Bengaluru pvt school holds 'voluntary' classes despite CM's order announcing holidays

Education

While the classes are said to be voluntary, teachers are allegedly being covertly forced to come to school.

Soumya Chatterjee

Stonehill International School/ Facebook page

Amid a surge in COVID-19 cases in Karnataka, Stonehill International School in Bengaluru is allegedly holding “voluntary” physical classes. This is despite Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa’s announcement of a three-week holiday for students and teachers in schools in the state, due to the pandemic. When TNM reached out to the management of the school, they denied that classes were held; however, documents sent to their staff and students, accessed by TNM, suggest otherwise. A person in the know of the school management’s decision said that, while the school started online classes even before the state government’s directive, things changed in October. “While the classes are told to be voluntary, teachers are being covertly forced to come to school,” the person said The school management, led by Brian D Brumsickle, Head of the School, has been telling the staff that physical classes will be held for a maximum of 11 students each. The rest of the students can simultaneously attend the classes online. TNM has accessed an online document that both students and teachers had to fill up if they consented to attending the physical classes. However, Joe Lumsden, Principal of the Secondary division of the school, said, “There are no classes being held at least till November 15 until we get clearance from the state government. Students might be going to the school to collect study materials. ” In a statement shared by the Chief Minister’s office on Sunday, Yediyurappa said, "I have directed officials to issue an order declaring a three-week holiday for schools from October 12 to 30 in view of the reports that several teachers have been infected by COVID-19." This order came following the Primary and Secondary Education Department’s decision to suspend the Vidyagama scheme on Saturday. The scheme was designed for children in rural areas, under which their teachers could teach them in public spaces as schools were shut. However, it was shut down after reports that 34 students came down with COVID-19 in Belagavi and Kalaburagi districts. 

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Missing Mysuru-based BARC scientist found in Vijayawada

Crime

Abhishek Reddy Gulla, the 26-year old scientific officer, had been off duty since September 17.

TNM Staff

A young scientist of the Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) in Mysuru, who was missing since October 6 was found in Vijayawada on Monday. "He has been found in Vijayawada. He is on the way to Mysuru," a police officer investigating the matter told PTI without divulging further details. "We have to investigate how he disappeared from here," the police official said. Abhishek Reddy Gulla, the 26-year old scientific officer at BARC, is a bachelor and has taken a room on rent at Yelwal in Mysuru. He has been absent from duty since September 17. When his office contacted him on October 5, he said he would join the office on October 6. However, on October 6 Gulla left home in his two- wheeler without taking his wallet and even mobile phone and did not return. Concerned with his disappearance, his superior TK Bose lodged a missing complaint at the Yelwal police station based on which police registered a case. Bose’s complaint to the police had also mentioned that Gulla's neighbour, who is also an employee of BARC, said his house was found unlocked and his two-wheeler also was not seen. Bose had requested the police to trace him.  Alarmed by the sudden disappearance, the scientific officer's friends started a social media campaign on Saturday to find him. Yelwal Inspector NH Yogananda had told IANS that Reddy had been staying alone after his parents' death a couple of months ago.  The Bhabha Atomic Research Centre (BARC) is India's premier nuclear research facility headquartered in Mumbai. One wing of the centre - Rare Materials Project - is located in Yelwal, Mysuru.  The reason behind his strange disappearance from Mysuru and emergence at Vijayawada is not known. It was earlier reported that even his family in Chittoor district in Andhra Pradesh could not reach him either and had approached the local police

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Dr Sudhakar made Karnataka Health Minister, fresh rifts emerge within BSY govt

Politics

Sriramulu who is left with the Social Welfare Department has reportedly offered to resign from the cabinet.

Soumya Chatterjee

File image

Karnataka Minister Dr Sudhakar K has been given the additional charge of Health and Family Welfare Ministry, which until now was held by B Sriramulu. With this, Dr Sudhakar will be in charge of both the Health and Family Welfare and Medical Education portfolios after he was made the minister-in-charge of handling COVID-19 crisis for Bengaluru by Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa. Since the onset of the pandemic, the government has been criticised over a lack of synergy between the Health and Medical Education Department in tackling the pandemic. However, a top source in the know of developments, has told TNM that this change has little to do with COVID-19 crisis but more with the internal tensions within the BSY government. As part of the changes affected in this reallocation of ministerial portfolios, Sriramulu will now be in charge of only the  Social Welfare Department. Even the Backward Classes Welfare Department has been taken away from him with the CM choosing to keep the portfolio for himself for the time being. Prior to Monday, the Social Welfare portfolio was being held by Deputy Chief Minister Govind Karjol along with the Public Works Department (PWD). From Monday, Karjol will be in charge of the PWD only. The official notification of the reallocation of the portfolios has been signed by Governor Vajubhai Valla. The source said Sriramulu, an influential leader in the state's Hyderabad-Karnataka region has offered to resign as it is clearly a ploy made by Water Resources Minister Ramesh Jarkiholi who was successful in convincing the CM to strip Sriramulu of his plum portfolios. “This is because Ramesh who hails from the same Valmiki community wants to portray himself as the tallest leader of this Scheduled Tribe at the expense of Sriramulu’s belittlement,” said the source. Ramesh, a former Congress leader, had led the ‘rebel’ gang of disgruntled MLAs including Dr Sudhakar who resigned from the Congress-JD(S) government and paved the way for BJP rule in the state. The source said Sriramulu who was himself a prime contender for the Deputy CM post is being assuaged by the CM to withdraw his resignation. Yediyurappa, who wrestled himself to the CM’s seat buoyed by the controversial resignation of 17 MLAs, has been forced to do a balancing act in cabinet reshuffle - accommodating the former rebels and party loyalists.  

