The Weekly Observer, Vol 13 , Issue7

Observer The weekly

ursday, September 19, 2013

VOL 13 ISSUE 7

Right to Education denied to children of immigrants.

Ignorant government officials violating Motor Vehicles Act

PAGE 2

PAGE 3

Exclusive: Ramya speaks out over ‘gimmick’ jibes

PAGE 6

Lion’s share of BBMP budget goes to BJP wards Bhaskar Dutta Nearly half of the total budget for Bangalore wards has been given to just twenty of the 198 constituencies –14 of them controlled by the BJP. e recently announced annual budget of the BBMP (Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike) has allocated Rs. 647 crore to the 198 wards in the city. Statistics provided by Janaagraha, an NGO, show that of this sum, Rs. 280 crore (or 43 per cent) has been allocated to just 20 wards .

Of these 20 wards, 14 are represented by members of the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party), the ruling party within the BBMP. e wards which have received funds in excess of Rs 10 crore include Byrasandra , Dr. Raj Kumar Ward, Katriguppe, Malleswaram, Padmanabha Nagar, Rajaji Nagar, Shivanagar, Sriramamandir, Sunkenahalli and Vasanth Nagar.

Collectively, these wards have been allocated Rs 191.5 crore which constitutes 29.5 per cent of the total allocation for wards.

Nine of these ten wards are represented by members of the BJP. e statistics also show that out of the 198 wards, 70 have received funds amounting to less than Rs. 1 crore.

Ward Quality Score, a unit of measurement created by Janaagraha, analyses the performance of various wards on the basis of five parameters - water supply, mobility, sanitation, public amenities and environment. On the basis of these indicators the

NGO identified five Lowest ranked acwards which have the cording to World lowest Ward Quality Quality Score.

Malleshwaram(45) Score. ese are GotWards which received Kuvempunagar(11) tigere, Singasandra, the highest allocation. anisandra(6) Kadugodi, Kuvempu Nagar,and anisandra. Issues which are Vasanthanagar(93) Allocation common to all these wards include the Gottigere: 0.31 cr quality of roads, footKadugodi (83) anisandra: 2.45 cr paths and street Kadugodi: 0.31cr lighting.

Kuvempu Nagar: 0.31 cr Apart from Singasandra- 0.31 cr anisandra (which has been allocated Rs. 2.45 crore), the Rajajinagar(99) others have all been Shivanagar(107) Vasanth Nagar: 30.39 cr uniformly allocated Sriramamandir (108) Sunkenahalli (142) Sunkenahalli: 22.91 cr Rs. 0.31 crore. All of Dr Rajkumar Ward Rajaji Nagar: 19.89 cr these wards are rep(106) Shivanagar: 16.62 cr resented by non-BJP Katriguppe: 31.05 cr members.

Katriguppe (163) Byrasandra: 25.64 cr Byrasandra (169) According to the Dr Rajkumar Ward: statistics, the average 10.32cr per capita allocation Singasandra(169 ) Malleswaram: 10.39 cr of the top 10 wards is Padmanabhanagar: Rs. 6,125. e ward 12.14cr with the highest per Sriramamandir: 12.15 cr capita allocation is Gottigere(194) Padmanabhanagar (182) Vasanthnagar (Rs. Graphics: Anand Jain 11,856). e average vate the problem. so as to enable people to make in- Chief Account Officer would be per capita allocation of the five When asked about the purpose formed decisions on the basis of in a better position to explain the wards with the lowest Ward Qualbehind compiling and publishing facts. matter. ity Score is Rs 349. such data, Vishwanathan said that Mr. Ramamurthy, who works at Ramamurthy, who works at the According to Srikanth Visheasy access to such statistics could the office of the Chief Account office of the Chief Account Offiwanathan, coordinator and advohave the effect of compelling the Officer, said that the budget had cer, said that the budget had been cacy, research and capacity administration to assess the qualbeen sent to the state government sent to the state government for building, Janaagraha, one of the ity of life among the citizens of for approval.

Despite repeated atapproval. main reasons behind the uneven tempts, the Additional CommisDespite repeated attempts, the allocation of funds by the BBMP Bangalore.

