Tag Archives: Somwarpet Taluk

Will always finds a way!

Amazing Feats, Education, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

Crowdfunding helps revive govt school in Kodagu.

Madikeri :

Government schools might be losing importance in cities, but they are still the mainstay for educating children from rural areas. In Kodagu, a government school this year scored cent percent results in SSLC with the lone girl student from the school passing.

At a time when many government schools are shutting down because of lack of students, villagers at Neerugalale in the interiors of Somwarpet taluk in Kodagu district and alumni of the school got together to revive the Neerugalale Government Primary and High School . The villagers formed a committee along with the alumni association — Poorva Prathamika Shala Samithi (Pre-Primary School Committee) — and started the process.

What is inspiring and unique is that the villagers did not take any monetary assistance from the state government, and the entire project is the initiative of the villagers and alumni.

The school, which is 67 years old, started off as a primary school. The high school section was introduced only in 2007. While the institution had a considerable number of admissions in the past, it slowly started declining with parents preferring private schools. The majority of students come from backward classes, and this year, 114 were admitted in all, from grades 1 to 10.

“Government schools must not become places reserved only for the labour class. These schools can survive only when they are on a par with private schools,” said high school teacher Rathna Kumar, who has been working with the institution for the past 16 years.

The Neerugalale Government School, and the new LKG classroom at the school, after the renovation | Express

“The majority of students here are from the Jenu Kuruba tribe, who work as estate labourers. But the school management wanted to attract more admissions and that was when the Poorva Prathamika Shaala Samithi was formed. As the admissions were declining year on year, the villagers, along with the school alumni, and the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) formed the committee. We held a meeting in March last year, and had set plans that we looked forward to introducing at the institution,” explained Rathna Kumar.

The committee’s first plan was to introduce kindergarten and to renovate the old building on the campus, for which permission was sought from the taluk BEO. But the education department authorities informed the committee that there was not enough funds or manpower to enable new classes for students. The committee then decided not to take any monetary help from the government.

“The campus has an old building with five classrooms, which was renovated using crowdfund. The BEO was supportive of the committee, and we took it upon ourselves to introduce LKG in the school,” Kumar said. Members from the committee and SDMC approached donors before starting the renovation work, and collected around Rs 10 lakh from villagers and alumni.

The ‘Poorva Prathamika Shaala Samithi’ committee members

The ‘Poorva Prathamika Shaala Samithi’ committee members

“The work began with replacing old roof-tiles and plastering the walls. In about four to five months, three of the five rooms were renovated. One was converted into a classroom with brand new furniture, the second room became a games room and the third into an office. There are two more rooms that will be renovated once more funds are arranged. We have also built a hi-tech toilet on the school campus,” Kumar said.

After the renovation, the committee members visited villagers and encouraged them to enrol their wards in the school. The committee’s efforts bore fruit and 15 students enrolled for LKG. “Next year, we will introduce UKG. And the year after, we hope to get the state’s permission to introduce English medium for grade 1,” Kumar said and added that currently, the SDMC is bearing teachers’ salaries.

While many teachers in interior villages wait to be transferred out, the efforts of the Neerugalele School management has set an example. “Teacher Rathna Kumar took special care in ensuring the school’s development. The villagers joined hands to save the school that has imparted education to thousands,” said school principal Esthela Silva.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Good News / by Pragna GR / June 23rd, 2024

X

Kodagu Woman At Mount Everest Base Camp

Amazing Feats, Records, All, Sports, Women/Girls (wef. Sept 03rd, 2022), , , , , , , , ,

Madikeri:

A woman from Kodagu has made history by reaching the Mount Everest Base Camp. Dr. Latha, a 57-yearold gynaecologist working in Bengaluru, participated in the trek to the Everest Kodagu woman at Mount Everest Base Camp Base Camp and successfully reached the first phase target of 18,514 feet.

Dr. Latha, a native of Badubanahalli near Alur Siddapura in Somwarpet Taluk, Kodagu, has brought great honour to her region through this remarkable achievement. She is the daughter of the late Mallappa.

