Fake agency cheats 5,000 senior citizens

[email protected] (Akshatha M for Deccan Herald)
February 20, 2011

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Mangalore, February 20: When the State government has made apposite arrangements for the distribution of senior citizen identity cards to elderly citizens of the State, some of the unauthorised organisations and individuals are deceiving the public by distributing invalid cards.

The State government had shifted the responsibility of distributing senior citizen cards from the Federation of Senior Citizen's Forum Bangalore to five organisations in the district namely, Senior Citizens Association in Mangalore taluk, Sthree Shaktigala Okkuta in Bantwal taluk, Pensioners Association in Belthangady taluk, Parivarthana Seva Trust in Puttur and Vision Charitable Trust in Sullia taluk. These organisations distribute the card to the needy with a minimum charge of Rs 25 and almost 14,000 senior citizens have received cards from the Mangalore's Senior Citizen Association alone.

But an agency called Senior Citizens and Backward Classes Organisation which claims itself as a part of Bangalore's Federation of Senior Citizen's Forum, is cheating the public by distributing invalid cards. Theorganisation led by the proprietor Prakash Poojari is unnecessarily grabbing money from the uninformed people, by charging Rs 65 for card registration and additional Rs 70 for postal charges.

Citizens complain

A letter written by senior citizen Jerome Pinto from Aikala addressing the Senior Citizens' Association President, complains that the senior citizen's card he received from the agency is invalid. “I'm not receiving any of the benefits that I was supposed to get from the card. The Senior Citizens and Backward Classes Organisation members have misguided me. They had assured me of providing pension too, which I have not received so far,” the letter says.

Parivarthana Seva Trust (Puttur) Managing Director Akshav Alva said his organisation thas received more than 20 complaints from the rural public about the fraud committed by Prakash Poojari. “Poojari's work area was limited to Mangalore city few months back but now he has moved out of the city and has mostly cheated the public in Puttur, Belthangady and Vitttal,” said Alva. If the card issued by the authorised associations contain the signature and seal of the Women and Child Welfare Department, the bogus card does not contain the authorised signature.


'Card is valid'

When contacted Bharati who herself introduced as Poojari's Secretary said the cards issued by their agency is valid. “If you need the card, pay Rs 65 initially and then send a DD of Rs 70. We have already distributed 5,000 cards in DK district and it is valid,” she stated.

Meanwhile, the District Disabled and Senior Citizens Welafre Officer Puttaswami Gowda said, none of the organisation or agencies which distribute senior citizens cards except the five authorised associations in the district are legal. All those who have been cheated and the five organisations can complain about the fraud to the respective Tahsildars, following which the action will be taken, he assured.

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News Network
September 12,2024

Mangaluru: Mayor Sudheer Shetty Kannur said that as a part of the International Day of Democracy, the Mangaluru City Corporation (MCC) will hold a 23-km long human chain and plant 1000 saplings in the Bengre area on September 15.

The human chain will be formed from Pavanje bridge to the border of Arkula, which will pass through Nanthoor Junction- Kannur Junction. The event is organised with the objective of creating awareness among the public, particularly the youth, about the significance of democracy. Around 10,000 people, particularly students, will participate in forming the human chain in the city limits, he told media persons.

He said Democratic system in India is a model to the world and we should be grateful to Dr B R Ambedkar for giving the country a beautiful constitution. To make the people, particularly the youth, aware of the Constitution and its preamble, the state government has chalked out a plan to form a mega human chain from Bidar to Chamrajnagar. As a part of it, the programme will be held in Mangaluru. Students from various schools, colleges, various organisations, NGOs should actively participate to make the event a grand success.”

The Mayor said as a part of the celebrations, an arch will be built at Pavanje bridge and Kannur Junction. The Zonal office at Surathkal will be decorated with tri colour along with KPC Circle, Nanthoor Junction, Padil Junction. The main programme will be held at Kadri Circle near Circuit House in Mangaluru, which will be attended by DK MP Capt Brijesh Chowta, MLAs D Vedavyasa Kamath, Dr Y Bharath Shetty, DC Mullai Muhilan MP and others. Flags will be placed for every 100 metre of the human chain stretch. The participants can click their photos and upload it through https://democracydaykarnataka.in/ to collect a certificate, added the mayor. 

