Bengaluru doctors successfully remove 3.5-kg tumour from teenager

Medicine

The doctors at Bengaluru’s Aster CMI Hospital said that Surbhi’s condition was very critical when the parents first approached them in 2020.

Sanjana Deshpande

Aster CMI

A team of 21 doctors at Aster CMI hospital in Bengaluru have successfully managed to remove a 3.5 kilo tumour from a teenager hailing from Gujarat. Surbhi Ben, a 15-year-old from Amerli, had a benign (mass of cells that lacks the ability to spread) tumour extending from her neck onto her chest. She had to undergo five surgeries over the course of a year to get rid of the tumour. The doctors at the hospital said that the procedure was difficult and Surbhi is now recovering from the surgeries. The team, involving Dr Chetan Ginigeri (Paediatrics & Paediatric Intensive Care), Dr Girish (Surgical Oncology), Dr Madhusudan G (Plastic Surgery) and Dr Ganeshakrishnan Iyer (Cardiothoracic and Vascular Surgery), while speaking to the press, said that her case was rare as the tumour had developed genetically. Dr Chetan said, “Surbhi first came to us in January 2020. At the time, she had three tumours present in her throat, which were intertwined with the nerves making the surgery extremely complicated. Despite taking precautions, the uncertainty of the outcome loomed large over us. She had to undergo five surgeries and is now recovering.” Surbhi after her tumour was debulked and was recovering in the hospital (Source: Aster CMI) Explaining the procedure, Dr Chetan said that she had to undergo interventional radiology before the tumour was surgically debulked (reduction of mass). She also had to undergo reconstruction for the affected area.  The doctor also told that she is undergoing voice training and it will take another three to four months to fully recover. Surbhi was six years old when her parents, Parshottam Bhai and Rekha, spotted the growth. Several appointments with doctors in and around Amerli ended in despair for they all had one reply: visit a hospital in a metropolitan city. However, the financial constraints bound them to their home, hoping for a miracle. Meanwhile, the tumour kept intruding, making it difficult for Surbhi to carry out routine tasks. Eventually, she had to drop out of school in 2019. Speaking about her difficulty, Surbhi said, “I had to struggle a lot. Unlike others, I could not go out and enjoy, people would constantly make fun of me. I even had to stop going to school because of the pain. Even while stepping out, I had to cover myself and unlike other girls, I could not wear normal clothes and dresses due to the ailment. I often used to ask my mother, why am I the only one who is suffering and there were several moments where I used to feel hopeless and frustrated.”  The NewsLions – a media outlet – helped facilitate the treatment along with Milaap. They raised over Rs 70 lakhs through a crowdfunding effort to provide her with this "life-changing surgery" of multiple sittings over last year.  She did face a hiccup when there was a recurrence 10 months after she first underwent surgery. An oncology surgeon, Dr Girish, said, “Her case was also immensely critical as the tumour had grown in the neck region where all the essential structures of life are located; then we had to take extra precautions during the surgery. We had expected the recurrence and have excised it; she is presently fine.” Upon being quizzed whether Surbhi has to take precautionary measures to avoid recurrence and further treatment, Dr Ginigeri said, “We have arranged a team for Surbhi in Surat who are well-versed with her condition and should be able to help her. There are no hard and fast precautions she has to take except regularly going for tests and check-ups to monitor if there is any growth.” Expressing her gratitude, Surbhi’s mother Rekha said that she is happy to see her daughter cheery again and not be subjected to rude remarks. Surbhi, Rekha said, has resumed her life post-treatment. She is all set to resume her education.

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Months after H&M factory workers laid off in Karnataka, company to rehire them

Labour

A total of 1,257 workers lost their jobs in June 2020 after the factory was abruptly shut down citing the pandemic as a reason.

