PhD on Mysore Dasara by Dasara special officer

Many of them witness Dasara every year. But very rarely few of them go in deep. In such here is a persons, being a dasara special officer inspired over Dasara activities has completed his PhD on Mysore Dasara.

V Ranganath, is the Dasara Special officer. Being completed BSc, LLB, MA in History, he is rendering service as dasara special officer from last eleven years. Inspired over dasara activities which will be held in the palace, he decided to do his PHD on 'Mysore Dasara' (KSOU), under the guidance of Rangaswamy.

He says, Dasara celebrations has history of thousands year and not 400 years as mentioned. “Navaratri celebrations being held from the tenure of Vijayanagar Period and there are lot of documents to prove this.” He has collected the details for his work visiting Hampi, Srirangapatna, and many other places, including libraries.

According to him Dasara celebrations came to practice based on tax collection. Earlier, kings used to distribute Kingdom into many parts and used to handover the position for Privypurse (Samantha Rajas), who used to administer the Place. Even the military were divided into two portions, where portion of military near Privypurse and other near Kings.

Every year during the time of Navaratri they used to come to palaces to offer 1/3 of the tax for king, where entire troupe used to join together and spend time for nine-days in palace.

After staying at Palace for nine-days, they used to leave palace on ninth day of Navaratri. While giving adieu to them folkarts, local artistes, dance troupes were invited, where in it was marked as procession, according to history.

Interestingly, the cultural programmes were introduced during the nine days of Navarati celebrations by kings to enthrall the arrived guests to the palace and also to provide opportunity for local artistes.

After administration came under government, Privypurse system was abolished. Government started celebrating dasara from 1973 and there on wards Special officers were appointed.

“Lot of changes in dasara celebrations has taken place. Its now being celebrated without any formats. To know in depth how earlier kings were celebrating dasara, I decided to do my Ph.D. “There should be frame work to celebrate dasara,” he adds.

Theaters have stopped screening Tamil films

After the Cauvery river water dispute reached a flashpoint, theaters in the city have stopped screening Tamil films. Not only Mysore but also neighbouring districts Mandya, the hotbed of Cauvery agitation  Chamarajanagar bordering Tamil Nadu, have voluntarily banned screening of Tamil movies.

Though several blockbuster movies have been released in Tamil from last two months, many of the movies are yet to be screened in theaters
of Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, which could have run to full houses here.

Not only Theater whereas even Multiplex in Mysore DRC and Satyam have decided not to screen any Tamil movies till the Cauvery issues final verdict being awaited from the Supreme Court for October 30.

The sudden switch over to screening movies of other languages has caused a lot of hardship to some theater owners who were exclusively screening movies of a particular regional language like Tamil, Telugu or Malayalam. Either way there business has taken a beating.

Mysore District Theater Association President Ajit Kumar said that screening of Tamil films were stopped right from the day the agitation broke out. Mandya Theater Owner Srikanth added that screening has been stopped in five districts Mysore, Mandya, Chamarajanagar, Hassan and Coorg.

Padma and Rajkamal Theater which screen maximum numbers of Tamil movies have been severely affected. Rajkamal Theater owner Jeevan Kumar says, “our theater is popular for screening Tamil movies. But from last one month our business has totally come down.” Pashwanath of Padma theater says: “The collection has totally come down and only some amount of tickets are sold. To attract people we are screening Telugu movies.”

Mysore Theater Association Secretary Rajaram said that as per the governing rules the theater owners hold responsible and held for any mishap that occur inside the theaters many of the theater owners are not ready to take any chance and are meantime extending their support to farmers.” While some in support of the agitating farmers have stopped the screening of movie, it also true that some fearing untoward incidents stooped screening movies on their own, he added.

Though the verdict comes favourable to State, following Kannada Rajyothsava the theater owners can't screen other languages movie for another one week, which is followed every year during Rajyotsava.
 

Huge loss for businessmen this dasara

Dasara meant to be roaring business for many tradesmen, specially for craftsman and handicrafts. But, the recent decisions of District Administration not to honour chief guests on the dais with traditional Mysore Peta, Kashmiri Shall, Sandalwood Garlands as part of austerity measures to cut down the costs which is said to be running into lakhs of ruppes, has cost severe loss for businessmen. The decision was taken following drought.

Many of the traders have stocked sufficient quantity of petas, shalls, and other gifts articles making huge investment, not anticipating such a move by the District Administration. Majority of the businessmen said that they have to keep the stocks for next occasion.

