Vol 12, Issue 20

Vol. 12 Issue 20

Indian Institute Of Journalism and New Media, Bangalore

April 04, 2013

VOTES FOR FOOD? Voters without ID cards escorted from homes to the polls in return for food and clothes

By Hansa V

Minors and people without official voter ID cards have been casting votes in state elections, we can reveal.

One 63-year-old woman claims she has voted for the past 40 years without a card and that BJP officials come to her home to take her to the polls in return for clothes.

Another 21-year-old man said he has been voting in elections from the age of 16. The legal voting age in India is 18.

An investigation by the Observer found six people in a single day’s canvassing who spoke frankly about voting in return for goods or who were told to vote by a political party. None of the six has voter ID cards.

The District Election Officer Siddaiah said that people cannot vote without a voter ID card and a voter slip would be given to people when they produce the ID card at the booth on May 5.

He was speaking after a statement

by Chief Election Commissioner, Anil Kumar Jha, about people not requiring an ID card to vote which is in contrast to what the guidelines of the Election Commission(EC) states, which is : “You should note that mere possession of an EPIC issued to you does not guarantee you your vote, because it is mandatory that your name should appear in the electoral roll.

“Once you have found out that your name is there in the electoral roll and you also possess an identification document prescribed by the Election Commission (EPIC or others), you are entitled to vote.”

The guidelines prescribed by the EC also state that “The Election Commission of India has made voter identification

mandatory at the time of poll.

“The electors have to identify themselves with either Electors Photo Identity Card (EPIC) issued by the Commission or any other documentary proof as prescribed by the Commission.”

Documentary proofs as accepted by the Election Commission of India include either a Voter ID or an EPIC ID which has been sealed and approved by the Election Commission.

With state assembly elections looming in Karnataka, the state Election Commission has been continuously on the wrong side of the people’s books.

Beginning with the spark created by the Ex-Mayor, P.R. Ramesh, stating that names have been deleted from the electoral list out of spite, the Election Commission is already in a mess even before the elections begin in earnest.

According to a survey conducted

by The Observer, it was found that at least five people are present in each constituency who has either cast a vote without a voter ID card or they have cast a vote even though they are not legally of age to do so.

On asking if they are given anything in cash or kind, they state that they were asked not to reveal anything about the illegal-voting to anybody and are given something in kind such as clothes or food (raw rice/pulses).

Shanthamma, 63, a resident staying near Vinayaka Talkies, said: “I have not applied for my voter ID till now.

Somehow, I manage to vote in the elections without the card. It has been over forty years now since I have been voting without a voter ID card.

INNOCENT YET ILLEGAL VOTERS Shanthamma, 63, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID for the past 40 years. They let me vote in return for kindness such as clothes and food. “

Gangaraj, 21, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID since I was 16.

They let me vote even though it is illegal to vote as a minor.”

Manjula, 27, Basavanagudi Constituency said: “I voted last two elections without a voter ID or an EPIC card. They said they will give me clothes if I vote for BJP.”

Nagaratna, 31, Kalasipalaya Constituency, said: “I have been asking for a voter ID for over ten years now. They have been telling me they would let me vote without one and they did let me vote. ”

N Munipoojappa, 45, Kalasipalaya Constituency said: “I have been voting without a voter ID for the last 15 years. Everytime I apply for one, they tell me that it is not necessary for me.”

Chinnamallamma, 42, Kalasipalaya Constituency said: “I have never seen a voter ID in my life. I simply go and give my thumb impression just like how those people ask me to do. ”

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The Weekly Observer

April 04, 2013

Appointments row at state’s only Samskrit University

By Krishnaprasad S

KEY appointments at the state’s only Samskrit University were made on the basis of forged papers and cheating, according to RTI documents.

When academic Rachoti Shivacharya Swamiji applied for the post of ViceChancellor at Karnataka Samskrit University, he was bemused when he was not even called for interview.

He then learned that the man appointed to the post was from the same clan or family as the man interviewing candidates for the role.

The highly qualified Samskrit teacher began to dig for more information and filed a series of Right to Information requests from those in charge of Karnataka Samskrit University amid fears eligible candidates were being ignored in favour of friends.

“I was humiliated when I asked them the reason for not considering my name for the interview.

Others who scored less mark than me were made to sit for the interview”, said Rachoti Shivacharya Swamiji.

The responses he received have left those running the university with some serious questions to answer.

