The Observer
The Observer An IIJNM publication
Rajputs condemn death threats, Deepika’s home gets round-the-clock security cover | P 3
Vol 17, Issue 12
@theweeklyobserver On the Web: issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs/ the_observer
Tuesday,November 21 , 2017
Cradle-making industry in Kalaghatagi under threat due to decline in labour and demand | P 5
40 years after it was discovered, there is still no cure for Handigodu syndrome Sufferers label the crippling disorder a nightmare Saket Tiwari saket.t@iijnm.org
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ore than 40 years after it was discovered, Handigodu syndrome, a rare and painful disease, is still prevalent in Shikaripur, Sagara and Hosanagara taluks in Shivamogga district. First reported in Handigodu village of Sagara taluk in 1976, the disease has killed 1,000 people. No cure has yet been found for the crippling syndrome. Chikkabilagunji village, on the border of Shikaripur and Sagara taluks, has 15 cases. “It’s been with me from the past 20 years. I have pain in the pelvic region of the body. It is a torture that has become a part of my life. Doctors from government institutions come, but they
People suffering from Handigodu Syndrome have distorted limbs. From left:, Santosh and Vijay. | Credit: Saket Tiwari also don’t have any permanent Chikkabilagunji village, incure for my condition. They just formed The Observer . do regular checks like BP The disease is not well known and blood test from time to time,” because it is prevalent only in cerGangadhar, 50, a Handigodu tain geographical areas. The dissyndrome suffrerer from ease shows characteristics similar
Teachers, students protest against cell tower radiation Barnana H. Sarkar barnana.h@iijnm.org
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aculty and students of the Ashwini Primary and High School, near the BBMP office in Rajarajeshwari Nagar, on Tuesday protested against the installation of an illegal tower 30 metres from the school premises. “The tower is illegal. The documents presented do not belong to the state,” said principal Ilawati. Ever since the tower was installed 15 days ago, teachers of the school and residents of the area are worried about the health of the students. The teachers and the students’ parents have tried to prevail upon a BBMP joint commissioner to order its removal. “We have been contacting him for the past 15 days. He has been asking us irrelevant questions about tax payments,” the principal informed The Observer.The
Cell tower radiation can cause damage to children’s health | Credit: Barnana H.Sarkar damage caused by radiation from a mobile tower takes a toll on the health of children. Young children may face dizziness or anxiety. The radiation can cause long-term damage to a child’s health. Epidemiological studies have proved that such radiation may cause neurobehavioral effects and
cancer. Suchita, headmistress of the school, said: “We requested Shivananda, who was responsible for setting up the tower, to remove it as it can pose health hazards for the children. But he is asking for proof. We told him that the effect is gradual, and takes three to four years to damage the health of a child. He said he would remove the tower only after four years.” Shivananda is understood to have spent 45 minutes with the joint commissioner on Tuesday, while the teachers were asked to wait outside. The faculty said exposing children to radiation is a violation of human rights and have asked the residents to join their protest. Srinivas, a resident of the Rajarajeshwari Nagar area, said: “Such radiation is bad for pregnant women.” >> Continued on page 2
to Mseleni Joint Disease observed in the Maputaland region of KwaZulu Natal province in South Africa. It comes under the “rare diseases” category, meaning it affects one person in a population of one lakh. A paper published by researchers of the Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, says: “Mseleni joint disease (MJD) and Handigodu joint disease (HJD) are familial skeletal disorders that affect several hundred persons in northern Zululand, South Africa, and in Shimoga district…. Severe precocious, progressive degenerative osteoarthropathy, which occurs in both conditions, causes marked physical handicap by adulthood. The clinical and radiological manifestations of MJD and HJD are very similar and it is possible that they represent the same entity.” The Handigodu syndrome leads to severe pain. In extreme cases, adults who are crippled have to
crawl. The disease, which causes difficulty in walking and standing, can in extreme cases lead to mental retardation and dwarfism. “I had worked on the disease in the late 20th century…. Since 1986, when I left that place, Handigodu still doesn’t have any permanent cure… it is because of the negligence of either the government or scientific research institutes. We can’t afford to be helpless in the medical sector,” Dr Krishnamurthy informed The Observer. “I was normal till the age of 15 years, but after that my limbs and pelvis started getting distorted, and then they bent. Since ages, nothing has improved in the situation I have been in. It is a nightmare, the pain is terrible, but I am used to it,” Chowdamma, 60, a sufferer of the disease, said. The Observer didn’t find any specific remedial treatment or cure for Handigodu syndrome on the Web.
