Issue24theobserver

The Observer An IIJNM Publication

Citizens not sure if ‘Less Traffic Day’ will be a successful initiative | P 2

Vol 18, Issue 24

Tuesday, March 20 , 2018

The Observer

@theweeklyobserver On the web: issuu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs/the observer

3.9 billion people across the globe affected by oral diseases | P 2

We’re here to stay: Cong; We’re an alternative, it’s us this time: BJP, JD(S) not a substitute, says Aam Aadmi Party

All parties fancy chances of victory in the assembly elections

G. Manashaa

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Rayan Mitra

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ith elections to the 15th Karnataka assembly around the corner, the three major parties are gearing up to attract voters.

Speaking to The Observer, all parties exuded confidence that voters would favour them.

“The people are content under the Siddaramaiah government.

The Nalapad (Haris) case is an individual matter, and I think people will not be influenced or affected by it,” Naseer Ahmed, general secretary of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC), said.

“Tripura and Meghalaya are small states with a small population. In Karnataka, we have more than 4 crore voters. The issues here are totally different from the ones in the rest of the country. The people of Karnataka are politically aware, and I expect (the Congress) to gain an abolute majority.”

But Tejaswini Gowda, state secretary of the BJP, has an entirely different take: “The people of Karnataka are wise and concerned, so they will remove the incompetent Siddaramiah government.” She accused the Congress of jeopardising central schemes in Karnataka. “Siddaramaiah has failed to deliver in all areas. We are targeting an absolute majority, and are optimistic about winning 150 seats,” the former MP said.

Siddaramaiah hopes to benefit from the grant of minority religion status to Lingayats. Courtesy: KPN B.M. Farook, the JD(S) candidate for Rajya Sabha, said: “We need a regional party to safeguard its interests. Unlike national parties, regional parties will be more devoted to the state and its people. There are several issues national parties fail to address properly as all they do is follow the instructions of the high command.” The JD(S) is “targeting” 113 seats in the 224member legislative assembly. It is comfortably placed in at least 90 constituencies and hopes to win 20 more, Farook said.

“The Congress is creating different trouble for JD(S) in the Rajya Sabha elections by using unfair means. They did so the last time as well, but we have approached the high court.”

B. Suresh Gowda, MLA and vice-president of the state BJP, claimed that “the BJP will certainly get power this time in Karnataka’s elections.” “The Nalapad issue has already spoilt the chances of the Congress in Bengaluru, but will not have much effect in rural Karnataka.

Modiji is responsible for 90% of our party’s image. We expect to win about 110 seats,” Gowda added.

Rani Satish, a KPCC vicepresident, does not agree with the BJP and JD(S) claims. “The people of Karnataka have witnessed a stable government, and I am sure they will again make the right choice.” JD(S) functionary Prabhakar said: “We hope to stop INC and BJP, so that we have control over the state.”

Chief minister Siddaramaiah has had an easy run, with no major challenges to his numero uno position. The BJP, On the other hand, hopes to wrest Karnataka after unseating the Left Front in Tripura and managing to install coalition ministries in Nagaland and Meghalaya.

The JD(S) has decided to contest in alliance with the BSP and NCP. The JD(S), a strong force in the state until the mid1990s, but has seen desertions and a weakening of its primary base in the Old Mysore region.

The voters of Karnataka have never voted the same party into office since 1985. In the assembly elections held in 2013, the state voted the Congress to power. The party won 122 seats, while the JD(S) and BJP got 40 seats each. rayan.m@iijnm.org

he Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) on Tuesday called itself an alternative to the Karnataka’s established parties.

“AAP is not a substitute, but an alternative party. The party goes beyond Arvind Kejriwal,” Karnataka state convener Prithvi Reddy said on Tuesday.

After releasing AAP’s first list of 28 candidates for the Karnataka assembly elections, Reddy, who is contesting from Sarvagna Nagar against Bengaluru development minister KJ George, informed The Observer: “About 85% of the voters did not vote for George in the previous election because there was no competitor. But this time I am contesting from there. Instead of considering the 15% who voted for him, I consider the 85% who did not vote for him. If the love that people have for our party converts into votes, I will be extremely happy.”

Asked how the candidates are being selected, Reddy said: “We always run checks before selecting a candidate. We select based on his/ her performance.”

Renuka Vishwanath will contest against NA Haris of the Congress in Shantinagar, while Chandrakant Revankar will face state BJP president BS Yeddyurappa in Shikaripur district.

“AAP has been helpful in shaping society in many ways. Many improvements have been made in healthcare and education in Delhi. We would like to do the

same for the people of Karnataka,” Reddy said.

