POLYTECHNIC WILL NOT BE SHIFTED;

Madikeri March 15, 2007

The proposal to cancel the polytechnic college at Kushalnagar by the government is stalled, according to state technical education department.

Personal secretary to director, Arun told this correspondent over telephone that the government has not moved any files to close or cancel the polytechnic college at Kushalnagar.

It can be recalled that much opposition was seen at Kushalnagar after the education minister hinted at a press conference that the polytechnic college would be closed at Kushalnagar since government intends to start an engineering college there. Parents and different organizations staged protest and held meetings appealing the government not to close the decades old college. Though the government says that there was no such move, it had stopped taking entries this year.

Starting an engineering college will require rupees 300 crores and government has earmarked four places including Kushalnagar to start it. Work at Hassan and Ramanagar has begun. A technical committee will visit shortly to Kushgalnagar to study the area and situation. If the proposal is accepted in the next budget, the engineering college will start functioning from this September, said Arun.

MEGA HEALTH CAMP BEGINS;

A mega health camp organized by District health department, Zilla Panchayath and different organizations here is attracting hundreds of patients.

Zilla Panchayath president Ashok yesterday inaugurated the three day camp by lighting the lamp.

Addressing the gathering, health committee chairman V.P.Shashidar stated that the ZP is planning to start two mobile hospitals to extend health service to neglected villages. He disclosed that the hospitals are not facing any shortage of medicines and the medicine grant to primary health centre would be raised from rupees seventy thousand to rupees one lakh. Community health centres will get rupees four lakh per month instead of two lakh, he said. Napoklu, maldare and Kushalnagar hospitals are being renovated at a cost of rupees 217 lakhs.

Dr.Chidanand from Sullya spoke on the occasion and said that people should give first importance to health care as every one will suffer from one or the other ailment.

Zilla panchayath vice president B.C.Neelamma, Deputy Commissioner Subodh Yadav. Lions and Rotary presidents were present. Dr.V.D.Palekar welcomed the gathering.

Patients will be tested and treated for all the common diseases free of cost in the three day camp.