Assam polls, lockdown hit coffee plantations in Karnataka hard

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Records, All
File picture of people from Assam working in a coffee estate near Arehalli in Belur taluk of Hassan district.  

Workers from the north-east have not returned, affecting seasonal work ahead of the rainy days

Hundreds of plantation workers in Karnataka, who went to Assam to vote in the Assembly elections held in March-April this year, have not returned, affecting the seasonal work ahead of the rainy days.

Restrictions on public transport as part of the lockdown over the COVID-19 pandemic has not allowed them to travel, though they wish to come back.

Thousands of people from Assam and other neighbouring States in north-east India work in coffee estates of Hassan, Chikkamagaluru and Kodagu districts. They stay in the quarters provided by the planters and visit their native places once a year. Whenever elections are held, they take a break from work and travel to exercise their franchise.

Mahesh C.S., former president of Hassan District Planters’ Association, says many planters had not been able to complete tree pruning and plant pruning, mandatory seasonal work ahead of the rains. “Normally, we finish this work before June and keep the ground prepared with medicinal spray and manure. All these works have remained undone,” he said. Planters are forced to depend on local workers, who demand higher wages and work for fewer hours than the Assam workers do, he added. The wages for tree pruning, a skilled job, is around ₹700 to ₹800 a day. For other works, a worker gets around ₹300 to ₹350 in normal circumstances.

B.S. Jairam, former president of Karnataka Growers Federation, who has an estate in Mudigere Ttluk, is worried that the present situation could affect the production of coffee later this year. “The planters are already facing too many problems due to the pandemic. The payments are stuck due to restrictions on shipment and many have not recovered from the loss suffered in the floods in previous years. Only those who could retain workers in their quarters with sufficient supply of ration have completed the seasonal work”, he said.

Over the years local workers hardly stay in estate quarters. They reside in their villages and commute to estates daily by vehicles. But now they cannot do so as there are restrictions on vehicular movement “The police do not allow ferrying workers to estates. Only those settled in the nearby areas reach to the estates by walk and work,” he said.

Besides the people from Assam, many from the north Karnataka districts also work in the estates. They also return to their native places during March-April. This year they too could not return. Prasad Raxidi, a planter at Raxidi in Sakleshpur taluk, said the local workers were getting work and also good pay these days. “Only those who have returned from bigger cities after losing their jobs in the lockdown are not getting jobs that suit them,” he said.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Karnataka / by Sathish G T / Hassan – June 10th, 2021

GSI finds 85 places in Kodagu prone to floods, landslips

About Kodagu / Coorg, Green Initiatives / Environment, Nature, Records, All

Geographical Survey of India (GSI) has identified 85 places in Kodagu district, including areas in Madikeri and Virajpet towns, as vulnerable to floods and landslips.

Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal said necessary precautions are in place at those places following the GSI’s report. The officials had also prepared reports on places susceptible to rain emergencies based on previous years’ calamities.

The DC, while responding to Minister for Revenue R. Ashok on monsoon preparedness, gave details of the flood-prone areas and steps taken for the safety of people.

Mr. Ashok directed the DC to take steps to relocate those living in susceptible areas to safer places in view of monsoon. “Just issuing notices to the people to relocate will not serve the purpose. The administration has to persuade them to shift,” said the Minister, at a video conference on Monday with the DCs of some districts, including Kodagu, on Monsoon preparations.

Referring to last year’s landslip that took place at Talacauvery which claimed the lives of people, including the temple priest, the Minister said such instances should not recur. The people living in vulnerable areas must be shifted to relief/rescue centres which can be set up in schools or community halls, he suggested.

Ms. Somal urged the Minister to increase availability of kerosene to Kodagu since its demand goes up during monsoon. The Minister said he would speak to the Minister for Food and Civil Supplies.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> States> Karnataka / by Special Correspondent / Mysuru – June 09th, 2021

Survey Of Rajara Gaddige In Madikeri Begins

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Most of the 19.88-acre land encroached Survey ordered by High Court

Madikeri:

Following a directive from the Karnataka High Court to Madikeri Tahsildar to conduct a survey of 19.88 acres of the area where Raja’s Tomb (Rajara Gaddige) is situated at Mahadevpet near Madikeri, the officer began the survey yesterday along with his team and amidst tight Police security. 