Cauvery Emporium Manager Ranganath said that every year during dasara they were having a roaring business of Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh. But this year it has cut down to Rs 80,000 to 90,000 and there is a severe shortage in footfalls for emporium.

“This year our business has affected in large extent. Specially from last one month the day cauvery agitations began, the number of visitors coming to city has come down. The emporium in palace premises is also facing huge loss,” he added.

Loss for local serial set sellers

The conventional small bulbs have been dispensed with led bulbs from this year. As per the decision taken by District Administration to celebrate eco-friendly Dasara and to decorate traffic islands, monuments and prominent buildings with LED bulbs serial sets, it has cause huge lose for traditional serial set sellers of city.

Officials who are happy with the move say, its very helpful to educate masses to use maximum amount of LED bulbs to save energy as well as to cut down the cost.

According to Dasara Illumination Sub-Committee President Ramesh the illumination work has been given for contract to a firm and said that the serial sets have been imported from other place.

  

Huge loss for businessmen this dasara

Dasara meant to be roaring business for many tradesmen, specially for craftsman and handicrafts. But, the recent decisions of District Administration not to honour chief guests on the dais with traditional Mysore Peta, Kashmiri Shall, Sandalwood Garlands as part of austerity measures to cut down the costs which is said to be running into lakhs of ruppes, has cost severe loss for businessmen. The decision was taken following drought.

Many of the traders have stocked sufficient quantity of petas, shalls, and other gifts articles making huge investment, not anticipating such a move by the District Administration. Majority of the businessmen said that they have to keep the stocks for next occasion.

Cauvery Emporium Manager Ranganath said that every year during dasara they were having a roaring business of Rs 1.5 to 2 lakh. But this year it has cut down to Rs 80,000 to 90,000 and there is a severe shortage in footfalls for emporium.

“This year our business has affected in large extent. Specially from last one month the day cauvery agitations began, the number of visitors coming to city has come down. The emporium in palace premises is also facing huge loss,” he added.

Loss for local serial set sellers

The conventional small bulbs have been dispensed with led bulbs from this year. As per the decision taken by District Administration to celebrate eco-friendly Dasara and to decorate traffic islands, monuments and prominent buildings with LED bulbs serial sets, it has cause huge lose for traditional serial set sellers of city.

Officials who are happy with the move say, its very helpful to educate masses to use maximum amount of LED bulbs to save energy as well as to cut down the cost.

According to Dasara Illumination Sub-Committee President Ramesh the illumination work has been given for contract to a firm and said that the serial sets have been imported from other place.

  

Dasara is mating time for palace elephants

This might be strange but true. Dasara is a mating time for palace elephants ! There are seven elephants permanently residing in palace premises specially, used for taking part in religious rituals and all of them are female.

As there is no male elephant in Palace their procreation are stand still. But, a ray of hope arrives every time during dasara, as they are donned with the arrival of male elephants from forests, which take part in Dasara festivities.

Just eight days ago, one of the female elephant of Palace has been mated with pretty, tall, handsome, 52-year-old 'Arjuna', who is in the race with Balarama to carry howdah elephant.

For last five years, the Palace Board is successful in providing conjugal bliss for the languishing female elephants in their custody, with the male visitors. After studying the behaviour of elephants, the mahouts inform Palace officials and later arrangements are made to send male elephants.

Though they are couple of male elephants in Mysore Zoo, as they are not tamed elephants, in fear of it many behave rudely and widely with the female elephants, the authorities are not ready to take any chance.

Dr Nagaraj, veterinarian of Dasara elephants says, “even thought this is not a permanent solution, steps should be taken to create more opportunities for the female elephants to mate with the male.”

By this mating even the elephants are not conceived, its interesting to know that elephants can conceive until 70 years, unlike they are fit and ovulating.

As the male jumboos will return back to the forest after the completion of Dasara, measures have been taken to make best use of the opportunity to seek orgasmic pleasures between the elephants. Or else the officials have to wait until next Dasara !

  

Jail inmates to delight visitors during Dasara

Its not only the students and artistes who are gearing-up to present cultural programme during dasara. A new troupe of musicians are all set to hit the stage to present Musical programme (Sangeetha Rasamanjari Programme) during this year Dasara festival. They are the inmates of Mysore Central Jail.

About eight jail inmates Mahesh, Mohan, Siddegowda, Chandru, Yogesh, Venkatesh (singers), HK Putta, Chikusu (instruments) have been selected to render music programme.
They are being trained by Shivaprakash and Murthy for last three months to sing and play musical instruments like keyboard, drum, guitar, and many other instruments.

