Monthly Archives: May 2021

Seva Bharati Team Volunteers To Perform Last Rites In Kodagu

Amazing Feats, Covid-19 (wef. May 31, 2021), Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All

Giving a dignified closure to unclaimed, untouched bodies

Kushalnagar:

 COVID-19 is a lonely disease where last rites have become a tragic, solitary affair. At times, families who have lost their loved ones to the contagion are reluctant to perform the final rites and even refuse to claim the bodies of their kin.

That’s where volunteers of the Seva Bharati organisation in Kushalnagar, Kodagu, come in, treating these unclaimed bodies as more than a name tag, a body bag or a cadaver and giving them a dignified farewell. The worst of times have brought out the best among people, as these unsung heroes quietly perform last rites without compromising on rituals, such as the faith of the deceased.

The pandemic has wreaked havoc on Kodagu and given the spread of the virus, family members are wary of performing the last rites of their loved ones, and are relying on the kindness of these volunteers. Every day, around 18 volunteers are busy performing the last rites of those who succumbed to COVID-19. Kodagu has seen over 204 deaths so far due to the virus. 

“A man had died after contracting COVID-19 last year and his family was not aware of the protocol. Those were the early days when the caseload was manageable. “Nobody came forward to do the final rites of the deceased person. It was then that we decided to step in and perform the last rites ourselves. This is where we have started and we have been continuing this work even now, during the second wave where the death rate has spiked,” said advocate from Harangi Bharat Machaiah, who leads the Seva Bharati team. 

58 bodies cremated so far

“We have so far cremated 58 bodies in the second wave alone and the numbers keep growing by the day. It is heart-breaking as families refuse to perform the last rites of their loved one who has passed away. We have performed the last rites of people belonging to all communities with the sole intention of giving them a dignified send-off,” he said.

The volunteers do not charge a single rupee from the family of the deceased and perform all the tasks free of cost. Their contact numbers are circulating across the hospitals and crematoriums and they are continuously getting calls from families. Hospital and crematoriums are also approaching them.

The Seva Bharati volunteers have been carrying out the last rites as per the religious practices of the deceased, by following all precautionary measures suggested by the Government and World Health Organisation and they get their PPE kits from the Government.

Alert round-the-clock 

The team of dedicated workers is on alert round-the-clock and as soon as they receive information on the need to perform last rites, they reach the spot and begin preparations. Not only Madikeri, the team goes anywhere in the district if they get a call and perform the last rites — distance and terrain do not matter here. Before conducting the rituals, the deceased’s family members are consulted to know about the rituals as per their religion and caste.

Along with Bharat Machaiah, the other team members who are doing this noble deed are Navneeth Ponnetti, Rajiv, Dinesh, K.K. Janardhan, Ranjit, P.K. Raghu, Tanmay, Sandeep, Roopesh, Prashanth, Nuthan, Nandan, Akshay, Manjunath, Vinu and Shivaram. “Some relatives do not come even for immersion of ashes. They are scared despite we all knowing that the virus dies in fire. We also perform the last rituals like immersion of ashes where rivers meet after the body is burnt,” Bharat Machaiah said.

“Cremating the dead while wearing PPE suits is difficult especially when the temperatures are rising but the courage and inspiration to offer service comes from within and there is a supernatural power guiding us,” said a volunteer. “We have had to face quite a bit of opposition from our families initially. We have had a hard time making them understand that we are taking all precautions. Even our families are worried about our safety. Now they have started recognising our work and they appreciate our tireless service,” he said. 

Journalists also pitch in

Apart from doing their routine job in media, a group of journalists performed the last rites of an elderly man who died of COVID-19. Reporters associated with ‘Madhyama Spandana’ that was formed for COVID relief works got a call from a remote village near Parane as local villagers were reluctant to help the victim’s family perform the last rites. 

The team comprising Rejith Kumar Guyya, Pappu Thimmaiah, Praveen and Anish and another person Shareen rushed to the village after collecting PPE kits from Siddapura Panchayat and performed the last rites as per the family tradition. 

