The Observer
An IIJNM publication
Vol. 21, Issue 31
Ignorance and scepticism are preventing people in Karnataka from taking the booster dose | P 2
Thursday, May 12, 2022
https://twitter.com/ observer_weekly Epaper: https://issu.com/ theweeklyobserver/docs Website: http://www. theweeklyobserver.in
Prasanna Gowda joins Congress, will contest against Kumaraswamy from Channapatna | P 4
Mysuru Rd is a nightmare for pedestrians, 2-wheeler riders Potholed road is now slippery following rain
News Briefs Cyclone Asani weakens into deep depression Cyclone Asani which made landfall in coastal Andhra Pradesh on Wednesday night has weakened into a depression over coastal Andhra, said India Meteorological Department. Light to moderate rainfall is likely at many places.
Will amend Constitution: Lankan President
By Tina Freese
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eople walking on Mysuru Road feel they will be blown away when heavy vehicles speed by them. As vulnerable as the pedestrians are riders of twowheelers who struggle to not get hit by buses and trucks on the busy road, now slippery following continuous rain. On Wednesday, a two-wheeler rider died when he was hit by a BMTC bus that was speeding behind him. The scooter went over a bad patch and fell to its left; its rider fell to the right, on the road, and was run over. The road had been completely dug up, making it dangerously slippery. The Kumbalgodu police have detained the BMTC bus driver.
https://facebook.com/ iijnmbangalore
Sri Lankan President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has said steps will be taken to amend the Constitution to re-enact the contents of the 19th Amendment to further empower Parliament. A new Prime Minister will be appointed within this week. A 1-km long stretch of the Mysuru road is riddled with potholes and sludge | Credit: Tina Freese
North Korea reports its first Covid outbreak
The Observer found a 1-km stretch of the road riddled with potholes filled with rainwater. After continuous rain, the road has become sludgy. Pedestrians struggled to cross the road while dodging the potholes and overspeeding vehicles. A scooter skidded on the wet
road on Thursday, but the rider quickly regained control. Ashoka K.M., a head constable at the Kumbalgodu police station, informed The Observer: “Nearly 30 minor accidents have happened in the past one month. Minor collisions between vehicles happen throughout the day. If I
talk about major accidents with injuries, then last month two or three happened. It is mostly because of continuous rain, sludge and overspeeding. The condition of the road is not good.” Commuters are worried about their safety these days. ►Continued on page 4
SC order on sedition law unclear: Kappan’s lawyer
Nurses:We don’t get respect from patients, doctors
Habitat of wild animals shrinks; experts worried
ore than two years into the pandemic, India has a shortage of nursing staff, reports Kashish Sharma. Most medical aspirants choose medicine over nursing. Nurses complain their work does not get the same social recognition as medicine. Most of them are underpaid and overworked. They are also subjected to illtreatment and disrespect by both doctors and patients. On the other hand, many patients, on their part, complain of nurses lacking proper training. India lacks a well-established system to track registered nurses. It needs more investment in the education, training and recognition of nurses. As per WHO, India is in need of 4.3 million more nurses by 2024 to meet the organisational norms. With 1.7 nurses per 1000 population, India falls short. ►Full report on page 2
ith the frequency of wildW life sightings increasing in Bengaluru, experts are worried
By Shristi Achar
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he Supreme Court order putting on hold the sedition law temporarily is ambiguous and provides little relief to accused persons, says the lawyer for Kerala journalist Siddique Kappan and three Kashmiri students. Referring to Clause D of the interim order, lawyer Madhuvan Dutt Chaturvedi informed The Observer: “The order said that trials, appeals and all other proceedings in relation to ‘charges framed’ be kept in abeyance. According to these wordings, for those against whom a charge sheet has been filed but charges haven’t been framed, the court might not consider their cases as valid. While the spirit of the order might be in the right place, the words used are confusing.” About the case of Kappan —arrested when he was on his way to Hathras, UP, to cover the gang
rape and murder of a girl —he said since investigation is not pending given the chargesheet has already been filed, the order won’t benefit him. “Since formal charges have also not been framed, his proceedings will also not continue. It’s just that getting a bail might be a tad easier.” ►Continued on page 4
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over the shrinking of animal corridors and wildlife habitats, reports Saumyangi Yadav. The rapid urbanization in Bengaluru has led to increased human-wildlife conflict, and wild animals like elephants and leopards are facing its consequences. A document of the Karnataka Forest Department shows that more than 2,100 acres of the Bannerghatta National Park
North Korea confirmed its first Covid-19 outbreak on Thursday, calling it the “gravest national emergency” and ordering a national lockdown. It can prove to be a major crisis for the country as it had refused international help with vaccinations and kept its borders shut.
