Category Archives: Science & Technology

Nizamabad physician awarded

Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology


A senior physician and social activist J. Bapu Reddy was conferred a national level award by the Diabetes India Organisation at its conference in New Delhi recently for his contribution in the field of enlightenment and prevention of diabetes through his social service organisation Arogya Telangana.

The conference was conducted under the aegis of the World Health Organisation. Dr. Bapu Reddy, who has been practising for the past three decades in the town, had conducted several free medical camps and examined and treated over 5,000 patients.

He also counselled the patients and visitors on the ills of sugar and blood pressure and measures to be taken to prevent and control them. He is also pioneer in the execution of school health programme and continuation of campaign on ODF villages in the district. Doctors, friends and colleagues congratulated him for his achievement.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Nizamabad – March 02nd, 2017

Rural innovator gets a stamp of appreciation

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Records, All, Science & Technology

Self-taught: Kantale Pandu Ranga Rao mending a scooter tyre at Narayankhed in Sangareddy district. | Photo Credit: Mohd Arif;Mohd Arif

Pandu Ranga Rao invited to Rashtrapati Bhavan to receive Visitor’s Award

When your tyre goes flat in a remote area where it’s hard to find people, let alone repair shops, you have no option but to push your bicycle or motorcycle to a nearby town or wait till you get some help by someone passing by.

Kantale Pandu Ranga Rao, who was once stuck in a situation like that, had to face some difficulties before he got his tyre repaired. Not letting the matter slip, he decided to find a solution, a quick fix, to repair flat tyres in no time.

Liquid solution

For over a year, Pandu Ranga Rao, a native of Sukkal Teerth village in Kangti mandal in Narayanakhed constituency, experimented with over 30 different chemicals and came up with a liquid solution that quickly arrests air leak when rubbed onto the punctured spot.

His innovation was identified by Brig. P. Ganesham of Palle Srujana, a voluntary organisation promoting rural innovations. He is also associated with National Innovations Foundation (NIF), which promotes innovations at the national level. Brig. Ganesham helped Pandu Ranga Rao establish Airceil Tubes Private Limited to sell his product and also popularised his innovation at the national level.

Now, the liquid solution is being sold in small tubes in the local market, as well as Maharashtra and Karnataka.

Taking note of his innovation, Rashtrapati Bhavan has invited Pandu Ranga Rao to receive Visitor’s Award-2017. He would also attend dinner on March 6 at RBCC.

Expressing happiness over his selection for Visitor’s Award, he said he would be leaving for Delhi on Friday.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by R. Avadhani / Narayanakhed (Sangareddy Dist.) / March 02nd, 2017

RICH to bridge gap between innovation and implementation

Business & Economy, Science & Technology

Hyderabad :

There are more than 50 small and world-class research institutes in Hyderabad and the number of intellectual minds is countless. For all these years, most of these scientists have limited their discoveries and knowledge-base to the labs, said IT minister KT Rama Rao on Friday, adding that things were going to change.

The Research and Innovation Circle of Hyderabad (RICH), KTR’s brainchild aims to create a synergy of research institutions, academic institutions and industries, was inaugurated at – Indian Institute of Chemical Technology Council of Scientific & Industrial Research (IICT: CSIR).

“The objective of RICH is to initiate, innovate and implement where great minds from diverse backgrounds will work together while creating a social impact. While the Telangana government will initially provide funding, stakeholders from various industries will be brought in soon,” said Ajit Rangnekar, former dean of Indian School of Business (ISB), now director general of RICH. A team called ‘RICH associates’ led by Rangenekar will move to Parishram Bhavan, in Bashergbagh and begin with cataloging the research work done across institutions in the city.

“We will then look at ways in which these institutions can work together, including corporates with an agenda to solve societal problems. While institutions like the Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology(CCMB), IICT, LV Prasad Eye Institute (LVPEI), International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) and Defence Research and Development Organisation(DRDO), the founding members of RICH will provide the knowledge and the minds, institutions like NALSAR University of Law will look at Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) and ISB will help with the entrepreneurial development,” explained Rangnekar.

Talking about the operational aspects of RICH, which will begin fully in the next 100 days, BV Papa Rao, advisor to TS government for policy and institutional development said: “There will be one non-profit company and a for-profit one to ensure that scientists also get monetary benefits. We also have the support of the Defence ministry which will be open for ideas, commercialisation and civilian use, with those that can be dealt with openly.” KT Rama Rao also expressed delight over the new project.
Union minister for science and tech optmistic

“We have human intellect but there is a lack of enterprises and RICH is aimed to change that. Funding is the biggest challenge and to meet that we are looking at convergence of industries,” he said. Stating that he has been encouraging state governments to take up such collaborative initiatives, Union Minister of State for Science and Technology, YS Chowdary said that he was happy that the Telangana government had launched RICH.

“Now, venture capitalists and lenders will have a major role to play. Once the matrix is fixed, it will be easy to lay the path and I am sure RICH is going to have a nation-wide impact. RICH will help address issues of rural India,” he said.

