Mangaluru: Vishwa Konkani Alumni to host ‘confluence of ideas and motivation’

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 16, 2017

Mangaluru, Feb 16: Vishwa Konkani Alumni (VAA), formed by the recipients of Vishwa Konkani scholarships instituted by World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru, is organising a day long mega event called Prerna – A Confluence of Ideas and Motivation on 18th February 2017 at T.V.Raman Pai Convention Hall, Mangaluru.

Konkani

The conference is one of the initiatives as envisaged by VISION TVM of World Konkani Centre. The event will be inaugurated by Brigadier C.M.F. Prabhu, in the gracious presence of, the guest of honour Shri. Venkatesh Kini, President, Coca-Cola India and South West Asia , Chief Guest of the day Ms. Sonia Shenoy, Editor and TV Anchor CNBC TV 18, Shri Basti Vaman Shenoy, President and Founder World Konkani Centre, Shri. Ramdas Kamath U, Chairman, Vishwa Konkani Student Scholarship Fund, Shri Sandeep Shenoy, Chief mentor, Prerna and Shri Pradeep G. Pai, Secretary, VKSSF. Mr. Dinesh K Pai, the president of VAA will deliver the welcome address.

‘Prerna’, an event graced by many wonderful personalities over the past two years, is here again with 7 speakers who have not only been an inspiration and role model for youth all over the country, professionally and personally, but have established strong foothold in every sphere of their life.

Retired Officer of the Indian Army, Brigadier C.M.F. Prabhu; President of Coca-Cola India and southwest Asia, Shri. Venkatesh Kini; Managing Director of IMFR Capital, Ms. Kshama Fernandes; Co-founder of the Bharosa Club New Delhi, Shri. Prakash Pai; prominent TV Anchor at CNBC TV18, Ms. Sonia Shenoy; Editor at Magicbricks Now, Ms. Faye D’Souza; Head of Urlogy at AJ Hospital Mangaluru, Dr. Sunil Shenoy; Social Enterpreneur and Corporate Mentor, Shri T.V.Mohandas Pai, will be enthralling with their insights this year.

In our continued efforts to broad base the programme constantly and seek more participation, the event continues to be open to the entire student fraternity of the region. Students, desirous of participating may contact the organisers. While there is no entry fee, the seating capacity of the venue may restrict the attendance and hence it is a first come first serve opportunity. The event is organised by VKSSF ALUMNI ASSOCIATION and World Konkani Centre, Mangaluru.

VKSSF Alumni Association has been established to foster the ideals of giving back to society under the VISION TVM programme of the World Konkani Centre. Today, the members of VAA have spread across the world, occupying coveted positions in various corporations and organisations.

As true bearers of the spirit of Konkani speaking people who have wholeheartedly contributed to the region's all round development, VAA is initiating a platform event where all the established alumni can interact with student population of the region, motivate and inspire them and foster creativity and innovation.

Brief introduction of the speakers:

1. Venkatesh Kini has over 24 years of sales, marketing and general management experience. After passing out from IIM Ahmedabad, he has travelled his corporate journey in organizations like Asian Paints and ITC. Presently, he is the President of The Coca-Cola Company’s India and Southwest Asia business unit covering India, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Maldives, Nepal and Sri Lanka. He is also active in many of the business associations of the beverages Industry.

2. Prakash Pai has spent over 25 years in the Indian financial software systems and payment Industry and can be said to be its founding member. After his masters from IIT Delhi, he joined Nucleus Software which became an Industry leader for over a decade. Post that he launched the Indian mobile wallet operations of Nokia, which subsequently was sold off. Presently, he is now in a startup mode helming a new age robo advisory firm which aims to take financial services products to the masses.

3. Dr Sunil Shenoy studied in AFMC Pune (MBBS), PGIMER Chandigarh (MS) and AIIMS (MCh). After stints in KMC Manipal and Father Muller Hospital, he now heads Urology at AJ Hospital & AJIMS. Has spearheaded deceased donor renal transplant program in south canara and also started the MCh super-specialization course in Urology. He is active on lecture circuits in his field and is always striving to reduce cost of delivery of medical services to common citizens

4. Faye D’Souza is the Editor of Magicbricks NOW India’s first 24/7 urban and housing channel and also the Editor for the Personal Finance and real estate on ET NOW. Anchor of India’s longest-running personal finance show (on ET NOW), she has over 14 years of experience as a journalist, presenter and investment advisor. A regular columnist for the TOI, she is passionate about investor rights and empowerment of Indian women through finance and is currently working on book on Finance for Indian women with Harper Collins.