These citizens have adjusted to the stench from drain Debanjali Kabiraj debanjali.k@iijnm.org
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he drain in front of Dollar Colony in BTM Layout, south Bengaluru, is yet to be cleaned despite repeated complaints. Compared to the situation a few months ago — heaps of garbage and rubble piled up along the drain — there is less trash in the area now. But the stink prevails. Residents say they have complained numerous times to the BBMP but to no avail. The BBMP cleaned the area one and a half months ago, but is not doing the job regularly. Sumathi S, a shopkeeper in the area, informed The Observer: “The BBMP cleaners come whenever they want to. They do not clean the place regularly.Divya Muthu, a resident of Dollar Colony, said: “There is no point in complaining anymore.” They have “adjusted” to living
Garbage lined up along the drain Credit: Debanjali Kabiraj amid the stench; it doesn’t bother them anymore. The streets may be cleaner, but there are heaps of garbage in the drain, hindering the flow of water. The stagnant water has become a breeding ground for mosquitoes. Dengue cases in the area have increased, the residents say. The scenario worsened after heavy rain in August and September, the residents say, but the BBMP did not pay heed to their complaints. The BBMP contractor concerned was not available for comments.
CITY
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Auto drivers become a law unto themselves More & more commuters are switching to app-based cabs
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Autos in front of Mysuru Road Metro station | Credits: Sreejani B. here, I ended up paying Rs 450 to travel to Majestic from Bellandur, a distance of 18.1 km that would cost me Rs 235-240 on the meter. Given Bengaluru’s traffic conditions, many people prefer autos to cabs as they are experts in taking short-cuts.” Jatolia added: “At Phoenix mall, they have a big group. They never agree to go by meter. They add high rates beyond the limit prescribed by RTO for night travel. Once I was charged double at the night. I could not refuse as it was quite late. My office is in the Whitefield area. Auto drivers never agree to go by meter to Whitefield area, but in Malleswaram and Rajajinagar, they feel free to go by the meter. Nitin Agarwal, an IT professional, has similar thoughts. “If you try to reason with them, it becomes a heated argument and ul-
timately you have to either get down or pay the extra buck.” As of September 2017, according to transport department data, Bengaluru has 49 lakh two-wheelers, up from 46 lakh in January. The Observer tried to speak to an autorickshaw driver, Jaishankar, near the Brookefield area, but he refused to comment. Satish, a management professional, said: “I have stopped using autos and prefer app-based cabs and autos because they save money and you do not have to haggle with the drivers.” The Deputy Commissioner for Transport (RTO) told The Observer: “You have the absolute right to ask an auto to go by the meter. If the driver refuses to do so, take down his name and complain to the authorities. We will file a case and ensure strict action.”
Not BBMP’s job, ‘Art must reinvent itself to attract youth’ Mathew “What attracts youth today is says babu’s PA Arlene arlene.m@iijnm.org mainly pop music-while there is >>Continued from page 1 hananjaya, whose daughter studies in LKG, said,“The tower can cause severe damage to the health of the students studying in the school. It is also a bad threat to the local people in the area. We are speaking to BBMP. We have told them about the health issues; now it is up to the government. ” Residents are now signing petitions for the removal of the tower with the school faculty and students.Riyaaz, PA to the joint commissioner, said an FIR has not yet been filed against the installation of the tower. “It is not the BBMP’s job to remove the tower. They need to talk to DoT, which will need to take permission from the central government.”
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Rally racing requires to be covered more by media: Gaurav Debanjali Kabiraj debanjali.k@iijnm.org
Sreejani Bhattacharyya sreejani.b@iijnm.org ommuters in Bengaluru complain that a majority of autorickshaw drivers refuse to charge by the meter even though they are legally bound to do so. Haggling over fares is fruitless. Sometimes the autorickshaw drivers demand double the fare displayed on the meter. Fed up, many commuters have shifted to alternative modes of transport like Ola and Uber. Commuters The Observer spoke to said autorickshaw drivers don’t care about transport department rules. Dilip Jatolia, a resident of Brookefield, said: “From my office to home, they charge a minimum of Rs 200, while with meter on it would cost only Rs 80-90. An auto driver will agree to go to a place only if the commuter promises to pay him the demanded amount, without meter on. Cabs are fine with meter. Auto drivers earn Rs 1,000 from three or four trips only, but cab drivers have to complete 10-12 trips.” Anindya Ghosh, another commuter, said: “If you have a meter installed, there is a reason for it. That's not how auto drivers in Bengaluru think. Autos that operate in Bangalore have a standard meter fare of Rs 13/km. But it would be a miracle if you managed to travel by auto and paid Rs 130 for a 10-km ride. Four years ago, when I first came here, the question that plagued me was, why have a meter if you don't use one anyway? In my first year
The Observer Tuesday, November 21, 2017
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ffinity of people to Western culture poses a need for traditional art to reinvent itself, says C Chennur, Kaaryakrama Joint Director of Ravindra Kalakshetra in Ashokanagar. Recent past shows an increase in shift from traditional to modern ways of life, he added. The Ravindra Kalakshetra, located near the Karnataka Nadaka Academy, is a popular venue for many cultural programs. These programs include dance, music and drama programs. While the shows are always houseful, the number of youth in the audience is negligible, says Ashok T, a program coordinator at the Kalakshetra.
