108-yr-old Saalumarada Thimmakka awarded honorary doctorate by Central Uni of Karnataka

Environment

The decorated environmental activist has received many recognitions, including the Padma Shri award last year.

TNM Staff

Karnataka-based environmentalist ‘Saalumarada’ Thimmakka was awarded a doctorate by the Central University of Karnataka (CUK). The 108-year-old was handed the doctorate by university officials at her residence in Bengaluru on Saturday.  CUK Vice Chancellor HM Maheshwaraiah, Linguistics Professor Rajeshwari Maheshwariah, Basavaraj P Donur, Dean, School of Humanities and Languages, and Vikram Visaji, Associate Professor, were among those present to confer the honour on Thimmakka. The environmentalist, who is also popularly called ‘Saalumarada’ – meaning rows of trees in Kannada – is known for growing close to 400 banyan trees and protecting them on a 4-km stretch between Hulikal and Kudur near her husband’s hometown in Tumakuru district. She is also known as the mother of trees. Thimmakka and her husband do not have children and they started spending their evenings tending to trees until they grew sturdy. The decorated environmentalist has received many recognitions, including the Padma Shri award last year. When President Ram Nath Kovind awarded the Padma Shri to Thimmakka, she put her palm over the President’s forehead as a gesture of blessing, an act that prompted rapturous applause from the audience watching. It was a break in the usual rigorous protocol followed while handing out the awards and a mark of the respect given to Thimmakka. The President later took to social media to touch upon the gesture. She also planted a sapling at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in 2019. Thimmakka has won the Karnataka Rajyotsava Award, the Nadoja Award from Hampi University and the National Citizen Award from the Government of India, among other national and international accolades. Her work has inspired many others to take up environmental causes in the country. In 2019, intervention from Saalumarada Thimakka led to the decision by then Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy to save hundreds of trees which were at the risk of facing the axe courtesy of a road widening project near Bengaluru.    

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Indian-origin Dr Vivek Murthy likely to lead US President-elect Biden's COVID-19 taskforce

US Elections

Dr Vivek Murthy had already served as the youngest Surgeon General as appointed by former President Barack Obama.

TNM Staff

File image/FB

Indian-American physician Dr Vivek Murthy, who is from Mandya is expected to co-chair the coronavirus task force which President-elect Joe Biden is going to announce on Monday.  Dr Murthy’s family originally hails from Karnataka’s Mandya district, was appointed America's 19th Surgeon General by the then president Barack Obama in 2014.   Born in the UK, he was the youngest ever to hold the office at the age of 37. He was later asked to step down by the Trump administration. Prior to his appointment as the Surgeon General, he was appointed as part of the advisory group on Prevention, Health Promotion, and Integrative Public Health in 2011.   In his illustrious career, he has served as the Vice Admiral of the US Public Health Service Commissioned Corps which worked in containing  the Ebola and Zika viruses. He along with his sister Rashmi has co-founded a peer-to-peer HIV/AIDS education program in India and the United States.   He was also instrumental in co-founding the non-profit organization Doctors for America which advocated  creating a high quality, affordable health care system for all.    According to a report, Dr Murthy visits his native village of Hallegere of Maddur taluk every year and hails from a politically connected family. His grandfather HT Narayan Shetty was known to be a close aide of late Karnataka Chief Minister D Devaraj Urs. His father Dr HN Lakshmi Narasimha Murthy is also a doctor and an alumni of Mysore Medical College and had migrated to the UK. However, he finally moved to Florida with his entire family after briefly staying in Canada for a brief period.    The report had said the family runs the Scope Foundation which is associated with many charity activities including free medical camps in the region. Among other things, the organisation also donated many computers to government schools in the nearby schools.  Biden, in his victory speech in Wilmington, Delaware on Saturday night, said, “On Monday, I will name a group of leading scientists and experts as Transition Advisors to help take the Biden-Harris COVID-19 plan and convert it into an action blueprint that starts on January 20th, 2021 .The President-elect, however, did not announce who would lead that task force. The Washington Post said that the task force would be co-chaired by Dr Murthy, the former Surgeon General, and David Kessler, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner. The task force could begin meeting within days, the daily said. In his victory speech, Biden said that the plan will be built on a bedrock of science. It will be constructed out of compassion, empathy and concern. I will spare no effort or commitment to turn this pandemic around, he said. During the campaign period, Murthy emerged as one of the top advisors of Biden on public health and coronavirus issues. Many believe that he might end up being the Health Secretary in the Biden administration. In May, the Biden Campaign appointed Congresswoman Pramila Jayapal and Dr Murthy as co-chairs to the Healthcare Task Force. At a fundraiser organised by Indian-Americans in September which was addressed by Biden, Murthy had said that Biden is the kind of guy he would like to invite home for dinner. “Joe Biden is the kind of guy I would love to bring home to have dinner with my mom and dad, Murthy had said in his opening remarks, adding that some homemade Masala Dosas would be served,” Dr Murthy said. “He's authentic. He's real. And he says what he thinks and that's something I really love about him. He says what's on his mind. He's honest and true,” he added. The US is currently the world's worst-hit nation from the pandemic after it emerged in the central Chinese city of Wuhan last year. The US has reported over 9,849,000 COVID-19 cases and over 237,000 people have died, according to latest statistics from Johns Hopkins University. (With PTI inputs)

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CM Yediyurappa exudes confidence about BJP winning both Karnataka bye-poll seats

Politics

Exit polls have also indicated that the BJP will sweep Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Sira bye-polls.