The inmates have learnt about 130 songs which include folklore, Hindi and Kannada film songs, bhavageethe, bhaktigeethe and patriotic songs. They have been provided with related books to learn songs during their leisure time. As they find hard to sing Hindi songs, they get the songs translated into Kannada with help of their teachers, and later sing them.

Jailor Jayasimha said that Mysore jail is the first jail in country, which is engaging the inmates to learn music and render programmes. The initiative of the programme is ADGP Prisons K V Gagandeep.

Inmate Venkatesh expressing happiness over performing programme during dasara festival said that “by going outside and giving performance we fell we to are part of society.”

Inmate Mahesh says due to engaged in learning music for last three months it has brought lot of changes in him and is even helpful to forget his agony.

Now mahouts to learn about properties of medicinal plants

There was the time when research scholars, students of Ayurveda went to forest to meet the tribals and learn from them about medicinal properties of plant and also how to identify them. But, now the things has changed.

Born in tribal community, a majority of them are not aware of many medicinal plants or its value though they use some of the medicines (kashaya) learnt from their ancestors to get the ailments cured.

Hence, the staff of Ayush (Ayurveda, Yoga, Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homeopathy) have all set to educate mahouts and their family members about the identification of medicinal plants, and their usage through power point presentation. The staff will also carry some of the Medicinal plants grown in the Ayush campus to show them.

Specially, plants which have medicinal properties for cough, allergies, stomach pain, headache, cold, asthma, diabetics, blood pressure, sugar, uterus problems, and many other ailments will be introduced to them.

The purpose of the programme is to educate them how to treat minor elements making use of the medicinal plants available in the forest, and also to conserve the ancient Ayurveda medicine for future.

For the first of its kind in the history of Mysore dasara, this type of unique programme has been organised for mahouts and their family members, who are in city along with their Jumbos to take part in the dasara festival and are staying at the pitched tents inside the palace premises.

District Ayush Officer Dr Nagesh says, “in forests though mahouts and kavadis come across many plants rich in medicinal value, they are unaware of their medicinal properties and they wont use it. Hence, to educate them Ayush has organised a camp starting from Sunday.”

Apart this, two days once the team of doctors comprising of Dr Ramesh, Dr Uma and Dr SM Veda are providing health education, personal and menstrual hygiene and nutrition education for women members of mahouts and kavadis families.

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Now its beauty care for Mahouts family members 

A team of three doctors of Ayush are not only educating about hygiene and properties of medicinal plants for the mahouts family members, where as they are been thought how to maintain good health, food diet, health, hair, eye care, food diet, beauty and much more.

To make them understand better, they are screening power point presentation and are making them to understand better about various health aspects screening related photographers.

As visual representations influences more and remains in memory for long time doctors have come out with this way. It has also easy for doctors to gather women in large number and hold the attention for long time.

One of the Mahouts wife Gowri, says “earlier the doctors used to give oral awareness and we were not able to understand. Now, they are bringing laptop and are showing related picture to us, from which we to are following what they mean.”

“The beauty tips provided them are very simple and are available at home. What we need is to do some process with its. We enjoy the classes very much,” says Thulasi.

Doctor Veda says food grains, pulses names are addressed in entirely different way and the power point presentation has helped them lot to understand better what we are saying.

  

Shut down of Lansdowne Building affects student community

Shut down of the century-old Lansdowne Building has not only affected the tenants doing good business since decades there, but also the student community, as the building was a last stop for used text books.

The small stretch of road was a student's haven to get all their works done at the shops here. Be it Middle school, High School or Degree books all were available here at discounted rate. Even specialised books referred by students of professional courses such as Engineering, Medical, litterateur were available here.

The building housed nine book stalls in which two of them sold exclusively second hand books. Since new books work out to be costly, students prefer used textbooks.

With admissions to Engineering colleges completed 20 days ago, the demand for text books has gone up as there are seven Engineering colleges in the city and the students are eager to procure the text books of this semester and even professional colleges strictly adhere to the academic schedule completing the course in time.

Prashanth owner of Gayatri Book says, “demand for both new and old books is good here. But now, books are lying idle inside the locked shop and we are helpless. Though recently the district administration allowed us to remove the goods stocked inside our shops, the time given was not sufficient as such most of the books are still struck inside. Those which we could bring out has already been sold."

Abudakar Siddiqui of Madina Book House said, “ours being a second hand book stall, a large number of students used to visit our shop to buy and resell the books. Every six months during the start of new semester Engineering students used to throng shops to purchase the books. Our regular customers are still calling to find out when the book stalls will be reopened.”