nothing wrong with this, their waning interest in their own rich cultural past is disheartening to see. They do not have the time or the inclination to learn their cultural heritage, let alone promote it,” explained Chennur. “To grab their attention, we will need to reinvent art. This is necessary to preserve our culture, he added. Cultural coordinators fear that if the current generation has no interest in tradition, this could be detrimental to the existence of 'kala' academies. Madhu C, a primary school teacher and mother of two, say that her children prefer English, and not the native language, Kannada. “They dream of going abroad and adapting a different culture. Art or tradition do not rouse their interest.”
in India, told The Observer, “We need a lot more of media coverage than it gets at the present moment." The recognition is not obtained because it is not given enough coverage as compared to other sports. Farooq Ahmed, Chairman of Coffee Day India Rally and VC of Chikmagalur Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur say, “The major drawback rally racing faces in India is the support from the Government. Government doesn't provide any help or funding to the sport in India." “Today most rallies are struggling to find stages. APRC is the only rally in the country which has rally roads in private property. People need to come forward and offer us infrastructural support."
ally racing in India needs more media coverage to become popular in India says Gaurav Gill, the champion of FIA Asia-Pacific Rally Championship. Coffee Day India Rally 2017 is all set to begin in the coffee town of Chikmagalur. It will be held from November 24th to 26th and is organized by The Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur. It is a three day long affair with 16 stages on Friday, 11 stages on Saturday and 4 on Sunday. The participants will cover 502 kms in total and the route is located in the Coffee Day Global's estates bordering Chikmagalur. On Tuesday, the Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur announced the starting of Coffee Day India Rally in a press conference. Gaurav Gill, winner of FIA Asia Pacific Rally Championship, Ole Christian Veiby from Norway, New Zealand's Micheal Young, along with Farooq Ahmed, VC of Chickmagalur Motor Sports Club of Chikmagalur was present at the event. Gaurav Gill, when Participants and organizers announce the begasked about the draw- gining of Coffee Day India Rally 2017 at Vittal backs rally racing faces Mallya Road | Credit: Debanjali Kabiraj
Letters to the Editor Sultanpet is a veritable hellhole
Just one look at Sultanpet makes one cringe at the thought of entering the locality, where sewage flows on the road every day because BWSSB has not done its job. The board must arrest the rising problem of sewage flowing on to roads. They must use the tried and tested mechanisms to fix the problem. Manashaa G
Growing drug abuse is worrisome
It is appalling to see rising cases of drug abuse among young children. What is more shocking is the easy availability of narcotic substances. The effects of these addictions can be adverse. Schools and colleges should hold awareness programmes to educate young adults about the dangers of intoxication. A platform should be set up for young addicts to seek rehabilitation without fear of judgment. Manikankana Sengupta
Let us know the real issues
In Rajasthan, a state that has issues like gender inequality, poor sex ratio, infanticides and rampant child marriages, people feel fighting for the “pride” of the queen Padmini is of primary importance. Unless we start realizing what the real issues are, we will be misled by politicians for their selfish interests. Rayan Mitra
Docs’ strike was irresponsible
I wonder whether the decision of private hospitals to shut their OPDs against the KPME (Amendment) Bill, 2017, was necessary. It did not seem rational on the part of the doctors to abandon their out-patients. The Bill was suggesting a few changes, one among them being that doctors are not to ask for an advance in case of emergency cases. It seemed justified as that would have saved the hustle a patient goes through even when emergency aid is required. However, the doctors seem to agree to some other rules, maybe some rules which they are comfortable to abide by. The strike was an irresponsible move. Health professionals cannot leave patients high and dry. Barnana H. Sarkar
CITY
The Observer Tuesday, November 21, 2017
Deepika’s home in Bengaluru gets 24/7 security after threats City Rajputs say, do not take films too seriously Dammala Rachel Priyanka Damala.r@iijnm.org
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security blanket has been thrown over the Bengaluru home of actress Deepika Padukone following threats to her by the Karni Sena over her role in Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s period drama ‘Padmavati’. The security is stepped up at night. Not just Bengaluru, even her Mumbai house is under tight security. Dr Shilpa Supahia, a Rajput and resident of Jalahalli, informed The Observer: “I cannot make sense of these outrageous threats. I am furious at their attempts. Nobody can ever do anything to put our community in bad light or demean our culture. And a movie definitely not. Facts are facts, and they can't be changed. Do not take movies to heart, let them be.” Another Rajput student in Bengaluru, however, holds a different opinion. Although she condemns the Karni Sena’s acts, she wishes the director of a movie based on
In addition to personal security, two police men guard Deepika’s home at Cunningham Road | Credit:Dammala Rachel Priyanka history had stuck to facts. protests by groups like the Karni “Violating these would mean Sena have an underlying political lying about the history and cul- agenda that the public must see ture of a particular community,” through. “When I watch a movie, she said. As for cinematic free- I take it as a two-hour entertaindom, it is best used for entertain- ment package and go home. I ment and in commercial films, not don't take this as a lesson on hisin historical movies. She believes tory, and nobody really should.” that simple logic would have It is not just the Karni Sena but worked while making the movie. many other caste- and religion“A queen never danced for peo- based extremist groups that love ple, so Bhansali needed to do his to create a ruckus and chaos over homework.” trivial issues. The public must not Vijay Thakur, an employee of support or encourage them. ABP News, believes that the Slowly but eventually, ‘Padma-
4,000 expected to join 10th Pride March Ayushi Singh ayushi.s@iijnm.org
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ore than 4,000 people are expected to join the Bangalore Pride March on November 26. The 6-km march, from Tulsi Park to Town Hall, will protest injustice against sexual minorities.
