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Thursday, June 27, 2019
Wednesday, June 26, 2019
Mangaluru restaurant packages food with banana leaves after appeal by MLA
Online delivery companies generate thousands of tonnes of plastic every month.
When Mangaluru resident Surendra Salian read an appeal made by BJP MLA Vedavyas Kamath about reducing plastic waste, he decided to explore ways he could help the cause. Surendra, the manager of Tandoor restaurant in the city, decided to pack food delivered by the restaurant using banana leaves instead of plastic. "We receive more than hundred online orders every day, so we thought why don't we replace plastic with banana leaves and butter paper. The packaging looks better and is cheaper for us compared to plastic," says Surendra. The restaurant has now begun packing dishes like fish fry, chicken sukka, and kebabs in banana leaves. The decision taken by the restaurant and the MLA's message of reducing plastic is now catching on in other restaurants in Mangaluru. "Other restaurants are now looking at how Tandoor did it and are exploring ways to reduce the use of plastic. This was our plan. If we are able to introduce the idea to people and companies, then it could influence their thinking and prompt them to explore how they can begin doing this," says Vedavyas Kamath, a BJP MLA from Mangaluru (South) constituency. Vedavyas discussed the idea with caterers in the city as well as members of the Association of Hotels and Restaurants in the district. "Plastic is not recyclable and by substituting it with banana or areca leaves, we are helping reduce wastage in the environment. In coastal Karnataka, there are many farmers growing arecanut and banana and these farmers will be able to sell products manufactured using their leaves. This will strengthen the farmers who make these products as well," says Vedavyas. According to Surendra, the switch to banana leaves should be easier to make in coastal Karnataka, where people are accustomed to eating out of banana leaves and also preparing food enclosed in leaves like Kadubu and Pathrode. "In Dakshina Kannada, Udupi and Uttara Kannada, people eat out of banana leaves and make food enclosed in leaves. So, it is not a surprise to people when we start sending food packed in banana leaves," adds Surendra. Popular online food delivery companies Zomato and Swiggy have also taken notice of Vedavyas' plea. In a September 2018 blog post, Zomato had revealed that online food delivery companies were generating up to 22,000 metric tonnes of plastic waste every month. "And whether we intend it or not, quite a lot of it ends up in the ocean. Much as we care about delighting our partners and our users, we must also care about the impact we have on our planet," read the post by Deepinder Goyal, founder and CEO of Zomato. Swiggy is also looking to address the amount of plastic waste generated by online food delivery orders. The company launched Swiggy Packaging Assist, a marketplace allowing restaurants to access eco-friendly packaging options made of glass and paper. The company is also set to roll out a feature in which users can opt out of receiving disposable plastic cutlery in their orders. "We will work with relevant bodies, restaurant partners and our users to promote the need to start addressing this issue through other long-term and sustainable plans,” a Swiggy spokesperson told TNM. Vedavyas and Surendra are now hoping that restaurants in Mangaluru can set an example for the rest of the country and help reduce plastic waste generated. "There are challenges but they can be overcome if restaurants try to make the switch," says Surendra. "The only difference we have seen so far is that packaging using banana leaves is more time consuming because they have to be tied carefully. Otherwise, in every aspect, we have found it to be better."
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NIA recovers 2 bombs in Ramanagara, day after terror accused’s arrest near Bengaluru
The bombs were found under a bridge, and the NIA suspects that there may be more devices in the area and is conducting a thorough search.
A day after a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen operative was arrested near Bengaluru, the police have recovered two bombs in Ramanagara, around 50 km away from the city. The Ramanagara police, canine squad and fire and emergency services, rushed to Tippu Nagar in Ramanagara district on Wednesday to recover the bombs. According to the Ramanagara police, the NIA obtained information regarding these bombs from Habibur Rehman, a Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen operative who was arrested from Doddaballapur on Tuesday. The bombs were found under a bridge in ward number 23 in Tippu Nagar. The NIA suspects that there may be more devices in the area and is conducting a thorough search. Habibur Rehman SK alias Habibur SK alias Sheikh alias Habibur Kabore Shaik (28), hails from Muluk Shantipalli village in West Bengal's Birbhum district. He was chargesheeted on March 30, 2015 in the Burdwan Blast Case as the prime accused. He was charged with involvement in the conspiracy of Jamaat-ul-Mujahideen Bangladesh (JMB) to wage war against the Government of India and Bangladesh. According to the NIA, Habibur Rehman Sheikh was a close associate of senior JMB leader Jahidul Islam alias Kausar and was also associated with other JMB leaders like Rahamatullah SK alias Sajid and Moulana Yusuf. "He was an active member of JMB, Bolpur Module in West Bengal. He had attended a number of training camps conducted by JMB," the NIA had said in a statement. Habibur Rehman was produced before the XLIX Additional City Civil and Sessions Court & NIA Special Judge in Bengaluru on Tuesday and the court had granted the agency 5 days’ transit remand for producing him before the Special NIA Court in Kolkata. This is a developing story.
