Category Archives: Uncategorized

Operate only on permitted routes, Kodagu RTO tells KSRTC

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

Private bus owners accuse KSRTC of running buses without permits

Mohammad Habibulla Khan, Kodagu Regional Transport Officer, on Monday asked the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) officials in Madikeri not to ply the KSRTC buses in the district without valid permits.

He was presiding over the ‘Sarige Adalat’ (Transport Adalat) meeting. His appeal came in the wake of complaints lodged by the private bus owners in Kodagu that many KSRTC buses plied without valid permits. The private bus owners had alleged that KSRTC buses were running without permits for a long time, Mr. Khan said.

Lachme Gowda, depot manager, KSRTC, said the KSRTC buses were being run in certain locations in the district following demands by the commuters. At no point, the KSRTC was out to compete with the private bus owners. The issue would be brought to the notice of the Deputy Commissioner and sorted out, he said. Mr. Khan said KSRTC buses could not be operated without licence and the authorities ought to follow the court orders.

Mr. Khan said he had slapped 40 cases on KSRTC buses that were plying without licence in the last three years in Kodagu. It meant that the corporation should follow the transport rules. The motto of both KSRTC and private buses should be to provide service to commuters rather than competing with one another.

Hosur Ramesh Joyappa, president of the Kodagu Private Bus Owners’ Association, said the association had been complaining about KSRTC buses being operated in the district without permits in the last three years. Let the RTO take up a survey of the routes in the district, he demanded. Sarvajanika Hitarakshana Samiti president Katti Mandaiah said the KSRTC must stop trying to dominate the private routes.

Buses cannot be operated without licence: RTO

‘40 cases slapped for plying buses without licence in the last three years’.

source: http://www.TheHindu.com / Home> News> National> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysore, February 05th, 2013

Tribal families to get Anthyodaya card

Agriculture, Records, All, Uncategorized

Deputy commissioner Dr N Prasad has directed the officials to make arrangement for the distribution of Anthyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY) ration card, in the district.

Chairing a meeting here recently he said tribals are residing in a large number at Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks. The tribals are still leading a deplorable condition.

Anthyodaya

Food and civil supplies deputy director Naveed Ahammed said about 5,047 ration cards have been already distributed under Anthyodaya Anna Yojana (AAY). At least 6,000 more AAY ration cards will be distributed shortly.

Social Welfare officer Lakshman J Ganti said that 301 houses which were sanctioned during 2008-09 are under progress. During 2010-11, as many as 350 houses were sanctioned. About 320 beneficiaries have been identified and the proposal has been sent to the ITDP director for approval.

Power

Additional DC Dr N Shivashankar said that electricity connection should be provided to the anganwadi centres. The revenue officials should look into the issue.

Women and child welfare deputy director J P Lingaraju said: “We have already deposited fund to the Chescom to provide electricity connections to the anganwadi centres.”

Assistant commissioner G Prabhu, agriculture department joint director Shivamallu, mines and geology department deputy director Haris and tahsildars were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District> Madikeri / DHNS, January 28th, 2013

3 Indian Cuisines We Really Need To See More Of

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized


\Image: Sunith Shyam
1. Kodava
For a district that’s barely 4,000 sq km in size, Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka produces a surprisingly varied range of cuisine. Few mainland cuisines in India embrace pork as whole-heartedly as the Kodavas do, so it’s only fitting that the pandi curry—a rich, slow-cooked pork dish that takes its signature dark colour from a vinegar called kachumpuli—should be considered an icon, but it ends up overshadowing tangy, light fish curries, delicate vegetable stir-fries and endless variations of staples created with rice. Tickling all the taste buds, this is a cuisine that has made a firm imprint on Bangalore—in the past six years, the number of Kodava restaurants has grown from one to three—and is now ready to take on palates in the further reaches of the country.

2. Saoji
Chances are if you’ve heard of the Saoji style of cooking, you’re from Maharashtra. Born of the working classes, it’s only in recent years that the cuisine has stepped outside roadside shacks—Nagpur and Sholapur are dotted with no-frills Saoji bhojanalayas—and into more upmarket restaurants. Ear-buzzing, sweat-inducing fieriness is the primary distinguisher of this cuisine, along with liberal use of oil. There is little record of the evolution of Saoji cuisine but the spice levels possibly had something to do with the region’s dry heat and the perceived low quality of the offal that was often all the weaving communities were able to afford. Though Saoji mutton and chicken (dry and rassa are the two standard varieties) are the most popular dishes, vegetarian dishes are not unknown. Oh, and did I mention that critics and fans aver with one voice that the food is extremely tasty? Marketed intelligently, Saoji could well replace Andhra food as the go-to meal of choice for hot-heads.