Prachi Sinha, senior advocacy sioner (Finance) could not be Additional Commissioner (Fiis the lack of an objective frameassociate, Janaagraha, said that contacted. nance) could not be contacted. work on the part of the municipal the organization seeks to enhance When asked to comment on e ward population statistics body. He said that lack of efficient democratic values by providing the issue, the Deputy Commishave been derived from a website administrative structures aggracitizens with a wide range of data sioner of the BBMP said that the called bcity.in.

ursday, September 19, 2013 2

e Weekly Observer

Language barrier leaves slum children illiterate Nibedita Mohanta

been no surveys in this regard for

and teach them in our tents. We

More than 40 children from Ra-

the past three years. Earlier we

are even willing to give fees but

jarajeswari Nagar are denied ed-

used to have this survey annually.

nobody comes to teach our chil-

ucation in their mother tongue.

And I assure you that I will per-

dren.”

e children, belonging to im-

sonally look into the matter and

Act 350 A states that every state

migrant families, have never been

will talk to the Block Education

and local authority shall endeavor

to school. 14 families from Uttar

Officer and resolve it with State

to provide adequate facilities for

Pradesh have been residing in a

Project Director, Mr. Subodh

instruction in the mother tongue

makeshi slum in front of Rajara-

Yadav as soon as possible.”

at the primary stage of education

jeswari Hospital with their chil-

She added, “ We are carrying out

to children belonging to linguistic

dren for the last six years. ey sell

this survey again this year from

so toys which they get from

September 17 to September 21.”

Act 350 B specifies that a Special

Baijnath, 48, a resident of the

Officer for linguistic minorities is

Mumbai ,making an average of Rs. 600 per day.

According to Article 21A of the

minority groups.

slum and father of five, said: “e

appointed by the President to pro-

school authority said that they will

tect linguistic minorities under the

Constitution of India: the state

teach Kannada and English, but

Constitution.

shall provide free and compulsory

we want our children to learn

education to all children of the age

Hindi instead of Kannada.

of six to fourteen years.

SumaK., the P.R.O. of Karnataka

Sunny,19, said: “We want to

Children in the slum denied education in their mother toungue

study but the problem is we can-

brother, we do not know what

third language is Hindi, and that is

“When the school authority is

not understand the language and

study is but we want to.”

why there are no Hindi medium

asked to teach them Hindi, they

the school authority refuses to ad-

Education Department said, “I

say go to your own state and teach

just.”

have not come across this infoma-

them whatever you want to. We

tion maybe because there have

have asked many teachers to come

Vishal,15, said: “I spend all my day selling so toys with my elder

However the P.R.O said: “As per

schools in Bangalore. So, I will

the language policy of Karnataka,

arrange temporary teachers for

the first language is Kannada, the

those children and will visit the

second language is English and the

place the day aer tomorrow.”

From rags to a life of dignity Bhavika Bhuwalka Over 30 children have been brought to a shelter home in the last year from the streets and slums of the city.

According to Medha, HR of Vidyaranya, the NGO which rescued 31 children, a lot of children didn’t even know their names when they were brought to the Open Shelter for Children, Medahalli. She said that they were orphans and some among them were mentally challenged.

Puneeth, coordinator of the project, said that the volunteers do field work in the slums and look for destitute children. He added: “Most of these kids have single parents who don’t want to keep them and are more than happy to give them to us. e children are rag pickers and beggars.”

Ibrahim, seven, was recently brought to the shelter. He is being counseled for depression. Accord-

ing to his case file, aer the death of his father, his mother married another man of a different religion.

Puneeth said, “He is a Muslim and is not able to come to terms with everything suddenly changing in his house and being done in a

evening.”

Dhanush, six, is the only boy from among the rescued children who studies at SJES Central School, Medahalli, while the rest of them go to a government school.

Puneeth said, “He insisted that he

Rescued children being taught by Nagesh at the Open Shelter Hindu way. He was found lying on the street, crying aer his father threw him out of the house one

wants to study English so we arranged for fundraisers.” He added that Dhanush and his brothers were

begging for several years in a slum at Majestic.

Manikanta, the elder brother, said, “Dhannu and I were beaten daily by our father. He was a drunkard. Our mother comes to visit sometimes but we don’t miss her anymore.”

Sudha, a computer teacher at Meddahalli Government School, where the rest of the children study, said that every year new students come to the school from Open Shelter. “I have seen them transform from beggars to self respecting young boys and girls.”