AAP says several individuals have left their jobs to work for the party. One such person, Malavika Gubbivani, said: “AAP is one platform where you bring common people inside. The party does not just run with political leaders. It has people like you and me. I will be contesting from the Chamaraja constituency. “ Abbas, another candidate, said: “I would like to work for the youth. I will look at the issues youths are facing these days, be it in college or workplace. AAP is the only party which cares for the common man’s interest. We are working towards a better political future for our country.”

Revankar informed The Observer: “AAP is the new emerging party in a state like Karnataka. I want a corruption-free government, and don’t see any party except AAP working towards that goal.”

Raghavendra KL, a candidate from Davanagere district, stated: “AAP is an alternative which people can trust and vote for a better a country. Our campaigns include (going) door to door. We’ll go to every house three times. First, we will talk about the party and its establishments. On the second day, we will focus on our candidates and how they will be working to improve the current situation for a better future. On the third day, we will concentrate on AAP’s manifesto.” manashaa.g@iijm.org

Minorities given 25% quota in minority colleges Pracheta Panja

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he state government has decided to reserve 25% of seats in minority institutions for students belonging to religious and linguistic minorities. “We have decided that the status of minority institutions will not be diluted,” primary and secondary education minister

Tanveer Sait said at a press conference on Tuesday.

The certificates produced by the students will be thoroughly checked. For the first time, the PUC examination revaluation process and the payment will be done online.

The board, Sait said, is taking strict action against exam malpractices. Last year, the number

of students indulging in malpractice in the PUC first-year exam was 48 compared to 16 cases this year.

“Our experts will look at the questions and decide,” Sait said.

The PUC second-year exam began on March 1 and ended on March 17, the results of which will be declared in April. pracheta.p@iijnm.org

In memory of legendary physicist Stephen Hawking, who passed away on March 14, a special cover on him was released by Charles Lobo, Chief Postmaster General, Karnataka, on tuesday. Two thousand covers are being sold at the GPO for Rs.20 each. Hawking was revered for his numerous contributions to theoretical physics and cosmology | Rachel Dammala

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CITY

Citizens not sure ‘Less Traffic Day’ will help ‘Why did they wake up before the election’

Say they will stick to old methods

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People of Bengaluru are used to traffic congestion throughout the week | Credit: Conrad Deep Dias initiatives? Why don’t they start reducing the use of their private vehicles? I appreciate this initiative taken by the government but am sure it will be implemented poorly.”

Nimmi Satyajit, who works for an MNC, said: “I am not sure I will follow this idea. I use public transport throughout the week to commute to my office, specifically BMTC buses. I take my car out only on the weekends. It would be a pain to use buses on weekends also, though it’s just a day every month.” According to MNC employee Sumi Mathew, “According to me, the only thing that can improve the quality of life is increasing resources. The practicality of this initiative is questionable.” However, some citizens think observing a ‘Less Traffic Day’ once in a month is a real good idea.

“It is not that tough to follow it. It is just one day after all. I, for one, would surely like to follow it,” said Aswin M, a digital marketing executive. “Big cities like Bengaluru need it most with their roads getting busier day by day and pollution increasing,” Aswin added.

Pankaj Yadav, an urban planner and adviser, informed The Observer: “It is important to raise awareness. But the onus falls on the state to provide alternative transport options for the public. At the moment in Bengaluru, public transport is not as full-fledged as it should be. You are forced to use your own vehicle. Along with this initiative, they should come up with a more robust transportation system with end-to-end connectivity.” manikankana.s@iijnm.org

3.9 billion people across the globe

are affected by oral diseases

armers of Shikaripur taluk, Shivamogga district, are hoping for good rain to avoid losses due to lack of water. They are unaware of the state government’s alternatives for irrigation. Several farmers in different villages of the taluk informed The Observer that they take loans and repay with the money their crops earn them.

Since there has been scanty rain for the past few years, they are forced to choose crops, like corn, that require less water.

Asked about the government’s schemes like the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Sinchai Yojana or the Pradhan Mantri Krishi Vikas Yojana, farmer Nazeer Amar of Kotta village said: “We depend on rainfall and will continue to.

Politicians make schemes but neither tell us about them nor guide us on as to how to avail of the benefits.” There are farmers who are unable to borrow more because their previous loans are unpaid. Not only do they fail to repay loans, they find it difficult to meet ends.

“I used to grow rice, but due to lack of rainfall shifted to corn. I still have about Rs 50,000 to be repaid to the bank so that I can take more loans and plan the

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Students and professors of dental colleges from all over the city were part of the Oral Health Awareness rally from Hudson Circle to Town Hall on the occasion of World Oral Health Day | Credit: Shruti Agarwal from different colleges around Karnataka participated in the event at Town Hall.

