Category Archives: Records, All

Tribal farmer reaps it rich in ‘sama’ cultivation

Agriculture, Green Initiatives / Environment, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Nature, Records, All
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment
Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar having a look at the sama crop cultivated under ZBNF at Baliyaguda in Araku mandal in Visakhapatnam district on Friday. | Photo Credit: Special Arrangment

Sonnu gets yield of 6.5 quintals an acre

Following zero budget natural farming, Pangi Sonnu of Araku Valley mandal cultivated sama (little millet) got a yield of 6.5 quintals an acre.

The crop-cutting experiment in a 5×5 square metre plot was conducted at the ZBNF Sama festival at Baliyaguda village on Friday.

The festival was organised by Agriculture Department, Andhra Pradesh  Rythu Sadhikara Samstha, Azim Premji Philanthropic Initiatives, Sanjeevini Rural Development Society, National Bureau of Plant Genetic Resources and Watershed Support Services and Activity Network (WASSAN).

The yield in broadcast farming was only between 2 and 2.5 quintals. Because of transplantation, weeding twice and using ‘jeevamrutham’ (bio fertilizer) following ZBNF the yield has gone up, a press release said.

‘Grow pulses’

Adviser and Co-Vice Chairman of Andhra Pradesh Ryhtu Sadhikara Samstha T. Vijaya Kumar suggested that farmers should grow pulses like red gram and cow pea between rows of millets to enhance soil fertility.

Programme Manager from WASSSAN Sanyasi Rao said sama productivity could go up to six quintals in ZBNF.

State Resource Person (ZBNF) for promoting System of Millet Intensification (SMI) P. Devullu said plans were ready to convert 5 % of sama farmers into SMI. In the tribal region of Visakhapatnam, sama is cultivated in 5,319 hectares.

At a farmers interactive session organised as a part of the event farmers who had grown ragi under ‘Guli’ system shared their experiences.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Visakhapatnam – November 10th, 2018

Walmart India opens first store in Visakhapatnam

Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion

The ‘Best Price’ store in the city has integrated with the e-commerce and will facilitate the needs of all kinds of stores such as general stores, hotels, restaurants, houses, and the like.

Visakhapatnam :

Walmart India has opened its first B2B Cash and Carry store in the city, with the inauguration of ‘Best Price’ store, fourth in Andhra Pradesh and 23rd in the country on Wednesday.

“We are planning to expand Walmart with seven more stores in Andhra Pradesh which would be opened in Tirupati, Kurnool, Kadapa, Nellore, Kainada, Vizianagaram, and the second store in Visakhapatnam,” Krish Iyer, Walmart India CEO, said.

The ‘Best Price’ store in the city has integrated with the e-commerce and will facilitate the needs of all kinds of stores such as general stores, hotels, restaurants, houses, and the like. The Walmart will ensure convenient payment options, door-step delivery services which leads to create over 2,000 jobs locally (directly or indirectly), said the CEO.

Iyer further said that the company will invest to develop supply chain and to ensure growth of small and medium manufacturers in the State. Local clusters would be formed to outsource coconuts, melons, red chilli, vegetables, and other agriculture produce directly from the farmers to avoid middlemen. While the farmers get the double price of the produce, but, the price for customers would be best, he said.

Walmart earmarked $4 million in order to improve market access for small scale farmers in the State. The vision is to develop a chain with fruits and vegetable farmers and providing them access for training and more productive crop varieties, said the CEO.

He said the Best Price store will have over 5,000 items on display which include a wide range of fresh, frozen and chilled food items, fruits and vegetables, dry groceries, personal and home care items, hotel and restaurant supplies, apparel, office supplies, electronic goods and other general merchandise items.

Krish Iyer said that they have signed an MoU with Girijan Co-operative Corporation (GCC) to source Araku coffee and other products. He said four of the seven proposed stores would start functioning from next year. Whereas for other stores land still have to be identified which will take three to four years. He revealed that their focus is now on tier II and tier III cities. Punjab has the highest number of Walmart stores now and by next year AP will dislodge Punjab by having more stores, he said.

He said “we got good support from the State government and hence we are expanding our activities in the State.”