The survey was carried out under the leadership of Tahsildar Mahesh. In March this year, a Division Bench, headed by Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka, while hearing a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by J.S. Virupakshaiah, a former State Information Commissioner, had ordered the Tahsildar to conduct a detailed survey for the Government to reclaim the encroached land. 

Virupakshaiah had alleged that there are several encroachments in the historical tomb area. Initially, the Gaddige had 19.88 acres of land. However, most of the land has been encroached and some have even built houses on the encroached land. Even a Government building has come up on the Gaddige land. 

The PIL brought to the notice of the Court about 31 families residing in the encroached land. In spite of having no land documents, the Panchayat has provided water, electricity, road and other basic facilities, Virupakshaiah had said in the PIL. 

Now the survey has begun with tight Police security. The Court will hear the PIL again on June 17 and the District Administration has to submit a report on the original land, encroached part and other details.

Before the survey team began work, Town Panchayat members Amin Mohisin, Basheer and Mansoor urged the Tahsildar to first demarcate the borders of the Gaddige as they said it is not possible to determine encroachment unless the borders are marked. 

Speaking to reporters, Tahsildar Mahesh said that during the last hearing, the Bench had given six weeks for the submission of the report. “Due to COVID and Town Panchayat polls, the survey could not be taken up so far. Now the survey is being carried out as per the Court directions. The exact border of the Gaddige will be identified and demarcated. The land has been listed under the Archaeological Survey of India Survey Number 30/1 and there is 19.88 acres. The Bench has also directed us to prepare a sketch of the entire land and pin-point encroachments. We are trying to bring out the truth regarding encroachments,”  Mahesh said. 

There are three tombs built for the royal dynasty. The central tomb which is the largest among the three is of Kodava king Doddaveerarajendra and his wife Mahadeviamma. The right tomb is built by Chikkaveerarajendra for his father Lingarajendra in 1820.  

The left tomb belongs to Veerarajendra’s guru Rudrappa built in 1834. Closer to the tombs is the burial place of the two brave royal officials Biddanda Bopu — Bopu Dandanayaka — and his son Biddanda Somaiah,  who sacrificed their life fighting with Tipu Sultan. In fact, Doddaveerarajendra had erected a plaque in the memory his soldiers in 1779.

Encroachers have political clout

Rajara Gaddige is one of the tourist attractions in Kodagu and tourists who visit Abbey Falls will pass Rajara Gaddige en route. However, it is in deplorable condition owing to the negligence of the Government and encroachment of land by local residents and vested interests. 

The Gaddige land became is controversial as the people who have encroached have the blessings of certain politicians who have consistently opposed any move of eviction and also development. Last year too, the Kodagu District Administration had attempted to conduct a survey of the land to determine the encroachment but the survey was withdrawn after protests from encroachers. 

Years back Madikeri Urban Development Authority had tried to develop the Gaddige into a tourist attraction. But it could only reclaim 3.5 acres and the rest of the land remained with the encroachers who opposed any move to evict them. Surprisingly, with their clout, the encroachers have managed to obtain all municipal facilities including water, power and roads.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / June 06th, 2021

Karnataka’s first oxygen converter plant to come up in Virajpet Government Hospital

Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Once completed, free flow of oxygen supply is likely to be enabled to nearly 100 beds to treat COVID patients.

Virajpet Government Hospital

Madikeri : 

Kodagu has become the first district in Karnataka to be sanctioned an oxygen converter plant. The plant is currently being installed at Virajpet Government Hospital.  An oxygen converter generates oxygen from natural air.

The 1-tonne capacity oxygen converter plant is expected to be ready in the next 15 days. Once completed, there will be uninterrupted oxygen supply to nearly 100 beds to treat Covid patients. While the Madikeri Covid-19 Hospital was the only centre in the district that treated severe and moderate Covid patients, the administration opened dedicated Covid care centres (CCCs) in Virajpet and Somwarpet taluks.

