Latest news with #GurudattaHegade
The Hindu
4 days ago
- The Hindu
Shivamogga DC bans the use of DJ during Ganesh Chaturthi, Id Milad celebrations
Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade has issued an order banning the use of the disco jockey (DJ) system in the district between August 27 and September 15 during the Ganesh Chaturthi and Id Milad celebrations. The Deputy Commissioner, on Tuesday, stated that the use of the DJ had been banned as a precautionary measure to maintain peace and order during the festivals in the district. The installation of Ganesh idols will begin on August 27, and the processions to mark its immersion will continue up to September 15. Similarly, the Id Milad processions will be held between September 5 and September 10 across the district. The use of the DJ system during the celebrations would disturb the public, particularly students, aged people and patients under treatment, besides affecting the administration's ability to maintain law and order. To ensure a peaceful celebration of the festivals, the administration made this decision, Mr. Hegade stated. Further, the Deputy Commissioner has made the use of life jackets a must during the Ganesh idol immersion in water bodies in the district. He stated that if coracles were used for the immersion of idols, those engaged in the activity should wear life jackets. Besides that, expert swimmers should be present, he said. The Deputy Commissioner said that these instructions are for the safety of the people taking part in the celebrations. He stated that the number of people on each coracle should not exceed four. A few years ago, 12 people died after a coracle capsized at Hadonahalli during one such instance.
The Hindu
7 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Activities to be taken up to attract visitors at tourist destinations in Karnataka's Shivamogga district
Shivamogga district administration has plans to attract tourists to both popular and lesser known tourist destinations of the district by organising many events in the coming days. Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade, in a press conference here on Saturday, said that ahead of World Tourism Day, which is set to be observed on September 22, the administration will meet all the stakeholders and officers to work out strategies in order to draw people's attention to tourist destinations in the district. 'The State government had taken up the development of the Jog Falls in Sagar. The basic amenities for the visitors will be improved at the site. Similarly, the government will take up measures at other destinations as well. A proposal of ₹120 crore had been prepared to improve basic amenities at tourist places. The Minister in charge of the district, Madhu Bangarappa, had assured the funds to the district,' the Deputy Commissioner stated. 'Shivamogga district, with its rich heritage and scenic locations, has enormous potential for tourism. A website will be launched on September 22 to attract tourists. The website will include information about the tourist destinations. Besides that, the administration will put up boards and hoardings to inform the visitors about the these destinations,' Mr. Hegade added. Shivamogga Zilla Panchayat CEO N. Hemanth said that the administration would conduct competitions in different categories in the run-up to the Tourism Day. The people interested in taking part in the competitions should register online between August 11 and 20. 'The competitions include videography, photography, reels, logo, and tagline. The administration would expect the participants to send videos, photos, and reels of tourist destinations. There will be prizes in each category. Besides that, the administration would require a logo and tagline to promote the tourist destinations of the district,' Mr. Hemanth added. Dharmappa, Assistand Director of Tourism Department, and others were present at the press conference.
Time of India
21-07-2025
- Health
- Time of India
Madhu Bangarappa inspects Shivamogga hospital and discusses improvements
SHIVAMOGGA: Shivamogga district in-charge minister Madhu Bangarappa conducted a surprise inspection of District McGann Hospital on Monday. He toured several sections, including the outpatient department, orthopaedics, dialysis unit, dermatology department, and general medicine ward. During his rounds, he spoke with patients, medical staff, and support personnel to understand their concerns. The minister sought details regarding patients from neighbouring districts and MRI scan facilities. Subsequently, he convened a discussion with hospital administrators and Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade to address operational challenges and potential enhancements. He directed officials to draft estimates for a new OPD counter construction, submit proposals for acquiring five dialysis machines and dormitory facilities, and implement strategies to lower maternal mortality rates. Additionally, he requested information about the hospital's ventilator requirements and solutions for addressing water seepage problems across various departments. The minister scheduled a consultation with the Minister of Medical Education on July 23 to deliberate on the hospital's challenges and necessities.
