Special DJ events, dance parties and other celebrations between December 30 and January 2 Banned
Children below ten years and persons above 65 years should stay home
Church congregations must strictly adhere to social-distancing and enforce the use of sanitisers and masks.
In view of the novel coronavirus pandemic, the Government of Karnataka on 17/12/2020 issued guidelines for Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state.
Strict safety rules would be implemented during the Christmas and New Year celebrations in the state amid the COVID-19 pandemic. No city in Karnataka will be allowed to hold DJ parties or dance parties from December 30 to January 2. However, the pubs and bars will be open as usual as per the order signed by Karnataka Chief Secretary T M Vijay Bhaskar.
The government also banned handshakes and hugs to minimize the spread of Covid-19. Church congregations must strictly adhere to social-distancing and enforce the use of sanitizers and masks.
The order added that Christmas celebrations should be held, but strict physical distancing and mask rules must be followed. Restaurants and other establishments will also have to screen temperatures of people who enter.
The Government has strictly banned organising special parties, DJ parties in clubs, pubs and restaurants from Dec. 30 to Jan. 2 fearing crowding of people. However, there will be no restriction on opening of clubs, pubs and restaurants as usual but it was mandatory to follow the safety protocol. Owners must ensure following of COVID-19 guidelines such as wearing mask, using hand sanitiser and social distancing in party places.
To check crowding of party buffs, the owners must go for pre-booking of seats through online or token system. Even entry of people must be through queue system.
Children below ten years and persons above 65 years should stay home. Senior citizens over 65 and children under the age of 10 are not to visit public places.
The safety protocol was also applicable for parties hosted in open spaces and Group Housing Apartment Complexes. Crowding of people on streets, important public places without maintaining social distancing has been strictly banned.
The Deputy Commissioners and Police Commissioners are given powers to impose additional restrictions in their respective districts and cities depending upon the situation.
Individuals acting in contravention of directions will be prosecuted under the provisions of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, plus legal action under Section 188 of the Indian Penal Code.
A team of Cardiac Surgeons lead by Dr. Praveen Tambrallimath successfully performed complex heart surgery on a 10 days baby weighing less than 2 kg and gave a new lease of life to the baby.
A woman from Goa delivered twin female babies at Goa Medical College, Bambolim, Goa. One of the babies immediately after delivery had difficulty in breathing and turning blue. As a life-saving measure, the baby was incubated put on a ventilator. 2D Echo examination revealed the baby is suffering from complex congenital heart disease medically termed as Transposition of Great Arteries, TGA (main arteries of the heart were misplaced).
In this critical condition, the child was shifted in an ambulance to the Cardiac Surgery Department of the KLES Dr. Prabhakar Kore Hospital, Belagavi.
Dr. Praveen Tambrallimath examined the baby and diagnosed the child as suffering from a serious birth defect of the heart that needs supra major surgery. Transposition of the Great Arteries, TGA is a birth defect of the heart in which the two main arteries carrying blood out of the heart – the main pulmonary artery and the aorta –are switched in position, or “transposed (altered).” For such birth defects, immediate surgery is the only option. The parents were counseled and consented to the surgery. The 8-hour long surgery on a 10 days baby weighing less than 2 Kg operating on a delicate heart which is less than 50 gms is a challenge and involved great surgical skills, pursuance, and patience. The arterial switch operation involved connecting great arteries to the correct pumping chambers was performed. The anomalies in the heart were surgically corrected.
The baby withstood the surgery, for 15 days the baby was stabilized in post-surgical Cardiac ICU. Dr. Praveen expressed that if untreated, over 50 percent of infants with transposition will die in the first month of life. The baby is operated under the ambitious Goan Health program, Deen Dayal Swasthy Seva Yojana (DDSSY)
The surgical team consisted of Dr. Nikunj Vyas. Dr. Anand Vagrali & Dr. Sharangouda Patil extended anesthesia back-up, Dr. Nidhi Manvi Goel, Paediatric Cardiac Intensivist post-surgically managed baby. Jubilant parents & family members of the baby are extremely happy with the successful outcome of the surgery & thanked the personal care extended by skilled nursing staff. The baby is perfectly fine and discharged from the hospital and ready to get united with another baby in-home at Goa.
Dr. Prabhakar Kore, Chairman of the KLE Society & Dr. M V Jali, Medical Director have congratulated the team of Doctors for excellent surgical work.
Karnataka Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Saturday after the meeting with officials from the Primary and Secondary Education, Social Welfare, Health and Family Welfare Department in Bengaluru gave his nod for the reopening of schools across the state for classes 10 and 12 from January 1, 2021.
The Covid-19 Technical Advisory Committee had previously expressed an opinion in favor of the reopening of schools.
Currently, schools will reopen for children preparing for the board exams, and later after reassessment the schedule for lower grades would be decided upon.
The Vidyagama programme for classes 6 to 9, and hold classes on the premises of the schools. However, it is not mandatory for students to come to schools. Those who wish to attend the classes at schools must obtain a consent letter from parents.
Minister Suresh Kumar clarified that the relaunch of Vidyagama “does not mean schools are being reopened.” He highlighted, “Such small sessions are made available for students to ensure that we reach out to children from all sections from across the state.”