However, due to shortage of availability of jumbo oxygen cylinders, the 50-bed capacity  CCC  in Virajpet Hospital remained shut. “The plant is being set up at a cost of Rs 1 crore. This is the first of its kind in the state and once installed, we do not have to worry about oxygen shortage,” said Dr Yatiraj, Virajpet taluk Health Officer. “We had placed a proposal for jumbo cylinders.

However, with the oxygen converter plant, we will not require any such cylinders,” Dr Yatiraj further said. 


Meanwhile, the current 50 beds with oxygen units are now being expanded to 98 beds which will be connected to the oxygen converter plant. “Currently, no Covid-19 patient is being treated at the centre due to lack of oxygen cylinders. However, once the plant is ready, there will be no hurdle in treating patients,” he added.

US Surgeon Gen’s foundation donates supplies 

Madikeri:

The Scope Foundation, headed by United States Surgeon General  Dr Vivek Murthy, has donated medical supplies  worth Rs 70 lakh to Kodagu. The supplies were handed over to Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal by senior advocate HS Chandramouli on Sunday.  

Many advanced medical supplies, including 70 oxygen converters, 70 medical transformers, 5,000 face shields, Rs 1.30 lakh worth N95 masks, 50 oxygen tubes and 25 oximeters, were donated by Scope Foundation. Dr Vivek is a native of Mandya district.

The support from the foundation to Kodagu was made possible after  Chandramauli, a native of the district, contacted Dr Vivek’s father Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy. The foundation has also donated similar supplies across Karnataka, including Mandya. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 06th, 2021

Kodagu has 3,000 children with Covid infection

Records, All, Science & Technology, Uncategorized

HIGHLIGHTS

Kodagu, the second smallest district after Bengaluru Urban in the State, has reported 3,000 plus Covid positive cases among children in the second wave.

Kodagu has 3,000 children with Covid infection

Madikeri:

Kodagu, the second smallest district after Bengaluru Urban in the State, has reported 3,000 plus Covid positive cases among children in the second wave. The district has an average positivity rate of 12.3 percent. Somwarpet taluk has a positivity rate of 14 percent followed by Madikeri (12 per cent) and Virajpet (11 percent). Out of nearly six lakh population, the district reported 21,976 positive cases as on Saturday. Among this the number children infected with corona is 3,611.

Speaking to The Hans India, District Health Officer (DHO) Mohan Kumar told that in the first wave, last year, 701 children were infected, now the infection among children in the second wave has crossed 2,910 so far. As many as 248 children contracted coronavirus between May 28 and June 4.

Mohan Kumar said parents are sole responsible for infections among children. They go out and come back home with viruses. “They don’t wash hand and face before touching their children. This is how they are spreading the infection.”

Madikeri MLA M P Appachu Ranjan told The Hans India that he would instruct officers to identify the villages where more number of children have been infected and warn parents not to send children outside.

Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal on Friday visited the villages where positivity rate is more. She instructed officials to take all steps to reduce positivity rate.

IANS

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Coovercolly Indresh / Hans News Service / June 06th, 2021

I am 24, Varsha Bollamma corrects Google

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All

There is an impression that actresses generally hide their age or lie about their actual date of birth. In the case of Varsha Bollama, it is the other way around. She stated her real age. Also, she tried correcting Google.

Varsha Bollama is shot to fame with ‘Middle Class Melodies’. She also appeared in two other Telugu movies.

In a recent live interactive session with her fans on Instagram, a fan mentioned that Google is showing her age as 25. To this, she replied that she is just 24. Varsha Bollamma wrote, “I’m a 1996 born. So, I am 24! But Google knows it better than my mom, I guess!”

source: http://www.telugucinema.com / Telugu Cinema / Home> News / by Telugu Cinema / June 04th, 2021

Tata Consumer Products Enters Premium D2C Coffee Market

Business & Economy, Coffee News, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), World Opinion

The company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market.