has been encroached. Over 700 cases have also been registered in connection with them. Experts say poor planning and management while expanding the city is limiting food and habitat for wild animals. The forest area is also shrinking increasingly, leading to elephants straying into the city. Due to urban constructions, and the government’s linear infrastructure projects, many animals suffer severe injuries. ►Full report on page 3
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CITY
The Observer Thursday, May 12, 2022
Many say no to booster dose
Say people got Covid even after taking two doses By Chhavi Vohra
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any residents of Karnataka are not keen on taking the booster dose of the Covid vaccine. High price of the dose, decreasing fear of Covid, and scepticism are the probable reasons, experts say. Raunak Sharma, 21, who hasn’t taken the boost er dose, informed The Observer: “People are getting careless now. Covid19 has become a part of our lives. We’re learning to live with it. Also, it’s too much work going to a vaccine centre and taking the vaccine.” Covid cases in India are growing again and a careless attitude can prove dangerous. According to an April 10 Times of India report, the price of a Covishield dose at Apollo hospital, Jayanagar, is Rs 780 while that of a Covaxin dose at NU hospital, Bengaluru, is Rs 1,410. Shivani Kaul, 22, who is sceptical about taking the booster dose, said: “Despite getting two vaccine shots, people still contracted Covid-19 in January. Moreover, now that the booster shot is to be purchased, people have become sceptical whether it is worth their money.”
Citizen’s Voice
Differences in Gandhi clan reflect state of Cong Despite a series of meetings with poll strategist Prashant Kishor, the Congress failed to induct him into the party. Several news outlets reported that Priyanka Gandhi Vadra wanted to grant Kishor more power than her brother desired. This represents the state of the Congress right now. Sourasis Bose
Any marital rape law must have safeguards Delhi High Court has given a split verdict on marital rape. One judge said forcible sexual intercourse with one’s wife above 18 years of age is rape, while another said it’s not rape. Consent is basic fundamental in marriage. You can’t force yourself on others. Amit Vohra
In May, it feels like winter in Bengaluru
I am always surprised by Bengaluru’s weather. One day it is really hot, and the next day it suddenly starts to rain. Right now, it feels like winter here. I don’t know the reason behind these constant fluctuations, but am happy as long as it stays this way. Raunak Sharma
Public health professionals believe that the Covid-19 booster dose should be provided free of cost | Courtesy: Pexels Raghav Chandra, 21, who has taken his precautionary dose, believes people no longer fear the virus. Earlier, people were restless as cases were rising, but now, people no longer care. Many believe the vaccine is ineffective. Nauman Patel, a doctor at Apollo, shared that people aren’t as impatient about the booster dose as they were about the first two doses. “I think people have made up their mind about the vaccine. They deem it ineffective. We can help them understand the importance and working cycle of the dose.” Basil Issac, a doctor at the Government of Karnataka Central War Room, said more than the pricing, it’s a lack of awareness
and lack of fear among people that prevent people from taking the booster dose. Dr Sumedh Kudale, an Urban Routine Immunization Consultant at UNICEF India, said the severity of the disease decreased in the third wave. “Despite the news that Omicron had a spreading capacity more than the first two variants, it still wasn’t life-threatening for many people.” He further suggested that the Public Health Department can generate greater awareness about it in the community.“ The solution is continuous follow-up among the community....” Pankaj K. Paul, External Monitor-Immunization, WHO, explained how taking a booster
dose will further increase the number of antibodies, thus providing longer immunity from the virus. There are various reasons for people not taking the dose. “Firstly, comparatively less initiative has been taken by the administration. Secondly, people lack awareness and knowledge regarding the need for the booster dose. Thirdly, side-effects among the population due to initial doses have created resistance and stigma towards the booster dose,” Paul said. Jasween Kaur Bhatia, a public health professional from Bengaluru, agrees that the booster dose should be made mandatory by the government. “The first two doses were a mandatory thing. People were scared they would be restricted to schools, colleges and on trips. So people got the doses.” She added that booster dose should be made free. According to a Times of India report, the Karnataka government is expected to take a call on administering the third dose free of charge after PM Modi’s video conference with the CMs to review the situation. Pressure is mounting on the state government to give the vaccine for free. Delhi, Bihar and Haryana have announced a free third dose, following which various sections of society are putting pressure on the Karnataka government to follow the same suit. chhavi.v@iijnm.org
Covid Tracker
Karnataka New Cases
167
Active Cases
1,943
Total Cases
39,49,133
New Vaccinations
9,406 Total Vaccinations
10,68,24,311
India New Cases
2,827
Active Cases
19,067
Total Cases
44,31,13,413