Medha, a human resouces worker for Vidyaranya, said the children like their new family and that most of them have forgotten their past lives at the hands of harsh single parents. She added that they are provided with education and a decent living standard has developed over the years.

Amu, the cook, said that she prepares three full meals a day which are relished by the kids.

Hema and Devpriya, whose parents became daily-wage workers aer migrating from Tamil Nadu, are the only two girls present in the shelter as of now.

Both children are completely bald.

Puneeth said, “When they came, their hair had some gruesome kind of disease. It is being treated now and they are on daily medication.”

Ashraf, the landlord of the shelter, said that they are doing a commendable job. “Earlier, neighbourss used to complain of children making noise all the time but I knew that it is for a good cause. My own children are always playing with them.” e NGO has been functioning for the last 22 years. M.C Ramesh, a senior member of Vidyaranya, said that every year, at least 25 children are brought at the shelter.

e Weekly Observer

ursday, September 19, 2013

3

Babus violating law: Ignorance or arrogance?

Public officials claim ignorance of Motor Vehicle Act which requires registration plates in English letters and Arabic numerals Gaurav Kumar

figures shall be displayed.”

as the reason behind not advertis-

Government officials were caught

e government has framed the

on the wrong foot when their ve-

Central Motor Vehicle Rules1989

When pointed towards the in-

hicles parked in state secretariat

which, under section 50(2d) states,

stances of even the police-vehicles

premises were found to violate the

“e letter of the registration mark

violating these rules and the need

Motor Vehicle Act.

shall be in English and the figure

for creating awareness among the

shall be in Arabic numerals.”

enforcing authority, Sambrani said,

About one out of every ten vehicles parked in Vidhan Soudha were found

to

have

‘registration

Even the Karnataka Motor Vehicle Rules1989 state the same.

ing these in media.

“Why should we do that? Aren’t they supposed to know the rules

mark’(RM), commonly known as

Maruthi Sambrani, Joint Com-

number plate, marked solely in

missioner(Enforcement),Transport

None of the drivers of the govern-

Kannada letters and numerals, vi-

Department, said,“ We have asked

ment’s vehicles agreed to comment

fence, violation of which costs Rs

following these officials, starts writ-

olating the Motor Vehicle Act1988

the drivers of the government offi-

on the issue except one who was

100 as a fine.

ing their number in regional lang-

and its attendant Motor Vehicle

cials to change the number plates

not aware of any such rule. He said

A traffic police constable in the

guages then it will become difficult

his boss is a higher official in the

secretariat premises declined to

to trace the cases of hit & run as not

government of Karnataka.

take action against the officials, vi-

all residents or policemen can read Kannada here”, said Pratap.

Kannada registration mark on the vehicle of the Deputy Director of RDPRI, who did not give his name

and laws?”

A vehicle of an unknown Karnataka government official

A Deputy Director from the De-

olating these rules, citing their

partment of RuralDevelopment &

higher positions in the official hier-

Panchayati Raj Institutions, who

archy.

also had the official car bearing

Most of the people interviewed

registration marks written in Kan-

claimed ignorance about any such

nada said that he was not aware of

rule. Basheeruddin, contractor of

any such rule. He even asked his

the Vidhan Soudha parking lot,

driver, who didn’t know either.

said that there is no fine for writing

e Deputy Director said, “I am unaware of any such rule. As many

plates in Kannada and it’s totally legal.

people here are doing it, I too fol-

He said, “When in Maharastra

Rules 1989 as well as Karnataka

violating the rules, but it’s not pos-

lowed them without applying my

people are using Marathi on their

Motor Vehicle Rules1989.

sible to ask the same to higher offi-

mind to the legality of such action.”

RM then what is the problem in

cials as they may get offended.”

He, however, declined to spell out

using Kannada in Karnataka?”

Section 41(6) and 64(d) of Motor Vehicle Act, 1988 empowers central

On the responsibility of the trans-

government to frame rules with re-

port department to create aware-

Bangalore City Traffic Police’s

Khivraj Motors, was among the few

gard to “manner in which and the

ness among people about laws and

(BCTP) website mentions ‘Defec-

who knew about the rule. “ere is

form in which the RM, the letter &

rules, Sambrani cited lack of funds

tive number plate’ as a traffic of-

a safety issue involved. If everyone,

his name.

Pratap, an HR executive in

A police vehicle without registration mark: Enforcer or violater?