“We regularly purchase the second hand books at reasonable price here. We always got the book here we sought after just roaming a couple of shops. Now, due to the closure of book stalls we are waiting for the shops to re-open,” says Anirudh a student of NIE College.

The tenants are eagerly waiting when will be the temporary sheds promised by the MCC will be erected. Meantime, this loss of business at Lansdowne building has come as a blessing for other shops, where some students are heading.    

On a negative note: Small districts see big rise in child missing cases

Smaller districts seem to in competition with the bigger ones of the state when it comes to the missing cases of children. Karnataka Missing Child Bureau statistics show that districts like Ramnagar, Mandya, Yadgir, Gadag, Hassan, Haveri and Shimoga have registered a spurt in the number of cases in the last two years with some of them even witnessing increase in manifolds.

Being attracted to the fancies of city life, wanting to lead luxurious life and elopement are said to the major factors which is driving children to run away from homes. A majority of these children come from BPL families whose parents are engaged in labour or agricultural activities. Parents being deep in debt is also one of the reason which distances their children from them.

Ramnagar which registered 28 cases in 2010 saw 154 going missing from its land in 2011. worse, within seven months of the year 2012, the district bordering Bangalore registered 359 cases of which 140 have been traced. Its neighbouring district, Mandya went up from 40 cases during the whole of last year to 146 in just seven months this year. Likewise, Hassan went up from 42 to 143 and the backward Yadgir district 18 last year to 121 this year.

Gadag and Haveri reported 63 and 52 cases this year respectively,up from 10 and 8 last year. Shimoga registered 58 cases this year and 24 last year. The number of missing children traced in these districts is abysmally poor.

Jenifer, Co-ordinator of Child Line, Don Bosco, an NGO working for the welfare of street children says, the main reason for children running away from their homes is attraction towards city, better job opportunities as helpers and also being influenced by other working children who they come across.

Child psychologist say that children take the drastic decision of running away from home when unable to bear the domestic violence in the family, poverty, alcoholic father, neglect and love affairs.

Co-ordinator of the State's Missing Child Bureau, Binu Varghese, said that mostly children in the age group of 12-16 years go missing. “Coming from remote places these children are lured by city's life. When it comes to girls, majority of them elope with their loved ones. The delay in registering missing complaints is a great setback creating lot of problems, as they get employed and settled down making it difficult to trace. If the complaint is registered immediately it will be helpful to trace the children,” he added.

Ramnagar Shantha Jeeva Jyothi Missing Children Bureau Director Sundaram Edwin said, "It is not just poverty but even life-style changes, impact of television and conflicts in the family provoke these children to run away from homes. As Ramnagar is closer to Bangalore more children flee to Bangalore. Various awareness programme has been organised to educate parents to take care of their wards,” he added.

Bangalore where thousands of missing cases were registered in the past has seen a steady decline in the number of cases registered in the last two years. Officials say, it might be because parents prevent eloping cases and they don't want to register complaints. 'Anyways, with the help of latest technology, strict monitoring and online registration of complaints more number of children are being traced and handed over to their families,' say Officials.

District	2010	2011	2012 (July)
Ramnagar	28	154	359
Mandya	108	40	146
Hassan	85	42	143
Yadgiri	10	18	121
Gadag	12	10	63
Haveri	26	8	52
Shimoga	29	24	58
Bellary	17	16	20

Year 2009-2012 (upto July)	Missing Complaints	Traced	Untraced
Male	13202	6683	6519
Female	4502	1181	3321
Total	17704	7864	9840

Farmer Puttaraju cultivates rare traditional colour maize in his land

Rain or severe drought. Puttaraju, an organic farmer of Byloor Village, Kollegal Taluk in Chamarajanagar will always get good returns from his land. He has cultivated a combination of 14 varieties of Ragi, different types of minor millets, pulses, and traditional colour maize in his 2 cares land. Monoculture of maize rules in his village, but millets where even finger millet as a main crop.

Being a small farmer in the obtained two acres of land, he has strive hard to cultivate a combination of different millets, pulses. He has produced 'Akkadi', an traditional multi cropping system in his land. From which he produces about nine varieties of oilseeds, pulses millets and ensure the house hold food security and also get good returns. The major advantage of Akkadi is that even if one crops fails, several other crops will grow.

One of the rare traditional colour maize which are only prevailing in South India and is conserved by the Soliga Community of Biligiri Range can also be seen in his land.

He is the first certified organic farmer in his area based on the nutrient availability, water holding capacity, and soil fertility, in addition to natural pest and disease control. He is also inspiring the farmers in his locality and asking to save the traditional practice of farming.