New Vaccinations
14,83,878 Total Vaccinations
1,90,67,50,631
We are overworked, underpaid and not treated properly, complain nurses ‘Undergraduates are given more respect than us’ By Kashish Sharma
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urses often do not get the same social recognition as doctors and are often subjected to ill-treatment by their seniors and patients. Priyanka S, a senior OT technician at MENTS hospital, informed The Observer that she would never dream of making her daughter a nurse. “I am doing this job just for… money. We paramedics, whether technicians or nurses, are not treated any better than sweepers. There is no respect in this profession,” Priyanka complained. Even the undergraduate medical students get more respect from patients than thenurse, one of the nurses informed.. Shreyas R, a nurse at a private hospital in Bengaluru, said that he earned more as a delivery agent than earns now. “After working for more than eight hours, I earn less than Rs 20,000 a month. We don’t even feel confident in saying we work
In Karnataka, there are nearly 45,000 nurses, out of which only 13,000 nurses had received their unique identity till last year | Courtesy: Pexels as nurses,” he said. He informed The Observer that there are only six nurses at his hospital. While he has been trained as an OT technician, he works as a nurse. At his previous workplace, the undergraduate and the postgraduate doctors were cold towards him. “They never used to pass even a smile at us.” Thahira G, a newly appointed nurse, has done her graduation in nursing. “My father is a pharmacist. Doing medical takes a lot of time and resources. I couldn’ t afford to be a doctor,” she said. Sonia Chandok, a teacher, said
when she took her unconscious mother to a hospital, there were no nurses to help her. “There was just one male nurse, who came and ruthlessly shifted my mother to a stretcher.” Nurses often lack training and they are insensitive, she added. Dr Shivakumar, a physician in ESIC Medical College, in Bengaluru said: “Being underpaid, over worked and not being treated as equals… are some of the reasons behind more and more nurses looking for other job opportunities abroad.” As per the WHO, India is in need of 4.3 million more nurses
by 2024 to meet the organization ’s norms. With 1.7 nurses per 1,000 population, India falls short of the WHO recommended 3 nurses per 1,000 population. As per a Deccan Herald report, The Indian National Council introduced a Nurses Registration and Tracking System ( NRTS) to empower nurses with National Unique Identity number that will enable the states to know the exact number of nurses practising. In Karnataka, there are nearly 45,000 nurses, out of which only 13,000 had received their unique identity till last year. kashish.s@iijnm.org
The Observer Thursday, May 12, 2022
ENVIRONMENT
NGO to plant 60,000 trees on plot that was once trash dump
To use Japanese technique to create a forest By Arshreet Singh
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ayTrees, a non-profit organisation, is planting more than 60,000 trees using the Miyawaki technique on a 25-acre plot in Bingipura on the outskirts of Bengaluru. The land used to be a garbage dumping ground until 10 ago when the BBMP decided to transform it into a park by covering it with soil and fencing it on all sides. The BBMP was unable to finish the project and the plot started attracting miscreants, according to a local. Shivam Chauhan, a senior project manager at SayTrees, said that this will be their largest project in Bengaluru. “We are planting more than 60,000 trees using the Miyawaki technique. We will use 50 to 60 species of canopy trees, shrubs, flowering
Quiz
1.What type of chocolate is used in a Milky Bar? 2.Which country is the largest producer of cacao? 3.In which country was milk chocolate invented? 4.Which animal can you see on the Toblerone logo? 5.Which brand owns Lindor? 6.What is in the centre of a Ferrero Rocher? 7.Which chocolate egg always has a small game inside? 8.What was Thorntons’ slogan until 2000? 9.What is the largest chocolate manufacturer in the world? 10.Which M&M’s is the sarcastic one? 11.In which country was Nutella invented? 12.In which shop of Hogsmeade did Remus Lupin buy chocolate for Harry Potter? 13.Which American company makes Snickers? 14.Which chocolate bar has the same name as our galaxy? 15.Which Cadbury confection is in the shape of a real egg? 16.In which country does Cadbury make “Crispy Crunch”? 17.In the Goonies, which chocolate bar does Chunk offer to Sloth? 18.Who portrayed Willy Wonka in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory? 19. Which chocolate brand by Cadbury, is available in four flavours—Raisin Apricot, Orange Almond, Cashew Appeal, Almond Treat, and Rum Raisin? ►Answers on page 5
Native species of Karnataka will be planted | Courtesy: SayTrees and fruiting trees to simulate a natural forest. All the species will be native to Karnataka,” he said. Each of it costs Rs 350 to Rs 380including two years of maintenance and the cost of a gardener and security persons. Most of this will be paid from CSR funds. The NGO had to get permission from the deputy commissioner and BBMP before starting the project. “The villagers are supportive as they are helping
us in the planting process.” The organisation has created more than 100 urban forests in India, with more than 50 percent of them around Bengaluru. While most of them are on small patches of land, the one in Bingipura is an exception. The Miyawaki technique is named after Japanese botanist Akira Miyawaki, a recipient of the 2006 Blue Planet Prize. The technique involves planting two to four trees per square metre,