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K’taka human rights panel recommends CID probe into under-trial Fairoz’s death
The death of 19-year-old Fairoz earlier in January had raised suspicions about whether he was tortured inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru.
The Karnataka State Human Rights Commission on Wednesday has recommended that the Criminal Investigation Department launch a probe into the alleged police brutality that led to the death of an under-trial prisoner, Fairoz, in January earlier this year. The death of 19-year-old Fairoz had raised suspicion about whether he was tortured inside the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru, where he was lodged. The KSHRC Chairperson, Justice DH Waghela, has also recommended that the Karnataka government pay a compensation of Rs 10 lakh to Fairoz's family. "The state government should entrust the investigation into the criminal case in respect to the death of Syed Fairoz to the Criminal Investigation Department for carrying out further and proper investigation under the supervision of an officer not below the rank of SP for expeditious filing of investigation report in the court," Justice Waghela noted in his order, while referring to the inordinate delay in the investigation carried out by the Parappana Agrahara Police officials. What happened to Fairoz? Syed Fairoz, a 21-year-old man was lodged in the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru in January 2018. Fairoz was under trial for the possession of marijuana. On January 19, Fairoz was rushed to the prison hospital as his right leg had developed an infection. On January 21, when his condition worsened, he was taken to Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru and on January 23, he succumbed to his injuries. The autopsy report revealed that the cause of death was assault and that his right leg had developed gangrene and had turned septic. "Patient experienced multiorgan dysfunctional syndrome, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC) with acute kidney injury (AKI). Patient went into septic shock with DIC and AKI," the autopsy report revealed. Dr Suresh, who conducted Fairoz's autopsy, mentioned in his report: "The histopathology report stated that the death was due to septicaemia consequent upon injuries sustained. However, I am of the opinion that pneumonia and acute respiratory distress syndrome could have caused secondary complications of the injuries that were found over the body of the deceased." After his death, the Parappana Agrahara Police filed an unnatural death report. However, when the news of Fairoz's death was reported in the media, an inquiry headed by a magistrate was lodged. The magisterial inquiry, which went on for over three months, concluded that Fairoz was beaten by prison officials, refused treatment and his condition was neglected. "The inquiry was also slow because of the elections and officers were getting transferred. But the conclusion was that Fairoz may have been murdered and the magistrate inquiry suggested that the police register a case of murder and probe the case further," a senior police official said. After months of delay, the inquiry concluded in April this year and the Parappana Agrahara Police registered a case of murder and criminal conspiracy against the prison officials. Fairoz's brother Syed Tabrez, who submitted a sworn affidavit to the KSHRC, had expressed apprehension that the Parappana Agrahara Police were delaying obtaining witness statements and that the names of the accused prison officials were not mentioned in the FIR registered on May 16. Although the prime suspect is prison warden Jabbar Patel, his name does not appear in the FIR, which was noted by the KSHRC. The KSHRC obtained statements from Somashekar, the Chief Superintendent of the prison; Nandeesh, the officer heading the magistrate inquiry; and Syed Tabrez, Fairoz's brother. The KSHRC concluded in its order that the case should be handed over to the CID for a speedy investigation and that the family should be compensated due to the negligence of government servants. Read: Did police brutality result in the death of an undertrial prisoner in Bengaluru? Read: 'Fairoz was beaten, cops refused treatment': Brother of Bengaluru undertrial who died
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Karnataka Cabinet to look into demands of Valmiki community, after protests
Members of the Valmiki community had staged a protest in Bengaluru seeking 7.5 per cent reservation in place of the existing 3 per cent.
After the members of the Valmiki community staged a protest march in Bengaluru demanding 7.5 per cent reservation, Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has announced the government will look into the community’s demands. The issue will be taken up in the next cabinet meeting. Members of the Valmiki community, which is classified as a Scheduled Tribe, are seeking 7.5 per cent reservation in place of the existing 3 per cent. Deputy Chief Minister G Parameshwara announced Tuesday that a panel will be constituted to look into the community’s demands. Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy also stated that the state government is planning to increase reservation for ST's in the state. The CM held a meeting with Deputy Chief Minister Dr G Parameshwara and ministers Satish Jarkiholi and Priyank Kharge on the issue on Tuesday. In a statement, the CM’s office said, “Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy today discussed the reservation of Scheduled Tribes. The government is seriously concerned about the reservation of Scheduled Tribes. Social Welfare Minister Priyanka Kharge will discuss the reservation with them.” The meeting was called a day after a group of hundreds of protesters walked from Rajanahalli in Davanagere district to Bengaluru, a distance of 280 km, demanding that the reservation for the community should be raised. Community members argued that the numerically strong Valmiki community would continue to protest until their demands are met. "We are happy that our protest evoked a response but we are waiting to see if our demands will be met, " said Narasimha Murthy, a member of the community from Magadi. The protests were supported by BJP leader B Sriramulu, considered one of the biggest leaders belonging to the community. JD(S) leader Shashi Kumar was also present at the protest site. The protest on Wednesday brought traffic in Bengaluru's central area to a standstill and even forced Power Minister DK Shivakumar to travel by metro.