The appointments made between July 2012 and January 2013 for teaching and non-teaching staff could be construed as illegal, according to Rachoti Shivacharya Swamiji.

According to the RTI reply from the Karnataka Samskrit University on July 16, 2012, appointments were for a total of 37 teaching and nonteaching staff, out of which 26 posts were filled. Out of the 26, appointments to key posts were illegally made, he claims.

Eligible candidates had applied for posts but were not given a chance to appear for interviews conducted by sitting Vice Chancellor Prof.

Mallepuram G Venkatesh.

Many eligible candidates also allege that incompetent candidates appeared for interview and were given key posts in the university. These positions were later ratified by the syndicate which runs the university.

he/ she must not be more than 40- years-old at the time of appointment.

Prakash R Pagoji, aged 44, was appointed Vice Chancellor of Karnataka Samskrit University before being switched to a finance officer’s role, after RTI queries

Pagoji, who was an Assistant Professor at C L Y College, also taught at Gurukula Shikshana Trust (GST) in Dharwad and was suspended twice by the Chairman of GST for taking money from hostel funds and helping disobedient students with attendance.

B Govinda, now the Assistant Director in the same U n i v e r s i t y, was also hired despite discrepancies in his application.

It was found that Govinda was from the same tightknit community as the vice chancellor of the University, Mallepuram Venkatesh.

Both men come from Dharwad in Karnataka.

Despite the notification stating the eligibility requirement of five years of experience in the field of Clockwise: Govinda. V, Pagoji, S , VC Mallepuram D. Venkatesh and Shivamurty.M of research and Karnataka Samskrit University development for the post of Assistant Director, “Neither the vice were filed. chancellor nor the syndicate One of the main criteria B Govinda had no experience members followed the required for the post of Vice but was appointed as the process of appointing Chancellor in KSU is a high Assistant.

He also produced an eligible candidates. We were score in a Master’s degree in certificate humiliated at the interview. Samskrit. Of all the candidates, experience They behaved very badly”, Pagoji scored lowest in his showing that he had worked at said one of the candidates Master’s degree. He scored Ta Su Venkanniah Memorial who was eligible for the key 52per cent. The man who Book House from June 2005 posts in the University, on demanded answers after he to June 2010.

In contradiction to this, a condition of anonymity. was rejected for interview, According to the Rachoti Shivacharya Swamiji, series of documents, including notification by the University, a Samskrit expert, recorded the attendance registers at the eligibility criteria for the the highest mark of 83per Mysore University, revealed B. Govinda was pursuing his post of Vice Chancellor states cent. that he/she must have served Despite his age barrier Ph.D studies there at that time in the government college and low scoring Master’s, as a senior research scholar as Assistant Registrar for a Pagoji was appointed as Vice in the Samskrit Department.

But he managed to obtain minimum of five years and Chancellor.

and present a No Objection Certificate (NOC) from Ta Su Venkanniah Memorial Book House, despite the fact he was studying elsewhere at the time. That certificate clears him to work in another government run establishment like KSU. Despite repeated attempts, B Govinda was not available to comment.

Shivamurthy M, 43, was also appointed as the Section Officer.

Shivamurthy, who does not have a degree from any recognized university, or the required five years of experience required, was made section officer.

RTI replies revealed that Shivamurthy had only a SSLC (Class 10) certificate and a Vidwat (Masters) certificate to his credit and the same were produced in front of the syndicate at the time of appointment for further process without considering other certificates.

“All these allegations are false.

We have to follow the rules.

We were appointed based on our merits and qualification”, said Shivamurthy M. D B Gangadarappa, 39, who had applied for the post of Vice Chancellor, was given a reply notice stating that he was not eligible for the post of Planning Assistant despite being qualified for the post.

Despite written complaints to the Higher Education Department and the Chief Secretary of the department, no action has been taken.

“We strongly oppose this behavior of the Government.

An enquiry from Lokayukta or CBI must be conducted in this.

This is a big scam of illegal appointments. Until and unless people involved are proved guilty, our education system will be under great threat following the actions of these people”, said Rachoti Shivacharya Swamiji of Bettadapura Mutt at Mysore.

April 04, 2013

The Weekly Observer

03 |03

Thousands complain to task force over RTE rejections THE head of the Right to Education Task Force has received complaints from around 4000 parents in the last five months for denial of admission in the schools under RTE. Nagasimha Rao, Director Convener of RTE Task Force for Child Rights Trust, said, “Parents are scared to lodge written complaints against the schools.

