The Hindu : Karnataka News : Briefly

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Jan 23, 2005

Karnataka

Karnataka

Briefly

Two farmers commit suicide

Madikeri Jan. 22. M. Ranji Muthanna, 40, a farmer of Harihara village near Nalkeri in Virajpet taluk, is said to have committed suicide on Thursday by jumping to a pile of burning hay, according to information received here today. Muthanna, a small farmer, had taken a loan from a bank at T. Shettigeri. The bank recently served a notice threatening to confiscate his property if the loan was not repaid. This is stated to have driven Muthanna to despair, the police said. His wife, Gauramma, had gone to Balyamandur when the incident occurred. She returned today and found burnt pile of hay. She noticed the charred body of Muthanna only later. Police have registered a case.

Our Hassan Staff Correspondent reports:

Virupaaksha, 45, of Handinakere Haralalli in Hassan taluk, who reportedly consumed poison on Thursday, died in a hospital on Friday evening. It is said that he was unable to repay the loan he had taken from a bank to cultivate his land. Virupaaksha was admitted to a private hospital where he died.

50 kg of opium seized

Kalpetta Jan. 22. Kerala Excise Department officials have seized 50 kg of opium worth Rs. 20 crores in the international market from a vehicle and arrested two persons at Muthanga in Wayanad district. Officials said the contraband, in ten packets, was seized from a mini-van bearing Rajasthan registration at Muthanga check-post on Friday night. The arrested van driver, Goverdhan Singh, and his companion, Babu Lal, hail from Rajasthan. The mini-van coming from Bangalore was proceeding to the neighbouring Kozhikode district. The two arrested persons will be produced before a local court, the officials said.

— UNI

Canara Bank Executive Director

Bangalore Jan. 22. B. Swaminathan (in picture) today took charge as the Executive Director of Canara Bank. Prior to this he was the General Manager of Indian Overseas Bank (IOB), Chennai. Mr. Swaminathan started his career as a probationary officer with the IOB in 1968 and has held various positions in the bank. From 1972 to 1980 he worked in Bangkok, first with the IOB and later on deputation to Bharat Overseas Bank where he played a crucial role in the consolidation and growth of the bank. As Chief Executive of the bank's Singapore branch from 1993 to 1997, he headed the overseas business operations including offshore advances in Malaysia, Indonesia and Thailand. His areas of strength are foreign exchange, personnel management, credit management and human resources development.

Syndicate Bank CMD

Bangalore Jan. 22. N. Kantha Kumar (in picture) has taken charge as Chairman and Managing Director of Syndicate Bank. He was earlier Executive Director of Canara Bank. A graduate of Kerala University, Mr Kumar joined Canara Bank in 1967. During his career he was a member of several committees related to banking and served on the Reserve Bank of India Committee on Half-Yearly Review of Bank Accounts. He has also worked in various subsidiaries of Canara Bank and as a member of the Committee of Economists constituted by the Indian Banks Association.

CPI(M) meet to discuss report

Udupi Jan. 22. The Secretary of State unit of the Communist Party of India (Marxist), G.N. Nagaraj, on Saturday said a committee of the party has prepared a report on the social, economic and political situation in the State. He told presspersons that the 18th conference of the CPI(M) will discuss the report. There was a comprehensive debate on the agricultural issues on the first day of the conference, which began here on Friday. Though the number of suicides by farmers in the State has come down, it has not stopped completely. This is due to the continuing basic problems in the agricultural sector. The fall in prices, import of agricultural commodities and the loan burden on farmers have aggravated the situation. The conference urged the Government to take steps to check the situation, he said. The tile, beedi and handloom industries in Udupi district are in deep trouble. The Government should take steps to rejuvenate them. The Fiscal Responsibility Act brought in by the S.M. Krishna Government is still in force. This has tied the hands of the present Government. This is an anti-democratic Act, which should be repealed, he said. The policies of the NDA Government are responsible for the growth of communal forces in the State. The Government should take steps to check these forces, Mr. Nagaraj said. Y. Gurushanth, CPI(M) leader, was present.