using 15 to 30 different species, creating a dense forest. According to a report in Urban Forests, it takes about 200 years for a forest to recover on its own. With this method, a similar result is achieved in 20 years. Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy, who has presented over 150 technical papers on tropical forests and authored a number of books, praised the Miyawaki method. “This method is very popular in urban areas. Using it, native urban environments can be created much quicker. “Forests have uncountable benefits. They beautify the land and lower surface temperatures Forests improve air quality, decrease noise pollution, and help with soil erosion. With rapid deforestation and urbanisation all around us, they provide an excellent habitat for birds and other small animals,” he said. SayTrees, registered as an NGO in 2007,has been working in 13 states towards reforestation, waste management, and water and well rejuvenation. arshreet.s@iijnm.org
3 Across the city
Sunny Tunes ft. Levitate, Hard Rock Cafe Bengaluru, May 15 at 1PM Angrezi Bar, Desi Jokes,Church Street, Bengaluru, May 12 at 8.30 PM Karaoke NIghts ft. KJ Naveen, Hard RockCafe, Bengaluru, May 18 onwards Skandagiri Sunrise Trek by namma Trip, Meeting point at Gopalan Arcade Mall, Bengaluru, May 12 HOT SINCE 82, Music Show, GYLT Bengaluru, May 15 at 3.00 PM Thursday Live ft. Skreen-6, Hard Rock Cafe, Bengluru, May 12 at 9.00PM Go Wild in Dandeli By NammaTrip, Meeting at Yeshwanthpur Metro Station, May 6 -June 24 The View From Above Drama, Ranga Shankara, Bengaluru, May 15 Kannada Stand-Up Comedy Open Mic, Just BLR, Bengaluru, May 14 OFFBEAT—2022, Chowdiah Memorial Hall, Bengaluru, May 14 at 6.00PM Vasu Dixit Collective, Windmills Craftworks, Bengaluru, May 13- May 14 Sarjapur Comedy Nights, Kalagarh, May 14
Unplanned urbanization increasing human-wildlife conflicts, say experts Forest area has decreased over the years
By Saumyangi Yadav
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engaluru city has been witnessing an increasing number of wildlife sightings. Experts believe the shrinking wildlife habitat and animal corridors are the primary reasons for the increasing number of human-wildlife conflicts. Joseph Hoover, a former member of the Karnataka State Wildlife Board, explained why elephants, leopards and other wild animals are being spotted around the city. “Elephants are bound to stray into the city as elephant corridors are being encroached upon by people. Because of that, the elephants tend to come into these rural and urban areas for habitat and food. The government should ensure these corridors are restored. These are age-old corridors; humans came later.” In January, an elephant was spotted in Kengeri which was once an elephant corridor. The incident caught the attention of many wildlife experts. Most development projects the government undertakes, such as the building of linear infrastructure projects, is destroying these wildlife habitats. “It is not Kar-
Development projects eat into wildlife habitats | Courtesy: Pexels nataka’s problem; it is also happening in other states like Tamil Nadu and Kerala. It is entire South India’s problem. Today it is an elephant, tomorrow it will be a leopard, then it will be a tiger,” Hoover added.. A report in The New Indian Express, quoting documents of the Karnataka Forest Department, said more than 2,100 acres of the Bannerghatta National Park (BNP) is encroached and over 700 cases are registered in connectiont with them. Wild animals other than elephants are facing the consequences of unplanned urbanization. Nawaz Sharif, general manager of People for Animals, a wildlife refuge in Bengaluru, said: “We find so many snakes with spine fractures and other injuries because of the mindless and unplanned JCB construc-
tion around the city. We also get complaints that snakes are getting spotted in apartments. It is not the snake that has strayed into the house but houses have been built on their habitat.” Owing to the rapid urbanization and an increasing population, human-animal conflicts have increased. An article in Deccan Herald said Bengaluru’s area increased by 92.1 per cent and population by 37.8% during the years 1991-01. The spatial expansion of the urbanized area increased from 226 sqkm in 1995 to 710 sqkm in 2001. “We are limiting these animals’ habitat and food sources with the rapid expansion of the city. To avoid that, it is necessary Bangalore gets a proper urbanization plan,” Sharif added. Despite the expansion, effective planning of the city remains
an important question. . Beruj Kumar Swastik, a civil engineer and urban planner at Urban Landscape Design Studio, informed The Observer: “Bangalore is expanding every month. The outskirts of the city, earlier referred to as suburbs, are now fully urbanized. Not only this, if there are apartments on the outskirts of the city, there will also be Metro connectivity stores, and restaurants. All these things cannot be planned out fast.” Experts believe that industrialization and urbanization should be kept in check in order to preserve the ecosystem. Dr A.N. Yellappa Reddy, an environmentalist, said: “There is no way out of this. An increasing number of people need more space, so they need to expand the city. But unplanned urbanization will affect the balance that we are supposed to have. Mananimal conflict is bound to happen, but if we keep shrinking the forest areas like this, it would also contribute to climate change and other problems.” As per a Deccan Herald report the experts believe that the Bengaluru-Mysuru Expressway, which is set to be open to public in a year, will pose a serious threat to wildlife in two forests situated between Bengaluru and Ramanagara. This risk highlighted when a young male leopard was found dead near the project area in April. saumyangi.y@iijnm.org
