Theweeklyobserver issue 21

VOL 13 ISSUE 21 Tuesday, January 21 , 2014

Land access row leaves farmer on road to ruin PRANAY LAKSHMINARASIMHAN

A farmer in Kengeri has been facing opposition from a former government employee for the last two years in his effort to build a road leading up to his farm.

Prashant, 30, who owns a one-acre-large piece of farmland in Kengeri, needed to build a road to ensure that he could move heavy machinery and equipment like tractors and tools in and out of his farm.

But he wasn’t allowed to do so by Chikkanarasimaiah, a retired revenue secretary who moved into a house on the adjacent plot.

According to the Bangalore Development Authority (BDA) layout drawn up for the area, the vacant strip of land behind Chikkanarasimaiah’s house is meant for Prashant to construct a road on. But the former government employee opposed Prashant’s efforts to do so by complaining and blocking the entrance to the pathway.

As a result, the farmer claims he has incurred a loss of more than Rs. 3 Lakh in the last two years, with two full plantations of Ragi wasted in the process. He was forced to seek other means of earning a livelihood, despite owning a farm.

“How can I function as a farmer if I cannot build a road leading up to my farm?” asked Prashant, standing next to his farm, an inheritance that has been passed on in his family for more than four generations. “e only reason for two of my complete plantations getting destroyed was because I couldn’t bring a tractor to plough the field aer planting the seeds.”

He added that despite repeated requests and pleas, Chikkanarasimaiah didn’t permit Prashant to construct the necessary road and complained that all the loose sand and noise resulting from the process will cause him “inconvenience.”

When Chikkanarasimaiah refused to budge, Prashant filed a complaint with the BDA. However, he said, there was no action taken against the former government employee. is forced Prashant to seek outside assistance

Prashant at the strip of land adjacent to Chikkanarasimaiah’s house which he claims is earmarked for a road and he went to Vincent, a Right to Information (RTI) activist based in Kengeri, for help.

“He is a hard-working farmer who has a rightful claim to the land in question. e law states that every farm must have a pathway leading up to it to facilitate the transport of heavy machinery such as tractors,” said Vincent. “I have now helped him file another complaint and this time I have to make sure that his plea is heeded,” he added.

Farmer arrested for allegedly raping neighbor’s 15-year-old daughter PAGE 3

Prashant, whose farming operations have now come down to a dozen plants of spinach and radish, has now been forced to rely primarily on dairy farming for his livelihood. “But the milk from a dozen cows isn’t enough to feed my family and maintain my land,” he said. “is land has belonged to my family for more than a hundred years now. I just hope that I get assistance from the authorities as soon as possible so that I can start farming in earnest once

again. Otherwise, sustaining myself like this will become impossible over time,” he added.

Sources from the BDA, under the condition of anonymity, confirmed that Prashant’s complaint had been received and that it will now be taken under advisement.

But they refused to comment on when the problem will be solved.

Chikkanarasimaiah, despite repeated attempts, remained unavailable for comment.

Paralympics champion waits in despair for a job promised to him by the CM six months ago PAGE 4

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Private hospitals demand hike in tariff under healthcare schemes

Yeshasvini and Vajpayee Arogyasree scheme were introduced in 2003 PRUTHA BHOSLE Private hospitals are demanding a price hike in a health benefits scheme and claim they are being flooded by claimants. e claims have angered health care trust executives who say the hospitals are free to opt out any time they want.

Health care schemes introduced to help poor farmers holding BPL cards afford their medical expenses are being hijacked by private hospitals in the city, according to scheme organizers, who say privateers want to be able to charge farmers more

for life-saving operations.

R M Nataraj, Chief Executive Officer of Yeshasvini Health Care Trust said, “is scheme was introduced in 2003 by the state government.

Until then, farmers had to be dependent on money lenders for major medical ailments such as heart surgeries and other major surgeries. e cost used to be high and farmers were unable to meet the expenditure for treatment. erefore, this scheme came into being in order to help farmers financially for their treatment.”

He added, “Every year private hospitals demand a revision of tariff under health schemes. We never

begged these hospitals to be a part of this scheme; they themselves volunteered to accept BPL card holders so why complain now?”