The house was located at a hilly terrain and this did not deter the journalists.

The reporters said that they helped poor people get beds in hospitals and supplied food kits, medicines and other essentials to the needy after spending from their own pockets. 

This is for the first time that they performed the last rites of a COVID victim.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 20th, 2021

Kodagu Military Canteens See Unusual Queues For Supplies

Business & Economy

Canteens at Virajpet and Madikeri get a raw deal always, says IAF Veteran Sergeant

Kushalnagar:

Long queues were seen at military canteens in Virajpet and Madikeri this morning as ex-servicemen and their family members  lined up to buy groceries and their quota of liquor. 

Shops selling essential items in Kodagu are allowed to open only three days a week — Monday, Wednesday and Friday.

Reports from Madikeri said that ex-servicemen began queuing up in front of the canteens since 3 am today as the canteen authorities had communicated to them that the quota of supplies for the month of May would be distributed this month end only for two days. Ex-servicemen rushed to the canteens today not to miss their quota for May. 

The military canteens at Virajpet and Madikeri are the extension canteens of Golden Palm Canteen of Karnataka and Kerala Army Sub Area, Bengaluru. 

Journalists heckled

The unusually long queues attracted media attention and two reporters who went to cover the event were allegedly heckled by the Police and security guards. One lady journalist’s mobile phone was snatched and thrown onto the road while she was video-graphing the incident. Before heckling the journalists, the Police demanded identity cards from them and the journalists told the Police that they had kept their identity cards at home. 

 After the chaotic incident, the journalists complained to Superintendent of Police Kshama Mishra that they were pushed around by the Police. The SP has promised action against her staff if they have erred. Even the manager of the Military canteen has assured that action will be taken against those who heckled the journalists. 

Reacting on the incident, Kodagu Press Club President B.R. Savitha Rai said that the journalists should have carried their identity cards. “Not carrying identity cards while reporting and arguing with the Police is not a right thing though the incident is unfortunate. In this time of crisis, the Police have every right to question anyone. In a democracy, even journalists have the right to cover any event, provided they carry their identity cards,” she said. 

Step-motherly treatment 

Meanwhile, Hon. Legal Advisor of T. Shettigeri Ex-Servicemen Association and Veteran Sergeant of Indian Air Force Mandetira N. Subramani has stated that the officer-in-charge of Golden Palm Canteen, Bengaluru, could have taken some interest to send the consignment of groceries and liquor to its extension counters in Madikeri and Virajpet on priority in the beginning of every month instead of sending the consignments at the fag end of every month. 

“This mad rush and the ugly scene at Madikeri would have been avoided,” he stated in a letter to the senior manager of Golden Palm Canteen. “Despite Kodagu being a cradle of general officers and gallant senior army officers and soldiers, the canteens at Madikeri and Virajpet are being given a raw deal with step-motherly treatment by sending the monthly consignments of grocery and liquor always in the middle or end of the month,” he added. 

Subramani has appealed to the senior manager to streamline things and send the consignments at the beginning of every month so that people can have enough time to purchase and the month-end rush is avoided especially during  pandemic times.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 28th, 2021

Director falls for Rashmika Mandanna innocence and beauty

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Records, All
Director falls for Rashmika Mandanna innocence and beauty

It is known news that Kannada lady Rashmika Mandanna who has already won the hearts of the Telugu movie lovers, is expanding her market in Bollywood.

She is playing the female lead in Hindi Film Mission Majnu, in which she is sharing the screen space with Sidharth Malhotra.

The action thriller drama is backed by RSVP Movies and Guilty by Association.  Rashmika and Sidharth starrer Mission Majnu is inspired by the real events set in the 1970s. And it will reveal the story of India’s most courageous mission.  Sidharth Malhotra is playing the role of a RAW agent who leads the mission.

Recently during the media interaction  the director Shantanu Baagchi, who was seeking a female lead in the Sidharth Malhotra starrer, revealed that he was impressed by  Rashmika Mandanna’ nuanced performance in Dear Comrade which was released in 2019.  Rashmika has the right mixture of innocence and beauty.