Students will be allowed to come to schools for half a day with parental consent. Following Covid-19 guidelines including wearing a mask, sanitising hands frequently, and being subjected to thermal scanning will be followed at all schools. Any student with fever, cough, cold and other symptoms of Covid-19 will not be allowed.
students will be advised to bring drinking water from home. Arrangements to wash hands with soap and sanitiser should also be made at schools before allowing the students in. Timetables will be set with three classes of 45 minutes each.
M/s. Ghodawat (Star Air) started its new route to Surat under UDAN-3 at Belagavi Airport in the Belagavi-Surat-Belagavi sector.
A small event was organized by Star Air in close coordination with Belagavi Airport, AAI to commemorate its commissioning of Surat sector from Belagavi Airport.
The Star Air flight (OG 141/142) will operate on three days i.e. Monday, Wednesday and Friday from Belagavi to Surat – departure at 1200 1ST and arrival from Surat to Belagavi at 1850 IST.
Total out going passenger from Belagavi Airport was 31 and incoming passenger from Surat is 40 out of 50 seater Embrar Aircraft.
The event started with cutting of ribbon and lighting of sacred candle (diya) by Sh. M.G. Hiremath, Deputy Commissioner & District Magistrate, Belagavi, Sh. Rajesh Kumar Maurya, Airport Director Belagavi Airport, Sh. Raj Hesi: Head Marketing Strategy, Ghodawat Group & Sh. Shashikala Yakkarnall: Regional Sales Manager, Ms Komal Jani,Station Manager,Ghodawat Group.
It was followed by cake cutting by DC, Belagavi and also expressed his thanks to M/s. Star Air Airline for 4th RCS route operation after Ahmedabad, Mumbai, Indore from Belagavi Airport.
DC, Belagavi congratulated Airport Director, Belagavi Airport, entire team of Belagavi Airport & M/s. Star Air for adding Surat sector and safe operations during pandemic period to 9 cities by all 5 Airlines.
DC, Belagavi handed over the boarding pass to first passenger.
Sh. T. Chandrasekhar: CNS Incharge, Civil & Electrical Incharge, Fire Incharge, Terminal Head/Commercial Head,Safety Manager of AAI, Sh. Rajkumar Pattar, Security Head-KSISF, other Station Managers of all Airlines and other Stakeholders were present in the above event.
Cultural programme & dance, greeting with folded hands in traditional dress to all departure passengers performed by the students of Dream Fly Aviation, Belagavi to celebrate the start of Surat sector.
The representative of Ghodawat Group thanked to DC, Belagavi and Airport Director, Belagavi Airport. Sh. Rajesh Kumar Maurya, Airport Director, Belagavi Airport, offered his gratitude to DC, Belagavi, representative of Belagavi city, all citizens of Belagavi, Chamber of Commerce, Professional forum, Universities/Technical Institutes, Commercial/Business/Industrial Institutes, all print media, electronic media & social media.
The water salute has been given to the new Aircraft i.e. 4th Aircraft of M/s. Star Air which also going for night parking from today onwards. The new aircraft arrived from Bengaluru and departed to Surat. Now, the approval of night parking of two aircraft of M/s. Star Air (Ghodawat Group) is given for Belagavi Airport.
The students of Aptech Aviation and Hospitality Academy, Belagavi greeted the arrived passenger from Surat in a traditional dress and performed cultural program and dance outside the arrival area.
Belagavi Head Quartered – Vayavya Labs Pvt. Ltd., a Technology Software company with offices in Bengaluru and presence across US, Europe & Japan, has been steadily making news the past month for its contribution in developing world standards for Semiconductors & Systems domain. For the past 14 years, Vayavya Labs has been offering its expertise in embedded software across EDA, Semiconductors, Automotive, and Communications verticals through a large repertoire of solutions.
The Company holds 11 US patents covering EDA/ESL, Embedded SW and SW Automation domains.
It’s a proud occasion and an important milestone for everyone in the journey of Vayavya Labs.
As a rare feat in any global technology standards, Vayavya Labs is part of a trendsetting event. Several team members of Vayavya Labs put in their heart and soul (and intellect) in the Hardware-Software-Interfaces (HSI) specifications design, development and contributing the same at Accellera standards (Portable test & Stimulus Standards (PSS) draft 2.0 with HSI) which was announced on 18th November 2020. Principal Architect, Karthick Gururaj whose leadership and technical expertise ensured that the DPS constructs make it to PSS 2.0 and who represented Vayavya Labs at the DVCon Event where the PSS was unveiled before the world
PSS 2.0 along with OpenHSI™ for PSS test realization will help us carve a niche in the PSS test realization space and put Vayavya Labs on the niche space of Software-Driven Verification technology domain.
RK Patil
It is apt time to appreciate & bring-forth the faces who made this happen:
· Karthick Gururaj
· Uma Bali
· Uma Bondada
· Anjana Hosur
· Ashwini Naik
· Venugopal Kolathur
· Santosh Michael
· Shrinivas Nagareddi
· Sandeep Pendharkar
whose efforts and contributions on PSS, and DDGEN will be remembered for a long time as industry adopts these new standards! This is a result of nearly 5 years of collaboration after the 1.0 specification was released and lays the foundation for more development in the near future. Vayavya has played a major role in developing the standard.