Karnataka State Hospitals Forum (KPHF) comprises 492 network hospitals that avail medical services under Yeshasvini and Vajpayee Arogyasree schemes for BPL card holders in the state. e members of this forum have alleged rampant issuance of BPL cards has led to a major crisis in healthcare.

Dr. Prashant B Katakol, coordinator of KPHF said, “ese schemes pay less than the actual procedure costs and the government has not revised its charges since its inception 11 years ago. Secondly, Yeshasvini scheme was started for the poor farmers but the benefits are reaped by the rich farmers of the cooperative society.”

He added, “Due to the increase in the number of BPL card holders, hospitals are forced to treat them within a limited claim amount, which mostly leads to loss for the hospital as well as the government. If this continues, private and public hospitals would soon die out.”

To this R M Nataraj said, “Management Support Service Provider (MSP) has revised the tariff in 2012 and also several times before that. e false claims by the members of KPHF are absolutely unacceptable. We would never force people into our program. If they are not satisfied with how things

State bus company involved in over 700 passenger deaths last year alone named country’s best operator

Mrs Mini Harisson, Vice President of Zee Media, awarding KSRTC MD N. Manjunath Prasad at the ceremony SNEHA MEJARI e Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation has won an award for being the country’s best public fleet operator despite over 700 commuter fatalities involving the company’s coaches.

A press release on the KSRTC website states: “KSRTC’s innovative passenger friendly best practices, efficient and disciplined administrative policies and traffic operations has led the organization as the Country’s Best Public Fleet operator of the year with prestigious CV award 2014.”

Despite the awards and appreciation bagged by KSRTC in recent years, the reports of accidents involving bus drivers of KSRTC make for stark reading..

According to statistics, a total of 575 commuters in KSRTC

buses have died in 2,011 accidents in 2011, 714 persons died in 2,001 accidents in 2012, and 713 commuters have been killed in 1,839 mishaps in 2013. e project which won the company the award is KSRTC Intelligent Transport System (ITS) which was an innovative project implemented at Mysore recently. is project is the country's first ITS, implemented at an estimated cost of Rs 20.13 crore.

It sends SMS messages to commuters telling them up-to-date arrival times and has live timetables along the KSRTC route. e Transport Minister of Karnataka, Ramalinga Reddy, expressed his happiness over the award. He said: “KSRTC has being winning a lot of awards in recent years. ey have being improving for the good every year.”

Commenting on the rise of accidents he said: “We test our drivers once a year. Most of the drivers we have are good and responsible. ere are some young drivers who lack responsibility because of whom the accidents take place.”

“It’s the driver’s responsibility that the passenger should reach his destination.” When asked about the lenient punishment

given to KSRTC drivers compared to private drivers, he refused to comment.

K. S Krishnamurthy, a KSRTC driver said: “In case of accidents, there is a court case and management discussion. In most cases suspension is given for two weeks.” e KSRTC officials remained unavailable for comment as they were busy in a road safety event.

work here, they are free to walk out of the scheme.”

He added, “ese private hospitals hire extraordinary doctors from outside the country and expect the poor farmers to pay the surgeon’s fee.

Private hospitals are nothing but greedy, their greed never ends. Where a government hospital charges Rs. 4000 for a normal delivery, Fortis Hospital charges Rs. 40000. Under Yeshasvini scheme, 823 surgeries can be operated at a low cost. e network hospitals know all this before signing for the package then why demand for a revision every second year?” e management committee has called for a meeting to resolve this issue and revise the tariff another time for these hospitals.

R M Nataraj said, “If this time we revise the tariff, hospitals will keep demanding for a hike in the package every now and then.”

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The false claims by the members of KPHF are absolutely unacceptable. We would never force people into our program. If they are not satisfied with how things work here, they are free to walk out of the scheme.

- R M Nataraj, Chief Executive Officer of Yeshasvini Health Care Trust.

Gold snatch gang held in murder probe had struck at least 15 times before - police

APURVA VENKAT ree people accused of strangling a woman to death were arrested yesterday by the Kamakshipalya police. e three men were arrested by the Special Investigation Sqaud of the Kamakshipalya Police Station. e police seized gold worth Rs 1,50,000 from them.

