August 11, said Zilla Yuva Okkoota President M D Harish.

Addressing reporters here on Monday, he said that the sports meet is being organised jointly by the district Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, Nehru Yuva Kendra, Youth Hostel Association of India and Zilla Yuva Okkoota.

The inaugural programme will be held at 10.30 am. MLA K G Bopaiah, District-In-charge Minister Sa Ra Mahesh, ZP President B A Harish and MP Pratap Simha are expected to take part among others.

The valedictory programme at 5.30 pm will be presided over by Hakattur Gram Panchayat President Sharada Ramakrishna. MLA Appacchu Ranjan, MLC Sunil Subramani, Superintendent of Police Sumana and others will take part.

Volleyball (for men), throw ball (for women), tug of war for high-school boys and girls, 50 metre race for primary school boys and girls, 100 metre race for higher primary school boys, 200 metre race for high school and PU college boys, 300 metre race for girls, open running race for men and women from general public will be conducted for the villages of Kaggodlu.

Volleyball, throwball, and tug of war teams should pay a fee of Rs 500 before August 10 at 2 pm.

The winning teams will get attractive prizes.

High school students who are willing to take part in the tug of war must bring a certificate from their respective heads of the institution.

The games will begin at 9 am on August 11. For details, you may contact: 94499 52008, 97404 04520

Youth Hostel Association of India President C B Devaiah, Secretary Ayyanna C A, Madikeri taluk Yuva Okkoota President Navin Derala and Taluk Yuva Okkoota Secretary Baladi Dilip Kumar were present in the press meet.

source:http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Districts / by Adithya KA, DH News Service, Madikeri / August 06th, 2018