4
CITY
Anti-conversion Bill is a BJP trick, says DKS Said Bill exists to distract from other scams
Lawyers are doubtful over future of accused under sedition law
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By Swarali Bodas
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resident of the Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee Committee D.K. Shivakumar on Thursday attacked the BJP government over the the anti-conversion Bill, saying it is not needed. Addressing a press conference at the KPCC office, Shivakumar said: “This is just a diversion tactic of the BJP government to divert from the PSI scam and all other corruption scams.” The Congress announced 100 members of different political parties from the Channapatna constituency, including JD(S) and BJP, joined it. Prasan P Gowda, one of the entrants, said he was approached by H.D. Kumaraswamy to contest from Doddaballapura, but he refused and joined the Congress instead. He is contesting from the Channapatna seat and
The Observer Thursday, May 12, 2022
Congress also announced that 100 members of different political parties from Channapatna constituency joined it | Credit: Swarali Bodas plans to launch his election campaign on Friday. Speaking to The Observer he said: “I decided to join Congress because it doesn’t discriminate (between Hindus and Muslims). I am pretty confident of two things: Me winning the Channapatna seat and Congress winning the next assembly elections.” Chanappatna constituency comes under Ramanagara district, which is under Bengaluru Rural Lok Sabha Constituency. In the 2018 polls, , Kumaraswamy won the seat, defeating
CP Yogeshwar of the BJP and HM Revanna of the Congress. On May 8, many top Congress leaders joined the BJP. MLA Pramod Madhwaraj joined BJP in the presence of CM Basavaraj Bommai. With him, MLC Sandesh Nagaraj, former state minister Varthur Prakash, former MP K B Krishnamurthy, former MLA Manjunath Gowda, former IRS officer Lakshmi Ashwin Gowda, and Congress leader from Mandya Ashok Jayaram joined the ruling party. swarali.b@iijnm.org
KUMARASWAMY ADDRESSES JANATA JALADHARE CAMPAIGN RALLY IN GANDHINAGAR
►Continued from page 1 ith regard to the Kashmiri students’ case, Dutt said: “A chargesheet in their case has been filed without the cognizance of the State. So, technically, their case does not exist in the eye of law, but the magistrate has continued the file and given 16th May as the date for an order. Though they have been bailed, the future of their case remains uncertain.” The students – Arsheed Yusuf, Inayat Altaf Sheikh and Showkat Ahmed Ganai – were arrested in Agra for allegedly raising “proPakistan slogans” after an IndiaPakistan cricket match. Trideep Pais, who represents former JNU student Umar Khalid, also accused of sedition, refused to comment. Sudipto Sircar, senior Supreme Court advocate, said while the interim order is welcome, those accused of sedition have also been charged under laws like the UAPA. “The court might not invoke (Section) 124A now, but other sections included in their charge sheet might be. Trials could proceed for those sections.
Additionally, for those awaiting bail, they would only have a good case if they have been charged with just 124a and nothing else. Otherwise, they may not have much chance.” Sircar was part of the Editor’s Guild team that drafted one of the petitions against the sedition law. Nizam Pasha, an assisting lawyer for Kapil Sibal, said the future of these laws is not certain. “We don’t really know what the intention behind the order is, neither can know what the Centre is planning. One needs to be a party insider to make something of this. Also, it is just one section which has been paused while similar laws in other sections still exist. So it might not be of much help presently.” shristi.a@iijnm.org
2-wheeler riders most vulnerable in B’luru
The roads have become sludgy due to persistent construction works going on, as well as rain. Speeding vehicles on the road add to the woes of pedestrians and two-wheelers riders | Credit: Tina Freese
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More than 300 people, including former CM H.D. Kumaraswamay, gathered at Annamma Temple, Gandhinagar, to participate in a Janata Jaladhere campaign, conducted by the JD(S). The campaign will conclude on May 13 with a Ganga aarti. | Credit: Arunima Bharadwaj
►Continued from page 1 ishu Kumar, 45, who travels by bike on the road, said: “Construction work has ruined the road, and rain has made matters worse. Twowheelers slip easily on muddy roads and are at high risk. Potholes are also a problem. We can only hope that the work ends as soon as possible.” Sandeep Gowda, a security guard in a building on the road, faces a similar problem. “I walk on the road very often to come to work. The road is a mess; potholes on the road create problems; and then there are so many diversions. It is extremely risky to travel on this road.”
