Stressed fire fighters work sans leave, weekly-oofs

 The fire fighting personnel risk their lives at stake in order to save others. Whereas they are encountering several problems and are working in stress due to severe shortage of staff.

The fire fighting personnel in Mysuru are working more than 18 hours at a stretch due to dearth of staff and are even working on their weekly offs. Because of poor working conditions and the negligence shown by the Government they are depressed and demoralised.

Fire station has short of 45 personnel and it has become challenging for staff to handle and bear the work pressure. The improper leave structure and the severe shortage in staff has led to work beyond time stipulations for the existing staff. This apart, with non recruitment of D group employees, the drivers, fireman have to clean the toilets, and rush during emergency.

Speaking to Express in anonymity, fire fighting personnel said that they are not getting leave and not even weekly offs. 'With only two fireman drivers it has become hard to maintain six vehicles in the department round the clock. We are not able to spend quality time with family and we are reeling under stress. Since 2008, the posts are not filled, and with retirements of staffs the work pressure are increasing day by day.

There are eight posts vacant out of sanctioned 12 posts for fireman drivers; 31 fireman posts are vacant out of 37; and Six post of leading fire man is vacant, out of sanctioned 9. Among the existing four drivers one is permanent driver for Regional Fire Officer, and another driver is working at Nanjangud Division. The remaining two drivers and six fireman are working over time and are attending an average of around 500 calls every year, apart from about 30-40 emergency calls to rescue animals.

Mysuru being CM's home town, any VIP movement, famous jatras they have to be in the place. During farmers protest at Cauvery basin the fire fighting personnel had a tough time to handle the situation with shortage of staff. This apart, people also call fire fighting personnel for rescue of animals/ birds caught on electric poles, fallen in trench, gorge, etc.

Divisional Fire Officer KP Gururaj said that following cauvery agitation, dasara leaves were not granted, adding within six months 70 posts will be filled in the Mysuru division.  

Enjoy spectacular 3d mapping on Mysuru Palace

For firs time 3D mapping was introduced in Mysuru during Dasara over the heritage Town Hall building. With overwhelming response for the event, the tourists association are now eying on screening the 3D mapping on Amba Vilas (Mysuru Palace). If everything goes as per the plan before next dasara the 3D mapping will be screened on historical Mysuru Palace.

Amba Vilas is one of the major attraction for tourists who visit South India and are very curious to know about the royal family, Wodeyars history. With introduce of 3D Mapping tourism in Mysore can be boosted further its learnt.

The story of Mysore Kingdom, rich heritage and culture of Mysuru, contribution of wadiyars for the development sectors and related significant story, including world famous dasara and sight seeing in district will be projected in the 3d mapping (video mapping). The existing script of Sound and Light show will be modified and will be projected attractively. Narration of the story will be done in Kannada and English version in beginning.

According to travel agents 3D mapping will draw huge crowd, than the famous sound and light show in Palace (45 minutes), as only lights are used to narrate the history of Mysuru. Whereas in video mapping object comes live which helps the viewers to understand better.

Speaking to Express, Karnataka Tourism Forum Mysuru Convenor Prashanth said that 3D mapping will be soon one of the major attraction in historical Mysuru city. Already a proposal has been sent to government to introduce the programme under PPP Model and by next dasara 3d mapping on Palace will come to reality.

'Mysuru has all the potential to boost tourism, and has to be used properly. Police Band can be used on line of 'London Change of Guard', and a performance has to be scheduled every day. Even discussions are being held to develop parks surrounding to Palace on lines of parks in Ooty,' he added.

MyBus, a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour service

A proposal has been sent to government for introduce of 'MyBus' a Hop-on Hop-off bus tour service which runs on a designated circuit in short intervals in the same lines as “The Big Bus” in London, Dubai, Paris, Vancouver etc.

Tourism Forum Convenor Prashanth, who has dreamt of this project says: 'MyBus tours showcases the best of Tourist attractions. Mysore being a major tourist hub and royal heritage city, there is lot of sight seeing places in and around Mysuru. Tourists can be taken on sight seeing and visit to Palaces, which helps to develop tourism and extend their stay in Mysuru.'

