Dr Lekha Pandit, professor of Neurology and director of the Center for Advanced Neurological Science at K S Hegde Medical Academy, Nitte (deemed to be university) has been awarded the prestigious fellowship of the National Academy of Science India (NASI), Department of Science and Technology, Government of India.
Since its inception in 1930, NASI has selected nearly 2000 fellows from various fields of science for their path breaking research in Science and Technology and for furthering societal education in science. Dr Lekha Pandit is a clinician and basic science researcher whose three decades long work on demyelinating disorders such as Multiple Sclerosis and Neuromyelitis Optica, has remarkably improved the understanding, diagnosis and treatment of these severe diseases in India. She has through her pioneering work shown the increasing prevalence of these diseases among Indians, determined the genetic and environmental factors related and developed and patented the first diagnostic assay for these conditions in India. At K S Hegde Hospital in Mangaluru, she runs one of the largest registries for these diseases in the Indian subcontinent visited by patients from different parts of India and abroad.
Dr Lekha Pandit is one among 150 Indian women scientists and the first from Dakshina Kannada to have been bestowed this national honor.
Dr Manjeshwar Shrinath Baliga, senior radiobiologist, in-charge of research and chief operating officer (COO) of Mangalore Institute of Oncology, has featured again in the global Top 2% for exceptional research work. Dr Baliga’s current global ranking in all fields of research is 64,930; while in his specialized area of Cancer (Oncology & Carcinogenesis) is 2,786. In the 2019 report, Dr Baliga was also ranked in the top 2% with 3188th. Among Indian researchers working on cancer, his current ranking is 7th and second in the state of Karnataka.
The study was conducted by Prof John PA, Loannidis of Stanford University and published by Elsevier B V, and considered the contribution of 200,409 scientists from 1960 until the end of September 1, 2022 in 22 scientific fields and 176 sub-fields. The Stanford team focused on impact (citations) and analyzed the research citation in the “Scopus database”, considered to be the “benchmark” by the scientific community around the world.
Dr Baliga is the eldest son of popular travel’s proprietor Prabhakar Baliga and Prema Baliga. He did his schooling and undergraduate studies at St Aloysius College and Masters in Biosciences from Mangalore University. He did his doctoral studies in radiation biology from Kasturba Medical College, Manipal with research on anticancer and radio modulatory properties of novel agents in 2003. He received advanced training at Tata Memorial Centre, Mumbai and post – doctoral fellowship at the University of Alabama, Birmingham, USA and a second post doctorate from the University of Illinois, Chicago in areas of cancer prevention and metastasis.
Dr Baliga also has adjunct degrees in Masters of business administration in education management, from Alagappa University and Masters in Psychology and Psychotherapy from Kuvempu University. In addition to this Dr Baliga has been one of the founding members of the UNESCO Bioethics in India and has been active in studies on ethical issues in health care and Oncology in specific. He has done advanced research training in pharmacogenomics at University of Delhi, South Campus under the prestigious Indian National Academy of Sciences fellowship. Dr Baliga was inducted as a fellow in “The International Institute of Organizational Psychological Medicine (IIOPM), Melbourne Australia in 2019 for his work in health and work place psychology.
In his three decades long scientific career, Dr Baliga has carried out studies in the areas of cancer epidemiology, cancer prevention, radiation-modulation, Onco-psychology, cancer ethics, cancer education, health economics and pharmacovigilance. Till date he has published around 202 scientific articles and 92 text book chapters in the above said areas in national and international journals and books. Dr Baliga has mentored 61 students till date and most of his students are in premier institutes of Europe, USA and Australia.
Dr Baliga’s current research at Mangalore Institute of Oncology is focused on aspects important to local society, like cancer trends in Dakshina Kannada, effective integration of Ayurveda and Yoga in post treatment recovery and health economics in cancer care. These areas have been highly neglected and Dr Baliga’s emphasis is towards bridging the gaps for the benefit of the local society and country at large.
