Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka barred from advertising services

Doctors and hospitals in Karnataka have been barred from advertising their professional services.

The Karnataka Medical Council has issued an order prohibiting doctors and hospitals from advertising their services on the grounds that it was a violation of the Code of Medical Ethics.

President of Karnataka Medical Council Chikkananjappa told reporters that any violation of the Code of Medical Ethics will be treated as “professional misconduct” and action will be initiated under section 15 of the Karnataka Medical Council Act.

He said the penalty could range from a warning to de-recognition for a year. Persistent violation could even attract permanent de-recognition, which means the medical professional cannot practice anywhere in the world.

Chikkananjappa regretted that many hospitals, including superspeciality centres, were advertising themselves on a mass scale in newspapers, billboards and road medians. “Medical profession cannot be marketed”, he said.

About 70 notices had already been issued to doctors, hospitals, nursing homes, clinics and diagnostic centres for advertising themselves. “About 65 consultants responded to the notice and we have explained to them the provisions of the law that self-aggrandisement with ulterior motive of attracting patients was against ethics”, Chikkananjappa said.

However, hospitals have taken exception to the Karnataka Medical Council’s move. A spokesman of Wockhardt Hospital, a leading private hospital in Bangalore, told reporters that extending the order to institutions is not correct. “Hospitals worldwide advertise their services. Not to allow hospitals to advertise is taking it a little too far. As there is so much competition in the sector, how else can we advertise our services”, he said.

Bihar MPs pulled me down from PM’s post - Gowda

Railway Minister Lalu Prasad Yadav’s claim that he got a Prime Minister elected from Karnataka has not gone down well with former Prime Minister and JD (S) supremo H D Deve Gowda.

Speaking to reporters in Bangalore, Gowda accused the MPs from Bihar for pulling him down from the Prime Minister’s post.

When his attention was drawn to the Railway Minister’s claim that he was responsible for a Kannadiga to occupy the Prime Minister’s post, a visibly irritated Gowda said “I know very well who made me the Prime Minister. It was, in fact, MPs from Bihar, who pulled me down from the post”.

“I got a Prime Minister elected from Karnataka”, Lalu Prasad Yadav had told the BJP MPs from Karnataka, who accused him of insulting Kannadigas by describing them as “dirty people” during his recent visit to Karnataka.

Gowda accused the Railway Minister of meting out injustice to Karnataka in the Railway Budget 2008-09. “Let alone sanctioning new projects, no funds have been earmarked to any of the on-going projects”, Gowda fumed.

The former Prime Minister said he would soon hold talks in the regard with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Gowda warned that his party would take up in its election campaign the issue Railway Minister’s alleged negligence of Karnataka in the Railway Budget.

Charge iPod with an onion!

Two teenaged boys in Bangalore have come up with a unique innovation that can recharge an iPod with an onion.

The duo – Ajay, 15, and Chandrashekar, 14, students of Poornaprajna Education Academy, Bangalore - demonstrated their discovery at the Young Innovators’ Meet, an exhibition of creative ideas at Jawaharlal Nehru Planetarium in Bangalore.

The boys took an onion, drilled a see-through hole with a screw driver and kept the bulbous vegetable dipped in an energy drink, a branded citric juice, for half an hour. Next, they took out the onion, wiped its bottom with a piece of cloth to absorb the moisture and inserted the free end of an iPod’s USB cord to successfully charge the gizmo for 15 minutes.

The voltmeter, which recorded the iPod before and after its insertion into the onion, showed that the gadget could be used for 15 minutes after the exercise. “After keeping the onion dipped in the energy drink for half an hour, the USB cord of iPod should be kept inserted in it for another half an hour. Then, you can listen to the music on the iPod for a full 15 minutes”, Ajay claimed.

Explaining the scientific aspect of the innovation, Ajay told a curious crowd of visitors to the exhibition that the acidic elements of the onion react with the electrolytes in the juice to produce small electric charges. This crude, but handy, method was invented by the two young minds in merely 45 days. “We conducted many experiments and concluded that it worked the best with onions”, Chandrashekar said.

It is not just an iPod, which can be charged with the onion, other gizmos like even the MP3 player can be charged in a similar manner, the budding scientists claimed.

