Informative book on "snakes of coastal Karnataka"

Udupi, September 28, DHNS: The Rashtriya Seva Yojanay in association with Mangalore University and Geetha Prakshana organised book release programme of ‘Haavu Naavu’ authored by Herpetologist Gururaj Sanil at Mahajan Hall in Hotel Keediyur on Sunday.

“Coastal areas accommodate countless varieties of snake species. Awareness measures should be taken to wipe out fear from the minds of people regarding snakes. In depth study on snakes will help people to get more familiar with snakes,” opined Higher Education Minister Dr V S Acharya after releasing the book.

Author Gururaj Sanil informed that there are 46 species of snakes found in undivided Dakshina Kannada district. The blind beliefs associated with snakes make no sense.

Killing snakes is against nature as it leads to nature’s imbalance, he informed.“Man is the biggest enemy to snakes. He kills them due to fear resulted out of lack of knowledge about the species,” he opined.MLA Raghupthay Bhat, Industrialist Pramodh Madhwaraj, CMC President Kiran Kumar, Folk Scholar Bannanje Babu Ameen and others were present.

Mangalorean

Dentists for rural areas

BANGALORE September 24, 2010: Higher Education Minister, V.S. Acharya on Friday said the rural Karnataka has been facing severe shortage of dental doctors even there were 40 dental colleges in the state.

He was presiding over the graduation day 2010 of the Government Dental College and Research Institute here.

Dr. Acharya, who was a doctor by profession, said the graduates need to serve the rural population. Rural people are aware about oral health now and are opting for dental care, he said and called upon them to set up their clinics in rural parts of the State after studies.

World Tourism Day 2010

The passengers were in a for a surprise when they received a floral welcome at the city airport, Bajpe and KSRTC bus stand, Bejai. The gesture was planned as part of World Tourism Day by the Mangalore Association of Travel Agents in association with the department of tourism here on Monday September 27.

In a specially organized programme, all the air passengers who landed at Mangalore Airport on Monday were welcomed with flowers and greetings. Higher education minister V S Acharya and Moodbidri MLA Abhaychandra Jain extended a floral welcome to the passengers of Jet Airways and Kingfisher Airline flight that landed at Mangalore Airport at around 8:30 am.

Abhaychandra Jain formally inaugurated the programme. Later, Jain and Acharya flew to Bangalore through a special flight. Airport director M R Vasudev, general manager of Hotel Gold Finch S M Das, Pilikula Nisargadhama executive director J R Lobo, Louis Pinto and Roshan Pinto were among those present. Daijiworld

Udupi: Various programmes

Release of a book on snakes in coastal districts, Inaugural of Multi Brand Showroom, Paying respects to Pandit Deen Dayal Upadhyaya.

(Photos: Janardan Kodavoor)

Acharya plans to create better atmosphere in varsities

Minister for Higher Education, Planning and Statistics Dr V S Acharya said that he will convene a meeting of Vice-Chancellors, officers and other educational experts concerned with the Universities, Collegiate Education and Technical Education during next week.

Addressing mediapersons during his first visit to Udupi after taking charge of new portfolio here on Saturday, he said that he plans to create better atmosphere in the universities, besides implementing new ideas.

Expressing satisfaction as the outgoing Home Minister with maximum success in maintaining law and order mechanism across the State, he said: “I had a fruitful reign and in deed I am satisfied with my achievements as Home Minister.”

He said as many as 16 universities come under the Department, besides 6 divisions of Collegiate Education comprising Bangalore, Mysore, Belgaum, Gulburga, Mangalore and Shimoga within the jurisdiction of Higher Education department.

There are about 200 engineering and polytechnique colleges that come under technical education wing of the department, he said.Knowledge Commission and Karnataka Examination Authority owe its accountability to the ministry. Measures will be taken to bring positive changes aiding academic atmosphere and better teaching programme, he said.

Rain damage: Dr Acharya said Udupi district has incurred loss of Rs 31.51 crore owing to the rain from June 1 till date. As many as 10 lives have been lost in the rain from April till date. About Rs 23 lakhs have been released since June to compensate the damages.About Rs 16 crore was released during last year. Of which, Rs 15.80 crore has been distributed. About Rs 10.80 lakh payments have been made, he added.

Stating that measures have been taken to minimise the damages occurred due to overflow of contaminated waste drainage water of treatment plant at MIT hostel, he said the waste water has contaminated about 30 drinking water wells. The wells have been treated and pathogen test will be conducted everyday to make sure that the water can be used for drinking purpose. He said measures will be taken to repair the NH-17, PWD and ZP roads in the district after the monsoon. About Rs 30 lakh will be deposited for each department as initial fund to begin the work, he added.Dr Acharya said the pilgrims who got struck at Uttarakund and Badrinath owing to heavy rains are safe and arrangements have been made for their return. The state was in constant touch with them and all are out of danger, he said.He said Rs 5 crore has been released as first phase allotments for the Agricultural College at Brahmavar Zonal Research Station. (DHNS)

Karnataka accepts five reforms in education

BANGALORE September 23, 2010 : Dr. Kasturi Rangan, Member, Planning Commission and Chairman, Karnataka Knowledge Commission, on Thursday discussed about the recommendations made by the Knowledge Commission.

The State government has accepted 5 important recommendations of the Commission for improving the quality of education in the Colleges and Universities in the State.

The government has agreed to develop two Universities namely Mysore and Dharwad as model Universities, the chief minister said.

The initiatives of government of Karnataka have been appreciated by Government of India and willing to support the State government in their effort. Dr. Kasturi Rangan assured to take up this at National level.The action of the State government to improve learning by students and also improve their skills was also discussed.

Efforts to improve job opportunities for students in the State was also raised at the meeting and the awareness level of the students joining government colleges are increasing and they are asking for such courses which will help in getting jobs for them, the chairman said.

Dr Kasturirangan was also expected to visit Raichur to have a first hand knowledge of the rehabilitation work in the area.

The Chief Minister said he had fruitful discussion with Planning Commission.”We are happy that we will do our best in making a qualitative change in the field of higher education,” he said. (Mangalorean)