Date:02/07/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/07/02/stories/2008070257900300.htm

Karnataka

Handigodu Syndrome: Rs. 25 lakh for research, treatment centre

Correspondent

400 people have been affected in
Chikmagalur district, says official
The centre will come up in Balehonnur

CHIKMAGALUR: N. Sundar Naik, Chief Executive Officer of the Chikmagalur Zilla Panchayat, has said that the State Government has sanctioned Rs. 25 lakh to open a research and treatment centre in Balehonnur for the Handigodu Syndrome that has affected about 400 people in Sringeri, Koppa and N.R. Pura taluks of the district.

Speaking to presspersons here on Monday, Mr. Sundar Naik said the only other research centre for Handigodu Syndrome was in Shimoga.

He said teams from Mumbai and Delhi as well as from the Indian Council of Medical Research had obtained blood and other samples to find the cause for the disease.

He said steps were being taken to identify land to construct the research centre and appoint an orthopaedic surgeon and supporting staff.

Action plan

Stating that a Rs. 24-crore action plan had been prepared for taking up development works in the naxal-affected areas of the district under a new scheme, He said the proposal had been submitted to the Government.

He said the plan had been prepared based on the report submitted by volunteers of the Sri Kshetra Dharmasthala Rural Development Trust on the lack of basic facilities and other problems being faced in these areas.

A committee headed by the Deputy Commissioner of Chikmagalur district has been formed to implement this project.