A large number of people are coming out in support of the LGBTQI community. “I got to know about it through my friend this year, and am eager to be a part of the March,” Ganesh GP, a class 12 student who is looking forward to join the march, told The Observer. Many people, especially the youth of the city, seems to accept the fact that the LGBTQI community has been denied the right to live a dignified life for many years now and it is the duty of every individual to stop being ignorant and be a part of any initiative that fights for their rights.
Uma Srinivas, 23, a resident of Whitefield, thinks people should learn to accept each other’s choices. “They are humans too, and can have preferences or choices outside the frame of society.” One of the organizers for the march this year, Yash, said: “This is
our tenth year, and we are very happy. Last year, we had about 3,000 people at the march; this year, we are expecting about 4,000 people.” The LGBTQI community seems to have many supporters who want to be a part of the march. They want to come out and portray their anger against the injustice the community faces. Rashmi Shetty, 60, a housemaker and resident of Koramangala, said: “I sympathize with the LGBTQI community and understand the noble cause behind the Bangalore Pride March but there are certain set of rules according to which the society functions. When these normalities are broken, those acts become unacceptable to society.” Umesh Jagdal, 20, a college student, said such marches should be held more often for society to become more accepting of the LGBTQI community. “We are no different. Therefore, we shouldn’t be treated differently. It’s very difficult for us to survive as normal human beings. I hope this march sends out a message making people sensitive towards others’ choices.” One major demand of the LGBTQI community is repealing of Section 377 of the IPC.
vati’ will release and people will love it, he added. Vijendra Singh, spokesperson the Karni Sena, Jaipur, said that they want the film banned, not just censored. A lie is being portrayed as history. “Same was the case with Bajirao Mastani. He was a warrior who never lost a battle. Instead, he was portrayed as a lover boy,” he told The Observer. “We cannot let this happen. It was given to us in writing that neither the film nor the trailer would be released without our approval. The trailer was put out without our consent. We won’t let the film be released that way," Vijendra Singh said. The Karni Sena, which has targeted Bhansali and Deepika over alleged distortion of historical facts in the movie, has received support from the chief ministers of Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Punjab. Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah and his Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee have hit out at the group. Siddaramaiah urged his Haryana counterpart, ML Khattar, to take action against people threatening the actress. Agency reports on Tuesday said Deepika withdrew her participation from the Global Entrepreneurship Summit in Hyderabad.
Number of psychologically disabled children goes up Anjana Basumatary anjana.b@iijnm.org
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very year Information Resource Centre organizes Kalangaana in order to encourage and showcase the talent of special children. Unaware about the psychological issues people tend to believe that special children have no capacity to perform well in other activities as normal children can do and as a result their medical situations worsens No. Of autistic, dislaxic and other psychologically challenged children increases in schools every year and from past three year it has been increasing. Autistic children are given different treatment than children having different psychological issues as they need special counseling. They tend to behave aggressively at times which becomes worse for teachers and therapists to handle at times. Keerthy ladaki, teacher and therapist of Deepika Special School informed The observer: “We choose children by referring to medical certificates and based on their conditions. We counsel children and try to help them in understanding their actions and behaviour.
3 Tweeterati’s take on Bengaluru Abhishek GoyalVerified account @goyal_abhei Karnataka seems to have provided a solution for the name mismatch issue in #Aadhar Dinesh Gundu RaoVerified account @dineshgrao With our new #BBMP Major Works Committee Chairman, L Govindraju who took charge today. Paranjay Dutt @Herr_Joy The centre of attraction last evening was a flatbed truck. #Bangalore #NissanGTR Rajeev ChandrasekharVerified account @rajeev_mp Citizens of #Bengaluru approach @ceo_karnataka n @ECI_India to ensure all citzns get opportnty to #RegisterToVote ! To ensure no games are played by #BBMP in manipultng voter lists. ! Well done @unitedbengaluru ! @WFRising Today’s Weather Maximum temp (degrees Celsius): 28°
Fancy dress competition for autistic children at Shankarapura | Credit: Anjana Basumatary Kalangaana is organized every year to showcase their talent, special children can dance, sing and perform other cultural activities but they are usually not noticed by people. Kalangaana encourages their talent and improve their mental stability. Maya Kumar, mother of a 7 year old autistic child says she would think her son was mentally disabled that's why he would not behave well and there is no other way to treat him but after sending him to Deepika Special School her son's health has become much manageable.