“I got interested in organic faring just eight years ago. With the help of Sahaja Samrudha and Department of Agriculture, I came to know about traditional cropping systems. Now, I am very much happy. Even though rains have severely hit the farmers this year, I am getting good returns as I have grown 14 varieties of ragi. Ragi does'nt need much water,” says Puttaswamy who is in his 50's.

Krishna Prasad of Sahaja Samrudha said that ‘akkadi- traditional multi cropping of ragi act as insurance. One or the other crop will give returns to the farmer in case of rain failure or excess rain’.  

Modernization works at pilgrimage centers

In a bid to provide ambient atmosphere for tourists visiting historical and pilgrimage centers in the district, the Department of Muzrai and Tourism have jointly taken up major renovation and modernisation works at these places costing Rs 1.5 crore.

Mudukuthore, one of the Panchalingas near Talakad in T Narasipur Taluk, situated atop a hillock in the backdrop of the Somagirihill ranges attracts large number of tourist. The visitors here will cherish the picturesque backdrop of hill, as well as worship Lord Mallikarjuna. The Hill being situated on the banks of Cauvery river, one has to climb hundreds of steps to reach the temple.

As the steps to the hill temple are not properly placed, the relaying work is under progress atop the hill from Betrahalli Maramma temple to Hill, so that the visiting devotees and tourists can climb it with ease. There are about 180 steps in which already 40 steps have been relaid. The cost of the project is Rs 50 lakh.

Famous Chunchanakatte Water Falls, where the water cascades from a height of 22 meters on River Cauvery will be made as a tourist spot  at the cost of Rs 25 lakh. Sri Rama Temple at Chunchanakatte will also be developed.

Construction of toilets, drinking water tanks and rest rooms for devotees will be taken up at Kendaganna Swamy Temple in Hunsur Taluk, Srikanteshwara Swamy Temple in Nanjangud; Vaidyanatheshwara Temple at Talakadu at the cost of Rs 25 lakh respectively.

Muzrai Department Tahsildar Yathiraju said that the necessary lands will be provided by the Department whereas the expenditure incurred for the construction will be borne by the Tourism Department.  In the sanctioned Rs 1.5 crore already 1.25 crore has been released and the works are under progress.

“With steady increase in the number of devotees as well as tourists visiting the holy shrines every year, there is an urgent need to provide basic amenities at these places,” he added.

Mysore exports Ganesha idols to abroad

The clay-made Ganesha idols of Mysore city has found to be in demand from even across the seas with the artisans getting orders from NRIs settled in foreign countries. With the Ganesha Chathurthi fast approaching, a large number of NRIs residing abroad are seeking the traditional Mysore Style hand made clay Ganesha idols of our city to have a feel of celebrating festival at hometown.

In such, two families of Mysore are regularly sending about 80 Ganesha idols for foreign countries every year. Interestingly, those who import prefer clay idols without any paint or colouring.
Family of Artist B Srinivas and Revanna, fourth generation artistes are exporting the idols to such far off countries like Holland, West Indies, USA, New Zealand and various other parts of the world. The families are renowned for making Ganesha idols since the time when Mysore was ruled by the Kings.

The orders are taken three months before the festival begins and they handover it to their friends or relatives who in turn send them abroad. While, some of them will be exported by the artists itself through agencies. The idols have already been exported.

B Srinivas, fourth generation artist who exports about 60-70 idols said that from last seven-eight years the demand is increasing year to year. “Even NRI's are aware of celebrating the festival in a eco-friendly way and prefer only painless idols”.

“It is not just Mysoreans settled abroad, but even those settled in other parts of the country wish to worship only our Mysore Ganesha idols, as such the demand is quite good," said Shyam Sundar, son of Srinivas. The family sell about 80 per cent of the clay idols without paint.

Another artist Revanna who gets demand of 8-10 idols said that the traditional Ganesha idols of Mysore has its own distinctive features making it easy to identify with the idols made in other parts of the country, thereby seeking only idols made here in Mysore.

Karnataka's first Fodder Densification Unit in Chamarajanagar

Now-a-days farmers own small piece of land and with the generated less amount of income they cannot offer good amount of nutritious feed for their livestock’s. In this regard, Mysore Milk Union Limited (Mymul) is coming out with an unique project to mechanise the agro waste in districts and even cut down the waste. It will be inaugurating Karnataka's first Fodder Densification Unit (Fodder Block) at Munachanahhli in Chamarajanagar District next month.

