BENGALURU, July 31, 2025: Dr. D. Kiran Jeevan, a professor of social work and an active voice in public policy and civic reform, met the Hon’ble Governor of Karnataka today at Raj Bhavan to raise alarm over the worsening condition of Bengaluru’s infrastructure. The meeting, held at 11:00 a.m., centered on the urgent need for state intervention, particularly regarding the city’s damaged roads and their growing impact on public health and safety.
In a formal letter submitted during the meeting, Dr. Jeevan highlighted concerns received from more than 1,000 residents who reported injuries, spinal issues, and mental stress due to the city’s pothole-ridden streets. “This isn’t just about roads—it’s about health, dignity, and the daily lives of Bengalureans,” he stated.
Expressing his motivation behind the initiative, Dr. Jeevan said, “Bengaluru is not merely a place—it’s an inseparable part of my identity. Our systems aren’t broken—they’re simply waiting to be revived. I approach this not with criticism, but with hope—hope that our city can once again set the standard for smart, inclusive urban development.”
The Governor reportedly responded with empathy and assured Dr. Jeevan that his memorandum and suggestions would be forwarded to the Government of Karnataka for necessary action.
Reaffirming his dedication to constructive civic engagement, Dr. Jeevan emphasized the need for collaboration and systemic reform. He thanked the Governor for his time, concern, and willingness to support the cause of improving the city’s infrastructure.
Rising Concern: 1 in 4 Lung Cancer Cases in India Occur Among Non-Smokers, Say Doctors
BENGALURU | August 1, 2025: Lung cancer is no longer a disease confined to smokers. Up to 25% of lung cancer cases in India are now being reported in individuals who have never smoked, and some Indian studies estimate this number could be as high as 40%. Medical experts point to second-hand smoke, indoor air pollution, occupational hazards, and hormonal factors as key contributors.
Speaking on the occasion of Lung Cancer Day, Dr. Radheshyam Naik, Head of Medical Oncology, Hematology & Bone Marrow Transplantation at Sammprada Hospital, Bengaluru, highlighted the growing burden of lung cancer in Indian metros. “Over the past three decades, we’ve seen a steady rise in lung cancer cases across cities like Delhi, Bengaluru, and Chennai — affecting both men and women. Factors such as smoking, worsening air pollution, and improved awareness leading to early detection have contributed to this trend,” he said.
Dr. Naik emphasized that exposure to carcinogens through second-hand smoke, indoor pollutants from the burning of solid fuels (wood, charcoal, cow dung), and occupational environments are major risks for non-smokers. “India ranks fifth globally for air pollution. Nearly half of Indian adults are routinely exposed to second-hand smoke at home, workplaces, or during commutes. Indoor air pollution alone accounts for 4–6% of the country’s lung cancer burden. Alarmingly, 75% of Indian households still rely on solid fuels for cooking,” he noted.
He further added that long-term exposure to incense smoke in poorly ventilated indoor spaces also poses a significant risk. “People who have burned incense indoors for over 40 years face a fourfold higher risk of lung cancer compared to other non-smokers,” he said.
Dr. Vinod K Ramani, Consultant – Preventive Oncology at Sammprada Hospital, explained that both smokers and non-smokers in India are often diagnosed at advanced stages of lung cancer due to overlapping symptoms with tuberculosis. “Persistent cough, chest pain, and weight loss are common to both TB and lung cancer, often leading to misdiagnosis and delayed treatment — particularly in early-stage cases,” he said.
Treatment options for lung cancer today include immunotherapy, targeted therapy, and post-surgical cancer vaccines aimed at preventing recurrence. Dr. Ramani advised that family members of cancer patients should consider themselves at elevated risk and watch for warning signs such as chronic cough, blood in sputum, or unexplained weight loss. “Non-smokers should undergo regular screenings. A full-body MRI every three years is a good preventive step,” he added.
