Tag: Karnataka First Records

Karnataka records highest-ever organ donations in 2025, ranks third nationally

Officials say increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres, including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts.

Karnataka’s State Organ and Tissue Transplant Organisation (SOTTO), the nodal agency that facilitates cadaver organ donations, has recorded 198 donations in 2025, the highest recorded in the State so far. This surpasses the previous peak of 178 donations in 2023. With this, Karnataka ranked third in the country in organ donations for the year, after Tamil Nadu with 267 donations, and Telangana with 205.

The steady rise in donations over the past five years reflects expanded hospital participation, growing awareness and improved systems, officials said. In 2024, the State recorded 168 donations, while the figure stood at 70 in 2021.

Principal Secretary (Health) Harsh Gupta told The Hindu that the increase was driven by the empanelment of more hospitals as non-retrieval organ transplant centres (NTHORCs), including in tier-two cities, along with sustained awareness efforts. “We are also felicitating donor families on January 26 and August 15 through the Chief Minister and Ministers, which has helped in building awareness and trust around organ donation,” he said.

Expansion plans

Mr. Gupta said the government now plans to expand the programme to taluk-level hospitals. “Doctors also need to be sensitised about declaring brain death. A lot more needs to be done. We are identifying where there is potential for donations and what the challenges are,” he said.

He pointed out that institutions such as NIMHANS see a significant number of cases where brain death could potentially be declared, but these opportunities are not being fully utilised. “This is a challenge. We had planned to place dedicated counsellors and earmark beds for potential brain-death cases, but these are not being used effectively. We will soon depute two dedicated grief counsellors there,” he said.

Tamil Nadu software

To improve transparency and efficiency, Karnataka SOTTO has adopted a software system already in use in Tamil Nadu. The platform tracks the entire process- from registration of patients, declaration of brain death to identification of eligible recipients from the waiting list and facilitation of transplants.

“Basic data entry has begun. Once a patient is registered, the queue system starts. All documents will be uploaded by hospitals and every step will be tracked online,” Mr. Gupta said.

Under the new system, once a donation is activated, alerts will be sent to the top 50 registered patients and empanelled hospitals. “Everything will be managed online and there will be transparency at every stage,” he said.

Cross-matching services

Karnataka has also decentralised cross-matching services, which earlier required patients to travel to Bengaluru.

The State has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Bangalore Medical Services Trust (BMST) laboratory to provide cross-matching and HLA testing for eligible recipients in Mangaluru (Wenlock Hospital), Hubballi (KIMS), and Mysuru (K.R. Hospital). For each donation, the first five to 10 eligible patients will be called for matching, a process that takes five to six hours.

“Karnataka has considerable untapped potential for organ donation and the recent gains represent only a modest beginning. This trend now needs to be pushed much further,” Mr. Gupta added.

State missed 15 potential donations in 2025

Karnataka has missed 15 potential organ donations in 2025. This is mainly due to reluctance by families of potential donors and misconceptions surrounding organ donations.

Elaborating on the reasons, the officials said potential donations are missed sometimes because the identified donor is not fit to donate due to clinical reasons. Or, someone from the donor family/distant family/friends circle says no to organ donation and the next of kin do not have much say in taking a decision against the wish of those opposing it. Also, there are misconceptions surrounding organ donation.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, a governance success

The project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records.

For decades, access to land records was one of rural India’s most persistent governance failures. Karnataka’s Bhoomi project, now completing 25 years, offers an instructive counterpoint showing how administrative reform can reshape the relationship between governance and the people.

Until the late 1990s, land administration in Karnataka relied almost entirely on handwritten records maintained by village accountants. Farmers seeking a Record of Rights, Tenancy, and Crops (RTC) often had to repeatedly visit revenue offices, navigate complex procedures, and rely on intermediaries. Errors in records were common, and corrections took months. In an agrarian State where land disputes routinely spilt into civil courts, the costs of administrative inefficiency were borne disproportionately by small and marginal farmers.

Launched in 2000, Bhoomi was a bold departure from this legacy. Its immediate goal was simple: computerise land records and make them accessible. Its greater ambition was to replace discretion with rules, delay with timelines, and opacity with transparency. The legal recognition of computerised RTCs and the abolition of handwritten records marked a historic shift. Over the last 25 years, more than 39.8 crore RTCs have been issued, fundamentally altering how land records are accessed across the State.