`Elect Council Chairman'

BANGALORE JAN. 22. The Institute of Parliamentary Affairs (IPA) here has suggested to the State Government to fill the posts of Chairman of the Legislative Council and Deputy Speaker of the Legislative Assembly in the current session of the legislature. The post of Chairman of the Legislative Council has been vacant for 11 months and that of the Deputy Speaker for eight months. There are three vacancies for nominated members in the Legislative Council, says a report prepared by the IPA. The report says a senior, experienced and able MLC capable of commanding the confidence of the House should be considered for the post of Chairman in order to uphold the dignity and decorum of the Upper House. Twenty-five persons have served as Chairman of the Council, and D.B. Kalmankar has served for the longest period of seven years and five months. Only one woman, Basavarajeshwari, has served as the Chairperson of the Council. She held the post for nearly two years. The Legislative Assembly has had 16 Speakers, including the present Speaker, Krishna. Three persons have served as the Speakers for six years each: S.R. Kanthi, B. Vaikunta Baliga and K.S. Nagarathnamma. K.S. Nagarathnamma was the only woman Speaker, according to the report.

Painting programme

MYSORE JAN. 22. A unique painting programme against sexual exploitation and human trafficking will be organised at Kalamandira here on January 23 by Odanadi Seva Samsthe, a voluntary organisation engaged in the rehabilitation destitute women and children.

According to Shylaja Kamal Gopinath, Mysore district coordinator of Odanadi Seva Samsthe, noted painters from all over the State will participate in the programme. Odanadi will use the paintings in its campaign against sexual exploitation and human trafficking.

Medical camp

MYSORE JAN. 22. Bhaskar Heart Care and Diagnostic Centre, Bamboo Bazaar, Mysore, in association with Rotary Mysore, is organising a free cardiac check up camp at its premises on January 26 to mark the centre's first anniversary.

According to a statement, K.N. Bhaskar, director of the centre and interventional cardiologist, and his team will conduct the camp from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Interested persons are requested to register their names in advance and collect coupons either at Bhaskar Heart Care and Diagnostic Centre, no. 10, opp. Parvathi Kalyana Mantap, New Sayyaji Rao Road, Bamboo Bazaar, Mysore, ph: 08212499188, 2499189 or Rotary Mysore office, JLB Road, Mysore, ph: 08212420992.

Trekking

MYSORE JAN. 22. Society for Promotion of Adventure and Nature Awareness (SPAN) is organising a Himalayan trekking and nature camp for children aged between 10 and 18, in the Dalhousie and Bharmour regions of Himachal Pradesh.

The 18-day programme to be held in April and May includes trekking and camping, study of flora and fauna, individual development programmes and visits to hilly regions such as Dalhousie, Khajjiar, Chamba, Bharmour and sight seeing in Agra, Amritsar, Wagah Border and Delhi.

More details can be had from Sridhar, director, SPAN, on ph: 9845188991 or email: spansridhar@yahoo.com.

Takes charge

SIRSI JAN. 22. Jayaram Hegde took charge as president of the Kannada Sahitya Parishat taluk unit on Friday in a function held at Aravind Hall here. The other office bearers who took charge include Raju Hegde, B.G. Hegde, B.K. Kemparaju, V.P. Shirasat, Abdul Wazid Khan, R.M. Hegde, Kannesh Naik, N.V. Manjunath, Vijaynalini and Rajiv Ajjibal.

Fares reduced

BIDAR JAN. 22. The North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has reduced the fare for passengers travelling from Bidar to Gulbarga on select routes. The fare from Bidar to Gulbarga via Mannaekhalli and passing through the Mumbai-Hyderabad National Highway will be Rs. 40 effective from Monday, a press release from the Divisional Controller, NEKRTC, R.K. Seetharam, said.

Protest

BIDAR JAN. 22. Members of the North Karnataka Tent and Decorators Welfare Association will close their shops on Tuesday and Wednesday to protest against the 10.2 per cent service tax levied by the Centre. Members of the Bidar Shamiyana Association will not work on these two days to support the agitation, a release from the president of the association, Chandrashekar Shetkar, said.

Donation

DHARWAD JAN. 22. A sum of Rs. 21.90 lakhs has been collected in Dharwad district for the tsunami affected, according to a press release issued by the district administration here today.

Free eye check-up camp

BIDAR JAN. 22. A free eye check-up camp for diabetics will be organised at Megur Eye Care Centre in Bidar on Wednesday. Diabetics should register themselves with copies of recent blood and urine examination reports.

