Global market 'all open' for greeting cards from this differently-abled unit in Mangaluru

Harsha Raj Gatty | coastaldigest.com
December 26, 2018

For over five-decades now, the differently-abled trainees at the rehabilitation unit of Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital in Mangaluru are turning into 'master' artisans in greeting card and handicraft making. Their artistic endevour that comes alive especially during Christmas has not only gained them recognition far and wide in Europe, but is also aiding their financial sustainability. "We cater to 'orders' for other festivities also, but during Christmas there is a sizable order from the global market," says Sr. Rosaline D’Souza, in-charge of the rehabilitation unit of Fr Muller Medical College Hospital.

Bulk orders from Germany, France, United Kingdom, Australia, continue to pour at this rehabilitation unit, despite technological advancements in the form of email-greetings and Whatsapp forwards. "Yes, there is a popular preference to digital-technology over hard-copy greeting cards these days due to cost effectiveness and easy accessibility. But then there are also people that wish to share handmade and personalized greetings for their dear-ones during festive seasons, which is encouraging," she says.

Of the various creation by the 'differently-abled', most customers re-order for materials processed through ‘Batik-Printing’. D'Souza adds that Batik cards are a bit of a challenge to make, since it requires a combination of wax and colour dyes to give that visual imagery on the fabrics. "The fabric used to make 'Batik' greeting cards are first covered with wax and then crumpled to create fine lines. "The material is dyed with bright colours  that penetrate through these lines (while avoiding the area covered with wax) create an impression of intricate designs. Post processing the artisans scrape off the wax and the fabric is cut into greeting card sizes and stuck on paper. Later, different visuals are customised and printed on the card using ‘screen printing’ method," Sr. Dsouza says.

Priced between Rs. 24 to Rs 30, the rehabilitation unit not only receives orders from abroad but also different private organisations, corporates and students from India.

Besides cards the unit also manufactures wooden toys such as marionettes, picture blocks, memory blocks, tote bags, files, folders for conferences and conventions made out from cloth and jute, says an employee Dileep.

The rehabilitation unit began as part of 'occupational therapy' for leprosy patients by Swiss woman Heidi Dutt Zehnder at Fr. Muller Medical College Hospital in in 1965, since patients once affected by it found lesser acceptance in the mainstream society. Till date, the centre over the period has employed over 400 employees, most of them are differently-abled.

"The idea of our founder was to give necessary emotional-help, socio-economic aid and training to the differently-abled persons and make them acceptable in society, enabling them to live a life with dignity," says Sr D'Souza.

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April 13,2024

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Mangaluru: After as the state health ministry issued guidelines to the public in view of a heatwave, the health department in Dakshina Kannada has advised people to be cautious about the impact of heatstroke, including heat rash, heat edema, heat cramps, heat tetany, heat syncope, and heat exhaustion.

Dakshina Kannada district nodal officer for climate change, Dr Naveenchandra Kulal, said that the impact of heat-related illness can also be found in the district, when there is a variation of about 4.5⁰C from the normal temperature.

Dr Kulal told media persons here on Friday, that the impact of heat-related illness is not confined to Raichur, Kalaburagi, and other North Karnataka districts.

“Those who reside inside tin sheet houses and closed environments are likely to suffer from heatstroke. People should hydrate themselves by drinking more water and avoid working under the direct Sun. Heat exhaust fans can be used. Though no heatstroke cases have been reported in the district, any negligence may cause heatstroke,” he said. 

DHO Dr Thimmaiah HR said that hotels and restaurants should supply boiled water, and they should clean the overhead tanks once every three months. The filter of drinking water units should be cleaned frequently, he said.

He also directed paying guest accommodations to supply fresh food to inmates.

“We have received complaints of many paying guest accommodations serving sambar cooked the previous day to inmates. Stale food should be avoided, as there are chances of food contamination. Plastics should be avoided while packing food in hotels. As per the Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) guidelines, the use of plastic to pack hot food is restricted,” the DHO said.