Many revenue officials were initially hesitant to abandon familiar manual systems. Karnataka responded with large-scale capacity building, training nearly 9,000 village accountants, 8,000 revenue inspectors, and 1,000 computer operators. The establishment of 204 Bhoomi Kendras at the taluk level enabled the digitisation of nearly 2.5 crore land records covering about 3.5 crore farmers. What followed was not merely digitisation, but a cultural shift within the administration.

Initially, the Bhoomi project in Karnataka began as a modest effort to computerise only manual RTCs. But today, it functions as a comprehensive digital ecosystem that integrates land and revenue administration with multiple welfare services. The integration of Bhoomi with the Kaveri registration system changed the face of land registration in Karnataka. By linking registration with land records, the State sharply reduced fraudulent transactions and eliminated middlemen. Mutation, once a source of endless delay, became automatic and transparent. Survey and boundary disputes, another chronic problem, were addressed through the introduction of the Mojini (Survey) software in 2007. For the first time, land measurement and survey processes were brought under a digital, time-bound framework. The 11E Sketch, a pre-conversion map introduced by Karnataka, further improved accuracy in land boundaries and area measurement. The result has been a visible reduction in land-related disputes.

Bhoomi’s evolution also reflects Karnataka’s broader approach to governance: using administrative reform to strengthen welfare delivery. Since 2016, crop compensation has been credited directly to farmers’ bank accounts, bypassing intermediaries. During the 2018 loan waiver programme, Bhoomi data enabled the waiver of loans for nearly 20 lakh farmers. The integration with PM-Kisan, the Agriculture Department’s FRUITS platform, and Aadhaar seeding of over 2.17 crore farmer accounts has improved targeting and reduced leakages. By ensuring accurate and up-to-date records, Bhoomi has helped convert entitlement on paper into benefits on the ground.

Perhaps Bhoomi’s most significant achievement is not technological but experiential. Farmers no longer have to travel from village to taluk and taluk to district offices for routine services. The scope for discretionary abuse has narrowed. The relationship between citizens and the revenue administration has become more predictable. In a State where land remains emotionally and economically central, this shift has strengthened trust in public institutions.

As Karnataka reflects on Bhoomi at 25, the project offers lessons for other States rushing to digitise land records. Technology alone does not deliver reform. Bhoomi worked because it was embedded in administrative restructuring, legal change, and continuous institutional learning. It shows that digital governance succeeds when it is incremental, inclusive, and grounded in local realities.

Dr. Kumara IAS is Deputy Commissioner, Mandya District

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Bengaluru Class 4 student Parinita B, enters India Book of Records as young author

Parinita sat with the editor as well as the illustrator to explain the kind of pictures required.

Parinita B, a 10-year-old from Bengaluru, has already earned a place in the India Book of Records as a young author. She is currently studying in Class 4 at NET Public School, Basavanagudi, and has authored a book titled ‘Tales by Pari’ published by Subbu Publications.

Her father, K Balaji, is a deputy general manager in BESCOM, and her mother, Dr Anusha R Gupta, is a dentist. Speaking to the TNIE, Balaji said, “We used to recite songs and children’s stories to Parinita, and that’s when she decided to write a story of her own. When she was eight years old, she started learning the meaning of different words and told us that she would write a book. I had told her to write at least 30 pages if it had to be published as a book of stories.”

He added, “She put all her efforts after school and started writing a book when she was 9 years old. However, when she completed writing it, we faced challenges in finding a publisher. Finally, Subbu Publications in Hubballi decided to publish the book. Parinita sat with the editor as well as the illustrator to explain the kind of pictures required.

We did not select pictures from the internet. They are all original and created by Parinita. A lot of children have bought the book and appreciated her work.”

source/content: newindianexpress.com (headline edited)

Mangaluru-origin architect Dr Oscar Concessao inducted into University of Oklahoma Hall of Fame

Celebrated Indian architect and University of Oklahoma alumnus Dr Oscar G Concessao was formally inducted into the Christopher C Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame on October 2. The recognition honors his outstanding contributions to global architecture, sustainable design, and architectural education spanning more than three decades.

Dr Concessao, co-founder of Oscar & Ponni Architects in Chennai, is widely acclaimed for blending sustainability, technology, and cultural sensitivity in his designs. Along with his wife and partner, Dr Ponni M Concessao, a Cornell University alumna, he has completed over 1,000 projects across India and abroad, earning an international reputation for excellence and innovation.

A proud University of Oklahoma alumnus, Dr Concessao completed his master’s in Architecture (Urban Design) in 1987. That same year, at just 23, he won the William Van Allen International Fellowship Design Competition, marking an early milestone in his distinguished career. He later pursued advanced professional studies at Harvard University and holds honorary doctorates from the University of Malaysia and the University of Milan.