What is Accellera Day
Accellera Day India 2020 is a technical program, sponsored by Accellera Systems Initiative. With the help of interaction with industry and academia domain experts delivering keynote speeches and tutorials, Vayavya Labs has been a part of the Accellera events for the past many years. This year, it was organized as a virtual event on 2nd and 3rd December and hosted online from India.
What did Vayavya Labs contribute?
A standards body consists of several work-groups which are headed by specialists in the domains. Vayavya Labs as a member of PSS-WG has contributed technology (definitions, implementation know-how and sample applications) to the PSS2.0 standards. Our engineers were specifically involved in a test realization related enhancements and co-ordinated contributions from other collaborators. This is based on many years of our experience with Hardware-Software-Interfaces (HSI) and automation. Along with contribution in standards body Accellera, Vayavya has also initiated an industry outreach in the form of OpenHSI(TM) forum. This initiative is to further the adoption of HSI and R&D leading to Test Realization for Semiconductors verification & validation. For more details please visit www.openHSI.com
For years, Vayavya Labs recognized the challenges faced by growing complexity in Semiconductor design, verification & validation. The holy-grail of SoC verification & validation is to use near production application software as a part of verification & validation. Our investments in HSI & working as parts of Accellera standards body has finally culminated in making these investments as Global Industry Standards. The Hardware-Software-Interfaces (HSI ) would quickly enable our customers to adopt PSS for SoC Test Realization. HSI is the software or programmer’s view of the SoC, IP, its interconnects & several other logics that a hardware designer puts together.
For the past decade and over, Vayavya Labs has been offering its expertise in embedded software across EDA, Semiconductors, Automotive and Communications verticals through a large repertoire of solutions & services. With a portfolio of 11 international patents covering EDA/ESL, Embedded SW and SW Automation domains we are able to provide innovative solutions that help the customers & industry.
OpenHSI™ is a software library ready to be integrated with any Portable Stimulus solution for SoC Test Realization.
What is the Accellera initiative-
Accellera Systems Initiative is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to create, support, promote, and advance system-level design, modeling, and verification standards for use by the worldwide electronics industry. It comprises of members from varied backgrounds (Like vayavya Labs Pvt. Ltd.) who fully support the work of its technical committee to develop technology standards that are balanced, open, and benefit the worldwide electronics industry..
For more information, you can visit the following websites
A 35 year old woman had returned to Belagavi from London recently and in the wake of emergence of new variant of corona virus in the UK, swabs were taken on Tuesday for COVID tests. The swabs of the primary contacts were also taken. All of them have been advised for Home Quarantine until the results arrive.
The Minister of Health Government of Karnataka Dr. Sudhakar K has held a meeting with Technical Advisory Committee of Health and Family Welfare Department.
Initial studies in the UK suggest that the virus may be more contagious than the present one but not more virulent.
In order to contain the spread of new variant of virus, centre has suspended flights originating from the UK from Tuesday midnight till 31st December.
As a precautionary measure state govt has mandated 7 day home quarantine for travellers from UK, Denmark and Netherlands.
Travellers who have arrived in the state from these three countries in the last 14 days will be traced within next 24 hours and subjected to RT-PCR test.
While there is no need to panic people are urged to continue to follow all precautionary measures and stay safe.
A 35-year-old woman who had returned to Belagavi from London recently has tested NEGATIVE for COVID-19 said a release issued by Deputy Commissioner MG Hiremath on Wednesday morning.
In the wake of the emergence of a new variant of coronavirus in the UK, swabs were taken on Tuesday for COVID tests.
The Minister of Health Government of Karnataka Dr. Sudhakar K has held a meeting with the Technical Advisory Committee of Health and Family Welfare Department.
In order to contain the spread of new variant of virus, centre has suspended flights originating from the UK from Tuesday midnight till 31st December.
As a precautionary measure state govt has mandated 7 day home quarantine for travelers from UK, Denmark and Netherlands.
Travelers who have arrived in the state from these three countries in the last 14 days will be traced within the next 24 hours and subjected to the RT-PCR test.
While there is no need to panic people are urged to continue to follow all precautionary measures and stay safe.
Chief Minister of Karnataka announces night curfew across Karnataka starting from 10pm Tonight. Everyday night curfew from 10pm to 6am till Jan 2.
The Chief Minister added that all the necessary precautions have been taken and the government is watchful about controlling the spread of the virus in Karnataka.
On earlier occasions, the Govt had denied imposing the night curfew but today has now imposed the night curfew from tonight Wednesday, December 23.
The CM took the decision after a meeting with the Health minister and Technical committee.
Amar Kulkarni, a musician based in Pune has released his debut song “Antaheen” on all listening platforms.
Amar Kulkarni, was born and raised in Belagavi and has been popular in the music circles over the last 2 decades. A Paulite from the 1995 batch, his played with 2 bands during his college days in the late 90s. The bands “Edge” and “Antibiotic” played classic rock and At rock covers in college festivals and private concerts.
In 2001, Amar moved to Pune and built a career in CADCAM software for Automotive and Aerospace companies but kept his music alive by playing with bands like NH4, Taal INC and the Ajaladhwani project.
Amar sees himself as a new-age storyteller who uses music as a means to travel to the listeners minds. His music is contemplative and retains focus on the vibe and the message both. Antaheen is a pop-rock song, with a little story built in. It musically builds up and ends in a crescendo that many will enjoy listening to.