Minimum temp (degrees Celsius): 19° Relative humidity: 67% Today’s Sunset: 05:49 PM Tomorrow’s sunrise: 06:21 AM No Rainfall. Partly cloud. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible.
RURAL KARNATAKA
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The Observer Tuesday, November 21, 2017
The sorry tale of taluk hospitals Pigs roam around Honnali hospital Lack of facilities forces locals to go to Davanagere or Shivamogga G. Manashaa manashaa.g@iijnm.org
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he government hospital in Honnalli town, Davanagere district, is facing major problems, one of them being poor sanitation. Despite numerous cases of viral fever, authorities are allegedly ignoring the situation. The hospital has received many cases of viral fever in recent months. Patients at the hospital run the risk of contracting other infections because pigs roam around the premises. Asked about the unhygienic conditions in the hospital, Shantha S, a nurse, said:
There is no proper biohazardous waste disposal system at the Government Hospital in Honnalli | Credit: Manasha Ganesan “This situation has prevailed for a long time. As a nurse, I cannot raise my voice. But the condition of the hospital is not good when compared to other hospitals in Davanagere district.” The ICU built in May remains closed. The maternity wards lack proper mattresses, forcing many pregnant women to rest on bare
steel beds. Blood stains cover the edges of the beds. “There are four maternity rooms in the hospital. Sometimes beds are not available,” Meenakshi, who was admitted to the hospital for treatment, informed The Observer. “With pigs wandering around the hospital premises, there are chances of the pa-
tients catching swine flu. As it is, their immunity is low. Children are more prone to such diseases than adults,” Honnali taluk health officer N Kenchappa said. For major treatment, people have to be taken to the Davanagere District Hospital, about 50 km away, or Shivamogga, 45 km away. This reporter found biohazardous wastes like used cotton lying at the entrance of the hospital. Pregnant women do not get good food and basic medicines. There is a shortage of female contraceptives too. “Since I had an C-section, I have been denied access to facilities from the anganwadi that I am supposed to receive from the anganwadi after delivery as the scheme applies to only women have a normal delivery, I left helpless at the end, bacause of C-section”, said S. Nagarathana, who had a baby at the hospital.
Soraba Govt Hospital short of staff and advanced equipment Rachel Priyanka Dammala dammala.r@iijnm.org
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he Government Hospital at Chikkashakuna village in Soraba taluk is devoid of adequate staff, emergency facilities and advanced equipment. It has five doctors instead of the 12 it is supposed to have. The facility has just four ward boys/nurses instead of 33. Shwetha B., a computer teacher says the hospital is in a bad condition because it lacks enough doctors. “The doctors do not come to work on time. There is also a shortage of medicines and beds. They also do not have clean rooms and washrooms,” she informed The Observer. Journalist Neelesh Sananee is of the same opinion. The hospital has no preventive healthcare facility and cannot handle emergencies. Patients needing urgent attention are sent to bigger hospitals in Sagara, about 30 km away. “They do not have the equipment needed for treatments as common as dialysis. Also, they do not have a blood blank,” he said. But Zeeshan Ahmed, the blood storage technician at the hospital, claimed: “We have the best blood storage in the taluk since 2014, but people
A bright spot: Fewer TB cases in Shikaripur Ayushi Singh ayushi.s@iijnm.org
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ases of tuberculosis in Shikaripur taluk, Shivamogga district, have reduced over the years. The number of TB cases brought to the Hospital so far this year is 117, way below the over 200 cases reported in previous years. Awareness programs and availability of consultants have helped to control the number of TB cases in the Shikaripur Government Hospital, say people living in Shikaripur town. Veeresh, a TB consultant at the hospital, informed The Observer: “We used to get around 200 cases every year.
Mohd Mustafa, a cured TB patient from Shikaripur taluk of Shivamogga district | Credit: Ayushi Singh We then made plans that helped people with knowledge about TB and proper consultation. That helped them take
precautions and proper treatment for the ones who were reported to have TB. We have managed to bring down the
number to a great extent, and are working towards having a TB-free taluk.” Hemappa, a resident of Kotta village , said: “Treatment at the Government Hospital is very cheap. This encourages people to pursue regular check-ups. Officials go door to door conducting consultancy sessions urging people to take proper treatment for diseases like TB, which was once rising in this area.” Staff mentioned that most people from the villages are illiterate and unaware. Those who take medical advice seriously go DOTS, a long-term treatment. But once people feel better, they stop treatment, leading to recurrence of the disease.
Dialysis unit is a blessing to locals Athul M. athul.m@iijnm.org
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he dialysis unit at the Basavana Bagewadi taluk hospital is unique to taluk hospitals in Bijapur district. The unit, set up on January 1, 2015, has brought great relief to kidney-failure patients in and around Bagewadi taluk who would earlier travel to the district headquarters or other big cities in north Karnataka. According to Anil, a nurse at the hospital, people from the nearby villages of Nandyal, Bidanal and Kodekal avail of the facilities.