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Noted music director Rajan of Rajan-Nagendra dies of heart attack in Bengaluru

Death

The Rajan-Nagendra duo ruled the southern film industry, especially Kannada and Telugu films, for over four decades starting from 1950s to the early 1990s.

PTI

Rajan on left| Wikimedia Commons/Skancc

minent music director Rajan of Rajan-Nagendra fame died late on Sunday at his residence in Bengaluru due to a cardiac arrest. According to his family members, 87-year old Rajan, who was the elder brother of Nagendra, had developed complications on Saturday and suffered a heart attack. He was rushed to hospital but died on the way, they added. Nagendra had passed away 20 years ago. Rajan and Nagendra were born in a middle-class musical family at Shivarampet in Mysuru. Their father Rajappa was a harmonium and flute player who played background music for silent movies. While Rajan was a violinist, Nagendra was an expert in Jal Tarang. The brothers used to perform for Jaya Maruthi Orchestra. The brothers had good hold over Carnatic as well as Hindustani classical music. As independent music directors, Rajan and Nagendra had debuted for the movie 'Sowbhagya Lakshmi,' which opened a vista of opportunities for them. The brothers ruled the southern film industry, especially Kannada and Telugu films, for over four decades starting from 1950s to the early 1990s. The music composer brothers carved a niche for themselves by giving many memorable and melodious songs. These include 'Akashave beelali mele' from the movie 'Nyayave Devaru', 'Aakaashadinda Dharegilida' from 'Chandanada Gombe', 'Aakaasha Deepavu Neenu' from 'Pavana Ganga', 'Baanallu Neene Bhuviyallu Neene' from 'Bayalu Dari' and Hosa Balige Nee Joteyade' from 'Naa Ninna Bidalare' in Kannada. Some of the hit songs in Telugu are 'Pujaluseya', 'Intinti Ramayanam' and 'Manasa veena madhugeetam'. The duo had scored music for 400-odd films in Kannada, Telugu, Tamil, Malayalam, Tulu, Hindi and Sinhala. Condoling Rajan's death, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa said, "I am deeply pained to learn about the demise of Sri Rajan. May his soul rest in eternal peace. May God give strength to the bereaved family members, relatives and fans to bear the loss." Yediyurappa said Rajan will always be remembered for giving hundreds of melodious songs. Several ministers and public representatives condoled the demise of Rajan.

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Former Indian football captain Carlton Chapman passes away, he was 49

Sports

Chapman played for India between 1995 and 2001 and the country won the 1997 SAFF Cup under his captaincy.

PTI

I league official Twitter handle

Former India football captain Carlton Chapman, who had formed a deadly trio in club football with Bhaichung Bhutia and IM Vijayan in the 1990s, died on Monday following a heart attack in Bengaluru. He was 49. Chapman was hospitalised on Sunday night at a hospital in Bengaluru and passed away early this morning. "I got a call from Bengaluru from one of his friends that Chapman is no more. He passed away early this morning. He was a happy-go-lucky man, always smiling and ready to help others," Chapman's one-time India team-mate Bruno Coutinho told PTI from Goa. A creative midfielder, Chapman played for India between 1995 and 2001 and the country won the 1997 SAFF Cup under his captaincy. At the club level, he had two successful spells with East Bengal and one with now-defunct JCT Mills. A product of the Tata Football Academy in early 1990s, Chapman joined East Bengal in 1993 and scored a hat-trick in his team's 6-2 win against Iraq club Al Zawra in a first round match at the Asian Cup Winners Cup that year. But his best came after moving to JCT in 1995. Chapman won 14 trophies with the Punjab-based club, including the inaugural National Football League in 1996-97, and formed a formidable combination with Vijayan and Bhutia. Chapman later joined now-defunct FC Kochin. But after one season, he returned to East Bengal in 1998 and the club won the NFL under his captaincy in 2001. He announced his retirement from professional football in 2001. As coach, Chapman had stints with I-League 2nd Division club Tata Football Academy, Royal Wahingdoh FC of Shillong and Sudeva Moonlight FC of Delhi before becoming the Technical Director of the Kozhikode-based Quartz International Football Academy in 2017.