TNM Staff

File photo

Months after hundreds of garment workers who worked for a company attached to Gokaldas Exports were laid off in Karnataka, the company has agreed to reinstate almost all of them. Workers in the factory were at the time stitching apparel for retailers such as H&M — its primary client then.  In June 2020, one of the factories of Euro Clothing Company (ECC-2) in Srirangapatna, a town in Mandya district, announced that 1,257 workers in the Srirangapatna factory will be laid off and work at the unit will be reduced in view of shutting it down. Euro Clothing Company is attached to Gokaldas Exports (GE), a major apparel and clothing exporter in India. It also stated that the workers will be paid half of their wages and the factory will not be operational. The pandemic and the business being hit were cited as reasons for these steps, and ECC-2 had said that it had seen a decrease in orders placed by international retailers. Machinery was removed from the factory in the last week of May. However, the factory workers were unionised.  Jayaram KR of the Garment and Textile Workers Union (GATWU) had told TNM that at the time that a settlement was reached, and 22 of the 1,300-odd workers were transferred to ECC-1.  Now, eight months after the workers were first laid off, the company has agreed to re-employ them. While the Srirangapatna factory remains closed, the company has agreed to take workers back in a factory that is 12 kilometres away from the one that was shut down.  “We are told that the rehiring process will be completed by August. Even though the Srirangapatna unit was closed and the machines were removed, workers will get rehired in another unit in Mysuru which is nearby. Twenty-two workers had also transferred to a unit in Mysuru earlier,” Jayaram told TNM. In a statement, the New Trade Union Initiative (NTUI), of which GATWU is an affiliate, said that the workers — most of them women — “were illegally laid off on June 8, 2020, a week after they thwarted their management's effort to remove machinery from the factory by stealth.” “As an affiliate of IndustriALL Global Union, GATWU sought to enforce H&M’s Global Framework Agreement (GFA) with IndustriALL with the understanding that in the global supply chain TNCs (transnational corporations) must bear responsibility for rights of their suppliers’ workers too,” he said.  NTUI said Gokuldas Exports was unable to prove the legality of the layoffs.  “When the 56-day long workers sit-in at the factory proved impregnable, GE mobilised its managers to follow workers into their villages and even to their homes to break them away from the union. H&M, too, ‘independently’ sought to ‘interview’ workers through GE managers to ‘understand’ their conditions without providing any prior information to either the workers or their union,” NTUI said.  NTUI said that protesting workers had been unable to hold out due to the pandemic and were compelled to accept retrenchment dues. The union added that the agreement that has now been reached accepts the closure of the factory, and secures jobs for all 1,257 workers in other factories of Gokuldas Exports “with continuity of employment and the provision of company paid transport to and from work”.  “The agreement also grants GATWU recognition at GE factories where at least one in five workers is a union member,” it added.  However, the union alleged that H&M displayed a weak commitment to its own Global Framework Agreement, and took no responsibility for the workers. “H&M’s tangible support to ensure that the agreement is implemented to the full must now be demonstrable,” it added.  TNM has reached out to H&M, and the story will be updated if they respond.  Read: Sudden closure of Karnataka garment factory stitching H&M clothes leaves workers stranded Read:  One month after closure of garment factory in Mandya, workers continue protest

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Karnataka allows classes 6-8 to reopen, barring some districts

Education

In Bengaluru and districts adjoining Kerala, schools for only Class 8 will open from February 22, Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said.