Plans to run a set of buses at equal intervals with 30 stops on routes Srirangapatna / Bird Sanctuary / Krishna Raja Sagar (Brindavan Gardens. Live Commentary, free guide services, and much more has been planned, along with a 24/7 call centre.

Applying freshly for ration card puts applicants into hardship

This could be one good example for the glaring apathy shown by bureaucracy when it comes to implementing people friendly projects. More than one lakh beneficiaries who had applied for APL and BPL ration cards two years ago are yet to receive their cards. Having deprived the beneficiaries of their rightful claim for rations, officials of the Department of Food and Civil Supplies have now asked the beneficiaries to apply once again fresh in next month, stating the requirements to issue ration cards have been changed.

Though the new guidelines came into effect just two months ago, there are more than one lakh people waiting for over two years to receive their cards. With new rule of government the sufferers are the poor beneficiaries as they have to once again run from pillar to post to collect all the relevant documents and spend a couple of hundred rupees as well as time to submit the applications refresh.

Due to staff shortage, non completion of verification process by food inspectors, officials of the department could not complete the process of issuing ration cards from last two years. Assembly elections and other government / office related works has further delayed the process of issuing of ration card. Added to this, enrollment for fresh application forms have been stopped since May and new seekers are sent back.

Admitting delay in issuing cards, officials responded that a few beneficiaries have not provided proper documents, as such incomplete and incorrect applications have been rejected. But beneficiaries say if the officials needed additional details they could have communicated with applicant and would have issued ration cards after getting details, and thereby blamed officials stating they are simply evading their duties citing flimsy reasons.

Speaking to Express, some of the beneficiaries opined that applying again for ration card is waste of time. 'We are fed up with the process of inquiring with the officials to issue ration card and the lack of sensitivity they show and we have decided not to apply again.'

“The government should consider the application already submitted by beneficiaries under new system and issue ration cards. Or else it will be difficult for senior citizens to apply freshly standing in the long queues,' says 58-year-old Premamma.

“If the officials had done their duty properly we would have not suffered from last one and half years to get the ration cards. We were informed officials will visit for verification, but none visited. Applying freshly again is nothing but harassing consumers. There is need of adopting advanced technology to adopt people friendly initiatives,” opines housewife Kavyashree.

Food and Civil Supplies Department Deputy Director K Rameshwarappa said that they have informed orally not to enroll or issue ration cards until they receive further instructions from the Government as the new system is being introduced, under which just four yardsticks are enough to issue ration cards (earlier there were 14 requirements).

'Soon application will be invited under new system and within seven days cards will be dispatched through speed post and people need not wait for long time. The enrollment process might start from December,' he added. 

As Lakshmi Puja nears, bank cashiers get busy counting crispy notes

The queues before the cash counters in city banks have become longer since the past few days. This is not because the ATM machines have gone cash dry, but due to the demand for fresh and crispy currency notes by devout Hindus who are gearing up for Lakshmi Puja, the god of wealth.

Sources in the banking sector said during Lakshmi Puja, celebrated on third day of Deepavali festival, there will be huge demand for crispy notes keeping the bank cashiers busy. The banks get fresh notes from RBI a month in advance to meet the demand. Though the banks will not able to meet the full demand of customers, they will try to provide atleast half of the fresh currencies.

While many ask for fresh notes while drawing cash, others exchange their old notes to new ones. The banks do not charge any fee for that and the exercise is seen as a goodwill gesture to keep their customers happy.

People are heading in large number for banks seeking of fresh currency notes of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 100, Rs 500 and Rs 1000 denominations. Speaking to Express, some of the banks employees said that they have distributed upto Rs 8-15 lakhs in the last one week.

While the fresh notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1000 are sought by businessman and Marwaris, others mostly ask for Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 100 denominations.

People seek fresh notes as they refuse to use the old ones for puja. They think that by changing hands, they have become 'impure'. 