Government cheques cashed by street ‘brokers’ Ishan Bhattacharya and Mayuri J Ravi Brokers give instant cash to people holding cheques issued by the government in return for a healthy commission.

Working under the noses of po-

quently use the facility because I re-

count, the broker opens a bank ac-

Munniraju added, “e cash

ceive the cash immediately. Even if

count for him and aer giving the

which we use in this whole opera-

a person doesn’t have a bank ac-

money, they close the account.”

tion is from a bank.”

lice, Munniraju, a broker at Silver

it. It is up to the police and the government.”

A senior police official stationed

But he refused to detail how he

at Silver Jubilee Road, just a short

gets money from the bank. He also

distance from where the brokers

declined to reveal the name of the

operate, said, “Brokers cash govern-

bank.

ment cheques for people who need

Jubilee Road said: "We only cash

On being asked whether he can

money immediately provided they

government cheques. In return we

provide instant cash amounting to

are given a certain amount as com-

get commission ranging between

Rs 3000, he said that it was not a

mission. We cannot take any action

10-20% of the amount mentioned

problem.

against them until a complaint is

in the cheque. Even if you don’t

Jalajakshi N S, 35, Manager of

have a bank account you still get the

State Bank of Patiala said, “e bro-

He added that he believed what

cash.”

kers are cashing government

the brokers are doing is not illegal.

cheques in an illegal manner. We, as

DCP, Central Division, Bangalore

a bank, cannot do anything about

City was not available for comment.

A person using their service, who asked not to be named, said, “I fre-

Broker (circled) one of many cashing in on government cheques

registered.”

e Weekly Observer

ursday, September 19, 2013

4

More machines, fewer mechanics PranayLakshminarasimhan

ing slowly.

e city bus transport corpora-

According to Parvez, the BMTC is

tion has placed an order for ap-

waiting for the go-ahead from the

proximately 4500 new buses

Department of Women and Child

despite there being an acute short-

Development to commence with

age of mechanics.

the hiring procedure. is, he said,

Karnataka Chief Minister, Sid-

is because of certain issues pertain-

daramaiah, recently launched the

ing to reservation for physically

new BIG Trunk bus service of the

challenged people.

BMTC.

However, when contacted, the

e mega project will involve the

women and child development de-

purchase of more than 4500 new

partment said that they weren’t

buses and will cost approximately

aware of any such situation.

Rs. 2900 crores.

Parvez, commenting on the hiring

However, according to the Man-

process, said: “For now we’ve given

aging Director of the BMTC,

the authorization to hire privately;

Anjum Parvez, the bus corporation

both individuals and from firms.

is currently facing an acute shortage

e official hiring process, however,

of mechanics.

which involves hiring from recog-

Parvez said: “We are running

nized agencies, will start in six

short of skilled mechanics working

Understaffing has resulted in an increased workload for these mechanics at the Majestic Bus Depot

months.” He added that the short-

for our depots. ere have been

buses are serviced and repaired. A

It would be nicer if they could em-

age of mechanics wouldn’t be an

some complications with the hiring

mechanic working there, on condi-

On being asked about the work-

pathize with us a little bit.”

immediate problem as the buses

procedure in the last few months.”

tion of anonymity, said: “e

load, he said that there are 60 me-

e BMTC is now looking to hire

lending us a helping hand.”

were yet to arrive.

e Majestic bus station, which is

amount of workload that we get

chanics working in the Majestic

more mechanics. However, the

e Chief Minister’s office, despite

one of the largest bus stations in the

here is huge. It would be easier if we

depot and they have to handle a

process has not yet gathered the re-

repeated attempts, remained un-

city, is also one of the depots where

had more people working here and

total of 220 buses. “is has to stop.

quired momentum and is progress-

available for comment.

Two women drugged and trafficked Karishma Ravindran Two trafficked women rescued from Mumbai’s red light district were brought to an NGO in Bangalore for rehabilitation.

One of the victims belongs to Karnataka and the other hails from Andhra Pradesh. e women were trafficked to Kamathipura, a red light area in Mumbai, and rescued by a foundation there. ey were later brought to a Bangalore NGO, Vidyaranya.

Kolhapure, Deputy Superintendant of police, Anti-Human trafficking unit, said: “We have arrested the trafficker from Majestic in March this year who is identified as a 40-year-old man, Naveen Kumar Shetty. Majestic is a common point for the traffickers to take the victims to Mumbai. One of the victims identified him when we prepared a sketch during our investigation.