Amar has released a 8 part series titled मित्र (transliterated ‘Mitra’) starting 18th Dec 2020 with a new song scheduled to be released every month for the next 8 months. The word मित्र is the sanskrit word for friend. It is a tribute to the greatest gift one can give and receive. The series is called “Mitra” because Amar composed these songs with the intent that these songs become friends and companions to his listeners.
Amar’s music is inextricably linked to his life in Belagavi, his life in Pune, his travels all over the world, his family and perhaps most importantly, his friends.
Belagavi is also a hub of long standing educational institutions; engineering schools and medical schools that attract students from all over the country, thus adding to the already rich confluence of culture.
The history of the city dates back to the 12th century and somehow in the 1990s, rock/grunge music made it’s way to the city. It’s remarkable that these imports of culture were happening in the pre-internet era.
When one listens to Amar’s music, one notices the influence of all this packed tightly into his songs.
His connection to Belagavi is deep and his music reflects it. First time listeners will notice that Amar is an observer. He weaves his observed sights, thoughts, experiences together into songs. His love of Hindi is evident in his carefully crafted lyrical content. Those familiar with Amar’s previous work with AjalaDhwani project will notice his ever experimental perspectives have evolved further.
With मित्र, Amar has taken his musical journey forward; in a more philosophical direction. These songs were written in 2020, the remarkable, strange and scary year that affected us all. These songs are reflections about understanding the human condition stripped away from things, activities, that we have always considered essential. But perhaps these songs primarily point towards hope and about his realizations about relationships.
In the first track Antaheen, Amar reflects on the premise that our existence is our nature and infact our existence is the purpose; that we are endlessness personified.
He deftly tackles the philosophical questions about life’s design and all our experiential ups and downs and how they are connected to the human desire to seek. Ever seeking while the wheel of life keeps spinning – “Phirta jaaye dayra antaheen”.
Night curfew has been imposed in the state as per the suggestions given by the technical advisory committee. Meanwhile health department is keeping vigil on passengers returned from United Kingdom said Heath & Medical Education Minister Dr.K.Sudhakar.
Dr Sudhakar held a detailed discussion with the members of technical advisory committee earlier this morning. The meeting was significant on the backdrop of reports of a new strain of Corona virus found in the UK. Later Dr Sudhakar met Chief Minister B.S.Yediyurappa at his offcial residence ‘Krishna’ and briefed the CM on the suggestions provided by experts in the meeting.
Speaking to the media after CM’s briefing Minister said that, a decision has been taken to impose night curfew in the state. Night curfew will be imposed starting today from 10 PM to 6 AM till January 2 2021. People are advised to wind up their activities by 10 PM. Unnecessary gatherings and celebrations are prohibited. The Minister requested the citizens to cooperate as the decision is taken in the interest of public health and safety.
Detailed guidelines will be out soon regarding the permitted activities and restrictions, he said.
Health Department to keep vigil
Health department officials will keep vigilance on those returned from UK from November 25 to December 22. They will undergo 28 days compulsory quarantine. Health officials will take care of their health for initial 14 days. After that individuals have to volunatily restrict themselves at home, he said.
2,500 passengers have arrived in the state during this period. 2 flights/day arrived during this period. Details of the passengers are available and every single passenger will be kept under strict vigilance. RTPCR test will be conducted if symptomatic. The Minister said.
We have 4 elite institutes in Bengaluru including IISc and NIMHANS to study genetic sequence of the virus. Sample of the positive persons will be given to these institutions for study and research will be conducted on new variant of the virus. Said Dr.Sudhakar.
Political leadsrs should get their facts right
A political leader has issued a statement that 14,000 passengers have arrived from UK. This is completely baseless. There is no need for the government to hide the data. Politicians should get their facts right before they speak, Dr.Sudhakar said
This is inevitable
Responding to the objections raised by Bar and Hotel owners association for night curfew, Dr Sudhakar clarified that night curfew decision is not a happy decision but it is inevitable. considering the public health and safety curfew has been imposed. There is no restrictions for any activities before 10 PM and all agricultural activities including transportation and marketing of farm produce will not be affected, he said.
Everyone should be sensible and act responsibly in this matter, we should not consider only financial implications, public health is paramount. Curfew is for only 9 days, it will help us to study the genetic sequence of the new mutant during this period, said Dr.K.Sudhakar. Arch Bishop of Bengaluru has conveyed a message to me that they are not conducting any celebrations this time. I have written a letter thanking Arch Bishop for this gesture, said the minister.
Night curfew from 11.00 pm to 5.00 am starting 24th December until 1st January 2021. (5.00AM on January 2nd 2021)
The State has effectively implemented COVID 19 containment measures through strictly enforcing COVID appropriate behavior and aggressive tracking, testing, and isolating, as a result, there is a sustained decline in the number of fresh cases.
Whereas, a new variant of SARS- CoV 2 virus has been detected in United Kingdom, which is spreading and growing rapidly in the United Kingdom. It has also been reported that some recent returnees from the United Kingdom to the State have tested positive for COVID 19. However, the samples of these patients are undergoing a further test to determine if they have contracted a new variant of the virus.
Hence, it is necessitated to take additional containment measures to combat the spread of a new variant of SARS-CoV 2.
