BBMP to conduct door-to-door survey for third phase vaccine beneficiaries

Coronavirus

The civic body said that over 4,000 ASHA workers will be deputed across all wards.

TNM Staff

Representative Image/PTI

Bengaluru’s civic body, the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), has come up with a plan to create a population registry that will act as a master template, to schedule COVID-19 vaccination for senior citizens and those above 50 with comorbidities, who will be eligible to receive the vaccine under the third phase. It will also focus on combating non-communicable diseases in the future with a focus on urban slums. BBMP Commissioner Manjunath Prasad held a meeting with Health Department officials on Friday to discuss measures to control the spread of the coronavirus. “A total of 4,146 ASHA workers will be deputed across the 198 wards. Each ward will have 20 ASHA workers and 10 other officers collecting data,” BBMP Chief Health Officer B Vijendra chief told TOI. Each team will cover 50 to 60 houses per day and the data will be collated online. Authorities hope to complete the survey — which will start on Monday — by March. The civic body will be focusing on the prioritisation of high-risk populations as the presence of comorbidities in patients with COVID-19 has been associated with increased complications and mortality. Moreover, diabetes and hypertension prevalence is highest among Indian COVID-19 patients, officials said.   Officials will collate the data collected after conducting a door-to-door survey. They plan to look for the presence of high-frequency comorbidities such as type two diabetes and hypertension among the urban poor and create an extensive database. The data will be entered into a mobile app that matches the phone number used by the individual. BBMP Commissioner, explaining the reason for another survey said that they don’t have accurate individual data to target COVID-19 vaccination. Moreover, he said, the new survey will be mechanically recorded to ensure little human error and will be retrievable. “We are devising a systematic approach which will ease tracking of post-vaccination adverse effects,” said the Commissioner. Meanwhile, some residents' welfare associations are also taking steps to help the BBMP. Sadashivanagar’s Resident Welfare Association has been circulating forms for senior citizens and those with comorbidities which will later be collected by the civic body while scheduling for the third phase of vaccination. Gita Aravamudan, a resident of the area, said, “It will be very beneficial for us senior citizens for not everyone has young ones around them to assist with the technology and online registering. This is a good initiative and this will help in the systematic administration of vaccines too.” 

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Karnataka-bound travellers from Maharashtra need to carry COVID-19 negative report

Coronavirus

The development comes following a spike in the number of COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra.

TNM Staff

IMAGE FOR REPRESENTATION

Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Saturday informed the media that people coming from neighbouring Maharashtra, which is experiencing a surge in COVID-19 cases, will have to produce a negative RT-PCR test certificate before entering the state. “There are as many as 5000-6000 in Maharashtra, every day, on average. We have issued circulars since we share a border with the state. Unless we see RT-PCR negative certificates from those coming from the state they won't be permitted to enter Karnataka,” K Sudhakar said. The death toll in Maharashtra has also risen, with 44 deaths reported since the surge in coronavirus cases, he added. Karnataka Health Minister K Sudhakar on Friday had stated that people coming from Kerala and Maharashtra, the two states which have seen a spike in coronavirus cases, will be monitored meticulously and special attention will be paid to the bordering districts. Cautioning people against negligence, he said that the pandemic is not behind [us] and also hinted at the possibility of a second wave of COVID-19. “Those travelling from Kerala and Maharashtra will be monitored scrupulously. Our department has already issued guidelines for those from Kerala, and they cannot come without an RT-PCR negative certificate," he said. Earlier this week, the Karnataka government had issued new guidelines mandating all those coming to the state from Kerala to carry a negative RT-PCR test report not older than 72 hours. He mentioned that Kerala was reporting nearly 4,000-5,000 cases every day. The minister also said that a meeting will soon be held under the leadership of the Chief Minister of Karnataka, along with Deputy Commissioners of all districts, regarding the vaccination drive and the possibility of a rise of cases in Karnataka as well. As many as 386 people tested positive in the state for the coronavirus on Thursday, outnumbering the 291 recoveries across Karnataka, as per a bulletin issued by the state’s health department. It further said that there are 5,882 active cases in the state at present. In Karnataka, 39% of the vaccination drive target for Friday was reached, as 40,575 healthcare and frontline workers were vaccinated across the state. Also Read: Two mutations of coronavirus found in Maharashtra, none are foreign variant

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Bengaluru to face up to 8-hour power cuts in many areas next week: Full list

bescom

The power supply will be disrupted due to cable-related work in Jayadeva, St John's, RBI and Sarakki substations.