Autorickshaw driver Babu S said: “I drive up and down the road the whole day. Every day I witness accidents. Countless minor collisions and scooters slipping incidents occur. It is quite common and very risky.” P Radhika, a pedestrian, said: “Crossing this road is an adventure.. The vehicles are always speeding, and with the rain it becomes even more difficult.” According to the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB), Bengaluru is among the cities to have the highest number of road accidents. Bengaluru city recorded 643 road accident deaths in the year 2020-21. tina.f@iijnm.org
Tunnelling workers are the real assets, says Chief Minister Says challenges in the field have increased
By Anwesha Singh
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hief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Thursday praised workers involved in the tunnelling and underground construction. Speaking at the NIRMANA 2022 conference,he said:“ Tunnelling started with transportation.... Rail, road, gas, water and so on. The needs of man have increased than before and it is marvellous to see how technology has grown.” “The contribution of workers in this sector is much more than (that of) anybody. They have taken it up risking their lives ,gone ahead and constructed (tunnels) to the perfection, and learned the art of underground construction.... The men involved are real assets.” The field of underground construction is not new, but the technology used for underground construction has changed and
At the conference, Bommai spoke about the challenges faced by the tunnelling and underground construction sector | Credit: Anwesha S developed as a response to the challenges faced. About the challenges in the tunnelling and underground sector, he said the man has had to cut down barriers, be it mountains or seas.It is the man’s adventurous nature that has helped him to overcome these various barriers. “The challenges are geological,
geographical, and handling of the wastes generated during the construction. Therefore, a special scientific method is necessary to overcome these challenges.” Bommai said Karnataka has had tunnels since the 1970s. The Bangalore Metro Rail Corporation Ltd. (BMRCL) has been doing a lot of tunnelling work since then. “Tunnelling in
a city or metro is challenging.... We have to take care of lot of things....Therefore, challenges have increased and so have the technologies.” Institutions and agencies in the field of underground construction and tunnelling should actively engage with the government in terms of technology, management and timely construction. “We should all work together to make a developed nation.” Bommai praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of Atmanirbhar Bharat and hailed the construction of tunnels in Jammu and Kashmir and northeast India, which have difficult terrain. A report in The Indian Express said BMRCL’s tunnel boring machine (TBM) Urja, drilling between the Cantonment station and Shivajinagar stations, achieved a breakthrough last year. Urja has drilled at a depth of 855 metres for over a year now and was the first TBM to achieve a breakthrough on Namma Metro’s Pink Line from Kalena Agrahara to Nagawara in Bengaluru (21 km). anwesha.s@iijnm.org
Low salaries and lack of hikes leave crew of govt buses demoralized They work for 12 hours; Covid hit BMTC hard
By Tina Freese
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hen you enter a state transport bus in Bengaluru, the first thing you see is a conductor trying to find his way through the crowd in the bus so he can sell tickets. He stumbles from one place to another while wiping his sweating face. This is his everyday routine; it makes him tired not only physically but also mentally. State transport workers have not had a hike in their salaries since 2020. This has induced stress and anxiety among bus drivers and conductors. Shankar Gowda has given nearly two decades of his life working as a conductor. He wakes up every morning for a long day of hard labour. He thinks he doesn’t get paid enough. “I started working for just Rs 2,000. Since 2020, there has not been any increase in our salaries. The price of everything has doubled since 2020,” he said. The struggle of managing the household with such little money
Workers are not getting pay hikes as BMTC suffered severe losses due to the pandemic | Credit: Tina Freese causes him stress and anxiety. He feels exhausted because of excessive work. Ravindra M, a BMTC driver, faces similar struggles. “My kids go to school and I have a family to feed. The salary that the corporation gives is extremely low. I hardly get Rs 15,000 in hand a month. I can only hope our protests all yield some favourable results.” Basawaraj, another driver, faces financial difficulties too. “We work for more than 12 hours a day. If we take the bus back to the depot even an hour early, they reduce Rs 200 from our salary. We work so hard, still don’t get the benefit of it.” M.N. Sreehari, founder and
chairman, Indian Smart City Development Organisation and retired traffic adviser, “Every person in a government job gets an increase every year, but what has happened with the BMTC is that it is in severe losses. The corporation is facing a lot of problems because of a decrease in revenue. The government should give some kind of financial help to the corporation. These workers work for so many hours a day. Their physical and mental health is of utmost importance. Lack of salary hike is bound to cause mental and emotional stress and anxiety among them.” The mental health of these workers does not get much attention from the corporations
either. “The government holds an hour of counselling once a year or quarter, but I feel that is not enough. They go through a lot of stress. At least three to four days of therapy should be given to help them manage their stress.” he added. T. Madaiah, PA to BMTC’s Chief Traffic Manager, said that the corporation has been incurring of losses since the pandemic started. “The corporation is short of funds. It (pay) was supposed to be increased in 2020, but heavy losses have delayed it. The corporation will be looking at it as soon as possible.” In 2021, Bangalore Mirror reported that the BMTC and KSRTC had no money to pay the salaries of employees due to the pandemic. The workers protested recently against the government demanding a pay rise. According to a report in The New Indian Express, 100 BMTC employees who were suspended for protesting were reinstated. But the union maintained that more than 600 BMTC drivers had not been reinstated. According to another report in The Hindu , the reinstated employees have to follow some conditions. They will not get any promotions and forgo all increments and benefits. tina.f@iijnm.org
5 This Day, That Year
On this day in 1638, Emperor Shah Jahan commissions construction of the Red Fort in Delhi. Named for its massive enclosing walls of red sandstone, it is adjacent to an older fort, the Salimgarh, built by Islam Shah Suri in 1546, with which it forms the Red Fort Complex.