3. Ahomiya

While narrowing down this list, one of the criteria was that the cuisine should be something of a will-o’-the-wisp, that is, familiar enough to be welcome and at enough of a remove to be enticing. For a Bengali, that cuisine is undoubtedly Ahomiya, with its river fish, wild greens, mustard oil balanced by a plethora of fermented and dried foods, exotic tribal ingredients like the pupa of the eri silkworm and red ant eggs, as also the kolkhar—traditionally the water filtered through the ashes of dried and charred banana skins that is now frequently replaced with baking soda—used in cooking the first dish of the Ahomiya thali, the khar. There are almost as many kinds of Ahomiya cooking as there are households, and it’d be a rare eatery that would be able to present all the micro-cuisines from the length and breadth of Assam. But this is a restaurant-ready repertoire, waiting to unfurl its wings beyond Assam House in Delhi’s Chanakyapuri.

Image: Neil McAllister / Alamy

http://www.forbesindia.com / Forbes India / Home> Life/Special / By Sumana Mukherjee / January 03rd, 2013

‘CDP was not prepared to set up industries’

Business & Economy, Uncategorized

More resorts, hotels have come up outside MUDA limits.

A large number of industrialists will come forward to set up industries, outside the purview of Madikeri Urban Development Authority (MUDA). The opening of hotels and resorts on the outskirts of Madikeri is the finest example for it, said MUDA President Sajjeel Krishnan.

Speaking to presspersons here on Tuesday, he said the Comprehensive Development Plan (CDP) for Madikeri town was prepared in 1997. The proposal was not prepared recently. The CDP was not prepared for setting up of industries, he clarified.

“A few organisation had alleged that the expansion of town was made to facilitate setting up of industries and accommodate more population. At present, more number of resorts and hotels have come up outside the MUDA limits,” he said. The MUDA will issue NOC for converting the land for commercial purpose in Madikeri town. “We only issue NOC and not engage in forcible acquisition of land,” he said.

The proposal for the expansion of City has not received any objections so far. As many as 123 applications have been received seeking NOC for converting the land for commercial purpose.

The CDP is people friendly and prepared for the development. ‘“The suggestions and directions from the public will be placed before the MUDA meeting before sending the CDP to the government for approval.”

Town Planning engineer Ashok Kumar and MUDA Commissioner Ashad Ur Rehman Shariff was present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DHNS / November 20th, 2012

‘Create awareness on secularism’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Uncategorized

Virajpet (Kodagu dist):

There is a need to create awareness on secularism to conserve democracy. A community can progress, only when its members respect and love their community, said Assembly Speaker K G Bopaiah.

Speaking at the golden jubilee of Baithoorappa Sangha of Puggera family at Devanageri near here, he said the government has released Rs 60 lakh for the Kodava Sahitya Academy. Kodava Study Centre has been set up in Mangalore University, to encourage Kodava culture, tradition and literature.

Academy president A C Cariappa said Puggera family was responsible for conserving Bolakat and Ummathat dance forms. District in-charge minister Appachu Ranjan, Kodava Centre coordinator Kodeera Lokesh, Puggera family seniors K Subbaiah and Appayya were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / by DHNS / November 17th, 2012

Retd DGP donates ` 1 lakh for cops’ kin

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“It was the police official from Kodagu who gave me a rebirth during operation against Veerappan,” said DGP (Retd) Shankar Bidari.

Speaking at the annual meeting of Kodagu district retired police officers welfare association, in Madikeri on Tuesday, he said “during operation against Veerappan, when the opponents opened fired at me, it was my guard Manavatteera Ponnappa who came in front of me and saved my life and lost his life.”

“In the name of Ponnappa, I will give Rs one lakh to the Association. The money should be used for providing scholarships for the children of police who have scored highest marks in SSLC/PUC.”

“I have appealed to the State government to rename the Police Training Academy in Dharwad after police officer N A Muthanna. The government has responded positively,” he said.

Association President M A Appayya, SP Manjunath Annigeri and others were present.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> District / Madikeri, DH News Service / November 07th, 2012

Jumbo festival all set to enthral audiences

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Uncategorized

Come October 30, tourists will be able to enjoy the visual treat of elephants participating in a number of entertaining events.

The Forest department is all set to organise a ‘Jumbo Festival’ at the Dubare Elephant camp near Nanjarayapatna tourist centre in Kodagu district.