Therefore, in the exercise of the powers, conferred under Section 24 of the Disaster Management Act, 2005, the undersigned in the capacity of Chairman, State Executive Committee, hereby directs imposition of night curfew from 11.00 pm to 5.00 am starting 24th December until January 2021. (5.00AM on January 2nd 2021) as per the below-given conditions, for strict implementation by Commissioner BBMP, Police Commissioners, District Deputy Commissioners, Superintendents of Police, other Heads of Departments and Authorities.
Guidelines:
The movement of individuals shall remain strictly prohibited between
11.00 pm to 5.00 am, except for essential activities.
There shall be no restriction in movement of all types of goods through trucks, goods vehicle or any goods carriers, including empty vehicles.
All industries/companies/organizations which requires operations at night shall be permitted to operate with 50% staff. Movement of employees of such organization shall be allowed on producing valid ID card issued by their respective Organization/Institution.
Industries/factories which requires 24/7 operations will be allowed to operate without any restrictions.
Movement of long distance night bus, train services and air services are permitted.
To and fro movement of taxis and auto are permitted for dropping/pickup of people to from bus stops Railway stations/Airports. The movement will be allowed on displaying valid tickets.
Midnight Christmas Mass on 24’h night shall be permitted as per guidelines issued on 17/12/2020.
Celebration of Christmas and New Year festivities shall be as per the guidelines issued vide Order No RD 465 TNR 2020, dated 17t2-2020.
A prime location which was a playground once, then reserved by the Cantonment as A1 Defence land was subsequently converted into a garden that housed a fountain(with lights) in the center, a walking path on the side huge Ashoka trees on the sides.
Today the work for the Sainik Smarak at the Suryakant Park at Gogte Circle was commenced by MLA North Anil Benake.
Today the work was commenced with the cleaning work and the MLA had a discussion with City Corporation, smart city officials regarding upcoming development work.
Tanks, Aircraft models are expected from Indian defense authorities for installation at the model Sainik Smarak.
The monument will honour and remember soldiers of Indian Armed Forces who gave the supreme sacrifice for the nation.
Night curfew order, issued earlier, has been withdrawn after reviewing the situation on the suggestion of technical advisory committee: Chief minister’s office, Karnataka.
Karnataka has withdrawn a night curfew – imposed a day earlier amid concerns over a mutated and rapidly-spreading coronavirus strain – hours before it was to come into effect. The curfew had been called for restrictions in movement between 10 pm and 6 am till January 2.
BSY has urged citizens to impose self-restraint by wearing face masks and ensuring social distancing. He asked citizens to avoid “unnecessary” travel and strictly follow Covid-19 regulations of the government “to help stop the spread of the virus.”
Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said the decision to impose a night curfew itself was amusing.
Abduljabbar Khan, KLS Gogte Institute of Technology in Belagavi, Karnataka won Rs 2 lakhs for his development of a compact electromechanical device to curtail residual ridge resorption in cases of gum-related dental issues.
A total of 14 entries — 11 bio entrepreneurs and 3 student-led teams have been declared as winners of the prestigious National Bio Entrepreneurship Competition (NBEC) for 2020.
NBEC 2020 campaign will reach out to students, entrepreneurs, Individuals, start-ups and established companies across India.
Abduljabbar Khan who won 2 lakhs INR in a pooled prize by K&S Partners, Bioneeds India and Ideaspring Capital.
NBEC is organized every year by the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Platforms (C-CAMP) under the BIRAC Regional Entrepreneurship Centre (BREC) to attract, identify and nurture game-changing deep science driven ideas with business potential. Over 3,100 registrations across 33 States/UTs including metros, Tier II and Tier III cities/towns were received for NBEC 2020.
The competition was held in phases starting from `Boot Camp and Mentoring Sessions’ with 54 startups and 19 student teams with mentorship support from scientific, investment, regulatory and legal experts. Of these, 18 startups and 10 student teams were selected by the Pre-Finals Jury to pitch at the Grand Finale. The Jury at the Grand Finale consisted of eminent experts representing the entire spectrum of biotech industry and investment sector.
Harvesting, Bundling, Loading and Transportation to Sugarcane Centers Sugar factories become operational in mid-October and continue to operate until March or April, depending upon the availability of sugarcane. In July-August, the sugar factories conduct a survey of the sugarcane area allotted to them by the State Sugarcane Commissioner. They then prepare a plan (quota) of sugarcane to be supplied by each grower.
The quantity of sugarcane supplied by each grower is distributed over the entire crushing season and supply tokens are issued accordingly. The sugar mills operate through collection centers that they open at various places within their command area. These centers issue a slip (parchi) to the farmers that prescribe the dates when their sugarcane will be weighed.
The sugarcane is usually harvested a day before it is to be supplied to the centers so that it does not lose its moisture content and weighs more so as to maximize profits. To accomplish this, workers work round the clock to harvest the sugarcane from the farms.
While small farmers involve their family in harvesting and transporting the sugarcane to the collection centers, the medium and large farmers hire contractors who bring labor either from the nearby villages or arrange migrant workers. The migrants’ families, including children, are involved in harvesting, bundling and loading. It was noticed during interviews that the workers are paid between INR 150-180 per ton of sugarcane harvested. Harvesting is a hazardous task, as it involves the use of machetes without any protection.
Moreover, workers often work without shoes in the fields, exposing them to risks of snake and scorpion bites. The farmer and/or his driver attaches the loaded trolley behind the tractor and ferries it to the designated sugarcane center.
