The Hindu : Karnataka News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, May 02, 2004

Karnataka

Karnataka

Briefly

PUC curriculum revised

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE May 1. The Department of Pre-University Education has revised the curriculum for the pre-university course (PUC). The new curriculum for the first year PUC will come into effect from the academic year 2004-05 and for the second year PUC from 2005-06, states an official press release here. The new curriculum has been released for the benefit of lecturers, institutions, writers, publishers, students and the public. It is on sale in the sales depot of Government Press.

Krishna turns 72

By Our Special Correspondent

Bangalore May 1. The Chief Minister, S.M. Krishna, who turned 72 today, offered prayers at the Venkateshwara Temple at Tirupati. He was born on May 1, 1932. Mr. Krishna, his wife and some other members of his family left for Tirupati on Friday. Some of his admirers displayed large cut-outs and hoardings greeting him on his birthday. They had selected prime spots to display their loyalty. An Akhila Karnataka Sri S.M. Krishna Abhimanigala Samaja Seva Sangha has also come into being. Its patron is the Chief Minister's younger brother, S.M. Shankar, MLC, and the president is C.P. Yogishwar, member of the dissolved Assembly from Channapatna.

Tree felled amid protests

By Our Staff Reporter

BANGALORE May 1. An American rain tree on a large plot of land opposite Shankar Math here was axed this morning under police protection. The plot was being used as a children's park for many years, according to the Environment Support Group (ESG). Local residents, with the support of the ESG, Janothsava and other like-minded groups, had challenged the decision of the district forest officer to allow the felling of the tree. The Forest Department had reportedly agreed to maintain the status quo until further orders, an ESG release said. The group said the Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BMP) and the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) were silent on the nature of the land use of the property where the tree stood. "A simple act of conducting a comprehensive inquiry and involving local residents in the same would have cleared the air of controversy," it said. It said the felling of the tree was "an instance where the opinion of local residents has been rubbished wantonly."

Trust to fund surgeries

By Our Staff Reporter

Bangalore May 1. As many as 150 heart operations will be done free of cost over five years at the Narayana Hrudayalaya with the help of funds provided by the S. Badalchand Chordia Trust of Chennai. Speaking at the launch of the free heart surgery programme here on Friday, Deviprasad Shetty, chairman and managing director of Narayana Hrudayalaya, said the cost of performing 150 heart operations was approximately Rs. 2 crore. The trust was giving Rs. 51 lakh for the project under which poor people who could not afford cardiac treatment would be identified for surgery. The hospital would take care of the rest of the cost. Breadwinners of the family and mothers with heart problems would be given priority, though some children would also be operated upon under the scheme. Mostly, coronary artery bypass grafting and complex surgeries on newborn babies would be performed through the programme, he said. Around 20 surgeries were being performed at Narayana Hrudayalaya every day and the hospital wanted to increase this number to 30 by the end of the year. In the past three years, the hospital had performed 8,500 heart operations, of which many were done at a subsidised rate, Dr. Shetty said. Shantilal Chordia and Subhash Chand Bafna, trustees of the S. Badalchand Chordia Trust, presented a cheque of Rs. 20 lakh to Dr. Shetty for the free heart surgery programme. Laxmi Mani, manager of the charitable wing of the hospital, said the trust had been donating Rs.1 crore every year for the past 12 years for various education and health projects in different parts of India.

