Date:14/08/2006 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2006/08/14/stories/2006081418700400.htm

Karnataka - Bangalore

Kanakapura to get medical college and hospital

Staff Reporter

Sindhia felicitates SSLC and PUC toppers

Kanakapura has an engineering college and a Government Tool Room
It lacks primary health and basic educational facilities

People asked to participate in new Arogya Raksha Scheme

BANGALORE: Former Finance Minister P.G.R. Sindhia on Sunday said Kanakapura was all set to get a sophisticated medical college and hospital in a couple of years.

He was speaking after felicitating SSLC and PUC toppers in his home constituency, Kanakapura, near here. The taluk students, especially girls, had performed extremely well and students should maintain this pass percentage, he said.

Kanakapura, at present, had an engineering college and a Government Tool Room, which, he said, helped rural students get quality education.

Students from these institutions had got placements in reputed companies, he said and added that the young students should follow suit.

Mr. Sindhia said adequate primary health and basic educational facilities were the areas where the taluk was lacking in.

Nearly one lakh people in Kanakapura taluk suffered from the chikungunya disease, he noted.

He asked the people to participate in the new health insurance scheme called Arogya Raksha Scheme. Under this scheme, by paying Rs. 180 a person would get health insurance for one year, he said. Biocon had partly funded this scheme, he added.

Biocon plans

Mr. Sindhia said Biocon had plans to introduce exclusive textbooks for rural students to help them excel in subjects such as mathematics and English. Primary education should be in Kannada and even English should be encouraged as it was the age of information technology, he added.

Training for rural teachers in recent technological developments was required, he said and urged the Government to provide such facilities.

Former Indian Test cricketer Syed Kirmani advised the students to follow the principles of truth and honesty. He promised to set up a cricket academy at the taluk- level if the Government provided land.

Cine artiste "Sihi Kahi" Chandru advised students to follow the 4-D principles: Dream, Determination, Dedication and Discipline.

Nearly 900 SSLC and PUC students were felicitated at Jain Vidyaniketan in Kanakapura taluk.

K.L. Shivlingegowda, president of Rural Educational Institutions of Kanakapura, and Pundalik Halambi, honorary president of Kannada Sahitya Parishat were present.