5. Kshama Fernandes, after academics (B.Sc, MBA and Ph. D) started her career as Professor and became Head of Finance at Goa Institute of Management. After consulting for the IMF, CME, MoF, NSEIT etc., she became a part of the team which founded IFMR, an institution envisaged to play the role of a bridge between informal businesses and mainstream capital markets. IFMR, of which she is the MD, has till now facilitated USD5bn of disbursements and raised over USD100mn from marquee international investors.

6. Sonia Shenoy has been a familiar face for all business news watchers in India for over 7 Years. Being part of the business and financial news industry, she has been at the forefront of the efforts to present the appropriate interpretation and analysis to common investors. In addition to being a prime time anchor, she is also quite active in conducting investor awareness camps which aims to increase awareness of financial markets and deepen equity investment culture in India.

7. T.V.Mohandas Pai, Social Entrepreneur and Corporate Mentor: Well known for his efforts in Improving literacy, public infrastructure, public policy process and also for his active role in AKSHAYA PATRA, BPAC etc. T.V. Mohandas Pai is an advocate of start-up revolution in India. In his new avatar as a Social entrepreneur and enabler, he is of the firm belief that Indian youth can propel the country to be the start-up capital of the world, the outcome of which would not only set the growth engine but also create societal changes for good in our country.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 2,2025

Puttur: The long-cherished dream of a government medical college in Puttur has moved a decisive step closer to reality, with the Karnataka State Finance Department granting its official approval for the construction of a new 300-bed hospital.

Puttur MLA Ashok Kumar Rai announced the crucial development to reporters on Monday, confirming that the official communication from the finance department was issued on November 27. This 300-bed facility is intended to be the cornerstone for the establishment of the government medical college, a project announced in the state budget.

Fast-Track Implementation

The MLA outlined an aggressive timeline for the project:

•    A Detailed Project Report (DPR) for the hospital is expected to be ready within 45 days.

•    The tender process for the construction will be completed within two months.

Following the completion of the tender process, Chief Minister Siddaramaiah is scheduled to lay the foundation stone for the project.

"Setting up a medical college in Puttur is a historical decision by the Congress government in Karnataka," Rai stated. The project has an estimated budget allocation of Rs 1,000 crore for the medical college.

Focus on Medical Education Department

The MLA highlighted a key strategic move: requesting the government to implement the hospital construction through the Medical Education Department instead of the Health and Family Welfare Department. This is intended to streamline the entire process of establishing the full medical college, ensuring the facilities—including labs, operation theatres, and other necessary infrastructure—adhere to the strict guidelines set by the Medical Council of India (MCI). The proposed site for the project is in Bannur.

Rai also took the opportunity to address political criticism, stating that the government has fulfilled its promise despite "apprehensions" and "mocking and criticising" from opposition parties who had failed to take similar initiatives when they were in power. "Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has kept his word," he added.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Udupi, Dec 15: What was meant to be a post-pilgrimage gathering turned tragic in Padukere village of Brahmavar taluk, Udupi district, late Sunday night, when a clash among youths escalated into a fatal assault, leaving one man dead.

The victim has been identified as 30-year-old Santosh Mogaveera, a resident of Padukere.

According to preliminary information, the incident took place during a late-night drinking party involving a group of local youths who had recently returned after completing their pilgrimage to the Sabarimala shrine. An argument reportedly broke out among the group and soon escalated into a violent confrontation.

During the ensuing brawl, Santosh Mogaveera was allegedly assaulted and collapsed at the spot after sustaining serious injuries. He was rushed by local residents to a private hospital in Brahmavar, where doctors declared him dead.

On receiving information, senior police officials, including Brahmavar Circle Inspector Gopikrishna, Kota Police Sub-Inspector Praveen Kumar T, Station ASI Manthesh Jabagoudar, and head constables Pradeep and Ashok, visited the spot and conducted an inspection.

Police have taken four youths into custody in connection with the incident. A case has been registered at the Kota police station, and further investigation is underway to ascertain the exact sequence of events leading to the death.

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