The Observer
An IIJNM publication
Transport workers stage protest at Freedom Park, ask for a 30 per cent increase in wages | P 2
Vol. 21, Issue 25
Tuesday, April 12, 2022
WA note urges Modi, BSY to protect family
By Saumyangi Yadav and Shristi Achar
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Online courses build skill and knowledge
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any students have opted for online courses to enhance their knowledge and understanding of new things and concepts, reports Anwesha Singh They are confident about pursuing these courses as they believe that it will help boost their career in the near future.. Also, during the lockdown, the number of students going for the online certificate courses has increased as compared to prepandemic levels. A report by Internshala Trainings called ‘E-learning Trends Report’ highlighted that online training enrolment increased by 17 times between 2015-2021 and it also predicted that one million more students would enrol themselves in the next four years. While talking to the students about their experiences of pursuing these courses, they said that the courses have helped them to gather more knowledge about their field and stream which will ultimately add to their skills and help them in getting jobs. ► Details on page 2
calls to the lodge after an alleged suicide note started to circulate on social media. Pramod Kumar, Police Inspector, District Crime Intelligence Bureau, informed The Observer: Santosh Patil arrived at the lodge in the evening with his friends. “His friends took one room and he took the other. In the morning, when he wasn’t opening the door, he was discovered dead. It
is suspected that he consumed poison at night and committed suicide. We are waiting for his brother. We will be registering the case then. The investigation is still on,” Pramod Kumar said. Patil had sent the note to his friends via WhatsApp at 11.37 p.m. on Monday. In the note, posted by former CM Siddaramaiah’s official Twitter handle, Patil blamed Esh-
warappa for his death and urged that he be punished. He also asked PM Narendra Modi and former CM B.S. Yediyurappa to protect his wife and child. “I am going on a journey of no return. I have taken this decision after suppressing all my wants and desires. I have brought some friends with me, after lying to them that we are going on a picnic. But they are not responsible for my death,’’ the note read. A couple of weeks ago, Santosh Patil had accused Eshwarappa of demanding a 40% commission in sanctioned public works. CM said an investigation is being conducted into Patil’s alleged suicide as per The Hindu. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org shristi.a@iijnm.org ►Cong attacks CM, Read full report on Page 3
Many govt schools in B’luru don’t have functional libraries By Swarali Bodas
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any primary schools in Bengaluru still do not have functional libraries despite it being compulsory in the National Education Policy (NEP), 2020. Rohit Venugopal, 10, does not know what a library is because his school doesn’t have one. “We have our textbooks and notebooks. I don’t think we have a library in our school since we never went there,” Rahul informed The Observer. Meenakshi Kumar, Rohit’s teacher, said limited staff in the school is one of the reasons why it does not have a library. “If there is a library, there should be a librarian. The school does not have enough teachers, let alone… a librarian….” The same is the case with a Government Primary School in Ashok Nagar. Suresh Prabhu Sarkar, a teacher at the school, spoke about how they have limited space in the school. “Whatever rooms we have, we
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“Almost 95 per cent of Mekedatu’s benefit will be for Tamil Nadu, only 5% for Bengaluru” | P 3
BJP man who said Eshwarappa takes kickbacks kills himself antosh Patil, a Belagavibased BJP worker and contractor, allegedly died by suicide on Tuesday, a Deccan Herald report said. Patil had been in the public eye after he accused panchayat raj and rural development minister K.S. Eshwarappa of corruption. Patil reportedly took his life at Shambhavi Lodging near the KSRTC bus stand in Udupi. He had went missing on Monday, and the police tracked his phone
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NEP emphasises on libraries in schools |Credit: Swarali Bodas use those for classrooms. Talking about a library, we do provide books to our children, but we don’t have an independent library as such,” he shared. Shraddha Kasva, a class IV student, said she loves reading and has books at her home. “No, we don’t have a separate room as a library. But I do like reading books, so my parents arrange books for me from a public library which is near my house.” Arthi Kasva, her mother, said: “In my opinion, the habit of reading books should be encouraged in every child. It is very important for her (child’ s) growth.” About her daughter’s school
not having a library, she said: “ “Yes, it is unfortunate. I like to read and have seen the habit of reading books in my child. Since her school does nothave a library, I or my husband go to public libraries or book stores and get her books.” When The Observer why Shraddha’s school does not have a library, she replied: “Because it is a government school. Most of them do not have a separate library room, activity hall or even a playground.” An education department official who did not want to named said: “ We are thinking of merging two-three government schools to create space. We will do that very soon.” The National Policy for Education, 1986, laid emphasis on having libraries in schools and access to books. It spoke about setting up libraries in primary schools so that children are exposed to more information. swarali.b@iijnm.org ►Read the full report on www.theweeklyobserver.in
News Briefs
Sri Lanka defaults on foreign debt Sri Lanka has defaulted on its $51-billion foreign debt as the island nation grapples with its worst economic crisis amidst widespread protests demanding the government’s resignation. Sri Lanka’s finance ministry said the country was defaulting on all external obligations, including loans from foreign governments, ahead of an IMF bailout. “The government is taking the emergency measure only as a last resort in order to prevent further deterioration of the republic’s financial position,” a statement from the ministry said
Stampede-like situation in Tirupati shrine
Three people were injured in a stampede-like situation at the ticket counters at the Tirumala shrine in Tirupati, TTD PRO Ravi Kumar said. According to ANI, more than 10,000 pilgrims gathered at the ticket counters to obtain Sarvadarshan tickets, leading to a stampede-like situation. “There was a huge rush at three token counters in Tirupati. However, looking at the rush, the TTD decided to allow pilgrims directly into the compartments of Tirumala for darshan. The situation is normal now,” PRO Ravi Kumar said.
BJP sweeps UP council elections
The BJP headed for a massive win in biennial elections to the UP legislative council, weeks after its victory in state assembly elections, but had to settle for a loss in Varanasi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s constituency. The legislative council has 100 seats. The BJP was ahead in 30 of the 36 seats. It had already won nine seats unopposed.
Anti-tank missile tested successfully
India on Tuesday carried out yet another successful test of the indigenously developed helicopter launched Anti-Tank Guided Missile ‘HELINA’ in high altitude conditions in Ladakh. “The missile was tested yesterday also in the same area where it successfully hit a simulated tank target,” DRDO officials told ANI. The flight trials were conducted from an Advanced Light Helicopter. The missile was fired successfully.