Tata Consumer Products Ltd (TCPL) has introduced a premium roasted and ground coffee under the Sonnets brand targeting urban and increasingly discerning coffee drinkers in India. With this launch, the company is eyeing the Rs 100 crore artisanal coffee market .

The TCPL’s move marks its maiden foray into the Direct-to-Consumer (D2C) market. It will let the company tap a growing number of buyers shopping online, especially during the pandemic when most are cooped indoors and unable to visit cafes and coffee shops.

Puneet Das, President, Packaged Beverages, India & South Asia, Tata Consumer Products Limited, said, “The user can choose the roasting level, grounding and flavors of the coffee which gets delivered to the doorstep of the customer via our delivery channels. We are leveraging both premiumization and home delivery trends through this launch.”

The coffee is produced in Tata Coffee-owned estates. The consumer can choose his preferred roast type from between a light, medium, and a dark roast option, and could also suit his brewing preference and opt for either a filter coffee or a French press grind.

Tata Consumer Products will be expanding the offering to gourmet stores in metro cities as it scales up in the segment.

“Our ambition is to be seen as a serious coffee player just like we have equity in the market with Tata Tea. We aim to have a sizable share in the market as we grow,” Das added.

As the coffee culture evolves, the company will also evaluate new coffee variants like green coffee in India.

source: http://www.indianretailer.com / The Indian Retailer / Home> News / by Vaishnavi Gupta, Features Writer / June 03rd, 2021

A Karnataka Auto Driver Offers Free Rides To Covid Patients When Her Mother Tests Positive

Amazing Feats, Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All
A Karnataka Auto Driver Offers Free Rides To Covid Patients When Her Mother Tests Positive

HIGHLIGHTS

BV Prashanth, An auto driver from Kodagu, in Karnataka came forward and took the responsibility of transporting residents who had tested positive for the virus in the pandemic

________________________________

BV Prashanth, An auto driver from Kodagu, in Karnataka came forward and took the responsibility of transporting residents who had tested positive for the virus in the pandemic.

He has so far assisted in the transport of 55 COVID patients and will continue to do so till the lockdown is lifted.

Prashanth, a resident of Suntikoppa, has become a COVID warrior. Parvathy (65), his mother, was diagnosed with COVID-19 about a month ago. Her health was critical, and she was sent to the COVID Hospital in Madikeri, where she was placed on a ventilator. After a successful treatment, she returned to her home.

Prashanth saw the helplessness of many COVID sufferers during the pandemic. He had witnessed a lot of people deteriorating their situations as not being able to reach hospitals in the essential time. Many COVID patients, he noted, were hampered by the lack of transportation options.

A school teacher and her entire family, who live close to his home, also tested positive for COVID. No one offered to drive them to the COVID Hospital in Madikeri, which is about 15 kilometers distant. Prashanth recalls that he took the risk and dropped them off at the hospital. After that, he shared his phone number with WhatsApp groups and began his service on April 30.

He asked permission from the panchayat and obtained the ID card and the pass required to run the auto during the curfew in the pandemic.

He also mentioned the people whom he had carried to the hospital and lost their lives due to the disease.

Jeevan, a doctor at Suntikoppa Hospital, gives Prashanth personal protective equipment (PPE) to safeguard his safety. Sunil, a panchayat member, Rakesh, a social worker, and members of the Suntikoppa Rakshana Vedike are also supporting the project by assisting with fuel arrangements.

His initiative also includes an HIV-positive pregnant woman whom he had carried to the Madikeri Hospital. He says his work brings him great pleasure. At first, his family was concerned about his safety. However, they are now proud of her accomplishments.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> State> Karnataka / by Susmita Modak, Hans News Service / June 01st, 2021

Kodagu doctor writes to Health Minister suggesting use of Ivermectin to treat COVID patients

Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All, Science & Technology

In her letter to the Health Minister, Dr Kavery has stated that Ivermectin, particularly in the early stages of the disease, is highly effective and very safe as it does not have any side effects.