TNM Staff

PTI : Image for representation

The Karnataka government on Tuesday announced that schools for Classes 6, 7 and 8, except for those in Bengaluru and districts bordering Kerala, will reopen for physical classes from February 22. In Bengaluru and districts adjoining Kerala, however, schools for only Class 8 will open from February 22, Karnataka Education Minister S Suresh Kumar said. The districts bordering Kerala include Kodagu, Dakshina Kannada, Mysuru and Chamarajanagar The 2021-2022 academic year will begin on July 15, the minister added. A decision on reopening classes one to five will be taken next week, he said. Technical Advisory Committee appointed by the state government met on Monday and recommended that schools can be opened for Classes 6 to 8 for students in areas other than Bengaluru and districts bordering Kerala. However, parents’ consent is mandatory for students to attend physical classes. Earlier, the Karnataka government had allowed students of classes 9 and 11 to join their seniors on campus from February 1. The Primary and Secondary Education Department had also suggested that Class 10 board exams or SSLC exams should be held between June 14-25. A decision was also made to continue the Vidyagama scheme to continue for Classes 6-8. The committee will again meet in the coming week to decide if normal classes should resume for junior classes. Regular classes for 10 and 12 had already begun starting from January 1. Teachers were made to take a COVID-19 test before reporting to take classes in Karnataka. The state government held meetings with the health department about reopening schools for students of lower classes. Karnataka government had earlier announced that students coming from Kerala to Dakshina Kannada, Udupi, Mysuru, Kodagu and Chamarajanagar districts must carry a negative COVID-19 test certificate that is not older than 72 hours. This has now been extended to students in Bengaluru as well, and also applies to students living in hostels in Karnataka.

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Despite showcause notice, BJP MLA targets Yediyurappa's family again

Karnataka politics

Yatnal told reporters that Yediyurappa is surrounded by 35 family members who are using him to run rackets and fleecing the state.

IANS

PTI

Further sharpening his attack on Karnataka Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa's son, BY Vijayendra, BJP senior legislator Basanagouda Patil Yatnal on Monday termed that Yediyurppa's family members are no less tha snakes and scorpions. Yatnal told reporters that Yediyurappa is surrounded by 35 family members who are using him to run rackets and fleece the state. "Yediyurappa's home - Cauvery - has become den of all corrupt activities of his family members. This corruption racket is led by his son, Vijayendra," he charged Yatnal said this in response to Vijayendra's jibe that his father (Yediyurappa) was surrounded by snakes and scorpions (critics of Yediyurappa). "I agree with this statement, Vijayendra has spoken the truth for the first time. Yes, Yediyurappa is surrounded by snakes and scorpions. But these snakes and scorpions are none other than his family members. There are 35 family members residing in Cauvery, the official residence of Yediyurappa. All 35 family members are running 'transfer racket' from this house itself," he said. He went on to add that when party workers hear of such stories, their blood boils as these workers who have worked hard are getting raw deals becase of the alleged nepotism. Yatnal further accused that those who 'looked after Vijayendra well in the night' are getting appointments as chairmen to state run boards and corporation. He claimed his fight is against dynastic politics and corruption. "Vijayendra making party workers stand in front of his 'Yes-men' is nothing but insult on our party's core philosophy. "Just because these 'Yes-men' look after him at night does not mean that party should pay the price for his greed," he said. He questioned further that by appointing Vijayendra as BJP vice-president of the party and another son being made as MP of Shivamogga and their father being made Chief Minister, how can the party justify the Prime Minister Narendra Modi's war against dynastic politics across the country? He added that he was simply following his leader, Modi's dictum 'Na Khaunga Na Khane Doonga'. "I have nothing against Yediyurappa personally. I was in the forefront to bring him back into the party fold and ensure the party gives him the CM's post too. He deserves to be a CM, but having said this, I cannot tolerate, our party's sincere workers standing in front of Vijayendra with folded hands for minor works get done," he said, He alleged that Vijayendra has a large team and a centre where fake CDs are made to tarnish the respect of people who are his critics. "Where was Vijayendra, when loyal party workers were paying money to fill Yediyurappa's car? It is we who filled Yediyurappa's car and made him what he is today. We have great respect for Yediyurppa but that respect can not be transferred to Vijayendra, who came to the scene only after his father became CM," he said. He further said that Yediyurappa's family is trying to misuse the Veerashaiva-Lingayat community like its slave. "Vijayendra is trying to break unity of our community by instigating one Seer after another. This will surely harm our party in long run, whereas he might gain short time benefit, but for his short time benefit, our party may pay heavy price," he said. Charging the entire family of indulging in corruption, he sought to know why the entire family of Yediyurapp often goes to Mauritius in a special flight? Yatnal also reminded the CM about his promise that was made during the Kalaburagi election to include Lingayat sub sects Adi Banajiga and Panchamsali sects in 2A category. "What we are asking is to fulfil his promises made to us," he said.