Revati was murdered by Mahalingappa, 25, Venkatesh, 30 and Krishna, 45 on January 4, 2014. “ey stole a gold chain and a bangle from the victim,” said Mr B Gowda, an investigating officer in the case. e accused had entered Revati’s house at 11am posing as salesmen, selling pots and plants. e three men tied her hands and legs and bound her mouth with a cloth before strangling her to death. e men had come to the house in the guise of salesmen at 11 in the morning. Revati’s husband, Balasubramanya was present at the house when they had come. ey went back saying that they would get more pots and plants and waited for Revati’s husband to go to work.

Aer Balasubramanya went to his office, the men came back to the house and asked Revati where she kept her plants and she took them to the terrace. While they were coming downstairs, they attacked and killed her. e three accused had been entering different houses in the same area for the last three years. ey used to enter houses in the guise of salesmen and gardeners and steal money and jewellery from the houses.

Bale Gowda said, “ey had been involved in more than 15 cases in the last three years and they usually stole Rs 2,000-10,000 from the houses. I cannot disclose more, the case is still under investigation.”

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“Talking” cameras would not have saved Jyothi - husband NIKITA NARVEKAR & APURVA VENKAT e husband of the Bangalore ATM attack victim has questioned claims made by a security company that it can make kiosks across India safer.

A private company believes it has developed a system to make ATM kiosks safer and claims their “talking” cameras can reduce crime and protect banks and customers.

Securens has come up with a security system which will alert the security company if anyone tries to break into or rob an ATM kiosk. Motion sensors also trigger cameras as soon as someone enters the bank. e company claims that these sensors recently monitored one customer having a heart attack inside a Mumbai kiosk and emergency services were called.

But Udaya Kumar, husband of Jyothi Udaya, the ATM attack survivor, said the system would not have helped his wife or helped in finding her attacker.

He said: “is system may help the police and people who are trapped in such situations. But this would be effective only if all ATMs have such kind of a system along with a guard. e guard can stop the accused from escaping until the police reach the spot. is will make sure that the accused is caught. It

would be approximately 15 seconds to a minute. So there is no need to have monitoring.” e banking association has proposed to charge all its customers for using the ATM more than five times in their home bank. is money would be used for setting up the mandatory security norms put forth by the police. at system includes guards.

Popuri added: “e total cost of this would be 12000 per month compared to the salary of 33,000 to the guards. If the system is put in place the banks would not have to charge customers for security. ”

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One of the new security systems on display by Securens at their press conference. is two months since my wife was attacked. Even aer CCTV footage being available, the police have not caught the attacker. “ Sunil Udupa, Managing Director of Securens, said: “We have a system that will prevent ATM thes and attacks. It is not just a CCTV camera to record the crime. People in our monitoring center would immediately talk to the defaulter and try to prevent the crime.”

He added: “We can also give correct details to the police immediately on what the person was wearing, what he was attempting to do and in which direction he went. “ He said the company has already secured 1800 ATMs across India and around 400 ATMs in Bangalore. e system has multiple levels of security. e first buzzer rings when someone tries to break, kick or hammer

the door of the machine. e motion sensor alerts the monitoring room as soon as a person enters and cameras begin recording. e sirens also go off if somebody tries to li the machine or open the machine.

Srinivas Popuri, CEO , said: “I have a staff of 60 people in Mumbai monitoring 1800 systems across the country. e response time of my staff to reach the local area police in case of mishap

I have a staff of 60 people in Mumbai monitoring 1800 systems across the country.

The response time of my staff to reach the local area police in case of mishap would be approximately 15 seconds to a minute. So there is no need to have monitoring.

Srinivas Popuri, CEO

Man accused of raping neighbor’s minor daughter KARISHMA RAVINDRAN A Chennapatna-based married farmer raped the 15-yearold daughter of his neighbor to “fulfill his sexual desire”, local authorities said.

According to Channapatna rural police station, the accused

15km away from Chennapatna. e 15-year-old minor girl, Keerti (name changed), in her complaint, said: “On December 30, 2013, my neighbor, Venkatesh summoned me to his house at 2pm and asked me to collect Rs. 100 to get some ma-

fused to go”.