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Business / by ANI / November 01st, 2018

Parkinson’s: SVIMS helps poor patients with DBS

Records, All, Science & Technology
SVIMS Director and Vice-Chancellor T.S. Ravikumar interacting with a Parkinson’s patient in Tirupati on Friday.
SVIMS Director and Vice-Chancellor T.S. Ravikumar interacting with a Parkinson’s patient in Tirupati on Friday.

Surgery being done at reasonable price, says V-C

Deep Brain Stimulation (DBS), a path-breaking procedure for Parkinson’s disease, has proved to be successful at Sri Venkateswara Institute of Medical Sciences (SVIMS) hospital.

Parkinson’s disease normally affects one in 1,000 persons and hampers mobility if it remains unaddressed for five to six years. DBS comes into the picture here, as this procedure can be employed to treat the movement-related disorders. At present, lakhs of such patients are waiting to be treated across India.

The super-speciality hospital has performed 25 such surgeries in the recent past and all the patients are on the path to recovery. There are only a few institutes across India that are capable of performing this surgery, which also comes at a prohibitive cost of nearly ₹20 lakh. “At the TTD-run institute, we do it at a very reasonable price,” says SVIMS Director and Vice-Chancellor T.S. Ravikumar, who produced the patients at a media conference here on Friday. The surgery is currently performed on poor patients, with financial support from the TTD’s Pranadanam and the State government’s NTR Vaidya Seva schemes.

“All neurological cases need not require surgery and some can be treated with drugs, if the patient gets the right guidance and medication from the specialist,” B. Vengamma, SVIMS former Director and a professor of neurology said. Dean B.C.M. Prasad and neurosurgeons Ramesh Chandra and Naveen said the hospital, equipped with the required infrastructure, was always ready to treat more patients if the State government or the TTD came forward to meet the expenditure.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Tirupati – October 27th, 2018

Fervour, gaiety mark ‘Sirimanotsavam’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Leaders, Records, All
People taking part in Sirimanotsavam in Vizianagaram on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K_SRINIVASARAO
People taking part in Sirimanotsavam in Vizianagaram on Tuesday. | Photo Credit: K_SRINIVASARAO

About 2.6 lakh devotees from different parts witness the proceedings

About 2.6 lakh devotees participated in the ‘Sirimanotsavam’ in Vizianagaram on Tuesday. The festival, which has association with each and every family in fort town, went off peacefully despite presence of a large number of people from different parts of north Andhra region. About 2,000 police personnel supervised by 10 DSPs and 35 CIs provided security.

As per the tradition, the ‘Sirimanu’ carrying the chief priest Bantupalli Venkata Rao moved three times from Three Lamps Junction to Vizianagaram Fort. The chief priest, considered to be the replica of Goddess Pydimamba, blessed devotees who waited between 3.45 p.m. and 5.05 p.m. for his ‘darshan’. Customary Anjali Ratham, Jalari Vala and replica of white elephant have also followed ‘Sirimanu’.

Tragic background

The devotees have thrown banana ‘prasadam’ in a long-established way at chief priest who was seen in calm and pleasant mood although he was tied up to a long trunk of a tree.

Normally chariot is used in Indian festivals but in ‘Sirimanotsavam’, the chief priest himself blesses the devotees who would stay all along the route between Three Lamps Junction and Vizianagaram fort.

The festival which started in 1757 had a sorrowful background.

The then Vizianagaram Maharaja Vijayarama Gajapathi Raju’s sister Pydimamba committed suicide by jumping into ‘Pedda Cheruvu’ in the town after knowing about her brother’s death in the historic fight at Bobbili fort on January 23, 1757. In fact, she anticipated the outcome of the battle and warned her brother not to go for war when she and other family members were ill with plague. Her sudden death was another big shock for the family and people of Vizianagaram.

However, she reportedly told Raja’s aide Pativada Appalanaidu that she would protect the town as Goddess Pydimamba. Later her idol was found in the tank and a temple was constructed in her name. That is why all the families which connected with the episode play a key role in ‘Sirimantosavam’ which has been continuing for the last 260 years.

