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April 2003
Five SARS suspects in State, test results awaited
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
BANGALORE: From the initial odd one or two cases of suspected Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) patients reported in Karnataka the number has now almost touched the half-dozen mark. But so far, there has been no confirmed case of the worldwide epidemic in the State. Five patients with SARS symptoms have been admitted in various hospitals in the State, Health and Family Welfare Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said on Tuesday. Talking to reporters here, Kagodu said among these cases was that of Ching Pung Hank, a Chinese crew member of a ship berthed in Mangalore. His blood samples have been sent to the National Institute of Virology in Pune and the results were expected by Wednesday. The other four are Kasturi from Kaulalampur, Jaipal Shah from Delhi, and Ushan Baliga and her son from Singapore. All of them exhibited symptoms of SARS. But final confirmation, depended on the results of their blood tests which are expected from the Pune institute, said the Minister. More than 4,196 international travellers entering the State have been screened for SARS since April 4, he said. He added that screening operations were being held at Bangalore and Mangalore airports as well as in Mangalore Port. The Minister said adequate steps have been taken to treat SARS patients in the State with nine hospitals in Bangalore, including six private ones, arranging separate wards for SARS patients. EDS Isolation Hospital, TB Sanitarium and the TB Hospital on Old Madras Road are the government hospitals entrusted with the task of battling SARS, while the private ones include Mallya, Manipal, Sagar Apollo, Mahaveer Jain and St. John's hospitals. Referring to the drug scam rocking the State, Kagodu said that following charges of misappropriation of funds, the Drug Controller has gone on leave and that an IAS officer has been appointed in his place. All drug and medical stores should display their licence and also issue receipts, he said. Drug inspectors and superintendents would be directed to conduct regular checks on these stores to ensure compliance, he added.
Govt talks turns cold with college managements
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
BANGALORE: Even as private professional college managements have offered to respond if the State Government invited them for talks to sort out the impasse on admissions to professional courses, Information Minister Kagodu Thimmappa ruled out any talks with them. Thimmappa, who was part of the six-member Cabinet sub-committee which authored the admission policy that has now been notified, told reporters on Tuesday that there was no need for any talks with the managements at this juncture. He maintained that the Government's policy on professional admissions was final and there was no going back on it. In the backdrop of the Government remaining firm on its stand, the Karnataka Private Dental Colleges Association is meeting in Bangalore on Wednesday to finalise its approach on the issue. Thimmappa maintained that all private professional college managements have to abide by the rules. He also warned of stern action against the colleges that flout the admission rules. Meanwhile, Dental Colleges Association president L K Raju told the paper associated with our website that he will convey the recent decisions arrived at in the recent meetings to all the dental colleges. The meeting will discuss the approach of the dental colleges to the consortium of medical, engineering and dental colleges that is now being floated to conduct admissions to professional courses. The meeting will discuss the kind of fee structure the colleges need for survival and how they must address the issue in view of the draft admission rules notified on Monday. The Association has invited all the 38 unaided private dental colleges to Wednesday's meeting.
Landline to GSM Mobile to cost six times more
Wednesday, April 30, 2003
BANGALORE: The Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL) has announced a revised tariff for landline users with effect from May 1. Existing subscribers will have to mandatorily opt for either General, Economy, Special or Super -- one of the four new packages being offered for the urban subscriber. While the number of free calls have been drastically cut, subscribers have to pay six times more for a three-minute call to a GSM cell phone from their landline. "With the introduction of the new packages, BSNL will discontinue its existing landline, which has a rental of Rs 250 monthly (Rs 500 bimonthly) along with 75 free calls (150 bimonthly). Here, calls from 151 to 200 were being charged at 80 ps, 201 to 500 at Re 1 per call and all calls above 501 at Rs 1.20 per call," Deputy General Manager (Telephone Revenue) Shah Nawaz Alam told this website's newspaper. The new packages, designed within the framework of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), have been calculated using a monthly table as the BSNL plans to issue monthly bills in future. However, no specific date has been set for changing over to the monthly package, Alam added. "Subscribers can decide on their package depending on their usage," Alam said. More importantly, the pulse rate for all four packages are the same. In basic to basic local call, one call will be for 180 seconds, in basic to mobile WLL (Reliance Indiamobile) one call will be for 90 seconds and basic to GSM cell, one call will be for 30 seconds. The cost per STD call will also change intra-circle (within Karnataka telecom circle) and inter-circle (outside Karnataka circle), depending on the distance. In a distance slab of 50 km to 100 km (Bangalore to Kolar), basic to basic calls will be one call every 60 seconds, basic to mobile WLL will be again one call per 60 seconds, and in basic to mobile, one call will be 30 seconds. In a distance slab of 100-200 km (Bangalore to Mysore), the pulse rate will be 30 seconds per call in all categories. In inter-circle call charges, there are five distance slabs. They are: 0-50 km (Bangalore to Hosur); 50-100 km (Bangalore-Dharmapuri); 100-200 km (Bangalore to Salem); 200-500 km (Bangalore to Chennai) and 500 km and above (Bangalore to New Delhi). If calls are made to these places, the costs will vary (see table). It will be cheaper to make a STD call to a mobile phone from a landline as call charges during off-peak and peak hours will be cheaper than basic to basic. For distances over 500 km, the call charges from basic to basic will be the same at any time of the day or night, akin to ISD call charges. The peak hours are between 9 am and 10 pm. The surfer too gains as Internet charges have been drastically reduced. Internet surfing during off-peak hours will be Rs 7.20 per hour and during peak hours the charges will be Rs 1.20 for three minutes or Rs 24 per hour. New Packages: GENERAL: Rental per month is Rs 250, which entitles the user for 30 free calls. The first 300 calls will be charged at Re 1 per call and at Re 1.20 thereafter. ECONOMY: The cost will be Rs 350 per month, which includes rental and 150 free calls. From the 151st call, all calls will be charged at Rs 1.20 each. SPECIAL: The rental will be Rs 750 per month along with 600 free calls. From the 601st call, each call will be charged at Re 1.10. SUPER: Rs ,650 rental which includes 1,800 free calls. After this, all calls will be charged at Re 1 per call. NOTE: Pulse rate for all four packages are the same.
Bangalore IT exports soar
Monday, April 28, 2003
SOFTWARE exports from the southern Indian state of Karnataka jumped 25 per cent to 124 billion rupees ($4.1 billion) in the year to March despite a sluggish global economy, the government said. The Software Technology Parks of India (STPI), a government organisation which facilitates software exports, said the growth was driven by an increase in the number of business outsourcing firms. "From a technology cluster Bangalore is repositioning itself as the back office of the world," said B.V. Naidu, STPI director. Bangalore, India's technology hub, is the capital of Karnataka. "Business process outsourcing is fast growing with 41 new companies being approved and exports from the sector growing 275 per cent to 9.8 billion rupees and contributing eight per cent to the overall exports," Mr Naidu said. "In the present dynamics of the global economy many corporations worldwide are looking at outsourcing in India as a part of their strategy to maintain their competitive position and increase profits," Mr Naidu said.
Midday meal scheme to be extended to all primary schools
Sunday, April 27, 2003
MANGALORE: The Karnataka Government is seriously considering covering children of all the primary schools in the State under the mid-day meals programme, according to Primary and Secondary Education Prof B.K.Chandrasekhar. Chandrasekhar told reporters on Friday that the government’s desire was to extend the mid-day meal programme to all the 56 lakh students of primary schools in Karnataka, which needed at least Rs 300 crore. The scheme presently covered the students in all the primary schools in the north-eastern region of Karnataka, he said. Prof Chandrasekhar, who was here to hold discussions with the officials of his department and attend several other programmes in the district, said one of the problems faced by the teachers was the irregularity in the disbursement of their salaries. A meeting of all the zilla panchayat presidents and chief executive officers would be convened in Bangalore shortly to discuss steps to ensure timely disbursement of salaries to the teachers. The minister said the government had planned to provide computers to about 3,900 Urdu schools in Karnataka from the ensuing academic year to impart training in computer operation to the children studying in those schools. The department had also planned to hold three-month training camps aimed at creating interest among students in rural areas in mathematics, science and English subjects. Prof Chandrasekhar said the government would appoint about 5,000 teachers in primary schools and 3,700 teachers in secondary schools while filling up the vacancies of about 350 posts of lecturers in junior colleges before the commencement of the next academic year. Already over 2,000 teachers have been appointed in the State. As many as 400 posts were vacant in over 100 government schools in Dakshina Kannada district, he said. He stated that the main thrust of the government, while streamlining education, would be on creating better infrastructure such as school building and toilets to promote interest among children in attending schools. He said the PUC syllabus was being revised after a seven-year gap to suit the changing needs.
Bangalore’s new recording studio
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Bangalore can boast of yet another recording studio. Renowned playback singer Manjula Gururaj and her husband Gururaj who run their own school -- Sadhana Music School have now set up a digital recording studio. Music composer Rajan (of the famed Rajan-Nagendra duo) inaugurated the Sadhana Studio recently. Gururaj, who is a singer too and runs the orchestra troupe Sound of Music, says that the Sadhana Studio also marks the orchestra’s 25th anniversary. We wanted to do something new to mark this joyous occasion. We want to ensure that students in our school get a head start. Students will be trained on how to sing when there is a recording or for that matter how a microphone can be used. He said the new studio is well equipped to handle song recording, re-recording and dubbing facilities for cinema as well as television serial producers. Sadhana Music School trains students in film music, classical music and light music besides imparting training for those interested in playing the keyboard and strumming the guitar. (Courtesy: http://www.deccanherald.com/deccanherald/apr27/ent3.asp)
Two major controversies in Kannada filmdom
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Bad vibes bring bad tides "There are no permanent friends or enemies in filmdom and politics, goes the saying. Two major controversies have surfaced in Kannada filmdom recently, one involving a producer and an actress, and another involving an actor and a director. Actor-producer B C Patil has kicked up a row with actress Vijayalakshmi during the making of his latest film Jogula, directed by S Mahendar. Cop-turned-film producer-actor has filed a complaint with Kannada Film Producers’ Association against actress Vijayalakshmi for allegedly misbehaving with him on the sets. According to Patil, Vijayalakshmi was rude in addressing him during the shoots of his film Jogula during the shoots. Vijayalakshmi was not in her mood to act on that day. When, in one of the combination scenes with her, she could not get her lines and expression properly, I told her to correct herself. I asked the Associate Director to explain the scene to her properly. She got wild with me and even went to the extent of asking me who I was. She insisted that the director had the last word on any scene. Though the shoots have been completed, I have demanded an apology from Vijayalakshmi before the producers’ body. That’s not all. The payment that remains to be paid to her will not be paid to her if she does not apologise for her behaviour openly. If she does not apologise, her share of the remuneration will go towards charity. Actress Vijayalakshmi was not reachable for comment. In another case of one-upmanship, director D Rajendra Babu and V Ravichandran who had come together for filming Panduranga Vittala have gone their separate ways with Ravichandran himself taking up the directorial baton. D Rajendra Babu and Ravichandran have both complained of incompatibility in their working relationship, and have dropped the idea of realizing their dream of making the film together. (Source: DeccanHerald)
Nagathihalli Chandrashekar in a world of films and television
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Be it for the small screen or big, Nagathihalli Chandrashekar is a hit-director, always rolling in fresh ideas Nagattihalli Chandrashekhar has carved a niche for himself through his experiments on both the large and small screen. When the cable television revolution ushered in the ‘soap’ era, he amply made use of this opportunity to grow in stature as a director of repute. Even before his entry into the world of films and television soaps, Nagattihalli had attracted attention through his documentary films Suggi and Karunalu Baa Belake, which he made for Doordarshan. Nagattihalli’s growth on the small screen began with his first teleserial Pratibimba that was aired on Udaya TV. At that time Nagattihalli had shot into the limelight, thanks to his movie America America. With no prior knowledge in journalism, Nagattihalli managed to direct Pratibimba -- a serial based on the trials and tribulations of journalists, from the knowledge he gained from his journalist friends. What made the serial exceptional was that the Kannada audiences got a peek into the museum of journalism in America and its immense collection of journalism-related material, while Nagattihalli took the credit of shooting a serial for the small screen for the first time on foreign soil. The serial ran for 350 episodes and in the bargain created an exclusive audience for him. Nagattihalli’s second stint on Udaya TV was the 300 episode Kaveri -- a serial based on Malayalam writer Sukumar Mangalodayam’s novel of the same name. His next serial of 200 episodes Bhagya was based on a collection of stories from Chukki Chandramara Naadinalli, which Nagattihalli himself authored. Currently on air on Udaya TV is his serial Vatara, telecast between 2 and 2.30 pm. The serial has completed 600 episodes and is likely to touch 750, a record in itself. The serial talks of the trials and tribulations of the middle-class in a humorous way. Incidentally the serial stars a number of stage artistes and rural artistes, for whom it is a first take at the television. Another of his serials Punya, which talks of the craving for children by childless couples, their crave for adoption, the pain and controversy surrounding sex determination of unborn children is likely to end in June with the final few episodes to be shot at Talakaveri. Even while Vatara continues, Nagattihalli is all set to shoot another mega serial based on the contemporary viewpoint of the Ramayana which would be called Adhunika Ramayana. Also in the pipeline is another mega serial based on a family that migrates to the city to pursue their childrens’ education. The small screen gives any director ample opportunity to experiment and showcase his talent, believes Nagattihalli. One has to be very careful while directing serials on the small screen because the ideas that are portrayed are likely to affect a larger audience, he says. But he agrees that such detailed monitoring sometimes becomes difficult and a disagreeable process, in itself. Meanwhile, Nagattihalli continues his journey on two the boats.