PTI

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Sunday said that the BJP will win both Rajarajeshwari Nagar (RR Nagar) and Sira assembly bypolls by huge margins ahead of Tuesday, when the counting of votes will take place. "We will win RR Nagar by (a margin of) 35,000-40,000 votes. In Sira also we will win by about 20,000-25,000 votes. I'm not saying it today, I had said it ahead of the elections and on the polling day," the CM told reporters in Bengaluru. The Chief Minister said the Congress has probably taken this prediction lightly and would know the truth once the results are out. "If Yediyurappa says something, it will be after thinking ten times and after understanding the public opinion. So 100% we will win both seats by a huge margin," he added. To a question about Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah's claim that the results would be in favour of Congress, he said, "Siddaramaiah will get to know when the results are out on November 10. I wish him good luck." Exit polls have indicated that the BJP will sweep Rajarajeshwari Nagar and Sira bypolls. Voting for both assembly constituencies took place on November 3, with a turnout of 82.31 % and 45.24 % respectively. The Sira byelection was necessitated following the death of JD(S) legislator B Sathyanarayana in August, while the RR Nagar seat here fell vacant following the disqualification of the then Congress MLA N Munirathna under the anti-defection law last year. The BJP, which has never won the Sira seat, had fielded radiologist Dr C M Rajesh Gowda, son of former Congress MP C P Mudalagiriyappa, who recently joined the party. The Congress and JD(S), considered traditional rivals in the region, had fielded former Minister T B Jayachandra and Ammajamma. Ammajamma is the wife of late JD(S) MLA Sathyanarayana. In RR Nagar, Congress had fielded a fresh face -- Kusuma H, wife of late IAS officer D K Ravi. She was pitted against V Krishnamurthy of JD(S) and N Munirathna of the BJP. Munirathna, after his disqualification last year, had joined the BJP. The outcome of the bypolls would be seen in many quarters as a reflection on the performance of the Yediyurappa government, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, while the opposition parties-Congress and JD(S)- would be keen to strike after facing a rout in December 2019 bypolls. The Chief Minister has already indicated that the much awaited cabinet expansion would take place at the earliest and he would talk to the high command in this regard, soon after the assembly bypoll results. Expressing confidence about the NDA forming the government in Bihar, Yediyurappa said "let there be no doubt about it...exit poll may be showing some variations, but according to me, 100 % we will be forming the government there."

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Bengaluru's Church Street bans vehicles on weekends, kicks off clean air initiative

Environment

This is part of UK-Karnataka collaboration on climate action to "deliver substantial progress towards reducing emissions and helping to build back better and greener".

IANS

India and the United Kingdom (UK) on Saturday launched the clean air street initiative at Church Street in Bengaluru to jointly address the global challenges of air pollution and climate change. The initiative, launched by the UK Catapult Network and the Directorate of Urban Land Transport (DULT) of the Karnataka government, will help transform Church Street in Bengaluru into a green haven for pedestrians by banning traffic movement every weekend from this week onwards for the next three months. "This is done in an effort to demonstrate innovative ways of combating air pollution," DULT commissioner V Manjula said and added that this was an opportunity to prove that targeted activities to reduce motor vehicle traffic can help reduce pollution, improve the quality of life and be beneficial to local businesses. She said that the clean air street initiative is a part of the wider Innovating for Clean Air (IfCA) programme that is being rolled out in phases across Bengaluru. Businesses, especially restaurants on this street, will be allowed to extend their seating outdoors temporarily, in line with physical distancing norms, thereby encouraging patrons to stay safe whilst enjoying cleaner air. Church Street will remain closed to motor vehicles between 12 pm on Saturday and 12 am on Sunday, from November 7, 2020 to February 2021. "The initiative is aimed at reprioritising clean mobility and highlighting the benefits it brings. The project will also serve as a showcase for innovative UK and Indian solutions to tackle climate change," UK Minister of State for South Asia and the Commonwealth, Lord Tariq Ahmad said in his video message. He added that the launch of the clean air street initiative is an example of India's forward movement on climate action and to show what both countries can do when like-minded nations work together. He said that the UK, as the COP 26 President, is committed to joining forces with all countries, with civil society, business, and with individuals, to inspire action ahead of the conference in November 2021. "We owe it to our children to use this tough year to pause, reflect and build back better," he added. British Deputy High Commissioner Jeremy Pilmore-Bedford said that the launch of the Clean Air Street initiative in Bengaluru could not have come at a more important time. "The COVID-19 lockdowns here and across the globe made us all appreciate the importance and beauty of clean air and skies. The next year is a crucial year for our climate with the UK hosting COP 26 in November 2021. I am confident that UK-Karnataka collaboration on climate action can deliver substantial progress towards reducing emissions and helping to build back better and greener," he said. According to the statement the Indian Institute of Science — one of the partners in this initiative — will be carrying out research to gauge the impact on the quality of life for local residents as well as the economic impact on businesses. Two of the UK's leading technology centres — Energy Systems Catapult and Connected Places Catapult that form part of the Catapult Network — will work with partners to measure the difference in air quality after the intervention and also work with electric vehicle innovators to increase citizen awareness and evaluate their experiences through test rides, the statement read.