The dialysis unit at the taluk hospital | Credit: Athul M. Each patient undergoes two cycles of dialysis weekly. In 2015, 465 dialysis cycles were performed. That number went up to 588 in 2016. So far this year, 456 cycles have been performed.
The unit functions from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 8pm. It has three nurses and one technician. In early November, the unit had 10 patients, including a 13year-old boy from Bidanal village. The dialysis machine has a back-up of 20 minutes in case of power failure, a common problem in the area. The hospital relies on generators to run the unit. In September, a short-circuit caused the unit be shut down for a month. Staff at the unit informed The Observer that power failures are a big inconvenience to patients.
The hospital has a shortage of staff. No staff nurses have been appointed in the past three years. Because of this, existing staff at the busy hospital have to shuffle duties. The dialysis unit is being taken over by BRS Health & Research Institute Private Limited, a private company based in Bengaluru. The company will work in collaboration with the hospital for a better equipped and advanced dialysis unit. People with kidney problems hope the dialysis unit, headed by Dr Lakkanavar, will continue to provide good affordable facilities.
Patients throng the government hospital in Chikkashakuna village | Credit: Rachel Dammala are unaware of it. The Pradhan Mantri Jan Aushadi (an initiative of the Union government), too, is not known to people.” Syed Khadir, owner of a cybercafé in Chikkashakuna, believes the government hospital is getting better. He said the number of doctors has increased, and the facilities have improved. “They definitely have a good stock of medicines compared to other places.” Dr Indumati M.A., a doctor at the hospital, confirmed there is a shortage of doctors and facilities, and authorities will address the issues. On the absence of advanced facilities, she said it is a taluk government hospital that offers second-level care. “We are now getting ICUs, dialysis and other such facilities. The rooms are pretty tidy too.” By January 2018, the hospital hopes to see better facilities; so do the patients.
The Observer Team Editor: Shiny Kirupa. R Desk: Manashaa Ganesan, Manikankana Sengupta, Prachetha Panja, Rayan Mitra, Saket Tiwari, Sreejani Bhattacharyya Reporters: Anjana Basumatary, Ayushi Singh, Arlene Mathew, Athul M, Barnana.H.Sarkar, Debanjali Kabiraj, Rachel Priyanka, Krithika Agrawal
The Observer Tuesday, November 21, 2017
RURAL KARNATAKA
Kalaghatagi’s cradle-making industry is in danger of dying The craft is in peril because of decline in skilled labour and falling demand
Arlene Mathew arlene.m@iijnm.org
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he cradle-makers of Kalghatagi in Dharwad district are worried because their tribe seems to be vanishing. The number of experienced cradlemakers is going down. The Sawakar family, the only family in the village that manufactures cradles, finds it difficult to make even one cradle per month. Earlier, they used to make one per week. The cradles of Kalaghatagi are an important part of Dharward’s cultural heritage. The Sawakar family has been making cradles from the past 100 years, says Laxman Peeraji Sawakar, the eldest member of the household. Laxman, who has a PhD from Hampi University in Janapada art, has been at the helm of the trade since his father, Gangadhar Peeraji, passed away. Of his three sons, only the youngest, Sreedhar, has undertaken the family business full time. “In our family, children are taught this trade from birth, irrespective of their gender. Even those who do other jobs help in making cradles. Two of my children have jobs in Dharwad. They make cradles part-time,” Laxman
The time and money spent in manfacturing cradles is hardly reimbursed, says the Sawakar family | Credit: Arlene Mathew explained to The Observer. Making cradles requires time and dedication – which are hard to find these days. The raw material used for making cradles is teakwood. The paint used is manufactured by the family, and is said to last a hundred years. The cradles made by the
Sawakars have high demand, and are ordered beforehand. One of the buyers was thespian Dr Rajkumar. However, the family sees a bleak future for cradle-making. They face competition from cheap and easily portable cradles made of plastic and other material. A
teakwood cradle costs between Rs 15,000 and Rs 20,000, but the price hardly covers the manufacturing cost. The time and the money spent during the manufacturing process are hardly reimbursed because only one cradle produced a month. The lack of skilled cradle-makers is a problem. Currently, only Laxman and his son Sreedhar make cradles in their small shop in Chitragara Oni in Kalaghatagi town. Other children of the household have taken up jobs that fetch a better salary. Though they contribute money to the family kitty, it does not make much difference. “My father works on cradles in the morning; I take over in the afternoon. Sitting and assembling a cradle for hours causes immense back pain. We are continuing the tradition more to keep it alive for the coming generations than to earn profit,” Sreedhar said. The decline of cradle-making in Kalaghatagi throws light on the larger issue of the slow death of cultural heritage in rural Karnataka. Unless the government helps cottage industries by publicizing and selling their products, the crafts could be headed towards oblivion.