Therefore, we receive many calls throughout the state for denial of admission under RTE.” Private schools in Karnataka refuse to follow the RTE act of 2009 that makes it mandatory for all government-aided and non-aided schools in India, except those schools funded by the central government, to reserve 25 percent of seats of pre- primary school and 1st standard for the students who belong to SC, ST and OBC classes.

But, one private school refused to follow the mandatory rule as they think that the income certificates submitted by the parents are fake.

National Hill View High School, Rajarajeshwari Nagar, has filed an RTI asking for information to authenticate the income certificates of

the four parents who have applied for admission of their children in the 1st standard.

Out of the 25 seats in the National Hill View High School, 14 seats have been booked under RTE by the Block Education Officer (BEO), Bangalore (South).

But only four parents have been trying to secure seats under RTE in the school since March 7.

The school has not replied to any of the admission queries of the four parents.

Narshimha Murhty, a resident of Rajarajeshwari Nagar, has been trying to secure admission for his six-year-old grand daughter Divyashree in New Hill High School.

Even after submitting attested copies of caste certificate, income certificate and domicile certificate, he has not received any response.

Nagasimha Rao said: “This is sheer violation of the law as the schools have no authority to verify the certificates.

If the BEO has selected the students under RTE, then it is obvious that the certificates are authentic.”

S. Lehapaksha, Trustee and Secretary of the National Hill View High School, said: “If the university has the right to verify the documents, then

why not us. We are willing to provide seats to the children but we are waiting for the RTI reply to authenticate the certificates.”

The BEO, Kempaiah, alleged that the school is under some influence of a political leader.

He said: “The school authorities feel that the income certificates procured by the parents are bogus as they claim to have monthly incomes of Rs. 15,000 and Rs. 20,000, and it is difficult to survive in Bangalore with these incomes.”

4000 parents claim their children have been denied school places under RTE However, once the government Rao, said, “BEO has issued the National Commission for selects students under RTE, only show cause notices to Protection Of Child Rights, it is obligatory for the schools the school, but has not taken India.” to admit them immediately in any strict action against the Nagasimha Rao has no their schools. school even after violating problem with the school for “The school has violated the show cause notice dates. verifying the documents. the law. I have sent a written He has but took no .

He would appreciate if the complaint to the Deputy Instead he asked the school communicates with Director of Public Instruction parents to take help from the the parents directly and not about the school’s’ failure to media and NGOs .” treat them like “beggars”. admit the children and have Blaming the system, he He added: “If the school asked for a punishment for said, “There is no authority continues to take the same the same,” he said. monitoring RTE in the state stand on the admission Angered over the government. We, as the process, we will protest procedures of the Child Rights Trust, will take outside the school next government, Nagasimha all of these complaints to week.”

Credit: File Photo

By Nikita Malusare

Bangalore hospitals lack paramedics

By Kakoli Mukherjee

BANGALORE’S hospitals are reeling under a huge shortage of paramedic staff and nurses.

Dr. N K Venkataramana, Chief Neurosurgeon and Vice-Chairman of BGS Global Hospitals, said: “The shortage of nurses and other technicians in the city’s hospitals has made it very difficult to attend to all patients who are admitted in hospitals every day. In fact, the services of ambulances are also hit because there is not enough

trained staff to transport patients in the proper way to the hospitals.”

Laxmiamma, an attendant at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital, said: “There is only one nurse for 30-40 patients here.

As a result, they are always stressed and have to work in rigorous shifts. Also, most of the staff is on contract basis here, and they leave for better jobs once their contract gets over.”

The global standards dictate that there should be a ratio of 1:5 between nurses and patients.

The state too is struggling to fill up numerous vacancies in Primary Health Centers (PHC) and Community Health Centers.

There are 4456 positions for nurses/midwives in the state, but only 1647 of them have been filled up. Therefore, there is a requirement for more 2809 nurses/midwives.

Similarly, the state’s PHCs and sub-centers require 10,3,38 multipurpose workers, but only 8028 of them have been filled.

Recently, there was a massive stir by contract nurses

and paramedic staff of Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute (BMCRI), who demanded that their jobs be made permanent.

When asked why the jobs are not being made permanent when there is already an acute shortage, MR Ravi Kumar, Chief Administrative Officer, BMCRI, said: “This is something that has to be done by the government. We can only play by the rules and offer suggestion.”