The  producer Amar Butala revealed that  Rashmika picked up every nuance of the character despite being on a video call.  Bheeshma girl has the sincere energy of a newcomer.

In Tollywood, Rashmika Mandanna is working  with Icon Star Allu Arjun in an action thriller drama Pushpa, which is being directed by Sukumar and is bankrolled by Mythri Movie Makers.

source: http://www.tollywood.net / Tollywood.net / Home> News> Top Stories / by Murali Ravi /May 09th, 2021

Forest Department Red Flags Thalassery-Mysuru Rail Line

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All

State Government applies brakes on project citing irreparable damage to the ecology

Mysore/Mysuru:

Following an adverse report by the Karnataka Forest Department that pristine forests of Western Ghats (in South Kodagu and Mysuru) will be destroyed if the proposed Thalassery-Mysuru project is implemented, the State Government has stalled the project and has conveyed the same to the Centre, reports said. 

The ambitious project, costing more than Rs. 5,000 crore, has been identified by Kerala State Government and it has entrusted it to Kerala Rail Development Corporation Limited (KRDCL). The survey work for the projects was entrusted to Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for preparing the Detailed Project Report (DPR). The KRDCL has submitted the Pre-Feasibility Report by proposing the alignment via Kutta (Kodagu district in Karnataka) to the Railway Board. 

The survey was, however, not permitted in Karnataka due to stiff opposition by the Forest Department officials who reasoned that the project will spell doom for rich biodiversity of South Kodagu as the Railway line will pass through the lush green areas of Nagarahole National Park and Tiger Reserve, Kutta, Kanoor, Balele, Thithimathi before entering Mysuru. 

The proposed Railway line passes through nearly 84-km of thick forests covering 49-km in Kerala and 35 km in Karnataka that are rich repositories of biological diversity having large chunks of tropical evergreen forest, the Forest Department said. 

Following the opposition, the Kerala Government proposed an alternative route that has Thalassery in Kerala and Kadakola in Karnataka near Mysuru as starting and ending points and the route is via Sultan Batheri from Thalassery to Kadakola that does not cut through forests. Instead, the line will pass through H.D. Kote, Antharasanthe border, and reach Bavali village from where the line proceeds towards Kerala. 

This alternative line, however, envisages a 22-kilometre tunnel at Antharasanthe Range of Nagarahole Tiger Reserve (Kabini area), Bavali and surrounding forests to avoid the rail line cutting through the forests. The proposed alignment passes through the tunnel between corridor of Nagarahole and Bandipur from Pulpally Taluk of Kerala to H.D. Kote Taluk of Karnataka. 

Even this route has been shot down by the Forest Department and officials have said that tunnels are bound to affect water recharge underneath the forests thereby causing severe ecological damage to the habitat system.

Sources said that the Forest Department has also stalled the Nilambur-Nanjangud Railway line for which the DMRC has prepared a DPR. Department officials did not accept the project since the lines were passing through Bandipur and Nagarahole Tiger Reserves. 

Though this Nilambur-Nanjangud line had been included in the Pink Book of Railways and Rs. 8 crore set apart for the DPR, the Kerala Government kept the project in abeyance following strong objection from the Karnataka Forest Department, sources said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 08th, 2021

Kodagu Origin Psychiatrist Donates Medical Equipment

Amazing Feats, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Nri's / Pio's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Madikeri:

A Kodagu origin Psychiatrist, settled in New Jersey, USA and gofundme.org have jointly donated medical equipment to Kodagu District COVID Hospital.

The Psychiatrist, Dr. Chottera Shobha Tuttu, a native of Guyya village near Siddapura and America’s gofundme.org have donated 53 Oxygen Concentrators (5 lts. and 10 lts. capacity) to the District COVID Hospital, which was received by Dean of Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences Dr. K.B. Cariappa in the presence of Dr. Sannuvanda Kaverappa of Napoklu, Dr. Vishal Kumar,  Dr. Manjunath, Dr. Roopesh and others.