Kiran, an employee of a nationalised bank said: 'The demand has gone

up for the fresh currency notes. We have already distributed more than

2 lakh of fresh notes in last three days. The demand for Rs 10, Rs 20,

Rs 100 notes are in rise, compared to Rs 1000.'

Another Bank Employee Dev Prakash said they have distributed more than 5 lakh currency notes and still people are coming seeking fresh notes. 'There

are even instances people who seek huge amount of fresh notes are sent

back as we are not able to meet the demand.'

The money will be used for decoration purpose, such as backdrop of Lakshmi Kalash, to make lotus formation and others designs. Santosh Jain said that: 'The festival is celebrated grandly by Marwadis, businessman and, gujaratis who also distribute alms and sweets to people. We perform abhisheka for Silver and Gold coins on that day, while fresh notes are kept in cash boxes, and used for decoration of Goddess Lakshmi praying her to keep the cash box brimming throughout the year.'

Keshava Murthy, a priest, said: 'Lakshmi Puja is considered as very auspicious. The festival falls on Amavasya, third day of Deepavali, and people worship Goddess Lakshmi seeking wealth and prosperity, and well being in business. Some of the people who don't get fresh notes use the coins, and there are even households who have coins collections and use the coins every year only on the day of Lakshmi Festival.'

Rubber Skill Development Center to come up at SJCE

There is a growing demand for Rubber Science and Technology education research and Training in India. In the connection, Sri Jayachamarajendra College of Engineering to set up a Center of Excellence in Rubber Skill Development at its premises.

The center consists of testing laboratory, mini conference room, lecture hall and office facility. The center will facilitate education, research and training in rubber technology,  equipment facility required for testing of rubber and allied material, laboratories and other facilities.  

An MoU has been signed by SJCE with Indian Rubber Institute (IRI) to construct a three floored building at 10000 sq ft at college premises. If everything goes as per the plan, SJCE will become a nodal center in Karnataka State for vocational training for Rubber and Allied Industries.


Dr GM Shashidhara, Principal, SJCE said that JSS-IRI Rubber Skill Development Center is first of its kind in Karnataka. The center will bridge gap between industry and Academia for sharing of knowledge and serve as a national referral hub for organising workshops, demonstrations, symposium and  providing structured training programmes on Rubber Science and Technology for academia and industry.

IRI Secretary S Vasudevarao said that the center will be a nodal for Rubber Skill development and various operations in rubber. 'Our aim is to develop skilled manpower for Industries by providing training to the students. The center will also be used for vocational training, for skill development of people from Rubber and Allied Industry as per Rubber Skill Development Corporation (RSDC) under the National Skill Development Corporation (NSDC) Programme,' he added.
 
JSS Science and Technology University VC Sangameshwar said that  within a year the center will be ready for functioning. The Centre shall also have dedicated persons with special training to maintain the facilities and the instruments with highest level of performance and conduct workshops and training courses as and when required.

National / international conferences on Rubber Science and Technology will be held in different parts of India. The fund generated from such conferences will be utilised for building infrastructure for Rubber Science and Technology Education throughout the country through its branches, he added.

Who can undergo training
More than 20 forms of training will be provided for students, which include vocational training, short term training and one year courses.
SSLC passed or PU passed students are eligible to take the course.
Diploma in Rubber Technology and Post Graduate Diploma in Rubber Technology will be introduced for BE, Btech passed students. Stipend will be given for students during the training.  

With support of industries lot of activities will be conducted and hand on experience on handling machines, and various factors involved in rubber technology, including hazardous management techniques will be taught to the students. All India Rank will be given for students.

The tradition of doll making disappearing in cultural city

The culture of making dolls is vanishing in the cultural city Mysuru.  Earlier large numbers of people were engaged in making traditional dolls and were displayed during Navaratri Festival.

The dolls were kept based on themes, and elders in the house used to narrate the stories to the children and visitors based on the themes dolls were displayed.  This was helping the children to learn about mythological stories, history, rulers, heritage and cultural significances, etc. Whereas down the years not only the doll makers, while those display dolls are also declining.