Big break on small screen
Sunday, April 27, 2003
With serials like Jai Santoshi Maa and Kamal, Kirti Gaekwad has scaled new heights as a TV artiste. This Kanpur girl is clear about her goal in life: to be a TV artiste. No hankering after film roles like many other small screen colleagues who wait for the first chance to quit the medium for the big screen. Having got the taste of success and recognition in serials like Jai Santoshi Maa and Kamal, Kirti Gaekwad leads a contended life, though she confesses to missing her family owing to the hectic schedule of daily soaps. Right now busy with Dheeraj Kumar’s Ghar Sunsar on Doordarshan, apart from a few other soaps, Kirti is emphatic when she says, I have no bigger ambition. The TV industry has been very supportive, and I am getting to work with some very good people. If I struggle to achieve better stakes, it will be only for TV. The petite actress, however, did not have a fairytale beginning to her innings on the small screen. With a central government employee father who is posted in Kanpur, Kirti did not have much scope in the industrial city to explore her talent. Luckily for her, leading TV director Gajendra Singh was known to the family, and gave her a job in post-production for the much-hyped but flop Sawal Dus Crore Ka on Zee TV. As the show was taken off the air, she had to sit empty-handed. But she did not sit idle for long, and joined Nadira Babbar’s group to realise her childhood dream of acting on the stage. And it was after one-and-a-half-years of theatre that she got the first break in a television serial, which was Har Mod Par on Sahara TV. That was just the take-off point for Kirti, who soon became a household name through Jai Santoshi Maa and Kamal. Television has been good to me, says she, happy that in her short career of a few years, she has been able to portray various kinds of roles in mythological as well as family soaps. Har Mod Par offered me a chance to portray a girl who was like a child, a la Padmini Kolhapure in Raj Kapoor’s Prem Rog. Kamal was again a very different role, while in Ghar Sunsar I play a character which is a lot like me, she describes the high points of her career, adding, almost as an afterthought, I won’t go after a film role, but then, if someone offers me one, I might not say no. With Kamal came Kirti’s chance to work with Ekta Kapur’s Balaji Telefilms, something she is proud to speak of. I had gone there for the audition of another serial, Kohi Apna Sa. But after the first edition, Ekta wanted to meet me personally. I did not even know that I was being considered for the lead role in Kamal, she says. The nature of roles has given her full satisfaction as an artiste despite the back-breaking schedule of daily soaps, which involves upto 16 hours of work every day of the month. Artistes like me get into the habit of sleeping between the shoots, she admits. Getting offers to act in more serials has become a routine for the young actress, but Kirti says she also rejects such offers by the dozen. What I want to do now is a comedy, as I have cried a lot in my serials in the last two years, she says. Here’s hoping that the young actress’ dreams come true. (DeccanHerald)
Satyam posts Q4 loss vs profit year ago
Sunday, April 27, 2003
BANGALORE (Reuters) - Satyam Computer Services, India's fourth largest software services exporter, reported on Thursday an unexpected loss for January-March, after a write-off of its investment in a subsidiary, sending its shares plunging. The U.S.-listed firm, which counts General Electric as its top client, posted a net loss of 359.16 million rupees in the fiscal fourth quarter ended March 31, compared with a profit of 744.01 million rupees a year earlier. The exceptional expense of 1.52 billion rupees included 1.26 billion rupees for the loss in value of an investment in Vision Compass Inc, whose operations Satyam has decided to discontinue. Satyam had an exceptional expense of 407.53 million in the corresponding quarter a year earlier. Total income in the quarter rose 14.5 percent to 5.53 billion rupees from 4.83 billion rupees a year earlier. "The write-off is a complete surprise. The management should have at least given some indications," said Gurunath Mudlapur, head of research at Bombay-based Khandwala Securities. "The net profit is below my expectation while revenues have matched. This indicates that the pressure on margins has been much greater than expected." Satyam, which has 270 clients, was expected to deepen investor worries about a slowdown in sectoral growth after peers Infosys and Wipro posted disappointing earnings and warned of sliding profit margins amid increased competition and rising costs. The warnings raised fears that the boom in outsourcing of computing services to lower waged India from higher waged Europe and North America may be maturing. A Reuters poll of 14 brokerages found a median forecast for net profit of 1.17 billion rupees and revenue of 5.4 billion rupees. After the results, Satyam's shares dropped more than eight percent to 139 rupees at the National Stock Exchange, whose benchmark index was marginally up. Satyam was set up more than a decade ago by Chairman Ramalinga Raju, 46. His technology start-up has overwhelmed his family's small textile and construction business with high growth. Earnings were also hit by a strengthening Indian currency, which gained nearly three percent against the U.S. dollar in the past year. Most Indian software service exporters earn more than 60 percent of their revenue from the United States.
Govt firm on CET: CM
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Students need not have any misgivings about writing the Common Entrance Test (CET) on May 30 and 31 as the government is firm in its decision, said Chief Minister S M Krishna here today. Speaking to mediapersons on his arrival at Bajpe Airport, the chief minister, who is on a two-day visit to the district, said the government took the decision on CET after great deliberations and with commitment to social justice. Students should write the CET without any apprehensions in their minds, Mr Krishna added. When media men referred to the reported ‘hard stand’ by private professional educational institutions and their talks of going to the Supreme Court again, the chief minister said he had nothing to say about those who talked about running educational institutions keeping the government away. But the government’s stand is clear and there is no reason to raise a discordant note from any quarter, he added. WOMEN’S VARSITY: A women’s university will be established in the State and there is no controversy over its title, Mr Krishna said and added that Mr Jamadar has been appointed as a special officer to make preliminary arrangements for the proposed women’s university. Expressing satisfaction over increase in the State’s annual plan outlay to Rs 9,620 crore, the chief minister said the Planning Commission members have expressed admiration over the State’s progress. The present size is also not the ultimate as there is a possibility of further expansion of the plan size, said Mr Krishna. (Deccan Herald)
Karnataka software exports zoom to new high
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Bangalore, Apr 24 : Karnataka recorded Rs 123.5 billion worth software exports in fiscal year to March 2003, showing a growth rate of 25 percent over previous year. Software Technology Parks of India's (STPI) director B.V. Naidu told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday that he expected a higher growth rate in the current year. "Both from our own STPI operations as well as the performance of the Indian software exports perspective we have been very very happy whatever has been achieved. This year we are expecting that the growth maybe higher than 25 percent because of the large investments that have come in during 2002-03," Naidu said. Vivek Kulkarni, Secretary Information Technology Department, Karnataka, said that hardware sector recorded an impressive 68 percent growth rate to touch Rs 1,404 crore turnover. "In hardware as it is already mentioned once again the growth rate has been very good. 68 percent, I think last year also we grew by 120 percent or so. It's very good with a small base. But now the base is sizeable so 68 percent next year also if we grow by this rate then it will be very good," said Kulkarni. Karnataka's share is expected to be around 30 per cent of the country's overall exports. Bangalore, the fourth largest technology hub in the world, has continued to attract software companies with 110 companies setting shop last year. Industry body NASSCOM expected India's software exports to surge over 30 percent on a year-on-year basis in the year to March 2004 because of a likely pick-up in the U.S. economy. India's software and allied exports, which bank on a growing pool of low-paid engineers and English-speaking graduates, rose 29 percent on a year-on-year basis to about 7.5 billion dollars in the year to March 2002. The U.S. economy was jolted after the September 11 attacks last year. U.S. clients account for more than 60 percent of India's software exports. Europe comes second with 21 percent. NASSCOM has said that India's software and allied exports would zoom to 57 billion dollars by 2008.
Hoax call delays Chennai-Bangalore flight
Sunday, April 27, 2003
Chennai, April 25: A Jet Airways flight from Chennai to Bangalore today had a delayed departure due to a bomb hoax. Airport sources said they got a call around 4 p.m. that a bomb had been planted in the Chennai-Bangalore flight, scheduled to leave at 7.15 p.m. The aircraft was checked by the bomb disposal squad, but the call turned out to be a hoax, the sources said. The flight left for Bangalore around 7.30 p.m. with 62 passengers on board, the sources said. (Our Correspondent)
Karnataka software exports zoom to new high
Thursday, April 24, 2003
Bangalore, Apr 24 : Karnataka recorded Rs 123.5 billion worth software exports in fiscal year to March 2003, showing a growth rate of 25 percent over previous year. Software Technology Parks of India's (STPI) director B.V. Naidu told reporters in Bangalore on Wednesday that he expected a higher growth rate in the current year. "Both from our own STPI operations as well as the performance of the Indian software exports perspective we have been very very happy whatever has been achieved. This year we are expecting that the growth maybe higher than 25 percent because of the large investments that have come in during 2002-03," Naidu said. Vivek Kulkarni, Secretary Information Technology Department, Karnataka, said that hardware sector recorded an impressive 68 percent growth rate to touch Rs 1,404 crore turnover. "In hardware as it is already mentioned once again the growth rate has been very good. 68 percent, I think last year also we grew by 120 percent or so. It's very good with a small base. But now the base is sizeable so 68 percent next year also if we grow by this rate then it will be very good," said Kulkarni. Karnataka's share is expected to be around 30 per cent of the country's overall exports. Bangalore, the fourth largest technology hub in the world, has continued to attract software companies with 110 companies setting shop last year. Industry body NASSCOM expected India's software exports to surge over 30 percent on a year-on-year basis in the year to March 2004 because of a likely pick-up in the U.S. economy. India's software and allied exports, which bank on a growing pool of low-paid engineers and English-speaking graduates, rose 29 percent on a year-on-year basis to about 7.5 billion dollars in the year to March 2002. The U.S. economy was jolted after the September 11 attacks last year. U.S. clients account for more than 60 percent of India's software exports. Europe comes second with 21 percent. NASSCOM has said that India's software and allied exports would zoom to 57 billion dollars by 2008.