Speaking at the event, Dr. Rajkumar S. Alle, President of Karnataka State Dental Council, urged every dental student to take an oath to educate one family about oral hygiene. “If all the dental students of Bangalore from the 35 colleges in the city take charge of one family, thousands of families’ oral health will be in check,” he said.

Dr Nagesh Laxminarayan,

professor and head of the department of public health dentistry, Bapuji Dental College and Hospital, at Davanagere spoke about the various ways to prevent oral diseases. He highlighted the ‘Danta Bhagya Yojane’, a scheme to provide free dentures and treatment to those aged 58 and above belonging to the BPL category. The scheme, which was launched in the year 2016, aims to bring oral diseases under control in the country. dammala.r@iijnm.org

Lack of awareness is forcing farmers to grow corn instead of rice | Credit: Ayushi Singh cropping for the next season,” said Kuber C, a farmer from Masuru village. “We poor people, we have no source of information on how the government helps us.

There is no official who informs us about any sort of help. We have been doing it on our own ever since we started farming.

We have farms to look after, and can’t sit in taluk offices the whole day for information or the procedure to get help,” said Jayappa, a farmer from Badrapura village of the taluk.

Taluk welfare officer Manjunath said: “Every government scheme for irrigation is in use and we try our best to deliver the benefits to the farmers. The problem is that farmers find it easier to depend on rainwater and use traditional irrigational methods than go to various offices to attain the benefit.” ayushi.s@iijnm.org

Udaya TV staff write to PM seeking justice Athul M

Rachel Dammala tatistics released by Federation Dental International (FDI) show that around 3.9 billion people are affected by oral diseases. Untreated tooth decay alone impacts almost 44% of the world’s population. A recent research has shown that at least 90% of the people would suffer from oral diseases during their lifetime, with periodontal diseases, dental fluorosis, malocclusions and oral cancer being the most common oral health problems.

To counter this, FDI is launching a three-year campaign under the theme ‘Say Ahh’. The campaign is aimed at highlighting the theme that the mouth of a person is like a mirror to the body and reflects a person’s overall health.

To celebrate World Oral Health Day, the Karnataka department of health and family welfare organized an Oral Health Awareness Rally from Hudson Circle to Town Hall on Tuesday. Various professors of dental sciences

Shikaripur farmers not aware of govt schemes Ayushi Singh

Manikankana Sengupta ven after the second edition of ‘Less Traffic Day’ on March 11, Bengalureans do not seem convinced of the need for it. To reduce pollution and congestion on the roads, the Karnataka government’s initiative urges citizens to opt for public transport or cycles over their private vehicles on the second Sunday of every month. It was first observed on February 11.

“I doubt the government’s intention behind this initiative.

There is very thin traffic on Sundays anyway. So what is the point of doing it on Sundays?

But on serious issues like pollution, the government has to be stricter,” IT professional Sheetal Reddy said.

Abhijan Chakroborty, a student of National School of Journalism, informed The Observer: “The once-in-a-month approach is not going to work. We are aware of pollution in the city and always blame the government for that. They have taken the measure when assembly elections are round the corner.

Why didn’t they act before? Why do people have to wait for such

The Observer Tuesday, March 20, 2018

ollowing the dismissal of 68 Udaya TV employees without notice, staff of the television channel have written to Prime Minister Narendra Modi demanding their basic rights.

“We had complained to the Karnataka department of labour, and the minister decided to take immediate action. A meeting was held last week, but no one from the Sun Network (the parent company) came. Around 190 employees will go on strike in case the demands are not met.

It is the question of our lives,” G.R. Shivashankar, general secretary of the Trade Union Coordination Centre, said at a news conference on Tuesday.

Udaya News was shut down on September 23, 2017. The channel was to go off the air on October 26, according to the organization. But the news channel is still on air, showing movies and movie songs. According to the employees, this is an insult to the fourth pillar of democracy. The employees were

dismissed without any proper compensation, leaving them and their families in the lurch. There were not paid any PF, bonus or leave encashment.The management did take the action, the union said, but without following any clauses of the Industrial Dispute Act, 1947.

Despite making huge profits, Sun Network did not pay the pending salaries of some of the employees before dismissing them.

According to the union, the act of closure is a blatant violation of the rules and punishable under various laws. The Sun Network management failed to pay minimum wages to its employees, and did not maintain attendance and service records, the union claimed. athul.m@iijnm.org

The ObserverTeam Editor- Ayushi Singh Desk: Manikankana Sengupta and Rayan Mitra Reporters: Athul.M, Manashaa, Pracheta and Rachel Dammala