Coorg Institute of Technology (CIT) at Halligattu, Ponnampet, functioning under the Kodava Education Society (KES), has been accredited with “A” grade by the National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC).
This was announced by CIT Secretary C.P. Rakesh Poovaiah here recently in the presence of Principal Dr. M. Basavaraj, teaching and non-teaching staff. The NAAC team visited several Departments in CIT on Dec. 22 and 23 to assess the institution in accordance with NAAC guidelines.
Lauding the Principal and staff, KES President Dr. M.C. Kariappa said the responsibility of the staff had increased with the allotment of “A” grade and goaded them to go for higher grades in future.
Endorsing Dr. Kariappa’s views, Rakesh Poovaiah noted that the staff should not slacken their efforts but continue with the same vigour to score higher grades as also secure National Board of Accreditation (NBA), another mode of accreditation for higher educational institutions in the country.
Academic Council members Dr. Pushpa Kuttanna, Dr. Ponnamma Machaiah and K.S. Thimmaiah, guided the CIT teams to prepare for NAAC.
CIT’s NAAC Coordinator Dr. Ramakrishna, Internal Quality Assurance Cell (IQAC) Coordinator Prof. B.J. Kishen Karumbaiah and Heads of all Departments, were present.
NAAC is a Government organisation that assesses and accredits higher educational institutions. The main purpose is to create an understanding about the status of education quality among the institutes.
NAAC accreditation focuses on improving quality parameter of education and aims at improving overall development of students by helping them inculcate skills and knowledge.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 11th, 2023
The throwball team of Sree Igguthappa Kodava Kshemabhivrudhi Sangha, Hebbal, which won Dr. Adengada A. Kuttappa Memorial Throwball Tournament organised by Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru, at Sree Cauvery School Grounds in Kuvempunagar recently, is seen posing with the trophy.
Others seen are chief guest Ponjanda Lovely Appaiah, President, Sri Kaveri Kodagu Mahila Sangha, Mysuru.
Guests of honour Mechanda M. Shashi Ponnappa, President, Kodava Samaja, Mysuru; Kekada M. Belliappa, Chairman, Sree Cauvery Educational Institutions, Mysuru; Adengada Geetha Kuttappa and Kuttimada D. Muthappa, President, Kodava Samaja Cultural and Sports Club, Mysuru.
source:http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Photo News / January 09th, 2023
Errol Fernandes, CMD, Ferns Estates and Developers
Bengaluru-based real estate company, Ferns Estates and Developers, which has entered the luxury hospitality business, is establishing properties that are close to nature and easy to reach.
The company estimates revenue of Rs 363 crore in five years from the hospitality segment alone, according to Errol Fernandes, CMD, Ferns Estates and Developers.
“We started our first resort in 2021 in Sakleshpur – a luxury property spread over 100 acres, with an investment of Rs 160 crore. At present, there are 126 keys and we plan to expand the resort by adding another 76 keys. The estimated investment for this expansion is around Rs 50 crore,” said Fernandes.
Going forward, two more resorts are being set up in Coorg, which is spread over 25 acres of coffee plantation, with an investment of Rs 60 crore, and another in Chikballapur, spread over 7 acres. “The best part is that all these locations are within a day’s drive from Bengaluru, which was one of the goals in establishing them,” he added.
The company is also acquiring a resort in Goa. “In Goa, we have acquired a 100-key property for Rs 150 crore. It is on the verge of being completed. We should be able to start operations in September 2023,” Fernandes said. The property would be funded with debt to the tune of about Rs 100 crore, and Rs 50 crore from internal accruals.
Real Estate
The company, which has been in the real estate business for the last 34 years, has built gated communities, apartments, and office spaces in Bengaluru.
“For our real estate arm, we don’t intend to venture outside Karnataka; however, we plan on going to tier-two cities such as Mysore, Mangaluru, and Hubli Dharwad. Initially, we plan to set up gated communities and then get into apartments later. As of now, we are scouting for land. We are developing another vertical called branded plots in Sakleshpur,” said Fernandes.