Offering preventive advice, Dr. Vishwajeeth Pai, Consultant – Medical Oncology at Sammprada Hospital, said individuals should wear pollution masks when outdoors in poor air conditions and avoid inhaling emissions from fossil fuels. “Using LPG for cooking rather than for driving vehicles can reduce indoor pollution. Also, homes should be tested for radon gas, a naturally occurring radioactive substance that seeps from underground soil and can significantly raise lung cancer risk,” he cautioned.
With environmental and lifestyle-related factors increasingly contributing to lung cancer, especially among non-smokers, doctors stressed the urgent need for awareness, timely screening, and clean air practices to tackle this growing public health challenge.
BENGALURU, August 1, 2025 — With a proud legacy spanning over 80 years, The House of Khodays has firmly established itself as a pioneer and trusted name in India’s spirits industry. Headquartered in Bengaluru and deeply rooted in tradition, the company has played a pivotal role in shaping the modern Indian liquor landscape, setting benchmarks in quality, craftsmanship, and consumer trust.
Founded in 1906, The House of Khodays initially emerged as one of India’s first producers of quality wines and liquors at a time when the concept of fine spirits was virtually unknown to Indian consumers. By introducing premium products to the domestic market, the company not only pioneered the culture of refined alcohol consumption in India but also laid the foundation for a thriving, home-grown beverage industry.
Speaking at a press meet held at the Press Club of Bangalore, Mr. Aditya Khoday, Director of The House of Khodays, reflected on the brand’s illustrious journey. “Ours is not just a business—it’s a legacy. We have always believed in creating spirits that speak to generations, blending tradition with innovation, and crafting experiences that go beyond the glass,” he said.
Among its celebrated portfolio, Hercules Dark Rum and Hercules White Rum have become enduring symbols of the brand’s excellence. These rums are widely appreciated for their rich aroma, smoothness, and versatility, making them favourites not only across Karnataka but also throughout India and in global markets such as the Middle East and Europe.
A particularly distinguished aspect of the Hercules brand is its deep-rooted association with the Indian Armed Forces. Over the years, Hercules Rums have earned the honour of being called “the spirit of the Armed Forces,” becoming a part of military camaraderie, traditions, and celebrations. They stand not merely as beverages, but as emblems of shared heritage, pride, and unity.
Today, the legacy of Hercules continues to thrive among the younger generation. Gen Z consumers have taken to Hercules Dark and White Rums with the same enthusiasm as their predecessors—enjoying them neat, on the rocks, or as the foundation for innovative cocktails. This multi-generational appeal underscores the timeless charm and adaptability of Khodays’ iconic labels.
As the company celebrates eight decades of excellence in spirit-making, it remains deeply committed to honouring its heritage while looking boldly toward the future. With an unwavering focus on quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, The House of Khodays continues to lead the way in crafting memorable experiences for connoisseurs and casual drinkers alike.
Company at a Glance:
Established: 1906
Headquarters: Bengaluru, Karnataka, India
Market Presence: Pan-India with a strong footprint across the Middle East and Europe
Flagship Brands: Hercules Dark Rum, Hercules White Rum, Peter Scot Whisky, Red Knight Whisky.
BENGALURU, August 1, 2025 – The Karnataka unit of the Coordination of Bank Pensioners and Retirees Organisations (CBPRO) will launch a Hunger Strike and Dharna at Freedom Park on August 2, 10Am.This protest is part of CBPRO’s nationwide action programme, which has already seen similar demonstrations in other state capitals and major cities throughout July and August.
Hundreds of former bank employees are expected to participate, pressing the Government of India and the Indian Banks’ Association (IBA) to address long-standing grievances affecting senior and super-senior banking retirees.
Demands of the Protesters:
1. Periodic Pension Updation Full implementation of Clause 35.1 of the Bank Employees Pension Regulations, ensuring regular pension revisions on par with central government and RBI pension schemes—overdue for more than 30 years.