Born in Valencia, Mangaluru, and an alumnus of St Aloysius Institutions, Dr Concessao earned his Bachelor’s in Architecture from NIT Tiruchirappalli (formerly Regional Engineering College). In 2014, he received NIT’s Distinguished Alumni Award from the late Dr APJ Abdul Kalam, former President of India. Earlier this year, he was also honored with the Eminent Aloysian Award by St Aloysius Institutions for his contribution to architecture and society.

Among his landmark achievements is the Telangana State Secretariat in Hyderabad, a 1.2-million-square-foot complex recognized as Asia’s largest green secretariat and one of India’s most technologically advanced government centers. The project reflects his design philosophy of combining monumentality, functionality, and sustainability, while integrating traditional Indian motifs with cutting-edge systems.

Dr Concessao’s influence extends beyond practice into academia and thought leadership. He has presented over 175 technical papers at international conferences on urban resilience, smart city planning, and climate-responsive architecture. A passionate mentor, he continues to inspire young professionals as a visiting faculty member and keynote speaker at leading institutions worldwide.

Over the years, Dr Concessao has received more than 224 national and international awards, including honors from the Indian Institute of Architects, the Green Apple International Beautiful Buildings Award (London, 2024), and multiple government recognitions for excellence in design and innovation.

His induction into the Christopher C Gibbs College of Architecture Hall of Fame places him among the most distinguished alumni of the University of Oklahoma celebrating a career that bridges innovation, sustainability, and inspiration.

Even as his work achieves global recognition, Dr Concessao remains deeply connected to his Indian roots shaping spaces that are sustainable, human-centered, and culturally resonant. His journey continues to inspire a new generation of architects to design for both people and the planet.

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Mangaluru: From selling jaggery to CEO, Zakaria Jokatte bags ‘Guest of Honour Award’

NRI businessman and philanthropist Zakaria Jokatte was presented with the “Guest of Honour Award” at a ceremony hosted by the Mangaluru Press Club on Monday, June 23. The event was inaugurated by former MSEZ PRO Ramachandra Bandarkar.

After receiving the award, Zakaria delivered an emotional address, recounting his journey from poverty to becoming the founder of one of Saudi Arabia’s top industrial service companies.

“This is a deeply emotional moment for me. I hail from Jokatte and am one of five siblings—one younger brother and three sisters. I failed my SSLC as I couldn’t complete my education due to our family’s dire financial condition. At one point, we lived in a Gutthu Mane (ancestral house), but my father incurred heavy financial losses and fell into bad habits, which left us in poverty.”

He continued, “At a young age, I started selling jaggery door-to-door, carrying 50 kilos on my head. That step, I believe, was the beginning of my success. My parents’ blessings and the support of my siblings have always been my inspiration.”

Zakaria went on to share his early struggles in the workforce: “Later, I started working as a welding helper for a salary of just Rs 4. Then I joined a dredging company for a year, which proved to be a very good learning experience.”

He also recalled how his social service connected him to a life-changing opportunity: “With the Masjid, we used to perform duff and go door to door collecting funds for the marriage of underprivileged girls. One day, I attended the wedding of the daughter of a man known as Bawa Tiles. I asked him if he could help me go to Saudi Arabia for work. That’s how my journey began on September 27, 1979. I worked for six months as a construction labourer there, which was extremely challenging. In between, I also worked in Mumbai.”

“Eventually, I returned to work with the same dredging company in Saudi, doing various jobs and earning about 600 Riyals a month. I focused on improving my skills and learning as much as I could,” he said.

His hard work and focus soon bore fruit when he was selected for a rare opportunity. “Out of 500 applicants, only 13 were chosen, and I was one of them, selected by a Dutch industrial services company. Within six months, I was chosen for tough training in Holland. In just two years, I was promoted five times until I reached the top position. That experience gave me the courage to start Al Muzain in 1996.”

Almuzain, now one of the leading industrial services companies in Saudi Arabia, caters to the complex needs of the petrochemical and refinery sectors. “My core principles have always been safety, quality, and commitment. Today, ALMUZAIN employs around 7,000 people, most of whom are from the coastal belt of Karnataka. I treat my employees as partners—their success is my success, and mine is theirs.”

Zakaria emphasised that he has no intention of stepping away from his work. “I don’t plan to retire—it’s up to God when my time comes. True happiness lies in hard work. No one ever became poor by helping the needy. Don’t react to criticism. We are born naked and will leave this world the same way. We can’t take our money with us. What matters is love, care, and compassion.”