Reflecting on the growing shortage of nurses and paramedic staff, Prabhu Swamy, Associate Professor

at the Fortis Institute of Nursing, said: “There is a lack of awareness among local people about such jobs. They do not know about the opportunities and responsibilities in these jobs, and hence, they do not try for these.

Also, the number of institutes which provide such training is very low, and there is a huge demand for trained faculty too.

Unless these issues are addressed, not many people will be attracted towards such jobs, and the shortage of paramedical staff and nurses will continue to be there.”

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The Weekly Observer

April 04, 2013

The next ruler is ?

The Observer team spoke to a few people to find out which party will be declared as the next ruling head of Karnataka. Here are some of their thoughts:

Sankar CG, 24, Reporter, New Indian Express

Vinay, 24, Senior Associate, Mygola.com

“Going by the dismal and disappointing performance of UPA at the center for the last four years may be a setback for UPA and at the same time promising to BJP. But in assembly elections, it may not exert BJP’s influence as it may get carried away by the recent vigorous corruption scams and political turmoil in Karnataka. So this time Congress has 70 percent chance to win the election while BJP has 30.”

“Given the recent disintegration of the BJP, with BSY forming his own party, encouraging defectors along with the accusations of corruption that have and continue to plague the BJP in Karnataka. The congress could be set for a victory.

They had a decisive victory in the recent urban local body polls. While it is not a foregone conclusion, if that’s anything to go by then the BJP should be worried.”

Sardar, 32, an auto-driver “I am very glad you asked this question because both the parties are equally terrible.

BJP used to be good till early 2000 and then B.S. Yeddyruppa came to power and the state saw a downfall.

Sadanand Gowda was a decent leader but he got removed by BSY. Mr. Gowda was a strict leader and he cleansed the corruption to an extent. Next came Mr. Jagadish Shettar. He is just a glove puppet and he does whatever he is asked to do.

He wants to keep everybody happy and he is not a strong leader.”

“I think Congress has a strong chance of winning mainly because recent trends show that since they won the civic polls, they will win the assembly elections also as in chances are high plus there is the whole Yeddyurappa fiasco which is still fresh in people’s mind as far as Karnataka is concerned, the Congress has a cleaner record. BJP will have to pay for the huge corruption and hence Congress will win.”

“BJP will win in Bangalore for whereas Congress may have an upper hand in the number of seat in state level Unlike BJP, Congress party in Bangalore is not minority inclined. The BJP will loose the huge money they have invested for contesting the elections as the Congress will emerge victorious all over the state. Even then cities of Mysore, Bangalore and East Karnataka are sure shots for BJP. ”

Karishma, 22, employee, Google Inc.

Naveen Hegade, 39, a staunch BJP supporter

Votes for food? Where is our electorate?

Contd. from Page 1

“During the time one has to cast a vote, I choose not to go. But the party people or the people at the booth come to my home and tell me that it is okay not to have a card but I must vote for the particular party so that they don’t tell anything about this to anybody. Last time, I was asked to vote for BJP and I did. They usually give me something in kind. Last time I got clothes. “ Not only are these people given something to vote, there have been instances where even minors are allowed to vote, which is a crime according to the code of conduct prescribed by the Election Commission of India.

Gangaraj, 21, a resident of Ravipuram, said: “I don’t

have an ID card. I have been trying to get one since I was 18. It has been three years now and I am still not officially on the voter rolls. These are funny people. When I ask them to register my name, they refuse to do so.

But still, I have been voting since I was 16. People have told me it is illegal to vote before 18, but these people at the booth told me it’s not a serious problem. And I have not faced any problems till now. “ Mr. Jha refused to comment on the issue when asked about the illegal-voting happening in Bangalore. Mr. Kulkarni, Deputy Election Commissioner of Karnataka, said that no such thing has come to the notice of the Election Commission and if this was true, they would look into the matter.

By Sneha Banerjee

Karnataka Assembly Election is round the corner and the candidates have already come out with their official list of candidates.

The state transport department has allocated a large number of its buses to enable the electorates to travel to their respective voting booths.

Hence we can already expect a shortage of buses on 4th and 5th of May 2013.

Amidst the surmounting political drama and manifestos, one is left wondering as to what the elections really mean to a state. Do elections merely constitute political parties, workers, banners and propagandas?

Well not really; as the most important constituent of an election are its electorates—“the people.”