The elephants will take part in various games, which are scheduled to begin at 9.30 am
The pachyderms are being trained and groomed by the Forest department for the various activities. Under the guidance of the mahouts and kavadis, the elephants are in the process of learning to perform tricks such as kicking a football, holding each other’s’ tails and moving in a circle, holding each other’s ears and other such acts.

Ranjan, the calf named after Sports Minister Appachu Ranjan, is being trained to salute the other elephants and the tourists — a spectacular and grandiose act.

Participants

Elder elephants such as Vikram and Gopi are being involved in sports events. The elephants, which took part in the Mysore Dasara procession — including Harsha, Prashant, Vikram, Vijay, Gopi and Kaveri — are currently engaged in the training of junior elephants under the supervision of the mahouts and kavadis.

The remaining pachyderms, including Ranjan, Shivagange, Theertharam, Chandra, Ram, Ajjaiah and others are to take part in other events.

Taming the wild

Several wild elephants which used to stray into the fields of the farmers and often to destroyed crops, had been captured about three years ago. They are also being trained at the camp.

A total of 20 elephants will take part in various activities. The training of the elephants is being undertaken under the guidance of taskmaster J K Dobi, informed Deputy Conservator of Forests of Madikeri Division, Dhananjay.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> State> Kushalnagar (Kodagu) / DHNS / October 27th, 2012

Hockey stars make it a special day for kids

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Sports, Uncategorized

A Sunday to remember

October 14 will remain a special Sunday for the 100-odd kids of the Jude Felix Hockey Academy.

Unlike the usual Sundays which involves training, a game of hockey and breakfast at their home-cum-school — St Mary’s Orphanage — the kids were in for a treat when a clutch of former State hockey players and some internationals chose to light up a gloomy morning.

Former India captain Arjun Halappa, VS Vinaya and current India forward SV Sunil and a few other former State players were part of the ‘Rest of Karnataka’ squad, challenging the JFHA academy kids in a 20-minute exhibition match.
“I am extremely happy to be associated with this noble cause,” said Halappa as kids scrambled to get his autograph. “It is such a delight to see the enthusiasm in the kids when they play hockey and I hope some of them get to play for the country some time.”

“This is my first time here and I am looking forward to more such events,” said Sunil, who was impressed by the talent of the kids. “What Jude has done with these kids is spectacular.”

Thrilled with the response, especially from Halappa, Sunil and former India goal-keeper Ashish Ballal who made it in short notice, former India captain Felix said the growth of the academy has vindicated his decision to start it. “Over the last four years, we’ve really made strong improvements. In terms of numbers, we’ve got nearly 100 kids now training almost everyday.

“Apart from that, there is talent here too. Joshua Arun Kumar and Arvind were inducted into the Sports Authority of India (SAI) earlier this year and Rajendra made the cut for the Karnataka sub-junior team. The JFHA wards representing Maria Niketan school clinched the U-16 District and Taluk-level tournaments while the U-14 team emerged victorious in the prestigious Allan MacBride inter-school tournament. That shows the kids here are very serious and we are here not just for charity but to take the kids to the next level.”

Meanwhile, the JFHA inter-school tournament will be played at the KSHA stadium from Nov 7-10. For the second year in row, the event will be played under floodlights and eight teams are expected to participate.

source: http://www.DeccanHerald.com / Home> Sports / Bangalore, DHNS / October 14th, 2012

Administrators are feared by athletes: Nandan Kamath

Uncategorized

Nandan Kamath wears many hats, including that of sports lawyer and trustee of GoSports Foundation, a non-profit organization supporting young Olympic and Paralympic talent. The 35-year-old Bangalorean, a graduate of NLSIU Bangalore, Oxford University and Harvard Law School, advised Rohan Bopanna and Mahesh Bhupathi when the duo took the All India Tennis Association to court for banning them from representing the country for two years. Kamath explained the stand of the players who were penalized for not agreeing to partner Leander Paes in the 2012 London Olympics and on player rights in the country.

What impact will the Bhupathi-Bopanna case have on treatment of sportspersons in India?

I wouldn’t blame an outsider for seeing the players’ behaviour through the Olympic selection controversy as petty and self-centred. However, if you get beyond the superficial perceptions, it is apparent this was a failure of sports administration and player management — nothing more, nothing less. The players were left with the binary choice of either accepting this or standing up for what they believed in, and they chose the latter. While it is inappropriate to get into specific details of the case as the matter is sub judice, suffice it to say that if the players feel forced to take their federation to court, it is indicative of the breakdown in the administrative machinery.

