Christmas was celebrated with traditional and religious fervour in Kodagu district while adhering to the Covid-19 guidelines of the government.
The churches were decked up with stars and lighting. Special mass prayers were held at churches in Madikeri, Somwarpet, Virajpet, Kushalnagar and Gonikoppa on Tuesday night.
Christmas carols were sung in the churches. Attractive cribs were also set up in churches.
The cribs were the centre of attraction at St Michael’s Church and CSI Church in Madikeri.
The residents from Gopalapuram Beetikatte, Shanivarasanthe, Hosoor, Kalale and other places visited St Antony Catholic Church at Gopalapura.
In Napoklu, the members of the Christian community attended mass prayers at St Mary’s Church.
Owing to the Covid-19 pandemic, the number of people who came to the church was less.
The bakeries in Madikeri had prepared a variety of cakes and other condiments for the Christmas celebrations.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / December 25th, 2020
Two NCC cadets from Field Marshal K M Cariappa College in Madikeri have been selected for the Republic Day parade in New Delhi on January 26.
The students are Indrajith M S and Yashaswi C T. They were trained by NCC Officer Major Dr B Raghav and Karnataka 19th battalion officials.
Indrajith is a second-year BBA student, while Yashaswi is a second-year BSc student.
Principal Dr Chowreera Jagat Thimmaiah said that cadets from the college are being selected for the Republic Day parade for the last several years. This year, two students have been selected.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / December 26th, 2020
There was an increased density of vehicles in Madikeri on Saturday.
Amid the scare of Covid-19 pandemic, tourists have slowly started visiting Kodagu district for Christmas and New Year celebrations. The density of vehicles has increased on the roads leading to various destinations in the district.
A large number of vehicles from Kushalnagar are arriving in Madikeri. The tourist spots are filled with visitors.
Some people, having already celebrated Christmas, have left for their native, while some of the visitors who have come for Christmas have stayed back in the district.
Many have booked homestays and resorts to celebrate the arrival of the new year.
Some have booked rooms to arrive in Kodagu either the coming Wednesday or on Thursday, said, resort owners.
The tourism sector was hit hard following the Covid-19 pandemic, since March. Now, tourism activities are slowly picking up since October.
About 80% of the homestays in the district have been booked. After Covid-19, the demand for homestays within the city limits has declined. There is a demand for homestays situated in interior places, amid the coffee plantations.
The tourists are enjoying the close proximity with tamed elephants at Dubare Elephant Camp. With the decline in water level in River Cauvery, the tourists cross the river to reach the Camp. Many were seen enjoying playing in the water.
Even the visitors to Nisargadhama have increased. The shopkeepers who were dependent on tourists for a living are smiling, thanks to the arrival of tourists.
The tourists, who in the past left for foreign countries for new year celebrations, have selected Kodagu to ring in the new year. Some are leaving for Goa, Mangaluru, Karwar, Sakleshpura and Chikkamagaluru, said tourist agent Pradeep.
No large gathering
Meanwhile, the district administration has issued a few restrictions for hotels and resorts for the new year celebrations.
The police have warned them of initiating strict action if they fail to adhere to the Covid-19 guidelines.
DJ dance parties have been banned on January 31 night. There is also a ban on large gatherings on main roads and public places for new year celebrations.
Helicopter joyride
A private firm has been carrying out helicopter joyrides in Madikeri. There is a package of five minutes and seven minutes ride. A few local residents and tourists are enjoying an aerial view of Madikeri. The joyrides will be conducted till January 1.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A, DHNS, Madikeri / December 26th, 2020
As the various Gram Panchayats in Virajpet will go for polling on December 27 in the second phase, a total of 905 candidates are in the fray.
Earlier, a total of 1,186 nominations were submitted for 424 seats in 35 Gram Panchayats in the taluk, out of which 69 nominations were rejected. Out of the remaining 1,117 candidates, 162 withdrew their nominations and 50 candidates were elected unanimously.
Now, 905 candidates are in the fray. No nominations have been submitted for the four seats of Arakeri constituency in Titimati Gram Panchayat limits. Elections will be held for the rest of the 370 seats.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Virajpet / December 21st, 2020
The golden jubilee of Kannada Sahitya Parishat, Kodagu unit, will be observed in the district, said Kodagu district Kannada Sahitya Parishat president Lokesh Sagar.