Doctors to intensify agitation

By Our Staff Correspondent

Gulbarga May 1. Doctors of M.R. Medical College in Gulbarga, who are on strike, have decided to intensify their agitation from Sunday. They will hold a `rasta roko' on Sunday, a rally on Monday and are contemplating calling for a `Gulbarga bandh' on Tuesday, R.C. Kanta, convener of the association of the teachers of the college, told presspersons here today. Dr. Kanta said the teachers had not put any unjustified demand before the Hyderabad Karnataka Education Society, which runs the college. "We are asking for arrears of Dearness Allowance and the leave encashment facility. These will not cost the management much, but they are not being fulfilled as the society president, B.G. Javali, has made it an issue of personal prestige," Dr. Kanta said. The college earns Rs. 26 crore from fees and donations annually and spends Rs. 8.4 crore on salaries. Paying us DA and leave encashment will cost the society Rs. 94 lakh. And DA and leave encashment are facilities mandated by the State Government. Why then is there a delay in fulfilling our demands? he wondered. Dr. Kanta also said that the prolonged strike by doctors had made people wonder whether the society had any management at all. Dr. Kanta also said that though the president and the governing council members of the society had held an emergency meeting on Friday, they had not bothered to meet the striking doctors and brief them about what transpired in the meeting. "We have, however, learnt that the members have authorised Dr. Javali to take a loan to pay the doctors. They have also sought details of the DA arrears and leave encashment facilities given to staff of other institutions run by the society," said Dr. Kanta. The 102 postgraduate students of the college have supported the strike by their teachers. "We are also thinking of boycotting examinations," said Sharana Gowda Arakeri, president of the PG students' association.

Basavakalyan peaceful

By Our Staff Correspondent

Bidar May 1. The inaugural ceremony of the Kalyan Parva held on Saturday in Basavakalyan was peaceful. Many Veerashaiva organisations had protested against the conduct of the event. The bandh call given by them evoked a mixed reaction. While Mathe Mahadevi and her followers participated in the inauguration on the Basava Mahamane premises on the outskirts of Basavakalyan, members of the Veerashaiva Mahasabha and other organisations staged a protest rally in the town, demanding that the event be stopped. They submitted a memorandum to the Assistant Commissioner, Vijay Shankar, seeking a ban on Mathe Mahadevi's movement in the district. The authorities concerned had clamped prohibitory orders in the town, and refused to allow a rally by the followers of Mathe Mahadevi. The turnout at the two places was, however, less than what the organisers had expected. While around 200 people took part in the rally, enrolments on the first day of the parva stood at 410 by 3 p.m. As many as 500 policemen have been deployed in Basavkalyan to ensure law and order.

Workers urged to unite

By Our Staff Correspondent

Mysore May 1. The May Day rally held here today under the banner of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) gave a call to the workers to remain united to safeguard their rights which was under threat in the emerging economic scenario.

The rally held special significance for the working class in both the organised and the unorganised sectors in the wake of uncertainties plaguing the employees in these sectors, especially the farm labourers who are in dire straits following successive years of drought. The CITU, comprising the Vikrant Tyres Employees' Union, the Mysore District General Employees Union, the Mysore District Agarbathi Employees' Association, the Mysore District Hotel Employees' Union, the BSNL Employees Union etc., said the economic policy had unleashed forces that were inimical to the interests of the working class. The labour laws had been simplified to benefit the capitalists while diluting the security to the workers who could be retrenched to protect the interests of the employers.

Dies of brain fever

Gulbarga MAY 1. A nine-year-old boy affected by Japanese encephalitis or brain fever died in Surpur on Thursday night. Ambarish Tippanna, who had high fever, fainted in his house on April 3. After preliminary treatment, he was shifted to the district hospital where it was found that he had Japanese encephalitis. It is said to be the first case in the district for some years now.

As a precautionary measure, blood samples of 499 people in Surpur, which includes 33 of the boy's relatives, have been sent for testing to Bangalore. The people have been asked to approach doctors in case they had symptoms such as high fever. The district administration has taken steps to keep pigs, which are carriers of the virus, away from human settlements and to control mosquitoes.

Foodgrains

BELGAUM MAY 1. The Belgaum City Corporation has utilised the entire allotment of 250 tonnes of foodgrains provided under the Food for Work programme.

Official sources said works pertaining to asphalting roads and improving water supply in the corporation limits had been taken up under the Food for Work programme. In all, 68 works had been taken up in different wards of which 37 had been completed. To complete the remaining works, 145 tonnes of foodgrains was required, the sources added.

Music camp

MANGALORE MAY 1. A week-long camp in Carnatic music will begin at Govindadasa College at Suratkal on Sunday.

Those interested may contact Nithyananda Rao of Anu Pallavi, Canara Bank Cross Road, Suratkal. The camp has been organised by Bharatiya Vidya Bhavan, Sangeeth Parishat, Mangalore, Sangeeta Sourabha, Suratkal, and Fine Arts Association of the college.