Elite commando unit to be set up by Karnataka police
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
BANGALORE: Finally, the state police is poised to set up their own special forces unit to deal with terror, riots and other law-and-order problems. Within a month of Chief Minister S.M. Krishna announcing his government's decision to have such a commando unit, the elite force is quietly taking shape here. ``Work is on to constitute the unit with 100 personnel from the Karnataka Reserve Police Force (KSRP),'' a senior police officer told this website's newspaper. The commando unit, to come up on the lines of the elite Rapid Action Force (RAF) of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), will mainly be used as a striking force to tackle largescale violence and maintain law and order, the officer said. In fact, the unit's ``rules of combat'' are already out. All personnel in the unit will be below 35 years of age and have to undergo stringent physical tests to qualify. They will also undergo intensive training in riot control, hand-to-hand combat and handling modern weapons, including grenades and tear gas-shells. Members of the unit will be trained partly at the National Security Guard (NSG) facility in Manesar. ``The purpose of restricting the age limit is to keep the force young and fit. Once these commandos grow older, they will be moved out to other units in the department,'' the officer said. When contacted, Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Subash Bharani said: ``The force will be the most well-equipped and well-trained unit in the state police.'' However, this is not the first time that KSRP personnel are being picked for commando training. In 1994-95, around 500 personnel of the specially-raised IX Battalion had undergone commando training at the NSG centre and with paratroopers in the city and the Border Security Force (BSF). However, the unit become dysfunctional soon due to lack of continuation in training and proper assignments. The only assignment they were posted to was on the Veerappan trail. Later, the ``trained commandos'' were used for routine ``bandobast'' duty. This time, the state government seems to be serious about the nature of work to be assigned to the special unit. ``It (the unit) will be used sparingly,'' Bharani said. But despite setting up this special unit, the state will still have to depend on the RAF during crisis, as only one unit is not sufficient for the state. ``Given the vastness of the state, we need at least five such units,'' another officer said.
INSAT-3A cameras send pictures
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
BANGALORE: The meteorological instruments on board the INSAT-3A had been tested and the pictures received indicate good performance of the two cameras, an Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) press release said on Sunday. INSAT-3A, which was launched on April 10, carries a Charged Coupled Device (CCD) camera and a Very High Resolution Radiometer (VHRR) camera. The CCD camera was tested on Thursday and the VHRR camera on Friday. On Saturday, Vice-President Bhairon Singh Shekhawat visited the ISRO Satellite Centre. He was accompanied by Karnataka Governor T. N. Chaturvedi. They were briefed on the country’s space programme by Indian Space Research Organisation Chairman Dr. K. Kasturirangan. They were also shown the spacecraft integration laboratory and the space exhibition, the ISRO release added.
Drug-coated stents offers hope for diabetics
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
BANGALORE: It is a relatively new practice in cardiac care, but is already being touted as a giant leap in science with the promise of reaching the common man soon. Drug-coated stents, used to prevent arteries from getting re-blocked after a heart attack, are being hailed by cardiologists as revolutionary, and especially useful for diabetics. Inserted in just half-an-hour through a cath-lab procedure, drug-coated stents, clinical trials have shown, reduce the need for bypass surgery in patients. ``It's the biggest advance in cardiology in recent times,'' says Dr Ashok Seth, of Escorts Hearts Institute, New Delhi, who has the distinction of conducting the largest number of angioplasties using medicated stents in Asia. Seth, a Padmashree awardee, was at the Cardiology Society of India Conference here, attended by 300 cardiologists from across the country and abroad. ``Until the advent of these drug stents, bypass was the only way out for a diabetic with cardiac problems. But now I can insert a medicated stent in half-an-hour without opening up the patient,'' says Israeli Dr Chaim Lotan, advocating the use of these stents for the diabetes patient. Diabetes increases the chances of blockage of arteries. Besides, people with diabetes are two to four times more likely to develop cardiovascular disease, he says. ``Indians are genetically at greater risk for cardiac problems, diabetes is also a big issue for them,'' he remarked. Studies too point out that this stent shows a lower incidence of re-blockage of arteries or restonisis since it was launched last year. A 2002 US study on a population of 11,000 patients with various complications showed only 8.9 per cent risk of restonisis while 36.1 per cent of the controlled group were at risk for re-blockage of arteries. It also showed a decrease in patients requiring bypass. However, the hitch is that these medicated stents -- marketed by Johnson & Johnson and Boston Scientific -- are expensive. ``At the Escort Heart Institute, we charge about Rs 2.2 lakh per procedure. The cost is high but the good news is that technology has arrived. The next step is for prices to come down,'' says Dr Seth. Since the drug-coated stent was launched in the country on June 6, 2002 heart institutes and hospitals across the country, including Narayana Hrudayalaya and Workhardt in Bangalore, have been using it. And with more drugs coming into the market, doctors hope prices will become more affordable.
Cabinet to decide CET seat-sharing, fee on Tuesday
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
BANGALORE: The State Cabinet will meet here on Tuesday to finalise its policy on admissions to professional medical, dental, and engineering courses, among others. The issue has been hanging fire ever since the Supreme Court curtailed the State's powers in the matter of admission and administration of private minority and unaided colleges, by its judgement on Oct 31. A six-member Cabinet Sub-Committee, headed by Law Minister D B Chandre Gowda, was seized of the issue. However, it had to hold three rounds of talks with management representatives after the Cabinet asked it to do so on April 1. Meanwhile, the college managements have come out with their own seat-sharing formula, according to which, the Government will get 25 per cent of medical, dental and engineering seats for allotment by the CET cell for the meritorious, poor and socially backward students. Higher Education Minister Dr G. Parameshwar told reporters here that the Cabinet would discuss the issue on Tuesday, based on the report submitted by the Sub-Committee and the proposals submitted by the managements of professional colleges. The Government will give effect to the Cabinet decision either through a Government order or by way of an ordinance, he said. The Minister maintained that the private managements expressed their views orally, but had not given anything in writing to the State Government. While the Government was committed to social justice and merit, the college managements were concerned only about the economics of running their institutions, he noted. ``The State Government is not helpless,'' he asserted. MEDICAL: Govt stand: 50 pc seats College offer: 25 pc seats Govt fee: Rs 18,000 per year College offer: Rs 50,000 per year DENTAL Govt stand: 50 pc seats College offer: 25 pc seats Govt fee: Rs 13,500 per year College offer: Rs 40,000 per year ENGINEERING: AICTE ORDER: 85 pc merit seats, ie, 50 pc to Govt & 35 pc to colleges for merit-based selection. College offer: 25 pc Govt seats Govt fee: Rs 12,000 per year College offer: Rs 20,000 per year ALSO... Govt stand: Social commitments paramount Colleges say: Take 90 pc seats, but at our fee Govt stand: CET cell to stay Colleges say: Acceptable only if it is revamped to include college managements.
Fresh row brewing between AP, Karnataka on dam across Chitravati
Tuesday, April 22, 2003
PTI HYDERABAD: A fresh row is brewing between Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka over the latter's plans to construct a dam across Chitravati river with the lower riparian AP terming it as "illegal" and saying it would adversely affect the interests of farmers. The proposed construction of a dam at paragodu in Karnataka would spell doom for an already drought-hit anantapur district, State Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu said here on Monday. Terming Karnataka's move as "illegal", Naidu told a meeting of TDP leaders that his government was prepared to "fight it ut". Lashing out at opposition Congress for not "condemning" paragodu project, Naidu wondered whether it did not reflect the "double-standard" on the part of Congress leaders who leave no opportunity to criticise his government on drought situation while remaining silent over the "illegal constructions" by their party's government in neighbouring state. The proposed dam, for which Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna had laid the foundation stone last week, would leave vast tracts of agricultural lands parched, the Chief Minister said. He was addressing a meeting of TDP's poll organisational committee leaders at the party headquarters 'NTR Trust Bhavan' here. State major and medium irrigation Minister K Srihari had on Saturday threatened to move the Supreme Court if Karnataka did not stop construction of the dam. Naidu also hit out at Karnataka for not heeding to his repeated pleas for release of 32 TMCFT of water from Almatti reservoir to help lower riparian Andhra tide over the drinking water crisis. "I had personally met Chief Minister (S M Krishna) seeking water from Almatti to meet drinking water needs. But, there was no favourable response," he said. He wondered why Congress leaders here had failed to take up the matter with their party government in Karnataka. Without naming Congress Legislature Party (CLP) leader Y S Rajasekhar Reddy, who is currently on a 60-day 'padayatra' to highlight the 'misdeeds' of TDP government, Naidu accused the opposition party of trying to "politicise drought" and mislead people by promising free power for farmers. Describing the drought conditions prevailing in the state as the "worst in four decades", Naidu, however, said his government was "stretching every nerve" to ameliorate the sufferings of the people. During the last two years, drought relief works worth Rs. 5,000 crore had been taken up, setting a new record, he said. "There is no dearth for funds. If necessary we will release more funds," the Chief Minister said and asked his partymen to constantly review drought relief works in their respective constituencies to ensure that the government help reached the needy.
Rajkumar kidnap: probe into ransom case begins
Sunday, April 20, 2003
DH News Service CHENNAI The Directorate of Vigilance and Anti-Corruption has begun an inquiry into whether any ransom was paid to secure the release of Kannada film star Rajkumar from forest brigand Veerappan’s captivity in November 2000, when the DMK was in power, and if so, whether the then chief minister, Mr M Karunanidhi, has had a cut in it. The probe follows a statement made in the Tamil Nadu Assembly by Chief Minister J Jayalalitha last week when Mr Rajkumar was very much here and undergoing treatment at the private MIOT Hospitals here. Ms Jayalalitha said she was ordering the probe on the basis of allegations made by former Karnataka DGP C Dinakar in his book on Rajkumar abduction episode that a hefty ransom was paid to secure the release of the film star . Unfazed by the threat, Mr Karunanidhi has said he is ready to face any inquiry and bring to light how Ms Jayalalitha herself handled similar hostage crises created by Veerappan during her previous term of office. He apparently has in mind the statement made by Veerappan to Mr Gopal, and recorded in video, that Rs 3 lakh was paid by a policeman in mufti to get three Tamil Nadu forest department watchers released during Ms Jayalalitha’s previous tenure. Even before the current DVAC probe, the CB-CID interrogated Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal, who played a key role as an emissary of the Tamil Nadu and Karnataka governments in securing Mr Rajkumar’s release, some time last year, but it shed no light on the ransom angle. Prior to that the STF claimed to have recovered a few lakh rupees from Veerappan’s close relatives, implying that their sudden affluence is a post-hostage phenomenon. Again, the probe led no further. The current probe, based solely on Mr Dinakar’s allegation, has come within days of Mr Gopal’s arrest in connection with the murder of police informer Rajamani, a convicted criminal, by the Veerappan gang. By claiming to have recovered an unlicensed revolver and pro-TNLA pamphlets from Mr Gopal, the CB-CID has succeeded in persuading a magistrate’s court to get the cases transferred to the special POTA court in Poonamalee. Mr Gopal, who was taken from Chennai central prison and produced before a magistrate in Gobichettipalayam in connection with the Rajamani murder case yesterday, told the court that he was tortured in custody. This has given credence to speculation that pressure is being brought to bear on Mr Gopal to admit to ransom payment and implicate Mr Karunanidhi. A DVAC team is likely to go to Bangalore to meet Mr Dinakar who claims to have evidence to back up his charge that money changed hands through Mr Gopal. In this connection, Mr Gopal has already filed a defamation case against Mr Dinakar. Since Dr Banu, who played a key role in the final stages of the hostage crisis, has connection with the granite lobby, she too is likely to be questioned. The Tamil Nadu police is also likely to meet leading personalities from the Kannada film industry as a delegation led by Mr Chandrashekharan met Mr Karunanidhi twice during the peak of the crises. Mr Karunanidhi has, however, indirectly pointed out that no hush money could have changed hands as leading Tamil film stars like Vijayakant, Kamal Hassan and Nepolean were present when the Kannada film stars met him. Mr Rajkumar, who was here when Ms Jayalalitha made the announcement, has said he has nothing more to say on the episode.
