Bangalore City University to be renamed after Dr. Manmohan Singh
Bengaluru: The Karnataka government has announced that Bangalore City University will be renamed as Dr. Manmohan Singh Bangalore City University as part of efforts to develop it into a model institution. Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who made the announcement while presenting the state budget, also revealed several key initiatives aimed at strengthening higher education in Karnataka.
In a significant push for educational reforms, the Chief Minister said that Government Arts College and Government RC College would be developed as constituent colleges of the university. He further announced a Rs. 2,500 crore project proposed over the next four years, with assistance from the World Bank, to enhance first-grade colleges across the state, establish Centres of Excellence, and boost research capacity.
To strengthen women’s higher education, the government had already upgraded 31 women’s colleges in the previous year. An additional Rs. 26 crore has been allocated for improving the infrastructure of 26 more colleges. In an effort to improve faculty availability, 2,000 vacant teaching positions in government first-grade colleges, engineering colleges, and polytechnics will be filled.
The budget also includes Rs. 275 crore to provide necessary infrastructure to government engineering colleges, polytechnics, and degree colleges, and Rs. 10 crore for equipping newly established polytechnics and engineering colleges with furniture, computers, and books.
A significant international academic collaboration was also announced. Through the Chevening Karnataka Masters Fellowship, female students from government degree colleges in Karnataka will have the opportunity to pursue a one-year postgraduate degree in prestigious universities in England.
To enhance practical knowledge and increase employability among students, the government will appoint ‘Professors of Practice’—industry professionals who will provide hands-on training and mentorship—at 16 government engineering colleges in the state. Additionally, Rs. 30 crore has been allocated to upgrade the Unified University & College Management System (UUCMS) software, which is used for managing higher educational institutions.
As part of the expansion of technical education, a unit college of Visvesvaraya Technological University (VTU) will be established in Chintamani taluk of Chikkaballapur district at a cost of Rs. 150 crore.
The government has also partnered with the Azim Premji Foundation to provide refresher training for all college education department teachers within the next three years. Furthermore, in collaboration with industries, the government will launch an internship program and special corporate training schemes to equip students with market-relevant skills and enhance their employability.
A special skill development program for 23,000 students will be organized by the Kalyana Karnataka Region Development Board (KKRDB) at a cost of Rs. 10 crore. Additionally, a Prof. Nanjunda Swamy Research Chair will be established at the University of Mysore to promote academic research and scholarship.
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KMC Mangaluru team led by Dr. Haroon files patent for absorbent pads for elderly women
Aims to address urinary incontinence in elderly women
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Mangaluru: Kasturba Medical College (KMC) has filed a patent application for “Absorbent Pads” designed to address urinary incontinence among elderly women, a condition that remains largely underreported despite its widespread impact.
Urinary incontinence does not command urgency like a heart attack, nor does it evoke the same collective response as more visible illnesses. However, for those living with it, the burden is constant, intimate, and often isolating.
There is a gradual and often unspoken impact on daily life. It begins with hesitation, declining invitations, avoiding travel, and choosing silence over conversation. Over time, this can lead to withdrawal, where fear of embarrassment starts shaping everyday decisions. For many elderly women, dignity becomes tied to small, often invisible compromises, including limiting outings or adjusting routines.
What makes this condition particularly poignant is not just its prevalence, but its invisibility. It is endured, not expressed. Accepted, not addressed.
It is in this context that the recent innovation assumes importance. The team at KMC, which includes clinicians such as Dr Haroon Hussain, has approached the issue not merely from a technical standpoint but from the perspective of lived experience.
The proposed solution, biodegradable, antimicrobial absorbent pads with improved fluid control and reduced irritation, aims to go beyond basic functionality, addressing comfort, safety, and dignity.
The development also reflects the role of academic institutions in addressing everyday health challenges. When research focuses not only on major diseases but also on conditions that affect quality of life, it reinforces the broader purpose of healthcare.
However, experts note that innovation alone cannot fully address the issue. Urinary incontinence continues to be underreported, often dismissed as an inevitable consequence of ageing. Many women do not seek medical help, not due to a lack of solutions, but because of stigma and discomfort associated with discussing the condition.
This creates a paradox, a widespread issue that is often experienced in isolation.
Medical professionals emphasise that greater awareness and open conversations are essential. Families must learn to speak about such issues without embarrassment. Healthcare providers must create spaces where patients feel heard without judgment.
The significance of this innovation lies not only in its technical aspects but also in what it brings into focus, that even the most private discomforts deserve public attention.
The patent application was filed by a team comprising Dr. Haroon Hussain, Dr. Sameena, Dr. Ritu Raval of Manipal Institute of Technology, Syed Ayaan Hussain Rizvi, and Suzanne Riya Dsouza.
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