Around four to five girls have been trafficked in Majestic and taken to Mumbai’s brothels.”

Kolhapure added that they con-

ducted a decoy operation with the International Justice Mission in Mumbai, where they acted as customers and caught hold of the traffickers involved in the prostitution racket. “We are trying to find out if more people are involved.”

Ashwini (name changed), a 29year-old victim who was rescued in 2009, belongs to Tumkur. According to her, she performed household chores before coming to Vidyaranya. She said: “One day when I was down with fever, a member of the family where I used to work, offered me tea which was spiked. I fell unconscious. Later they took me to Mumbai. Only when the girls at Kamathipura told me, I realized that I was sold for prostitution.”

She added: “I was taken to Mumbai in 2004. Even then I tried escaping a couple of times, but the cops brought me back to Kamathipura. e police are the ones who work hand in glove with these people.”

According to Ashwini, the police received a tip-off regarding the

prostitution racket and they shied her to an NGO in Mumbai, e Rescue Foundation, where she lived for four months before returning to Tumkur.

Vidyaranya is helping the Union Ministry of Women and Child Development in implementing a scheme, Ujjawala, which seeks to

NGO, the number of cases registered against women trafficking in 2011 was 50. In 2012, this number increased to 66 and between January and September this year, 22 cases have already been registered.

Gopal Rao, General Secretary of Ujjawala, said: “One common way in which the women are lured into

The two trafficked victims rescued from Mumbai’s red light district. prevent trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation through awareness programs.

According to statistics of the

prostitution is by promising them respectable jobs. ose who fall prey to such situations are mostly poor or in dire need of earning a handsome amount of money.”

e case of Amisha (name changed), 23, is similar. She was forced into prostitution aer she le her home in Andhra Pradesh following a tiff with her parents and came to Bangalore looking for a job.

According to Amisha, a woman initiated a conversation with her at a bus stop and ended up promising her a job. She said: “I was taken into a small apartment in Venkateshpuram. e woman offered me lunch which was spiked. I felt dizzy in a while and spent a day and half sleeping inside the bus which was taking me to Mumbai.”

Amisha added that she was forced into prostitution in Mumbai’s ‘Bhendi Bazar’ and was there for two months. Aer that, due to repeated police raids in the area, she was transferred to Pune, where she spent the next two years. e police conducted raids in the area, rescued her and shied her to Pune. She lived there for three months and was later brought to Ujjawala in July this year.

e Weekly Observer

ursday, September 19, 2013

5

No social security for domestic workers Aurosmita Acharya More than 500 domestic workers

for domestic workers. However, the

“As per the Minimum Wage Act,

voice their grief. “ere are a total

workers have not got any benefici-

1948, the domestic workers are en-

of 1320 apartments which need to

ary or welfare fund till date.

titled to one holiday a week. e

be taken care of by us.”

working in an apartment building

On July 31, 2013, the complaint

workers in this apartment do not

Geeta Menon of the Stree Jagruthi

do not have any sort of social se-

was registered with the authorities

get any holidays. In fact if they stay

Samiti, who has been working for

curity or welfare fund.

of the labor department. It was fol-

back at home for certain personal

women rights for the last 30 years,

Radha, coordinator of the Do-

lowed by a notice issued to the Res-

reasons they end up losing their

has joined hands with the union to

mestic Worker’s Rights Union, said,

ident Welfare Association (RWA) of

job.”

form the Workers Facilitation Cen-

“e workers from Maruthi Layout,

Rosi, domestic worker and member of Domestic Rights Union

Vasanthapura and Gubbalalu work at the Mantri Tranquil Apartments, Kanakpura Road, without holidays and bonus despite being asked to

salary.”

work for extra hours.”

Shalini, program coordinator,

On July 29, 2013, the domestic

said, “When we initially contacted

workers went on a protest to assert

the RWA requesting them to sort

their rights in accordance with

out the problem, they ignored our

“e Domestic Worker Welfare and

demands.” According to the RWA,

Social Security Act 2010” which

a meeting regarding the issue will

says that every domestic worker

soon be held.

who is 18 years of age, but is not yet

e authorities at the Karmikka

65, and who has been engaged in

Bhavan (labor department) said,

any domestic work for not less than

“Two months have passed since the

90 days during the preceding 12 months shall be eligible for registra-

first notice was served, still there

Domestic Workers Rights Union members protesting in front of the Mantri Tranquil apartment building.

tion as a beneficiary. Section 19 of

has not been much improvement.

