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UDUPI: Ever heard of a 2,400% increase in school dropout rate within a year? This is what authorities at the education department in Udupi district are grappling with now.

A district-wide survey conducted recently by the department in 1,245 primary and high schools (6-16 age group), including government, aided and unaided schools, revealed that 3,080 students dropped out of school this year. Contrast that with 123 students in the age group of seven to 14 who did the same last year.

Officials are, however, not jumping the gun as yet. They say it’s possible that many students opted to move to other schools — some even in other districts — without taking their transfer certificates. Under the Right to Education Act, a transfer certificate is not mandatory for enrollment at another school.

School dropouts had seen a sharp decline from 670 in 2005, thanks to several interventions by the department of public instruction as well as the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA), the Centre’s flagship education scheme.

Janardhan Bhandarkar, president of the District Education Resource Centre, suspects that the estimation of 123 dropouts was misleading and alleges that the figure was deliberately kept low. He claims that there are more dropouts in the district because children of migrant laborers have never been enrolled at school.

Bhandarkar demands that the actual number for 2012 be released and authorities take due measures to bring children back to school.

P Nagaraj, deputy project coordinator of SSA, believes the number of dropouts would come down from 3,080 once authorities find out how many students moved to other schools without taking their transfer certificates.

This will be done through a second survey from November 18-19, he adds.

Diocese set for end of Year of Faith

MANGALORE: The Mangalore diocese has undertaken many programmes to commemorate the closing ceremony of the Year of Faith as declared by the Catholic Holy Church for 2012-2013 throughout the world.

Mangalore diocese bishop Rev Aloysius Paul D’Souza told reporters that a youth rally — Walk for Christ — will commence from Milagres Church, Mangalore at 2 pm on Sunday.

As many as 5,000 youth are expected to take part in the rally, which will culminate at Rosario Cathedral. The closing ceremony of the Year of the Faith will be held on November 22-24 at Nehru Maidan from 4 pm to 7.30 pm.

The three-day programme consists of preaching, praise and worship, adoration, internal healing and Holy Eucharistic celebration, he said.

Famous preachers Rev Vinith from the Association of the Catholic Faithful, Varanasi, Rev Joseph Edutu of Divine Retreat Centre, Muringur, Kerala, Rev Cardoza, and Rev Franklin will conduct the programme, the bishop added.

More than 25,000 Catholic devotees from the Mangalore diocese and from the neighbouring dioceses will take part in the programme. The convention will end with the celebration of the Holy Eucharist mass on November 24 evening.

In this connection, The Mega Magnificat 2013, a religious programme, will be held on December 1 at Lourdes Central School ground, Bejai at 5 pm. American Catholic jazz and hip-hop singer Rev Fr Stan Porthuna will conduct the programme. About 7,000 people are expected to take part in this from Mangalore and neighbouring places, the bishop said.

Master sculptor carves a name in Lanka

UDUPI: Balkur Gopal Acharya’s humility is overwhelming. "Can they mail me the honorary doctorate, instead of me going to Colombo to collect it?’’ asked the Udupi sculptor when he was told that a Sri Lankan university plans to award him with an honorary doctorate next week.

His head firmly on his shoulders, Acharya, responsible for heritage-style designs in more than 600 houses in Bangalore, Mumbai and Delhi as well as the sanctum sanctorum and the Brahmaratha of Sri Krishna Mutt, Udupi, calls himself a mere "practitioner" of the craft.

’’I am happy that a foreign university has recognized the field of craftwork and deemed it fit to bestow a doctorate on its practitioner," says the 45-year-old, who has been sculpting for the past 27 years.

Acharya, who works with a team of 60 — whom he calls his family, says he can work on any heritage structure. "The Brahmaratha (chariot) of Sri Krishna Mutt was carved in 2012 in just two months and 27 days for Rs 1.25 crore."

What’s the big deal? There are 1,132 carvings on the chariot.

Besides, the sculptor hasn’t used any machinery in his entire career. ’’All that a good sculptor needs is patience," says the class IV dropout, giving away a nugget of wisdom.

He set off on the path of heritage structure restoration by collecting dismantled heritage pillars at the age of 15. ’’Now, people too realize the importance and beauty of heritage-styled houses as there is a growing demand for them,’’ he says.

Acharya’s work speaks for itself. He has restored the palace of Vijayanagara vassal from Koppal, Guthu Mane in Pilikula (600 years old), Sringeri Mane of Sringeri Car Street, Darbar hall of Rajangana, Udupi, Sanskrit Patashale at Sringeri and several heritage houses, in association with Vijayanath Shenoy of Heritage Village in Manipal.

He has also recreated Kuchumugur Jain Basadi, Christian House of Jeppu, Kunjoor house from the 19th century, Harkur Mane in Kundapur (400 years old), and Navayith house of Bhatkal.

The recipient of the district-level Rajyotsava Award in 2006, Acharya has also won a national award for his work on Sanskrit Patashale in Sringeri.

