Admission time: Is raat ki Subh Kabhi

Its that time of the year when all young parents will be praying and hoping to get their kids admitted to a school of their choice, if they are lucky or into any school otherwise.

Many parents start the school rounds (not those rounds during lunch break you used to take when you were in school) from January month itself just to know when the forms will be given for Jr.KG. As time passes by the blood pressure of the parents start to rise for no reason. Some might even think getting a baby born or delivering a baby was not so terrible.

This year February came and still the schools had not decided when the admission process would begin. Parents used to visit all the probable schools they could and check when the forms would be given.

March arrived and still the school authorities were uncertain about the dates. Some schools said by March 15 something will be made clear and yes at last the dates were out. I have seen happy faces when they just read the dates of the admission process on the board. But friends this is just the start.

Herwadkar School started the admission process on 18-03-2008. And in the morning there were about 200 parents lined in to get forms even before the school gates were opened. I had been there also and decided that I would try my luck the next day but luckily in the afternoon, just to see how much the rush is I went in and to my surprise the queue was very small only 30 parents and I said this is the time to get a form at least and make a Shri Ganesha. I got the forms in about 20 minutes and to tell you I wasn’t happy like this in my life not even when I passed my SSLC in distinction. Now I got the forms, from here the other story, fill the form submit it. Then the forms will be scrutinized and a list will be put and if my daughters name comes in it, wow my life has become fruitful. Not as easy as said. After the list is put up, there will be a parent’s interview and what I will be asked is quite clear, how much? Now that the biggest Q. How much? (All know how much in what context) Lets see cant say now until I have been there. Past experienced parents do help out with their experience.

The forms for Divine Providence and St.Joeshps Convent will be given form the 1st april to 3rd april. Last year scenes at the convent in camp were dreadful. Parents lined up at 9 pm in the previous night it self just to get the forms, leave admission aside, just forms. So this time special instructions have been put up for the same. See in the photo.

This time areas have been specified so if you don’t fall in those areas you might not be getting a seat I guess. See the photo for details.

I hope I get my daughter admitted to a school and my blood pressure comes down….

I wrote this post only as I thought many of those young parents, grand parents reading this might just feel, hey it's my story.
Hope all their dreams of getting admissions are fulfilled.

Where is this photo Taken ?

Source: Sakal
Look at the picture and let me know where you think this is from.
Clue: these our our elected representatives.

Now I think why did we elect them.

MORE: sort of MORE & not so MORE

I had been to the MORE store in RPD cross in the evening at around 730pm. Initially I had a problem to find place to park my two wheeler. At last I found a place, which if the police thinks could be no parking area, but parked and went in. Theresa security guard who takes the baggage and then u enter the store. First impression great looking means goods placed correctly and in good order, I meant to say food grains on one side and toiletry on the other side etc. Vegetable stall is just at the entrance and after having a look at them you can guess what is in store for you later.
This picture is not of the Belgaum store. Its a archive photo form their website.
One more thing if you think you have some time and you can spend it in here, wrong impression, this is not air-conditioned and at times especially these days you could have a nice work out with doing much.

Goods variety is great I should say when compared to Big Bazaar. But again not all brands are available. Variety in some goods was good and not so many to choose from a few like Deodorants & jams. Prices are not cheap. I mean sugar was Rs.18/kg in the market its Rs.16/Kg. And similar rates for others so you can think.

Chocolates variety is good with some great value big value packs, which you normally don’t get to see in town. The staff I did not really interact so cant tell you but they were normal I guess. NO special offers like big bazaar here. Some small offers on atta and some small products I could see.

Billing, this is a problem as of now. There are 3 billing counters and the process is very slowing even tough there are touch screen panels for billing. The guys are not so familiar with the items still and at times you will have to wait for 10 mins to get your bill. One incident happened in front of me only when a person had taken a lot of material and when he went out and checked his bill he was charged Rs.90 for 1 Cauliflower. Its should have been Rs.9. They said a billing mistake and to rectify it poor guy had to wait for 20 mins (15 mins for my bill as my bill was being made and then the refund stuff).

In all not a great experience which will induce me to go again and again. One time purchase is ok. On a scale of 5, I would rate it 3. Let you reviews also come in on this.

I have received a response from Mr. Mr.Shriniwas M Katti on the MORE store: I visited MORE today and made a shopping of more than Rs.1200/- . It is certain that the staff is untrained and speaks Marathi and Kannada very rash. Sophistication is totally absent. And most important the prices are at least 10-15% more.
So Did you go shopping for MORE.

Mantri Realty in Belgaum

Mantri Realty Ltd, a Sunil Mantri Enterprise, Mantri Realty said, "these projects consist of innovative ideas and quality construction. All these projects have been designed by international architects and we want to price it as a premium category and give amenities which make luxurious living a basic minimum standard."
The company has also been promoting projects in Belgaum, one of largest cities in Karnataka.
The company has already acquired two prime properties in Belgaum. One property is of around 300 acres for a residential township, where around 5,000 houses would be constructed at an estimated cost of Rs 500 crore.
The second property is around 200 acres at the outskirts of Belgaum costing Rs. 200 crore.
The overall investment in the City of Belgaum by Mantri Realty would be to the tune of Rs 700 crore.
Source: Yahoo.com

MORE to open its 2nd store: Reliance Fresh at Hotel Hanuman Site

MORE the AV Birla group company which opened its first store in the city is now gearing up to open its 2nd store at Kolhapur Cross, opposite to Adishwar electronics.