Hence, we will again issue a warn-

the act entitles them to the Domes-

the Mantri Tranquil Apartments.

She added that because of increas-

tre (WFC). She said, “Despite the

tic Workers Welfare Fund.

e RWA has been asked to take

ing prices, unavailability of necessi-

labour department’s notice to the

Geeta Menon said, “Inspired by

steps for the betterment and secu-

ties and for the sake of the children,

apartment, we haven’t seen much

the protests the workers of a neigh-

rity of the workers.

they decided to unite and have the

improvement apart from a few

boring apartment have come forth

Domestic Worker’s Rights Union to

houses increasing the workers’

for their rights.”

According to the act, the Karnataka Government has already introduced the social security scheme

Rosi, 32, a domestic worker, said:

ing notice this month.”

New Mayor: We will supply milk to beat malnutrition Anagha Sawant

the child is malnourished or not.

these children. BBMP always con-

health care treatment, out of the

ere is hardly any infection in the

ducts medical check-up camps in

Bangalore’s new city mayor has

3,444, 551 children upgraded to

children living in the slum areas.”

slum areas. We ensure that the

said he will begin supplying free

reach moderate weight category

B. S. Satyanarayana, the newly

camp is set up at regular intervals

milk to the city’s poorest in a bid

and 565 improved to the normal

elected mayor of BBMP, has taken

of two months as per the schedule.

to tackle malnutrition.

weight category in the last two

charge of the city. e Weekly Ob-

We have medical checkups at the

months.

server spoke to him regarding his

health care centre for them. Sec-

strategies to tackle this issue.

ondly, we have planned distributing

B. S. Satyanarayana, elected two weeks ago, said a recent Medical

Newly elected Mayor, B. S. Satyanarayana talks about malnutrition to the Observer.

Aer undergoing the required

ere are 2,320 children still reg-

Check-up Camp conducted by the

istered as suffering from SAM, of

Speaking exclusively to e

milk along with mid-day meal

BBMP had triggered the move.

which 1,051 are suffering from

Weekly Observer, Satyanarayana

schemes in the city. Many families

e camp, held on August 21,

SAM this year. e report does not

said: “About this issue, we have

do have Below Poverty Line (BPL)

found more than 300 children suf-

have update on the remaining 2,328

given a letter to the state govern-

cards. We don’t have a specific an-

fering from Severe Acute Malnutri-

malnourished children . According

ment regarding the supply of milk

swer as to why the children are mal-

tion.

to Dr. Venkatesh, the medical offi-

to the places where these malnour-

nourished. eir health is not

More than 2.6 lakh children were

cer of BBMP, the children are now

ished children reside. Once we re-

properly taken care of and lack of

examined from July 15, 2012 to Au-

in the normal weight category, but

ceive a conformation letter, we will

maintenance is one of the key rea-

gust 21, 2013, of which 3,444 were

they haven’t updated the report.He

start with the milk supply. We also

sons for malnourishment in the

found to be suffering from SAM.

said: “Our duty is to check whether

have health care treatments for

slum areas.”

e Weekly Observer

ursday, September 19, 2013

Ramya househunts as Mandya waits Anand Jain

Exclusive

"How would it be if some un-

being compared with Ambareesh,

known came and started ruling

who was a film actor too, and is

“If she finds a home that suits her

your home? He wouldn't know

now the MLA for the constituency.

and the vaastu, she will come,” said

where is what, how can he rule?"

He had been the MP until 2009.

Suresh, a shopkeeper.

Movie actress Ramya has reas-

said Sunil Kumar, a resident of

sured the people who voted her in

Mandya.

to power that she WILL move to

a student at PES College.

"Ambareesh had built a home

Workers at a hospital said they

here before elections many years

have given her a chance, and if she

6

Events CULTURE

He added: “Casteism, popularity,

back, but on the day the result was

does well they would give her 100

Mandya.

and the media have made her win

announced, he le for Bangalore,"

more chances.