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Bengaluru citizens' groups approach Commissioner on violations during Disha’s arrest

DISHA RAVI ARREST

The signatories also have asked for a thorough and full-fledged inquiry into the “acts and omissions" by the police authorities concerned.

Pooja Prasanna

A group of citizens submitted a memorandum to the Commissioner of Police, Bengaluru, "raising concerns of breach of Constitutional provisions and Criminal Law procedures during the arrest of Disha Ravi." The memorandum copy alleges that the arrest was arbitrary and in violation of procedures, constitutional and criminal law. Advocate and activist Vinay Sreenivasa, Environmentalist Leo Saldanha, lawyer Poorna R, activist Madhu Bhushan and journalist Aruna Chandrashekhar are among the 70 signatories of the memorandum.  Disha Ravi was arrested from her house in Bengaluru on Saturday afternoon and taken to Delhi by the 6 pm flight. Her arrest was the first arrest made under the FIR (first information report) filed by the Delhi police on February 4. In the FIR, the Delhi police charged the creators of the toolkit that Greta Thunberg had shared on Twitter. The Cyber Prevention Awareness Detection of the Delhi police accused Disha Ravi of being the “editor of the toolkit Google doc and key conspirator in document's formulation and dissemination. She started WhatsApp group and collaborated to make the toolkit doc. She worked closely with them to draft the doc,” the Delhi police tweeted. Disha has been booked under sections124A (sedition), 153 (wantonly giving provocation with intent to cause riot), 153A (promoting enmity between different groups) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. However, it is pertinent to note that toolkits generally contain some basic information on any issue, tweet suggestions, information on what hashtags to use and whom to tag on social media. It is a regular inventory while organising protests online. However, in this case, the Delhi police contended that this particular toolkit was created to malign India.  The memo by the citizens' group further alleged, “All constitutional protections enjoyed by the arrestee were brazenly denied to her and she was taken to Delhi in a wholly unlawful manner. It is pertinent to note that Ms Ravi's family, her legal counsel and the public at large have been kept in the dark about the details and documents relating to the arrest.” Reiterating the allegation that provisions of Article 22 were violated during Disha’s arrest, the memorandum stated that Disha was not given an opportunity to consult and be defended by a legal representative of her choice. In addition, it has accused the Bengaluru police of not taking measures to ensure that she was allowed to even contact her legal counsel before she was taken to Delhi. They added that Disha was not produced before the nearest magistrate, which was required to be done in Bengaluru before she was taken outside the state.  The memorandum was received by the Deputy Commissioner of Police MN Anucheth on behalf of the Commissioner. The memorandum demands that the Bengaluru police provide the signatories with a series of documents relevant to the arrest, including copies of the entries made in the jurisdictional police station in Bengaluru, copy of the prior permission sanction sought by the police officer in charge of the arrest from the higher superior officers in writing to carry out the investigation, a copy of the complaint or the FIR (both in English and Kannada), a copy of the arrest and search warrant containing the facts and recorded reasons in writing disclosing the satisfaction that the arrest was necessary for the purpose of investigation and copy of the transit remand. The signatories also have asked for a thorough and full-fledged inquiry into the “acts and omissions" by the police authorities concerned. So far, there has been no official response from the Bengaluru police on the allegations being levelled against them. Meanwhile, a complaint was filed by the same set of complainants against Haryana Minister Anil Vij for his tweet that read, "Be it Disha Ravi or anybody else, anyone with anti-national thought in their mind should be completely eradicated." Speaking to a news channel, Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bombai dismissed any lapse in the procedure and defended the Delhi police’s right to make the arrest in Bengaluru.