Pilgrims rescued three days after losing their way in forests

A group of sixteen pilgrims from Gulbarga in Karnataka had to be airlifted in a helicopter to reach their destination after they lost their way in the thick forests of neighbouring Andhra Pradesh.

The devotees, who had embarked on a journey by foot to the pilgrim centre of Srisailam in Andhra Pradesh’s Kurnool district to fulfill a vow, lost their way and wandered in the deep forests aimlessly without food or water for four days before they were rescued.

Police said the sixteen pilgrims from Yadgir in Gulbarga set out on foot on February 18 for Srisailam. Everything went on well for almost three days till February 20. But, when they decided to take a short cut through the forests upon the advice of locals in a village in Andhra Pradesh, the pilgrims just lost their way. Soon, they were literally in the woods as they were stuck deep inside the jungles without any mobile phone link.

The devotees just walked in the forests for three days, thirsty and hungry, till they fortunately strayed into a pocket with mobile phone coverage. They managed to contact their relatives, who in turn communicated their plight to Gulbarga district police.

The message was conveyed to the police in Andhra Pradesh, who formed two special teams comprising even forest officials, and located the devotees with the help of global positioning system. The hapless pilgrims were located near Neelaganga on the banks of river Krishna seven kms from Srisailam.

The Andhra Pradesh police deployed a helicopter, which located the group, and managed to shift the starving and exhausted devotees to Srisailam Government hospitals. Eventually, the pilgrims were discharged from the hospital and managed to visit the Temple in Srisailam on Monday.

Soap contract lands Dhoni in soup

State-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL) has served a legal notice to India’s limited overs cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni, claiming damages worth Rs 4 million for dishonouring the contractual obligations as brand ambassador for its Mysore Sandal soaps.

KSDL had roped in Dhoni to endorse its Mysore Sandal soaps in January 2006 for a term of two years for a sum of Rs 8.5 million. But, the company terminated the contract and after the star cricketer failed to give them enough time for endorsing its soap product.

KSDL Executive Director Babu Siddakumar told reporters that Dhoni was to have given the company five days each for the two contract years according to the agreement. “But, he has given us only three days out of the ten days required as per the contract. We have been asking for his dates for commercial shoots and marketing events. But, he has failed to abide by the contractual obligations”, Babu Siddakumar said.

The soap company’s contract with the wicket-keeper batsman commenced from January 2006 and was scheduled to end on January 2, 2008. A legal notice revoking the contract with Dhoni and seeking damages from him was issued on December 20, 2007.

KSDL also claimed that the company has already paid Dhoni and his agency Rs 6.4 million out of the contract amount of Rs 8.5 million. The balance amount was to have been paid after Dhoni completes his dates with the company. “We have been releasing quarterly payment to the cricketer as per the contract terms and decided to cancel the contract when we did not get his dates”, Babu Siddakumar said.

During the three days Dhoni made himself available to KSDL, a 60-second commercial advertisement had been produced. However, Dhoni should have made himself available for upto five days during each contract year in order to make personal appearances at clinics, camps, trade shows, retail outlets, autograph sessions and other activities related to marketing of the Mysore Sandal soap, a press statement from KSDL said.

Three new species of fish found in Western Ghats

Three new species of fish were found in the high altitude streams in Western Ghats region of Karnataka.

The new fish species were discovered by the Marine Products Export Development Authority (MPEDA) in the streams of Sita river, flowing at altitude of 2,000 feet above mean sea level, near Agumbe in Karnataka’s Shimoga district.

The discovery was made while MPEDA was preparing a database of indigenous ornamental fish available in Western Ghats region of Karnataka. MPEDA’s Karnataka convenor P K Pramod said the newly discovered fish species have been identified as Danio, Schistura and Mesonemachelius.

Scientists of Chennai-based Zoological Survey of India K Rama Devi and T J Indra have confirmed the discovery of the new fish species.

Pramod told reporters that Danio species collected from a high altitude stream is characterized by two pairs of elongated barbells. The fish shows resemblance to Danio dangilla and brachydanio rerio in having long barbells. The similiarities end here. For, the species differs in fin formulae.

Schistura species, which has 11 to 13 bands, is characterized by beautiful black markings while Mesonemachelius is olive green in colour with black blotches on the body and flanks.