Lack of space crunch to store the dolls collection at houses, change in life style, easily available readymade dolls, lack of interests among young generation are said to be the reasons. Couple of the traditional doll makers who are in 60’s to 70s admitted that there are no new comers in doll making, and the tradition of doll making is disappearing.

“Except those displaying dolls from last more than six decades we can find the home made dolls. The things have change in a drastic way, and the doll making is in extinct. As most of the women are working class, those come forward to place dolls are also very few. It appears in few years the traditional might completely stop,” they opine.

85-year-old Prema Vittal, who has stopped placing dolls from last couple of years, due to  lack of support from younger generation said: ‘Now-a-days people are not showing enthusiasm to make dolls at home. There were days where few months prior to Navaratri dolls were created and beautifully decorated. We are missing the grandeur of the Navaratri festival today. In last two decades lot of changes has taken place in related to cultural and traditional aspects.’

Sexagerian Mangala Sathyan who wanted to keep the tradition alive, introduced an concept of awarding prizes for best doll show three decades ago. Whereas, from last couple of years she has stepped back due to lack of support, and interests among women folk.

She says: “Its hard to find even a couple of doll makers now-a-days. Some of them bring ready dolls and place them just for a show off and no theme based dolls are placed. The tradition and concept of Navaratri has changed completely. Without any traditional touch, few place dolls for namesake and to take part in doll show contests. Doll show helps to know our neighbours and build harmony. There is need of reviving the lost art form and engage people to continue with doll keeping tradition and making dolls, and not to give traditional practice.”

Exclusive camp for Dasara Jumbos to keep them fit round the year

A camp exclusively for elephants which take part in the Dasara procession will be set up soon. Plans are on cards to set up a camp either at Nagarahole or Bandipur to house the elephants and provide them with special care round the year.

The elephants will be given utmost care in camps and will be provided with special diet rich in protein and carbohydrates. Everyday the jumbos will be fed with green gram, wheat, boiled rice, vegetables, urud dal, jaggery, black gram, sugarcane, Boiled cereals, pulses, onions, coconut and several other food which are rich in nutritious supplements and make them gain more weight. By gaining weight they get good stamina to brave the sun, and bare the heavy loads.

Usually in the forest the elephants are fed with green grass, paddy and left openly in forest, due to this there will be lot of variations in their diet. With providing special diet for them it helps them to increase stamina, and strengthen muscles.

About 14 elephants take part in Dasara procession every year. They will be brought to Palace 45 days prior to Dasara in order to fed them special nutritious supplements, which helps the elephants to gain weight upto 450 kg in a month. Once they return to their respective camps they miss this 'Royal Food'. Thus, measures have been taken to set up a exclusive camp for panchyderms which participate in dasara.

Speaking to Express RFO Devaraj said: 'The elephants have gained weight from 250 to 300 kg in the last one month. This was possible because nutritious food was provided every day and a special care was given for jumbos.'

'By daily providing them with nutritious supplements there is no need of special treatment during Dasara, and meantime helps jumbos to remain fit round the year. Vegetables like cucumber, betrrot, radish, carrot, sliced onions, sugarcane boiled pulses, cereals added with salt is given largely to elephants in the camp. Already a meeting have been held and soon a final call will be taken in this regard,' he added.

Veterinary Dr Nagaraj said that an average of Rs 4,000 to Rs 5000 is spent on dasara elephant's food daily. Special ration of food around 10 to 12 kg will be given twice a day, this apart normal food, snacks, carbohydrate content foods will be provided till last day of Dasara ceremony. 

GM technology is answer for the emerging problems in agriculture sector

'Adoption of GM technology is the answer for emerging problems in agriculture sector,' opined Agriculture Scientist Dr Vasanthkumar Thimakapura. 'Drought resistance varieties are available in GM based. Its high time farmers should adopt scientific methods and should increase their production, quality. If we wont adopt it, country like India will be a big looser,' he alerted.

