by Swatee Jog

Priya Khatav recently has successfully cleared the interview round for the “10,000 Women Entrepreneurs Goldman Sachs – ISB-AIMS Program’’ and is undergoing training program for 19 days at Bangalore.

Mrs. Priya Khatav runs Acme Computers which she started along with her husband in 1992. Starting out from a CAD training institute that trained 20000 engineers, Acme computers now offers courses in various softwares and has major companies in Belgaum as clients. Priya reminisced the initial days in business and said only hard work and relentless passion can help you gain success.

When asked, How did you venture into Computer training, having done Civil Engineering?
Priya said, “After my BE, I went to Pune and worked with an architect where I noticed the extensive use of CAD which was not available in Belgaum. So after I came back and got married, the first idea was to start something like this that would help students. We started small with just three computers. A chance meeting with a senior person in the corporate world brought upon an opportunity to train their staff in CAD and then there was no looking back.”

On asking about the challenges she faced as a women entrepreneur; Priya quickly said, ? “Challenges, yes, but not as a women entrepreneur. The biggest challenge was the mushrooming training institutes. But we faced it by being different and best. I think the key to successful business is having a great and unique business idea.”

She said, She was not aware of the Goldman Sachs program at all. “ So when I was invited by Bharatesh Global Business School, I was a bit skeptical. I came along and was fascinated by the initiative. I decided to give a try. At Bangalore, we were invited for a very nice interaction with members of ISB and some prominent entreprenurs. They gauged our passion and involvement in our business more than anything else. All the shortlisted women shared their business cards and got to know each other. That was one nice experience.”

Anbu Kumar V today took charge as Deputy Commissioner of Belgaum district, the post was vacant as DC Ekroop Caur has gone leave.

Born on 17-6-1974 Anbu Kumar passed his IAS in 2004 and joined the Karnataka cadre. He hails from Tamil Nadu and holds a MA degree from the University of Madras. His father is a retired police constable.

After the grand success of Belgaum’s Got Talent season 1, the Rotract club of Belgaum North have organised season 2 of Belgaum’s Got Talent. The final event will be conducted at ‘Kala Mandir’ Auditorium Tilakwadi, Belgaum on 26th of February 2012, to bring to light the talent in the people in-and-around Belgaum & also to help them get a platform on which they can perform and gain confidence about their inner capabilities. 

Belgaum’s Got Talent Season 1 had attracted a huge response with the participation of 150 entries.

Auditions for this event will be conducted on 18th Feb 2012.

The last date of submitting the duly filled application form is 12th Feb 2012. Forms are available at Hanuman Watch World – Big Bazaar, World of TITAN – Kirloskar Road and online forms can be filled on www.allaboutbelgaum.com.

There’s no age limit and all types of talents/performances like dance, singing, skit, mime, street play, tabla, harmonium, drums, rock bands, etc.
All performances would have to go through the auditions and then the selected performers would perform on 26th of February 2012 in the Grand Finale.

1st Prize worth Rs. – 11,111/- , 2nd Prize worth Rs. – 7,777/-, 3rd Prize worth Rs. – 5,555/-.

The proceeds of this event will be used for various causes of donation towards the society.

About Rotaract Club of Belgaum North:

Rotaract Club of Belgaum North was founded on 26th of July 2010. This club associates itself with many community based activities and has organized many successful events like Belgaum’s Got Talent, Utkarsh and Vanamohatsav.
The total donations for the 1st Year of this club’s service were Rs.62,500/-. The major contributions of the club during last year were towards Vivekanand Netralaya, Mahesh Foundation, Kits for school students and Donation of Rs. 15,000/- for Eradication Of Polio.

Click here to fill online forms

K.L.E.S Smt. CBR English Medium School Athani & Kles’ International School, Belgaum hosted Symphony-III organized at Lingaraj college grounds, a cultural confluence of the 18 English Medium Schools to coincide with the Republic Day. The celebration titled “Symphony -III” which was designed to be a celebration of the unity of KLE Schools and a celebration of the artistic talents of the students.

Mrinal Kulkarni Film & Television Personality was the Chief Guest.

KLE International School, Belgaum stood out in the excellence of performance in Marchpast Manjunath Nagar, Hubli won the Second prize and 3rd position KLE School, Gadag. KLE School, Solapur Secured the first position for its performance in Dance-Drama with the theme KLE School, Gadag won Second prize for its artistic performance, and Third position to KLE School, Haveri. KLE school, Nagarbhavi stood out in the excellence of performance in Patriotic KLE School Nippani,(CBSE) won the Second prize and 3rd position KLE School, Gokak.

KLE School, Manjunath Nagar, Hubli Secured the first position for its Folk performance KLE School M.R.Sakhare, Hubli won the Second prize for its artistic performance, and Third position to KLE School,Rajaji Nagar, Bangalore.

More than 1000 participants participated in the celebrations which reminded the students that it is their responsibility to create a prosperous India and also that the  benefits of growth and development reach all the people of India  especially the poor and the down trodden.