Keerti added: “Before collecting the amount from his room, the accused held me from behind and hauled me on his bed aer he bounded and gagged me. When I started screaming for help, he threatened to hang

Deepakanna (name changed), the farmer accused of raping the 15-yearold daughter of his neighbor was identified as Venkatesha terials used in the production of me to death. ” Apanna (28), who raped his silk from a nearby shop. I was at Investigation officer, S. Nagaraj neighbour’s 15-year old daugh- home when the incident took of Chennapatna police station ter. e incident took place at place, since my school had said: “At the time of incident, no Behurmandya, a village which is arranged a trip on which I re- one was present at Venkatesha’s

house. He at once le the place aer raping her and threatened to kill her if she disclosed anything about the incident. e girl complained of stomach pain and confided in her aunt regarding the incident” e inspector added: “Since it is a village, the Panchayat takes the decisions in the area. Hence the girl registered the complaint at M.K Doddi police station only on January 7, 2014 since she did not receive justice from the Panchayat heads.”

According to the police, the accused Venkatesha was married for a year and his wife was 8months pregnant. His wife was at her mother’s place when the incident took place.

Chennapatna rural police arrested Venkatesha on January 7 under the Section 4 of POSCO (Protection of children from sexual offences act, 2012) and under sections 341 – punishment for wrongful restraint and

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15-year-old Keerti(name changed), the victim of the alleged sexual assault by Deepakanna 506 – punishment for criminal e Chennapatna court will intimidation of the Indian Penal hold its first hearing in this case on January 21.

Code (IPC).

Since it is a village, the Panchayat takes the decisions in the area. Hence the girl registered the complaint at M.K Doddi police station only on January 7, 2014 since she did not receive justice from the Panchayat heads.

- S. Nagaraj, Investigative Officer Chennapatna Police Station

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Tuesday, January 21,2014

SPORTS |2013 WORLD DWARF GAMES

Double gold medal hero still awaiting CM’s promised job spot RAHUL SADHU One of India’s finest paralympic athletes is still waiting on the state government to give him the job he was promised six months ago.

C.V. Rajanna, a double gold medalist at the recent World Dwarf Games, the world’s biggest sporting event, revealed travelling to compete in the games had cost him money.

He said the state government had only provided airfare and had ignored requests for further funding to cover hotels, training and food.

Rajanna, 38, was hailed a hero upon his return and greeted by Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, who promised the successful athletes jobs.

Six months on, as Rajanna prepares to apply for In d i a’s highest sporting h o n o r, the

Arjuna Award, he and his fellow athletes are still without funding and without jobs.

Rajanna led the Indian team in the 6th World Dwarf Games held in Michigan, in August last year. He won gold medals in the 200 meters sprint and Badminton singles (senior) events. He also bagged two silver medals in shot-put and the 100 meters sprint.

Rajanna has also been awarded the prestigious Kempe Gowda Award and the Ekalavya Award, for his contribution to so- C.V. Rajanna enroute to his gold medal at the 2013 World Dwarf Games held in USA ciety and his sporting prowess, respec- promised help, but have received noth- plying for India’s highest sporting honor, the Arjuna Award, said: “I really feel ing. tively.

But he is struggling to finance the sports Despite achieving so much, Mr. Rajanna proud to represent India. I may look he loves and lives humbly, helping run the finds it very difficult to pursue his love for small in height, but I am proud that I am sports. “It is really difficult to go higher representing the world’s biggest demofamily print business.

He was promised a government job by up as the government is not providing cratic country. the Chief Minister of Karnataka in Au- job,” he said.

At present Mr. Rajanna is unmarried and “Being small does not restrain me from gust 2013.

To attend the World Dwarf Games in lives in Jalahalli Cross on Tumkur Road. feeling patriotic. Society’s perspective 2013 the government provided Ra- He helps in running his family business needs to change. Para sports are equal janna with Rs.1.5 lakh for flights, but printing press. But he said that this alone with other forms of sports. Everybody he spent two lakh fieen thousand is not sufficient enough for him. His fel- needs to view them equally and not look low athletes Mr. Renu Kumar and M. down upon it. during the competition.

“We face a lot of financial problems Prakash are also looking for a govern- “Despite our achievements there is still a lack of awareness about this form of while participating at international ment job. level. My coach had to spend Rs 2 lakh Mr. Ratan Singh, Secretary General, Par- sports in India. Our Indian society and alympic Committee of India said: “In government have very little knowledge from his own pocket,” Rajanna said.