Confirmed news is also here from sources that Hotel Hanuman near JNMC will become the Reliance Fresh with an area of about 5000 sq.Ft.

Belgaumites, city is now seeing the birth of a retail revolution, how many will survive for many years is the question tough?
Any way a welcome thing for us.. I Guess

Basic Inputs: Prasad Prabhu

MORE opens store

Ranis say Hello to Belgaum

Its 3.15 and in Tilakwadi the first few drops of rain of this summer is pouring down. The intensity is not very high tough and since noon the weather was some what overcast. May be we will witness rains a few showers may be later in the evening.

Two escape death near Fish Market

Belgaum getting many Traffic Signals:Khanapur Road widened

These are new on the Belgaum roads now. New traffic signals are being put up at RPD Cross & Cantonment Bord cricle(near Globe Theatre). No doubt these were necessary but with these the road humps near the signals should be removed otherwise the traffic will become dead slow. and hope they will be on for quite a some time other than those installed earlier.

Khanapur Road (camp) being widened















These are pictures oft he Khanapur Road (camp, infront of police quarters) near to Sanchayni circle. the said road is being widened by 3 feet. In the above pics you can see the JCB digging out the earth and on the other side is the already dug part. Due to this the traffic is very slow on this road after Fish market to Sanchayani circle.
Photos courtesy: UkMaD

50 crores for Suvarna Soudha at Belgaum

The Karnataka Budget for 2008-09 presented by Union Finance Minister P. Chidambaram had no fanfare, no announcements of new schemes and no new "populist" initiatives.

Mr. Chidambaram presented the budget proposals for the State for 2008-09 in the Lok Sabha on Monday.

The budget allocates Rs.1 billion for upgrading airports in Mangalore, Mysore, Hubli, Bijapur, Shimoga, Hassan, Gulbarga, Karwar, Bidar and Belgaum.

An amount of Rs.500 million is earmarked for a new state secretariat building, Suvarna Soudha in Belgaum.

Major Fire at Campbell Knitwear destroys stocks

A major fire broke out on Sunday night at around 11pm at the Campbell knitwear factory and stocks of cores of rupees must have been destroyed. The fire broke out due to a short circuit sources said in the stores dept. where a huge amount of ready material to be exported and was stored as it was to be dispatched today. No loss of human life is still reported.


A view of the traffic jam from the Shivteerth. A major traffic jam was caused as a Sand loaded truck broke down in the middle of the road exactly at the Gogte circle causing the morning commuters a hard time.

Ganpat Galli Breathes at last

Source: Tarun Baharat

Belgaum getting ready to be FIT

SMK to Bangalore via Belgaum

Helping Hands: Volunteers paying back to the Society

Young generation or the aforementioned Next Generation these days go to pubs, discos and booze around and the parents say work hard, concentrate on your work. In all this busy scheduling of time for home, parents, and a host of girl friends or boy friends and of course work, the next gen tends to give away most of the time.

A few young lads going through this mundane job came together faraway from their home town in Bangalore where they were working just to meet each other and share their joys and sorrows. And with these meetings happening every week, there spurt an idea. Why don’t we do something for the society?
"A Journey of thousand miles must begin with a single step"
This is a story of a group of people mainly working themselves out in front their Pc's coding things out and getting some other codes out.

Vvolunteers was the name that thought suited them best.
These volunteers are mainly from north Karnataka mainly from Belgaum and others from places like Hubli, Chikodi, Bijapur etc.

This Organization will be strongly built by collecting funds through teamwork. Each member can willingly to donate according to her/his own interest. (It's your own interest of helping in kind or in cash). This collection of funds would be utilized in different forms like paying school fees for poor student, operation for the poor/unaffordable people and also these funds will be given to the Charity, to Blind School, Orphanage, Old Age Homes, etc.

It is precisely the reason Vvolunteers are calling you as to add about your planning and funds to the Organization. However, in any point of time Vvolunteers would clearly explain how their solutions work and how it will be helpful to the poor. Of course they assure that you are free to add your thinking and valuable suggestions.

On 13th Jan 2007 VVolunteers team had been to "Tunga Bhadra Oldage Home" Bangalore. This was the First Step towards their journey, they all had a lots and lots of beautiful & Unforgettable memories of it. They not only donated money but also spent quality time by cooking for the old.

A girl named Gayatri from Dharwad who has finished her SSLC this year and has secured fabulous 95%. She was willing to do her further studies, but she had financial problems. Vvolunteers (Kiran and Ravi ) came to know about this through some source and went to their home and asked them what exactly the matter is and in which way they can help her and assured that they will be helping her.

On behalf of the group they paid her college fees. Now she will be pursing her further studies. She has taken admission in J.S.S. College, Dharwad for PUC 1st year (Science).
Now On 2nd October Vvolunteers again visited one more "OLD AGE HOME" near Basaveshwar Nagar, Bangalore. This time we are able to sponsor Medicines for around 10 Mentally retarded people for a 15 Days and provided some Food grains.

The point of sharing this story is to highlight the possibilities that can emerge when the next gen comes together keeping aside their differences and instead focusing on their positives. The story of Vvolunteers has shown that even in this self lived world one can still stay together to make a meaningful difference by collaborating.

" A Ship Is Always Safe In The Shore But That Is Not It Is Built For "

I hope this post encourages some of you to come together and make a difference to society – no matter how small it may seem in the beginning.
For more details visit: http://vvolunteers.blogspot.com/

Disclaimer: The author of this blog does not take any responsibility for any monetary donations made and how they will be utilized. It’s the donor’s sole responsibility. I am just trying to encourage them.