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Wednesday, February 27, 2019
House Democrats to release 'Medicare for All' bill — without a price tag
Government-run single-payer system would eliminate most private health insurance and cover abortion.
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Tuesday, February 26, 2019
No respite for Bengaluru: Hot days to continue this week
February 25 was the hottest February day in Bengaluru in over a decade.
Image for representation
As the mercury continues to soar, citizens of Bengaluru experienced the hottest February day it has seen in a decade on February 25, with the maximum temperature being 35.5 degrees Celsius, which was a deviation of 3.6 degrees above the normal temperature. There has been no rainfall for many days now in Bangalore, and soil moisture is very less in Karnataka. And also, there is also no system over this region which is bringing rainfall, and therefore the temperature has risen,” said C S Patil, the director-in-charge for the Indian Meteorological Department in Bengaluru. However, Bengalureans may not get respite from the heat anytime soon, as the temperatures will persist this week. On Tuesday, the temperature in the city was around 34 degrees. Speaking to the New Indian Express, Director-in-Charge Geeta Agnihotri said, “We have seen a few spells of hot weather this February, even before the onset of summer, which is generally declared from March 1. Several issues, including rapid urbanisation, can be the cause of these weather patterns”. Reports say that the highest temperature for a day in February was 35.9 degrees Celsius on February 17, 2005. However, not just Bengaluru, but Karnataka state as a whole has to brace itself for a hot summer. Speaking to TNM earlier, officials of the Met department said that with no predicted rainfall, the heat will continue. “The IMD is going to come up with its official outlook next week, but with temperatures in all districts and neighbouring states being above normal, we are expecting a hotter than usual summer,” Sunil M Gavaskar, the meteorologist at the Karnataka State Natural Disaster Monitoring Centre told TNM. “Presently due to increased humidity and no rains, people in the entire coastal belt and neighbouring areas will feel more uncomfortable compared to the northern districts despite comparatively low temperatures,” he added.
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Fire in Bandipur Tiger Reserve finally put out after 5 days
According to official estimates, 500 hectares of forests have been engulfed in high intensity fires.
PTI
The fire that had engulfed the forests of the Bandipur Tiger Reserve in Karnataka and which had been raging for five long days, was finally doused on Tuesday. Sridhar Punatti, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests and the head of the Forest department in Karnataka confirmed the development to TNM. Punnati said, “Fortunately, there is no fire today. The helicopters did one sortie. Till now, everything seems to be under control. We will still wait till evening. We have already sent back one of the helicopters. One helicopter has been kept here for standby. By evening, it will be shifted back to Mysuru." Speaking about the damage, Punnati told TNM, “According to satellite imagery, it is estimated that high intensity fire has affected 500 hectares mostly in the hillside of Gopalaswamy Betta and the rest of it is mostly low-intensity fire. That is all we can say as of now.” High-intensity fire as opposed to ground fire engulfs all forms of plant growth including big trees. He further confirmed no animals have been lost due to these fires till now, as noted by the Forest department. Speaking to reporters, Forest Minister Satish Jarkiholi on Monday said the recent fires have affected 2,000 hectares of forest land. An official statement from the Indian Air Force is awaited. On Monday, two helicopters of the Indian Air Force had done a total of 10 sorties spraying approximately 30,000 Iitres of water to fight the fire in the Gopalaswamy Betta range of the tiger reserve located in Chamarajanagar district. Other than the GS Betta range, the fire had also massively impacted the adjoining ranges of Bandipur and Kundikere. This, after Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy on Monday held a discussion with the Ministry of Defence and a decision was taken to seek the help of the Indian Air Force, as four days of efforts by firemen, foresters and volunteers had failed to put out the fire. The same day, Chief Secretary TM Vijaya Bhaskar was asked to personally monitor the situation after the state government faced criticism from several quarters for reacting late to the issue. TNM had reported how once the fire had spread to a wide area, the prevalent dry conditions, the hilly terrain and high wind speeds compounded the problem.
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2 new cases of H1N1 confirmed in K’taka’s Shimoga, officials step up surveillance
A total of four people have tested positive for swine flu in Shimoga’s Hosanagara taluk in the past two weeks.