Pramod said the discovery proves that Western Ghats, with its pristine waters, harbours a rich variety of fresh water species. These attractive species have the potential to be introduced as ornamental fish varieties in domestic and international markets. “But, the resource abundance of the species should be studied and breeding technology perfected prior to popularization of the fish in ornamental trade”, Pramod added.

Eunuchs may dance in Bangalore live bands

With a view to circumventing the prevailing ban on women dancing in bars, live band owners in Bangalore are planning to bring in eunuchs, who can legally dance the night away.

During a protest demonstration at Cubbon Park in Bangalore seeking Government permission for live bands, the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants’ Association gave the onlookers a glimpse of the dancing skills of eunuchs.

A group of about 20 eunuchs swivelled their hips and gyrated to the tunes of film songs as part of the protest.

The protest comes barely a fortnight after the Karnataka High Court ordered the Bangalore police to consider the pending applications by Live Band Restaurant Owners. The police had been refusing permission for live bands under the stipulations of the Excise Act, which prohibits employment of women in places where liquor is served.

“If there is a ban on women dancing in bars, we will rope in eunuchs as there is no ban on them”, said President of the Karnataka Live Band Restaurants’ Association Sanjay Kochhor.

More than 100 live bands in Bangalore were forced to shut shop in 2005 after the police withdrew their licenses under the provisions of the Excise Act, which not only prohibits serving of liquor beyond 11.30 pm, but also bans employment of women in bars.

“If girls are not allowed to dance, we will bring eunuchs from neighbouring states and ask them to dance”, Kochhar said.

Bangalore City’s Additional Police Commissioner Gopal Hosur, however, said the police department would have to stick to the rules. The Excise laws prohibits women from working at bars as bartenders or dancers, he said.

“There is a certain level of decency to be maintained in the society. We will take a decision depending on the norms or society and the law of the land”, he said when asked about the High Court’s recent order to consider the long pending applications of the live band owners in Bangalore.

Krishna’s return to Karnataka politics at least two months away

Former Karnataka Chief Minister S M Krishna has indicated that his return to Karnataka politics was at least two months away as his programmes as Maharashtra Governor had been finalized for the next two months.

“My programmes in Maharashtra for the next two months have been finalized”, said Krishna when reporters in Mysore near here sought to know from him when he was returning to Karnataka politics.

The Maharashtra Governor, however, evaded a direct reply to a question on when he would return to Karnataka politics.

He said the speculation over his return to Karnataka politics had been there in the media and political circles ever since he took charge as Governor of Maharashtra three years ago. “I keep hearing these rumours whenever I come to Karnataka”, he said.

Krishna also evaded a question on the controversial autobiography of former Minister H Vishwanath containing references to his romance with yesteryear actress B Saroja Devi. When the Maharashtra Governor was asked whether he had read the autobiography, he said “I am busy reading a book on the biography of Indira Gandhi”.

Later, Krishna drove to Hotel Lalitha Mahal Palace, where he took rest for some time before proceeding to the marriage of a close relative of former Karnataka Minister D K Shivakumar. It may be mentioned here that Maharashtra Chief Minister Vilasrao Deshmukh was also in Mysore on Sunday to attend the same wedding.

Project to bring back birds to Bangalore

The Forest Cell of Bangalore City Corporation has begun putting up artificial nests for birds on the trees in the parks in a bid to attract birds that have deserted the City after its rapid transformation into a bustling metropolis.

As many 300 out of the 800 species of birds found in south India had made Bangalore their home till a decade and a half ago, particularly the ubiquitous sparrow. Now, not only have the sparrows become conspicuous by their absence, atleast a 100 other varieties of birds have just disappeared from the City, much to the concern of environmentalists.

The transformation of Bangalore into a concrete jungle and the rising noise and pollution levels has been attributed to the missing of many common varieties of birds. Particular concern has been expressed for the disappearance of the sparrows, which are normally found perched on tiled roofs of houses and near open wells.

“Houses with tiled roofs have now given way to high-rise apartments. The roads are bursting with honking vehicles that emit smoke from their exhaust. The situation is not congenial for birds”, said Deputy Conservator of Forests, Bangalore City Corporation S Shekar.