The human chain will be held from Pavanje to Mukka checkpost, Mukka chepost to Mukka Junction, Mukka Junction to NITK gate, NITK gate to Tadambail Junction, Tadambail Junction to Hotel Suraj, Hotel Suraj to Govinda Dasa College, Govinda Dasa College to Kordabbu Daivasthana, Hosabettu, Kordabbu Daivasthana to Honnakatte Junction, Kulai to APMC, Baikampady, Hotel Vishwasagar to Mangaluru traffic police check post , Mangaluru traffic police check post to Panambur circle, Panambur Circle to NMPA railway track, MCF to Kuloor bridge, Kuloor bridge to Gold Finch ground, Gold Finch ground to Kottara Chowki, Kottara Chowki to BMS Hotel, BMS Hotel to SKS apartment, KPT to Saptagiri petrol bunk, Nanthoor Circle to Kaikamba, Maroli Jodukatte till Padil Circle, Padil to First Neuro Hospital – Kannur Junction, Adyar Katte to Sahyadri College, Sahyadri College to Expert Cross (Valacchil), Express Cross to Arkula border.

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coastaldigest.com news network
September 16,2024

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Mangaluru, Sept 16: In a heartwarming display of communal unity, members of Hindu and Christian communities celebrated Eid Milad—marking the birth of Prophet Mohammed—by distributing sweets and refreshments to their Muslim neighbors in Dakshina Kannada.

In Boliyar, near Konaje on the outskirts of Mangaluru, members of the local organization Geleyara Balaga surprised participants in the Eid Milad procession with an offering of sweets and cold drinks. 

The gesture of goodwill was led by Manoj, Sheena Poojary, Denis Lily, Sanat, Lokanath, Satish, Praveen, Madhu, and Valentine. Abdul Rahman, the khateeb of Boliyar Juma Masjid, expressed heartfelt gratitude for this act of kindness.

In a similar display of solidarity, a group of Hindus, draped in saffron shawls, distributed sweets and drinks to those partaking in the Eid Milad procession at Mani village, Bantwal taluk.

These acts of generosity highlighted the spirit of harmony and togetherness among different communities, celebrating the true essence of the festival.

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News Network
September 17,2024

kamatliver.jpg

Mangaluru: In an act of extraordinary selflessness, a young lecturer and mother, Archana Kamath, tragically passed away just days after donating a portion of her liver to a relative. She was 33.

Archana, who had devoted her career to shaping young minds as a lecturer at Canara College and most recently at Manel Srinivasa Nayak MBA College, was a loving mother to a four-year-old boy. Her sudden passing has left her family, students, and colleagues reeling in shock and grief.

The story of her untimely demise began when a relative of her husband, CA Chethan Kumar, required a life-saving liver transplant. 

With no other matching donors in sight, Archana stepped forward, her heart full of compassion. Her blood type matched, and without hesitation, she made the brave decision to donate a part of her liver—an act that would ultimately cost her life.

The surgery, performed 12 days ago in Bengaluru, seemed successful. Archana appeared to recover well and was discharged, bringing hope and relief to her loved ones. 

But just days after returning home, she suddenly fell ill and passed away on September 15 in a Mangaluru hospital. The cause of her sudden decline remains a mystery, compounding the sorrow of those who knew and loved her.

Her final act of love saved a life—the relative who received her liver is said to be recovering well. But Archana’s loss is felt deeply by her husband and their young son, who are now left to navigate a world without her warmth and strength.

As family and friends grapple with this tragic turn of events, Archana’s memory will live on in the hearts of those who knew her as a caring educator, devoted mother, and a woman whose ultimate sacrifice was made out of love.

The full story of her passing is still unfolding, and her untimely death has left an irreplaceable void in the lives of all who knew her.
 

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