He concluded with a message of hope and development for his homeland: “For true success, you need to have a dream. Our district must develop, and people must live in peace and harmony.”

He also shared current initiatives and future plans: “I have collaborated with Yenepoya to build an international school and university in Saudi Arabia. I’ve also partnered with known doctors to open a clinic in the UK and am planning a football academy in collaboration with Juventus. Plans are underway to set up a skill development centre in Mangaluru.”

Extending a helping hand to youth from underprivileged backgrounds, he added: “If any diploma or mechanical engineering graduates from underprivileged backgrounds are seeking job opportunities, they can reach out to me. Our company provides one week of initial training for all new recruits. I am ready to help anyone willing to work hard.”

source/content: daijiworld.com (headline edited)

Yakshagana Kalaranga of Udupi honours 50 artists above 70 years with Suvarna Puraskar

There should be no aberrations in Yakshagana performances, says Talluru Shivarama Shetty, chairman, Karnataka Yakshagana Academy in Udupi.

Chairman of Karnataka Yakshagana Academy Talluru Shivarama Shetty on Saturday asked Yakshagana artists to ensure that there were no aberrations in the performances. The artists should uphold the tradition of the art form, he said.

He was addressing the artists at a programme organised by Yakshagana Kalaranga of Udupi to felicitate 50 Yakshagana artists who were aged above 70, on the occasion of the Kalaranga celebrating its golden jubilee.

Mr. Shetty said that the academy has been receiving letters from Yakshagana fans that the academy should intervene as the trend of many artists deviating from the tradition, especially by going out of context in the delivery of dialogues, is increasing. Yakshagana’s tradition should be maintained within its framework.

The chairman said that artists have the responsibility of saving Yakshagana in its true form and pass on the tradition to future generations.

The Kalaranga honoured each of the 50 senior artists with its Yakshagana Kalaranga Suvarna Puraskar with a purse of ₹50,000 to each.

At a session on the topic ‘Whether Yakshagana should continue as a full-time profession or a part-time job’ organised on the occasion, senior Yakshagana artist Kondadakuli Ramachandra Hegde said that none can stop amateur and part-time performers from performing in Yakshagana. Many debates held on the topic at various platforms earlier did not arrive at any conclusion, Mr. Hegde said.

He said that a day might come when there may not be any full-time performers.

Another senior artiste Permude Jayaprakash Shetty said that part-time performers can not do justice to the art form in its true sense. If Yakshagana is to sustain in its true form an artist will have to be a full-time performer, he said.

Artists of Madhava Matru Gramam Koodiyattam Gurukulam, Thrissur, Kerala presented a Koodiyattam show. Kasturba Medical College, Manipal conducted a free health check up for Yakshagana artists.

Seer of Puthige Mutt Sugunendra Tirtha, seer of Pejawar Mutt Vishwaprasanna Tirtha, Yashpal Suvarna, Kiran Kumar Kodgi, MLAs, secretary of the Kalaranga Murali Kadekar and president of the Kalaranga M. Gangadhar Rao participated.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

11 athletes from Alva’s Foundation chosen to represent India in World University Games

All of these athletes represent Mangalore University and are trained under Alva’s Education Foundation’ Sports Adoption Scheme.

Eleven athletes from Alva’s Education Foundation’s Sports Adoption Scheme, representing Mangalore University, have been selected to represent India in the forthcoming World University Games 2025, scheduled to be held in Rhine-Ruhr, Germany, from July 16 to 27.

Foundation president M. Mohan Alva told reporters in Moodbidri on Wednesday that with the selection, the total number of athletes from the foundation participating in the games has risen to 32. He said the selection was a matter of pride for the institution and the State. The athletes were selected during the trials held at the Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology (KIIT), a deemed-to-be university in Bhubaneswar.

In the men’s category, the selected athletes are Gagan (5,000 meters run), Sachin (20 km walk), Balakrishna (400 meters run) and N. Taufique (decathlon). Those selected in the women’s category are Deekshita Ramakrishna Gowda (400 meters hurdles), Basanti Kumari (half marathon), Manju Yadav (steeplechase), Sindhusree (pole vault), Sakshi Sharma (javelin throw), Jyoti (half marathon) and Shalini (20 km walk).