Hence, the Bangalore City Corporation has launched a unique project “Birds, Come Back Bangalore” with a view to attracting the birds by creating a congenial atmosphere for them.

The municipal staff with the help of nature lovers and bird watchers has already created nests on trees in Gayathri Devi Park in Bangalore’s Rajajinagar. “Separate areas have been created for offering grains to birds and for sand-bathing. Artificial ponds made of granite slabs have also been created in the park”, Shekar said.

The municipal authorities are planning to create such bird conservation spots in at least 100 such parks spread across Bangalore.

Soldier held for drug peddling in Belgaum

The police have recovered more than 500 grams of brown sugar worth Rs 9 million from three persons including a defence personnel in Belgaum in Karnataka.

Belgaum district police superintendent Hemant Nimbalkar told reporters that the seized narcotic substance was part of the consignment that had been brought to India from Myanmar for dispatch to different parts of southern and central India.

Acting on a tip-off, the Belgaum police rounded up the three persons at the bus stand in the town. The arrested persons include Tombram Singh, 27, a native of Manipur and a soldier attached to the AHR and R, New Delhi. He had travelled along with another accused Yalangbam Singh, 28, also a native of Manipur, from Delhi to Belgaum by a truck.

The duo was caught while they were handing over the drugs to Narayan Majgaonkar, 26, a native of Karwar, who was all set to leave with the consignment to Goa. Police said another soldier Ramesh Sawant, a native of Karwar and attached to Army Dental Corps, Rajasthan, was also involved in the drug racket. However, Sawant is absconding, he said.

Nimbalkar said Belgaum had emerged as a transit point for drug peddlers in view of its proximity to the tourist haven of Goa. The Belgaum police had had recovered a total of 50 kgs of narcotic substances including brown sugar and hashish in the town during the last few months.

The solider Tombram Singh, who was arrested by the Belgaum police, was on leave. He and his associate had packed brown sugar in a bag used to carry a laptop. On interrogation, they revealed that they had bought the drugs from a source in Delhi, who had in turn received it from Myanmar.

Karnataka Chief Secretary’s appointment challenged by senior IAS officer

The appointment of Sudhakar Rao as the new Chief Secretary of Karnataka superseding four senior IAS officers has been challenged in the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) by the Additional Chief Secretary and Chairman of Bangalore Development Authority Dilip Rau.

The Tribunal took up Dilip Rau’s petition yesterday and issued notices to the Federal Government and the State Government, besides posting the next hearing of the case to March 6.

Sudhakar Rao’s appointment as the new Chief Secretary in place of P B Mahishi, who was transferred as Chairman of Karnataka Power Corporation Limited by Governor Rameshwar Thakur had stirred up a hornet’s nest in the State.

The move, which comes when the state is under federal rule, has not only caused bitterness among the IAS officers senior to Sudhakar Rao, but also angered the JD (S), which had appointed Mahishi to the coveted post during the regime of H D Kumaraswamy as Chief Minister.

Even as Sudhakar Rao assumed charge as the new Chief Secretary, Dilip Rau submitted his petition before the CAT terming the appointment as “illegal, arbitrary, capricious and discriminatory”. Requesting the Tribunal to pass an interim order staying Sudhakar Rao’s appointment, Dilip Rau, who is a 1972 batch IAS officer and senior to Rao, sought a direction to appoint him to the post of Chief Secretary.

No senior IAS officer attended the brief programme held in the chambers of the Chief Secretary in Vidhana Soudha to witness the assumption of office by Sudhakar Rao.

Former Chief Secretary P B Mahishi and Additional Chief Secretary Neerja Rajumar are also exploring the options of moving the Tribunal against Rao’s appointment.

Meanwhile, JD (S) activists held demonstrations in different parts of the state yesterday condemning the removal of Mahishi from the post of Chief Secretary. Former Minister H D Revanna, who is also the son of former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, accused the Governor of succumbing to the pressure tactics of Congress leaders and removing Mahishi from the post.

However, former Deputy Chief Minister Siddaramaiah defended the Governor’s decision and said the appointment of the Chief Secretary is carried out on the basis of seniority as well as merit. Hence, there is no violation of law in the appointment of Sudhakar Rao to the top post, he contended.