Kichha
Sunday, April 20, 2003
Cast: Sudeep, Swetha, Avinash, Sujatha, Mandya Ramesh, Ashwath Music: Hamsalekha Direction: Arun Prasad His cigarette stint began in the film HUCCHA, but KICHHA ends this style or rather spell, which Sudeep had familiarized his fans with. This separated KICHHA from rest of his films. He has not used his regular mannerisms. All these are signs that Sudeep as an actor is improving drastically. The hero is a graduate. But where do you have value for any degree now? There are plenty of candidates like the hero. If one of them has sold his kidney for a job, the other has killed his father in order to get a job in dying harness. There is also a girl who works in the same place, where her colleague had once tried to rape her. Our hero finds the root cause of all these problems, which is of course the dirty politics. Our hero also gets into politics. From a mayor he becomes, an MLA and finally an MP. At the same time he teaches right lessons to the bad politicians. The film is totally apolitical one. It's a mirror to the bad system we are following. The first part of the film deals with unemployment and romance of the hero. The second part brings out some harsh realities. Like always even this time, Sudeep has carried the film on his shoulders. Everybody in the film have done justice to their respective roles. Cinematographer and choreographer have given their best to this film. Dialogues are far away from melodrama; it has a flavour of originality in it. But what is confusing is, there are no dialogues for senior star Ashwath, yet he has been given a role in the film. For a change in KICHHA one could speak about Sudeep's performance that the grandeur, which is usually present in every film produced by Ramu.
Gayathri Jayaram
Sunday, April 20, 2003
The lotus eyed belle Gayathri Jayaram, has nothing great to attract anyone. With the typical girl next door looks, her first film NEELA bombed at the box-office. Nagabharana brought her from Gulbarga. Never did he tell that she does not know a word of Kannada. She moved to Kollywood, never did she act in a Kannada film thereafter. Excerpts from the interview: Are you a Kannadiga? No. How did NEELA happen? In 1977, I won the Ms Tamil Nadu crown. Year! 1998 made me Ms South India. I tried for the Femina Ms India crown. Though I did not win, it did brin in a number of offers for me. I had many modeling assignments. Then I was based in Mumbai. I met director Nagabharana. He said that he was making a heroine oriented film. And I readily agreed for NEELA. Did you know Kannada then? No I did not. After giving the call sheet, I went to classes and learnt Kannada. I even learnt traditional dance for this film. I don't remember much of Kannada now. But yes I can converse. What about acting? I have not taken any special training to act. What would you be, had you not got into acting? Probably a physiotherapist. It was my dream. I even took science in college. But then I became an actress. What do you have to say about NEELA? It's a very good film. I agreed to act in that film because it was heroine oriented. I even got an award for that film. Had it not been heroine oriented I would have never acted in NEELA. Why no Kannada films after NEELA? I never got a good project.
Puttanna's Cinema fest in Shikaripura
Saturday, April 19, 2003
The superstar of yesteryears and today Puttana Kanagal's cinema's will be screened at a fest in Shikaripura on June 5th. This festival is organized to commemorate the completion of 25 years of Puttanna Kanagal Kala Kshetra. During the fest, on three days there would be continuous screening of Puttanna's cinema. This fest would help people remember Puttanna. Senoir actor Srinath will be felicitated with a silver crown. MP Kagodu Thimmappa will preside over the function.
Ramya, ABHI's lead heroine
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Ramya, ABHI's lead heroine She speaks better English than Kannada. Not that good looking yet she has immaculate time sense. Not once has anyone complained about her. Meet Ramya, the new lass in Sandalwood. In this day when most of the heroines come from other states, here is Ramya who comes at the given time. Ramya is a relative of Karnataka's chief minister S M Krishna. Though she comes from a very well off family, Ramya does not exhibit any traits. This girl who has good political and economical influence should have become the actress in APPU. But this did not materialize because it was those days when there was a tiff going on between Parvathamma Rajkumar and S M Krishna. What should have gone to Ramya went to Rakshita. Very recently Ramya and Rakshita were present along with Parvathamma Rajkumar for ABHI's mahurat. It was a suspense as to which one will be in the lead role with Puneet Rajkumar. And then Parvathamma announced Ramya's name. Rakshita's dream of acting with Puneet for the second time remained as a dream. No one has any kind of regrets that Ramya has been selected for the role, because she is sincere and punctual enough. This is her first step towards success. We wish you all the best Ramya.
Upendra to get married by April 31, 2003
Saturday, April 19, 2003
Upendra to get married by April 31, 2003 "Happy Ugadi". Even before we could complete our statements Upendra said, "Puneet Rajkumar got married lst year. Even Sudeep has settled down. There has been lots of rumour about Prema's wedding. And Darshan is searching for a bride. Why should I be far behind? I too have decided to get married." If Upendra gets the right match he plans to tie knot as early as April 31. So how does he expect his bride to be? Well she must have a 36-24-36 figure. Apart from this major requirement he has another crazy requirement, which is as follows. No. 1: The girl's father and mother should dance for the song 'MTV Subbulakshmi ge…' on MG Road. No. 2: Also centered on the girl's father. He must be willing to act as a villain in all Uppi's forthcoming films. He should also write in bond paper that 'Uppi ginta ruchi illa, Upendra kinta Aliya illa'. So anyone interested? (Source: Indiainfo.com)
Cricket brings filmi luck for Mandira
Saturday, April 19, 2003
There may be disputes as to who was the real man of the tournament in the recently concluded World Cup? Was it Sachin Tendulkar or Brett Lee? But if you are an Indian and had been watching the matches on television, there wouldn’t be any dispute over who was the woman of the tournament. It was without doubt that Punjab ki kudi Mandira Bedi who had both the experts and the lay viewers in a tizzy. Either it was her in-your-face naiveté or brazen for-your-eyes only glamour. In fact, post-World Cup, the talk has been mostly not about Tendulkar or Ganguly but about what has been called as the Mandirasation of cricket. If that is what Mandira has done to cricket, what did the game do for her? Well, for starters it has landed her a plum role in a Tamil movie, and has made a few top Tamil producers line up outside her house. But ask Parthiban, who is known for his innovative ways, why he cast her in his forthcoming movie Lingam? It was certainly not because of cricket or her popularity, pat comes the reply. Sounds too facile? Well, when Parthiban says that you better believe that for the film does not have much scope for Mandira to flaunt her oomph and glamour. The film is set in cheris (ghettos). It is about poverty and filth. Mandira, poverty and filth, does it gel? It will, insists the actor-director. I have spoken to her. She also looks comfortable with Tamil, he adds. In fact, Parthiban had Mandira spoke Tamil dialogues before okaying her for the film. She wrote them down in Hindi and spoke. Her intonations were good, and she has a very good grasping ability. Parthiban is clear that Mandira’s popularity may just get good publicity for the film. But beyond that it is her acting ability. If she fails there, the film cannot be saved, he says matter of factly. So Mandira better pad up for that. But how did Mandira accept Parthiban’s film? Apparently, she made her own inquiries about him and his standing in the industry before signing for the film. Apart from Lingam, the news is that a few top Tamil producers including the most happening one ‘Oscar’ Ravichandran are ready with projects for Mandira. It is obvious that after cricketing runs, Mandira herself is having a good run now. Mandira is now all set for Lingam. The question that is being asked is who will design her dress now? (source: India Syndicate)
Biotech scientists showcase recent successes
Saturday, April 19, 2003
A powerful anthrax vaccine without side effects. A 50-cent kit to diagnose tuberculosis. Rice grown in salt water. Genetically modified peanut leaves that protect cattle and sheep from plague. These are some of the recent biotech breakthroughs being showcased by Indian scientists, who say their efforts are focused on fighting infectious diseases, food shortages, terrorism and dwindling natural resources. "There is some criticism that Indian scientists do not produce world-class research papers and that they do not take up frontier science. This is not true, at least in biosciences," Govindarajan Padmanabhan, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, told delegates at a three-day biotech trade show that ended recently in the southern high-tech hub of Bangalore. Scientists, mostly funded by the government, are also researching how genes and DNA can be used for everything from immunizations to computing, he said. Within months of the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in the United States, as fears of bio-terrorism surfaced worldwide, a team headed by Rakesh Bhatnagar of New Delhi's Jawaharlal Nehru University announced the development of a vaccine to neutralize the bacterium that causes anthrax. Further research over the last year has proved its efficacy and the vaccine will be available for sale worldwide within months, Padmanabhan said. "This vaccine is better than the one currently available in the United States. The old one causes side effects and is difficult to administer," he said. The Central Scientific Instruments Organization, a research institute of the Indian government, said it has developed a hand-held kit for diagnosing tuberculosis. The kit costs Rs 25 (50 US cents) and could be used by people without any knowledge of medicine to test themselves for the disease, said Lalit M Bharadwaj, CSIO's head of biomolecular sciences and nanotechnology. Under the conventional method, a suspected patient has to visit the hospital several times, Bharadwaj said. "Using our kit, it is possible to say whether a person has the disease or not in a matter of hours," he said. His group is also working on using DNA, a part of living cells that contains genetic instructions, in computing. Bharadwaj expects his team to build a computer which will use DNA instead of silicon semiconductors in 15 years. The challenge is to bridge the gap between life and machine and embed the DNA in a processor- like instrument. Several agricultural advancements were also featured at the biotech show. Padmanabhan said Indian agricultural scientists have used genetic modification to create a rice variety that could grow in salt water. Professor Akhilesh Tyagi and his team at the University of Delhi are testing the rice strain in fields, he said. This could be a boon to India, where rice is a staple, but farmers depend on monsoon rains to cultivate the crop. Whenever the monsoon fails, crops fail and farmers are pushed to extreme poverty. MS Shaila, a professor at the Indian Institute of Science, said she has developed a vaccine for a plague that hits cattle and sheep in South Asia, the Middle East and Equatorial Africa. To make the vaccine, she used a gene from the disease-causing virus itself, she said. She said tests showed that sheep fed with gene-modified peanuts developed immune responses. However, tough animal testing regulations have prevented Shaila from taking her research to the next level - exposing a vaccinated animal to the disease. (AP)
Veggie prices crash in Bangalore
Saturday, April 19, 2003
There's actually one place in the country where vegetables prices are falling rather than rising! In Bangalore, despite the truckers' strike, farmers from nearby villages have been bringing in goods using alternate modes of transport. These vegetables, under normal circumstances, would have found their way to other big cities. But with no trucks to transport them, they have begun to rot here. Mohammad Suleman, a trader, lamented, "With the trucks going on strike we have been ruined. The rates have now fallen. A sack of cucumbers would have sold for Rs 250. Now there are no takers for it even for Rs 50 or Rs 20. I will just have to throw them." "I have been waiting here for the past three days, no one is buying my vegetables and the government is not doing anything," said a local farmer. The prices that had been going up till yesterday have suddenly crashed. Potatoes are down from Rs 12 to Rs 5 a kg and onions from Rs 10 to Rs 5. Tomatoes, which had gone up to as much as Rs 18 a kg, after two days of the strike are down to Rs 5. The result - rotting vegetables and big losses both for the farmers and the traders. Afzal Khan, a trader, said, "The produce is coming from the villagers, but not going out. This is a big problem." The truckers' strike has meant uncertainty both for the farmers and the traders, who are hoping for an early end to the stand-off.
Karaga celebrated with fervour, gaiety
Thursday, April 17, 2003
DH News Service BANGALORE, April 16 The 200-year-old annual Dharmarayana Karaga procession, one of the most important events in City’s religious calender, was taken out amidst religious fervour and traditional gaiety. The chants of ‘Govinda, Govinda’ rented the air. A large number of sword-wielding Veerakumaras surrounded the Karaga bearer when the procession started from Dharmaraya Temple in Thigalarapet at around 1:20 am after the customary rituals. Abhimanyu donned the role of the Karaga bearer for the seventh time. The Karaga is a jasmine-decked earthen pot in which Goddess Adi Shakti is believed to reside. Taken out on the Chaitra Poornima (full moon) day, the Hoovina Karaga is very popular among the festivities in the month of Chaitra as it attracts thousands of devotees, especially the Tigala community, not only from Bangalore, but also from neighbouring districts and Tamil Nadu. The Karaga is said to have been introduced in Bangalore two centuries ago by Tamilians who migrated to the City from North Arcot district in Tamil Nadu. Devotees and tourists had perched on buildings, terraces, poles and trees, to witness the Karaga procession. Dressed in a yellow saree and a mangalasutra round the neck, Abhimanyu, walked out of the sanctum sanctorum of the temple followed by Veerakumaras and passed through several important temples such as the Anjaneyaswamy Temple in Ulsoorgate, Prasanna Gangadeshwara Temple in Nagarthpet, Byraveshwara Temple in Siddangalli, Ram-aseva Mandira in Cubbonpet, Anjaneyaswamy Temple on Avenue Road, Doddapet, K R Market, Ranisinghpet, Akkipet, Bheemadevaragudi, Aralepet, Haji Mastan Darga in Cottonpet, Annamma Temple, Balepet, Mysore Bank Circle, Killari Road, Thigalarapet and Sunakalpet. Among those present included Union Minister for Urban Development Ananth Kumar, State Revenue Minister H C Srikantaiah, local MLA R V Devaraj, Mayor C M Nagaraj, Deputy Mayor Vijayalakshmi and area corporator Yasmin Zia Taj Ilyas.