Quote
If only the best birds sang, the forest would be silent. -Henry van Dyke
Weather
Maximum temperature:28 °C Minimum temperature:21 °C Humidity: 78% Wind: 23 km/h Precipitation: 60%
Quiz Answers
1.White Chocolate 2.Ivory Coast 3.Switzerland 4.Bear 5.Lindt 6.A hazelnut 7.Kinder Surprise 8.Chocolate Heaven since 1911 9.Mars 10.Red 11.Italy 12.Honeydukes 13.Mars 14.Milky Way 15.Crème Egg 16.Canada 17.Baby Ruth 18.Johnny Depp 19. Temptations
CITY
The Observer Thursday, May 12, 2022
Team Observer Editor: Chhavi Vohra Reporters: Tina Freese, Kashish Sharma, Swarali Bodas, Arshreet Singh, Anwesha Singh, Saumyangi Yadav, Chhavi Vohra Copy-editors:Simran Sharma, Saumyangi Yadav, Ayndrila Banerjee, Shristi Achar Page Layout: Simran Sharma, Saumyangi Yadav, Ayndrila Banerjee, Chhavi Vohra, Shristi Achar Photo editors: Tina Freese, Anwesha Singh, Saumyangi Yadav, Chhavi Vohra, Simran Sharma, Ayndrila Banerjee, Kashish Sharma, Swarali Bodas Supplements:Kashish Sharma, Simran Sharma
Society Shade Gray of Constitutional Morality 6
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The Observer Thursday, May 12, 2022
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Ambiguity about what is art and what is not leaves room for misinterpretation, writes Kashish Sharma
casual conversation about the movie, ‘Kabir Singh’ and ‘Arjun Reddy’ infuriated MahimaLalwani, who is a 24 –year old Literature student in Agra. A comment on the actors’ performance in the film triggered her feminist self. She thought that nothing about the films was inspirational. A similar strong response came from Mrunmayee Kulkarni, a 28year-old student. The name of the film’s actor was sufficient for taking her back to his bad representation in the movie. The movie was a portrayal of toxic love and toxic- masculinity, according to the audience. The scene which involved the leading actor hitting the actress became the center of an intellectual war. “The actress had no say in any decision. She was shown as a clueless creature at the mercy of a toxic lover,” said Lalwani. The nature and purpose of art continue to scratch the heads of many as the constitution falls short of defining public morality and art. The question of art as an imitative or as a directive expression remains a question mark for the society where conflict arises at every step. As per Article (19) of the Indian Constitution, every individual is entitled to freedom of speech and expression unless it harms the sovereignty and morality of
A screengrab from the film ‘Kabir Singh’ the state. The freedom of expression along with the freedom to practice any profession provides a good space for artistic works to exist but falls short of defining their purpose. As per clause (a) of the same article, morality or decency is left to be scaled in relation to the standards set by the society. When the scale is subjective, the way one perceives art will change from time to time. Artistic forms both old and new derive most of their consensus from old philosophers who tried defining it in their way. Where Plato called art as ‘thrice removed from reality, Aristotle called it as an ‘imitation’ of life. In India, Natya Shastra, a book by Bharatmuni, had laid all the stones for Indian dramatics. The author attempted to define
the purpose of art which was to provide the aesthetic pleasure of transcendental value. Indian Poetics, in some way, vaguely brought art in a close association with religion and it started finding its purpose in the instructions along with pleasure. The silence of the Indian Constitution on the concept of decency and obscenity has thrown the ball between two courts where art is trying to find its meaning in a concept that differs from one person to the other. Going by the ancient philosopher’s words, movies like Kabir Singh can be taken as an imitation of the real world where domestic violence and toxic relationships co-exist. But when viewed under the lens of directive art, this piece of art has a
strong tendency to pollute young minds who fail to see the actual distinction between the real world and the reel world. In an interview, the accused actor told The Outlook, “ Kabir Singh was just a character that was written in a certain way, and that’s why the character behaved in a particular way.” On the other hand, ‘Jersey’, an upcoming film whose trailer shows the leading actress hitting the actor, fails to get such a strong response from public. “Morality is inherent. It is within us and we know it,” said Advocate Sujan Singh.who works in Allahbad High Court. “What is moral or what is not moral, we draw this consensus from the percentage of people who are on either side of the coin. You must have noticed that how a film is partially banned in certain places andsome there is a complete ban,” he continued. Movies like ‘Tandav’ and ‘Padmavat’ which faced a lot of opposition take one back to the close association of art with religion and it is not seen as an independent work. The concept of artistic license often bows down in front of a small percentage of people who often decide to take morality into their hands. While ‘Tandav’ involves a Muslim man named Shiva, some instances seem like bad humour