Talk show

MANGALORE MAY 1. Anand, a physician, will answer queries relating to asthma and related problems on the 30-minute KMC Hello Usha programme to be telecast on OCN Network on Sunday at noon.

Call 5262002 to place queries, says a release from the programme coordinators.

Renovation

MANGALORE MAY 1. The reinstallation and Brahmakalashotsava of Sri Kuru Amba Rajarajeshwari Temple, Kalbhavi, will be held from May 7 to 13.

While an idol of Sri Kuru Amba Rajarajeshwari and Parivara Daivas will be installed on May 10, the Brahmakalasha festivities will be held on May 13.

Yakshagana

MANGALORE MAY 1. Close on the heels of a two-day meet of women Yakshagana exponents organised by the Karnataka Janapada and Yakshagana Academy in association with other organisations in March, the Manila-based Mahalakshmi Seva Prathisthana has arranged Yakshagana performances by women for a week at Manila from Sunday.

The valedictory of the women's Yakshagana week and religious ceremonies will be held on May 9.

May Day rally

Mysore May 1. The May Day rally held here today under the auspices of the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) and the All-India Trade Union Congress (AITUC) gave a call to the workers to remain united to safeguard their rights which was under threat in the emerging economic scenario.

Camp MYSORE May 1. Jungle Lodges and Resorts Ltd., a Government of Karnataka undertaking, will conduct a swimming camp at its swimming pool at Hotel Metropole from May 5.

According to a press statement, basic skills, besides different styles and techniques of swimming, will be taught by Pradhan Jain, national-level gold medallist and Sports Authority of India-certified swimmer, at the camp. Children below seven years are not eligible to join the camp.

More details can be obtained from Hotel Metropole, JLB Road, Mysore (ph: 9448477707).

Course

MYSORE May 1. The Karnataka Institute of Software Technology (KIST) is conducting a six-month computer hardware engineering course for SSLC and PUC pass or failed candidates. The course covers basic electronics, study and identification of peripherals, soldering practice, trouble shooting, operating system, maintenance of PC, software installation etc.

According to a press release, the institute will send students for servicing during the course and offer free placement and guidance to start their own units after completion of the course.

Interested candidates can register their names with K.N. Sundar Raju between 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. on the institute premises, Hardwicke Pre-university College campus, JLB Road, Mysore.

No meat sale

MYSORE May 1. There will be no slaughter of cattle and sale of meat in Mysore on May 4 on account of Buddha Purnima.

According to a press release from the Health Officer of Mysore City Corporation, all slaughterhouses and meat shops in the city will be closed on that day.

Boy dies

Gulbarga May 1. A nine-year-old boy affected by Japanese encephalitis or brain fever died in Surpur on Thursday night. Ambarish Tippanna, who had high fever, fainted in his house on April 3. After preliminary treatment, he was shifted to the district hospital where it was found that he had Japanese encephalitis. It is said to be the first case in the district for some years now.

Music camp from today

MANGALORE MAY 1. A week-long camp in Carnatic music will begin at Govindadasa College at Suratkal on Sunday.

Reinstallation

MANGALORE MAY 1. The reinstallation and Brahmakalashotsava of Sri Kuru Amba Rajarajeshwari Temple, Kalbhavi, will be held from May 7 to 13.

While an idol of Sri Kuru Amba Rajarajeshwari and Parivara Daivas will be installed on May 10, the Brahmakalasha festivities will be held on May 13.

Certification

MANGALORE MAY 1. The Moti Mahal College of Hotel Management has received the ISO 9001-2000 certification for total quality management from American Quality Assessors' International LLC, U.S.

Deepika Kapoor, principal of the college, told presspersons here on Friday that the college was the first institution in the State to receive the certification.

Ms. Kapoor said the college was affiliated to Mangalore University and Punjab Technical University and had been accredited by the Educational Institute of American Hotel and Lodging Association, U.S. The college offered postgraduate, graduate, diploma, and certificate courses in hotel management.

Ms. Kapoor said all the students who had passed out of the college in the previous academic year had secured jobs.

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