Interestingly, families of both Vizianagaram and Bobbili Princely States have jointly observed the ‘Sirimanotsavam’ this year.

Former Union Minister P.Ashok Gajapathi Raju, wife Sunila Gajapathi Raju and their daughter Aditi had offered prayers from the fort. Along with them, Bobbili Raja and Minister for Mines and Geology Sujay Krishna Ranga Rao and others watched the procession. Vizianagaram MLA Meesala Geeta and Zilla Parishad chairperson Sobha Swati Rani and others also offered prayers both at the temple and fort. YSR Congress Party leader Botcha Satyanarayana and MLC Kolagatla Veerabhadra Swamy and other opposition leaders have watched the procession from DCCB bank located near writer Gurajada Apparao’s house.

Earlier, Minister for Human Resources Development Ganta Srinivasa Rao and Minister for Energy Kala Venkata Rao and other VIPs offered prayers at the temple. They hailed Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s decision to conduct ‘Sirimanotsavam’ as the State festival.

Elaborate arrangements

District Collector M. Hari Jawaharlal and Superintendent of Police G. Palaraju made elaborate arrangements for the utsavam. APSRTC operated more than 100 additional bus services to ensure hassle-free travel for the devotees who came from Saluru, Parvatipuram, Gajapathinagaram, Palakonda, Rajam, Srikakulam and Visakhapatnam.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Vizianagaram – October 24th, 2018

ICFA Policy Leadership Award for Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu

Leaders, Records, All

Union Home Minister  Rajnath Singh will present the award to Naidu at a function in New Delhi on October 24.

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu | Express
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu | Express

Vijayawada :

Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu will be honoured with the Policy Leadership Award of the Indian Council of Food and Agriculture (ICFA). Union Home Minister  Rajnath Singh will present the award to Naidu at a function in New Delhi on October 24. The award jury is headed by Prof MS Swaminathan, Father of Indian Green Revolution.

In a communique to the Chief Minister’s Office, the ICFA said the Agriculture Leadership Award was instituted in 2008 to recognise excellence and leadership role played by individuals and organisations for empowerment of farmers and promotion of rural prosperity.

The ICFA awards are presented in 15 categories, including Policy, Industry, Research, Farming, Development Leadership, Best Agriculture State and Lifetime Achievement. The National Awards Committee has selected Chief Minister Naidu for the Policy Leadership Award in recognition of his vision and endeavour to accelerate growth of agriculture sector and his initiatives for rural prosperity in Andhra Pradesh.

The past recipients of the prestigious award are former Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in 2015, Madhya Pradesh Chief Minister  Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 2016 and Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2017.

A great honour
Home Minister  Rajnath Singh will present the ICFA award to CM Naidu in Delhi on Oct 24
Past recipients
Former UP Chief Minister Akhilesh Yadav in 2015
MP Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan in 2016
Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar in 2017

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Express News Service / October 09th, 2018

A.P. mountaineer scales Mt.Kilimanjaro

Records, All, Sports, World Opinion
Sk. Himmamsa at Uhuru peak. | Photo Credit: byarrangement
Sk. Himmamsa at Uhuru peak. | Photo Credit: byarrangement

23-year-old climbs 5,895 metre peak

Ace mountaineer from Ongole, Sk.Himmamsa, turned euphoric as he set foot, holding the national flag, on the Uhuru peak, the highest point in snow-capped Mt. Kilimanjaro, to score a grand treble of summits in quick succession.

It was a dream come true for the 23-year-old as he summited the 5,895 metre Uhuru peak, the highest in the African continent, to achieve a string of triple successes in mountaineering. He scaled Mt. Everest this summer and Mt. Elbrus in Russia last month.

With guides from the Kilimanjaro National Park, Mr. Himmamsa began the trek from Kibo hut (Camp 3) on the midnight of October 3 and reached Uhuru at 7.40 a.m. (local time). “I did it under the most trying situation, with contrasting day and night temperatures,” he said proudly.

