M.B. Gappanna of Kavadi village in Ammathi, Virajpet taluk, Kodagu, has been nominated as Syndicate Member of University of Mysore by the Chancellor, who is also the Governor of Karnataka.
As per the notification issued from the Office of the Governor, the term of office shall be for a period of three years with effect from Oct. 3, 2020.
A MBA graduate from Mangalore University, Machimanda Gappanna has been an activist working for progressive causes and was the President of All College Students Union of Mangalore University.
He has the experience of working in the corporate world in various capacities and has been associated with several service organisations like Rotary, where he has been the Director of Youth Service. He is passionate about helping people at the grassroot level and interested in finding innovative solutions to support rural employment.
Gappanna is involved with several NGOs motivating youth for self employment and skill development.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / October 06th, 2021
Palecanda Yogesh (49), owner of Bhagavathi Bus Service, passed away on Thursday night at Virajpet, Kodagu. He was also running a cold storage and a medical shop in the town.
He leaves behind his mother, wife, two children and a host of relatives and friends.
Cremation took place at Kodava Samaja crematorium in Virajpet yesterday, according to family sources.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Obituary / May 08th, 2021
Like in the first wave of COVID-19, the Kodagu District Administration has resumed stamping the hands of all those who are entering the district from various check-posts with indelible ink.
This comes in the wake of Kodagu — that lacks even medium-scale medical infrastructure — witnessing on an average of more than 600 COVID-positive cases every day. Also, identifying the infection pattern, the District authorities have realised that the killer virus is primarily spread by people who are arriving in the district in hordes following the lockdown announcement.
All the travellers from other bordering districts — Mysuru, Hassan, Mangaluru and Kerala — through Anechowkur Gate near Hunsur, Koppa Gate near Kushalnagar, Kodlipet Gate near Somwarpet, Sampaje Gate near Madikeri, Kutta Gate (from Tholpetty) and Karike check-post near Bhagamandala are being hand-stamped and they are being told to be in home-quarantine for 14 days.
“HOME QUARANTINED,” reads the hand stamp, along with the date it was given to determine when their 14-day isolation ends. Before they enter the check-posts, their addresses, phone numbers, Gram Panchayat jurisdiction, purpose of visit is recorded and the same is conveyed to the respective Gram Panchayats so that the home isolated visitors are constantly monitored.
The process of hand-stamping began in Kodagu on May 6 and the daily list is updated to the respective Panchayat Development Officer.
Health officials said only those with negative certificates are allowed from Kerala. As a result, the movement of goods vehicles between the two States has come down drastically. Virajpet Tahsildar Yoganand said that with the rise in COVID cases, the surveillance has been strengthened.
As many as 12 personnel from the Revenue, Health, Police and Forest Departments are working in shifts at Makutta check-post. CCTV cameras have been installed at the check-posts, he added.
All the vehicles are being checked at the Hipligate check-post on the Kodagu-Hassan border. Check-posts have been set up at Shanthapura and Kodlipet to check the vehicles from Hassan entering the district. Barricades have been placed near the check-posts. These check-posts operate round-the-clock.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /May 10th, 2021
Kodagu was among the first districts to report COVID cases and had sought the help of volunteers, especially for the cremation and burial of COVID victims.
Madikeri :
“When we started this service a year ago, we did not know it would become so severe. We are stressed and emotionally drained. But we cannot abandon it now,” said a volunteer from the Vishwa Hindu Parishad, which is involved in conducting the last rites of COVID victims in Kodagu.
It was among the first districts to report COVID cases and had sought the help of volunteers, especially for the cremation and burial of COVID victims. Over 100 volunteers came forward from Popular Front of India, Vishwa Hindu Parishad, Bajrang Dal and Seva Bharathi.
While the district rarely reported COVID deaths last year, it is seeing an average of six deaths per day over the last one month, the highest being 16 on a single day. The designated crematorium for COVID victims in Madikeri is equipped to raise only three pyres at a time.
“We can arrange two pyres on the cemented structure and the third on the temporary setup that has been arranged with the increase in COVID deaths. When there are more than three deaths, we have to wait for nearly three to four hours for all the three bodies to burn completely. We then collect the ashes and hand them over to relatives,” a volunteer said.
“We dispose of our PPE kits, sanitise ourselves and then go back to the Madikeri COVID Hospital to collect the remaining bodies. We repeat the same process. When there are more deaths, most of our day is spent at the crematorium,” they added.