The set-up machines will compress the dry fodder into blocks, enriching fodder value by adding cattle feed ingredients like fodder, wheat and paddy straw, mineral mixture, and much more. Due to this the dry fodders wasted by animals while eating can be prevented.

MS Lakshmi Prasad Yadav of Mymul said that wastage of about 90 per cent of dry straws can be prevented by providing blocks for animals. The produced fodder blocks will be distributed to farmers of Mysore and Chamarajanagar and transportation is also a loss cost affair.

'The block provides good quality of nutritious food for animals in a affordable price. For a big cow two block per day is sufficient, while one for smaller cow. About 60 per cent of chopped straw, cane grass, molasses, will be added to overcome nutritious deficiency. Apart this, in winter season the fooder will be stored in the unit and will be supplied in summer,' he added.

The unit will be set up in five acres of land and the estimated cost of the Projects is Rs 2.6 crore, in which Rs 1.6 crore will be funded by Government of India, under Rashtriya Krushi Vikas Yojana (RKVY) and another crore will be owned by Mymul. The capacity of the plant is it produces 12 tonnes of block per day. The Unit will be developed on the lines of Uttarkhand Densification Unit, he added.

Madhumathi, a woman farmer from Periyapatna said that “we are finding it hard to serve food for animals due to severe scarcity of fodder following droguht. The blocks will be really a boon for us as its save maximum amount of waste.”

Fodder farms in taluks

Mymul will be extending the fodder farms in all the taluks of district. Ten acres of plot will be identified in every taluks and varieties of fodder will be grown and supplied to the farmers. Already lands at KR Nagar and Hebbenathi at Periyapatna has been finalized and land identification at Mysore, Chamarajanagar, Kollegal are under progress. In the unique fodder farm set-up at Allanahalli, Mysore the officers are facing severe shortage to meet the demand of farmers.

Blindness has not dampen his spirit

Blindness has not dampen the reading spirit of this partially blind C Manjunath. Hailing from poor family amidst all odds he completed his MA, MPhil and presently is perusing his Ph.D.

Being a native of Pavagada Taluk in Tumkur District, Manjunath has seen many ups and downs in his life. His father Chandrachari, a vegetable vendor and mother Susheelamma, house wife, were not in a position to provide education for Manjunath and his another younger brother.

But, swimming courageously against the difficulties, facing the challenges with a smile on face, Manjunath who can read only from one eye in the distance on 6-7 inches, has completed his schooling in the local government school of Tumkur staying in hostel.

When, he obtained first class marks in the SSLC, it increased his spirit and willingness to read. Later, with the help of relatives and donors, he managed to complete his degree in Manday government college by scoring good marks.

From Mandya he shifted to Mysore, and completed his MA and Mphil in University of Mysore by scoring 67.9 per cent in MA. He desires become to lecturer and has even excelled in KAS Preliminary Exam.

In between, Manjunath father has expired few years ago. His mother is settled with his another son, who is an auto driver in Mandya.

Now, he is doing his PhD at Political Science Department, in University of Mysore staying in a hostel. But, due to financial problems, he is unable to bear the expenses of his PhD. Noticing his struggle, Mysore District Congress Leader Arungowda handed over him a cheque of Rs 15,000 and assured him of bearing expenses of Rs 1,000 every month.   

Guide book in braille for visually impaired visiting Palace

Earlier the blind and visually impaired visiting Mysore Palace had to contend by merely listening to the verbal descriptions of the guide but now they can read those descriptions and feel it. 

In an innovative step to provide complete information to visually challenged tourists about the city Palace, Mysore Palace Board is coming out with a tourist guide printed in Braille not just in English but also in other regional languages as well.

Just a month ago, Palace Board released the 100 “Braille tourist guide” book in English. Among 100 books about 92 books have been distributed to the needy people so far. Following the overwhelming response and collecting feedback from the visually impaired, now Palace Board not only printing its 2^nd edition in English, instead is translating the book into Kannada, Hindi and all other regional languages of Braille.

The 90 pages guide features history of palace, Wadiyar dynasty and rulers, architectural designs, temples in the place and much more details. The books are being printed at Deaf and Dumb Braille Government Printing Press. The books are distributed to deaf and visually impaired at free of cost. Place Guides have been asked to inform the needy people about the Guide Book.

Palace board deputy director TS Subramanya said that complete tourist information has been printed in the guide book. “Translation to Kannada Braille is all most over and shortly the books will be brought out. While, other languages translations are on process.”   