The news releases over the past few weeks in Karnataka have time and again proved how chaotic and shambolic the voters’ list management has been.

The Karnataka government has managed to bring up its electorate population to a meager 65%.

There have been crucial figures reported by the Observer in its earlier editions, as to how the minorities have manipulatively been omitted from the voter’s list.

This clearly shows the mockery of secularism portrayed by the state in the name of elections.

Apart from the minorities, Karnataka has left its electorates with limited facilities to make changes in their voter ID information.

Online facilities have been disabled because the election

commission believes that this could apparently prevent them from committing further errors.

Over six lakh applicants have enrolled for a voter ID and are waiting for the election commission to issue the cards at the earliest.

Having the “right to vote” is one our fundamental right as well as our duty. India that boasts of being a secular nation needs to check whether both the duty and right are being channelized to our citizens righteously.

The ideology of a government formed “for and by the people” has to be practiced in reality.

Loop holes in the voter’s list paints a rather gory picture of the execution of democracy and insecurity in the state—the state that we call believe is our “home.”

April 04, 2013

The Weekly Observer

|05

Credit: Sneha Banerjeea

15,685 illegal political hoardings removed by BBMP obtained, 40% belonged to the Congress party and another 40% belonged to the Janatha Dal Secular party according to BBMP. P r o m o t i o n a l advertisements may vary from hoardings, banners, nylon buntings and pamphlets.

Mr. S.L.K. Swami, executive engineer at the Election Control Room stressed on the removal of those hoardings

that were assigned a specific duration by the election commission. Mr. Swami said: “Most of the political parties extend their specified duration and continue to advertise themselves.”

“BBMP has been very particular about such hoardings and taken strict action against each of these hoardings.”:he added.

Banners and hoardings

have been removed by BBMP workers over night after the registration of a complaint.

Mr.Swami also mentioned that under severe circumstances the department has also been instructed to lodge FIRs against the parties.

The Spokesperson from the Janatha Dal Secular Party clearly denied of such claims made by BBMP.

Breakdown of the banners zone wise-

Illegal political banners all across the city been thrashed by BBMP

By Sneha Banerjee

THE city corporation claims it has removed 15,685 political posters in the past five days.

Mr.Yerrappa Reddy, executive engineer of the advertisement department with the Bruhat Bangalore Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), claimed that 15,685 illegal banners were removed from all over the city between Mar.20, 2013 to Mar. 25 , 2013 alone. Mr. Reddy said that illegal political banners

and hoardings of different political parties, contesting for the state elections on 5th May 2013, were located in different parts of the city.

Call centers to address issues surrounding the Karnataka elections were started by the BBMP; wherein BBMP had announced that they would be very strict on the removal of illegal political banners. Eight zonal call centers have been started to attend to issues regarding voter ids and banners. Out of the 15,685 illegal banners

Consumers duped by fraudulent shopkeepers ALMOST 18000 consumers in the state were taken for a ride by fraudulent shopkeepers ranging from fish vendors to jewelers who cheated them over quantity and price.

The Legal Metrological Department, Karnataka, oversees the protection of consumer interests in the state, and ensures that all the standards of measuring weights and fixing prices are followed.

The manipulation of balancing machines is one of the most common methods of cheating customers. The customer pays the actual price for a certain quantity of commodity, but he takes home much less.

Traders’ failure to maintain documents pertaining to certification of electronic

Credits: Satyajit GD

BySatyajith G D

A shop keeper with his balancing machine

balances, missing package dates, out-dated packaging, and high price tags are some of the violations that come under the Legal Metrological

Act, 2009.

Nearly 17,800 cases of bypassing rules were registered by the Department of Legal Metrology,

Karnataka, over an 11-month period.

The cases were booked due to violations of the Legal Metrology (Packaged Commodities) Rules 2011, Karnataka Legal Metrological Act 2009 and Karnataka Legal Metrological Rules 2011.

Fines collected from the offenders will add Rs. 13 crore to the government’s coffers. There are 16,473 more such cases pending in court.

The 1958 Legal Metrological Act laid down strict rules punishing the fraudulent use of weighing machines but the existing Legal Metrological Act, 2009, imposes a penalty of only Rs. 50,000. The fine hardly serves as a punishment or deterrent for the offenders.

Repeated offences leads to

imprisonment.