Acharya will fly to Colombo on November 23 to receive the honorary doctorate by Medicina Alternativa, affiliated to The Open International University for Complementary Medicines, Colombo, Sri Lanka, during the proceedings of the World Congress of Integrated Medicines from November 22-24.

VHP warns protest against anti-superstition bill

MANGALORE: Bajrang Dal and Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Mangalore unit have urged the state government not to introduce the Anti-superstition Bill.

VHP regional working president M B Puranik alleged that the state government is trying to divide Hindu community through Anti-superstition Bill. "The bill has been drafted unscientifically and hence, it should not be tabled in the forthcoming legislative assembly session to be held in Belgaum," he demanded.

If the bill was introduced, Puranik said, it will disturb several celebrations and beliefs of Hindus. VHP and other organisations will submit a memorandum to governor on the issue. If the bill was tabled in the upcoming session, then rigorous protests will be held in association with like-minded Hindu organisations, Puranik added.

VHP also will hold protest in Udupi, Puttur and Kodagu district through Dharmika Samrakshana Samiti in coming days. Post card protest and different protests have been planned to oppose the Bill, he said.

"The major focus of the Bill is only on Hindu Community. Though there are few drawbacks in believes and celebrations, likeminded organisations have been working towards removing such rituals through awareness among Hindus. A section of people have prepared this Bill according to their views. It hurts the sentiments of Hindus. Hence, we will not allow it. We will protest," Puranik warned.

Khader to represent nation at ICAAP in Bangkok

MANGALORE: Minister for health and family welfare UT Khader will represent the nation at The International Congress on AIDS and the Pacific (ICAAP) to be held at Bangkok, Thailand from November 18 to 22.
 
UNAIDS is holding the International Congress under the theme ’Asia/Pacific Reaching Triple Zero: Investing in Innovation’. "The Congress elicits not only the regional commitment to join the global effort in the fight against HIV/AIDS through an inspirational goal - zero new HIV infection, zero discrimination and zero AIDS related deaths- but also willingness as a community to expand the region’s knowledge, best practices and lessons learned on HIV/AIDS to accelerate progress towards achieving targets," stated Oussama Tawil, country coordinator, UNAIDS India.
 
In a letter to minister to Khader, Tawil stated that the Joint United Nations Programmes on AIDS in India is facilitating participation of key stakeholders comprising political leaders, government officials, NGOs and community representatives in ICAAP. Approximately 4,000 delegates from 22 countries across Asia and the Pacific are expected to participate in ICAAP. The Congress will offer delegates dynamic learning experience and great networking opportunities through a variety of programmes and activities, Tawil stated.
 
Khader told TOI that he would deliver talk on health scenario in India with special reference to Karnataka. Punjab health minister also has been invited to take part in the Congress.

Cashless treatment to accident victims likely: Minister

MANGALORE: The government is contemplating on finding solution to the long pending issue of delay in the disbursement of motor vehicle accident insurance to beneficiaries.
 
Minister for health and family welfareUT Khader said that many people, who met with accident, literally struggle to pay the hospital bills and they are made to fight for insurance claims for years.
 
"We have decided to end the unnecessary delay in the distribution of motor vehicle accident insurance through a new scheme. The government has formed a team and they are in touch with various insurance companies.
 
Though nothing has been finalised yet, very soon a roadmap will be prepared to offer cashless treatment to those who meet with accident," Khader said.

Cheating case against youth for refusing to marry lover

MANGALORE: A case of cheating has been registered against a youth hailing from Yenekal near Subrahmanya in Sullia taluk for allegedly refusing to marry an engineering student whom he courted for almost seven years.
 
Subrahmanya police booked a case under Section 420 of IPC against Nithin, 25, after Dhanya, 23, daughter of Perlapu Narayana Rao of Kadeshivalya in Bantwal taluk, on Wednesday staged a dharna in front of his house asking him to marry her .
 
Nithin’s mother tried to convince Dhanya, however, in vain. The girl went on with her dharna till Subrahmanya police reached the venue. She also threatened to commit suicide if Nithin does not marry her. Police sources said that an FIR was registered against Nithin on Thursday and the investigation is on.
 
"The case will be transferred to Sullia police as the place of occurrence is not within our station limits. The matter will be decided in the court as an FIR has already been lodged," Sullia police sources said. Nithin and Dhanya met while studying in an engineering college in Sullia. Objections from parents are said to be the reason for the delay in their marriage.

Dakshina Kannada police bust illegal sand transportation racket

MANGALORE: A special squad set up Shantanu Sinha, Superintendent of Police, Dakshina Kannada district in a late night operation on Friday, seized 13 trucks carrying sand illegally to the state capital Bangalore at Uppinangady, some 60-kms from here. The sand was concealed using tarpaulin in these 10-wheeler trucks to avoid detection at check posts enroute. Each vehicle, police sources said were capable of carrying around 50-tonnes of sand, and the total quantity of sand in these vehicles is estimated to be around 650-tonnes. Sources said the sand was mined from river beds in the district and was being transported without due permits. Further investigations are on.