** Aster Hospitals to offer free surgery for 100 underprivileged children

A 24X7 multi-lingual helpline has been set up to manage enquiries

To mark Children’s Day, Aster Hospitals in India launched the ‘Second Life – Because Little Lives Matter’ initiative.

A 24X7 multi-lingual helpline (+91 9633620660) has been set up in Kozhikode in Kerala to manage enquiries.

** A museum now, Navy vessel INS Chapal faces danger of permanent damage

The mammoth, 325-tonne INS Chapal, a decommissioned Navy vessel that was converted into a museum 15 years ago and docked at the Karwar port, is a picture of utter neglect

** Three Bengaluru-based groups make it to Facebook’s community accelerator programme

A group that guides women on travel; a community that advocates new-age parenting; and a section that connects city women with entrepreneurs. Bangalore Women Power, Adventure Women India and Moms of India — were recently recognised by Facebook at the first edition of the Community Accelerator Programme

** Mandya farmer’s quest to preserve agrarian heritage

Bore Gowda has won the Plant Genome Saviour Award

A farmer from Mandya has bagged the Plant Genome Saviour Award in recognition of his efforts to conserve the indigenous variety of paddy and agrarian heritage.

Meet S. Bore Gowda, a farmer from Shivalli in Mandya district, whose journey from a farmer engaged in farming practices that focused on use of chemical fertilizers to that of a rice conservator and seed saver, has won him a fan following.

** CFTRI Scientist Develops New Beverage From Coffee Leaves

As coffee leaves are constantly being produced, growers can harvest them in the off-season if there is demand, according to Pushpa S. Murthy, Principal Scientist (Spice and Flavour Science Department) of CFTRI.

** Engineer’s experiment with Boer goat

T.S. Umesh crosses the Boer with the native Talcher breed and they fetch a good price

T.S. Umesh, 47-year-old from Tarabenahalli of Tumakuru district, chose agriculture instead of office soon after completing his engineering degree in 1990.

People laughed at him then for returning to the village to take up farming. Undeterred by this, Mr. Umesh charted his own course in farming on his 7.5 acres of land and used his engineering aptitude and outlook to better practices

** Karnataka government department gets award for effective communication

RDWSD receives Best Communication in Sanitation Award for 2021

The Rural Drinking Water and Sanitation Department, Government of Karnataka, has been bestowed with the Best Communication in Sanitation Award for 2021 in digital communication category by Indian Sanitation Coalition (ISC) – Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FICCI).