He now wishes to summit Aconcagua in South America, Denali in North America, Vinson Massif in Antarctica) and Kosciuszko in Australia.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Ongole – October 08th, 2018

Native flavours rule in cookery contest

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Records, All
Proud moment: Winners of The Hindu -AP Heritage Cookery contest held at Kaikaluru | Photo Credit: HAND OUT
Proud moment: Winners of The Hindu -AP Heritage Cookery contest held at Kaikaluru | Photo Credit: HAND OUT

Delicacies with telagapindi, watermelon seeds draw attention

Talk of recipes of a State and only a few popular ones come to mind immediately. Most of the traditional and authentic dishes that our ancestors tasted are fast disappearing from the dining spaces in modern kitchens.

But the AP Heritage Cookery Contest, being conducted by The Hindu in association with the AP Tourism Department in every part of the State, is bringing to the fore some of the most delicious delicacies that are on the brink of oblivion.

At Kaikaluru, where the competition was held on Saturday, home-makers participated with great enthusiasm showcasing their cooking prowess that reflected in the myriad flavours that enveloped the venue.

Telagapindi-pachchi royyala curry (prawn and sesame seeds powder) emerged the best dish fetching the first place to K. Lakshmi. The first runner-up was U. Satyawathi who dished out ragi thopa, while M. Lakshmi was declared the second runner-up for her putcha ginjala pachchadi (watermelon seeds’ chutney). Other dishes that vied for attention were potato halwa, pachchi royya-kakarakayi (prawn and bittergourd), ravva gulab jamun, nethi (ghee) cake and paakam garelu. Senior Civil Judge Y. Anuradha was the chief guest for the event.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Special Correspondent / Vijayawada – October 06th, 2018

Differently-abled youth in squad for Special Olympics

Amazing Feats, Inspiration /Positive News and Features, Records, All, Sports, World Opinion

Anantapur youth make it to the Indian squad for the Special Olympics

Their determination and achievements dwarf their disabilities with which Balakrishna and Kullaiamma were born. Hailing from remote villages in Anantapur district of Andhra Pradesh, the two have won laurels for the country many times at the Special Olympics.

Four boys and two girls from Anantapur have found a place in the national badminton team to represent India at Andorra Special Olympics to be held this month. Balakrishna and Kullaiamma are part of the team that left for Barcelona on Tuesday, en route to Andorra. The team includes: Shameela Dhanekula, Assefa Pendekanti, Ganesh pasuvula, Sreenivasulu Chakali, Sivaiah Komalli, and Balakrishna Nallabothu.

Kullaiamma | Photo Credit: R_V_S_PRASAD
Kullaiamma | Photo Credit: R_V_S_PRASAD

Player to coach

Daughter of a farm-labourer couple of Kothapalli village, Kullaiamma was born with Intellectual disability (ID), also known as general learning disability, short of hearing and visual disability with extreme squint. But has won gold medals in badminton at Los Angeles in 2013 and in Australia in 2015. Unable to afford studies, Kullaiamma began working at a juice centre and took to tailoring to supplement the family income, but the Community-Based Rehabilitation Centre of Rural Development Trust (RDT) at Bathalapalli gave her a new lease of life.

Her talent was spotted by the RDT coaches and she began training in 2011. Today, Kullaiamma has graduated to assistant coach accompanying a six-member badminton team, part of the Indian contingent at the Special Olympics at Andorra and Spain.

Balakrishna | Photo Credit: R_V_S_PRASAD
Balakrishna | Photo Credit: R_V_S_PRASAD

Differently-abled Balakrishna (short of hearing and needs trainer to explain in sign language) from Marrireddipalli, is the son of a farm-labourer couple. The shuttler has three gold medals so far in his kitty. Studying at Industrial Training Institute, he wants to make it big in the international badminton arena. Their cradle is the state-of-the-art indoor badminton court at Bathalapalli and stadium at Anantapur which have produced several world-class players. After its inception in 2008, it produced gold medallists in 2009 Athens Special Olympics. Baba Fakruddin won a gold and a silver in athletics, while two girls were also there in the country’s contingent. They were born different but they made a big difference.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Ramesh Susarla / Anantapur – October 04th, 2018

Telugu Bible turns 200

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Historical Links, Pre-Independence, Records, All, World Opinion
The cover page of the New Testament that was first translated and printed in Telugu in 1818. | Photo Credit: Special Arangment
The cover page of the New Testament that was first translated and printed in Telugu in 1818. | Photo Credit: Special Arangment

It was translated in Vizag and West Bengal

On September 30, based on a resolution adopted by the United Nations, the world celebrates the International Translation Day (ITD). It is observed in honour of fifth century St. Jerome, a priest from northeastern Italy, who was the first to translate the Bible (New Testament) into Latin from Greek manuscripts. He also translated parts of the Hebrew Gospel into Greek.