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Karnataka Governor accepts BJP National General Secy CT Ravi’s resignation from cabinet

Politics

CT Ravi’s resignation as the Minister for Tourism, Kannada and Culture, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department, is likely to pave the way for a smooth cabinet expansion.

PTI

File image

Karnataka Governor Vajubhai Vala on Saturday accepted the resignation of Tourism Minister CT Ravi, who was recently appointed as the BJP national general secretary following Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's recommendation. Ravi had tendered his resignation to Yediyurappa on October 3 and it was put on hold for more than a month. Just ahead of the counting of votes of the bye-polls to two Assembly constituencies on November 10, the Chief Minister forwarded the resignation letter to Vala, who accepted it. In the order, the Governor said, "I, Vajubhai Vala, Governor of Karnataka, hereby accept the resignation of CT Ravi, Minister for Tourism, Kannada and Culture, Youth Empowerment and Sports Department from the Council of Ministers with immediate effect." Ravi had resigned on October 3 after he was appointed the BJP national general secretary on September 26 as part of the national appointments by the party. The resignation will further pave the way for a smooth cabinet expansion, which is on the anvil. The Chief Minister had hinted a few days ago that soon after the Assembly bye-election results are announced, the cabinet expansion would be taken up and that the BJP candidate for the Rajarajeshwari Nagar Assembly bye-poll Munirathna would be made a minister "soon after he wins." With this, Yediyurappa will have the opportunity to appoint seven more ministers to the cabinet against the maximum permissible limit of 34. In addition to Munirathna, there are many ministerial aspirants among those who had switched over to the ruling BJP from the Congress and the JD(S). It may also be noted that CT Ravi was initially disappointed with his portfolio following the formation of the BS Yediyurappa government in 2019. As earlier reported, Ravi, who is the party’s MLA from Chikkamagaluru, was upset when he was given a low-key portfolio and was even rumoured to resign within an hour of his appointment. 

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Karnataka to establish new commission to implement National Education Policy

COVID-19

The Karnataka Education Commission will be headed by the Chief Minister and it will meet at least twice a year, Deputy CM Dr CN Ashwath Narayan said.

IANS

The Task Force for Implementation of National Education Policy (NEP) 2020 headed by former Chief Secretary SV Ranganath on Saturday recommended the establishment of a Karnataka Education Commission (KEC) to implement this policy smoothly, over the next ten years. Deputy Chief Minister CN Ashwath Narayan and Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar released a report, stating that Karnataka was the first state to come out with the road map to implement the NEP in the next 10 years. "The KEC will be headed by the Chief Minister and it will meet at least twice a year," he said. The report comprises 500 points on school education and 200 on higher education that the NEP outlines and gives a greater clarity on the document, he added. The Minister added that the task force report will be placed before the cabinet for its approval shortly. The task force also strongly recommended separation of powers within the existing bodies in the Education Department in order to bring more accountability. The task force states that curricular reforms should drive the transformation of the current structure of schooling to 5+3+3+4 (Foundational, Preparatory, Middle and Secondary Stage). "On one end, the focus should be on integrating Class 11 and Class 12 into the secondary stage, while on the other, a 'Foundation years' wing' needs to begin work on the 5-year integrated curriculum. The Department of State Educational Research and Training (DSERT) will have to revise the curriculum, particularly on the foundational and preparatory stage and reduce the existing curriculum load," the report argued. Narayan also said that the report would be discussed with stakeholders for their opinions. "The plan is spread over 15 years and their suggestions to make it practical will be welcome," he said, adding that as 2020 is a zero year, Karnataka will begin the implementation of the report in 2021.

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Forget Medicare for All — even a public option will be tough to pass

President-elect Joe Biden’s incremental approach will face opposition from Republicans and powerful health care lobbies.

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