2. Inclusion of Special Allowance in Pension Recognition of Special Allowance for superannuation calculations, restoring the basic pension to the agreed 50% of last drawn basic pay instead of the current 31%.
3. Reimbursement of Medical Insurance Premiums Restoration of government guidelines by transferring medical insurance premium costs back to banks, rather than imposing them on retirees.
4. Parity for SBI Pensioners Uniform basic pension of 50% of last drawn pay for SBI retirees, with retrospective effect.
5. Coverage for Initially Excluded Retirees Inclusion of the fewer than 1,000 bank retirees who missed the original pension option, mirroring RBI’s corrective measures.
6. Ex-Gratia for Private Bank Pensioners Payment of agreed ex-gratia amounts to private bank retirees, eliminating current discrimination.
7. Ex-Gratia for 2024–25 Release of ex-gratia payments for 2024 and 2025 as per the Settlement/Joint Note with unions.
8. Dearness Allowance Rectification Resolution of discrepancies in the payment of dearness allowance to pensioners.
9. Reversion to the Old Pension Scheme Abolition of the New Pension Scheme in favour of the Old Pension Scheme to safeguard serving employees and officers from market-linked uncertainties.
10. Consultative Status for Pensioners’ Organisations Granting formal negotiation rights to CBPRO and affiliated bodies, respecting the principle of engaging senior citizens in dialogue.
CBPRO Convenor A. N. Krishna Murthy, Joint Convenor K. V. Acharya, and other senior members outlined these demands at a press conference held at the Press Club of Bengaluru. They urged the Government and the IBA to respond promptly and honour the genuine demands of bank pensioners and retirees.
ಬೆಂಗಳೂರು, ಆಗಸ್ಟ್ 1: ರಾಜ್ಯದ ವಿವಿಧ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆ ಮತ್ತು ತಾಲ್ಲೂಕು ಮಟ್ಟದಲ್ಲಿ ರೈತರ ಒಗ್ಗಟ್ಟಿಗೆ ಶ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪ್ರದೇಶ ಕೃಷಿಕ ಸಮಾಜ, ಕೃಷಿ ಇಲಾಖೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜ್ಯ ಸರ್ಕಾರದೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸಮನ್ವಯದಲ್ಲಿಯೇ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಕೆಲಸ ಮಾಡುತ್ತಿದೆ.
ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ಕೆಲವು ಮಾಧ್ಯಮ ವರದಿಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ರಸಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಕೊರತೆಯ ಕುರಿತು ಉದ್ಭವಿಸುತ್ತಿರುವ ಸುದ್ದಿಗಳನ್ನು ಸಮಾಜ ಗಮನಿಸಿದೆ. ಆದರೆ ಈ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಇತ್ತೀಚೆಗೆ ನಡೆದ ಪ್ರಗತಿ ಪರಿಶೀಲನಾ ಸಭೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಯಾವುದೇ ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟತೆಯಿಲ್ಲ ಎಂದು ಸಂಘಟನೆ ತಿಳಿಸಿದೆ. ಹವಾಮಾನ ವೈಪರಿತ್ಯದಿಂದ ಮಳೆಯ ಆರಂಭ ಮುಂಚಿತವಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಸಾಗಣೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ತಾತ್ಕಾಲಿಕ ವ್ಯತ್ಯಾಸ ಉಂಟಾಗಿದೆ ಎಂದು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟಪಡಿಸಲಾಗಿದೆ.
ಕಳೆದ ಕೆಲ ದಿನಗಳಿಂದ ಯೂರಿಯಾ ಲಭ್ಯತೆಯ ಕುರಿತಾಗಿ ಕೆಲವು ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ರೈತರಲ್ಲಿ ಆತಂಕ ಉಂಟಾಗಿರುವಂತಿದ್ದರೂ, ಮಾನ್ಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ, ಉಪಮುಖ್ಯಮಂತ್ರಿ ಮತ್ತು ಕೃಷಿ ಸಚಿವರು ಅಗತ್ಯವಿರುವ ಎಲ್ಲ ಕ್ರಮಗಳನ್ನು ಕೈಗೊಂಡು ಗೊಬ್ಬರ ಸರಬರಾಜು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥಿತವಾಗಿರಲು ಶ್ರಮಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ.