The ITD has a unique connection with Visakhapatnam. The churches in the city will be celebrating this year the 200th year of the translation of Bible from original Greek to Telugu.

First attempt

The first attempt to translate the Bible (New Testament) was made by one Rev. Benjamin Schulz (1689-1760) some time in the mid-1760s, and the manuscripts were sent to Germany for printing, but it was not printed and the manuscripts were lost.

The second serious attempt was made simultaneously at Vizagapatam (as Visakhapatnam was then called) and Serampore, then unified Bengal, some time around 1805-1806.

Telugu Pandit’s role

In Serampore, the project of translation was led by Rev. William Carey of the Baptist Missionary Society. In Visakhapatnam, young Christian missionaries of London Missionary Society Rev. Augustus De Granges and Rev. George Cran took up the work of translating the Bible from original Greek to Telugu. The missionaries in Vizagapatnam were assisted by a local Telugu Pandit Anandarayar.

The untimely death of both Granges (1809) and Cran (1810), however, did not deter Anandarayar from pursuing the work of translation under the guidance of Rev. John Gordon and Rev. Edward Pritchett, said V. Edward Paul of INTACH.

“The first three gospels out of four translated in Vizagapatam were sent to Rev. Carey in Serampore and the translation work continued simultaneously at Serampore and Visakhapatnam. The full extent of translation was completed with the fourth gospel, letter and acts and sent to then Madras Presidency for expert opinion of Rev. Thompson and Mr. Campbell, a reputed Telugu scholar in the Presidency. It was certified and then printed in 1818, and that makes the translation 200 years old, as of today,” said Mr. Edward Paul. The Bible that was printed in 1818 in Madras Presidency is today considered the authentic Bible and has undergone several revisions.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Sumit Bhattacharjee / Visakhapatnam – September 28th, 2018

‘Register for GI to tap global market for Bandar Laddu’

Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Business & Economy, Records, All, World Opinion
Bandar laddu manufacturer being felicitated at Machilipatnam in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: BYARRANGEMENT
Bandar laddu manufacturer being felicitated at Machilipatnam in Krishna district. | Photo Credit: BYARRANGEMENT

Authorities offer support to manufacturers

Authorities of the Geographical Indications Registry on Tuesday offered necessary support to Bandar laddu manufacturers to register as Geographical Indication Tag Users. Bandar laddu was registered in the GIR under the food category in 2017, geographically confining its production to Machilipatnam town.

On Tuesday, GIR, Chennai, and Brundavanapura Bandar Laddu Manufacturers Welfare Association organised a workshop, creating awareness on the benefits of GI tag and creating a brand across the globe.

Former Additional Chief Secretary Gonela Rajendra Prasad opined that the GI tag would help to tap the national and international markets for Bandar laddu if the eligible manufacturers registered their units as ‘GI users’.

Historical evidence

Mr. Prasad was one of the key sources who strived for the GI tag for the Bandar laddu. Deputy Registrar of Geographical Indications Registry Chinnaraja G. Naidu explained the benefits and legal procedures in protecting Bandar laddu from getting copied by any other manufacturers outside Machilipatnam.

The GI tag is given based on the historical evidence that establishes the food variety’s association with Machilipatnam and technical procedure in preparation of the Bandar laddu.

Bandar Laddu GI authorised User and association president Gowra Venkateswara Rao shared his experiences of his journey in getting the laddu registered by the GIR. Machilipatnam-based Historian Mohammad Silar, G.J.D. Pavan, Patent, Trademark and GI Agent S. Ravi spoke.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Andhra Pradesh / by Staff Reporter / Machilipatnam – September 26th, 2018