Representational image (Photo | PTI)

Madikeri :

A retired surgeon from Kodagu has written to the Union Health Minister suggesting the drug Ivermectin as a safe and economical medicine to treat COVID patients.

Dr Kavery Nambisan is a retired surgeon who completed her surgical training in England and FRCS in London. She is currently running a private clinic in the rural part of Ponnampet in Kodagu and has now written to the Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan to endorse Ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID. She explained that Ivermectin was largely used in India a few years ago as a deworming tablet and has proven effective to treat COVID now.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), it must be noted, has been categorical in disapproving the drug’s use, stating that they have “not approved ivermectin for use in treating or preventing COVID-19 in humans. Ivermectin tablets are approved at very specific doses for some parasitic worms, and there are topical (on the skin) formulations for head lice and skin conditions like rosacea. Ivermectin is not an anti-viral (a drug for treating viruses)”. 

The World Health Organisation too has recommended that ivermectin must only be used for COVID-19 treatment within clinical trials.

Dr Kavery though disagrees. “A scientist in Australia conducted an in vitro study last year and published a paper on how Ivermectin is an effective drug to treat COVID-19. This was practically followed by a doctor in Bangladesh and the drug proved to be effective. An Indian origin doctor in South Africa, Dr Shankara Chetty, has treated over 4000 COVID patients successfully with Ivermectin,” she told The New Indian Express.   

The doctor confirmed that the drug has been approved by ICMR and AIIMS Delhi. She added that the states of Orissa, Goa and Uttar Pradesh are largely using Ivermectin as an early treatment for COVID patients.

In her letter to the Health Minister, Dr Kavery has stated that Ivermectin, particularly in the early stages of the disease, is highly effective and very safe as it does not have any side effects. “It is safer than any antibiotic currently in use and it is cheap,” she has written.

She affirmed that more than 20 large clinical, peer-reviewed trials around the world have shown that the drug Ivermectin reduces virus multiplication effectively in 74% of patients and prevents second or inflammatory stage. “Even if an Ivermectin user gets COVID, it will be a mild attack and not serious,” she has affirmed in the letter.

She has analyzed that the vaccination drive across the country will take another eight to ten months to witness completion, during which the unprotected population will continue to get infected and transmit the disease.

“The repeated mutations will lead to a cycle of repeated vaccinations and booster and India will remain in the pandemic mode for many years. The use of Ivermectin will reduce COVID infections, transmission, virus mutations and death. It is only among the very few who reach the second stage of the disease that we need to do blood tests and give a short course of low-dose steroid and anticoagulant. The percentage of patients that will need hospital admission, oxygen and critical care will be greatly reduced with the use of Ivermectin,” she has written.

She has requested the Health Minister to take a decisive step and make the use of Ivermectin mandatory in the early stages of the disease. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / June 01st, 2021

United States Surgeon General Dr Vivek Murthy donates 1.4 crore worth equipment

Amazing Feats, Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy (File Photo | AP)

HIGHLIGHTS

United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has donated Covid related medical equipment to small hospitals in Mandya and Kodagu districts.

Murthy a native of Hallegere in Mandya district contributing through his Scope Foundation.

Madikeri:

United States surgeon general Dr Vivek Murthy has donated Covid related medical equipment to small hospitals in Mandya and Kodagu districts. Murthy a native of Hallegere in Mandya district contributing through his Scope Foundation.

Vivek’s father Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy told reporters on Monday that shipment of medical equipments worth Rs 1.40 crores already despatched to 12 hospitals in two districts which facing a shortage of equipments. He said taluk hospitals and two PHCs were selected for this.

He said consignment contains 70 oxygen concentrators with adapter, 25 digital oral thermometers, 1,96,000 K95 face masks, 5000 full-face shields, 5000 forehead foam, 300 surgical earlobe masks, 1200 medical face shields, 400 nitrile powder-free gloves, 50 oxygen cannula and five voltage transformers.

The foundation also plans to build a Covid ward at the cost of Rs one crore.

source: http://www.thehansindia.com / The Hans India / Home> News> States>Karnataka / by Hans News Service / June 01st, 2021