In the case of gated communities, it expects to grow by 20 per cent every year, and typically do around 5 lakh sq feet of sales annually. Similarly, it sells around one lakh of sq feet of apartment space annually and expects to grow by 20 per cent, said the CMD.
Ferns Estates and Developers expects to end FY23 with a revenue turnover of Rs 185 crore, of which Rs 40 crore would come from its hospitality arm.
source: http://www.thehindubusinessline.com / The Hindu Business Line / Home> News / by Isha Rautella / January 06th, 2023
K.S. Sundar Raj, a recipient of the President’s Medal, who was serving as Chamarajnagar Additional SP (ASP) has been transferred as the Additional SP of Kodagu district by the Government.
Sundar Raj had earlier served as a Circle Inspector in Kodagu district. He had also served as Hunsur Sub-Division Dy. SP previously.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / January 06th, 2023
The source of Cauvery is also among the most ideal locations to gaze at the sky.
A “star party” organised by the Bangalore Astronomical Society recently at Talacauvery in Kodagu district of Karnataka. Photo: Special Arrangement
Talacauvery in Kodagu district, which is the source of Cauvery river, has emerged as South India’s Hanle, as astronomers have been hosting “star parties” there for some time now. Hanle, located in Ladakh, and known for its pristine skies and minimal light pollution, is also India’s first Dark Sky Reserve.
A Dark Sky Reserve is a designation given to a place that has policies in place to ensure that a tract of land or region has minimal artificial light interference.
In south India, most dark sky locations are in the Western Ghats or some hill ranges nearby, and according to astronomers, Talacauvery is the most ideal location to gaze at the sky and have a star party.
Voluntary work
The Bangalore Astronomical Society (BAS), a group of volunteers working for the promotion of astronomy as a hobby as well as a science, is now hosting star parties at Talacauvery. IT professionals Sudhash Natarajan, Vishwanath S.K. and Keerthi Kiran have been volunteering to conduct the star parties for BAS.
“We at BAS usually arrange star parties on New Moon weekends (Friday-Saturday-Sunday) format as it is the ideal time to observe the celestial objects which we are looking for. We inform people who are interested in joining us for the star party eight to days in advance. Members of the sky party after arriving at the dark sky location set up their equipment like telescopes, binacolours etc and the observation goes on until 4.45 am,” said Sudhash Natarajan.
Mr. Natarajan said that the group which attends the star parties are of all walks of life and that they are a mix of experienced astronomers as well as students and newbies to astronomy. He added that star parties have also been conducted in Koratagere, Hoshalli, Kavalur, and Yercaud in the past.
Less light pollution
“However, Talacauvery is possibly the best dark night location in south India due to less light pollution. In astronomy, there is something called the Bortle scale which measures the night sky’s brightness of a location on a nine level numerical scale. The lesser the numerical scale it qualifies for a better dark sky location. For example, Hanle skies would qualify as Bortle one skies, Talacauvery as Bortle two, and Bengaluru as Bortle nine,” he added.
The star parties are usually conducted in the winter months between December to March as the skies are clearer during these months which is very important for stargazing.
Mr. Natarajan said a star party was conducted between December 23 and 27, 2022, and the next one would be between January 20 and 24.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by Hemanth C S / January 04th, 2023
Author P.T. Bopanna decided to promote ‘role models’ by conducting an annual poll to select a ‘Coorg Person of Year’ to ‘reignite the famed leadership qualities in the community’.
Rashmika Mandanna achieved phenomenal success with the pan-India movie Pushpa – The Rise, and drew the spotlight on the tiny hill district of Kodagu, also known as Coorg, a popular tourist destination inhabited by Kodavas, who have a unique culture. | Photo Credit: PTI
Actor Rashmika Mandanna has been chosen as the Coorg Person of the Year 2022 in a poll conducted by www.coorgtourisminfo.com, a news portal based in the district of Kodagu.