With a keen interest in sports and trekking, Dr. Latha had a deep desire to conquer Mount Everest. She underwent rigorous training for six months with a Nepal-based company, running up to 10 kilometres daily and climbing small mountains to build stamina.

Dr. Latha was selected to climb the world’s highest peak during the April 28 to May 11 schedule, where several teams from India were participating. Among them, there were eight individuals aged between 30 and 40.

“Every day, we used to climb 10 to 15 kilometres and then rest. Only three members from our team, including me, could reach that Base Camp,” she said.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> Sports / June 01st, 2024

Rs 2.83 crore released to over 17,000 farmers under drought relief fund in Kodagu

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Records, All, , , , , , ,

The department had proposed for the release of Rs 8.38 crore as a drought relief fund to be distributed among the farmers of the district.

Image used for representational purposes only,(File photo | EPS)

Madikeri :

A total of 17,297 farmers across Kodagu have been distributed with the drought relief fund from the state. Sources confirmed that many other pending applications are still under scrutiny and will be disposed of shortly.

All five taluks in Kodagu were declared as drought-hit regions this year from the state and over 20,000 farmers from the district applied to avail compensation for the crop loss.

As per the applications received by the agriculture department, 7620.74 hectares of paddy farmland and 2170.36 hectares of maize farmland were affected by drought in total across all the taluks.

The department had proposed for the release of Rs 8.38 crore as a drought relief fund to be distributed among the farmers of the district.

However, applications of 17,297 farmers from the district have been approved so far in ten phases and they have been handed over the total drought relief fund of over Rs 2.83 crore.

Joint Director of the agricultural department, Somasundar confirmed that 17,297 farmers have received only part payment of the drought relief even as applications of 3,263 farmers are still under scrutiny and will be finalized shortly. While a few applications are pending due to technical errors, others are under verification process.

Over Rs 5.54 crore funds are still pending to be distributed to the farmers as per the memorandum submitted to the state from the department.

The Ponnampet taluk is the worst hit region in the district as over 3825 hectares of paddy land has been reportedly affected by drought. A total of 5155 farmers from the region applied for drought relief.

In Somwarpet taluk, 1161 hectares of paddy and 470 hectares of maize farmlands have been affected by drought even as over 7,000 farmers applied for the compensation.

1972 hectares of paddy field in Madikeri and 650 hectares in Virajpet were hit by drought even as 1700 hectares of maize farmland was hit by drought across Kushalnagar taluk.

DC Venkat Raja confirmed that Rs 2.83 crore funds have been so far released to farmers and this includes a minimum compensation amount of Rs 1,000 and a maximum compensation of Rs 2,000 to the affected farmers.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Karnataka / by Prajna G R / May 29th, 2024

Coffee Board Launches Soil Testing Centre At Gonikoppal

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Coffee, Kodagu (Coorg), Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, , , , ,

Mysuru:

Thousands of farmers in South Kodagu now look forward to better yield as Gonikoppal gets a new digital soil testing centre. The Coffee Board launched the testing centre last week following demands of farmers and growers.

Earlier, farmers of Virajpet taluk had to travel 50 to 70 kms to give soil for testing centres at Chettalli and Koodige and both the centres are in Somwarpet Taluk. Farmers in Virajpet were deprived of a testing centre.

Coffee Board Senior Liaison Officer said it took two hours to find the potential of hydrogen (PH) value of soil and five hours to find nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium (NPK) in soil.

source: http://www.starofmysore.com / Star of Mysore / Home> News / December 28th, 2017

Madikeri: Field day observed in Somwarpet to attract youth towards agriculture

Agriculture, , , , , , , , , , ,

The taluk administrative officials, advocates, teachers and students of Somwarpet taluk came together and worked hard on the paddy farmland on Sunday. It was a field day as officials and others took a break from their office work and enjoyed themselves on the field.

This event was organized by the Young Indian Farmers Association of Kodagu in order to call up youngsters and others to shower their love towards agriculture. This event was hosted for the fifth time by the association.