Dr. Alva said all the selected athletes represent Mangalore University and are trained under Alva’s Sports Adoption Scheme. Each athlete will require a financial outlay of ₹2.5 lakh to participate in the event. While Mangalore University has assured a contribution of ₹75,000 per athlete, the remaining expenses are being borne by the foundation, he added.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

Justice S.R. Nayak passes away

 Former Chhattisgarh High Court Chief Justice S.R. Nayak (80)passed away here yesterday.

He leaves behind his wife Shalini S. Nayak, son Dr. N.S. Rahul, daughter Nisha Gaonkar and host of relatives and friends.

His body was kept for public viewing till 1 pm today at his residence located at Dollars Colony in RMV II Stage here following which last rites were held at Hebbal crematorium in the evening.

Born on Jan. 1, 1945 to a family of farmers and freedom fighters at Nadamyasakeri village in Kumta taluk, Justice S.R. Nayak completed his B.Sc from University of Mysore and LLB and LLM from Bangalore University.

He served as the Acting Chief Justice of High Court of Karnataka before being transferred to Andhra Pradesh High Court and later to Chhattisgarh where he served as Chief Justice of Chhattisgarh High Court.

He was the first Chairman of Karnataka State Human Rights Commission.

source/content: starofmysore.com (headline edited)

Exhibition of works by academy award winning artists inaugurated

Mangaluru Chapter of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH) and Art Kanara Trust inaugurated a group exhibition titled “Contemplations and Dialogue” at Kodialguthu Centre for Art and Culture on Sunday, bringing artistic brilliance into focus.

The exhibition showcases works by three acclaimed Mangaluru-based artists—Veena Srinivas, Syed Asif Ali, and Rajendra Kedige—who were recently honoured by the Karnataka Lalithakala Academy. The show is open to the public daily from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. till May 14.

Veteran artist and film-maker Madhusudhan Kumar, who presided the preview, praised the artists for channelling deep personal and social insights through their art. “Artists’ works speaks powerfully. It’s inspiring to see Mangalorean artists being recognised for such meaningful expression,” he noted.

INTACH convener and president of Art Kanara Trust Subhas Chandra Basu expressed pride in the achievements of the featured artists. “This is a proud moment for Mangaluru’s art scene. Having three State-recognised artists from our city is a significant milestone. We at INTACH and Art Kanara Trust are privileged to collaborate with these talented individuals,” he said.

The three artists were felicitated at the event. Ms. Srinivas displayed contemporary interpretations of Kaavi Kale, a traditional coastal art form. She said, “From an early age, I felt a strong calling to preserve this ancient art form. It holds deep meaning for our community.”

Mr. Ali exhibited a series of watercolour landscapes rich in mood and detail, reflecting his refined technique. A mentor to many emerging artists, his works stand out for their depth and sensitivity. Mr. Kedige presented abstract works rooted in geometry, offering a poetic interplay of form and feeling, which are hallmarks of his distinctive style.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)

YuvaSpark founder Akarsh Shroff of Bengaluru conferred National Youth Award

Recognition for his ‘commitment to improving quality of early childhood education at anganwadi centres in India’.

Akarsh Shroff of Bengaluru was conferred the prestigious National Youth Award on April 3 for his ‘commitment to improving quality of early childhood education at anganwadi centres in India’.

The award was conferred during a ceremony at Parliament House in Delhi by Union Minister of Youth Affairs and Sports Mansukh Mandaviya. The event was organised to honour award recipients of both this and the previous year. A total of 22 awardees were honoured across both the years.

The National Youth Awardis conferred by the Ministry of Youth Affairs to recognise the excellent efforts of youth working towards national development and social service. The prize recognises work in health, research, culture, human rights, tourism, education, sports, innovation, community service, by people under the age of 30.

Akarsh founded YuvaSpark as a 17-year-old high school student in 2018. The organisation has built technology platforms that have digitised learning at over 600 anganwadi centres across rural India. To enhance quality of education at anganwadis (early childhood education centres in rural India), YuvaSpark’s digital platform is periodically providing teachers with custom-curated interactive vernacular language academic content.

Apart from this, the organisation runs programmes to improve infrastructure at orphanages, enhance library infrastructure in government schools, and provide smart learning devices to special schools.

The organisation has impacted the lives of 3,46,000 children across 10 States by engaging over 700 volunteers from 35 institutions, and has raised ₹2.5 crore in funding from Amazon, BCG, Indian Oil, MNGL, SECI, and other companies.

After graduating from one of India’s most prominent institutions, BITS Pilani, in 2022, Akarsh opted out of placements and chose to devote his time to improving the quality of education for children in India.

source/content: thehindu.com (headline edited)