by Anisa Fathima, Daijiworld.com, Mangalore
March 11, 2007
The beginning of the week brought cheers to the media community of the city with the inauguration of the much-needed and much-awaited Patrika Bhavana. It was also a week for awards – while five women achievers were honoured on International Women’s Day, the prestigious Rachana awards were also presented. In the midst of all this, St Agnes College heaved a sigh of relief as it was given a clean chit in a case involving a student who had allegedly been failed by the college on purpose. For once, we had only good news among the top headlines.
Mangalore: DK Journos Get Own Premises ‘Patrika Bhavana’ - Images
Mangalore: Five Women Achievers Honoured on Women's Day
Mangalore: Justice Saldanha, Ronald Colaco among Rachana Awardees
St Agnes Given Clean Chit in Yaswatha Exam Failure Case
Right to Freedom or Freedom to Write?
The newsmaker of the week was the sensational arrest of gutsy Karavali Ale's B V Seetharam and his wife Rohini. The incident, which took several turns during the course of the week, has stirred a hornet’s nest and raised many a question about the so-called freedom of the press.
The phrase ‘freedom of press’ is not just ambivalent, but also quite dangerous, when the person practicing it takes it for granted. Being a journalist myself I should probably speak in support of BV See (as he is popularly known) but the fact is that even when it comes of freedom of speech, there is a certain limit which one should be wary of crossing. To hurt the religious sentiments of a community amounts to breach of this freedom. However, this should not be taken as a warning; instead journalists should continue to portray the hard realities of the society and the system. That said, the way the arrest, then bail followed by another arrest took place, it seems that it is a well-planned conspiracy. Also, as Justice Saldanha said, the case should have been referred to the Press Council of India and not the police.
Mangalore: B V Seetharam Gets Bail before Arrest by Sagar Police
Women - Tough (Coco)Nuts to Crack!
Did anyone say women can’t climb trees? At a unique competition held in Udupi, a group of women proved that not only can they peel coconuts in their kitchens, but also climb up a lanky tree and get the coconuts themselves!
Whenever special occasions like Women’s Day near, we have several competitions exclusively for the fairer sex in celebration of her womanhood, motherhood, etc. However, coconut tree-climbing competition is not just unique, but also puts a point or two across of the agility of women who are no less to their male counterparts. Men, watch out for women conquering more and more territories which were hitherto male-dominated. From being a housewife to being a bus conductor, filling up petrol tanks, climbing coconut trees and of course heading multi-national companies, women are beginning to prove their mettle in every field. It’s time the world stopped judging women from tree tops, there’s a strong and well-rooted determination beneath the gentle exterior!
Udupi: In High Spirits at Coconut Tree-climbing Contest
Lapse in Duty Lands Inspector in Laps of Worry
Meanwhile, Urwa sub-inspector M N Rao was suspended for lapse in duty for not providing Western Range IGP H N Satyanarayana Rao with the correct information regarding the inauguration of Patrika Bhavan. No problem if a theft had taken place while the constable was on duty, but giving incomplete information about an inauguration is certainly a no-no!
It is an irony that numerous crimes are taking place in the city every day, but hardly any constable is charged with lapse in duty. But when an inspector delays giving information about a programme, he is immediately taken to task. Agreed that it indeed translates in to lapse in duty, but surely, there are greater lapses in duty taking place whenever a crime occurs in the city. What happened to all those policemen who had allegedly failed to register cases during the communal riots in October? Or those who take bribe and let law breakers go scot-free? We need to get our priorities in the right places, and make sure those who are supposed to protect the law do not break it.
Mangalore: Urwa SI Suspended for Lapse in Duty
Say Hello to Helipads
The development rate in the undivided Dakshina Kannada district is flying fast. After the Bajpe airport went international, it is now time to make way for helicopters; and if it was airport for Mangalore, it is helipads for Udupi. The district will soon have not one but three helipads.
Given the growth of the coastal region and its potential to attract major players of the IT, hospitality and other sectors, it is but a necessity to be armed with advanced facilities. Though both the districts have helipads, the entry of three more of them will not only boost development, but also give a fillip to tourism. However, the government should not stop at this. With the number of daily flights increasing by the day at the Bajpe airport, a lot still needs to be done in order to match up to the needs of a fully functional international airport in terms of security and facilities. The construction of helipads is but a small step in this direction.
Mangalore: New Helipads to come up at Udupi, Kollur, Dharmasthala
Every Dog has its Day? Not any more!
Taking a cue from the menace that has been ‘dog’ging Bangalore, the MCC along with Animal Care Trust (ACT) has decided to put a full stop to the dogs that do more biting than barking. Stray dogs are being captured in the city to prevent them from imitating their Bangalore counterparts.
For once, the MCC has to be patted on the back for showing foresight on the matter of stray dogs. The city is slowly turning in to another Bangalore in terms of development, and it is wise to be proactive before the same happens in the case of stray dog menace. Activists who cry hoarse over cruelty to animals must wake up and take note of the issue before it gets out of hand. Also, the dogs should be sterilized to put a hold on their population. The bottom-line is that children should be protected from being attacked, while also ensuring that animals are not harmed.
Mangalore: MCC, ACT Initiate Move to Control Stray Dogs Menace
Monkey Tricks in Manipal
While dogs were being chased in the city, an ape was busy chasing people in Manipal. Last reported, the animal had sent more than 10 people to the hospital. Despite the incident being going on for almost a week, the forest department and the district administration were blissfully unaware of the new visitor from the wild.
These days, animals seem to have a desire to mix with their civilized counterparts (not to confuse you, I mean humans). Sometime ago, we had leopards, and now it is the turn of an ape. Why do these animals come wandering in to the city? It is amazing that the forest department and the administration never heard of the ape. What were they doing when it was attacking person after person?
The depleting forest cover may be one of the reasons for their wanderings, so also lack of food and shelter. Man has been going in to animal territories to kill them from time immemorial, now it seems like the tables have turned, and all blame lies with the humans. Pay-back time?
Udupi: Ape on Rampage at Manipal - Several Injured
Towards a Healthy Future
If attacks from animals are to continue, there would be more hospitals needed in the district. Not keeping this but the need for healthcare in mind, the district administration has decided to start five high-end hospitals in various taluks.
The good part is the government is looking for investment from private companies and has already requested Infosys Foundation to invest on equipment. If this happens, the standard of the hospitals should be relatively high. With the growing population along with the rising levels of pollution (not to mention the city’s penchant for diseases like malaria), the district certainly needs better healthcare facilities. Government hospitals like Wenlock and Lady Goschen, though a boon to the financially backward, are not maintained well and time and again we find them in the midst of some problem or the other. With latest facilities and investment from private companies, the hospitals will not only be a blessing to the common people, but also enjoy better maintenance.
Mangalore: Dakshina Kannada to get Five Hospitals
That was a great week, with not much of bad news, nothing heinous from the crime world and no major accidents either. See you next week with a hope that the days ahead will be as peaceful, and as interesting.
Anisa Fathima
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Anisa Fathima - from 'Exclusive Archives'