Villagers in Yavagal prefer to drink lake water; RO plants lie unused Say the purified water causes pain in their joints
Rayan Mitra rayan.m@iijnm.org
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tagnant lakes and ponds are the primary drinking water source in Yavagal village in Ron taluk of Gadag district. Despite having reversed osmosis (RO) purifiers, residents of the village prefer consuming water from the lake, which is dependent on rainwater. The RO plants, as a result, lie unused. A resident informed The Observer that the purified water fails to quench their thirst and causes pain in the joints. “We have been drinking this water since birth. It’s good.” Riyaaz Kazi, an official of the Ron Taluk Panchayat, observed: “The government has provided RO plants from which villagers can buy 20 litres of water for Rs 2, but people prefer the lake water as they have been drinking it for a long time. Moreover they are not educated enough to understand the threats the lake water poses.” Every evening, people from
Doctors say the residents of Yavagal and nearby villages put their lives in danger by drinking impure lake water | Credit: Rayan Mitra Yavagal and nearby villages converge at the lake, plastic pots in hand, to collect water. As a result, the RO plant has hardly any visitors. The lake is designated as a source of water for irrigation. Dr Arvind, a doctor of the
Savadi public health centre, explained: “This unhygienic practice has prevailed for a long time. There is also a psychological reason behind this problem: they fear that drinking RO purified water will cause pain in the joints. Drinking contaminated
water does not have an immediate impact, so they fail to understand how the water is taking a toll on their health.” Nagaraj, another resident of Yavagal, insisted that the lake water is completely safe, and mocked the taluk panchayat for installing the RO plants. “I have been drinking this water for more than 30 years and I am absolutely fit. Drinking RO purified water resulted in me losing appetite.” Dr Arvind said: “We try our best to make them understand the health hazards, but we cannot force them to drink RO water. We hold several surveys to check the drinkability of the lake water. When it goes down too much, we use chemicals to improve the quality. When the quality of water worsens, we inform the villagers, but all our efforts go in vain.” Collecting lake water for drinking purpose has numerous health hazards which people fail to understand. “Open defection is a major problem in villages like Yavagal. When it rains, human waste is washed into the river, but the villagers continue to drink that water, which later leads to diseases like cholera and diarrhea,” Dr Arvind explained.
5 In these co-ed schools, boys and girls are segregated Anjana Basumatary anjana.b@iijnm.org
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overnment schools at Shiggaon, Haveri district, seem to think that segregating girls and boys in class will inculcate discipline in them. Girls and boys in the government primary and high schools at Baad and Gurshapur villages make girls sit on one side of the classroom, away from the boys. From LKG to class 10, students of the co-ed schools are accustomed to sitting separately. During study hour, girls and boys sit in different rooms. The vice-principal of the Baad high school, M V Patel, informed The Observer: “We make boys and
Girls and boys at a segregated class in one of the co-ed schools
Many families in Shiggaon taluk don’t see the need to send their girls to school. They would rather have them learn household work and get married girls sit in different rows in order to inculcate discipline in them.” In the Baad government primary school, girls score well. They got more marks than boys in this year’s final exam. But elders in their families are not impressed. Some families in Shiggaon send their sons for higher studies, and pull their daughters out of school. There are also families who don’t send their daughters to school. Nazbunissa, a gram panchayat member from Gurshapur village, said: “Girls don’t have to be sent to school; they just need to learn the Quran.” Afreen, 19, from Gurshapur village, said she left school after class 8 because she was not encouraged by her parents to go school. Her brother is doing LLB. Due to family pressure, girls in Shiggaon villages have to drop out of schools and get married. They find no wrong in it. Some villagers think the biggest achievement of a girl is learning household work. When The Observer asked some parents why they don’t send their daughters to school, they replied that the schools are far from home and they cannot afford the bus fare.
Culture & Society
The Observer SUPPLEMENT
Tuesday, November 21, 2017
6
Pie in the Sky Rooftop gardens provide a healthy source of nourishment and add some welcome greenery to a concrete jungle, says Sanjana Udiaver
T
errace or rooftop gardening has become a popular trend
about growing them with utmost care. Some of the plants that Dr
and effort, which might be difficult for urban gardeners.” Dr.
in Bangalore. Residents of the city are discovering the
Kadur recommends are creeper vegetables which take around 4
Kadur along with his urban-gardening team conduct workshops
value of creating cozy gardens for themselves where they
to 5 months to harvest, whereas greens take about 30 to 40 days
on terrace gardening on a regular basis in order to spread this
to harvest.
healthy hobby around the city. He says that there are already
grow their own vegetables and fruits. Dr. Vishwanath Kadur, who pioneered the concept in Ban-
Unlike vegetables, fruit crops have a longer growing period
around 30,000 households in Bangalore who practice the art of
galore, began his hobby of growing vegetables and
terrace gardening.
fruits on his terrace in 1995. Since then, he has man-
S
aged to create a community, namely Oota from your
ays Ramita R Iyer, a student who also practices
terrace gardening as a hobby, “My parents and
Thotha (OFYT) or food from your garden, of avid
I always wanted to have a terrace garden. How-
terrace gardeners. He says that terrace gardening has its own benefits as the vegetables and fruits produced
ever, we took concrete steps towards that only a little
is fresh and free from chemicals. He believes in using
more than a year ago. Today, we have easily more than
neem-based manure and sprays in order to provide
50 pots on our terrace with a wide variety of plants in-
nutrition to the plants.
cluding roses, hibiscus, jasmine, tomatoes and papaya.”
