Police announcs reward for nabbing thief

Madikeri, Nov 19 : Police today announced a reward of Rupees 5,000 to the people who assist them in tracing the whereabouts of a thief, who stole pepper worth Rupees 4.5 lakh.

Police, who have announced a reward of Rs 5000, today said K Navin Cariappa had been accused of stealing the produce belonging to the owner of estate he was working Devanur village near Gonicoppal.

The accused, the estate writer, his wife and three others had stolen pepper and transported it in a lorry and sold it when the estate owner had taken her aged husband for medical treatment to Delhi, police said.

Both the wife, identified as Rathi, and an auto driver Kuttappa had been arrested and efforts were on to trace Navin and two other accused, police added.

– UNI

Coffee growers announce ‘deadline’ for coffee package

Madikeri, Nov 19 : Coffee growers in Kodagu, the highest coffee producing district in the country, have given an ultimatum of December 10, for the Union government to fulfill their demands which mainly comprise of announcement of the Coffee Package.

Addressing a press conference here today Kodagu Coffee Growers Federation Joint Secretary Pandanda Naresh said if the union government did not heed to their demands the growers would launch a indefinite stir.

He said the center should release Rs 504 crore towards the package before December 10.

The growers also demanded the State government to fulfill their demand of repair of the roads which were in a bad state in the district, and provide relief towards rain related damages and free them of power crisis.

He said that the deputy commissioner has confirmed that Rs 12.55 crore is in his hand towards rain relief. But the same could not be distributed as the government was yet to clarify certain guidelines.

Growers were suffering due to government apathy in clearing such issues, he said.

Madikeri taluk Association president Panathale Vishwanath said that growers would chalk out a new line of protest with the support of other people if the governments failed to fulfill their demands.

-UNI

‘Hold Communal Harmony Day’

Madikeri: Kodagu Deputy Commissioner K.H. Ashwatha Narayana Gowda on Wednesday called upon the Nehru Yuva Kendra (NYK) members to observe Communal Harmony Day here on November 19 involving youth and organise a district youth convention the next day.

He was presiding over a coordination committee meeting of the kendra, a release said. He advised the kendra office-bearers to conduct a week-long training camp for the youth in various agriculture-related skills involving 100 youth at the Krishi Vijnana Kendra in Gonicoppa.

The district coordinator of the kendra, C.J.F. D’Souza, gave an account of the programmes being taken up by the kendra earlier.

Additional Deputy Commissioner Chandre Gowda, District Social Welfare Officer Rajesh Gowda, Deputy Director of the District Industries and Commerce H.S. Prakash, former president of the District Yuva Okkuta Tatu Monnappa and president of the Madikeri taluk unit of Yuva Okkuta M.B. Joyappa were present.

 – The Hindu

SSLC examinations from April 1

Karnataka Higher Secondary Education Board has announced SSLC examination time table for the academic year. The Board has even announced the change in question paper pattern. 

 
The examination will be held from April 1. On April 1, second language English (Kannada, alternate English). On April 2—holiday on account of Good Friday; April 5—Mathematics (10.30 am to 1.30 pm); April 6—third language Hindi; April 7—Science (10.30 am to 1.30 pm); April 8—first language Kannada (Telugu, Hindi, Marati, Urdu, English, Sanskrit); April 9—Social Science.

Kodagu district has 29 examination centres. About 7,165 students are appearing for the examination. This incluide in Madikeri taluk—2,163, Virajpet taluk—2,151 and Somwarpet taluk—2,851 students.

Speaking to Deccan Herald, DDPI Narasimhaiah said there will be change in question paper pattern from this year. Last year multiple choice questions were carrying 60 marks. To increase the learning skill among students, multiple choice questions have been reduced to 30 marks. Writing answers in few sentences, essay writing will carry 70 marks.

To make the students acquainted with the new pattern of question paper, preparatory will be held by the end of December and February. The Board has already sent a model question paper.

A workshop was conducted for the teachers on preparation for the examination in Sowamrpet taluk. Similar workshop will be held in Madikeri and Virajpet taluks on November 23. To get good results in the district, special classes are being held for the SSLC students. Last year, the district has stood at ninth place in SSLC results.

 – DHNS