How direct arrangements with farmers is helping both buyers and sellers in Bengaluru

Coronavirus

With gaps in the supply chain and markets closed down, much of farmers’ produce is getting wasted – but some people are trying to change that.

Soumya Chatterjee

With the lockdown severely affecting the regular supply chain of fruits and vegetables in Bengaluru, some residential communities and farmers are faring better than others. This is due to farm-to-door arrangements that some volunteers have worked out.  There were multiple incidents of farmers leaving their crop to rot in the open or feeding their crop to cattle, as they could not arrange transport to ferry their produce. Even if the farmers managed to arrange transport for the produce, strict enforcement of social distancing measures resulted in shutting down of many big traditional markets like KR Market, Russel Market etc. This meant that there was an ‘artificial shortage’ of vegetables – and the end consumers were also forced to pay more for their staples. However, some volunteers and residential communities figured out a solution. Deepanjali Naik, a resident and member of the Resident Welfare Association, said, “For a long time now – much longer than the lockdown – we have been using milk, vegetables and eggs supplied by farmers who have organic farms nearby. Now in time of the lockdown, even other farmers who are finding it difficult to arrange transport to interior parts of the city have started to sell to nearby apartments, and this is proving beneficial.” Similarly, Horticultural Producers' Co-operative Marketing and Processing Society (HOPCOMS) said they are also trying to take farmers' produce to the door steps of residents, with many of the major markets being non-functional. GR Sreenivasan, Chairman of the quasi-government body of farmers and the state Horticulture Department, said, “We have 15 vehicles all around the city targeting apartment complexes on each day of the week to supply fresh vegetables and fruits.” He also claimed that there is no drastic change in prices of their products and supply is usual in the 200-plus HOPCOMS-run stores across the city.  Similarly, there are volunteer initiatives like Caremongers India are helping farmers sell their produce directly to customers.  In the first week of lockdown, there were numerous reports of farmers not only incurring huge financial losses but also being forced to waste their produce due to logistical gaps. Since then things have slightly improved for some sections with district authorities allowing and facilitating transport of agricultural commodities to the markets. However, farmers all over the state say that the situation is far from normal.

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Row over BJP MLA's photo on food packets, unions say bought with workers’ fund

Controversy

A controversy erupted when food packets were distributed with a photograph of MLA Aravind Limbavali along with PM Modi and CM Yediyurappa.

Soumya Chatterjee

Twitter / @BilalJaiHind

A photo of BJP MLA Aravind Limbavali along with the Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa pasted on food packets meant for relief for stranded migrants has created a controversy. The relief materials in the form of dry rations were being distributed by the state Labour Department to help economically disadvantaged communities who are now struggling for basic food following the national lockdown to counter the spread of COVID-19. While it is common for aid or government social welfare measures to have posters of the Prime Minister or Chief Minister, unions pointed out this is not applicable in this case. They have accused the Mahadevapura MLA of falsely claiming credit for the rations handed out to the migrant workers. This because these food packets have been arranged using the fund from the Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board. Funds for the Karnataka Building and other Construction Workers Welfare Board are collected as a cess and is not like other forms of tax revenue. In a tweet, the All India Council of Central Trade Union Karnataka unit, said,”Utterly shameful behaviour from @ArvindLBJP ! This is relief brought from the money from the construction workers welfare board and unorganised sector welfare board! How are you put your photo on it! @BBMPCOMM please take action as you are incharge of delivery of ration Utterly shameful behaviour from @ArvindLBJP ! This is relief brought from the money from the construction workers welfare board and unorganised sector welfare board! How are you put your photo on it!@BBMPCOMM please take action as you are incharge of delivery of ration https://t.co/6q9Z64irVL — AICCTU Karnataka (@aicctukar) April 9, 2020 AICCTU and other voluntary organisations and individuals are working with the Karnataka Labour Department to ensure supply of dry ration in association with the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike. Responding to one of the tweets tagging him and questioning the move, Karnataka Labour Secretary Captain Manivannan replied, “You should seek an explanation from those who posted the stickers. We, at labour dept and DIPR (Department of Public Relations), spend our energy and time in ensuring the labourers get food, not on who gets the credit.” Commissioner sir why are politicians taking credit on this great initiative by GOK? Please explain.. @mani1972ias @Karnataka_DIPR https://t.co/69B60pMAB8 pic.twitter.com/3FDsubma2m — Bilal Irfan بلال عرفان बिलाल इरफान (@BilalJaiHind) April 8, 2020 Earlier on Wednesday, Manivannan had said the Labour Department along with staff, volunteers had collectively served more than 10 lakh needy persons. N Shivanna, General Secretary of Karnataka Constructions and Quarry Workers Union also said this is not government money as it is collected as a cess and it is only meant for the purpose of welfare of labourers.

