The Observer Volume 18 Issue 12 (Dailies 2)

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The Observer An IIJNM publication

Nearly 10,000 people sustain brain injury in Bengaluru every year, 1,000 succumb | P 3

Vol 18, Issue 12

Tuesday, November20, 2018

The Observer

@theweeklyobserver On the Web: issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs/ the_observer

Auto drivers use domestic LPG with impunity in two taluks, penalties do not deter them | P 5

Petrol, diesel prices rose CM meets farmers, mill owners by Rs 14, Rs 19 in 1 year sugar to end impasse On Oct 16, they were Rs 83.54, and Rs 76.13 in Bengaluru Abbinaya Kuzhanthaivel

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etrol and diesel prices in Bengaluru rose by Rs 14 and Rs 19 a litre in one year from October 2017, touching alltime highs of Rs 83.54 and Rs 76.13 respectively on October 16, 2018. The increase was significant because the prices of the two motor fuels usually increased by Rs 5-Rs 6 till the year before. “The international crude oil rate has affected the petrol and diesel prices. We are paying double or even triple of the usual price for one barrel of crude oil due to the sudden hike in oil prices and fall in the rupee,” Rajeev Agarwal, deputy general manager, retail sales, IndianOil Corporation, informed The Observer. India is the third largest importer of crude oil. Brent, a benchmark for more than 50% of world’s oil, surged to its highest ahead of the US sanctions against Iran. With a 5% fall in the rupee

against US dollar, importing crude oil has become expensive. Deepa R, the proprietor of a Bharat Petroleum station on Kanakapura Road, blamed GST and demonetization for increasing fuel prices. “There should have been primary background checks before making such major alterations. Many lost their businesses as no one was prepared for such a sudden tax reform or demonetization,” she said. Ramesh G, an HP bunk manager at Chamarajpet, said the prices started changing daily in June 2017. “The variations are due to crude oil transactions.” Mahesh Krishnappa, secretary, Bangalore Petroleum Dealers’ Association (BPDA), said: “Crude oil surge has impacted fuel prices in

India. The rupee’s fall against the dollar has led to the situation.” BPDA controls more than 500 fuel stations in Bengaluru. Increasing fuel prices prompt bus operators, cab aggregators and autorickshaw unions to demand that the government increase fares. “Fuel prices increases have had an adverse effect on bus fares. For the past five years, bus fares have never reduced despite a drop in fuel prices,” Darshan S, a UVCE student, said. Karthick K, a cab driver, said: “We can’t run on low fares. If we increase fares, customers tend to seek drivers who would be ready to drive at a lower fare.” In October 2014, the government gave a free hand to oil-marketing companies to decide diesel prices. They have since calibrated prices based on international crude oil prices. Briefing media on the cabinet decision finance minister Arun Jaitley had then said: “Henceforth, like petrol, the price of diesel would be linked to the market and therefore, depending on whatever cost is involved, the consumers will have to pay.” Petrol prices were deregulated in June 2010 by the UPA government. Speaking in Parliament, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh had then described the decision as a “much-needed reform”. abbinaya.s@iijnm.org

Raveena Bhati

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rotests by sugarcane farmers forced CM Kumaraswamy to hold a meeting with them at Vidhana Soudha on Tuesday. Following the talks, the chief minister spoke to sugar mill owners and then met all farmers. The outcome of the meetings was not known at the time of going to the press. Sanjay Nadagouda, a farmer from Belagavi, said: “The sugarcane factories earlier paid us around Rs 2,200-2,400 for a quintal, but for the past one year, we have not been paid. The issue has been going on after the chief minister promised to waive the loans of sugarcane farmers in 15 days after coming to power, but even after four months the problem remains.” The conference was attended by farmers from all districts of Karnataka and owners of sugarcane factories. Manje Gowda, who was accompanied by more than 20 farmers from Belagavi district, demanded that fair remunerative price be paid to farmers and added: “Farmers in other states are getting higher prices for their harvest, and we are paid less. We want equal pay. The Minimum Support Price should be between

The talks were attended by farmers from all over Karnataka | Credit: Nidhi Roy Rs 3,000 and Rs 3,300.” Most sugarcane factories are owned by politicians and legislators. Hence, farmers prefer to supply to factories that are not owned by politicians since they pay on time. Farmers in Indi taluk in Vijayapura district complain that they have not been paid their arrears by Jamkhandi Sugar Mills, owned by the local MLA. Hanumant Patil, a farmer from Hirebennur village in Indi taluk, has his farms located in the shadow of the Jamkhandi Sugar Mills but prefers to take his sugarcane to a sugar mill 15 km away from his field. Patil informed The Observer: “The MLA’s factory doesn’t pay on time. I take my harvest to the other factory because its owners are from Tamil Nadu and they pay me on time.” raveena.b@iijnm.org

61% of Karnataka’s very young Kumaraswamy must step down, says BJP children suffer from anaemia

Shrabona Ghosh

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n Karnataka, according to the National Family Health Survey 4, about 61% of the children in the age group of 6 months to 5 years suffer from anaemia. “Anaemia can be because of iron deficiency, vitamin B12 deficiency and pathologically it can be because of haemoglobin disorder. People from poor background don’t have access to iron supplements. They lack knowledge about anaemia and cannot afford regular check-ups, leading

to increase in cases,” said, Dr Sowmya CC Paediatrician at Apollo Hospitals. According to a report by Prema Ramachandran, Director, Nutrition Foundation of India, there are various other causes of anaemia like folate intake due to low vegetable consumption, poor bioavailability of dietary iron from fibre, excess of phytate in Indian diets chronic blood loss due to malaria and hook worm infestations, A pregnant mother should go for regular check-ups, and keep a

check of her haemoglobin level to avoid the risk of anaemia to the child. Alcohol and smoking during pregnancy should be avoided as it hampers the health of the baby. “A malnourished child will always be anaemic , regular iron supplements, protein rich diet, and adequate amount of vitamins and minerals must be consumed for healthy growth of the child,” Dr Arun Kumar, an expert in community medicine, informed The Observer. Continued on page 5

Pranay Prakash

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arnataka BJP president B.S. Yeddyurappa on Tuesday slammed the Kumaraswamy government for “illtreating” farmers who had come to protest in Bengaluru. “It is shameful on the CM’s part to make disgraceful remarks against women. It is his arrogance to call protesting farmers ‘goondas and dacoits’,” the former chief minister said. Declaring his party’s support to the farmers’ protest, the BJP

leader urged Congress leaders to consider Kumaraswamy’s remarks and ask the CM to either implement his promises to farmers or resign. Yeddyurappa alleged that the state government has failed to fix the price of sugarcane even after the central government announced an MSP. Three months ago, the state advisory committee should have come up with a state advisory price, but the Kumaraswamy government failed to take the matter seriously. pranay.p@iijnm.org


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The Observer Volume 18 Issue 12 (Dailies 2) by IIJNM Bangalore - Issuu