The administrator at the sugarcane production center weighs the sugarcane and issues a slip recording the total net weight supplied by the farmer. The sugarcane is then loaded onto trucks by the contracted labor of the sugar mill. The loading contractor is paid INR 20 per ton. Loading is a dangerous task, and accidents are frequent. Chopping loaded sugarcane so that it fits better on the trolleys or trucks has its own risks. The transporter, who is paid INR 100-150 per ton, depending upon the distance, transports sugarcane from the center to the sugar mill. The drivers of the trucks are always at risk, as most of the trucks are over-loaded and often topple due to poor road conditions. Payment to the farmer is generally made a month after the sugarcane has been supplied.
The farmer produces his supply slip at the payment counter of the mill and, after verification, payment is made at the declared rate.
Unloading Sugarcane at Sugar Mill
Sugarcane arrives at a sugar factory in bullock-carts, tractor-driven trolleys or trucks. After the gate-entry is completed, the sugarcane is weighed at the weighbridge and placed near the loading conveyor under the “punja,” a mechanical device controlled by a manually operated overhead crane that grips the sugarcane and releases it onto the conveyor. Another method for unloading the sugarcane is by manually tying a steel rope around the bundles of sugarcane and hauling the bundles by the over-head crane onto the conveyor.
It is common for the district farmers to use bullock carts to transport sugarcane and normally 5 to 8 tonnes of sugarcane is transported on a cart. But for a while now there has been a competition as to whose cart can carry more weight which has led to a sugarcane loading craze. The new record belongs to Sharat who had purchased a pair of bullocks for Rs. 2.90 lakh recently. The cart was modified with tractor tyres and axles to handle the load.
Bullock-cart owners are reportedly encouraged to overload bullocks through incentives offered by sugar factories. The animals are often forced to pull loads twice the size of what a normal, healthy bullock could pull. The excessive weight causes bullocks to suffer from swollen knees, necks and shoulders, and the strain impairs their immune systems and shortens their lives. It is common to find bullock carts so overloaded with sugarcane that the animals have a difficult time walking. It is also common to find two to three people sitting on top of each cart, adding to the weight. The bullocks struggle, breathe heavily and froth at the mouth. Most do not receive even a drop of water while working.
It happened in Pune – Based on evidence obtained by People for Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India, the Judicial Magistrate Court of Indupur issued a notice against Shri Chaatrapati Sahakari Sakhar Karkhana Ltd (SCSSK) for violating the Prevention of Cruelty to Draught and Pack Animals, 1965, by exceeding the allowable weight of 2,800 kilograms per bullock cart. After local police failed to take action – even though bullocks struggling with illegally overloaded carts pass right in front of the police station – PETA obtained receipts of payments made to bullock-cart owners by the sugarcane factory that clearly indicate that loads were far in excess of the legal limit. SCSSK’s board of directors appealed the issuance to the Baramati Session Court, which will rule on the matter on 10 June.
“Just by the way the animals strain every muscle and can barely walk, anyone can see that these bullock carts are overloaded”, says PETA India Director of Veterinary Affairs Dr Manilal Valliyate. “We hope that this court ruling will put the sugarcane factories on notice that their days of flouting the law and tormenting working animals are numbered.”
It is seen similarly in Karnataka even in Belagavi district that this practice is rampant.
Bullock carts are loaded heavily almost more than 3-4 tonns.
The Sugar factories in the vicinity should areange for proper pickup and transport of the sugarcane.
Dr Sonali Sarnobat BJP leader and Social activist, now a member of Animal welfare board of Karnataka has raised this issue with the Minister of Animal Husbandary and fisheries Mr Prabhu Chouhan as well as local SP and DC. They have assured immediate action on it.
by Swatee Jog At first sight, Nithin Kamath, CEO of Zerodha, India’s first online trading platform, looks like any other techie, clad in a black Tee and jeans and with a relaxed, holiday vibe in his gait (he’s had a pit stop in Belagavi on his way to Goa).
As I meet him at his close friend Alpesh Jain’s home in Belagavi, Nithin, who, along with his brother Nikhil, stands at the 90th place in the Forbes Richest Indians List with a net worth of a staggering $1.2 Billion (Nithin and his bother Nikhil are together worth around Rs. 24000 crores), makes it amply clear that the figures are just notional and there’s no real value to it.
Now how does Nithin Kamath feature on Allaboutbelgaum, you’d wonder, for Uday is a stickler when it comes to featuring Belagavi connections. Well, for the record, Nithin is married to a Belagavi girl!
Nithin Kamath sitting, Alpesh Jain (Standing)
Nithin and his younger brother Nikhil together started Zerodha in 2010. Nithin was always fascinated by stocks and trading, thanks to his Marwadi friends in Bangalore where he grew up. He started trading very early, at the age of 17 while in college and soon realized that this is what he wants to do. Nikhil, who’s 7 years younger, joined when he had just completed his 10th. He quit his BPO job in 2005 and borrowed money and literally blew it up. But people were impressed by his performance. Soon, he got clients who asked him to manage their portfolios. Nithin became sub-broker managing franchisee money at Bangalore. Alpesh’s association with Nithin dates back to those days.