Dr. Kaverappa said that the doctors in the US had created a WhatsApp group and discussed with Kodagu Deputy Commissioner Charulatha Somal on helping the district and accordingly, 53 Oxygen Concentrators were donated by them, which was handed over to the Hospital. 

He also said that because of the efforts of retired IAS Officer Avaremadanda K. Monnappa, the medical equipment was received from the US and Dr. Tuttu has sent these equipment for the benefit of COVID positive patients, who are undergoing treatment.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / May 27th, 2021

Classical, Folk and Fusion Performances Take Centerstage on Video Platform The Engineer’s Pick

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

Producer and live sound engineer Anish Ponnanna has so far invited Swarathma’s Varun Murali, Parvaaz’s Khalid Ahamed and more.

Producer and sound engineer Anish Ponnanna. Photo: Courtesy of The Engineer’s Pick

In the crowded sphere of video content, Bengaluru-based Anish Ponnanna’s channel The Engineer’s Pick  didn’t start out for the sake of gaining subscribers or views, but more as a “pure-play passion project” driven by the seasoned sound engineer and producer’s satisfaction. As it turned out, that focus still worked wonders for The Engineer’s Pick, which has over 67,000 subscribers and over 13.6 million cumulative views on YouTube.

Ponnanna began working in live sound engineering in 2010 and has since become the go-to man behind the console for composer-singer Clinton Cerejo , singer Vijay Prakash, plus fusion acts like Indian Ocean  and Swarathma . Along the way, he often noticed “inefficiencies of live shows” when it came to delivering quality sound. In 2018, he launched The Engineer’s Pick from his own funds. “The live character was the focus. Musicians were informed in advance that there would be no overdubs or pitch corrections post production; and that they had to perform as if they were performing for a live audience,” Ponnanna says.

What has worked so far, as numbers show, are traditional Kannada songs revived with pristine production, like vocalist Ananya Bhat’s rendition of “Sojugada Sooju Mallige ,” which went viral and currently stands at nearly 13 million views. Other artists featured on two seasons of The Engineer’s Pick include folk artist Bindhumalini and vocalist M.D. Pallavi, folk-fusion band Swarathma’s guitarist Varun Murali rendering a quiet flip of “Bolo Kya Hai,” multilingual fusion act Shubham Roy Collective, vocalist Varijashree Venugopal and more. Most recently, they uploaded a performance of Kashmiri folk song “Aies Bayo” by Parvaaz’s Khalid Ahamed, violinist Apoorva Krishna  and percussionist Rahul Shivakumar.

A behind-the-scenes shot of Ponnanna (center) with artists M.D. Pallavi (left) and Bindhumalini (right). Photo: Courtesy of The Engineer’s Pick

Ponnanna says, “I like to blur the boundaries of genres and languages, although I would like artistes to perform in their own mother tongues. It is the timbre (characteristics of a voice or an instrument) that I’m after.” So far, they’ve had performances in Kannada, Hindi, Malayalam, Tulu and Kashmiri. Curated by the producer, he says he approaches an artist and lets them pick the composition. “I have an episode coming up in Bengali. I may even have an episode in Kodava Thak – my own mother tongue. I experiment with both classical and contemporary styles. Experimentation is key; I do that a lot,” Ponnanna adds.

Previously self-funded, The Engineer’s Pick did run into trouble with finances and management once the pandemic took hold across the country. They then received funding from non-profit organization The Whitefield Project for the Arts & Culture and the Sanjeeth Shetty Foundation, which Ponnanna calls a “blessing” that’s helped keep the channel afloat. Another sponsor came in the form of audio company Shure, who provided high-end microphones.

Above all, there’s a certain science on the acoustics and production front that helps increase repeat listening. The producer says, “The mid and high frequencies are not too pronounced like they usually are in commercial music releases. This approach makes the compositions grow on you. I also choose compositions that suit this style of mixing. This methodology is what I believe is bringing subscribers to the channel.” With six episodes out from the second season of The Engineer’s Pick, at least eight more are in the pipeline. “You will surely get to hear some soulful music,” Ponnanna says.

