Stuck in lockdown, Spanish tourist learns traditional farming and Kannada

Features

He had come to check if there were any important mails and says cycling to office is the fastest way to get around Bangalore now.

Adithya Sandeep

For Teresa Soriano Mascaros, the repeated description of life in India by her brother Carlos was what developed her curiosity to visit the country herself. An industrial designer by profession, Teresa, who hails from Valencia in Spain, was keen to explore the subcontinent. Arriving in Heranjalu, a village in Kundapur Taluk of Udupi district and a guest of Krishna Pujari (her brother’s colleague in India and the co-founder of Reality Tours and Travel), Teresa was scheduled to meet her friend. “From India, we had planned to visit Sri Lanka and then proceed towards Spain in the month of May,” Teresa told the media. However, in a sudden turn of events, it was during her stay in Kundapur that the nationwide lockdown was declared in India. “My friend was stuck in Mumbai and after careful consideration, I advised him to go back to Spain from there,” she said. However, stuck in Heranjalu village, Teresa was not disheartened. She knew Krishna Pujari, who has been her brother’s friend for the past eight years, and Teresa says she made the best use of her time getting more familiar with the life, culture, customs and traditions of the village. In the last four months, Teresa said that she had a first-hand experience in farming, agriculture, mat weaving and various other rural vocations. Teresa attributes most of her rural exposure to Chikkamma Poojari, Krishna Pujari’s mother, who taught her various traditional practices of the village. “Teresa became adept in milking cows, broom making, paddy transplantation and even peanut cultivation. She has learnt the art of rangoli drawing and has also shown keen interest in learning the Kundapur Kannada language,” Krishna Pujari said. He added that Teresa easily embedded herself into the coastal Karnataka lifestyle and relished home-cooked local cuisine. “Chicken sukka, fish curry, sambhar and idlis are her favourite,” he said. Besides, Teresa also involved herself with the household chores, kitchen and experimenting with traditional methods of washing clothes. “I have great regard for the people of the village here. The care and warmth I received make me feel safer than the urban environment. People treated me as a part of their family. Never felt away from home,” Teresa said. With the easing of travel restriction in Karnataka, Teresa proceeded to Goa last week to enjoy her last leg of an extended vacation, before returning to her hometown in Spain. Speaking to TNM, Krishna Pujari said he was glad that his family could help Teresa through these challenging times. “She was regarded as a daughter in our family. We welcomed her dearly and she sincerely reciprocated by blending with our roots and cultural ties. We hope to see her again soon so that all of us can mutually enrich our cultural learning,” he said. Story by Story Infinity (Subs and Scribes Media Ventures LLP.)

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3kuIZwe
via IFTTT

Karnataka CM Yediyurappa discharged after testing negative for coronavirus

Coronavirus

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had tested positive for COVID-19 and was receiving treatment at a private hospital since August 2

TNM Staff

Representational image/PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa, on Monday, was discharged from Manipal Hospital in Bengaluru where he was admitted on August 2 after testing positive for the novel Coronavirus disease. Although he was asymptomatic, he was admitted to the hospital as a precautionary measure considering his advanced age. He will undergo home quarantine till the end of this week, sources in his office told TNM.  The hospital and the CM’s office had maintained that the CM’s health condition remained stable over these days as he responded well to the treatment. He was closely under the observation of an interdisciplinary team of doctors.  The CM had kept a close tab on the state’s response on the floods as well as the pandemic remotely from the hospital and instructed officials through regular virtual meetings. In order to avoid any delay, he had given Chief Secretary Vijaya Bhaskar a free hand to take emergency mitigation measures for flood relief without consulting him. A day after getting admitted, he had tweeted a video of himself assuring that he was in stable condition and expressed his confidence to recover swiftly. He also claimed that the state’s response to the pandemic was in no way hampered due to his hospitalization. In his video message, he had also urged the people of the state to follow COVID-19 regulations of wearing masks and maintaining physical distance. Several photographs and videos of the Chief Minister working from the hospital, scrutinising and signing on official documents, were released. According to reports, Yediyurappa regularly held meetings with officials and ministers over the phone as well.  Along with the CM, his daughter too had caught the infection and was admitted in the same facility. Prior to testing positive, the CM was forced to go in home quarantine earlier in mid-July when five members of his team posted at his home office Krishna has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. Incidentally former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is also currently admitted in the same hospital after he contracted the infection. He too remains in a stable condition according to the hospital and his staff.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3aaGYR6
via IFTTT

33,000 trees to be felled for Bengaluru ring road, people demand online public meet

Environment

There is strong opposition to the project as 33,000 trees are to be felled if the project goes according to the present plan.

Soumya Chatterjee

Many activist groups and even an elected public representative in Bengaluru have expressed their concerns over the proposed August 18 public consultation meeting regarding the Peripheral Ring Road in Bengaluru by the Karnataka State Pollution Control Board (KSPCB). While the public is keen on participating in the consultation process, with fear of 33,000 trees getting uprooted to make way for the project, many are questioning the timing. This, as Bengaluru continues to see a steady increase in daily COVID-19 cases. While some are seeking the meeting to be made online to prevent any risk of spread of the infection, some are asking why can’t the process be delayed as many do not have access to the technology or the knowhow. Bengaluru-based Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar has written a letter to the Bangalore Urban Deputy Commissioner Shivamurthy, on August 6, requesting him to order virtual public hearing on the proposed felling of over 33,000 trees and acquisition of 25 acres of reserved forest land. “I wholly endorse this request for a broad-based public consultation process that should be virtual given the current COVID-19 pandemic situation. I would urge that you make this possible and I would further suggest for the purpose of convenience a pre-registration process be enabled a few days prior to the virtual hearing so that public consultation could be planned in an orderly manner,” he said in his letter.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3fIUlJu
via IFTTT

Karnataka SSLC results announced: Six students get 625 out of 625

Education

A total of 8.45 lakh number of students had written the exams this year, held between June 25 to July 3.