The Karnataka government has announced the Kannada Rajyotsava Award winners for the year 2022 to coincide with the celebrations of the Karnataka formation day. Here’s a look at achievers from all walks of life who have won the award for the year 2022
An English poem written by B Divit U Rai, a resident of Bannur and student of Sahyadri Engineering College of Mangaluru has been prescribed as a lesson for 8th grade students.
The government has printed Mother Earth poem from Simple Life, a compilation of poems, written by Divit when he was studying in 10th grade at Sri Ramakrishna High School of Puttur.
Divit had brought out a poem compilation named Dew Drops, when he was studying in 6th grade at Haradi Government School.
Divit also drew the attention of the then home minister Dr G Parameshwara by holding a protest against transfer of five woman teachers of Harady Government School citing additional hands as the reason.
Later, Dr G Parameshwar had participated in the annual day celebration of the school on the Divit’s request and gave a grant of Rs 10 lac for the school room. The minister also promised to bear the cost of education of Divit. Dr Parameshwar also bore the cost of his participation in the Scout Guide Jamboori which was held in Japan.
Divit is the son of Udaya Kumar Rai Neelampadi and Pratima U Rai couple.
Asia’s first RDPR University offers courses to empower students who can further empower rural India.
Mahatma Gandhi’s profound remark, “The soul of India lives in its villages”, resonates through every pulse of the nation even today. About 65 per cent of the Indian population continues to reside in rural areas, adhering to a lifestyle grounded in tradition. However, as India progresses into an era of modernisation on par with its developed global peers, the country’s villages are trying to catch up with the modern times, while preserving their ethos.
Spearheading this process academically is a unique university in Karnataka, which imparts learnings in Gandhian thought, herbal medicine, rural lifestyle, addressing rural socio-economic problems, and traditional vocations, among others. The Karnataka State Rural Development and Panchayat Raj University (KSRDPU) is situated in Nagavi village of Gadag district.
Plan in action Rural Development and Panchayat Raj are the two main pillars acting as catalysts to change the country’s rural scene for the best. Hence, a university aimed at heralding positive change in the rural areas of North Karnataka was envisioned.
The proposal to establish such a university was approved by both Houses of the Legislature in the Chief Minister’s Budget speech of 2013-14, following which a state government-constituted expert committee visited several academic institutions, such as Institute of Rural Management Anand; National Institute of Rural Development, Hyderabad; Gandhi Gram, Madurai; Indian Institute of Management, Ahmadabad; and Tata Institute of Social Sciences, Mumbai, to come up with an idea for the RDPR University. The committee’s vision through the proposed varsity was to create a committed, dedicated professional workforce to address various issues affecting rural development.
Accordingly, the university had its inception at Raita Bhavan near Bhishmakere in 2016, with academic activities beginning the following year. Later, a plan to establish a full-fledged RDPR University was mooted by the then RDPR Minister H K Patil, following which a new campus was inaugurated in 2018 by the then Chief Minister Siddaramaiah. This campus came up on 353 acres of land near Nagavi. The pleasant weather emanating from the Kappatagudda hillock nearby made this village ideal for learning, especially for the study of subjects surrounding rural and village topics.
Today, this varsity focuses on research, teaching and training in the realms of sustainable rural development through the institution of Panchayat Raj. Special courses include MA in Geoinformatics (Remote Sensing and GIS), MA in Public Administration, MA in Rural Development and Panchayat Raj/Cooperative Management, MBA in Rural Management and Agribusiness Management, MSW in Community Development, Rural Reconstruction and Community Health, M. Com in Entrepreneurship or Cooperative Management, Master of Public Health, and much more.
According to Prakash Merawade, a lecturer at KSRDPRU, “At the university, we teach traditional Ayurvedic herbal medicine and use of charkha for making cloth as well. Students are exposed to practical experiences of rural problems, by getting them to visit the villages of Gadag district.”
“There was a need for such an institution, which is guided by Gandhiji’s idea of Gram Swaraj. We have also built a replica of Sabarmati Ashram on campus so that students can study and imbibe Gandhian philosophy. Today, KSRDPRU works on four main aspects — education-based, research-based, training-based and area-based learning,” concludes KSRDPRU Vice-Chancellor Vishnukant Chatpalli.