BEL to launch Simputer in couple of months
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Bangalore: The Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL) manufactured Simputer, a simple, inexpensive pocket computer, is slated for commercial launch in a couple of months, a top BEL official said on April 16. BEL's Chairman and Managing Director V K Koshy told reporters that PICO-PETA Simputers Ltd has almost completed the task to equip Simputer with inbuilt hardware and software options to cater to varied customers. Simputer was conceived and designed by the Simputer Trust. BEL had entered into an agreement with PICO-PETA Simputer Ltd, the commercial organisation that has developed the software and hardware to bring out a marketable product for transfer of know-how for manufacture and supply of Simputers co-branded as "BEL-PICO-PETA Simputer". BEL, a Defence PSU (Public Sector Undertaking), won a tender of the Karnataka government for the "Bhumi" project, for data collection in rural areas, for a pilot batch quantity of 200 numbers, and had already supplied them. PTI
Bank officers to go on one-day token strike on May 2
Thursday, April 17, 2003
Bangalore, April 17: The All India Bank Officers' Confederation, All India Bank Officers' Association and National Organisation of Bank Officers have decided to observe one-day token strike on May two, to demand early salary revision, second option on pension and several long-pending issues. Confederation's General Secretary Shantha Raju said here the salary revision agreement signed for five years earlier expired on October 31 last year, and the Officers' organisations have submitted a common charter of demands requesting an early settlement. He said in a statement the three organisations represent nearly 100 per cent of the membership of the banking industry. Raju said six rounds of discussions with Indian Banks' Association on wage revision have made no progress. According to him, second option on pension was a long-pending demand. Over the last couple of months, the Officers' Organisations have raised a number of issues affecting the bank officers and employees but they remained unresolved despite all efforts, Raju said. He said the Organisations have also raised other issues including payment of income tax on perquisites and allowances; general tendency to bypass unions and growing attacks on trade unions in different banks; and anomalies arising out of last wage revision.
Governor will meet VCs
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Governor will meet VCs today Bangalore, Apr 16 - Governor T.N. Chaturvedi will discuss the issue of framing rules to implement the Supreme Court judgement on minority and unaided institutions at the vice-chancellors' meet convened by him on Wednesday. Higher education minister G. Parameshwara and medical education minister A.B. Maalaka Raddy will also attend the meet.
Cabinet sub-committee to discuss strategy
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Bangalore, Apr 16 - Members of the cabinet sub-committee, set up to resolve the professional college admission tangle, are likely to meet on today to discuss their strategy before the crucial meeting with private college managements on April 17. The meeting will discuss medical/dental admissions. After several rounds of talks, the dispute over engineering admission was resolved with private college managements agreeing to give 50 per cent seats to the government. "Some of the cabinet subcommittee members are likely to informally discuss the strategy. The main issue is fee fixation for medical courses. Seat-sharing is only secondary," a senior minister of the sub-committee told. According to him, the fee structure demanded by college managements cannot be accepted as professional education will then be out bounds for the middle class. "We have to work out the subsidy aspect and decide who has to foot it - the managements or government entirely. Since the government cannot pay crores of rupees as subsidy, we have to work out a middle path," he said.
'Veerappan’s cassettes lost due to govt’s negligence'
Wednesday, April 16, 2003
Mysore, Apr 15 - Are the original cassettes sent by forest fugitive Veerappan during the kidnap of former minister H Nagappa have been lost due to the ‘government's negligence’. According to Nagappa's son-in-law Kiran Patel, it is ‘yes’. Disclosing this here, Dr Patel, who was in the City, said, "The State Home Ministry authorities contacted us and requested to give copies of the cassettes to them.They said the cassettes with the government had been lost. This shows how serious is the government in the investigation of Nagappa's death." Dr Patel said the government had refused to hold a CBI inquiry to unearth the truth behind Nagappa's killing. Nagappa's wife Parimala had written to the government seeking a CBI inquiry into the killing. "Mrs Parimala Nagappa has received a letter in this connection from the Home Ministry today. The letter says that since the judicial inquiry is in progress, CBI inquiry into the death cannot be ordered. He disclosed that the family is planning to move the High Court or the Supreme Court requesting directions to the State government for holding a CBI inquiry into the death. "A decision in this regard will be taken in one or two days." DGP T Madiyal, who is away in Mangalore, said: I am not aware of the cassettes being lost. The Chamarajnagar additional SP, who is the investigation officer of the Nagappa’s kidnap and subsequent death, should explain.
Tension in Basrur village
Monday, April 14, 2003
Manipal, April. 13 : Tension prevailed at Basrur village in Udupi district yesterday after miscreants gave communal colour to an incident in which some Dalit women took ill after eating food served in the canteen of a factory run by a man belonging to a minority community, police said. Police said three battalions of the Karnataka State Reserve Police and two platoons of the District Armed Reserve constabulary are keeping a watch on the situation at the village. According to the police, ten Dalit women had food from the canteen on April 8 and two or three days later, some of them took ill and were treated at a hospital in Kundapur. Doctors said they fell ill because of contaminated water. However, rumours spread in nearby areas of Kundapur, Kandloor and Basroor and soon about 100 people gathered near the hospital and beat up autorickshaw drivers and others, police said. Meanwhile, some miscreants tried to give a communal colour to the incident, leading to tension, police said.
Bus fares hiked
Monday, April 14, 2003
Bangalore, Apr.13. (UNI): The Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) has hiked its fares by 6.36 per cent from today to neutralise the additional cost of operations due to increase in fuel prices. Fares of the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation (BMTC) have also been enhanced by Re one. KSRTC Chairman, commenting on the hike, said in a release that the BMTC fares, despite the increase, were still lower than the fares in other major cities like Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Ahmedabad. The BMTC had also effected an increase in the monthly commuter passes. He said consequent to the increase in the rates of High-Speed Diesel twice during the current calendar year, the operational costs had risen to Rs 42.71 crore.
If God wills, I will act in films again -Rajkumar
Monday, April 14, 2003
If God wills, I will act in films again, was how Kannada film star Rajkumar, reacted when his fans mobbed him at Bangalore Airport this evening with a plea to act in films again. Several admirers and fans mobbed the actor on his arrival here from Chennai, where he underwent two surgeries for total replacement of his left hip and right knee at the private MIOT Hospital. Responding to the demand of the fans to act in the long pending film Bhaktha Ambareesha, the actor said why not?. Rajkumar, who arrived by a private airline along with his wife Parvathamma and son Raghavendra Rajkumar, was received at the airport by KFCC president S Ramesh, film director Rajendrasingh Babu, Chinnegowda, S A Govindaraj, Puneeth Rajkumar, Madhu Bangarappa, Bhagawan among others. The actor, though showing no signs of discomfort, was taken in a wheelchair to his car. Earlier in Chennai, Mr Rajkumar, who spent exactly a month at the hospital, thanked the ‘magnetic touch’ of chief orthopaedic surgeon P A Mohandas for his successful operation and quick recovery. In an informal chat with reporters before leaving for Bangalore, Rajkumar said that among those who called on him were Tamil film stars Rajanikant, Kamal Hassan, M N Nambiar and Murali. He evaded questions on the rally of Kannada film stars, he led, in Bangalore against the release of Cauvery water to Tamil Nadu and on the arrest of Nakkeeran editor R R Gopal who negotiated his release when forest brigand Veerappan held him hostage for over 100 days till November 2000. It was his ordeal at the hands of Veerappan which led to the wearing out of his hip bones and knees.
CMC urged to change entrance test date
Monday, April 14, 2003
Students who will take the Pre-Medical Entrance Test of Karnataka have urged the Christian Medical College authorities at Ludhiana to change the date of its entrance examination. The students said that the date of the Karnataka test had been announced before the CMC had announced its date. While the Karnataka PMET would be held on May 30 and 31 and the entrance examination of the All-India Institute of Medical Sciences on June 1, CMC entrance test would be held on June 1. The students said a large number of them would be taking the Karnataka PMET as well as the AIIMS test at Bangalore examination centres. The CMC has been urged to either change the date of its entrance test to June 2 or add Bangalore as an examination centre.
Two arrested for shooting at woman
Friday, April 11, 2003
KOPPA: Komala and Venkatesh, residents of Edagunda village of Koppa taluk were arrested on Thursday afternoon for shooting at a woman, Chiramma, four months ago. Police seized a gun allegedly used by the accused. The accused have been absconding since the incident took place and police were in search of them said Deputy Superintendent of Police of Koppa sub-division Shivakumar. Balehonnur police had arrested them following a clue they received and are following it up. Police are on the look out for five more persons who were allegedly involved in the incident. Police suspect that they shot at Chiramma when the villagers resisted the attempt of the accused to get the people of Edagunda and surrounding villages to undergo rifle training. They must have wanted to teach a lesson to the villagers, police felt.
Halaga to get modern 30-bed hospital
Friday, April 11, 2003
BELGAUM: The Gopal Jinagouda Hospital at Halaga village will be inaugurated by Belgaum Divisional Income Tax Commissioner Narendra Jain on April 14. Speaking to newspersons on Wednesday, Gopal Jinagouda, vice-chairman of the Bharatesh Education Trust said the 30 bed hospital would cater to the needs of the poor in Halaga, Alarwad, Bastawad, K.K.Koppa, Kondaskopp, Maskamardi, Shangamatti, Kolikoppa, Kamkarhatti, Dhamanae, Tarihal and Chandanhosur. Eight doctors will be employed and 20 consulting doctors will visit the hospital. Initially, the hospital will cater to maternity and emergency cases. Patients can avail themselves of the free treatment here on the very first day. Thereafter, a nominal fee would be charged, Jinagowda said. First aid services would also be provided, since the Pune-Bangalore highway was near the hospital. ‘‘We will give mobile treatment to accident victims,’’ Jinagowda said. Sophisticated medical equipment like scanning unit and auto-analysers would be installed among others, and an operation theatre would also be opened, he said. The ambulance would have oxygen and artificial respiratory equipment, Jinagowda said. A blood donation camp will be organised on the same day, he said.
Salian’s surprise visit stuns district officials
Friday, April 11, 2003
UDIPI: In a ‘Lokayukta-like’ raid, Udupi district incharge Minister Vasanth.V.Salian paid a surprise visit to the Udupi taluk office and its computerised RTC counter on Thursday. He found a young man working from 8 am till 7 pm on computers and ordered the Deputy Commissioner S.R.Umashankar to open another RTC counter and appoint one more person to the counter. He told the Deputy Commissioner that Rajya Sabha member Oscar Fernandes had agreed to contribute Rs. 2 lakh for the purpose from his MP’s Local Area Development Fund. Following complaints from officials, Salian ordered Circle Inspector T.Sanjeev Naik to post a police constable to get rid of touts who were a nuisance. He also instructed officials not to entertain middlemen. At the taluk office, the Minister asked the officials to see some files relating to the Aradhana scheme, births and deaths, land encroachments etc. He ordered tahsildar Saleem to shift a lady official working on the Aradhana files to another division, holding her responsible for the delay in disposing the file pertaining to Vincent D Poul’s Church, in Katapady.
Rajkumar recovering after hip, knee surgery
Friday, April 11, 2003
CHENNAI: Dr. P V A Mohandas, who performed the surgeries on Rajkumar, said in a press release here on Thursday evening that the actor would be discharged on Apr.12. He is leaving Chennai and emplaning for Bangalore by the evening flight on Friday. Pointing out that the septuagenerian actor had made 'total and complete recovery' from his arthritis and hip problems, Dr Mohandas said 'he now walks without difficulty'. The actor had now been relieved of the pain in the left hip and right knee and the movements of the left hip and right knee had been restored, the doctor said.