450 households in Udgur and Kadakola to be electrified using solar energy

With the entire State going through acute power shortage in recent days due to several reasons, it is not only industries who are hit hard but even villagers who depend on power for irrigating their lands, have been equally affected by the power cut, not to mention remote housholds who go without power for several days.


Realising this is the opportunity to popularise renewable energy, Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) is collecting details of the villages in the district to make them completely solarised, so they can get uninterrupted power supply.

In the same, KREDL has selected two villages, one at Udgur a remote village situated on HD Kote Road and the other, Kadakola in Nanjangud Taluk to make them completely solar village.

There are around 1,000 households in both the village and after the successful commissioning of the solar power inverters, more than 450 households in these villages will be lighted up with eco-friendly, renewable and sustainable solar energy.

KREDL will be providing four lights to each household costing Rs 20,000. The villagers will get a subsidy of Rs.4000 and the balance has to be paid by them in easy installments. Villagers especially women will be educated  about the importance of renewable energy and will be maintained by youngsters who have been provided with special training.

KREDL Project Engineer DK Dinesh Kumar said that because of the drastic power cuts the villagers don't get power after sunset to light their homes. 'Hence, steps are being taken to popularise the use of solar energy in all villages as it is clean and efficient. Solar energy is affordable and easily available alternative energy source. By using solar energy it will ease the domestic work as well as cut down the expenditure.'

“Even though several households in the villages have access to electricity from ESCOMs, it is of no use due to frequent power cuts. Women continue to use candles (paraffin) or kerosene lamps to light their houses, while use firewood for cooking and all these release more cabon-di-oxide to the atmosphere and are not environment friendly. Added to it women are exposed to health risks as they inhale the toxic fumes produced daily. So villagers are being educated to use the alternative energy,” he added.

Mysore Palace to house Solar Energy Park

In future it is not merely the beautiful gardens, marvelous architecture, illumination and temples of Mysore Palace that will draw the attention of tourists but another attraction will be soon added to the list, an energy park, powered entirely from solar.

The world-famous Mysore Palace which attracts thousands of tourists every year will soon house a solar energy park at the North East side of the Palace. The park to be set up at the entrance of Jaya Marthandaiah Gate at an investment of Rs 50 lakh, will be funded by Central Government under SADP programme of Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE). Similar parks will be set up at Dariya Doulath in Srirangapatna and Channakeshava Temple in Somanathpura near T Narasipura at a cost of Rs 25 lakh.

The parks are being setup as part of an initiative by the Karnataka Renewable Energy Development Limited (KREDL) to educate people about benefits of using solar energy for domestic and commercial applications, alongside various other forms of non-conventional energy. The energy park houses solar lights, solar garden lights, solar huts, solar TV, solar cookers, solar toy cars and solar hut among many others. To aid farmers, models of solar photovoltaic water pumps will also be displayed in the park.

5kw of Solar Photovoltaic will be placed above the roof of bamboo-based solar hut from which about 20 unit of power will be generated per day. The generated power will used to run fans, television, garden lights, street lights, and many more. Apart this, from the 900 watt solar PV pump water will be pumped for garden purpose.Through Solar Photovoltaic Power Plant (Solar Hut) people will be educated about storing energy and how to run household appliances using only solar energy. According to sources, the hut being set up similar to Bangalore Energy park consisting of a weighing machine, television, refrigerator and a computer running on captive power of solar energy.

Mysore Branch Office KREDL Project Engineer DK Dinesh Kumar said, Mysore Palace, Dariya Doulath and Somanathpura were selected for the development of energy park, as it attracts lakhs of tourists every year. “As Mysore is one of the cities selected under model solar city project, the park when set-up will be very useful to educate people about solar energy,” he added.

Lansdowne building row: Daily laborers have been badly affected

There was a turnover of up to Rs 15 lakh per day at Lansdowne building 

The roof collapse of a shop at the 120-year-old Lansdowne building, has pushed around 600 people, especial daily laborers into a turmoil. Their future is uncertain as they are not aware of when the shops will open. About 40-50 advocates, Notary, Books shops and newspapers sellers are also affected, as the place has been declared as prohibited area, closing down hundreds of shops.

The building has provided job for many graduates. Specially, the typist, DTP operators who are well educated, fed up with searching job, had obtained shelter here. Majority of the people who were working as typist, DTP operators, xerox machine operators, photo laminators are now suffering hard for their livelihood.

The tenants are now in a fear that if the government takes decision to reconstruct the building, it takes four-five years to construct and till then what their future. They are requesting government to repair the building or else to provide them alternative place and help them to earn their bread.

