Spirited soldier
When retired Colonel Ramanath Alva passed away at Kolpe near Bajpe on April 28, Dakshina Kannada lost a spirited solider and it went unnoticed by many.
After joining the Indian Army in 1966, he had participated in the India-Pakistan war of 1971 and participated in Indian Peace Keeping Force operations in Sri Lanka.
He had served in the Indo China border along the Himalayan glaciers of Arunachal Pradesh and in the dense forests of Assam and Mizoram. In recognition of his services, he was awarded with the Chief of Army Staff Commendation Card. He was also a postgraduate from the prestigious Defence Services Staff College, Wellington. He had Commanded a battalion of the Punjab Regiment, one of the oldest in the Army.
Diagnosed with brain tumor, as a true spirited solider he battled it for the past 23 years and remained an inspiration for many cancer patients.
Cautious politicians
Politicians always love to propagate measures initiated by them. But sometimes, even they have to be cautious.
Chairing a meeting of Panchayat Development Officers on the water problem, Pramod Madhwaraj, MLA, who is also the president of the task force on mitigating water problems, told officials that they should put up a banner under the name of the task force on every water tanker which supplied water in the villages.
“After all the work has been initiated by the task force,” he reasoned.
But there was a catch. “Since the model code of conduct for Gram Panchayat elections comes into force from May 10, please avoid putting the banner from that day. Till then, ensure that the tankers go with the banners,” he said.
— RAVIPRASAD KAMILA and GANESH PRABHU