Satellite broadcaster brings another audio taste to India
Friday, April 11, 2003
IANS BANGALORE: WorldSpace, the world's first satellite radio infrastructure, plans to treat Indian audiences with new audio content, ranging from coverage of prominent science meets to an information channel for doctors and popular science lectures. It recently launched three new encrypted channels -- Gandharv (the first 24 hour Indian classical music channel), Farishta (Hindi music from the 1950's and 1960's) and LeJhoom (the latest music from Bollywood), which are being broadcast by a Singapore-based broadcaster. Ethiopia-born Noah A. Samara founded WorldSpace in 1990. Samara was raised in Tanzania and his Sudanese father was a teacher and diplomat. Educated in Britain and the U.S., Samara was soon convinced that information was the key to expanding opportunities. One of WorldSpace's recent programmes, TONIC-D, offers information and discussions on emerging medical trends in the fields of cardiology, oncology, neurology, nephrology, urology, diabetes and several other similar topics by eminent doctors. For the Indian Science Congress, it set up a transmission point in the Bangalore University's Sir M. Vishveshwariah Hall and transported the data to the uplink station at Melbourne, which broadcasted live on the AsiaStar north west beam. It was then heard on the WorldSpace receivers throughout the country. "For the first time in India, the medical fraternity will be able to avail state-of-the-art information and education on emerging medical trends on-site using WorldSpace's technology," says a WorldSpace official. This global venture has also been tapping into some top Indian skills for its operations both in India and abroad. One of the key contributors to India's satellite programme and globally renowned space scientist, M.G. Chandrasekhar, has been vice president and the India general manager for WorldSpace since December 1997. WorldSpace broadcasts satellite audio, data, and multimedia content to Africa, Asia, the Middle East and Europe. Founded in 1990, WorldSpace claims it conceived and built the first ever satellite radio infrastructure in the world. Today, the WorldSpace satellite network consists of two geo-stationary satellites - AfriStar and AsiaStar. Each satellite broadcasts three beams with each beam capable of delivering more than 40 clear "near-CD quality" audio, data, and multimedia channels directly to portable receivers and personal computer adapters. Its system seeks to create a new form of electronic media - digital delivery of audio and multimedia -- from satellites to a new kind of personal and portable receivers. Besides providing a couple of dozen high quality digital audio channels, the WorldSpace system enables unidirectional delivery of multimedia content and data up to 128 kbps to a global audience without the need for a traditional dial-up or Internet connection. Such sessions will be made interactive through chat facilities as well as through phone calls. These discussions will be supplemented with multimedia support material that will be sent directly to doctor's PC without the need of a telephone line or Internet access.
Cabinet approves Basavanagudi flyover
Friday, April 11, 2003
BANGALORE: The State Cabinet on Thursday accorded approval for the proposed construction of a flyover near the National College in Basavanagudi. It also gave administrative approval for cement concreting of roads in and around the busy Kalasipalyam area. Speaking to reporters after the Cabinet meet, Information Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said, in spite of opposition from several quarters, the Bangalore City Corporation and Chief Minister S.M. Krishna had decided to take up the flyover project at an estimated cost of Rs 11 crore. ‘‘But the State-owned NPCC has been awarded the contract to execute the project, as its tendered amount of Rs 7.99 crore was the lowest,’’ he said. Thimmappa said the cement concreting of roads in Kalasipalyam area was estimated to cost Rs 5.5 crore. He informed that the development of about 106 road junctions -- which will be covered in 5 packages -- would be taken up at a cost of Rs 12.5 crore. The packages include Queens Road, Minerva Circle, Hudson Circle, MG Road and Majestic area. STREET LIGHTS: The Cabinet has approved to award contract for maintenance of street lights in the BCC area to three companies, Thimmappa said.
Airport geared up for SARS threat’
Friday, April 11, 2003
BANGALORE: Authorities at Bangalore Airport have dealt with the threat posed by the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) in a satisfactory manner, Health Minister Kagodu Thimmappa said on Thursday after an airport visit. After taking stock of the measures put in place to screen passengers and disseminate information, Thimmappa and Health Department officials interacted with a few passengers who arrived by a Singapore flight. Thimmappa expressed satisfaction at the arrangements made to assist passengers disembarking in Bangalore. Speaking about the State Government’s preparedness and the setting up of a core committee to monitor SARS-related developments, Thimmappa said the committee would review the developments on a day-to-day basis. "Yesterday, we had notified three private hospitals in the city to cooperate with us. Three more hospitals have come forward to help now,’’ he informed. The hospitals that have newly joined efforts to check the scourge are St. John’s Medical College Hospital, Mallige Medical Centre and the Kempegowda Institute of Medical Sciences, he added. Thimmappa said passengers had been very cooperative with airport officials, and had been filling up a special proforma on SARS meant for international arrivals. Meanwhile, Lufthansa Airlines officials have sought better arrangements to help passengers fill up their proformas. They discussed with airport officials the possibility of letting passengers fill up forms on board the flight. Meanwhile, Srilankan Airlines has gone a step further in screening passengers. Apart from filling up the proforma, a ‘‘visual’’ check is also being carried out by the check-in staff and departure gate staff, said the officials.
World’s first DNA-based rabies vaccine ready for trials
Friday, April 11, 2003
BANGALORE: The world’s first DNA-based rabies vaccine is ready for trials on dogs. According to the Indian Institute of Science (IISc) team developing the crucial vaccine and officials, the first veterinary vaccine could hit the market within a year. The team has also sought permission from the Drug Controller of India for clinical trials on human beings. The vaccine is being developed by the IISc in collaboration with Hyderabad-based Indian Immunologicals Ltd (IIL). It will be commercially produced by the company in Hyderabad, said Associate Professor of the IISc Department of Biochemistry, P.N. Rangarajan, who is leading the vaccine development team here. If an infected dog is injected with the vaccine, it will no longer be a carrier of rabies, he said. The vaccine is covered under an international patent, obtained in October last year, and will cost less than half the existing Rs 200-a-dose for cell-cultured vaccines, he added. According to Rangarajan, efforts are on to bring down the dosage -- from five for existing vaccines -- so that the DNA-based variety is effective in a single dose. ‘‘But it is for the company to decide on what to do further,’’ he said. IIL officials, meanwhile, said a decision will be taken shortly on whether to commence trials on imported Beagle breed of dogs or go ahead with trials on mongrels. A pre-clinical toxicity study on dogs has already been conducted in Hyderabad. ‘‘Permission for clinical trials to enable the release of human vaccine has been sought from the Drugs Controller of India and trials are expected to last for about two years,’’ Rangarajan said. The vaccine has already been tested on mice and cattle. ‘‘The idea behind developing the vaccine is to bring down costs, which will go a long way in bringing down rabies cases in the country,’’ he said. The vaccine, which can be stored at room temperature, was first developed by taking a gene from the rabies virus and injecting it into multiplying bacteria. The resulting effectiveness of about 70 per cent was enhanced to 100 per cent when it was combined with a small quantity of cell culture vaccine.
VAT comes in to effect from June 1
Friday, April 11, 2003
BANGALORE: The State Cabinet, which met here on Thursday, decided to implement the Value Added Tax (VAT) system from June 1. It also decided to revoke the ban on new B.Ed colleges. According to Information Minister Kagodu Thimmappa, all southern states including Karnataka were awaiting the President’s assent to the Legislative Bill relating to VAT. He hoped that the bill would get assent by April end or early May. ‘‘Depending on the President’s reply, the State will frame relevant rules by May end, and implement the system from June 1,’’ Thimmappa said. Briefing reporters, Thimmappa said the Cabinet has also decided to revoke the ban on new B.Ed colleges, on condition that the managements would adhere to admission rules. As a result, the managements would have to compulsorily subject themselves to the Common Entrance Test (CET) rules governing admission for students. Under the existing norms, private managements have to surrender 50 per cent of seats to the Government and the remaining would be filled up under the payment seat category on the basis of merit. The Government conducts the test for admissions. COMPUTER COURSES: The Cabinet has decided to implement two centrally- sponsored computer education programmes in about 260 high schools. ‘‘One programme would cover 150 high schools at an expenditure of Rs 17.20 crore. The Centre would contribute upto 75 per cent of the grant, while the State would put in the rest,’’ Thimmappa said. The programme would be in operation till 2005-06. While computer and other peripherals would be purchased at a cost of Rs 8.95 crore, maintenance costs is estimated to cost Rs 7.45 crore. According to Thimmappa, the second programme would be imparted in 110 high schools. The Centre would completely fund the programme, estimated to cost Rs 11.61 crore. The State has been imparting computer education in around 1,000 high schools under its ambitious Mahithi Sindu programme. RECRUITMENT: Considering the need for veterinary doctors in rural areas, the Cabinet has decided to make direct recruitments for 250 veterinary doctors, as against the 780 vacant posts in the animal husbandry and veterinary services department. LAND COMPENSATION: The Cabinet has accorded approval for the compensation amount, fixed as per consent, to land owners. Accordingly, Rs. 50,700 will be paid for every acre of dry land and Rs. 76,050 for every acre of wet land in the Krishna right bank canal in Gulbarga district. VIKRANT TYRES: While deciding to merge the State-owned sick undertaking Vikrant Tyres in Mysore with the JK Industries, the Cabinet also decided to retain eight per cent share in the company. It decided to have two Government nominees from the Karnataka State Industrial Investment Development Corporation (KSIIDC) on the board of management. The privileges of the employees in Vikrant Tyres will, however, be protected. FLYING SCHOOL: The Cabinet has approved the appointment of N.Jaya Prakash as chief flying instructor at the Government Flying School in the Bangalore, on a monthly consolidated salary of Rs 25,000.
Karnataka revokes ban on new B.Ed. colleges
Friday, April 11, 2003
UNI BANGALORE: Karnataka government on Thursday decided to revoke the five-year-old ban on opening new B.Ed. colleges in the State, said Information Minister Kagodu Thimmappa. The new colleges coming up in the private sector would have to compulsorily subject themselves to the Common Entrance Test (CET) rules governing admission of students, he told reporters here after the cabinet meeting. Under the existing norms the private managements have to surrender 50 per cent of seats to the government and the remaining to be filled up under the payment seat category on the basis of merit. The government conducts the test for selection of students for admission. Thimmappa said the cabinet approved implementation of two central sponsored computer education programmes in 260 high schools. He said while under a programme funded by the centre to the extent of 75 per cent grants and the state contributing 25 per cent, 150 high schools would be covered involving an expenditure of Rs 17.20 crore. The programme would be in operation till 2005-06, he said. He said computer education would be imparted in 110 high schools under anprogramme funded totally by the centre at a cost of Rs 11.61 crore. The state was already imparting computer education in 1000 high schools under its ambitious Mahithi Sindu programme.
Warrant against Telgi in multicrore fake stamp case
Friday, April 11, 2003
PTI PUNE: On Maharashtra Government's plea, a special court on Thursday ordered the Karnataka government to produce prime accused in the multi-crore fake stamp racket case Abdul Karim Telgi here on April 25. The production warrant was issued by designated judge under Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act, S M Shembole. Prosecutor Raja Thakre urged for warrant against Telgi who is lodged in Karnataka prison in a similar case registered against him in that state. In a related development, the special investigation team served copies of chargesheet on 31 accused who were produced before the court on Thursday. The court then issued production warrant which was drawn on the secretary Karnataka government to produce Telgi along with all the accused in this court on April 25. The court is likely to frame charges against them on April 25 when all the accused including Telgi would be produced. The Telgi gang allegedly printed counterfeit stamps and stamp papers using the printing materials obtained from Nasik-based India security press, the only organisation in the country to print currency notes and stamp papers. The Special Investigating Team (SIT), applied MCOCA on telgi as a total of 19 criminal cases were registered against him including 12 in Maharashtra for running an organised racket.