Revenue department officials, foresters, lawyers, teachers, people’s representatives and students including the tahsildar of Somwarpet taluk gathered at a private farmland in Belur village here and planted paddy seedlings across the field.

The president of the association, Srinidhi Lingappa said, “The association has been organizing this event for the past five years with an aim to create awareness about the need and importance of taking up agriculture.”

Inaugurating the formal function, tahsildar S N Naragund opined that there is an immediate need to create awareness among young Indians about the importance of agriculture.

Former MLA Appachu Ranjan said that, “Nowadays, youngsters and children are taking up jobs in cities and often neglect the need to take up agriculture. As a result, agriculture is unable to achieve the desired progress.”

Forest department Kushalnagar division ACF Gopal and Belur G P representatives also took part in the event.

source: http://www.daijiworld.com / Daijiworld.com / Home> News / by Daijiworld Media Network – Madikeri (SJM) /September 18th, 2023

Kodagu: Paddy cultivation takes a back seat owing to weather changes and wildlife conflict

Agriculture, Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, , , , , , ,

Several farmlands in South Kodagu have been abandoned owing to bad weather conditions and the increased movement of wild elephants.

Image used for representational purpose.

Madikeri:

Paddy cultivation in the district is receding compared to yesteryears as farming is yet to pick up pace this monsoon. Changing weather conditions, natural disasters and increased wildlife conflict are other factors affecting paddy cultivation. It is said that only 48 hectares of land have been cultivated with paddy. 

Over six years ago, nearly 35,000 hectares of farmlands across Kodagu were cultivated with paddy crops. But, the extent of the cultivation has diminished over the years as the target for paddy cultivation has now been reduced to 30,500 hectares by the agriculture department.

“The increasing wildlife conflict can be seen as one of the reasons for the farmers to give up paddy cultivation in several farmlands in the district. Further, many farmers have also taken to the cultivation of horticulture crops. Increased conversion of farmlands to areca nut estates has reduced paddy cultivation,” opined Shabana Sheikh, the Joint Director of the Agriculture Department.

A total of 23180 hectares of farmland was cultivated with paddy achieving a target of 76% last year. Over 384 hectares suffered crop loss due to rainfall last year. 

The farmers of South Kodagu have increasingly given up paddy cultivation. Out of the 14000 hectares of targeted cultivation, only 9960 hectares were cultivated for paddy last year. Several farmlands in South Kodagu have been abandoned owing to bad weather conditions and the increased movement of wild elephants.

With monsoons delayed in the region this year, the paddy transplantation work is yet to pick up pace in the district. In Madikeri taluk, only 40 hectares of farmlands have recorded paddy transplantation work to date this year. Meanwhile, eight hectares of farmland have witnessed paddy transplantation in Somwarpet taluk. Nevertheless, as per the data recorded by the department, no farmlands have yet been cultivated for paddy due to delayed rains across South Kodagu including in Virajpet and Ponnampet taluks.    

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Karnataka / by Express News Service / July 11th, 2023

Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Memorial Prog.

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Famous Personalities of Kodagu / Coorg, Leaders, , , , , , , , , , ,

Kodagu, Mar. 10 (KBM& DM)

Nenapu-Namana, a programme to commemorate and pay tributes to Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa, was held at the Field Marshal’s birth place Shanivarasanthe in Somwarpet taluk of Kodagu district today.

The programme took place at Shanivarasanthe’s Government Middle School ground under the auspices of Field Marshal K.M. Cariappa Smarana Samithi.

Assembly Speaker K.G. Bopaiah unveiled a stone plaque. Madikeri MLA Appachu Ranjan presided. Renowned Cine Director Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar, High Court Public Prosecutor H.S. Chandramouli, MLC M.C. Nanaiah, former MLA B.B. Shivappa, former MLC S.G. Meda-ppa and others were present.

Earlier, the public and school children accompanied by folk and cultural troupes, marched in a colourful procession through the main roads of the town to reach the venue.

source: http://www.StarofMysore.com / General News / March 10th, 2012