Category: Business & Economy

** Five from diverse fields win Padma Shri from State

Siddalingaiah, H.R. Keshavamurthy, S. Ayyappan, Abdul Khader Nadakattin and Amai Mahalinga Naika are the recipients

Dalit poet Siddalingaiah, who passed away in June 2021, has been posthumously awarded the Padma Shri by the Union Government on Tuesday.

He is among the five from Karnataka to figure in the list of Padma awards announced on the eve of Republic Day.

The other awardees are Gamaka exponent H.R. Keshavamurthy, agricultural scientist S. Ayyappan, innovative farmer Abdul Khader Nadakattin and farmer Amai Mahalinga Naika.

Dalit voice

Siddalingaiah emerged as one of the prominent Dalit voices in the State and was one of the co-founders of Dalit Sangharsha Samiti. He was known for his fiery poetry, though the tone of his writing changed to wry humour in later years. He taught Kannada at Bangalore University and was a recipient of Pampa Award, the highest literary award of the state. He lost his battle to COVID-19 in 2021 at 67.

Gamaka exponent H.R. Keshavamurthy, 87, hailing from Hosahalli village, Shivamogga district, has been practising the unique art of rendering classical epics through music for over five decades. With the late Mattur Krishnamurthy, he had given several television programmes as well. Speaking to The Hindu, he said he was happy that the Gamaka art was recognised at the national level. “I have only tried to do what best I could and the rest is all God’s grace. I wish more youngsters learn Gamaka and keep this art alive,” he said.

Research honoured

Agricultural scientist S. Ayyappan, former Director General of Indian Council of Agricultural Research, told The Hindu that the award was a recognition of aquaculture and its contribution to the nation. Hailing from Chamarajnagar, Dr. Ayyappan is an alumnus of University of Agricultural Sciences, Bengaluru. His areas of research have been fisheries, freshwater aquaculture and aquatic microbiology. Joining the Agriculture Research Service of ICAR in 1978, he served in various capacities including as its Director General.

Innovative farmer Abdul Khader Nadakattin from Annigeri in Dharwad district, who spent his entire life designing and producing farm equipment and tools that made farming easy is also among Padma Shri recipients from State. He spent close to five decades in designing farm tools and equipment fighting against odds, and now runs Vishwashanthi Agri Research Centre. Himself a farmer, Mr. Nadakattin says he designed tools based on the difficulties he experienced in various farm activities.

Low-profile farmer

Keeping with the trend of awarding low-profile achievers, the Union Government has recognised the sheer grit and determination of Amai Mahalinga Naika, 76, who single handedly drilled seven tunnels on a hill slope for years and successfully brought water to his field near Mangaluru. An expert in climbing areca and palm trees, he was given two acres of land by a farmer with whom he was working as a labourer. But given the land was a hill slope and had no access to water source, Mr. Naika began drilling tunnels. After decades of working single-handedly and drilling seven tunnels he finally got water to his two acre farm.

** Grama One launched in 12 districts of Karnataka to provide services at doorstep

To be extended to all districts before March-end

Grama One, which seeks to provide a host of government services under the same roof in rural areas, was launched in 12 districts by Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai on January 26. The services will be extended to all districts across Karnataka by the end of March.

Earlier, Grama One had been run on a trial basis in four districts to understand the challenges since it’s a technology-based service offering. It enables access to a host of services offered by the departments of Agriculture, Horticulture, Revenue, Women and Children Development.

** Bengaluru leads blue, grey collar job vacancies in India

‘Bengaluru is country’s hub for blue and grey collar jobs’

Bengaluru holds the highest number of vacancies in India for blue and grey collar jobs.Delivery, BPO, customer care, data entry, back office, field sales and driver categories account for 80% of all such jobs, according to a study.

Qjobs, a Quess Corp platform for blue and grey collar recruitment, said Bengaluru had the largest share of job vacancies across these categories, accounting for 23% of openings,followed by Delhi (18%), Hyderabad (15%), Mumbai (11%), and Pune (8%).

** Hallikar Breed Ox Sold For A Record Rs. 7.75 Lakh At Srirangapatna

Srirangapatna:

A seven-year-old Hallikar breed ox belonging to Vinod, son of farmer Suresh of Palahalli village, has been sold for a record Rs. 7.75 lakh to one Manju of Tegur village in Chikkamagalur.

The ox, named King Gagan, has taken part in more than 80 cart races and had won many prizes. Vinod used to take King Gagan along with his partner to races across the State and Manju, who was impressed with the name and fame of King Gagan, bought him for a high price. Manju said that he would pair King Gagan with another ox for car races in future.

** B.S. Muddappa passes away

The founder-Managing Director of the erstwhile Karnataka State Dairy Development Corporation (now Karnataka Milk Federation) B.S. Muddappa, 98, passed away here on Tuesday.

Sources said that he passed away due to age related illness. Among important positions that he held were General Manager of MSRTC, Vice-Chairman KSRTC, Managing Director Consumer Cooperatives, Director Bangalore Dairy, and several posts in State and at the Centre.

** Karnataka attracts ₹1.6 lakh crore FDI in FY22

This is more than 50% of such investments received in entire country; 200 startups to get ₹50 lakh each

Karnataka has attracted foreign direct investments (FDIs) worth ₹1.6 lakh crore so far in the current fiscal, which was more than 50% of such investments received in the entire country, said Minister for IT/BT and Skill Development C.N. Ashwath Narayan on Sunday.

** ISEC-Bengaluru glows in golden halo on completing 50 years

Governor inaugurates golden jubilee celebrations in Bengaluru; institute to organise functions throughout 2022 to mark golden jubilee.

The Institute for Social and Economic Change (ISEC) in Bengaluru, a premier research and training institute in social sciences in India, is organising progammes throughout 2022 to mark its golden jubilee.

On January 19, Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot, who is the president of the ISEC society, inaugurated the celebrations in a virtual event. He appreciated the institute’s role in formulating policies in various social and economic sectors, which contributed to the upliftment of weaker sections in Karnataka. The institute played the role of a catalyst while guiding the Karnataka Government in formulating policies in agriculture, finance, rural development, administration, governance and poverty reduction.

** MBA grad now a farmer, sells organic fruits

With Sankranti round the corner, an MBA graduate, who has turned a farmer, is offering basketfuls of organic, homegrown fruits to corporate offices.

Usharani Vinay, the founder of Skyo Farms, had worked in several IT companies. During the pandemic, however, she found her love for farming. She impulsively bought a piece of land in her village, Yelagalavadi in Kunigal taluk, and started farming. “We had moved back to our village during the pandemic, when we came across a piece of land for sale. I bought it and started farming,” she told TNIE.

** Udupi: Dr Kiran Kamal Prasad conferred prestigious CNCDH Award

Dr Kiran Kamal Prasad, founder and coordinator Jeevika Free, a organization working for providing freedom to bonded laborers in Karnataka has been conferred with the prestigious CNCDH – 2020 (National Consultative Commission on Human Rights – France) Award. The award was conferred to Dr Kiran Kamal Prasad by Ambassador of France in India Thierry Berthelot.

Dr Kiran Kamal Prasad aka Cyprian Lobo is a native of Barkur. In 1988, Kiran Kamal Prasad begun the Jeevika Free, an NGO working for the eradication of bonded laborers in Karnataka. They help to free bonded laborers from the jaws of mighty and powerful and rehabilitate them to lead a meaningful and dignified life.