Representatives of research institutes said that RICH will help them create an industry for innovation and research for scientists.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> States> Telangana / by Express News Service / February 25th, 2017

Radio Kisan Diwas celebrated at AIR

Agriculture, Arts, Culture & Entertainment, Nature, Records, All, Science & Technology

or farmers: Visitors taking a look at old radio sets at the AIR office in Adilabad on Wednesday. | Photo Credit: S. HARPAL SINGH;S. HARPAL SINGH – S_ HARPAL SINGH

All India Radio, Adilabad, celebrated Radio Kisan Diwas on Wednesday, the date on which it started the ‘Kisan Vani’ programme. Agriculture came to be the central theme of the programme, and its manifestation in local ethos was showcased as part of the celebration.

While the Adivasi Thotti troupe of Pendur Tukaramsang a Gondi folk song in which gods order a Gond king to cultivate millets, the local Burrakatha troupe sang songs related to agriculture.

Telangana Grameena Bank, Adilabad, regional manager P.R.V. Ramchander Rao spoke about his experiences. The AIR felicitated progressive farmers, including those who take up organic farming, from Adilabad and neighbouring districts. The farmers too spoke about their experiences.

Millet food prepared by Ram Babu of Hyderabad and the exhibition of old radio sets, however, became the centre of attraction. Mr. Babu is an expert in millet food and its correlation with Ayurveda and the human body.

Scientists from Adilabad Agriculture Research Station, Kisan Vikas Kendra, District Agriculture Advisory, and Transfer of Technology Centre attended the programme. AIR Adilabad deputy director Sumanaspati Reddy and deputy director of Vijaya Dairy Madhusudan also participated.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Adilabad – February 15th, 2017

Celebrations at ISRO scientist’s home

Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

A festive atmosphere prevailed at the residence of J. Sai Teja, a scientist/engineer of the Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO), in his native town of Kothagudem on Wednesday following the successful launch of 104 satellites on a single PSLV mission from the space centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh.

Friends and relatives of Mr. Teja, who was reportedly part of the team involved in the record-breaking feat, conveyed their wishes to his parents Ravi Kumar and Sudharani over telephone.

“It is a proud moment for every Indian as the ISRO achieved the remarkable feat,” said Mr. Ravi Kumar.

‘Great honour’

When contacted, he told The Hindu that it was a matter of great honour that his son was part of the team involved in the mission.

Sai Teja pursued his B.Tech (avionics) from the Thiruvananthapuram-based Indian Institute of Space Science and Technology and joined the ISRO as a scientist/engineer in 2013.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Special Correspondent / Bhadradri – Kothagudem / February 16th, 2017

Hyderabad origin doctor elected chair of AMPAC

Leaders, Nri's / PIO's, Records, All, Science & Technology, World Opinion

The American Medical Association Political Action Committee (AMPAC), a bipartisan political action committee based in Washington D.C., has elected Hyderabad-born Vidya Kora, a general internist from Michigan, as its chair at its recent meeting.

Dr. Kora had studied at the Gandhi Medical College here. He currently serves as Indiana’s delegate to the American Medical Association.

Dr. Kora has been active in organised medicine for many years and he is the past president of the Indiana State Medical Association.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / by V. Geetanath / Hyderabad – February 13th, 2017

Padma awardee pledges Rs 50 lakh to Ibrahimpur

Amazing Feats, Inspiration / Positive News and Features, Leaders, Science & Technology

Dr. P Raghu Ram, Padma Shri awardee and Director of the KIMS – Ushalakshmi Centre for Breast Diseases, has pledged Rs. 50 lakh to Ibrahimpur in Siddpet mandal. The village was adopted by him and he participated in several programmes in the village.

Acting on an article in the media, which mentioned that although the Telangana government had launched the Grama Jyoti Project in 2015, only 30 per cent of villagers had been adopted so far, he decided to adopt the village. His parents — Dr Chalapathi Rao and Ushalakshmi — and wife, Dr. Vyjayanthi, were also involved in the initiative. The village has a population of around 1,000 people with 265 homes.

On Sunday, Irrigation Minister T. Harish Rao inaugurated the school dining room and digital study room built at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh. Also, foundation stone was laid for the modern crematorium being built at a cost of Rs 10 lakh.

“I have also agreed to build and stock a modern library at a cost of Rs. 10 lakh in addition to fully funding solar power for 25 houses in the village at a cost of Rs 15 lakh. I have pledged Rs. 10 lakh towards building shelter over an acre of land for sheep and cattle on the outskirts of the village,” said Dr Raghu Ram.

A health centre manned by an ANM that would provide basic healthcare in the village and conduct health camps to detect cancer were being planned simultaneously. In addition, efforts would be made to find employment for skilled jobless youth of the village.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> States> Telangana / by Staff Reporter / Siddipet – February 12th, 2017

Hyderabad to host first Unani Day on Feb. 11

Science & Technology

A premier institution of research in the country, the Central Research Institute of Unani Medicine (CRIUM), will host the celebrations of the first National Unani Day on February 11.

