** Free treatment and surgery for epilepsy patients

The offer comes from Sakra World Hospital in association with Rotary International and First Meridian

On the occasion of National Epilepsy Day, Sakra World Hospital announced phase 2 of the Epilepsy Prevention and Integrated Care (EPIC) Program, which has been initiated in association with Rotary International and First Meridian.

The year-long programme is aimed at providing quality treatment and education about epilepsy to patients in the BPL category for free. It will focus on refractory epilepsy (uncontrolled epilepsy). The programme was launched in September 2020 by the then Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa.

** Bags Karnataka Excellence Awards

Poornima Jayakrishna of city-based NGO Public Health Research Institute of India (PHRII) seen receiving the Karnataka Excellence Award for Best Innovation and Research in Healthcare at a function organised by Virtual Council for Professional Education Mission (VCPEM) Trust at Ravindra Kalakshetra in Bengaluru recently. The award was presented by VCPEM Trustee Shantha Sridhar.

Picture right shows Dr. M. Suresh Babu, Professor of Medicine, JSS Medical College and Hospital, JSS Academy of Higher Education and Research, Mysuru, seen receiving Karnataka Excellence Award-2021 in the Best Internal Medicine Specialist category at Ravindra Kalakshetra.

** Mangaluru’s Ananya Singh, Nahush Sharan bring laurels to city in top beauty pageant

Two youngsters from Mangaluru have made the city proud in a beauty pageant.

Ananya Singh emerged the winner of Global Miss International India Universe 2021, while Nahush Sharan bagged the second runner-up spot in Global Mr International India Universe 2021. The pageant was held in New Delhi on November 11.

Ananya Singh is the daughter of Rajpal Singh and Pramila Belthangadi Sheshagiri born in Mangaluru. She was brought up in Dehradun. She did her graduation from Delhi University, and at present pursuing her masters at School of Social work Roshini Nilaya.

Nahush Sharan hails from Marnamikatte. He is pursing BBA in Jain University through correspondence. Nahush is son of Dilip Kumar and Sanjana N M.

** Veep felicitates PES varsity prof who guided students to develop satellites

Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu felicitated Dr Sambasiva Rao, a professor at PES University, for the launch of a micro-satellite earlier this year.

 Dr Sambasiva Rao had mentored a team of students, who successfully launched two micro-satellites, the latest of which went up this February.

The satellite was conceptualised and developed by students and was launched with the support of the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO). “That PES University is the second university in the country after IIT Bombay to achieve this spectacular feat speaks of their prowess in cutting-edge technology,” said Naidu.

** NIT-K develops e-bike for forest surveillance, commute

Its battery can be charged by solar power and the headlight doubles up as a torch

The National Institute of Technology-Karnataka (NIT-K), Surathkal, has designed and developed an e-bike to ensure that commuting in the forests is eco-friendly in its true sense.

A unique feature of this bike is that its battery can be charged using solar power and it has a removable headlight which doubles up as a torch for using during night surveillance.

** Efforts on to get heritage status for jackfruit tree

Aged around 250, it is said to be Karnataka’s oldest of this variety.

A jackfruit tree, aged around 250, located 40 km from Bengaluru, is believed to be State’s oldest tree of this variety and one of the oldest in the country. The tree at Janagere village in Magadi taluk is now in the limelight as agricultural and horticultural scientists are striving to get “heritage tree” status for it.

Ravish J.R., owner of the tree, has fenced it for protection. Villagers say that he is the 10th generation owner of the tree that has been protected not only by the family of owners, but also by the community.

** 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.

** 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.