During a preparatory meeting, he said that various programmes for the development of Kannada literature are being organised by the parishat.
The Kodagu unit of Kannada Sahitya Parishat has also gathered appreciation from the state executive committee of Kannada Sahitya Parishat and has been presented with the state award.
The term of the existing committee of district Kannada Sahitya Parishat will end on March 2021. The 15th district Kannada Sahitya Sammelana and the golden jubilee celebrations will be held before the end of the term.
It has been planned to organise programmes at Cauvery Hall in Madikeri on February 11, 12 and 13.
The past presidents of the district, taluk and hobli committees of Kannada Sahitya Parishat will be felicitated on the occasion.
The first day of the literary convention will commence with a cultural procession followed by the inaugural function. Cultural programmes will be held on the occasion.
Felicitations, poets’ meet and cultural programmes will be held on the second day. Musical programmes, poets’ meet and cultural programmes will be held on the third day.
The main streets of the town and various hoblis will be decorated with Kannada flags and buntings and portraits of Kannada litterateurs.
District Kannada Sahitya Parishat office-bearers will act as the conveners of various committees of literary convention.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by DHNS, Madikeri / December 20th, 2020
Sanjana Kattera, a corona warrior who was part of the Oxford COVID-19 vaccine trial team, is ‘Coorg Person of the Year, 2020’, according to a release.
Kodagu-born Dr. Sanjana was involved in treating COVID-affected children. A paediatrician, she was part of the vaccine trial team at the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine in the United Kingdom. The release said Dr. Sanjana served patients selflessly by risking her life, especially when PPE suits were in short supply initially.
Dr. Sanjana was selected ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in a poll conducted by www.coorgtourisminfo.com, Kodagu’s first news portal, promoted by senior journalist P.T. Bopanna.
She worked with phase I/II of the trial with the age group 18-55 years by initially screening and recruiting patients as part of the eligibility criteria.
Dr. Sanjana, daughter of Suresh Kattera and Smitha Suresh, did her schooling in the United World College South East Asia (UWCSEA) in Singapore.
She studied medicine at the University of Edinburgh in the U.K. After completing her medicine, she specialised in paediatrics in a hospital in the U.K, and is currently training in NHS, Liverpool. She will be completing her Membership of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (MRCPCH) early next year.
The corona warrior had a tough competition for the ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ title from M.A. Ganapathy, IPS, director-general of the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security (BCAS), the release added.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – December 21st, 2020
The Union Government yesterday approved the appointment of IAS Officer S.S. Nakul as Private Secretary to the Minister for Finance and Corporate Affairs Nirmala Sitharaman in the Ministry of Corporate Affairs (MoCA) at the level of Deputy Secretary. Incidentally, Nirmala Sitharaman is a Rajya Sabha member from Karnataka.
According to an order from the Department of Personnel & Training (DoPT), Nakul has been appointed as Private Secretary to Nirmala Sitharaman for a period of five years with effect from the date of assumption of the charge of the post or on co-terminus basis with the Minister or till he ceases to function as Private Secretary to the Minister or until further orders, whichever is earlier.
Nakul is a 2010-batch Indian Administrative Service (IAS) Officer of Karnataka cadre. He is currently serving as Deputy Commissioner of Ballari District. An Engineering Graduate (BE in Electronics & Communications) from Mysuru, he joined civil services in 2010.
Nakul hails from Kushalnagar in Kodagu district and is the son of well-known entrepreneur Rotarian S.K. Satish and Shobha Satish. He has served as Deputy Commissioner and Zilla Panchayat CEO in many districts. Nakul is married to Poojita and they have a boy child.
Nakul had secured an all-India rank of 31 in USPC Civil Services exam. He is known for his efficient handling of administration and has made a mark in deft handling of COVID-19 situation in the State. He is known for utmost transparency in handling of administrative matters. In his tenure, Ballari became the first district in the country to prepare and upload an audit report of COVID expenditure in the district.
He has shown exemplary uprightness and efficiency in the use of Ballari district’s mineral fund and State disaster management fund for COVID relief such as setting up special wards in hospitals, construction of oxygen tanks, procuring masks, PPE kits, medicines and equipment.
On his deputation to Central service, Nakul said “The PMO had sought my opinion two weeks back. I couldn’t say no… It’s an opportunity to learn new lessons of public administration. I will join the Central service after the completion of Gram Panchayat election process.”