Watch the video for “Aies Bayo” below.

Aies Bayo | Khalid Ahamed | Apoorva Krishna | Rahul Shivakumar | The Engineer’s Pick | S02E06 | LIVE

source: http://www.rollingstoneindia.com / Rolling Stone India / Home> Artists / by Anurag Talat / May 23rd, 2021

Karnataka: Negative RTPCR mandatory for shopkeepers in Madikeri limits

Business & Economy, Records, All

The shops have to display the negative RTPCR reports to offer service to the residents on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6 am to 10 am.

Representational Image. (Photo | PTI)

Madikeri :

The Madikeri City Municipal Council mandates negative RTPCR reports for the shopkeepers to function during relaxation hours.

The order has been passed by the City Municipal Council commissioner Ramdas with immediate effect. All the shopkeepers including essential shops can function only if all the employees possess negative RTPCR report.

The shops have to display the negative RTPCR reports to offer service to the residents on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 6 am to 10 am.

The KSRTC Bus Stand in Madikeri has been established as the swab collecting center to enable the COVID tests on shopkeepers on Monday between 7 am and 10 am. 

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Pragna GR, Express News Service / May 23rd, 2021

‘Grow coffee in shade’ to supress leaf rust

Coffee News, World Opinion
Coffee leaf rust on young coffee bushes in Rwanda. An expert advises farmers to grow the crop under shade to provide a conducive environment for a parasite that could control the leaf rust disease. Copyright: CABI

Nairobi :

Coffee farmers  should grow the crop under shade to provide a conducive environment for a parasite that could control the fungal disease leaf rust, an expert says.

Coffee leaf rust, caused by the fungus Hemileia vastatrix, is characterised by small yellow spots on upper leaf surfaces and orange powdery lesions on the underside of leaves. Infected leaves eventually drop off, lowering the yield and quality of the crop.

“Shade also creates a conducive environment for the coffee leaf rust hyper-parasite and we need to maximise this potential.”

Beyene Zewdie, Stockholm University

But a study conducted in Ethiopia considered the origin of Arabica coffee, known scientifically as Coffea arabica, shows that a natural enemy that grows on top of leaves infected by the disease could be key to helping farmers fight it.

“The rust is a global challenge for coffee production,” says Beyene Zewdie, a co-author of the study and post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Ecology, Environment and Plant Sciences at Stockholm University, Sweden, adding that it reduces coffee yields by up to 30 per cent.

According to the study published in Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment this month (1 May), researchers analysed both the rust and a fungus that attacks it called Lecanicillium lecanii. Observations were carried out from 2017 to 2019 during the wet and dry seasons in Southwestern Ethiopia.

“We found that coffee leaf rust was more severe during the dry season whereas the hyperparasite [parasite whose host is also a parasite or L. lecanii] was more severe during the wet season in two out of three years,” says the study. “The rust incidence increased with management intensity while the hyperparasite was more common under less intensive management.”

Zewdie says the research could help shed light on the relationship between the rust and the hyperparasite, and to manage the two.

“We also found a slight variation in the environmental requirement of the rust and the hyperparasite,” Zewdie tells SciDev.Net. “The rust can thrive in low moisture conditions whereas the hyperparasite favours areas characterised by moist and shaded habitats.”

Zewdie says most farmers in the study area perceive coffee leaf rust as a less important disease because although severe coffee leaf rust infestation leads to leaf-drop, coffee shrubs normally get back the leaves during the next wet season.

But he cautions that the loss of leaves can have a negative effect on the performance of the plant, and says shade would help mitigate the damage.

“Coffee needs shade and growing the crop under shade could buffer the microclimate around the coffee shrubs,” he tells SciDev.Net. “Shade also creates a conducive environment for the coffee leaf rust hyperparasite and we need to maximise this potential to make use of the capacity of the hyperparasite to suppress the rust in areas where the two interacting species co-occur.”

Bernard Mukiri Gichimu, a senior lecturer at Kenya’s University of Embu, Department of Agricultural Resource Management, who was not involved in the study, says that the findings could be important for farmers.

