Karnataka govt launches "Apthamitra" helpline and App to fight COVID-19
Bengaluru: Aimed at empowering people in its fight against coronavirus, the Karnataka government on Wednesday launched "Apthamitra" helpline with an exclusive toll free number and a mobile app, aimed at providing required medical advice and guidance for those in need.
The help line and app was launched by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa in the presence of senior Ministers and officials of the department.
"If anyone has symptoms of coronavirus, they can call the helpline from their home, get medical advice or assistance and get their doubts cleared.
Based on the symptoms, an expert team of doctors will advice on what to do next," he said.
According to the department, the 'Apthamitra' helpline will work from 8 AM to 8 PM, with helpline Centers at six locations in Bengaluru (four centers), Mysore and Mangaluru (Bantwal) with total of 300 seat capacity are being set up.
It's a two tier system where the first tier is manned by AYUSH or nursing or pharma final year volunteer students.
The second tier is manned by MBBS or Integrated Medicine or AYUSH volunteer doctors connecting from their respective locations for risk assessment, counselling, telemedicine and referral for testing and treatment, it added.
The helpline "14410" will cover residents in all parts of the state. While the 'Apthamitra' App is for those with smart phone to seek advice for telemedicine from doctors directly.
The purpose of this initiative is to reach out to people, especially those staying in Corona hotspot areas, identify those having Influenza Like Illness (ILI), Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SERI), coronavirus like symptoms or having high risk of getting infected, the state health department said.
It also intends to identify people with low risk, but having some symptoms similar to those of coronavirus and provide them telemedicine support with OTC medicines, and counsel them for self-quarantine.
It also aims to follow-up all low risk cases till they get fully cured, along with assessing those having medium to high risk of coronavirus and get them to fever clinics or COVID-19 screening centers for testing and treatment, the department said in a release.
The intention of the platform is to analyse incidence of IlI, inform decisions for graded relaxation of the lockdown to resume economic activities in areas with low prevalence of the symptoms while stepping up containment measures in hotspots, clusters and disease break-out areas, it said.
This entire Solution is owned by Health and Family Welfare Department and State Disaster Management Authority. The system works under the aegis of NASSCOM, Bengaluru.
The Digital Mobile app and the back end CRM system have been developed by Infosys BPM (the subsidiary of Infosys Ltd), the release said.
Further Infosys BPM and Hinduja Global Solutions have worked together to design, build and execute the Multi-Channel customer contact Solution with the Contact Center Infra being provided by Infosys, HGS, Concentrix, MPhasis and HCL as partners in the fight against coronavirus,it added.
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Christmas decorations vandalised by VHP activists at school in Nalbari; Tension in area
Nalbari: Tension prevailed in the Panigaon area of Nalbari district on December 24 after members of the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) and Bajrang Dal allegedly entered the premises of St Mary’s School and vandalised materials prepared for Christmas celebrations.
According to local sources, activists of the VHP and Bajrang Dal entered the school campus ahead of Christmas and raised slogans inside the premises. It is alleged that Christmas-related decorations and materials kept within the school compound were damaged and set on fire.
Eyewitnesses said that members of the Bajrang Dal were the first to enter the campus, during which they allegedly raised slogans such as “Jai Shri Ram,” “Jai Hindu Rashtra,” and “Bharat Mata Ki Jai,” and burnt items prepared for Christmas celebrations. The incident created panic among local residents and led to concerns over law and order in the area. No injuries have been reported so far.
The incident comes amid reports of similar acts in Nalbari town in recent days, where Christmas decorations displayed at several commercial establishments were allegedly set on fire.
Reacting to the incident, fact-checker Mohammed Zubair said on social media that VHP and Bajrang Dal activists entered St Mary’s School on Christmas Eve, raised slogans and destroyed Christmas decorations. His post drew attention to the incident and sparked wider discussion online.
Police have not yet issued an official statement on the incident. Further details are awaited.
On Christmas Eve, Vishva Hindu Parishad and Bajrang Dal goons entered St. Mary’s School in Panigaon, Nalbari, chanting slogans like “Jai Shri Ram” and “Jai Hindu Rashtra.” They destroyed and set fire to all Christmas decorations prepared at the school. pic.twitter.com/LQHV7FWUvz
— Mohammed Zubair (@zoo_bear) December 24, 2025