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April 23,2024

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Hubballi, Apr 23: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah on Tuesday spoke to father of slain student Neha Hiremath over phone and said "sorry" over his daughter's killing, and assured that "we will be on your side".

The Chief Minister also informed Niranjan Hiremath, who is also a Congress councillor of Hubballi-Dharwad Municipal Corporation, about the government's decision to hand over the murder case to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and setting up a special court to fast-track trial.

"Niranjan... very sorry. We will be on your side," Siddaramaiah told Hiremath over the phone call during state's Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil's visit to Hiremath's house here.

In the conversation on Patil's phone with speakers on, Siddaramaiah can be heard informing Hiremath about the CID probe and setting up a special court.

"It is a serious offence... setting up a special court will ensure punishment for the accused person."

Hiremath thanked Siddaramaiah on behalf of his family well-wishers and the community for handing over the case to CID and setting up a special court "...ensure there is an order at the earliest and provide us justice," he said, as he also thanked Patil, Home Minister G Parameshwara, local Congress MLA Prasad Abbayya and others for their support.

Replying to this, Siddaramaiah said, "We will ensure it, at the earliest."

In a shocking incident, Neha Hiremath (23), was stabbed to death on the campus of BVB College last Thursday. The accused Fayaz Khondunaik, who fled from the scene, was arrested by the police subsequently.

Neha was a first year Master of Computer Application (MCA) student and Fayaz was earlier her classmate.

Siddaramaih on Monday had announced his government has decided to hand over the investigation into the incident to the Crime Investigation Department, and to set up a special court for speedy disposal of the case.

The case of brutal murder, which sparked widespread outrage, has snowballed into a political slugfest between ruling Congress and opposition BJP.

While the ruling party has tried to project it as an incident with personal angle, the saffron party has called it a "love jihad" case and has said it's a testimony of deterioration of law and order in the state.

Earlier, Siddarmaiah's statement that the murder was due to "personal reasons" and Home Minister G Parameshwara's comments that the duo was in love, has elicited sharp reactions from Hiremath and family members and opposition parties.

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April 13,2024

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Mysuru, Apr 13: Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will be visiting Mysuru on Sunday, is welcome in the state.

"Let him come and go. He is the PM. But he should tell people about what he has done to the people of Karnataka. Let him answer about the injustice done by the Union Government towards the state in terms of giving tax share, not releasing drought relief funds yet and also about the unemployment issue," he said.

The Chief Minister was speaking to media people near his residence at Sharadadevi Nagar in Mysuru on Saturday.

Reacting to a question on BJP's slogan, 'Teesri Baar Modi Sarkar, Ab Ki Baar Char Sau Paar' (Modi government for the third time with over 400 seats), CM Siddaramaiah said, "This slogan is only a strategy to divert the minds of people. Because, according to me, the NDA will not get an absolute majority/simple majority this time in the Parliament elections."

"I.N.D.I.A. bloc and the parties which are against BJP will get a majority in the Lok Sabha polls," he said.

Responding to the statement of BJP leaders that 'even if B R Ambedkar comes, the Indian Constitution cannot be changed', Siddaramaiah said, "BJP is always against the Indian Constitution. Savarkar and the second Chief of RSS M S Golwalkar both opposed the Indian Constitution written by Baba Saheb B R Ambedkar on January 26, 1950."

"When BJP MP Ananth Kumar Hegde spoke about changing the Indian Constitution twice, why wasn't he punished? Why wasn't he suspended from the party? Why didn't they drop him from the cabinet?"

"Hegde was not given a ticket for the LS polls, as he had not done any work in the five years and was only active for the last three-four months of his term. The reason Hegde was not given a ticket was because BJP had realised that he would lose the elections, and not because of his statement related to the Constitution" the Chief Minister said.

Meanwhile, regarding the nabbing of the two key suspects in the Rameshwaram Cafe blast case in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said, "I thank the National Investigation Agency (NIA) and also the Karnataka police for tracing and arresting the accused in the case, in Kolkata."

"They will be brought to Bengaluru and further information related to the case will be known after their interrogation," he said.

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