Four individuals have tested positive for swine flu in Karnataka’s Shimoga district. According to district health officials, two confirmed cases were identified yesterday in the district’s Hosanagara taluk. Another two people were confirmed to have contracted the flu a little over a week ago. The district officials are now undertaking all surveillance efforts to ensure that the spread of the disease is contained and to identify any others who may be presenting with the flu. The affected individuals have been identified as Vanajalakshmi (40), Hemavathi (39), and two children of the ages 6 and 7. All of them were taken to local hospitals and given treatment. They are doing significantly better and will be discharged soon. “We just confirmed that two individuals presented with swine flu and are on the lookout for others who may be presenting with it as well,” says district surveillance officer (DSO) Dr BS Shankarappa to TNM. “We have instructed the Health department to be on high alert and are following three major points: suspect, isolate, and treat.” The department is now conducting close inspection to determine how many others may have been affected by swine flu. “We have a sufficient stock of Tamiflu capsules in different dosages, so there is no need to panic. All the general hospitals have been asked to maintain a separate ward for those who may be presenting with suspected swine flu. Isolation wards are a major cornerstone in preventive measures,” adds Dr Shankarappa. In addition, protective face masks are also being distributed in these areas. Swine flu or H1N1, is caused by the influenza A virus. Symptoms of the flu include persistent fever, sore throat, cough, headache, nausea and vomiting. Shimoga was earlier under the lens this year after a number of cases of Kyasanur Forest Disease (KFD) or ‘monkey fever’ were reported from the district. At least five individuals had succumbed to it in a period of a few months. It was later found that proper vaccination drives had not been held routinely, which played a major role in the outbreak.
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How a dedicated official’s efforts and a digital library transformed a Mysuru village
Not long ago, Haradanahalli village in Mysuru was plagued by open defecation and empty classrooms. Today, the story is starkly and pleasantly different.
All images by Omjasvin MD
‘What do you want to become when you grow up?’ If you asked this question at Haradanahalli High School two years ago, you would not have gotten any response, for the classrooms were mostly empty. But now, in full attendance, the students confidently answer, “civil servant”, “doctor”, “engineer” and “scientist”. The once littered and stinking streets of Haradanahalli are now clean and are even used for preparing dry fodder for the cattle and drying out grains. From practising rampant open defecation, the villagers have now ensured that almost every home has a toilet. All of this transformation has happened in about two years, thanks to the efforts of a determined Panchayat Development Officer (PDO) as well as exposure through a state-of-the-art digital library he set up in the village’s Gram Panchayat office. First task: Fixing the hygiene Not too long ago, you could see faeces on newly built roads from open defecation. The village’s Gram Panchayat, home to 1,750 families, was at the 45th place for toilet construction among 123 villages in Mysuru district. After taking charge as the PDO in 2017, Mahadevaswamy was demoralised to see Haradanahalli’s condition. He made an impassioned plea by collecting the faeces he saw on the road, and going door to door. Moved, the villagers took to the streets with brooms and water, and cleaned up the roads. While men were reluctant to change and not keen on building toilets, women were more enthusiastic about the move, Mahadevaswamy said. “With almost every house having a toilet now, women do not face as many problems from natural and social vermins,” Mahadevaswamy shared. His commendable work in the village was recognised and he was awarded Rs 10 lakh as the Swachh Bharat Abhiyan 2018 Champion for building 800 toilets in a month in six villages in Nanjangud taluk. He used half of this amount to set up the digital library. And with that, Mahadevaswamy set out to address the issue of education. Digital library, a window to the world The digital library, set up in a 400 square feet room, serves many functions, Mahadevaswamy explained. Equipped with five computers, one projector, all-day internet access and power backup, not only does it allow students of different ages to access over 1,000 e-books on various subjects. They also have staff who teach primary school students how to use computers, and provide guidance for those who want to pursue higher studies. “Experienced professionals from Mysuru and Bengaluru guide the students about competitive exams via video calls. We also get study material online,” Mahadevaswamy said. The library also allows students to supplement what they are learning at school. “Students in Haradanahalli start learning the English alphabet only in class eight. Digital activity-based learning like reading books, watching English language cartoons and playing some online games has enhanced their