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Surgeons succeed in separating Siamese twins at KMC

Mangalore, December 16: The surgeons of Kasturba Medical College have been successful in separating Siamese twins born with a conjoined brain. The disorder with which the Siamese twins were born is called 'Craniophages' (conjoined brain).
The neurologists in KMC, who took up this rare case when the twins were four months old, decided that they could be separated only after the age of one. They are now one-and-a-half-years old.

The twin girls, Sauda and Afsa, born in Mijari near Moodbidri in Dakshina Kannada district, have been on treatment for the last one year. "The surgeons have also been preparing for the last one year since this is one of those very rare cases," said KMC Dean Dr. S. S. Ballal.  The surgeons , who conducted the operation for three days starting December 5, were successful in separating the twins despite a few complications.

The team, which operated upon on the twins, includes Dr. Muradhar Pai (neurologist), Prof Y. S. Rai (plastic surgeon), Dr. Saroja (anaesthetic), Dr. Vinod Hegde (radiologist) and Dr. K. K. Radhakrisha (paediatrician).  "Since the twins shared a brain, there were complications as the blood from one child's brain had flown into the other during operation. Sauda has been placed in the ICU and is recovering," said Dr. Ballal. 

Kalyan St. Thomas Church declared pilgrim centre

Thane, December 16: The historical St. Thomas Church in Kalyan town of the district was formally declared as a pilgrim centre at a function last evening.  Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil read out the decree officially declaring the churc h as the pilgrim centre coinciding with the three-day celebrations to mark the 1950th anniversary of the arrival of St. Thomas in India .  A Solemn Mass and a public meeting was held followed by a procession from the venue of the function to the church in which thousands of devotees participated wearing traditional dress.

The Kalyan church is next only to the Mylapore church in Chennai, which has already been declared as a pilgrim centre for the followers of the Syro-Malabar Church .  Earlier, from October 20 the relic of St. Thomas was carried by the Vicar General Rev. Msgr. Thomas Thalacheira throughout the Kalyan Diocese.  When the relic arrived at the St. Thomas Church , it was welcomed amid ringing of bells and was later formally installed in a specially made cell within the church.

In his presidential address, Cardinal Vithayathil said the faith and tradition of St. Thomas should be continued and especially the youngsters should follow the teachings of St. Thomas .  A book titled "My Lord and My God," detailing the life and works of the apostle, was also released on the occasion.

'Awareness on saving power necessary'

Mangalore , December 16: Mangalore Electric Supply Company (MESCOM) Managing Director Gaurav Guptha stressed the need for educating the general Public on saving electricity.  Speaking as the chief guest at a function organised by South Kanara Milk Producers' Union (DKMPU), organised in connection with the National energy Conservation Day on Saturday, he said electricity amounting to Rs. 2,000 crore is wasted every year in the country.

Gupta lauded the steps taken by the Milk Federation authorities to check energy waste inside dairies. He said that the milk federation, which has a track record of successful implementation of White Revolution in the district, could also play a vital role in spreading awareness regarding energy conservation.

While ex plaining the measures adopted by the Centre at its dairies to check energy waste, South Kanara Milk Producers' Union president Kaup Diwakar Shetty said they have succeeded in conserving energy amounting to Rs. seven lakh. D. S. Hegde compered the programme and SKMPU managing Director Dr. Sundar Moorthy proposed a vote of thanks.

Pension disbursement on December 23

Panaji, December 16: The pay and allowances of Gazetted and non-Gazetted Government employees and pension of the pensioners and freedom fighters for the month of December will be disbursed on December 23, on account of Christmas.  Meanwhile, the government has sanctioned dearness relief to government pensioners/family pensioners, in view of the rise in the cost of living beyond average consumer price index 306.33 (as on January 1, 1996), at the rate of 52 per cent, with effect from July 1, based on grant of dearness relief to central government pensioners and pensioners of All India Services.  Youth fest: A Youth Festival, was organised by the Directorate of Youth Affairs, at the Kala Academy , Panaji, with a number of participants taking part in various competitions.