ರಷ್ಯಾ-ಉಕ್ರೇನ್ ಯುದ್ಧದ ಹೊತ್ತಲ್ಲಿಯೂ ಡಿ.ಎ.ಪಿ. ಕೊರತೆಯಾಗದಂತೆ ಕ್ರಮ ವಹಿಸಿರುವ ಸರ್ಕಾರ, ಈ ವರ್ಷವೂ ಸಮಾನ ಗಂಭೀರತೆಯೊಂದಿಗೆ ರೈತರ ನಿಗಾ ಮತ್ತು ಬೆಂಬಲಕ್ಕೆ ಮುಂದಾಗಿದೆ.
ಈ ವರ್ಷದ ಮುಂಗಾರು ಮೊದಲೇ ಪ್ರಾರಂಭವಾದ ಹಿನ್ನೆಲೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ರಾಜ್ಯದಲ್ಲಿ ಈಗಾಗಲೇ 2 ಲಕ್ಷ ಹೆಕ್ಟೇರ್ ಪ್ರದೇಶದಲ್ಲಿ ಮುಸುಕಿನ ಜೋಳದ ಹೆಚ್ಚುವರಿ ಬಿತ್ತನೆ ನಡೆದಿದೆ. ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಅಣೆಕಟ್ಟುಗಳು ಕೂಡ ಭರ್ತಿಯಾಗಿರುವುದರಿಂದ ಬಿತ್ತನೆಯು ಪೂರಕವಾಗಿ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿದೆ.
ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದಿಂದ ಲಾಕಿ ಇರುವ ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಪೂರೈಕೆ ಶೀಘ್ರವಾಗಿ ನೆರವೇರಿಸಲು ಪಕ್ಷಭೇಧ ಮರೆತು ರಾಜ್ಯದ ಸಂಸದರು ಒತ್ತಡ ಹಾಕಬೇಕೆಂಬುದು ಸಂಘಟನೆಯ ವಿನಂತಿ. ಗೊಬ್ಬರದ ಕೊರತೆಯ ನಡುವೆಯೂ ನ್ಯಾನೋ ಯೂರಿಯಾ ಬಳಕೆಯ ಮೂಲಕ ಪರ್ಯಾಯ ಪರಿಹಾರವನ್ನು ಇಲಾಖೆ ಪ್ರೋತ್ಸಾಹಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದು, ರೈತರಿಂದ ಸಹಕಾರ ಅಗತ್ಯವಾಗಿದೆ.
ಈ ಕುರಿತು ಮಾಹಿತಿ ನೀಡಿದ ಕೃಷಿಕ ಸಮಾಜದ ಆಡಳಿತಾಧ್ಯಕ್ಷ ಮಂಜುನಾಥ್ಗೌಡ ಎಸ್.ಆರ್ ಅವರು, “ಇನ್ನಷ್ಟು ರೈತರಿಗೆ ನ್ಯಾನೋ ಯೂರಿಯಾದ ಮಹತ್ವ ತಲುಪಿಸಲು ಇಲಾಖೆ ಸಮರ್ಪಕ ಜಾಗೃತಿ ಕಾರ್ಯಕ್ರಮ ಮತ್ತು ದಾಸ್ತಾನು ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಕೈಗೊಂಡಿದೆ. ರೈತರು ಸಹಕಾರ ನೀಡಬೇಕೆಂದು ಮನವಿ” ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಿದರು. ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಗೋಷ್ಠಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಮಾಜದ ಪ್ರಮುಖ ಮುಖಂಡರು ಉಪಸ್ಥಿತರಿದ್ದರು.
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