progress in reading, speaking and writing in English,” he explained. Apart from improving language skills, the library allows students to see chapters in maths, science and social science presented as videos, allowing them to visualise as they learn, shared Ranjitha V, a science teacher at the Haradanahalli High School. The library has had a positive impact on the 250 students in the high school. Class 10 students say it helps them to prepare well for the upcoming board exams. “When I see how a human brain functions, it is easy for me to remember it,” said Janvi P, a student and also a state level athlete. Mahadevaswamy noted that initially only 30 to 60 students from Haradanahalli would come to the library. Now however, around 600 students from across the panchayat – from villages including Kaaturu, Ibbala, Allianapura, Hucchagani, and Basapura – come regularly. Digital Assistance The library also provides digital assistance to the villagers. “We help villagers get birth certificates, death certificates, caste certificates and Aadhaar linking done very quickly,” Mahadevaswamy said. Further, a D-space app allows villagers to access this data on their phones once they register. Due to its tremendous success, the PDO wants to expand the library. Two more rooms are being constructed to install a dozen more computers to accommodate more students. A plan is being formulated to install another projector screen in the common hall of the Panchayat office to screen awareness videos on hygiene, sanitation, and education. “This helps bringing the villagers together to discuss these issues, encourage a sense a community,” Mahadevaswamy said. Mahadevaswamy is open to ideas on further development, and can be reached at 7338150059.
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Kalburgi case transferred to K’taka SIT after SC finds similarity to Lankesh murder
The Supreme Court has also directed that SIT probe into the murder of MM Kalburgi will be monitored by the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday transferred the murder case of rationalist and author MM Kalburgi to the Karnataka SIT, which is currently probing journalist Gauri Lankesh’s murder. The apex court, which was hearing a petition filed by MM Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi seeking an independent probe, said that probe will be monitored by the Dharwad bench of the Karnataka High Court. The Supreme Court bench also stated that if the four cases – the murders of Gauri Lankesh, MM Kalburgi, Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar – are linked, then one special investigating team must probe all four murders and must be monitored by one High Court. When the question of handing over the case to Maharashtra SIT came up, the counsel representing Karnataka SIT said that the team of investigators was already probing the Gauri Lankesh murder and that there was no point in handing over the case to the Maharashtra SIT. The court also sought a status report in a sealed envelope detailing the investigation into the murders of Govind Pansare and Narendra Dabholkar. In the last hearing, which was held on January 25, the Supreme Court had stated that the case would not be adjourned as it was a “serious one”. "It's a very serious case and we will hear it... We are not going to adjourn the case," Justice Rohinton Nariman had said. The murder of rationalist and write MM Kalburgi was being probed by the Criminal Investigation Department of Karnataka. Rationalist and activist who fought for Maharashtra’s Anti-Superstition Act, Narendra Dabholkar, was shot dead in Pune in 2013. CPI leader Govind Pansare was shot dead in 2015. Professor Kalburgi was shot dead by two bike-borne assailants posing as college students in August 2015 inside his house. Journalist-activist Gauri Lankesh was shot dead outside her house in Bengaluru on September 5, 2017. The CBI is currently probing the murder of Narendra Dabholkar. The Maharashtra SIT is probing the killing of Govind Pansare. The Criminal Investigation Department of Karnataka is probing the murder of MM Kalburgi and the Karnataka SIT is probing the Gauri Lankesh murder case. Before the SIT had uncovered an alleged organised crime racket, which was planning the murders of several rationalists across the country, there had been no clues in the murders Dabholkar, Pansare and MM Kalburgi. The Karnataka SIT has filed a chargesheet against 18 persons in connection with Gauri Lankesh’s murder. The probe also revealed that the group which allegedly planned and executed her murder were members of Hindutva outfit Hindu Janajagruti Samiti, a sister organisation of the Sanathan Sanstha. Kalburgi’s wife Umadevi had petitioned the apex court for an independent probe as the CID had reached a dead end and the trail in the murder case of MM Kalburgi was turning cold. The petition was filed in 2018. “Even after two years, there is no progress in the investigation… The investigation requires the involvement of three states and central agencies like CBI and the NIA. Therefore, this is an exceptional case indispensably necessitating the intervention of the SC under Article 32 of the Constitution of India,” Umadevi’s petition had stated.
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