TNM Staff

The results of the Class 10 or Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examinations In Karnataka were announced on Monday at 3 pm. Students can check their results at Kseeb.Kar.Nic.In A total of six students from Uttara Kannada, Tumakuru, Bengaluru , Mandya, Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru got full marks in the exams securing 625 out of 625. Announcing the results, Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said that among the total of 8.11 lakh students who wrote the exam, 71.80% have passed the SSLC examination. Compared to this tally, the pass percentage was at 73.70% in 2019. 62 schools in the state have incidentally recorded zero passes. Unlike in 2019, the minister said that the government this year did not hold rankings for the districts based on the pass percentage, but graded them into A, B and C groups. 10 educational districts secured A grade, 20 districts got B grade, 4 districts got C grade, the minister said. This distinction has been made based on the average result of the students as opposed to the previous system of pass percentage. These results were set to be announced in the first week of August. The decision came after the minister had visited some evaluation centres in the state capital of Bengaluru. It may be recalled that a total of 8.45 lakh number of students had written the exams this year, held between June 25 to July 3 under the supervision of the health department due to the COVID-19 pandemic. All exam halls were sanitised and sanitizers were arranged in every centre. The exams were originally scheduled to be held March 27 onwards, but it was postponed due to the nationwide lockdown imposed by the union government. It had come to light that 32 students who had registered to write the exams had incidentally tested positive for the novel coronavirus.  

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/30HU9Wy
via IFTTT

Coronavirus treatment: Triage or death panel?

Concern about discrimination is rising as the pandemic swamps more states and tests hospitals and health systems in its path.

from Health Care https://ift.tt/2DRmeBO
via IFTTT

Bengaluru's active containment zones rise to 14010, East zone has most at 2802

Coronavirus

Bengaluru has reported 28,716 containment zones in 152 days, of which 14,706 zones have returned to normal.

TNM Staff

Image for representation: PTI

After reporting a decline in the number of containment zones for two days earlier this week, Bengaluru on Sunday saw the total number of active zones rise to 14,010 — a sharp increase from Friday's figure of 13,386, when the number of zones was coming down. As of Sunday, Bengaluru has reported 28,716 containment zones in 152 days, since the first zone was put up. Out of this, 14,706 zones have returned to normal. Bengaluru East continues to be the worst-affected with 2802 active containment zones, followed by Bengaluru South at 2726, Bengaluru West at 2349, Bommanahalli at 2226, Mahadevapura at 1297, RR Nagara at 1205, Yelahanka at 762 and Dasarahalli at 643. Most of the containment zones in Bengaluru have been classified 'A', which means that the street which has the residence of the COVID-19 positive person is sealed. Some containment zones are also under the 'AP' or 'Apartment complex' category, where the particular floor which has the residence of the COVID-19 positive person and an immediate floor above and below are sealed by officials. Meanwhile, active coronavirus cases in Karnataka breached the 80,000 mark on Sunday with 5,985 new infections, health officials said on Sunday. The total number of active cases now stands at 80,973. With the new infections, the state's total tally rose to 1.78 lakh, officials added. Bengaluru Urban continued to be the highest contributor of new cases, recording 1,948 cases, slightly lower than the 2,000 plus cases it normally registers each day. The city's tally rose to 74,185, out of which 33,815 are active. Among other places, Mysuru accounted for 455 new cases on Sunday, followed by Ballari (380), Udupi (282), Belagavi (235), Raichur (202), Dharwad (196), Kalaburagi (194), Hassan (168) and Davangere (158). Meanwhile, 107 more patients succumbed to the virus, increasing the state's death toll to 3,198. With 4,670 more patients being discharged, the total number of recoveries rose to 93,908. Of the 1.78 lakh cases, 80,973 are active and 678 in ICUs. With IANS inputs

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/30FivjM
via IFTTT

Karnataka govt mulls introducing TOEFL-like Kannada language test

Education

An official said that the test would not be made mandatory.

IANS

Courtesy: Pixabay

The Karnataka government is mulling creation of a Kannada language test on the lines of TOEFL for those people who are interested in studying or working in the state, an official said on Sunday. "The process is on and we are yet to announce it officially. It will take another two or three months to come out," the Kannada Development Authority (KDA) chairman T S Nagabharana told IANS. He said the exam will be like TOEFL but will not be made mandatory, and would adhere to the Constitution without affecting any other language. "We will not make it mandatory, instead, we will make it discretionary. We will implement this within the Constitution and without disturbing any other language," he added. According to Nagarbharana, any person can take the test as per their requirement highlighting that there is need for an individual to possess Kannada knowledge. "In education and work, there is a lot of need for this (Kannada). Lot of people are unable to get into medical and engineering colleges because of this reason," opined Nagabharana. He said the proposed language exam will fill the void of a proper Kannada certifying authority which can cater to the needs of Kannadigas and others as well, who may be living outside the state and the country. "Some of the Kannadigas are from outside, from America, Dubai. They are also Kannadigas, but they are not able to get their medical seats," he added. Nagabharana said a Kannada test at the level of seventh or 10th standard would be of much help, enabling students to aim for engineering or medical seats reserved for Kannadigas by passing this exam. Commenting on the eventuality of somebody going to court over a proposal like this, the KDA chairman said he doesn't see any problem. "Even if it goes to the court, we will try to see that it does not come under a ban by court. We will make it discretionary," he pointed out. He said that there would not be any issue as the new education policy brought out by the Central government also lays emphasis on the mother tongue.

Body 2: 

from Karnataka https://ift.tt/3kugPl5
via IFTTT