Anna effect: ABKS leader's fast-unto-death enters third day

August 24, 2011

Mangalore August 24: Akhila Bharata Karmika Sangha (ABKS) district general secretary Sudatta Jain's a fast-unto-death agitation extending support to Anna Hazare's movement against corruption has entered third day on Wednesday in the city.

Mr Jain, who has launched his agitation on Monday near Divine Complex at Kavoor had changed the location to Gandhi Park in front of Town Hall the next day. However, on Wednesday he along with this supporters shifted to the premises of the Office of Deputy Commissioner.

While launching the fast on Monday morning, Mr Jain had taken an oath declaring that he was ready to die fighting corruption and he had begun a fast-unto-death agitation on his own will.

Through many institution and associations have staged different kinds of protest in support of Hazare, Jain is the first person from Dakshina Kannada district to go an indefinite fast-unto-death protest.

“If an elderly person like Anna Hazare was able to go on an indefinite hunger strike. Why can't us?” he questioned.

“I am not talking even a drop of water throughout my strike and it will continue as long as Anna Hazare's protest against corruption continues,” he said.

Brushing aside doubts on whether he could undertake such a punishing exercise, Mr Jain reminds that this was third hunger his strike. He had undertaken a fast-unto-death agitation protesting against the acute shortage of staff and equipment's at ESI Hospital at Bendoorwell.

He had also gone on an indefinite hunger strike demanding quality treatment, irrespective of BPL and APL card holders at Wenlock Hospital. Evan during the four-day long hunger strike in front of Wenlock Hospital, he had taken nothing but water.

He withdrew his strike following assurances from Medical Education Minister Ramadas. ABSK district president Santosh is giving company to Jain by launching an indefinite relay hunger strike.

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RuTAGe smart village centres in DK, Udupi to being technology closer to rural communities

News Network

January 20,2026

Mangaluru: In a major step towards strengthening rural innovation, the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser (PSA) to the Government of India is supporting the establishment of RuTAGe Smart Village Centres (RSVCs) across the country through collaborations with academic institutions, civil society organisations and philanthropic partners.

As part of this national initiative, Nitte (Deemed to be University) will set up the first RSVCs in the region at Nitte GP in Udupi district and at the Nitte Health Centre, Sevanjali Trust, Farangipete, in Dakshina Kannada district. The centres will be inaugurated on January 21. In South India, the programme is being implemented by the Section Infin-8 Foundation (SI-8).

Speaking to reporters on Monday, SI-8 founder-director Vishwas US said experts from Nitte University and SI-8 would work closely with farmers, students, youth and local entrepreneurs to adapt and deploy technologies tailored to local needs.

Project head Prof Iddya Karunasagar, representing Nitte DU, said the RSVCs at Nitte and Farangipete would serve as demonstration hubs for a wide range of agriculture, energy, skill-development and assistive technologies. These include solar dryers for fruits, vegetables and crops; soil-testing solutions; power weeders and women-friendly farm tools; wind-powered devices for rural artisans; grain storage systems; grass-cutting and tree-climbing equipment; and liquid fertiliser production using cowshed waste.

SI-8 CEO Aravind C Kumar said the centres would also provide access to digital and knowledge-based platforms such as ISRO applications, government scheme portals, market linkage tools and gamified learning resources, along with assistive technologies for persons with visual impairments.

Highlighting the broader impact of the initiative, Principal Scientific Adviser Prof Ajay Kumar Sood said it demonstrated how applied research could bridge the rural–urban divide and help create self-reliant, technology-enabled villages.

The initiative has been made possible through philanthropic support from Dr NC Murthy of ACM Business Solutions, LLC, USA. Dr Sapna Poti, Director (Strategic Alliances) at the Office of the Principal Scientific Adviser, said the long-term objective is to build self-sufficient, technology-driven communities capable of generating sustainable livelihoods on their own.

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