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4623 new COVID-19 cases recorded in Bengaluru, city tally rises to 2.81 lakh

Coronavirus

The city has reported fewer cases than only New Delhi in India, which has registered a total tally of 3,06,559, the BBMP's bulletin stated.

TNM Staff

Image for representation: PTI

Bengaluru Urban registered 4,623 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, taking its total tally to 2,81,557, overtaking the city of Mumbai, which has reported 2,27,276 total cases so far. The city has reported fewer cases than only New Delhi in India, which has registered a total tally of 3,06,559. Bengaluru has 66,854 active cases with a positivity rate of 13.43%, higher than the state's average of 11.93%, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) said in it's daily COVID-19 bulletin. Out of the total 2.8 lakh cases, 2,11,358 have recovered from the coronavirus with 2,656, discharged in the last 24-hour period. The city reported 24 deaths due to the virus on Sunday, taking its toll to 5,364 since the pandemic broke out in the southern state on March 8. The number of tests done so far stands at 20,96,118. The list of containment zones has not been updated by the BBMP over the last few days and continues to remain at 18 active zones. Meanwhile, reversing the trend after four consecutive days of surge, recovery of 10,107 patients outnumbered 9,523 new cases across Karnataka till Saturday night. "With 10,107 recovering in the last 24 hours, 5,80,054 have been discharged till date from across the state, while its COVID-19 tally rose to 7,10,309, including 1,20,270 active cases and 75 succumbed to the infection in the last 24 hours taking the death toll to 9,966 so far," said the state health bulletin on Sunday. Bengaluru Urban accounted for about 50% of the state's caseload on Sunday. Of the 904 intensive care units (ICUs), 353 are in Bengaluru district, followed by 93 in Dharwad, 78 in Ballari, 49 in Hassan and 29 in Kalaburagi. Of the 99,923 tests conducted, 38,731 are through rapid antigen detection and 61,192 were through RT-PCR. In the new cases reported from the districts across the state, Mysuru saw 541 cases, followed by Hassan at 463, Chitradurga at 378, Belagavi at 331, Tumkakuru at 285, Mandya at 267, Dakshina Kannada at 265 and Ballari at 226. Among those discharged in the districts, Tumakuru saw 1,072 recover, followed by Kalaburagi at 806, Uttara Kannada at 597, Davangere at 438, Hassan at 420, Ballari at 376, Mysuru at 331, Chitradurga at 318 and Bengaluru Rural at 301. With IANS inputs  

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3-week holiday for Karnataka state board schools from Oct 12, no online classes

Education

The decision to announce the holiday comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa announced a three-week holiday for students and teachers in schools in Karnataka on Sunday. The announcement of the holiday means that teachers need not report to schools and there will not be online classes until October 30. This will apply to government and private schools under the state board in both urban and rural areas.  "The announcement of the holiday means that there will be no activity in schools and consequently, no holding of online classes till October 30," Tushar Girinath, in-charge, Principal Secretary, Department of Primary and Secondary Education.    The order applies only to state-board schools and not to schools under CBSE or ICSE in the state.   The decision to announce the holiday comes amid a surge in COVID-19 cases . "I have directed officials to issue an order declaring a three-week holiday for schools from October 12 to 30 in view of the reports that several teachers have been infected by COVID-19," said Yediyurappa in a statement released to the media.    It also comes a day after the Vidyagama scheme to teach students in government schools was stopped on Saturday. This was necessitated after reports that 34 students in Belagavi and Kalaburagi districts in the state's northern region tested positive. In this scheme, students were taught by teachers in an open space in the community the children resided in. After schools were shut on March 25  when the lockdown was enforced and extended to contain the spread of the coronavirus, the education department started the Vidyagama programme to teach students in state-run schools. In some parts of the state it was started as early as July. "The Vidyagama scheme has been launched to enable around 42-lakh students from socially weaker sections to learn in classes held in open spaces under trees or verandah in their school premises," an official said.    The Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) has already issued guidelines to reopen schools and colleges across the country from October 15 but the Karnataka government has decided to wait at least till the end of the month due to the rising number of COVID-19 cases in the state. Former state Chief Minister and Janata Dal (Secular) leader HD Kumaraswamy rapped the state government for cancelling the mid-term holidays for teachers despite a surge in COVID-19 cases over the weeks.   The Dasara celebrations will be held in the intervening weeks and they are expected to be restricted to Mysuru.   

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