The KSRDPR University claims to be the first-of-its-kind institution in Asia, whose sole purpose is to create thought leaders and professionals who will work among rural-folk, bridging the development divide with their urban brethren, thereby blending traditional with modern in a diverse India.
LIFE AND TIMES
The KSRDPRU campus hosts a replica of the Gandhi Smarak of Sabarmati Ashram in Gujarat, which has been created by the KSRDPRU itself, and is located 10 km away from Gadag town. The ashram is located in the lap of Kappatagudda. The structure has five rooms, comprising a meditation centre, library, Nayee Talim centre, Gandhi Kasturba Kutir, and a kitchen. There is also a big statue of Mahatma Gandhi in the veranda, which can accommodate 60 people for attending speeches on Gandhian principles. The rooms also have a collection of photographs from the life and times of the Mahatma, besides a replica charkha like the one in Gujarat’s ashram.
TRADITIONAL HUT FOR HERBAL MEDICINES
The university has also built a Parnakuti, a traditional hut to create awareness on Ayurveda. Students, traditional doctors and Ayurveda experts are brought here to share their knowledge on medicinal plants. Varsity staff grow Ayurvedic plants at Smritivana on campus. Parnakuti, which has been built using natural materials such as bamboo, eucalyptus wood and dry grass, encourages students to touch base with traditional healers, following practices like in the ancient times, when there used to be an Aushadha Vana, Rajvana and Panchavati Vana, where medicinal plants were cultivated.
MANOCHETANA COUNSELLING CENTRE
The university has started Manochetana, a free counselling centre for people who are under stress after the pandemic. Free counselling can be sought at the old building, in the old DC’s office building in Gadag town. This facility is open to farmers, health workers, students, and people from both rural and urban areas.
Jayachandra Raju, Chairman and Founder of Global Education Trust – Daksha College, Mysuru, received the prestigious Mahatma Award-2022 for Social Good and Impact in the event held at India International Centre, New Delhi, on Oct. 1.
Jayachandra Raju has served the United Nations in the Department of Peacekeeping Operations for more than 25 years in various regions of the world.
The Mahatma Award is supported by Aditya Birla Group and Eternal Gandhi Initiative as a tribute to Mahatma Gandhi to spread his message of selfless services and love across the world.
Mahatma Award honours individuals and organisations addressing incredibly complex and equally severe problems spanning global peace, poverty and hunger, disease, education, climate change, disaster response and preparedness, health care accessibility, environment protection and sustainable development.
Jury Members and Dignitaries on stage who bestowed the award included Lt. Gen. Rajender Singh, former UN Force Commander, Peacekeeping Forces Ethiopia & Eritrea; Dr. Yogendra Saxena, Senior Vice-President, Ambuja Cement; Amit Sachdeva, CSR Man of India; Radhika Bharath Ram, Board Member of CARE, Helpage India and CII National Education Council and Dr. Sankar Kumar Sanyal, a staunch Gandhian and Member of Gandhi Smriti & Darshan Samiti, Rajghat.
Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, announced distinguished alumni awards felicitating five IISc scientists and engineers for their contributions to the society and the institution.
Prof Bharat Kumar Bhargava, professor of Computer Science at Purdue University, USA, Dr Krishnan Nandabalan, president and CEO of InveniAI LLC, IISc prof M Narasimha Murty, Col (retd) HS Shankar, Chairman and MD, Alpha Design Technologies Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, Dr Krishna Mohan Vadrevu, Executive Director, Bharat Biotech International Ltd, IISc prof M Narasimha Murty, will be felicitated in December 2022.
Prof Bhargava has developed a system to assist visually-challenged people in navigating their environment and social interactions, using mobile phones and cloud computing. Dr Vadrevu contributed to the development of a typhoid conjugate vaccine, a novel low-dose rotavirus vaccine, and Covaxin.
Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr K Sudhakar has expressed happiness and felt it is a matter of immense pride for Karnataka that the Union government has launched the brand new T-Manas programme, based on Karnataka’s E-Manas platform.