Speaking exclusively to the Weekly

the election. She has no develop-

said Kumar, a businessman. "ese

"She spends around 3 days a week

Observer, the star of movies like

mental intentions.”

people can't live here. Ramya keeps

here. I think she will come. But

Salsa Dance Experience

I will be staying there. ere's no need to doubt that. In fact I've looked at a couple of houses. I will zero in on a place by this weekend.

My office is also getting ready.”

even if she doesn't stay here, she has

Where: No 8, 2nd Floor, Grand Allied

to work. We can only hope she

Plaza Above Nalli Silks, Magrath Road

will," said Renuka, a nurse.

Ramya has confidently responded to this, saying, “I will be staying there. ere's no need to doubt that. In fact I've looked at a couple of houses will zero in on a place by this week end. My office is also getting ready.”

When: Sept. 22 – Oct.20

“

Polladhavan and Singam Puli, was responding to criticism from her own district.

In the build-up to the elections last month the actress, 30, promised voters she would live among them.

But the people of Mandya don’t seem to be holding their breath.

Her promise to live in Mandya is being described as an "election gimmick" and a "film dialogue”.

"Where is she? She hasn't followed what she said. If she were to

“She is a teddy bear the Congress

roaming around, but she can't live,"

has placed for votes. Totally unfit

he said. “Her aims are for Bolly-

for ruling,” said Sanjay, another res-

wood and Hollywood. She can’t un-

ident.

derstand Mandya,” he said.

come, it would happen by now. I

Divya Spandana, also called

“e situation is complicated, but

am upset." K. Ranganath, a security

Ramya, has been a successful ac-

I believe in Ambareesh, he will help

guard said.

tress in South Indian films for 10

Ramya,” said Manju, a shop owner.

“She won and now she has gone.

No use voting these people.

Vote for those who live here,” Sadiq Khan, an auto driver said.

years now. Her political career

Although a majority of the people

started when she joined Youth

is not hoping she would come and

Congress in 2011.

live with them, some have held

Today, she is the Member of Par-

their belief in her promise.

ere is also confusion over the

liament for Mandya constituency,

"Ramya should be given more

actress’ ability to manage her con-

where most people know and talk

time. We waited for Ambareesh,

stituency.

about her. Her career in politics is

now we'll wait for her," said Chitra,

“

I wanted to While Ramya build a is confident cycle shop. I she would went to the be shiing District Com-to missioner and Mandya soon, he approved it. people here do not seem to be He told me to go to Municipality hopeful. office, get the paper work done. It has been three months since then, and nothing happened. Where should I go? ere is no leader to approach. e workers don't work if a leader does not stand and get it done. If they live here, we know where to go. Where can we go otherwise?

- Safir, a cycle mechanic

Time: 8:00 PM – 11:30 PM Entry Fees: Rs. 200

LITERATURE Bangalore Literature Festival he Bangalore Literature Festival, endeavors to bring together some of the biggest names of literary world Where: Crowne Plaza @ Velankani Park | Electronics City, Bangalore When: September 27, 2013

THEATRE International eatre Festival Going Solo - India`s only theatre festival of solo performances launches in October 2013, with shows in Bangalore, Delhi and Mumbai, with 3 shows

Bangalore University organizes its 49th athletic meet

in 3 cities totalling 18 performances across 12 days!

Where:Dyvasandra Industrial Layout Mahadevapura , Whitefield, Bangalore Entry Fees: Rs. 300-750 When: Oct.13 Time: 8:30 PM onwards Kitsch Mandi: Tribal Floral live Where: Princess No. 3, Ramanamaharishi Road Bellary Road,Near Palace Grounds,

Students of Bangalore University during the march past ceremony and St. Anne’s student participants were among those who attended Bangalore University’s 49th annual inter-college athletic meet held at Kanteerva Stadium. Photographs courtesy: Anannya Sarkar.

Sadashivnagar When: September 29 Time: 11:00AM – 11:00PM

Observer Team: Editor– Chitharth Mathivanan Chief Sub Editor– Aurosmita Acharya News Editors–Bhavika Bhuwalka, Nikita Narvekar, Gaurav Kumar Sub Editors– Karishma Ravindran, Pranay Lakshminarasimhan, Bhaskar Dutta Picture Editor– Anagha Sawant Design Desk–Apurva Venkat Reporters– Ishan Bhattacharya, Anannya Sarkar,Mayuri Ravi Emergency Call Services- Neha Singh Proof Readers– Anand Jain , Nibedita Mohanta Email– editor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)