The day marks the birth centenary of Hakim Ajmal Khan, a noted freedom fighter, renowned Unani medical practitioner and educationist born in 1858. The celebrations will spill over to the next two days, with a national seminar on ‘Skin diseases & Cosmetology in Unani Medicine’ scheduled on February 12 and 13. This was announced by Director-General, Central Council for Research in Unani Medicine (CCRUM), Vaidya K.S. Dhiman here on Wednesday. On proposals by the Union Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy (AYUSH), the Government of India had recently decided to declare February 11, the birthday of Hakim Ajmal Khan, as the National Unani Day.

Asked about the relevance of the theme of skin diseases chosen for the seminar, he said for decades the facility in Hyderabad had done yeoman research on ‘Vitiligo’, also known as leucoderma, and has the distinction of treating the maximum number of patients from across the country with this particular condition.

Vitiligo is a chronic disorder that causes depigmentation of patches of skin. White patches can occur anywhere on the body and people usually are affected with multiple patches. In particular, the disease left lasting impressions on the minds of young women who felt they were scorned in society, said Prof. Dhiman.

The National Unani Day celebrations would be presided over by Union Ministers Shripad Yesso Naik (AYUSH) and B. Dattatreya (Labour), Deputy Chief Minister of Telangana Mohd. Mahmood Ali and Health Minister C. Laxma Reddy among others.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Special Correspondent / Hyderabad – February 09th, 2017

City gets its first ebus

Business & Economy, Green Initiatives / Environment, Records, All, Science & Technology, Travel

No Smoke: The first ebus received by the Telangana RTC in Hyderabad on Thursday. | Photo Credit: Nagara Gopal

The next time you feel a juggernaut whiz past with nary a ‘whish’, you will feel a tingle of excitement running down your spine. That will be the sleek and silent, low-slung beauty, an ebus made by BYD Auto Industry of China.

On Wednesday, Goldstone Infratech, which is said to be the Indian distributor for the Chinese ebus-maker, offered the Telangana State Road Transport Corporation (TSRTC) one of these, the BYD K series, a battery-operated bus with 324 KW of power.

When contacted, Executive Director for TSRTC’s Greater Hyderabad Zone A. Purushotham said they planned to run this environmental-friendly, pollution-free bus on the Jubilee Bus Station-Shamshabad airport route as a pilot project for a few days to check its efficacy.

The service is to be launched within a day or two, most likely by Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao.

The 12-metre-long bus is a 31-seater and is low-slung with a ground clearance of 360 mm. It can run for slightly more than 180 km on a single charge over a seven-hour duration and has a charging time ranging between two and a half to three hours for the next shift. It can accelerate from 0 to 50 KMPH in about 20 seconds, powered silently by electric motors in the wheel hubs and can achieve top speed of over 96 km an hour. Enquiries about the details like power and the like with engineers revealed that the 324 KW of output was almost equivalent to the 295 horsepower that the luxury buses like the Volvo produce. “From what I have seen, it is almost like our Garuda (Volvo) buses,” said a senior engineer.

source: http://www.thehindu.com / The Hindu / Home> News> Cities> Hyderabad / by Suresh Krishnamoorthy / Hyderabad – February 10th, 2017

With announcements of investments worth Rs 3 Cr, BioAsia begins on promising note

Business & Economy, Science & Technology, World Opinion

Hyderabad :

Announcing an investment of `3,382 crore, and MoUs in government and private sectors with an aim to strengthen city’s positioning as a hub for biotech and life sciences, the 14th edition of the Telangana government’s yearly flagship event, BioAsia 2017, kick-started at Hyderabad International Convention Centre (HICC) on Monday. The event was inaugurated by Governor ESL Narasimhan, in the presence of IT minister KT Rama Rao and Health minister C Laxma Reddy.

“A number of new initiatives have been launched today with an investment of about `1,700 crore including the new SEZ facility of Biological E for their manufacturing and research facility, and the 3D model of the country’s largest animal resource facility developed in partnership with the state government was unveiled.

KT Rama Rao, IT Minister

With a cumulative investment of about `3,000 crore, these initiatives mark the beginning of the next wave of development, which I will term as Genome Valley 2.0. As one of the many steps forward, I am delighted to announce IALA for Genome Valley today which would be implemented in the cluster very soon,” said Rao.

Lauding the IT minister’s efforts towards a TB-free Telangana, the Governor said: “At this stage, when healthcare is about criticality, BioAsia becomes a very useful forum for exchange of thoughts and experiences. Not being able to afford proper healthcare, lack of funds in health sector, fighting infection are major challenges for us.

I thank KT Rama Rao for the initiative of aiming to make Telangana a TB-free state. It is high time we move pilot projects to battle diseases and I request corporate hospitals to support the initiative. There is a request to someone like Soumya Swaminathan to ensure that the labelling on medicine is readable. One last request is that drug controlling authorities take care of preventing side effects while examining medicines.”

At the programme, Genome Valley Excellence Award 2017 was awarded to Nobel Laureate Professor Kurt Wuthrichand and Worldwide Chairman Pharmaceuticals and CSO of Johnson & Johnson Dr Paul Stoffels.

source: http://www.newindianexpress.com / The New Indian Express / Home> Cities> Hyderabad / by Express News Service / February 07th, 2017