Trinity college choir performs at Church of Assisi

Panaji, December 16: The Choir of Trinity College, Cambridge presented a concert directed by Dr Richard Marlow at the Church of Assisi at Old Goa. Among the several compositions they presented, the hymn in Konkani, which received huge applause from the audience. The Choir came to Goa after performing in Mumbai, Bangalore and other cities.

The Choir presented European Sacred Music, Christmas Carols, British Secular Music, Close Harmony Settings and Indian Music. The European Sacred Music which is laid out as a double canon, one for four voices and another for two, has a rich, warm harmonic textu re and is clear evidence of the highly developed musical culture which existed in England at the time.

In the Middle Ages, a carol was a round dance with musical accompaniment, which eventually developed into a song for two or more voices. The text usually, but not invariably, dealt with some aspect of the birth of Christ. As the term implies, close-harmony settings are those in which the notes of a chord are close together; often the upper and lower voices are no more than an octave apart.

Veerappan confirms ransom for Rajkumar

Bangalore , December 16: Veerappan is reported to have admitted to receiving an Rs. 10-crore ransom from emissaries securing the release of thespian Rajkumar two years ago.  STF intelligence sources, quoting a person who accompanied JD(U) functionary Ponnachi Mahadevaswamy to the Chengadi forest to negotiate Nagappa's release, said Veerappan claimed to have distributed crores of rupees, in addition to the Rs. 10-crore ransom, among victims of atrocities allegedly committed by STF officers.  Villagers who accompanied Mahadevaswamy revealed that the gang now comprises just five members including Veerappan.

Television effecting youth adversely: MLA

Hukkeri, December 16: The role of youth in protecting the national heritage and culture is important, but the same is diminishing due to the adverse effects of television, said former minister and MLA Umesh Katti.  He was speaking after inaugurating the district level youth festival held at Sultanpur near here. Zilla Panchayat President Sunita Harijan said, "Youth should make an effort to protect our rural culture." APMC President Ashok Chandappagol urged the youth to give full meaning to the 'yuvak Mandal' in strengthening the society. Agri-Bank Chairman Ramagouda Patil spoke on the occasion.

Strict action taken against teachers neglecting duty

Ron, December 16: Strict action will be taken against the teachers who neglect their duties and indulge in unnecessary politics, said Primary and Secondary Education Minister Prof B. K. Chandrashekhar. He was speaking after inaugurating a high school building in Halligudi village recently.  Some of the teachers always remained absent for no genuine reasons. This cannot be tolerated, the minister said. Every teacher must contribute sincerely in making the government's effort to improve the quality of education a success, he added.

As many as 35,000 primary schools did not have proper toilet facilities. The government has sought the assistance of the zilla panchayats for the construction of toile ts in every schools, he said. The last year's SSLC result was very poor and the government was looking into the matter seriously to improve the results. The teachers have to work hard to improve the SSLC results in the coming years, he added.  The State government was giving much importance to computer education for students. All arrangements will be made in each government high school towards providing necessary equipment for the same, he said.  

Banana farmers cheated by US company' 

New Delhi , December 16: An AIADMK MP today charged in Parliament that the Bangalore-based Indo-American Hybrid Seeds had deceived thousands of banana farmers of Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.  Raising the issue in the Zero Hour, Mr. T. M. Selvaganapathi alleged that the farmers believing the multinational company which supplies tissue culture banana seeds, took these seeds but two years have elapsed and even feathering had not take place. Farmers have undergone huge losses and a serious situation has been created now.

He said the issue was raised by his party col league P. H. Pandian in 2001 following which the Union agriculture ministry sent a team to investigate the issue. The team, under the leadership of the director, national research centre for banana, Trichy, visited the spot and concluded that 80% of the problem was due to poor quality of planting material.  The team was categorical in its finding that because of the poor quality of seed and tissue culture supplied by the company, the farmers were put to huge losses.  He charged that the agriculture ministry was sleeping over the report and was insensitive and indifferent to the farmers' plight. The farmers approached the National consumer forum and the company did not even file a counter reply.

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