Dr. Kadur says that the first step in planning a
“The biggest benefit has been growing our own produce
successful terrace garden is to determine the sunlight
and using it in our cooking. We have enough for a cou-
requirements of the plants. Next, one must prepare a
ple of meals a week,” she adds
pot mix which comprises 1-part soil, 1-part vermi-
Terrace farming is primarily practiced for the
compost, 1-part coir powder and 1-part compost. It’s
owner’s own consumption, but in some situations, as Dr.
important to keep in mind that the compost must be
Kadur says, school children often sell these fruits and
prepared with care since it provides nutrition to the plants. It is crucial to provide aadequate nutrients to
Neem based manure and sprays ensure chemical free, fresh fruits and vegetables. Source: Better India
The main idea of terrace farming lies behind the passion and satisfaction of growing fruits and vegeta-
these plants by mixing freshly made compost with the soil every 15 days.
vegetables during their school fairs.
of around 2 to 3 years. He specifically spoke about his guava tree
bles within the comfort of one’s own home, with the additional
Dr. Kadur said that the next step, which is growing the veg-
which took about 3 years to fully mature and bear fruits. In his
benefits of consuming healthy and organic food. But equally, if
etables and fruits, is the easiest part of this process. Seeds and
interview with The Better India about mango trees, he said
the hobby spreads, it could also help green Bangalore’s dismal
saplings are available at nurseries and after planting them it is
“Though a mango tree can be grown, it requires immense care
concrete cityscape.
The Black, the Brown and the Ugly Is racism among Indians a corollary of our caste and colour prejudices, asks Sreejani Bhattacharyya
E
ndurance Amalawa Endow,a Nigerian student at dressing the problem. But such international attention toNoida International University still tears up when wards curing the particular problem has reinforced public he recalls the fateful night this March when he and opinion about Africans as carrying AIDS. This may have his brother were brutally attacked by a mob in Noida. His been instrumental in racial violence against Africans in attackers accused them of selling drugs to an Indian India.” teenager Manish, who had been found dead under mysteThere are over 40,000 African students, professionals rious conditions. Though police dismissed the claims, the and medical tourists in India, more than a quarter of whom trauma they endured is difficult to forget. reside in Delhi, many of whom have had unpleasant expeEndurance recalls, “We were buying dinner at KFC in riences. Monica Nambundunga,a Namibian student who Ansal Plaza when I got a Whatsapp message saying that just completed her masters in economics from Jadavpur some local people were attacking Africans. We saw a large University, Kolkata says, “My stay in India for two years group of people approaching us. We ran back to the mall was not good. Indians are racist. There is prejudice against for protection but the security refused to help us. We were beaten brutally. My brother had already called the college authorities and they called the cops, who took us to a hospital.” “Do you know what happened there?” he asks. “The doctor refused to treat us. The nurses mocked us for no apparent reason. A kind Indian man took us to another hospital where we got some treatment. Indians should stop treating us like animals. We are human just like them. We have the same blood and bones.” Dr. Amites Mukhopadhyay, professor of sociology at Jadavpur University, Kolkata says racial stereotyping is to blame. “A condition of assumed social Unsafe and threatened, is what African students feel in India. inferiority is assigned to people who are darker,” he says.“Another reason could be that Africa has black skin in India. Whenever I was behind Indians in a been identified worldwide as being an AIDS continent. A line, there would be one who would spot me and call me lot of international attention and funds have gone into ad- ‘Kalu’ and taunt me.”
According to Chandan Kumar Sharma, head of the department of sociology,Tezpur University, “The roots of such racial discrimination lie in the Hindu Varna system which privileges a fair colour over a darker. This bias was perpetuated by the nearly two centuries of British colonial rule which kept us in awe of the white colonial masters. Another example of such bias, stemming from same mentality, are the incidents of racial violence against northeast Indians with Mongoloid features.” any Africans here live in fear of judgement and violence. Ghanaian student Gerald Essemenu, who studied in Kolkata says, “There is always that fear at the back of my head about my safety here. We are treated as if we are not humans. People stare at us and follow us around. Communication is a major problem here.” Talking about the common misconception of Africans being drug peddlers, Gerald explains, “In Ghana,even smoking is considered irresponsible; 97% Ghanaians do not smoke. Generalising that we are drug dealers is insulting and derogatory.” Africans are certainly better treated in the West, says Dr. Mukhopadhyay. “There has been in general a ban on Apartheid in western world,” he points out. “Blacks throughout the western world have been integrated more into the mainstream. They Source: Bansky have disproved the idea of social impurity or evolutional inferiority assigned to them for long.” India, he feels, ought to adopt the internationally integrative and affirmative-action policies that we have for internally discriminated groups.
M