C.M Mallikarajan, Deputy Controller of Legal Metrological Department, said, “There are many loopholes in the act and it should be amended. There are a lot of contradictions between the past and present laws.”

The Legal Metrological Package Commodity Rules are applicable to packages weighing between 10gm and 25 kg.

This leaves out smaller commodities below 10gm and bigger commodities like cement sold in bigger packages weighing more than 25 kg.

With a huge workload, and lack of inspectors, vehicles and standard equipment, the legal metrological department finds it difficult to undertake regular inspections.

The Weekly Observer

06|

April 04, 2013

Equal rights scheme being ignored

ONLY one third of disabled people get jobs under an equal rights scheme running in Karnataka, according to the Association of People with Disability.

The Deputy Director of The Association of People with Disability (APwD), Shiva C Hiremath, said that there are only around 30 lakh disabled people in the state, out of which 90 percent of them are still struggling for employment.

He added: “Though there are many vacancies in both public and government sectors, they are hardly being utilized by the employers as many of them still do not recognize these people’s capabilities and talents.”

“The family members are also responsible as they don’t motivate these disable people for career development and job opportunities,” said Hiremath.

Credit: Priyanka Roy

By Priyanka Roy

A disable person in Association of people with disability

Financial institutions like banks and funding agencies like the City Municipal Corporation (CMC) do not function actively as they are seen doing for other sections of people.

While the funds are supposed to be released and managed by these financial institutions, their reluctance jeopardizes the whole process.

According to the Disability

Act, 1995, it is mandatory to reserve 3 percent of seats for People with Disability (PwD) at country level, and 5 percent at state level, in both government and public sectors.

But, the latest revision to this act has enabled private sectors to be added for this provision.

In the government sector, the jobs are generated through various departments where it is mandatory to reserve 3 percent of seats for disabled people.

In corporate sector, the jobs are provided using the Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) platform.

There are multiple training and vocational programs being provided for the PwD

by NGOs and associations like APD. APD conducts trainings through two sets of program: one is conducted in rural areas through community

set-up, and the other in urban areas through institution setup.

These programs are sponsored by CMC in urban areas, and the Gram Panchayat reserves a fixed amount for these training programs in rural areas.

Apart from this, there are vacancies for the PwD in the local government body in rural areas, as per the revised Disability Act. But, in spite of all these facilities, the situation has hardly proved to be beneficial for the disabled.

Hiremath attributes it to qualification gap and lack of resources The trustee member of Cheshire Disability Trust (CDT), Yasmeen, said, “The government should provide financial aid to these civic bodies working for the welfare of PwD.” In last three years, only 320 people, out of 1,126, have been placed.

Swadhar: A ray of hope for women in distress

Credit: Urmi Sengupta

By Urmi Sengupta

Srimanthini, a resident of Samarthanam Trust for the disabled

“I was married for two years. Things were normal in the beginning, but after a few months things started changing.”

“My husband used to beat me up over petty issues.

When I conceived, the doctor advised me to take rest, but despite this my husband continued with his daily torture, and I lost my child.

Then one night he threw me out of the house.”

Ashajyothi, 26, is one of many residents of Samarthanam Trust for the disabled which functions under the Swadhar scheme.

Swadhar provides services to trafficked women, destitute widows, victims of sexual harassment, physically and mentally challenged women.

Ranjitha P. the residential superintendent of the Samarthanam trust for the Disabled said: “When we rescued Ashajyothi, she was totally depressed and wasn’t

able to talk. After prolonged therapy and counseling she started to respond. We are trying to get her a job so that she can get settled.”

“50 women are currently in our home. Here we rescue women from different circumstances and provide them education, medication and counseling which helps them to become selfindependent. Our trust is working for destitute women for the past six years,” she added.

She said: “The facilities provided are free of cost.

The main motto is to build confidence in them.”

Srimanthini, a 20-year-old from karadgi village, savanur taluk said: “I am physically handicapped, and cannot walk properly. Both my legs are affected by polio. I always wished to study, but my family didn’t support me. I thought that my wish to pursue higher education would never be fulfilled. They are also giving educational support.

Observer Team An IIJNM Publicaton (For private circulation)

Editor Satyajith G. D. Sub-editor Deepu Aby Varghese Page Editors Krishnaprasad S Urmi Sengupta Shreya Mukherjee Hansa V Priyanka Roy Sneha Banerjee Proof Reader Aheli Raychaudhuri Kakoli Mukherjee E-mail editor@iijnm.org