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Mungaaru male for Karnataka: Thunderstorms predicted this week

Weather

According to information received from the Karnataka meteorological department, parts of Bengaluru South saw scattered showers on Wednesday evening.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

Pixabay

Here is some refreshing news for Bengalureans and all people living in south Karnataka: the weatherman predicts rain on Thursday evening and in the following week. After a hot month of March which gave the state temperatures of up to 40 degree Celsius, the skies are finally abating to bring some relief. According to a release from the Indian Meteorological Department, on April 9 evening and April 10 morning there is a thunderstorm warning for Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chamrajanagar, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kolar, Mandya ,Tumakuru, Mysuru, and Ramanagara districts of South Interior Karnataka. The bulletin notes that thunderstorms will be accompanied by lightning, and advises that people stay indoors during the period. On April 11, Saturday, the IMD predicts that there will be thunderstorms and gusty winds in isolated placed across the aforementioned districts in South Interior Karnataka: Ballari, Bengaluru Urban, Bengaluru Rural, Chamrajanagar, Chikkaballapura, Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Kolar, Mandya ,Tumakuru, Mysuru, and Ramanagara districts. This will be followed by two days during which the weatherman predicts no rain. On April 14, Tuesday, IMD predicts that there will be thunderstorms accompanied with lightning in isolated places over Chikkamagaluru, Hassan, Chitradurga, Davanagere, Kodagu and Shivamogga districts of South Interior Karnataka. According to information received from the Karnataka meteorological department, parts of Bengaluru South saw scattered showers on Wednesday evening. South India sees a series of showers before monsoon, called pre-monsoon showers, or April showers. Mungaaru Male, as they are referred to fondly in Kannada, gave inspiration to a hit song, which came out in 2011 and is still played to evoke the charming feeling of the rains.

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Democrats seek hazard pay for health workers amid pandemic

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said a so-called Heroes Fund could compensate nurses, EMTs and other workers for unanticipated risks.

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Video: Karnataka panchayat bans and ostracises Muslims over COVID-19 stigma

In a video, a man is seen beating a drum and saying that Muslims cannot enter the village.

Alithea Stephanie Mounika

In Ankanahalli village in Ramanagara district of Karnataka, a communally divisive message has begun to spread even as the lockdown continues. In a video which has since gone viral, a man is seen beating a drum and saying, “Listen everyone! The Gram panchayat (local village administration) is making this announcement. No Muslims (Sahibs) should come into the village. No one should work for Muslims. If you do, you should pay a fine of Rs 500 to Rs 1000.” As the video has become viral, the local police were forced to take action. The police have booked the gram panchayat head, Mahesh, for spreading the communal message.   Communal tensions in rural Karnataka are rising. Announcement in Ramnagar district: Muslims are not allowed in the village. No one is allowed to work for them. If you do, pay a fine of Rs 500,1000. pic.twitter.com/gPBPraED5P — Alithea Stephanie Mounika//ಅಲಿತ್ಯ ಮೌನಿಕಾ (@alitheasm) April 9, 2020   Mahesh, the president of the gram panchayat had held a meeting with the other gram panchayati members and then the order was passed, the local police told TNM. While Mahesh is absconding, the police have arrested two others, Rajesh, the person who made the video and made it viral on Facebook and Whatsapp, as well as Ramaiah, the person who was hired to beat the drums and make the announcement to the public. Ramaiah went on foot to make the announcement to those who come under the Ankanahalli gram panchayat. Communal tensions have flared up in many parts of Karnataka after inflammatory media reports that coronavirus was being 'spread by Muslims', following a meeting held by the Tablighi Jamaat congregation, held at Delhi’s Nizamuddin. This is despite the fact that only 3 percent of the active cases of COVID-19 in Karnataka were originally those who attended the Tablighi Jamaat meeting, according to government data. The rest are from people who returned from foreign countries, and their immediate contacts. The numbers vary from state to state and in states like Tamil Nadu for instance, a large number of attendees have tested positive for COVID-19. The gram panchayat has passed the anti-Muslim order despite Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa warning that stern action would be taken against those who make communally divisive messages regarding the coronavirus pandemic. He had said that coronavirus does not have a particular caste or religion, but infects everyone. TNM had previously reported that Muslim volunteers distributing food packets to those adversely by the lockdown in Bengaluru were heckled and harassed. In another incident in Bagalkote district, locals humiliated some visibly Muslim men for fishing. They made the Muslims beg with folded hands for them to be let off. Read: COVID-19: Muslims and Muslim volunteers heckled, harassed in Karnataka

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Karnataka HC asks govt to give details about COVID-19 healthcare infra in state

Coronavirus

This follows reports of hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, and ASHA workers not being provided with sufficient protection.