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'You voted for Modi, go ask him': Kumaraswamy's rant at protesters in a village
This was when the CM was on his way to a Raichur village for his second village stay program.
“Should I order police to lathi charge? You vote for Narendra Modi and expect me to solve your problem...You don’t deserve any respect,” this is what Karnataka Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy said after losing his cool at a bunch of protesters on Wednesday. Members of the Yeramarus Thermal Power Plant workers stopped the KSRTC bus CM Kumaraswamy had boarded, which was on its way to Karegudde village. Tungabhadra Valaya Hangami Karmikara Sangha and Hutti Gold Mines Staff Employees Union had gathered to narrate their woes of not getting salaries to the Chief Minister. But instead of getting a sympathetic ear, what they got was a rant from the Chief Minister. The incident happened when the CM was on his way to a Raichur village on his second 'village stay' program. The Karnataka CM started the 'village stay' program to visit villages and earn the confidence of the people by listening to their issues and solving them. #WATCH Raichur: Workers from Yermarus Thermal Power Station protested before the bus of Karnataka CM HD Kumaraswamy over wages and other issues & raised slogans of 'Shame! Shame!', while he was on his way to Karegudda for his 'village stay prog'. The CM got angry on protesters. pic.twitter.com/FK3OI4limx — ANI (@ANI) June 26, 2019 The protesters, a majority of them workers from the Yermarus Thermal Power Station and Hutti Gold Mines had started shouting slogans when CM was about to leave the inspection bungalow in Yermarus. For 20 minutes, they gheraoed the CM chanting slogans demanding the government meet their demands regarding pending pays and work conditions. According to the protestors, 748 employees working for the power plant have not been paid salary for the last 14 months, the protesters claimed. R Manasayya, a union leader said that the CM had promised to meet them at Yeramarus bungalow to discuss the issue. When they saw his bus pass without stopping, the workers rushed out to stop the bus. Speaking to reports, he said CM broke his promise to listen to people's problems. After realising that the protesters won’t let go of him, the CM agreed to have a talk with the protestors from the bus. He later assured that their problems would be taken care of within a week. Reacting to the CM’s rant, the BJP launched an attack on him. BJP MLA Arvind Limbavali said, “If you cannot listen to the people then who in Karnataka asked you to become the CM ? Kannadigas anyways didn't vote for you nor did they ask you to be the CM. Do the state a favor by stepping down. You are fit for nothing.” Look at the arrogance of @hd_kumaraswamy If you cannot listen to the plead of people then who in Karnataka asked you to become the CM ? Kannadigas anyways didn't vote for you nor did they ask you to be the CM. Do the state a favor by stepping down. You are fit for nothing pic.twitter.com/jUjlfROAYE — Arvind Limbavali (@bjparvind) June 26, 2019
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K’taka govt removes cap on scholarships for SC/ST students applying to foreign varsities
The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarships Scheme has been extended to graduate courses and the pre-existing cap of Rs 40 lakh has been lifted.
Representational Image
In a boost to the prospects of SC/ST students in Karnataka seeking degrees from foreign universities, the state government has done away with the cap on tuition fee for students who apply under the Prabuddha scheme. Previously the cap for each student was Rs 40 lakh. The Prabuddha Overseas Scholarships Scheme, re-launched under the Social Welfare Department in December 2018, allowed students from these socially disadvantaged communities to pursue postgraduate and PhD programmes. The students could study for free or partially subsidised costs, including the student’s course fees, living costs and air tickets. The government has now extended the scheme for graduate courses as well. Till date, under the scheme, 30 students have been selected and sent to foreign countries and Rs 13.11 crore has been spent under phase-I since then. The students applying for this scholarship can apply for a list of select courses of universities in Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Singapore, Sweden, Switzerland, UK and the US listed in the department’s website, based on their choice of streams. From this phase, all students of SC/ ST category who have cleared their Graduate Record Examinations (GRE), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Scholastic Aptitude/Assessment Test (SAT) are eligible to apply. “For the second phase, there are several changes including the removal of the cap of scholarship on what each student can get. Another big change is that students can also go abroad for undergraduate studies too. Now the scheme will cover 100% of the travel, college fee, living expenses,” Kunal Shah, a private consultant working with the department told TNM. “Also this time we have streamlined the courses which we identified based on their reputation and record. This way we are encouraging people to go to any and every college. The entire process is online and one will be called for verification once they meet the criteria and the scholarship will be issued immediately,” he added. The changes in the scheme come after Priyank Kharge, the Minister for Social Welfare, met beneficiaries of the first phase on June 17 along with their parents. While students from families having an annual income of Rs 8 lakh and less were eligible for 100% financial aid, students from families having an annual income of Rs 8-15 lakh were allowed a 50% subsidy. Students having a family income of Rs 15-25 lakh could get 33% of their costs provided by the government. The government had allocated Rs 120 crore in total for roughly 400 students for this financial year.
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