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105 residents of Bengaluru apartment complex get COVID-19, more tests on

Coronavirus

According to a health officer, one of the residents has been hospitalised as a precaution, while the others have not exhibited any symptoms.

TNM Staff

Representative Image

The number of COVID-19 cases at an apartment complex in Bengaluru’s Bommanahalli increased to 105 on Monday after more residents tested by the city’s civic body Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) turned out to be positive. According to officials, all those who have tested positive had attended a party hosted in the apartment complex. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad confirmed that the number of cases has gone up and said that it will be discussed in a meeting of citizen groups and resident welfare associations “The number of cases has risen to 105. We are taking all the measures to control further spread of the coronavirus. We have also called a meeting of citizens’ groups of the city to discuss how the spread can be controlled among the people,” said BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad. Bommanahalli Health Officer Dr Savitha said that they will be testing 200 more residents on Tuesday. “None of the 105 residents have exhibited any symptoms of COVID-19. To understand the virulency of the coronavirus, we have sent samples to NIMHANS (National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-Sciences), and the results will take a week to arrive. As many as 96 people are above the age of 50, and 68 of these people have comorbidities. We are monitoring the situation,” she told TNM.  She further said that so far only one person has been admitted as a precautionary measure after their oxygen level dropped, but others have not shown any severe symptoms so far. The health officer further added that the civic body was first notified about the cases by residents on February 12. Following this, they deployed a medical team to conduct check-ups at regular intervals.  BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad added that members who have tested positive are self-quarantining and that they are using the reverse isolation technique to limit the exposure of those who tested negative for the virus. In addition to this, the Bengaluru civic body has been carrying out health check-ups and maintaining the sanitation of the apartment complex.

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BPL ration cards: Karnataka minister faces backlash from colleagues, withdraws remark

Controversey

Karnataka Education Minister Suresh Kumar and Co-operation Minister ST Somashekar asserted that the Minister’s statement on BPL ration cards was uncalled for.

IANS

PTI

Ministers in the Karnataka government have denounced the statement made by Karnataka Food and Civil Supplies Minister Umesh Katti on Sunday where he had said that people with a two-wheeler, television, refrigerator, or over five acres of land will have to surrender their Below Poverty Line (BPL) ration cards. After facing flak from his own party, Katti, while retracting his statement on Monday, said that the norms were not set by him and existed before he took the charge of the ministry. After the Congress questioned the BJP Minister’s statement, many Karnataka Ministers, including Education Minister S Suresh Kumar and Co-operation Minister ST Somashekar asserted that Katti's statement on BPL ration cards was uncalled for.  "Owning a fridge, TV and two-wheeler cannot be a yardstick to denounce BPL rations cards. This is inhuman, even the poorest man owns all of these things," Kumar told reporters. Congress leaders in Karnataka had lashed out at the BJP over the minister’s comment. Leader of the Opposition Siddaramaiah said, “During my tenure, the poor benefitted the most. The ruling BJP in the state has reduced the number of grains a person receives and is devising newer ways to keep poor people even poorer.” He also added that Katti can make such inhuman laws "when he forms his own state." Congress MLA and former minister UT Khader said the issue had come up before him when he was the Food and Civil Supplies Minister in the Siddaramaiah government and he had decided not to relax the norms as many poor people would be affected. Congress workers also staged protests in front of various ration shops in Bengaluru and also in Dharwad, Mysuru and Tumakuru. During an interaction with the press in Belagavi, Minister Umesh Katti had said, "There are parameters for possessing a BPL card. They should not have more than five acres of land, motorcycle, TV or fridge. Those who don't qualify on these parameters should return the cards or else we will do it," adding that door-to-door surveys will also be carried out. Watch what the minister had said.

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