TNM Staff

Courtesy: PTI

Following a petition from a private individual, the High Court of Karnataka has asked the state government to submit a detailed report regarding the availability of healthcare infrastructure in the state by April 9, Thursday. The court also asked the state government to immediately respond to instances of violence against health workers who are doing their job. The Hindu reported that the Karnataka High Court has asked for details of district wise data of isolation beds, ICUs (intensive care unit) with ventilators available for COVID-19 patients, and also up-to-date numbers of the positive cases per district. The court also asked for details on the availability of masks, PPE (personal protective equipment) and alcohol-based sanitisers at the hospitals run by the state, reported the Times of India. Chief Justice Abhay Shreeniwas Oka headed the division bench for this order. These developments follow two e-mails to the High Court. One petition was emailed by an individual named Dr Rajiv Ramesh Gothe, about the series of attacks against ASHA workers in the state, who were out doing their duty, collecting data about coronavirus patients. The second was The High Court was also responding to an e-mail letter from the Department of Pathology in the ESI hospital in Kalaburagi, where a COVID-19 patient passed away. In her email, the head of department of Pathology, Dr Zeenath, had said that the doctors and hospital staff in the Kalaburagi hospital were “not even provided with masks,” and were thus at risk of contracting COVID-19 themselves, while treating affected patients. There has been a growing mistrust against the ASHA workers in Karnataka as TNM had previously reported. ASHA workers who had gone to the districts to collect data for a health-related government survey were turned away, as they were mistakenly assumed to be collecting data for the much contested Citizenship Amendment Act and the National Register of Citizens. Read: Amid CAA-NRC fears, residents turn away health workers on mosquito survey in Karnataka

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Video of child calling for her nurse mother in Belagavi goes viral, CM writes to nurse

Coronavirus

Missing her mother, the girl seated on a two-wheeler with her father was seen waving and crying as the nurse stood at a distance away from the entrance of the hospital.

TNM Staff

'They also serve who only stand and wait' - Milton's line is often quoted in the context of war to highlight the sacrifices of those who may not be at the battlefield but still serve by waiting for their heroes to return. In the war against coronavirus, it is doctors, nurses and health workers who are at the forefront, waging a battle against an enemy they cannot see. And their families, which have to do without their presence for days together, also serve - including this three-year-old whose mother is a nurse at a hospital in Karnataka. Little Aishwarya had not seen her mother Sugandha Korikoppa for 15 days and would ask everyone who passed by their home if they'd seen her. As the days passed and there was no sign of her mother, the child became disturbed and refused to even eat. Finally, her father brought her to the Belagavi Institute of Medical Sciences in north Karnataka on his bike, duly masked. Her mother stood outside the hospital with her colleagues at a safe distance, trying to speak to Aishwarya through her tears. But though the child called out to her and pleaded with her to come closer - "Mummy vaa!" -- Sugandha had to stand where she was. The heart-rending visuals went viral, with several on social media commending the nurse for her efforts. It also prompted Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa to call the nurse on Wednesday and appreciate her dedication. "You are struggling and working very hard without even seeing your children. I saw it on TV. Kindly cooperate. You will have better opportunities in the future. I'll look out for you. God bless you, and I hope your hard work does you well", Yediyurappa can be heard telling Sunanda over the phone call, a recording of which was released to the media. Later, in a letter addressed to the nurse, the Chief Minister recalled the selfless service of doctors, nurses, ASHA (health) workers, police, civic workers, and government employees who are working like her to stop the spread of COVID-19. Assuring that he would look into the concerns of healthcare workers raised by Sugandha during the telephone conversation, Yediyurappa in the letter said that resolving these issues was the government's priority, and that he will personally look into it once the COVID-19 situation came under control, the release said. So far, 8 coronavirus cases have been reported in Belagavi district of Karnataka.  With inputs from PTI

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