Retinal evaluation and various kinds of treatment, including laser treatment, will be free. An eye care awareness camp will also be organised on the occasion, a release by Veershetty Mange, president of the Rotary Club of Bidar, which is organising the event, said.

The centre can be contacted at 08482-226642.

Bus fare

reduced

BIDAR JAN. 22. The North Eastern Karnataka Road Transport Corporation has reduced the fare for passengers travelling from Bidar to Gulbarga on select routes.

The fare from Bidar to Gulbarga via Mannaekhalli and passing through the Mumbai-Hyderabad National Highway will be Rs. 40 effective from Monday, a press release from the Divisional Controller, NEKRTC, R.K. Seetharam, said.

Protest against service tax

Memorandum

BIDAR JAN. 22. Nisarga Premi, an association of organic farmers in Bidar, has requested the Union Government to release additional funds to build rainwater harvesting structures across the district.

In a memorandum to the Union Minister of State for Planning, M.V. Rajshekaran, the president of the association, Ishwarappa Chakote, and the secretary, Shankarappa Patil Atiwal, have demanded that Rs. 400 crores be sanctioned to the district administration for building bunds, check dams, barrages, farm ponds and other watershed development structures.

This will not only solve the drinking water problem but also provide irrigation facilities to cultivable land in the district.

Training

BIDAR JAN. 22. The Organisation for Bidar Integrated Transformation (Orbit) is imparting training on sustainable conservation of drinking water to members of village forest committees and self-help groups in Humnabad taluk.

An awareness camp was organised as part of the second phase of the training in Humnabad recently. Resource person Salvador Pereira addressed the members about the need to conserve soil and water.

He said that non-governmental organisations will jointly take up participative water conservation works in 10 villages in Humnabad taluk, a release from Orbit said.

Direction to RTO

DHARWAD JAN. 22. The Deputy Commissioner has directed the Regional Transport Office (RTO) to take action against those plying overloaded lorries on the national highway and major roads in the district.

The direction comes in the wake of reports that no action has been taken by the RTO despite clear instructions from the Government to regulate the movement of overloaded lorries.

`Vachana Vaibhava'

DHARWAD JAN. 22. Akashavani, Dharwad, will broadcast every Sunday at 7.15 a.m. from tomorrow a programme titled "Vachana Vaibhava" comprising select vachanas rendered by well-known vocalists.

A press release issued here said A. Murigeppa, Balanna Shigihalli, S.V. Hegde, Chandrasekhar Vastrad and Basavaraj Sadar will provide the commentary while A. Venkateshkumar, Renuka Nakod, Sadashiva Patil, Jayadevi, Sumangala Jangamashetti and Shripad Hegde will render the vachanas. The music has been composed by Raghunath Nakod, Shripad Hegde, Vadiraj Nimbaragi, Shankar Kabadi, Jagannath Kabadi, Chinmaya Namannavar, Keshavkumar Malvi, Mohan Bagewadi, Prakash Gowdar, Balachandra Nakod, D. Kumardas, Mukta Manjumdar, Sooraj Purandare, Hanumanthkumar Kodagnur, Vadiraj Dandapur, Gururaj Achar and Vittal Avadhani.

Takes charge

Donation

DHARWAD JAN. 22. A sum of Rs. 21.90 lakhs has been collected in Dharwad district for the tsunami affected, according to a press release issued by the district administration here today.

Camp

HUBLI JAN. 22. Govindaram Varma Charitable Trust has organised a two-day camp for children with cerebral palsy beginning on January 31.

Shahzad Anwar from Pakistan will examine the children and offer treatment, including "laser acupuncture."

The camp has been cosponsored by the Indian Medical Association, Hubli branch; the General Practitioners' Association; and the Rotary Club of Hubli.

Parents should register the names of their children by January 25.

Competition

MANGALORE JAN. 22. Bearys' Public School has organised "Mindwaves 2005," the annual painting competition, for children on Wednesday to mark Republic Day.

It will be held in three categories — for those between 3 and 5 years, 6 and 9 years, and 10 and 13 years. There is no entry fee, and the registration closes on Monday.

A talk on "Parenting: experience the joy of connecting with your child" will be delivered on the school premises. More details can be had on Ph: 2457886.

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