Volunteers of VHP and Bajrang Dal have conducted the last rites of 101 victims, and they do selfless service as they don’t accept any monetary donations. “But I request the district administration to provide us with health insurance. If anything happens to us tomorrow, at least our families can survive with the insurance money. Social service alone has been a part of most of our lives. Also, if the government can expand and improve the crematorium, it would reduce a lot of our stress,” a volunteer said.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR, Express News Service / May 10th, 2021
Kodagu District in-Charge Minister V. Somanna said that all measures will be taken for increasing oxygen bed capacity in the district in the wake of rising COVID cases.
He was presiding over a review meeting on COVID Control and treatment measures at the ZP Hall here on Thursday.
Pointing out that there are plans to increase the number of oxygen beds in the district by 250, including 50 in Somwarpet, 20 in Pollibetta, 20 in Kutta and a good number in Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) Hospital, Somanna said that all Corona warriors and persons aged over 45 years should get compulsorily vaccinated for their own health and well-being.
Noting that several organisations such as Rotary, Lions and Chamber of Commerce have come forward for joining hands with the District Administration, he directed the authorities to take measures for refilling the 13 KL Oxygen tank at the District COVID Hospital. He also asked the authorities to ensure timely vaccine and oxygen supplies to the district in accordance with the demand.
Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan expressed concern over rising number of COVID deaths in the district. Noting that there are complaints that Doctors and Nursing Staff were complacent in taking care of patients, he urged the authorities to ensure proper food and boiled drinking water to all patients at COVID Hospital.
Virajpet MLA K.G. Bopaiah wanted the authorities to ensure that people above 60 years of age are vaccinated in the district. He also asked them to ensure that second dose is given to all the vaccinated.
MLC Veena Achaiah suggested to install CCTV cameras at ICU wards of COVID Hospital.
Another MLC Sunil Subramani said that the staff of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences (KIMS) were doing a good job and they should continue with their good work, without giving scope for any complacency.
MP Pratap Simha said that the District has been provided with a 13 KL oxygen tank and the authorities should submit daily updates of oxygen requirement and use. Instructing the authorities to ensure that there is no oxygen shortage at any point of time, he said that there is every possibility that the deadly virus may peak in the coming days and the authorities should brace up themselves by augmenting oxygen capacity and number of oxygen beds.
Kodagu District in-Charge Secretary V. Anbukumar told the meeting that the oxygen bed capacity at the Medical College Hospital will be increased to 150 in phases.
DC Charulatha Somal said that 130 oxygen cylinders have been handed over to the DHO through the Tahsildars of three taluks in the district. Also, measures have been taken to take custody of all oxygen cylinders available at Kushalnagar Industrial Area after discussing with the owners of industries, she added.
KIMS Director Dr. Cariappa, Superintendent Dr. Lokesh, RCH Officer Dr. Gopinath and Dr. Anand spoke about the measures taken for COVID management and control in the district.
SP Kshama Mishra, Additional DC Raju Mogaveera, In-Charge Assistant Commissioner Srinivas and other officials were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News /May 08th, 2021
Kodagu SP Khsama Mishra launched 7 ‘Emergency Rapid Response’ vehicles at the District Parade Grounds here yesterday.
Speaking after flagging off the vehicles, Kshama Mishra said that Emergency Rapid Response vehicles are meant for the benefit of public. Pointing out that the public can call the National Helpline No.112 in case of emergencies or any crisis or criticality, she said that ERSS (Emergency Response Support System) Helpline -112 service is an ambitious initiative of the Government of India.
Noting that the earlier Police Helpline No.100 and Fire Emergency Helpline No.101, have been merged with 112 Helpline number, she said that the people of Kodagu can call 112 in case of accidents, crimes, rescue, natural disasters, illegal and unlawful activities etc.,
Explaining the working of the helpline, the SP said that this service will respond quickly to emergency and frantic calls made by the public from anywhere in the district.
Dy.SP Dinesh Kumar, DSB Inspector Medappa, City Police Inspector Anup Madappa, Rural Police Inspector Ravikiran, Reserve Police Inspector Rachaiah and others were present.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 05th, 2021
The year gone by will not be forgotten for a long time to come. A year that turned the world upside down. Travel and hospitality sectors which provide most employment were crippled beyond belief. The pandemic has changed the very nature of tourism and travel for ever. Their worlds will never be the same again. Words like hybrid and virtual have come in to the lexicon of tourism. This is the new reality.
Monuments, cultural heritage sites and famous museums across the world have gone ‘hybrid’ to provide online guided tours through their sites and galleries to millions who are unable to travel anymore. In India, Government has announced that many of the country’s UNESCO Cultural Heritage sites and major museums will prepare to provide online access.