He was speaking at the symposium on ‘Climate is changing: Food and Agriculture must too’, organised by Department of Food Science and Nutrition, Yuvaraja’s College and World Food Day here on Sunday. 'Adding, GM technology seeds varieties will not cause any harm, and GM crops are more safe than the traditional crops. There is a need of creating awareness among farmers in the regard,' he opined.

Stating agriculture Sector has turned as biggest challenging field down the years, he further stressed the need for research on different crop varieties, which can be easily adoptable to the varying climate changes.

“Scientists should work towards developing simple, reliable and economic forecasting system. There is also need to develop disease resistant, insect resistant, drought resistant, salinity resistant crop varieties, which are adoptable to the varying climate changes and benefits immensely for agriculture scientists.”

'Change in climate pattern also changes the crop dimension. Insects and diseases damage crop due to climate change. Its estimated that about 30 per cent of crops we lost due to insects and diseases.
Weather condition, humidity, temperature, land scarcity, water availability and several other factors have become cause of worrisome today,' he regretted.

He further suggested farmers to grow short term crops like maize, pulses, millets, ragi, and to adopt drip irrigation and construct ponds to conserve water, and adopt measures to increase the ground water level.

Speaking on the occasion, Dr Jamuna Prakash, Professor, DoS in Food Science and Nutrition, University of Mysore said that though India produces good quantity of food, more than 2 millions people people are suffering rom micro nutritious deficiency.

'The antibiotics used for animals is getting into our body, and people are losing immunity and resistance power. Change in food habit and lie style has also severally affected the health. Al this has led to increasing mortality, increase morbidity, lower work performance,' she underlined.

'Due to improper storage conditions, decreasing area of cultivation, unrestrain pets, changing climate, drought and several others reasons the production is decreasing down the years and today demand and supply have turned major agricultural challenges.
India and China are major rice growers in the world. Following decrease in paddy cultivation it might cause scarcity for rice across the world in future', she added. 

Peanut sellers educates people about cauvery water dispute on wheels

Prime Minister Narendra Modi should immediately take a call to link Ganga-Cauvery to solve water dispute of both Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, says Venkatesh.

A peanut seller in trains is creating awareness among public by distributing handbills containing complete information about Cauvery water dispute.
Keeping a bunch of handbills in his peanut basket, Venkatesh, native of Mukanahalli Village, Chamarajanagar District is distributing the handbills to the commuters between Mysuru-Bengaluru train from last two weeks, thereby asking people to raise voice over cauvery issue.
Venkatesh who has studied 4th standard, daily earns Rs 300 to Rs 500 by selling peanuts on wheels. Out of his hard earned money he has printed about 3,000 handbills and is distributing to the commuters in train. People who are happy after reading the handbills, have contributed him small amount of money to get more xerox and distribute for more people, which has brought happiness for him.
He is not only creating awareness among general public, which drawing attention of elected representatives who commute in trains by handing over the handbills. For those don’t know to read, he explains them for two-three minutes in oral.
In his four page booklet he has given a call for Kannadigas to come together and raise voice for the cauvery issues. He has urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi for linking Rivers Ganga and Cauvery to solve the water issues of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, including Andhra Pradesh. He has highlighted how even after Independence we are following the 1892 agreement and releasing water to Tamil Nadu, and failure to resolve the issue even after Independence of seven decades.
He has gone through Indian Constitution, Cauvery Water Judgements, Commiitees report before penning a write up.

Speaking to Express, 35-year-old Venkatesh said: 'I come across river cauvery several times in a day, while commuting between Bengaluru-Mysuru. From last 15 years am selling peanut in trains, and a special bondage has developed within me, which made me to print handbills and educate people.'
The State government should give importance to distribute water for farmers in the five district of Cauvery Catchment area and protect the interest of farmers. If same thing continues for couple of years, farmers in the region will migrate to urban areas in search of job to eke for livelihood, and villagers will disappear gradually, says Venkatesh.
Hailing from a poor farmer family, I know the ups and downs in agriculture sector, plights of farmers and importance of water. Any citizen takes a call over the row, I will be very happy. Its high time PM Modi should intervene and resolve this issue, he stressed.