Anbu Kumar V will take charge as Deputy commissioner of Belgaum district from January 27, 2012 the post was vacant as DC Ekroop Caur has gone leave.

Born on 17-6-1974 Anbu Kumar passed his IAS in 2004 and joined the Karnataka cadre. He hails from Tamil Nadu and holds a MA degree from the University of Madras. His father is a retired police constable.

Currently he was the DC of Raichur and now will serve as the DC of Belgaum.  

As many as 426 cases were registered today by the Traffic police for non wearing of helmets.

This is day one of the compulsion of wearing helmets for two wheelers and in about 7 hours time 426 cases were registered until 5pm and a fine Rs.100 was collected from each.

The response to this compulsion of wearing helmets is mixed but people are buying helmets and wearing them.

Traffic police have started the strict implementation of the wearing of helmets for two whellers in the city. Manjunath Kalkutagi shared these photos with us which are from Dharmaveer Sambhaji Chowk, where the police are imposing fines for commuters who are not wearing helmets.

All Photos by Manjunath Kalkutagi

Mrs. Asha Tejasvi Naik is the recipient of the prestigious ASPEE L.M. PATEL farmer of the year award 2010 (Women farmer category). This is a national level award and carries a cash prize, trophy & citation.

The award was presented to her by Prof M.S.Swaminathan eminent scientist, member of Rajya sabha and the father of green revolution in India, at a glittering ceremony held on 1st January at U.A.S. NAVSARI GUJARAT. The award is instituted by the ASPEE group of companies in the memory of their founder.

Mrs. Asha Naik hails from village Modaga Taluka Belgaum and is a Homa Organic Farmer practicing seri-culture for the past 15 years. She has 3 hectares of land under V1 mulberry cultivation. She has two rearing houses and has used ingenious idea of ventilating by using simple technologies to maintain temperature, humidity and proper lighting.

The two open wells on the farm are recharged by a novel technique of rain water harvesting. Her entire mulberry is irrigated by drip. Smt Naik does not use chemical fertilizer or pesticides and is a certified organic farmer and is actively involved in preserving bio diversity and soil health. The leftover mulberry sticks are used as mulch as also the litter to produce compost manures. By practicing Agnihotra homa farming techniques she has benefitted the most in eradicating pest and diseases as also the atmosphere in her farm is pure and filled with positive energies created by the homa. She rears 6900 dfls and produces 5.5 tons of silk cocoons yearly.

Smt.Naik is the recipient of the Shresta Krishi mahile award 2007 from the U.A.S. Dharwad. She also works as a resource person and also a speaker and trainer for various events related to sericulture and floriculture.

Smt.Naik had the privilege of floral decoration at the two assembly sessions held in Belgaum and provides her services to many institutions and offices, the foremost being the K.L.E Society.

She acknowledges the efforts of the sericulture dept Govt. of Karnataka and the Central Silk Board in shaping her up in this herculean task.

Asha Naik says “think big become big. Be self sufficient and self reliant by using available resources on the farm. Women are well suited for sericulture as they take care of their children with love and care so also they can take care of the silk worms and the mulberry gardens. Add value to your farm products and your earnings will rise fourfold.”

Asha Naik categorically cautions the school syllabus writers to edit the word ONCE THERE WAS A POOR FARMER from all the text books in India, as these words will discourage young minds from becoming a farmer who is said to be poor.

City based KLE College of Business Administration (CBALC) is organizing National Level Management events BIZ WHIZ 2012 & GENESIS 2012 simultaneously on 23rd, 24th and 25th January 2012 at Dr.B.S.Jirge Memorial Auditorium, JNMC, Belgaum.

Bizwhiz is open to all the BBA/BBM students and Genesis is only for First year BBA/BBM students.
Through this event the institute is making Management students think of Managerial solutions to various problems of India as a nation like Malnutrition, Rising Prices, Infrastructural issues, Corruption etc.
During the Inaugural Function the institute felicitated three distinguished personalities of Belgaum who have selflessly served the society.

Mahesh Jadhav – Founder and Chairman Mahesh Foundation who runs Aadhar orphanage which houses 43 orphans including HIV positive chidlren.

Evan Lomax – Founder “Dr.Raymond Lomax Centre of Home for Homeless” who runs the home for the homeless in Ganeshpur.

Umesh Kalghatagi – Specialized Swimming Coach for disabled who teaches swimming to Mentally challenged, hearing impaired and also people with other disabilities.

The event was inaugurated by Shri Anshu Gupta, Founder Director, Goonj, New Delhi. Dr Prabhakar B. Kore, MP Chairman, K.L.E. Society, Belgaum will preside over the inaugural function.
Shri Sandeep Patil, IPS, Superintendent of Police, Belgaum and Shri Jagadish Bapat, Footprints, Management Consultancy, Bangalore were the Guest of Honour.

MTV- VJ Rannvijay will be the Chief Guest of the Valedictory Function.
Sixty five teams from Thirty eight Colleges from Karnataka, Goa and Maharashtra are participating in BIZWHIZ 2012 and GENESIS 2012.