The Hindu
15-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Shivamogga teachers and lecturers not to collect data on menstruation cycle from students
The Shivamogga administration has sent a circular to schools and colleges in the district instructing them not to collect data on the menstrual cycle from girl students and maintain a register of the information. The circular was issued days after The Hindu carried a report on the previous circular from the district administration asking schools and colleges to maintain a separate register on the menstrual cycles of students as part of the Mission Suraksha campaign launched with the objective of ensuring the safety of children. Speaking to The Hindu, teachers, students, parents, and women's activists had flagged the issue of violation of privacy. Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade has sent a clarification about the previous official memo, mentioning the news report published in The Hindu. In the circular, dated July 14, he states that the main objectives of the campaign (Mission Suraksha) include ensuring the safety of children by bringing down the cases of child marriage, sexual assault on children, and cases of anaemia among children, and providing counselling on health, hygiene, and handling the menstrual cycle. Managing personal information of students or infringing upon the privacy of students was not the objective of the campaign, he clarified. Along with the circular, senior officers of the departments have also sent a message to the teachers instructing them that there is no need to collect data or maintain a register with regard to the menstrual cycles of students. Following the news report, many people on social media platforms had expressed shock over the initiative and demanded that it be stopped. Rati Rao E., national president of the All-India Progressive Women's Association, issued a press release demanding that the collection of data on menstrual cycles be stopped immediately. She stressed the need for launching a scientific awareness campaign on 'my body, my right' and also on prevention of sexual harassment, at home and public spaces.
The Hindu
12-07-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Move to make girl students ‘record' their menstrual cycle data shocks people
In a move that has drawn flak as a serious infringement of the privacy of girl students, the Shivamogga district administration has insisted that high schools and pre-university colleges in the district maintain a record of the menstrual cycles of students as 'a measure to avoid teenage pregnancies'. A memo, signed by Deputy Commissioner Gurudatta Hegade and Chief Executive Officer of the zilla panchayat N. Hemanth, dated June 25, 2025, has been sent to the Deputy Director of Public Instruction, Deputy Director of Pre-University Education (DDPU), and principals of ITI and diploma colleges in the district. This is part of the 'Mission Suraksha' campaign launched by the district administration. Many institutes, particularly government pre-university colleges, have begun to collect data in a separate register, which the students have to enter every month. The memo has instructed the institutes to handle the data with sensitivity and keep the collected data secure. Mission Suraksha was launched following rising concerns over child marriages and teenage pregnancies. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, in a conference with the Deputy Commissioners and CEOs of zilla panchayats in Bengaluru on May 30 and 31, had flagged this. The Shivamogga Deputy Commissioner held a meeting with officers on June 18 on the campaign. A teacher, who wished not to be named, said the objective of Mission Suraksha was very good, which is ensuring the safety of the girl child. 'However, making the girl students record their menstruation cycle is not acceptable,' she said. Keeping info secure Though the official memo states that the issue should be handled with sensitivity and the data kept secret, the administration has instructed the institutes that the data should be shared with the village-level committees meant to ensure the safety of women and children. The committee includes representatives of the gram panchayats and officers of the departments concerned. 'There is a need to spread awareness among children and initiate measures for their safety instead of collecting data about their menstruation cycle in this manner,' said another teacher. Chandrappa S. Gundupalli, DDPU, said the purpose of the mission was to ensure the safety of children and prevent school dropouts, among others. 'The objectives of the mission are very good. We are seeking the cooperation of the staff. However, there are difficulties in collecting information on the menstrual cycle. We have insisted that only women faculty members handle the registers and keep the data secret,' he said. T.L. Rekhamba, an activist with the Karnataka State Mahila Dourjanya Virodhi Okkoota, found the step taken by the district administration appalling and insensitive. 'Making girls record their menstruation cycle is nonsense. It will not serve the desired purpose. Instead, the government should take steps to spread awareness among girl students on the physical and psychological changes they go through during that age and how to address them. Besides the girls, everybody around them, including parents and teachers, need to be sensitised,' she said. Cases in district The memo, issued by the administration, states that there were 118 cases of child marriage and 231 cases of sexual assault on children in 2024-25 in the district. In the current year (April and May), 110 girls became pregnant at the age of 18. This was the trigger for launching Mission Suraksha. Among the tasks assigned to the institutes are tracing school dropouts, tracking students who skip classes continuously for three or more days, and keeping an eye on the children of single parents, those who belong to migrating communities, and those children whose parents are serving jail terms.