Sharing the details, author P.T. Bopanna, who runs the news portal, said he decided to promote ‘role models’ by conducting an annual poll in 2005 to select a ‘Coorg Person of Year’ to ‘reignite the famed leadership qualities in the community’.
This year, the choice was Rashmika Mandanna, who achieved phenomenal success with the pan-India movie Pushpa- The Rise, and drew the spotlight on the tiny hill district of Kodagu, also known as Coorg, a popular tourist destination inhabited by Kodavas, who have a unique culture.
“Rashmika, who has become a household name through her acting and dancing skills, has emerged as an unofficial brand ambassador for Kodagu culture,” said Mr. Bopanna. She did her schooling at Coorg Public School, Gonikoppal, in Kodagu, before earning a bachelor’s degree in Psychology, Journalism and English Literature at M.S. Ramaiah College of Arts, Science and Commerce in Bengaluru.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The Hindu Bureau / January 03rd, 2022
Sainik School Kodagu hosted the Brahmagiri Sahodaya School Complex Inter-School Football and Handball Competition (12-16 year age group) recently.
Six schools, namely SMS Academy of Central Education, Arameri, Virajpet, ALG Crescent School, Madikeri, KVG International School, Sullia, National Academy School, Attur, Gonikoppa, Ankur Public School, Napoklu and Sainik School Kodagu, participated in the competition.
The girls team of SMS Academy of Central Education, Arameri, Virajpet, stood victorious in Handball Competition and Ankur Public School, Napoklu, was adjudged runners-up.
Ankur Public School, Napoklu, won the Football Championship and KVG International School, Sullia, was declared runners-up.
Akhil from Ankur Public School, Napoklu and Sanjana from SMS Academy of Central Education, Arameri, Virajpet, were adjudged ‘Best Player’ in football and handball competition respectively.
Col. G. Kannan, Principal of Sainik School Kodagu, was the chief guest. K. Suresh, PGT (Mathematics), the Event Coordinator, BHM Raneesh, CHM Stalin, Corporal Shiva, Sergeant C. Roy and faculty members of participant and host school were present on the occasion.
source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / January 02nd, 2023
The new variety will have 80% pulp and is expected to improve coffee based avocado cultivation.
Scientists at Central Horticultural Experiment Station in Kodagu have developed a new avocado variety ‘Arka Coorg Ravi.’ | Photo Credit: DARSHAN DEVAIAH B.P.
Bengaluru:
As the demand for avocado, popularly known as butter fruit, is increasing in the cosmetic industry as well as for consumption, scientists at the Central Horticultural Experiment Station (CHES) in Kodagu have developed a new variety called ‘Arka Coorg Ravi’, which will further improve coffee-based avocado cultivation in the district.
According to scientists in CHES, the new variety will have 80% pulp and the rest seed, making the fruit profitable for farmers.
Speaking to The Hindu, Madhu G.S, scientist in CHES, said: “Avocado, which is described as a miracle fruit for its health and nutritional benefits, is now also in huge demand in the cosmetic industry. The fruit is used in many skincare products. We have researched and developed Arka Coorg Ravi, which will help farmers in the district. The fruit is grown on about 500 hectares in Kodagu amidst the coffee plantations and the area of cultivation has seen a rise in recent years.”
The CHES recently started distributing the Arka Coorg Ravi grafts to the farmers. The centre has already developed 30,000 avocado grafts which have been distributed to farmers in the district.
“The new variety developed by the CHES will have at least 450 to 600 grams of weight per avocado, which will make the fruit profitable. Seedlings take 10 years to give yield, while graft plants start yielding from at least in the seventh year,” S. Rajendran, scientist, CHES Chettalli in Kodagu told The Hindu.
Recently, the CHES had a farmer-scientist interaction on the cultivation techniques of avocados in the district. According to CHES, farmers from different parts of Karnataka and also from Kerala, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and Telangana have been purchasing avocado saplings or grafts to grow in their State.
Since Kodagu district saw two natural calamities in 2018 and 2019, which caused huge losses to farmers, especially coffee growers, they are now growing avocados on the coffee plantations.