Technology not only makes this possible but has opened the magical doors to the creation of virtual museums that are only limited by imagination!
In this brave new world, India Foundation for the Arts (IFA) — www.indiaifa.org — has come forward to invite proposals from multi-disciplinary teams for the creation of a Virtual Museum to showcase Kodava Heritage and Culture. The virtual museum will be an interactive online space for the rich and thriving heritage of Kodavas offering a glimpse into their history, customs and cultural practices. IFA has an enviable record of supporting path-breaking initiatives in the field of art and culture.
The exciting prospect of this museum of cultural heritage of a proud warrior people has become possible by a CSR grant from Recaero India Pvt. Ltd., which is a pioneer in the field of aerospace engineering. This grant will clearly need to be supplemented with generous donations as the project progresses.
For a project of this kind to be successful, we need to access tangible resources like photographs, video clips of marriages, folk dances and observance of rituals, jewellery and objects which are unique to the Kodava way of life. The design team would also require to reach out to members of the community for intangible resources like accounts of social rituals and customs of Kodavas that may have been lost in antiquity. We, therefore, request members of the community to volunteer to provide the resource requirement and any other support.
The Project Coordinator in IFA Darshana can be reached at: darshana@indiaifa.org. I can be reached on: rathicodanda.kodavaheritage@gmail.com
— Rathi Vinay Jha, Chair, India Foundation for the Arts (IFA)
Bengaluru
29.4.2021
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Voice of the Reader / May 05th, 2021
The CMC has requested volunteers with medical and non-medical background to register and the council will soon assign responsibilities to them within the city limits.
Madikeri :
Following the increase in the number of active COVID-19 cases across Madikeri, the City Municipal Council has urged residents to join in voluntary work to help handle the pandemic. The CMC has requested volunteers with medical and non-medical background to register and the council will soon assign responsibilities to them within the city limits.
The call for volunteers was made by the CMC on Saturday evening and 25 people have already registered for the work. “Two people even called from Bengaluru to join the team. However, they required an accommodation facility and this is not feasible,” explained Soumya, AEE. She added that the state has released guidelines to the district to form ward committees of volunteers in city limits to help the administration in handling the pandemic situation.
The volunteers will first involve themselves in conducting surveys across their ward to identify inter-district, inter-state and international travellers. “The volunteers have to find out if these travellers are following the quarantine norms and also urge them to take RTPCR test if they have symptoms,” Soumya explained.
Further, the volunteers have to create awareness on the vaccination drive and provide correct information on government orders. Supplying essentials to people in home quarantine and home isolation and supplying rations to the needy will also be taken up by the volunteers.
Currently, the CMC is readying the database of volunteers and the ward committees will shortly be formed to entrust COVID related work. Volunteers in Madikeri city limits can register after dropping a message with their names and ward details on WhatsApp to 9620383963.
source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Prajna GR / Express News Service / May 02nd, 2021
With temperatures rising and pests proliferating, Indian coffee growers are fighting challenges beyond their control.
Unpredictable rise in temperatures followed by an uncertain monsoon cycle has gradually started taking a toll on coffee yields. (Chevanon Photography, Pexels)
Coffee is the first thing I see, smell and taste in the day. But as caffeine-junkies like you or me ride the wave of premium specialty brews, we need to pay attention to growers across major regions in India, such as Karnataka, Kerala and Tamil Nadu, who are battling a host of challenges due to a changing climate.
As spring transitions to summer, the pattern of unpredictable rise in temperatures followed by an uncertain monsoon cycle has gradually started taking a toll on yields and impacting the livelihood of coffee farmers.
Bengaluru based Tej Thammaiah, a co-founder of Maverick & Farmer Coffee Roasters and third-generation coffee farmer, says his team of growers on the 150-acre estate have meticulously documented the cultivation process to pinpoint the impact of increasing temperatures over the last decade. The mild, aromatic Arabica plant with its nuanced flavours, second only to Robusta in production volume in India, is highly susceptible to even the slightest change in climate. As temperatures increase, it hastens fruit ripening, leading to a loss in the overall quality of beans.
To fight this temperature change at estates such as Pollibetta in Coorg, his growers strive to find plots at higher, cooler elevations. But in this new environment, the finicky coffee fruit typically takes longer to mature. Moreover, changing plot locations is not a sustainable solution since coffee fruits in India are grown primarily in “shady” conditions, under a canopy of trees. And deforestation and logging is taking a toll everywhere.