He added: “We get only 30% to 40% India we have to concentrate on promot- about para sports. But, day by day, the financial support from the govern- ing this kind of sport. We are trying to scenario is improving as awareness ment. It is difficult to get private give better facilities to athletes and also among people is increasing. Still, a lot sponsors. e Government of Kar- sending them outside to gain experience needs to be done.”

With the upcoming National Paralympic nataka provided the athletes with only at the international level. the air tickets for the World Dwarf “As far as receiving financial support and Games, the National Badminton ChamGames and nothing more, which is un- providing jobs is concerned, there is a lot pionships and the Asian Games towards of politics involved in this. We need to the latter half of the year, receiving proper reasonable.”

Along with Rajanna, Renu Kumar and M free sports from politics so as to improve financial support and help from the State Government has become all the more imPrakash also won gold and silver medals the situation.” respectively at the same event and were Rajanna, who is also in the process of ap- portant, he added.

EVENT |LALBAGH FLOWER SHOW

Garden city radiant with floral rabbits, rose sculptures and the world’s biggest flower MAYURI J RAVI A giant rabbit and the world’s biggest flower look set to steal the show at this year’s annual Lalbagh flower fest.

Visitors to the 199th Annual Republic Day Flower Show can also feast their eyes on huge fruits and vegetables – made entirely of flowers.e show, jointly organised by the Department of Horticulture and Mysore Horticulture Society started on January 17 and will continue until January 26, 2014. is is the 199th annual show in the city’s Lalbagh Gardens.

Mr Gunavantha, Deputy Director, Department of Horticulture, said, "Our department of horticulture was started in the 19th century and we are also celebrating the 50th year of our department."

He added: "e central theme of the flower show is related to horticulture. We have received good response from the visitors regarding the theme." e glasshouse comprised more than 100 variety of flowers that were used for arrangement and for fabricating the structures of vegetables, fruits and a gigantic rab-

bit.

On January 25 there will be distribution of cds in memory of former Director of Horticulture, Marigowda. It will be conducted at the back stand of Lalbagh Botanical Garden. Gunavantha said: "e main attraction of this flower show is the central theme itself. We have fabricated structures that are related to horticulture. We have made structures of fruits such as banana, mango, pomegranate and cashew apple and vegetables such as garlic out of flowers."

In celebration of the 50th year, a huge sthamba (pillar) of 18 feet high and 4 feet wide has been arranged using flowers. It is embedded on all four sides with four different emblems of Department of Horticulture, Mysore Horticultural Society and State and Central Government. e largest individual flower on earth called the Rafflesia Arnoldii, is also on show.

He said: "e teams that are competing in the gardening competition in the glass house will be the BDA and BBMP who will showcase their flowers. Another team has been made to judge the competition. e prize A giant bunny made entirely of flowers takes distribution will be held on January 24, 2014."

pride of place at this year’s Lalbagh show

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Events THEATRE

In collaboration with Goethe Institut, theatre director Stefan Kaegi will showcase a game of sorts, where people wear headphones for a tour of the city.

Date – January 29 to February 16 Venue – Max Mueller Bhavan Contact – 91 80 25205305

MUSIC

Pt. Bhimsen Joshi Memorial Concert Sunaada Art Foundation is organizing a memorial concert in the memory of Bharat Ratna Pt. Bhimsen Joshi.

Date – January 25 Venue – Bangalore Gayana Samaj, K.R Road

SPORT

Celebrities from eight major regional film industries in the country will be battling on field to win the cricket tournament.

Date – January 25 – February 23 Venue – Chinnaswamy Stadium, M.G Road.

FITNESS

Nirvana Nomads is organizing an adventurous trek through Zanskar Valley in Ladakh this January.

Date – January 30 Contact – 91 9739096412

Observer Team: Editor–Saikat Ghosh Chief Sub Editor–Prutha Bhosle Sub Editors– Sneha Mejari, Soumya Basu, Sushmita Sen, Shweta Nair News Editors- Rahul Sadhu, Pranay Lakshminarasimhan Picture Editor & Design Desk– Sreelakshmy Sivaram Reporters– Apurva Venkat, Ishan Bhattacharya, Nikita Narvekar, Mayuri J Ravi, Bhaskar Dutta, Anagha Sawant Proof Reader– Raju Peethala Emaileditor@iijnm.org An IIJNM Publication (For Private Circulation)