“In the last few years, due to the floods in the district, coffee production has come down, and coffee is also not fetching an attractive price now. Hence, I have started cultivating avocados as a mixed crop in my coffee plantation and it is now yielding fruits and it can be a good alternative to offset the losses from coffee and black pepper,” said Roshan Poovanna, a farmer from Virajpet.
According to farmers, Kodagu avocados have a market in Kerala and Maharashtra, apart from Karnataka. “Local varieties yield fruit twice a year, February to May and June to September. Now, we have some more varieties that yield fruits around the year. Now the CHES has developed a new variety. I hope this will produce more avocados from the district and get a good market price. However, the government should promote and create awareness about the growing of mixed crops in coffee plantations so that the farmers can avoid losses from other crops,” said Praveen Nanaiah, a farmer from Madikeri.
Earlier, as part of crop diversification, the farmers in Kodagu were growing ‘Coorg mandarin’ oranges, grown as a mixed crop on the estates along with coffee and black pepper.
However, in the past few years, the Coorg mandarin cultivation is coming down due to the threat of citrus greening disease.
Benefits of avocados
Avocado, botanically known as Persea Americana, is an evergreen plant and can grow in diverse environmental conditions. On average, one avocado tree produces about 120 to 150 fruits annually.
The fruit has a high monounsaturated fat content, which is considered healthy. One fruit contains 25% of the recommended daily amount of saturated fat.
Avocados also have 60% more potassium than bananas and are rich in vitamins B, E, and K. Its juice acts as an antioxidant and its seeds are used to manufacture paper.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Bengaluru / by Darshan Devaiah B.P. / January 01st, 2023
A district-level sports meet of government employees of Kodagu district will be held on January 3 and 4 at Madikeri.
It will be conducted at General Thimayya stadium and district in-charge Minister B.C.Nagesh will inaugurate it.
The sports meet is being jointly organised by the Kodagu district administration, Zilla Panchayat, Department of Youth Empowerment and Sports in association with the district unit of the Karnataka State Government Employees Association.
source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> India> Karnataka / by The HIndu Bureau / December 31st, 2022
Journalist and author P T Bopanna has launched his new book ‘Coorg Role Models’, which profiles the winners of the ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ title from 2005 to 2020.
Bopanna has authored eight books so far, including the Gourmand award-winning book ‘The Romance of Indian Coffee’ and the bestselling books – ‘Are Kodavas (Coorg) Hindus?’ and ‘Rise and Fall of the Coorg State’.
About his latest book, Bopanna said, “Kodavas, a microscopic minority community hailing from Kodagu (Coorg) in Karnataka, were once known for their leadership qualities. This Kodava trait of being natural leaders was very much evident in the Defence Services, and Kodagu came to be known as the ‘Land of the Generals’.”
“However, in the last few decades, the community has not produced many truly outstanding men and women, except in the arena of sports. As a chronicler of Kodagu, I felt that one of the reasons for their inability to play a leadership role was the absence of enough role models in the community,” he said.
“With a view to reigniting the famed leadership qualities in the community, I promoted the concept of ‘Coorg Person of the Year’ in 2005. The selection of the Coorg person was made on the basis of a poll I conducted through my portal www.coorgtourisminfo.com,” he added.
The selection was not confined to the Kodava community but included all residents of Coorg. For instance, one of the joint winners of the title in 2018 was industrialist Ashok Kumar Shetty, who donated part of his land to the government for building a road that was damaged by the floods and landslides of 2018. Another winner is Dr S V Narasimhan, the birdman of Coorg, he said.
The book features the achievements of the winners of the Coorg Person title. It is published by Rolling Stone Publications. The foreword for the book is written by Preeth Ganapathy, who is an officer of the Indian Revenue Service (IRS). She is currently posted as Deputy Commissioner of Income Tax, Bangalore.
source: http://www.deccanherald.com / Deccan Herald / Home> State> Mangaluru / by P T Bopanna / DHNS, Madikeri / July 06th, 2021
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