He often says, and to me too, that there is a fine line between passion and foolishness. If you’re successful, it’s called passion, if not, it is deemed foolishness. Nithin had had a stint with a BPO and a finance company before he started Zerodha in 2010.
He joined the engineering college and dropped out because he was already heavily into trading by them. Although the brothers hail from a traditional family with no trading connections whatsoever and where education was considered important, they managed to build a unique company solely based on skills and gut instincts.
Back then, the norm everywhere was that the brokers charged a percentage of the value of the trade as brokerage. He thought that when the work required for the transaction remains the same irrespective of the value of trade, more so when the whole system was computerized, it made no sense to charge a percentage of the trade value from the customer.
Zerodha became a market disrupter because it charged a flat fee of Rs. 20 per trade to its customers. Starting out with just 10000 clients initially, Zerodha today boasts of a client base of 4 million. What differentiated Zerodha from others is that though it did not help in research and did not suggest buy or sell, it invested heavily in acquiring tech startups that aided its transactions. Nithin is the tech guy among the two brothers, while Nikhil is fully into trading.
Nithin admits he is not into socializing much, mostly busy with work and spends time with a close group of friends. He has ridden on his cycle from Bangalore to Belagavi, once. Kailash Nadh, the CTO, joined around 2013 and Nithin credits him for taking the tech plunge.
People are intrigued with the name Zerodha where there are Zero and Rodha in Sanskrit meaning barrier. So it literally means no barriers at all. He clarifies that in a market where people are bent to sell you something, Zerodha offers a platform to trade, it is heavily in education through Varsity (which is just behind Investopedia in terms of activities) and many such platforms. While Zerodha disrupted the market with its Rs. 20 per trade model, competitors soon started catching up. So Zerodha invested in technology and still remains a leader in providing platforms. It brought transparency in the capital market, by charging a flat fee, unlike other institutions that charge you a differential fee for different values. All 4 million of Zerodha’s customers are equally charged.
When you are into a business you love to do, the odds of succeeding increases, he says. He speaks about passion further, adding that when the company started out with around 100 employees, it was easier for Nithin to sit down and interact with everyone. As they grew (Zerodha today has around 1100 employees. Nithin comes across as extremely down to earth with absolutely no airs about being that ‘Billionnaire’, though he owns a couple of luxury cars.
If it was not the case with being featured in Forbes and Economic Times and the like, he could very well walk across Khade Bazar or Maruti Galli and no one would say here’s a guy worth a billion-plus dollars. Perhaps not letting success affect your core values and focusing on your business makes this happen. As he lounges at Alpesh’s cozy home, he’s soon set to join the friends for some hearty chat. Nithin would definitely be proud of his Belagavi connection, just the way Belagavi would feel for him!
Swatee Jog
Special Features Editor, AllaboutBelgaum
Swatee Jog, is the founder of Eeshanya Ventures, a digital marketing and content startup. She also teaches at Bharatesh Global Business School (MBA). She is a blogger, a columnist, has written extensively for national newspapers on people, places, and heritage, and has also published three books. Reach her at swateejog747@gmail.com
Her book ‘Welcome to the Zoo’ will be available in India this week. It’s Mishana Khot’s third book, an adventurous journey of four scrappy kids and their mishaps, accompanied by a pint-sized mob of friends and pets set in 175 odd pages.
They devise sinister plots to kidnap the Tooth Fairy, dress up as Egyptian Mummies and leap out at unsuspecting strangers on dark nights, smuggle puppies into the house, drive their starchy governess to tears, and pummel each other in horrible wrestling matches.
The Khot kids live inside an old Fort and spend their days rambling about in their overgrown garden or on the crumbling ramparts. They might not be very tall but that won’t stop them from getting into all kinds of scrapes. Set in small-town India of the early 90s, these stories will take you back to the simpler time of childhood, when all you needed to be happy was a pocket full of sweets and a dog by your side. Does it sound familiar? Well, that’s exactly taking out a leaf from Mishana’s childhood in Belagavi.
Mishana’s earlier two books, ‘A Brave day for Mr. Brown’ and ‘Merry Christmas, Mr. Brown’ are already on Amazon and did pretty well worldwide. Mishana comes across as intelligent, well read, well traveled and speaks in a flawless, warm and hurried tone. So if you, like me, feel like asking the question “Are you Dr. Nitin Khot’s daughter?”, you’re not disappointed.
The same intelligent genes that she’s inherited are in full action through all her creative pursuits. (At one point during our conversation, as she got to gushing about her dad and I pitched in with my interactions with him as an active INTACH member, she quipped “Imagine being his daughter” with much pride) I had, in fact, received a copy of the book from him with his signature elaborately handwritten card with warm wishes for Christmas!
Mishana along with her father Dr.Nitin Khot
Mishana Khot has extremely fond memories of her childhood in Belagavi. The Khot Villa in Belagavi fort, which was, and still is, the epicenter of numerous cultural and artistic ventures, remains etched in her memory. Growing up as part of a large family with three siblings, Mishana reminisces the numerous adventures of the siblings with her dad, spending most of the time in her garden as a kid. ‘He’d pick us up and put us in his car to take us to places, day or night didn’t matter. “He taught us to do everything on our own. Dad never differentiated between his daughters and his son, making us climb trees and be fearless, travel anywhere, get our hands dirty, taking us to faraway places for fairs and the like. We were doing what most of our friends weren’t doing. He’d tie a rope and send us over cliffs, to waterfalls, to Yellurgad and many such wonderful places” she tells me.