Blunders abound in Std VII question papers in Bellary
Friday, April 11, 2003
DAVANAGERE/BELLARY: The district-level VII standard examinations this year have become a nightmare for both students and teachers as grave lapses were found in question papers. In Davanagere, on the very first day of exams, instead of the present syllabus in Kannada language, last year's question paper was issued. After the fault was detected, the paper was withdrawn and exams postponed to April 10. Again on April 9, the social science paper printed in Urdu had questions only for 59 marks instead of 100. By the time teachers alerted the BEO who got in touch with the DDPI's office, an hour had lapsed. At about 11.40 am, an Education Department jeep brought xeroxes of papers for 41 marks which were distributed to schools in Davanagere city. However, in some centres the children had answered questions for 59 marks and believed the exam was over. When told they had to answer one more paper, confusion and panic gripped them. For all these lapses, the hapless students in Urdu schools were given just half-hour extra to answer the rest of the questions. Wednesday was the last day of the exams. But Bellary students got no respite as the social science exam was postponed by a week to April 16 because the paper got leaked. When mobile squad officials went to the Government Model Higher Primary School in KC Colony in Bellary on Tuesday, they found that the question papers being handed out were of Tuesday's (April 8) general science questions, which were printed on one side while social science (April 9) questions were on the other side for Telugu medium. This was the only sheet of paper with the printing error and was in the custodian's possession between 11 am and 12.30 noon. The DPI said the squad members sealed the cover. But everyone was shocked when a local daily published the Telugu social science question paper in its Wednesday edition. When the paper was carried by Namma Kannada Naadu, a Bellary Kannada daily, DDPI K Prahladachar said they decided to postpone the exam. A detailed inquiry is on to find out how the question paper copy changed hands.
Insat-3A successfully launched into space
Thursday, April 10, 2003
PTI BANGALORE: In another significant milestone in India's space programme, multi-purpose satellite INSAT-3A was successfully launched on board the European Ariane-5 rocket from the French Guyanese spaceport of Kourou in South America in the early hours on Thursday. The launch, delayed by a day after a minor anomaly was noticed in the satellite on Wednesday, went on with clockwork precision as the European consortium rocket lifted off according to launch window schedule, carrying INSAT-3A and an American satellite and injecting them into space, Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) sources said here. As Ariane-5 carried out its mission, ISRO Chairman Dr K Kasturirangan and other top space scientists, including Project Director R K Rajangam, who were present at Kourou, expressed their joy over the successful launch. Describing the Ariane-5 launch as "a wonderful achievement" in his post-launch comment, a beaming Kasturirangan said it was a "very eventful flight, spectacular and more importantly, technologically precise". The launch of INSAT-3A was called off for the day yesterday after it was observed that the signal strength from one of the two telemetry transmitters was "less than nominal" during the final checks midway through the 11 and a half hours countdown. Indigenously built ISRO's biggest satellite, INSAT-3A, the third satellite in the INSAT-3 series, would provide telecommunication, television broadcasting, meteorology and satellite-aided search and rescue services.
Rajakumar to be discharged
Wednesday, April 9, 2003
Kannada superstar Rajakumar, who was admitted to a Chennai hospital March 12, is on his way to recovery. The hospital says he will be discharged soon. The knee and hip replacement surgeries were successful. He is able to walk and sit without pain.
Karnataka institute conducting summer girls cricket camp
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
The Karnataka Institute of Cricket (KIOC) will be conducting its seventh annual summer coaching camp at the RBANMS Ground, Bangalore from April 6 to June 1. Girls and boys from the ages of six and upwards are invited to attend, according to a press release issued by the KIOC. The Institute has bowling machine, speed gun, video analysis and multi gym facilities, and also offers transport from various parts of Bangalore, as well as hostel facilities for outstation trainees. The camp will conclude with the All-India Coca Cola inter-camp tournament for under-10, under-13, under-15, under-17 and seniors. Anyone interested in enrolments or further information should contact Irfan Sait on 080 5323410, 51132271, 5362262 Mobile; 98440 61391, 94480 74637, email ; cricketkioc@hotmail.com or at the RBANM’s ground, St John’s Road, opposite Post office, near Ajanta Theatre, Bangalore 560042
Expand beyond IT, CII to Karnataka
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
PTI Confederation of Indian Industry has told the Karnataka government that it needed to develop its economy beyond information technology by concentrating on other industrial sectors spread over a wider geographical area. A CII delegation, led by its president Ashok Soota, met Chief Minister S M Krishna and told him that over dependence on IT and Bangalore would do it no good, especially when the industry was slowing down globally. Soota told reporters after the hour-long meeting that Karnataka could not afford to rest on its laurels, having achieved high GDP growth from 1994-95 to 2000-01, riding on the IT boom. While, CII expressed concern over delay in Bangalore airport project getting off the ground, Krishna told the delegation that the government had proposed to create base infrastructure for airports in Mysore, Hubli-Dharwad and Gulbarga during the course of this year. Stating that Karnataka could be a leader in electronic hardware, Soota said both CII and the Manufacturers Association of Information Technology or MAIT would prepare an electronic hardware policy in the next two to three months and submit it to the Centre. He said Indian IT companies have in recent times been losing out to their Chinese counterparts and that was a matter of concern.
SARS:Karnataka on red alert
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
Bangalore, apr 08 - A red alert has been sounded in Karnataka for Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome, though no cases have been reported here so far. Announcing the alert, Karnataka’s health minister Kagodu Thimmappa told after a meeting with top officials that the state government was taking all possible precautionary measures against SARS. But the state government is suffering from a ‘severe acute non-cooperation syndrome’. A vexed Thimmappa said: Airport authorities are not cooperating with us. We sent guidelines to them from the World Health Organisation and Centre, but they are not doing the needful. They are not even permitting the union health ministry doctors to screen the passengers coming on the Singapore flight.’’ Thimmappa said he was writing union civil aviation minister Syed Shahnawaz Hussain, demanding action against the airport officials. I have also called a meeting with them April 9 to sort the issue,’’ he added. Seven persons have come from the South-East Asian region to Bangalore airport since the SARS outbreak. One of them is a resident of Whitefield. We are keeping him under observation for 10 days to check for signs for the disease, though there is no indication of the disease having come to India or Karnataka so far,’’ he added. Meanwhile, a press release from Thimmappa’s office said the Centre’s guidelines for precautionary measures had also been forwarded to the BCC authorities. The BCC has been asked to keep an eye on all tourists, particularly those from Taiwan, Singapore and other South-East Asian countries,’’ it said. Global toll touches 100-mark, page 8 Persons who suffer from the following, which could be indicators of the SARS, should contact the nodal officer. The symptoms are: • Low fever • Body pain at 38 deg C. • Cough and throat ache • Breathing problems Symptoms AFP Researchers conduct tests at the Ranbaxy Laboratories in Mumbai on Monday. The tests are part of a preparatory plan to combat any possible outbreak of the SARS.
Film shows at old timings
Tuesday, April 8, 2003
BANGALORE, April 7 Source: Deccan Herald With Kannada film producers crying foul over drop in box-office collections following the change in show timings, the Karnataka Film Chambers of Commerce (KFCC) today resolved to revert to old show timings. Theatres will henceforth screen movies at 10:30 am, 1:30 pm, 4:30 pm and 7:30 pm and not at 11:30 am, 2:30 pm, 6 pm and 9 pm as effected by the KFCC from April 4. The decision to revert to old timings was taken this evening by the KFCC following discussions with film producers and theatre owners. Actor-producer Jai Jagadeesh, who attended the meeting, told Deccan Herald, we decided to revert to the old show timings as the new timings had not reached the masses. The collections on Friday and Saturday dropped drastically as the people were not aware of the change in show timings. In fact, the producers of Raja Narasimha, Hello, Devara Makkalu and Yardho Dhuddu Yellammana Jathre (these movies hit the silver screen on Friday) had opposed the new show timings and voiced their concern to the KFCC on Saturday evening itself. They argued that people were informed in advance about the change in the show timings, but nobody liked it. On why the change in show timings failed to evoke good response from movie-goers, Mr Jagadeesh explained, the collections from the late night shows are very poor as the number of people coming to theatres at that hour is negligible. Movie-goers find it difficult to get back to their residences as the autorickshaws charge double the fare. Moreover, eateries and other shops remain closed when the people come out of theatres.
World Bank launches its Kannada website
Saturday, April 5, 2003
The World Bank launched its Kannada website vishwabanku.org, its third in an Indian language after Hindi and Telugu. The website would provide access to information about its operations in India with special focus on ongoing projects in Karnataka, World Bank India officer in charge of communications Geetanjali Chopra told a media conference in Bangalore on Friday. The Kannada website would also be linked to the bank's main English website (www.worldbank.org), the website on India (worldbank.org.in), the Hindi website (vishwabank.org) and the Telugu website (prapanchabank.org). The Kannada website was part of the bank's effort to improve transparency and provide greater access to information, she said, adding that up to 40 pages would be added to the site every month. UNI
Telugu by demand
Saturday, April 5, 2003
The fact that the Telugu film industry has a good number of box-office hits seems to be attracting a substantial count of cross-border ventures. Like the Telugu film by popular Kannada director S Narayan who has 27 films to his credit. And the hero in his debut Telugu venture is debutante Murali (a cousin to Dr Rajkumar’s children and the brother of Kannada hero Raghavendra). The producer too is a Kannadiga. If this film is successful, there will be more to come.
Devaru Varavanu Kotre
Friday, April 4, 2003
Language : Kannada Category : Family/Drama Year of Release : 2002 Rating / Certification : U Review Although there is a serious message in the film the director uses his own style of comedy in conveying it. Amrutha in her second film deserved a better role. The four youths have worked hard to provide hilarious situations. Three songs in the film are picked from Telugu and Tamil films. Story Line Four wayward youths (Hari,Vasu,Sharan and Anand) making every possible effort to earn their livelihood are bailed out by heroine Akshata to lead a decent life. Reels later, on learning the sacrifice made by Akshata for their welfare, the four youths are determined to earn Rs.5 lakhs for Akshata's open heart surgery. The youths do all kinds of things and create a lot of merriment. For more: http://www.hansazone.com/movie.asp
Hollywood
Friday, April 4, 2003
Language : Kannada Category : Romance Year of Release : 2002 Rating / Certification : U Production House : Ramu International Review Upendra does not torture the audience like in his earlier films. He is sober, sophisticated and dashing. This is what the family audience deserves to see from him. Felicity does not contribute anything to the film. Ananthnag has lived up to expectations. Songs are below average. However this expensive production is an exercise in futility. The redeeming feature of this film is only the eye - catching cinematography of Australia, Brisbane, Hollywood and other places. Producer : Ramu Music : Gurukiran Cinematography, Screenplay, Dialogue and Direction : Dinesh Baboo Story Line Timid Upendra, a scientist wants to win Felicity's heart. He is not able to express himself. Enter the dashing director Upendra. He wants to produce a film in 'Hollywood' and get an Oscar. The heroine is behind this dashing director Upendra. So the scientist Upendra seeks the help of his boss Ananthnag. The super scientist produces a robot Upendra. The robot is programmed to win the heart of the heroine. The situation becomes topsy- turvey. In between there is a monkey that knows the mind of robot Upendra and vice versa. This is the interesting part of the film. The voice over for it (done by Ramesh Bhat) is very apt. For More: http://www.hansazone.com/movie.asp
C-DAC rolls out new supercomputer
Thursday, April 3, 2003
BANGALORE (Reuters) - India unveiled a new supercomputer on Tuesday, taking another step towards joining an elite club of nations including the United States, Japan, Israel and China that boast of more advanced technology, officials said. The Centre for Development of Advanced Computer's PARAM-Padma has a processing speed of one teraflop or one trillion calculations per second -- 10 times more powerful than the state-owned centre's previous supercomputer. "This is what changes the impression of India, just like what Indian IT professionals did for the country," India's Communications and Information Technology Minister Arun Shourie said at the launch, referring to India's success as a leading software exporter. Company officials said the launch of the machine, housed in its Bangalore facility, is a step towards creating an information grid of supercomputers to handle heavy-duty applications such as weather forecasting and bioinformatics. China unveiled last month a homegrown supercomputer server that has a computing speed of three teraflops while the United States last year placed orders with IBM for two supercomputers, one of which will have a processing speed of 100 teraflops. C-DAC, based in Pune, has built four versions of its PARAM series of supercomputers and is now aiming to carve an export market for its new offering. Founded in 1988, C-DAC faced more than a decade of restrictions on importing technology from the United States, including the CRAY Computer, on the grounds that India might put the technology to military use. The restrictions were then lifted.
i-flex to cooperate fully with investigation
Thursday, April 3, 2003
PTI BANGALORE: i-flex solutions limited has welcomed a London Court's decision to release on bail CEO of the company's Dutch subsidiary Senthil Kumar and reiterated its commitment to cooperate fully with the investigation. i-flex CMD Rajesh Hukku said the company is overwhelmed by the support it received from several quarters, including government, ministries of external affairs and information technology and NASSCOM. Kumar has been accused of involvement in providing false references for a number of company employees to come to work in Holland. The company has said the visa documents of all employees in Amsterdam were in order.