directed towards Hindu gods and goddesses. What can hurt public sentiment has become a subjective term with no legality attached to it. This explains the emerging cancel culture in the country where strong responses are directed towards controversial art forms without analyzing them in the legal context, “It is actually so creepy. It must not go ahead like this. It looks more like a condom endorsement act rather than a mangalsutra ad,” said Yogita Dhanwani, a young teacher from Surat, Gujarat for the ad that promotes the Hindu intimate jewellery. Accoding to the advocate Anagha Kulkarni of Bombay High Court, morality is an internal code of what values one prioritize. A society’s common morals are necessary for the society. On asked whether Art is defined in the Constitution, she replied that the Constitution does not define art. Works which the law thinks are detrimental to the overall peace of the society and which go against the established moral code get censored. When asked that how the court of law can challenge something which it fails to define, she said that the law is meant to uphold general order. If any speech, painting, music or literature goes against it, the law censors it. kashish.s@iijnm.org
Love in the times of moral policing R
Many youngsters have been harassed by the police and radical groups in the name of morality, reports Simran Sharma
ashima K, a student, felt frustrated by the way some random stranger came up to her and told her to behave properly. She, along with her guy friend, were sitting on a park bench when a middle-aged man beckoned her. Seeing him calling her, she went up to him only to be morally policed. “Is this how you should behave in public places. We know girls like you roam around with boys and spoil our culture,” he told her. Morality is an ambiguous concept as its definition is quite subjective. When someone crosses the threshold of morals defined by the society, they are subjected to moral policing. This culture has seen a rise in recent times. Many youngsters have been harassed by the police and radical groups in the name of morality. Kavya Singh, a student, was travelling through the metro when a middle-aged lady kept staring at her. “I was in wearing a short dress and this lady kept staring at me. I could sense that she was judging me for my whole existence. She did not say anything to me but she made me feel so embarrassed as if I had done something wrong by wearing
Morality, in India, is an ambiguous concept and its definition differs from person to person | Courtesy: Pexels that dress.” She added that she had faced many other such experiences in the past as well. She feels that such instances leave a bad mark on the psyche and this makes them guilty of something they have not done. The Observer talked to many youngsters only to find out that most of them had similar stories to tell. A young man talking to a woman is looked at as something immoral by many. Many of the youngsters have been harassed and threatened by police authorities in name of a PDA.
Advocate Anagha Kulkarni explained the legality involved in PDA. She told the Observer: “PDA is not legal in India. It’s punishable under IPC 294. Public Display of affection acts is an ‘obscene act’ of annoyance to the public. It includes uttering obscene words, singing obscene songs in public places. Obscenity is often defined as impure, lewd behavior. The charge of obscenity is judged in the PDA case by observing, whether impure or lecherous thoughts are aroused in minds of the public.”
23-year-old Rihan Choudhary narrated a similar incident. “ I was with my girlfriend in a car and we were waiting as it was raining badly. We were merely sitting there and the car was parked by the roadside. Two policemen came and knocked at the window. They told me to come out of the car and started asking me my parents’ phone number. I remember them saying ‘ give us 500 and we will let you go otherwise we will charge you for petty offenses ’. They were charging us under PDA offenses.” He added that he knew many such cases where police have misused their power to earn money but this was the first time something like this had happened with him. Another such incident happened with a young couple. Priya( name changed) was shocked when a man started swearing because she was standing with her boyfriend. “I was standing outside my PG with my boyfriend and we were just talking to each other. There is an ATM beside my PG where we were standing. A middle-aged man entered the ATM and when he came out, he took out his phone and started making a video and also started
shouting-‘ what are you both doing here and does your family know about you both’. He started swearing. It was so bad that we had to leave that place I feel this was wrong. The actions of that person were not at all correct. People look down at couples as if standing in public, holding hands is a crime.” He further added that society has a certain way of looking at a relationship between a man and woman. If what has been shown to them does not fit in their definition then that would be considered outrageous behavior. Many youngsters have faced moral policing in different forms. Anisha K. remembers how she asked to wear her dupatta properly . “ This makes me question the entire concept of modernity,” Youngsters have faced the brunt of moral policing the most. PDA laws have been misused by police authorities for their personal gains. People have accepted this as a problem but not much has been done to solve it. The law does not clearly define morality and obscenity as a concept and thus people have used these concepts as it suits them. simran.s@iijnm.org