It gets worse: When plants aren’t grown in ideal conditions, it leaves them more vulnerable to pests and diseases. Sunalini Menon, president of a coffee grading and training institute called Coffeelab in Bengaluru, mentions that a beetle known as white stem borer has been particularly harmful, spreading through India and Sri Lanka. It prefers plants exposed to sunlight and after burrowing in hard wood and roots as a larva, it hatches and feeds off the plant, destroying the woody tissue, leading to stems wilting and leaves yellowing. The beetle seems to have a particular liking for Arabica.
Not all hope is lost, though. Menon says India was one of the first countries to battle another infamous dweller, a fungus known as leaf rust, at the Mysore Coffee Experimental Station established by the British in 1925 at Chikmagalur, Karnataka. Known as the Central Coffee Research Institute, this research centre now run by the Coffee Board of India is researching and guiding growers on pest control, as well as initiatives such as diversifying shade patterns with local balsa and cedar trees and introducing new varietals of Arabica and Robust suited for tropical growth.
But she does believe it’s important to let go of the hesitancy to uproot plants. Farmers, perhaps for cultural reasons, have typically been hesitant to replant their land though research suggests that shorter plant life-cycles increase quantity, improve bean quality and even give growers some reprieve from emerging pests and diseases.
Ultimately, however, no practice can replace the tedious, time-consuming process of screening crops regularly. A task which falls squarely on growers.
Some shift to growing other crops. Those who stick it out, especially in smaller estates, need more support–in the form of agritourism, research on new techniques, investment in weather stations or, simply, from consumers.
If that doesn’t happen, we may in time find it increasingly difficult to get that morning fix.
For those new to coffee: Thammaiah suggests Selection 795 or Cauvery to taste domestic Arabicas (while we still can).
Nightcap is a column on beverages by Varud Gupta, author of Bhagwaan Ke Pakwaan and Chhotu. @varudgupta
source: http://www.lifestyle.livemint.com / Live Mint / Home> Mint Lounge> Food / by Varun Gupta / April 26th, 2021
Voters wait in queues following social distancing in Madikeri, to cast their vote.
The Madikeri City Municipal Council elections were held peacefully on Tuesday. The elections were held for 23 wards.
The voters took part enthusiastically during the voting process, despite the fear of the Covid-19 pandemic. The future of the candidates will be known on April 30.
People waited in a queue as early as 7 am at the polling booth near the KSRTC bus stand.
A similar scene was found in several other polling booths as well. Even though the number of senior citizen voters was less, women and youth took part in large numbers.
People who were tested positive for Covid-19 were allowed to cast their franchise between 5 pm and 6 pm. The patients wore PPE kits and exercised their franchise.
The candidates expressed their happiness over the good turnout of voters. Many candidates had speculated about a poor turnout due to the pandemic.
However, the spirited show of the voters is a good sign, said the candidates.
The seniors opined that there were no elected representatives at the City Municipal Council from the last two and a half years and the public was fed up with the administration of the officials.
The officials were not listening to the woes of the people in the CMC wards. Hence, the overwhelming attendance by the voters at the polling booths clearly indicated the fact that the people wanted elected representatives in the CMC administration, they added.
Maintenance of rules was given emphasis at the polling booths. The people wore masks and maintained social distancing.
Police vigil was tightened at every polling booth. Deputy Commissioner Charulata Somal paid a visit to the various polling booths to review the situation.
Candidates in fray
A total of 108 candidates contested from 23 wards of the CMC.
Both the BJP and Congress had fielded candidates in all the wards while JD(S) had fielded candidates in 22 wards.
SDPI fielded nine candidates, Aam Aadmi Party fielded four candidates and one candidate contested from Karnataka Rastra Sangha.
Virajpet MLA K G Bopaiah arrived at the polling booth at Junior College, Madikeri, along with his family to cast the vote.
MLC Veena Achaiah exercised her franchise at the polling booth in ward number 3.
K G Bopaiah later predicted that BJP will win 15 out of 23 seats and will come to power in the CMC.
He also said that tough rules in the state were inevitable to contain the spread of Covid-19. He suggested conducting Covid-19 tests of people entering Kodagu. Those who test positive should be home quarantined.
Congress leader Mittu Changappa cast his vote at the booth set up in St Micheal School in Madikeri at 7 am, as the first voter. He boasts of holding the record of being the first voter during the past 28 elections.
Workers violate rules
Workers of various political parties and also the supporters of independent candidates were seen flouting the Covid-19 guidelines, near the polling booths.
Voting percentage
At 11 am, there was a voting percentage of 31% and the percentage rose to 63% at 2 pm.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by Adithya K A, DHNS, Madikeri / April 27th, 2021
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