The new initiative was launched at the State level by Karnataka Governor Thaawar Chand Gehlot at the 26th Convocation of NIMHANS that took place in Bengaluru on Monday.
The T-MANAS platform will function as a 24/7 mental health facility across the country, the minister said.
Karnataka initially launched a tele-counseling program in association with NIMHANS when the pandemic first struck.
The primary objective of the initiative was to address the stress caused due to Covid-19 pandemic and lockdown. The initiative saw immense success and the Karnataka government also experimented an online counseling for students at a time when the class 10 results were announced in the State.
Dr Sudhakar said Karnataka has completed a total of 23 lakh tele-counseling till date.
The E-Manas platform of Karnataka is one stop location for mental health. The platform connects patients, mental health professionals and mental health institutions.
The Minister said: “It is a heartening to see that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya are taking proactive steps to focus on improving mental health in the country. I am proud to say that Karnataka has played a pioneering role in focusing on mental health.”
Dr Sudhakar highlighted Karnataka’s new Brain health initiative which aims to train PHC doctors to diagnose and treat mental health and other brain related illnesses.
The Minister said one day in the week will be dedicated for this task at all the Primary and Secondary Health Centers in the State.
Swarnalatha Attavar, hailing from Mangaluru, recently won the Best Administrator Award from the Block Education Department (BEO) here. She was honoured at an event organized by the Block Education Department, Bengaluru north region to commemorate the taluk level Teacher’s Day 2022. Swarnalatha Attavara is currently working as branch operational manager at Orchids – The International School, Jalahalli branch.
The programme was organized by the joint association of Dr C N Ashwath Narayan Foundation, School Education and Literacy Department, Bengaluru north zone, and Primary and High School Teachers Union. D V Sadananda Gowda, former chief minister, and Bengaluru north region MP was the chief guest at the event. He addressed the gathering and appreciated the efforts of award winners for their contribution to the field of education.
Swarnalatha was honoured by Uma, block education officer of Bengaluru north zone at Chowdaiah Memorial Hall, Malleshwaram, Bengaluru. Bengaluru north MP D V Sadananda Gowda, IT minister Ashwath Narayan and legislative council member Puttana were the dignitaries present at the event.
Plant varieties and technologies developed by Institute located in Hessarghatta is contributing about ₹13,000 crore a year to country’s exchequer
Bengaluru has got one more feather in its cap with the Hesaraghatta-based Indian Institute of Horticultural Research (IIHR) being ranked top among institutions run by the Indian Council of Agricultural Research (ICAR).
The IIHR has topped the combined list of ranking for 2019-20 and 2020-21 that was released by the IIHR on Wednesday.
In all, 93 various institutes run by the ICAR in different parts of the country were considered for ranking.
The ranking is done on various parameters including the institute profile, performance, recognition and awards received by its faculty, research output and outcome, impact of research taken up by the institute, and vision and future readiness of the institute.
While each of these parameters were allotted certain marks, the institutes were judged for a maximum of 100 marks.
Vast research
IIHR conducts research on 54 major horticultural crops and has released 330 hybrids and other varieties in these crops ever since its inception in 1967.
The institute has also released 157 technologies that have played a major role in boosting horticultural productivity in the country. The estimated impact of eight of these selected hybrids/varieties and technologies to the national exchequer is around ₹13,000 crore annually.
The institute is also focusing on the promotion of entrepreneurship through horticultural technologies and at present there are three technology business incubators in operation at the institute to hand hold and promote horticultural entrepreneurship.
Seed portal
In a first-of-its-kind initiative in the country, the IIHR recently launched an online portal for the sales of the seeds of the varieties released by it.
Institute Director Debi Sharma said the recognition for ICHR had increased the responsibility of the institute. IIHR was keen on pursuing its cutting edge research in new areas, she said.
Meanwhile, the National Bureau of Agricultural Insect Resources and the National lnstitute of Veterinary Epidemiology and Disease lnformatics, which too are ICAR institutes located in Bengaluru, have got the 23rd and the 50th rank respectively.