“The discovery of L. lecanii as a hyperparasite against the coffee rust fungus in a natural environment is a major breakthrough that may have a significant contribution in the management of the coffee leaf rust,” says Gichimu. “With climate change, the disease has become even more damaging … even in areas that were hitherto known to be less prone to the disease.”

Mukiri adds that using the natural enemy to fight the disease may be preferable to fungicides which can fail to control the disease either due to poor quality or handling or resistance of the disease-causing agent to fungicide.

“Reduced use of fungicides will also reduce environmental pollution which will be beneficial to the non-target organisms and safe to both the farmers and coffee consumers,” he says.

This piece was produced by SciDev.Net’s Sub-Saharan Africa English desk.

source: http://www.scidev.net / Sci Dev Net / Home> Agriculture> News / by Nelson Mandela Ogema / May 24th, 2021

COVID hits staff at Madikeri hospital, 3 nurses work double shifts to treat 57 dialysis patients

Records, All, Science & Technology

“A week ago, a COVID positive patient underwent dialysis treatment at the centre. This resulted in the spread of COVID-19 to the staff,” explained one of the nurses.

A patient undergoing dialysis at the Kodagu Institute of Medical Science in Madikeri (Photo | Special arrangement)

Madikeri :

Amid the COVID second wave, Kodagu district is faced with a massive staff crunch in the healthcare department, with numerous calls for appointment of staff not bearing results. The district requires 500 staff nurses in total to manage the healthcare sector efficiently, but over 70% of the posts remain vacant. The brunt of this crunch is faced by the minimal staff who are working overtime to enable proper treatment for patients. Their plight gets worse when some of the staff are laid low by COVID-19.

The District Dialysis Centre in Madikeri, which was running at Madikeri District Hospital, has now shifted its base to the Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences following the pandemic. A total of 71 patients regularly report to the centre for dialysis and eight staff nurses alongside three Group D workers enabled treatment and care of these patients. However, a dialysis patient who visited the centre to avail treatment had tested positive for COVID-19 and reported to the dialysis centre despite the infection.

“A week ago, a COVID positive patient underwent dialysis treatment at the centre. This resulted in the spread of COVID-19 to the staff nurses. Five nurses and one Group D worker among the total 11 staff at the centre tested positive,” explained a staff nurse requesting anonymity. This resulted in five nurses being ordered to undergo isolation, resulting in shortage of hands at the dialysis centre.

“We have to continue the dialysis treatment to the patients. Out of the 71 regular patients, 57 are currently reporting to the centre as the rest of the patients are COVID positive and being treated separately. Only three nurses are conducting dialysis on 57 patients and this has forced us to work in double shifts,” she explained. The nurses report to the centre as early as 7.30 am and work for over twelve hours a day to continue treating the patients. While they did not complain, work stress, they say, is inevitable.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Pragna GR, Express News Service / May 18th, 2021

Nanjappa Palekanda named VP – Talent Experience and Operations at Netflix

Business & Economy, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Records, All

Prior to joining Netflix, he was with Uber and has also worked for Google and Infosys

netflix

Streaming giant Netflix has announced the appointment of Nanjappa Palekanda as Vice President, Experience and Operations.

With 18 years of experience, Nanjappa has worked with big names, including Infosys, Uber and Google. His expertise lies in HR Service Delivery, M&A, Risk & Compliance and Portfolio Management for the People function.

On his appointment, he wrote, “I am grateful for the incredible professionals and amazing well-wishers I have come across throughout my career – Infosys, Google and Uber.

I now head into an exciting new adventure at Netflix, with the same drive to work with amazing people.

During this special personal moment, I would like to urge all my well-wishers to spare a positive thought/action in support of all those in India (or those who have loved ones in India), who are braving the heart-breaking situation brought upon by the pandemic.

There’s loss and suffering for sure, but there are also numerous everyday heroes, going out of their way to support others, many of whom they have never met before.” 

source: http://www.exchange4media.com / Exchange4Media / Home> Internet Announcement News / by exchange4media.com Staff / May 20th, 2021