Dr. Khot’s large library was a huge influence on Mishana, when he made available all sorts of books even as a kid, reading and discovering great authors growing up. Mishana delved into writing her first book even when in school, “Ginger the cat” which never got published, though.
Mishana completed her school from St. Joseph’s Convent and then headed to Mumbai for higher studies. She went to Sophia college for her Bachelor of Arts in literature following it up with SNDT Mumbai for an MA in English Literature. She started working in Mumbai with advertising and then moved to digital advertising, freelancing and agency jobs. It took her some time to come out with her first book though, for the publishing industry had, by then, got obsessed with certain kinds of genres that sold well.
She’s a professional writer but has been running an adventure travel company (https://www.thegreatnext.com/) which keeps her busy. Five years back, she and her husband quit jobs and went on a six-month break and traveled from the East Coast to the West Coast in the US, renting a van, trekking and camping on the way. Then they headed to Australia and crisscrossed the continent from Sydney to Melbourne in a camper van camping along the coast.
What next? Well, Thailand it was, spending the last two months there, figuring out what to do next. That’s when she decided to write her first book, ‘A Brave Day for Harold Brown’ a fifty page or so novel, available on Kindle. It went on to feature in the top 100 short stories, top 100 literary stories lists on Amazon. The second one was a sequel to the first.
The third book which is recently published is actually her first proper print version and hence is very special to her. Mishana and her husband organize adventure travel soirees for enthusiastic travelers, focusing more on Maharashtra, the Himalayas and the Andamans being the most popular places. She visits Belagavi once or twice a year (this year being an exception) and loves to come back to the warm town. She has already started working on her next novel (they will all be novels henceforth, she clarifies). Now here’s Belagavi’s own author to look forward to in the days to come.
Swatee Jog, is the founder of Eeshanya Ventures, a digital marketing and content startup. She also teaches at Bharatesh Global Business School (MBA). She is a blogger, a columnist, has written extensively for national newspapers on people, places, and heritage, and has also published three books.
It’s the city’s icon, featuring on several publications and pictures. Built in 1204 CE, the Kamal Basadi stands proudly within the premises of the Belagavi fort. It is part of three temples within the fort that survive today, built in later Chalukyan style. Its shikhara is in Kadamba Nagara style, making it a unique monument indeed. The monument is today maintained by the Archaeological Survey of India.
The Kamal Basadi, a Digambar Jain temple, was built by Bicchiraja, a minister in the court of Kartavirya IV, a Ratta king. Belagavi region is blessed with several temples built by the Rattas back then. The main deity is Bhagwan Neminath, seated in a Padmasan posture.
The original idol of the Basadi was moved from here during enemy attacks centuries ago and is now kept at the Chikka Basadi in the city. The current idol, which belongs to the 11th century, was found in a forest and predates the temple. The serene idol is flanked by a large Kalpavruskha (the mythical wish granting tree) carved in stone which is indeed rare. Figurines of mythical animals adorn the base of the Kalpavruksha.
A Navagraha Tirthankar idol is also placed inside the sanctum sanctorum, which is extremely rare. The Kamal Basadi is divided into three parts- the Mukhamatapa, Antaral and the Garbhgruha. The ceiling of the Mukhamantapa is adorned with an inverted lotus with its 72 petals (hence the name Kamal Basadi).
Kamal Basti
Each petal has a carved idol of a Tirthankara ( three sets of 24 Tirthankaras each, one set representing one of the three epochs- past, present and future). To the eight corners of the Mukhmantap are eight pillars with a guardian deity carved on each. These are the Ashta Dikpalas or the guardian deities of the eight directions. The inner chambers are adorned with carvings of perforated screens, Gajalaxmi, floral patterns and elaborate work on the pillars and ceilings.
Kamal Basti in 1860
Several literary and historical references suggest the presence of a total of 108 Jain temples in this region.
Today, however, we see only the Kamal Basadi with the deity inside while the other two ruined temples do not have any idol. The fort was built much later, in fact, and several stones on the fort’s walls depict images of the Jina in seated postures.
It is very important to cherish our city’s ancient heritage. Belgaumites can organize small trips with their family and kids to this monument and let them know about the temples, the fort and their significance. (The INTACH Belagavi chapter routinely organizes small heritage walks of the Belagavi fort for students and heritage lovers)
816th Anniversary of the Kamal Basadi
December 25th marks the 816th anniversary of the consecration of the Kamal Basadi by Bichiraja. The temple is managed by the Shree Shree 1008 Neminath Tirthankar Digambar Jain Mandir (Kamal Basadi) Pooja Committee. With the initiation of Shri Rajeev Doddanavar and Shri Vinod Doddanavar of Bharatesh Education Trust, a special post cover was released on 23rd December, coinciding with the 816th Anniversary of the iconic monument. A special picture postcard and a cancellation stamp was also released on the occasion. (Interested philatelists can contact Bharatesh Education Trust to purchase the set)
A small function was organized at the Kamal Basadi premises on 25th December under the holy guidance of Param Pujya Vatsalya Varidhi 108 Shri Vardhman Sagarji Maharaj and Sangh who are in Belagavi to observe the Chaturmas this year.