The Lansdowne building was familiar for lamination, xerox, DTP, making of rubber stamps, book binding, and there was a turnover of up to Rs 15 lakh Per day. Typist used to pay a rent from Rs 120-150 per day for owners for providing space for them to sit in the shop, but DTP operators used to pay 60 per cent in what they earn to the owners, as the computers were installed by owners.

People used to buzz here always to get their documents type like complaints letter to Police, Corporation and other civic bodies along with affidavit and resale documents, rented agreements, xerox, lamination. While, students used to find the rare books at the book house.

Typist Suma says, “from past 15 years I am working here and am the sole bread earner in my family. My husband is physically handicapped and is jobless. Son is studying in first PUC. From last four days without work I am struggling hard to lead life, more over this is month end. I am eagerly waiting what the decision will be taken by officials.”

Mysore Pathrike, which was running in the building since 1933, is also severely affected by the close of the shops. News Editor Mohan says, “the works have been held up and we working from home and getting printed paper outside.”

“Our business depends on the customer. Some time we get handsome of money upto Rs 400-500, but some time not even a Rs 100. The sudden close of shops has made us numb,” says Usha, another typist.

Nonagenarian struggles to get pension of just Rs 400

Corruption and insensitivity in bureaucracy has stooped to such a level that they hardly can see sufferings of people. In an heart-rending incident, a Ninety-five-year-old woman is running from pillar to posts in government offices since last fourteen months after her pension was stopped without assigning any reasons.

MS Gowramma, resident of the Bannimantap is the unfortunate poor widow striving hard to get the pension of Rs 400. She is fed-up over a year knocking on the doors of Tahsildar Office and DC office seeking for pension. But the officials seem to have completely turned blind eye by simply ignoring her.

Being deaf, with severe intumescence in legs, she walks for about five kilometers seeking pension. But, she is turned back repeatedly as the officers refuse her request for pension.

Gowramma lost her husband two decades ago. Among six children (four boys and two girls), she has even lost her three elder sons and her married daughters are settled far away. Right now, she is residing with her last son’s wife at Bannimantap. Her last son addicted to alcohol has deserted mother and wife. She said from last 14 months she has not obtained her pension, whereas earlier she was receiving.

She says, “When I paid visit to Thasildar office seeking pension, they asked me to visit DC's office. If I come here they ask me to visit Tahsildar office. I am totally confused whats happening with me. Why the officers wont understand my ageism problem. I am not even a position to come in bus, as the officers ask me to visit repeatedly. If I spend the money for my travel, then what the use in getting pension. I request the officials to release my pension amount at the earliest.”

Deputy Commissioner PS Vastrad said that “when the women visits  office next time, I will collect the details of her and ask the Thasildar to look into the issue.”

Tahsildar Naveen Joseph said that “old pension has been stopped from past few months to weed out fake pensioners and the issue will be set it out shortly. People have been asked to visit the nearby zonal offices for clarifications,” he added.

Animal wastes will be converted into biofuel at Mysore Zoo

Starting next month, the cooking bill of Chamarajendra Zoological Gardens is all set to become slimmer as the bio-gas plant will become operartional. The Zoo requires around 30 LPG cylinders every month to cook food for the animals and once the new facility is in place then it stop using LPG cylinders saving Rs 13,000 every month.

The capacity of the proposed Biogas Plant to handle organic and bio-degradable wastes 1500 kg, while the zoo is already generating around 500 kg of animal and kitchen wastes daily. By just utilizing the wastes produced by the elephants and buffalos enough gaseous fuel will be generated to meet the demands of cooking.

Karnataka Zoo Authority Chairman Nanjundaswamy informed that the work has reached the finishing stage and will be ready for inauguration by next month. The generated fuel will be fed directly to the kitchen through pipes thereby reducing the usage of LPG.

Assistant Engineer Nagendrappa said that every month they need around 30 cylinders costing around Rs 13,000 which can be saved substantially if the bio-fuel generated in house is also made use of. “As the animal wastes and water are mixed in equal percentages (50:50), the resulting gas generated is quite sufficient", he added.

The cost of the project is Rs 20 lakh of which Rs 18 lakh will be funded by Mysore City Corporation under JNNURM and the remaining Rs 2 lakh will be borne by Zoo. The project is being overseen and implemented by National Institute of Engineering-Center for Renewable Energy and Sustainable Technologies (NIE-CREST) and the technology is developed by Babha
Atomic Research Centre. (BARC)

Drinking Water Facility
To ease the drinking water problem at Zoo, the authorities are setting up
drinking water tanks at three places. Even, water purification is done to
provide safe drinking water, which are also being readied by this month end.