Nakul’s wife delivers first child at Govt. Hospital
When he was the CEO of Ballari ZP, Nakul had emerged as a trend-setter by getting his wife’s maiden delivery done at the district hospital in Ballari at a time when it has become common even for the economically weak to prefer private hospitals or nursing homes for deliveries.
“The district hospital has experienced doctors, performing over 10 deliveries daily. The hospital has almost all the facilities and above all it is clean and tidy which made us prefer Government Hospital,” Nakul had told reporters then.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home>News / December 18th, 2020
Kodava Samaja Youth Wing demands registering a murder case; warns of protests
Ponnampet:
Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing President Chammattira Praveen Uthappa has demanded impartial probe into the death of social activist and well-known resident of Balele Podamada Uthappa.
He alleged that attempts were made by certain vested interests to twist the facts of the case. Uthappa died of an assault but now attempts are being made to bury the murder case giving it a COVID twist. Praveen Uthappa has warned of protests if the investigation goes off-track.
Podamada Uthappa (82) breathed his last on Monday evening at a private hospital in Mangaluru. He was admitted there after he was allegedly assaulted by three youths in front of a bar in Balele on Nov. 18. After the assault, Uthappa fell to the ground and was rushed to Mangaluru for treatment.
The post-mortem was conducted in Mangaluru in the presence of Gonikoppal Inspector Ramareddy. Uthappa’s son Podamada Pradeep Karumbaiah has lodged a complaint in Ponnampet Police Station against Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj of Balele for allegedly causing the death of his father. As if to retaliate, the three youths have lodged an atrocity case as a counter measure.
According to eyewitnesses, on Nov. 18, Podamada Uthappa’s car was allegedly waylaid by Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj and Uthappa was allegedly assaulted in front of a bar. Two more persons who accompanied Uthappa came to his rescue and avoided a major fight. But in the process, Uthappa was allegedly pushed to the ground by one of the accused.
Uthappa’s ribs and a bone near his torso were broken and after first aid, he was shifted to Mangaluru where he died on Monday evening. Doctors in Mangaluru had reportedly told Uthappa’s family that he was suffering from a virus attack and as such, surgery cannot be performed to rectify his broken bones. Doctors advised the family that the surgeries can be performed only after Uthappa recovers from the viral disease.
Meanwhile, Akhila Kodava Samaja Youth Wing President Chammattira Praveen Uthappa has said that certain vested interests are trying to hush up the case by publicising that Podamada Uthappa died of virus attack. “Due to his old age, Uthappa could not sustain the injuries and he died. Now certain people are twisting the case to save Santosh, Pratap and Kamaraj from being accused in a murder case. The Police must treat this as a murder case and arrest the accused,” he demanded.
Praveen Uthappa has alleged that the atrocity case booked by the three youths was to mislead the case. “It has become a habit for certain sections in Kodagu to fix people in false atrocity cases. After lodging atrocity cases, innocent people are blackmailed for money and even properties. This trend must stop. Podamada Uthappa was murdered and action must be taken under relevant sections of the IPC,” he said.
Praveen Uthappa added that widespread protests will be held in Kodagu if Police bow to the pressure of vested interests. He demanded the immediate quashing of the atrocity case.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 16th, 2020
The meeting of Virajpet Town Panchayat was held under the presidentship of T R Sushmitha for the first time, two years after the election to the council of the TP.
Member C K Prithviraj alleged that there are mistakes in the agenda sent to the members.
The meeting was convened when the tahsildar was the administrator of the Town Panchayat. The decision taken during the tenure of the administration cannot be accepted, he added.
Member M K Dechamma said that water is not supplied to Mogaragalli residents and that measures should be initiated to supply the water at the earliest.
Member Ranji Poonaccha alleged that the streetlights in the town are defunct. The contractor for the maintenance of streetlights should be changed.
The members said that the area of Virajpet Town Panchayat should be expanded. With the inclusion of Bittangala, Ambatti, Maggula Chembebellur, Betoli and Arji villages, the income generated by the panchayat can be increased.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State>Mangaluru / by DHNS, Virajpet / December 16th, 2020
WELCOME. If you like what you see "SUBSCRIBE via EMAIL" to receive FREE regular UPDATES.
Read More »