India ranked second in entrepreneurial activity
Thursday, April 3, 2003
PTI BANGALORE: India has been ranked second after Thailand among 37 countries in entrepreneurial activity for the year 2002, according to a study by the Indian Institute of Management, here. The Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM 2002), an international research project primarily designed to assess the Total Entreprenuerial Activity (TEA) in national economies, has ranked India second, which scored 17.9 per cent in a index of various parameters during 2002. Thailand which scored 18.9 per cent topped the list, an IIMB release said here on Wednesday. "India being ranked as the second highest among the 37 countries goes to prove that there is a significant positive change in terms of market perceptions, entrepreneurial capacity and financial support," IIMB Director Prakash G Apte said in the release. The study said the level of entrepreneurial activity changes over time and there was a decline of 25 per cent in the GEM global average between 2001 and 2002. "However, it increased by over 50 per cent in India during the same period from 11.6 per cent in 2001 to 17.9 per cent in 2002," it said. The NS Raghavan Centre for Entrepreneurial Learning (NSRCEL) Chairperson and IIMB Professor of Corporate Strategy S Raghunath said the vibrancy of the Indian economy and the substantial improvement in the opportunity-based entrepreneurship may be due to the irreversible process of economic liberalisation which created several opportunities for private operators.
Lali Haadu
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Cast : Darshan, Rithika, Umaasri Certificate : U Type : Romance Nationality : Indian Nickname : LH Producer : Sa Ra Govindu Director : H Vaasu Music Director : Sadhu Kokila Duration in minutes : 170 About Lali Haadu The film is about Anand who comes into his own as a singer from a humble village background. He rises to become the leading singer. Geetha (Rutika) falls for him She pretends to be an orphan when she actually has issues to settle with her parents. She plans to control Anand and even gain access to his property and wealth. But, Anand is his mom’s son when it comes to choosing between Geetha - he dumps the latter over the disagreement they share over what kind of wedding they should have. Sangeeta enters the scene as another girl who is in need of money for an operation. Anand, who turns a recluse is brought around. Sangeeta (Abirami) becomes a singer too after all the politics involving music companies come to light. Anand begins to like Sangeeta but she has to leave for her marriage is fixed to her childhood friend. Whom does she marry in the end forms the interesting climax. Times Review : Darshan has improved his performance in this soft and emotional role. Rutika excels as the scheming girl. Abirami is soft and sweet in her role. She has even sung a song herself for the first time in Kannada - Nanna Hrudaya.. a melodious number. Umashri has put in a spirited performance. Sadhu Kokila provides some comical relief. More at: http://timescity.com/timescity/ScreenManager?CiI=5&CiN=Bangalore&CaI=5&BCaI=3&CoI=5&OId=MO00002132&AM=A
Kattegalu Saar Kattegalu
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Cast : Ramesh, Rutika, S Narayan Certificate : U Type : Comedy Nationality : Indian Nickname : KSK Director : S V Rajendra Singh Babu Duration in minutes : 165 About Kattegalu Saar Kattegalu The story revolves around three youths Rami (Ramesh), Nani (S. Narayan) and Komi (Komal) who become jobless when the circus company they work for is closed. The owner insists they follow the dictum: Honesty is the best policy. Living by this code, the trio come to the city in search of a job and land in embarrassing situations. They also fall in love with three girls Rutteeka, Sony Raj and Meghana Naidu and find a Good Samaritan in Urmila (Urvashi) who helps them pay a fine for damaging a house while repairing a tap. But circumstances force them to kidnap Urmila to help her husband (Jai Jagadish). Urmila is kidnapped with the help of rowdy Jayamma (Umashri). Urmila’s father (Anant Velu) pays the ranson of Rs 5 crores in a suitcase to get his daughter released. However, a fight breaks out for the spoils and Urmila is injured. She reaches a hospital run by nuns for treatment and the trio follows her to the hospital and stay there, disguising themselves as sisters. Times Review : Director S.V. Rajendra Singh Babu has given a new dimension to this film by excellently mixing comedy, romance, suspense and sentimental scenes. The result is a delightfully comedy with silly sequences. Babu has handled the story excellently. Ramesh, Komal, S. Narayan, Rutteeka, Sony Raj and Meghana Naidu have performed very well. But credit goes to Umashri for the excellent portrayal of Jayamma. Music by Hamsalekha has some catchy tunes. A film for the family. Source: http://timescity.com/timescity/ScreenManager?CiI=5&CiN=Bangalore&CaI=5&BCaI=3&CoI=5&OId=MO00002294&AM=A
Raja Narasimha
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Cast : Visnuvardhan, Ramya Krishna Type : Thriller Nationality : Indian Nickname : RN Director : Mutyala Subbayya Music Director : Deva Duration in minutes : 165 About Raja Narasimha Raja Narasimha (Vishnuvardhan) saves Mahalakshmi (Raasi), who is engaged to Prakash (Dasharath), from goons on two occasions. Mahalakshmi falls for his simplicity and deserts Prakash. Raja too gives his consent. But the story takes a turn when Soundarya (Ramya Krishna) enters the scene. She is there to seek justice from Raja for scuttling her marriage. Time for a flashback. Soundarya has been getting tons of love letters from a guy called Kumar. Raja mistakes the author of these love epistles to be his friend also named Kumar (Abhijith). He decides to bring them together. But he is amazed to see Kumar marrying another girl. Raja is in a fix. He brings Soundarya home. Soundarya, meanwhile, vows that she won’t allow Raja to marry Mahalakshmi till he finds her the true match. What he does eventually makes for an interesting climax. Review : Here is a family story that revolves around a good samaritan who holds women in high regard, but is unwittingly caught in the dilemma of taking care of a woman whose marriage he has to scuttle for his friend’s sake. Director Muthyala Subbaiah has done a neat job of the assignment with almost all artistes giving their best. http://www.timescity.com/timescity/ScreenManager?CiI=5&CiN=Bangalore&CaI=5&BCaI=3&CoI=5&OId=MO00002262&AM=A#rev
SMS
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
A girl receives a mobile phone as a birthday gift from a boy only two days before Valentine’s Day. The girl assumes the boy is madly in love with her. But the fact that this boy was only the mediator gives the story an interesting twist. What follows is a lot of confusion, the need to find the best way to deal with emotions, and of course misfired communication through the SMS. This is what Sandeep Malani’s latest venture is all about. Aptly titled SMS, the Kanglish (Kannada-English) film mainly talks about college students and their way of life. Today, the SMS is one of the fastest and most convenient and feasible means of communication. Capitalising on this concept, the story gives you a humorous picture of the medium, says the director, who has also written the script, screenplay and dialogues for SMS. What’s more interesting about the film is that all the songs, though yesteryear’s Kannada hit numbers, will retain the tune but will be sung with English lyrics. Purely a campus story, SMS will be shot in Bangalore at the Garden College at Krishnarajapuram. Malani is currently on the lookout for an all-new star cast for the upcoming film. Our search for new faces has begun in a big way. Circulars have been sent to all the colleges in the city, posters have been put up at all popular hangouts and co-ordinators also are at work. The story line is very fresh and therefore requires fresh talent as well. We will also hold special auditions at colleges. The entries will then be shortlisted to suit required roles, explains Malani, who has worked on other hits such as 1,2,3, Manasella Neene and Sangeet Sivan’s Jackie Shroff-starrer Sandhya. SMS is scheduled for a late 2003 release and will target the city’s English speaking audience who also understand and/or speak a little bit of Kannada. Kavya Christopher http://www.timescity.com/timescity/ScreenManager?CiI=5&CiN=Bangalore&CaI=5&BCaI=3&CoI=3&CaN=Movies&BCaN=Movies&ToiPg=5/live/movies/sms.html
Gandhi Nagara
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Cast : Rajendra, Kausalya Certificate : U Type : Satire Nationality : Indian Director : Lucky Shankar Duration in minutes : 170 About Gandhi Nagara Here is a cock and bull story sans any direction with hero and heroine failing to impress and the music hardly rising above the average. Ravi (Rajendra), accompanied by two assistants, goes to the Hoo Kaadu forest area to write a script for a movie on ghosts. We are told he doesn’t believe in the existence of ghosts. In the forest, he comes across several anecdotes and incidents which he includes in his script. He also meets Kalpana (Kausalya), her parents and her lover. We come to know that Kalpana had rejected one Raja as she had fallen in love with Shekhar (again Rajendra). But Raja kills Rajendra and Raja dies of a snake bite. This upsets Raja’s parents who kill Kalpana. Hold on, if you’re wondering... We are told they’re all ghosts! How Ravi escapes from their captivity is the essence of the story. More at: http://www.timescity.com/timescity/ScreenManager?CiI=5&CiN=Bangalore&CaI=5&BCaI=3&CoI=5&OId=MO00002264&AM=A
"I have high hopes that this purely commercial film will be accepted by people,’’ Nagathihalli
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Paris Pranaya has 3 features With director Nagathihalli Chandrasekhar completing the shooting of his latest film Paris Pranaya, the stage is set for its release in April. According to Nagathihalli, the film has three main features: new music director Prayog, new lead pair of Ragu Mukherjee and Minal, and exotic locales of Austria, France, Spain, Italy, Moodbidri and Bangalore. Another highlight of this musical is it has 10 songs, including Yede Thumbi Haadidenu..., written by G.S. Shivarudrappa. The director says the budget of the film has crossed the Rs 2-crore mark. I have high hopes that this purely commercial film will be accepted by people,’’ says Nagathihalli. Sumalatha Ambarish is also acting in the movie. Other stars include Tara, Sharath Lohithashwa and Sudha Belavadi.. (More at http://www.timescity.com)
Kapicheshte
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Kapicheshte, a comedy A new weekly comedy serial, Kapicheshte, by Balaji Telefilms, is going on air on Udaya TV (Saturday and Sunday - 1.30 pm). Pavithra Lokesh and Ramesh Bhat feature are in the lead roles. Every episode has some amusing situations. It is directed by Bakkapatna Vasu. Sarika Raje Urs, Deepa Iyer, Nayana, Pramodini and M.S. Suresh are also in the cast. A special ‘character’ in the serial, an ‘atma’ (soul), guides the head of the family. (source: http://www.timescity.com/)
Wrong Number
Tuesday, April 1, 2003
Cast : Sudesh, Kashi, Bhavana Certificate : U Type : Drama Nationality : Indian Director : N S Shankar Music Director : V Manohar Review : Just to win the heart of a female colleague, the boss in a private firm lays many traps. He attends her wedding seemingly in good faith and then makes her husband unconscious and tries to molest her. All his attempts fail and at the end he meets a gory death. But director Shankar seems to have dialled a wrong number by stretching this thin storyline beyond limits. Shyam (Sudesh), the boss, is attracted to his colleague Sapna (Bhavana) but she is in love with Arun (Pavan Singh). Shyam hatches many plots to have her succumb to him, which include a cheating charge. But Sapna survives all his tricks. She even goes ahead with her marriage but is wary of Shyam all the time. The climactic moment comes when her car breaks down on the way to Bangalore. To add to the suspense element there is a pistol in the car. All said and done, it isn’t hard to figure out what happens. Source http://www.timescity.com/
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