It’s a first step in dealing with arbitrary conduct by sports administrators unaccustomed to having their decisions questioned, least of all by players they “govern”. It is an important precedent and I am sure all sports federations are keeping track of the proceedings which could have a direct bearing on their functioning.

Sportspersons have rebelled against associations in the past. What makes the Bhupathi-Bopanna case different?

Tennis players are fortunate in that their careers are not under the exclusive monopoly of the national tennis federation. They play on professional circuits and don’t require selection by their federation. As a result, exposure to the whims and fancies of sports administrators is limited to the Davis Cup or Fed Cup and multi-discipline events like the Asian Games, Commonwealth Games and the Olympics. Consequently, Rohan and Mahesh were better equipped to stand their ground in this situation.

What kind of a precedent does this case set for aspiring athletes and for sports federations?

We are seeing a self-confident young Indian athlete today. Young people in India take little at face value now and are ready to stand up for their own rights. The generation gap between athletes and governing bodies is likely to come to the surface more frequently. There is a strong movement to regulate sports bodies closely. There is an equally good argument to deregulate and democratise the sports industry, as has happened with the IT industry. If we can release sport from the federation raj and open it up, either partially or fully to competition and professional management, you never know what can be achieved.

Are player unions the need of the hour?

Player unions are not solutions in themselves. The entire sports ecosystem needs to grow and more stakeholders must be engaged. Sports agents are now playing more important roles across disciplines . The press has played a key role in holding federations and selectors accountable. Former sportspersons are making their views widely known. Even courts are increasingly willing to intervene. As the famous saying goes, ‘Sunlight is the best disinfectant’. If we are able to bring more information into the public domain about the talent that abounds in our country, give it sustained opportunities and platforms to show its worth and reward it meaningfully, then it will be very difficult for anyone to suppress it.

What kind of an influence do associations have on careers of athletes?

Most times, influence of the associations is absolute; be it funding, training opportunities or selections, athletes are fully dependent on their federations. Only in a few other professions are the full-time careers of some so completely in the hands of others. There is a great fear of administrators among athletes. We need to move more fully towards a model where administrators are recognized as mere facilitators of sports talent in their quest to connect with opportunities to perform and, ultimately, with sports fans. It is not clear whether increasing professionalisation of sports management will automatically bring about the death of ‘command and control’, though that should certainly be one of the prime objectives. While we need good, qualified professionals running Indian sport, there is no point transplanting them into allpowerful positions lacking structured checks and balances.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / Home> Sports> More Sports / by Prajwal Hegde, TNN / September 30th, 2012

Augustin A of Kodagu is Karnataka under-15 champion

Uncategorized

Mangalore:

Augustin A of Kodagu has won the Karnataka State under -15 FIDE rated open chess championship that concluded here on Sunday. Overnight leader Augustin scored against local boy Sharan Rao in the ninth and final round to take his tournament tally to 7.5 points. Andria L D’Souza of Mangalore, Satvik M of Bangalore, and Amoga HA of Mysore, who all finished with 6.5 points apiece, were ranked second to fourth based on the tie-break scores.

In the final round, Augustin gained full point at the expense of Sharan in very short game. In the second board Satvik won the battle against local lad Shabdhik Varma in a game with Queens gambit orthodox variation. In the third board Amogha broke the black French defence in a typical middle game against Nikhil R Umesh Shimoga. Andria L D’souza with her black pieces employing the Caro Kann defence against local boy Vivekraj won in 54 moves.

Results : U-15 open: Ninth and final round: Augustin A (Kod) 7.5 bt Sharan Rao (Mlr) 6; M Satvik (Blr) 6.5 bt Shabdhik Varma (Mlr) 5; Amogha HA (Mys) 6.5 bt Nikhil R Umesh (Shi) 5; Vivekraj (Mlr) 5 lost to Andria L D’Souza (Mlr) 6.5; R Parthasarathy (Blr) 5.5 drew with Pangal Gopalakrishna Nayak (Mlr) 5; Ojas Kulkarni (Blr) 5 drew with Ananya S (Mlr) 5; Aditya Pai K (Mlr) 5 bt Sachin TV (Blr) 4; Sharan R Setty (Mys) 4 lost to Arjun Adappa (Mlr) 5; Ajay SM (Shi) 5 bt Chandan A (Put) 4; and Shreyash BS (Put) 3.5 lost to Shashwath S Mudenagudi (Hbl) 5.

source: http://www.articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / by Jaideep Shenoy, TNN / July 22nd, 2012