TNM Staff

Image for representation

Power supply will be disrupted in many areas of Bengaluru for eight hours during the day from 10:30 am to 6:30 pm due to cable-related work in Jayadeva, St John's, RBI and Sarakki substations.The areas affected are parts of BTM Layout, JP Nagar, and Old Airport Road, among others as per Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM). Parts of BTM Layout will not have power on February 22 while parts of EWS Layout and BTM Layout will not have power on February 23, Times of India reported. On February 24, the areas where power disruptions are expected to happen are Lake Road, Madeena Nagar and also parts of BTM Layout. On February 25, the areas mentioned are JP Nagar, Dalmia Signal and other areas, Dollars Layout, 100 ft Ring Road. On February 26, parts of BTM Layout, JP Nagar V Phase, Vinayakanagar will be affected. Areas under Kadubeesanahalli station will not have power on February 20 from 10 am to 5 pm, for a period of 7 hours. This includes Old Airport Road, Marathahalli, Anandnagar, KB Halli, Krishnappa Garden, AK Colony and Outer Ring Road. On February 22 and February 25, BCMC Layout, Thippasandra, Chennamma Garden and areas coming under Khodays substation will have power disruption during the day from 10:30 am to 5:30 pm. Meanwhile, unseasonal rains were reported in several parts of Bengaluru on Friday evening affecting traffic and business in the city. The sudden downpour surprised residents in the city who were gearing up for the summer season. Sporadic showers were seen in several areas of the city briefly on Friday evening and the India Meteorological Department reported that it was medium to heavy rains.

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Karnataka govt omits part of class 6 textbook after Brahmin Board objects

Education

The portion refers to the birth of Jainism and Buddhism and how inaccessible Brahmin rituals in the Vedic period caused people to turn towards the new religions.

TNM Staff

Representative Image/Pixabay

Two months after the Karnataka State Brahmin Development Board met Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa objecting to parts of a chapter in Class 6 social science textbooks, Karnataka government has issued a circular on February 17 directing that the chapter neither be taught nor used for evaluation for the current academic year. The Karnataka Textbook Society, which is a statutory body that is primary publisher of textbooks for the state education board, has ordered the omission of the part of the chapter, which pertains to the origins of Buddhism and Jainism, after the Brahmin Board had said that it “hurts religious sentiments”. “All field educators and key stakeholders are advised to refrain from teaching lesson 7 of the Social Sciences Part I for Class 6, 'The Rise of the New Religions', paragraphs 82 and 83, for 2020-21 academic year,” read the circular issued by the Society. The omitted portion is on the birth of new religions, especially, Buddhism and Jainism. It mentions food scarcity during the Vedic period (1500 BC to 600 BC) because of rituals like homa and havana performed by offering large quantities of food grains, milk, clarified butter (ghee) and other materials. It also refers to the rituals of sacrifice of animals for yagnas. According to the lesson, it was a prominent belief that performing the rituals was the only way to achieve salvation and common people could not afford the expensive rituals, and that the common person could not understand the chants because they were in Sanskrit. Buddhism and Jainism taught simpler ways of salvation and hence people preferred these new religions, the chapter states. Education experts in the city have raised objections to the move saying that it is “arbitrary and undemocratic”. Niranjanaradhya VP, senior fellow, Centre for Child and Law, NLSIU argued that the portion was included in the syllabus by experts to facilitate critical thinking among children. “Experts have done extensive research, and the topics were introduced with a specific objective. Children have the right to know the socio-cultural history, think critically and analyse as to what has happened in the past and why has it happened to develop reasoning. The omission of the lesson from the syllabus takes that opportunity away from the children,” he said. He also said that the experts should have been allowed to offer an explanation and the denial of the same goes against the natural order of justice. "Moreover, this omission will similarly hurt the sentiments of those belonging to other communities. [The omission] becomes a one-sided decision. Since [Buddhists and Jains] are minority groups, it becomes a responsibility to safeguard their interests too,” he added.  Primary and Secondary Education Minister S Suresh Kumar had written to the Commissioner for Public Instruction (CPI), after a delegation of Brahmin Board met him in December, to drop the portions from the Class 6 Social Science textbook. The paragraphs were “irrelevant and not suitable for young age” he wrote in order and asked the society to drop them with immediate effect. 

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Withdrawals at Deccan Urban Co-op Bank capped at Rs 1000 by RBI for six months

Banking

The regulator also mentioned that the officials at the bank cannot sanction loans or advances or make fresh investments without prior approval from the RBI.

TNM Staff

The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has placed restrictions on the Karnataka-based Deccan Urban Co-operative Bank and capped its withdrawals at Rs 1,000 per customer across all savings or current bank accounts in the bank. Customers are, however, allowed to set off loans against deposits. The RBI communicated its decision in a press release. "Considering the bank's present liquidity position,a sum not exceeding ₹1000/- (Rs. One thousand only) of  the  total  balance  across  all  savings  bank  or  current  accounts  or  any  other  account  of  a  depositor,  may  be  allowed  to  be  withdrawn,  but  are  allowed  to  set  off  loans  against  deposits  subject  to  the  conditions  stated in  the  above  RBI  Directions," the press release issued on Friday said.  It said customers can set off their loans against deposits subject to conditions. "However, 99.58% of the depositors are fully covered by the Deposit Insurance and Credit Guarantee Corporation insurance scheme," the regulator said in the press release. It also mentioned that the officials at the bank cannot sanction loans or advances or make fresh investments without prior approval from the RBI.  "The Chief  Executive  Officer  of  the  aforesaid  bank  shall  not,  without  prior  approval  of  RBI  in  writing  grant  or  renew  any  loans  and  advances,  make any investment, incur any liability including borrowal of funds and acceptance of fresh deposits, disburse or agree to disburse any payment whether in discharge of its liabilities and obligations or otherwise, enter into any compromise or arrangement and  sell,  transfer  or  otherwise  dispose  of  any  of  its  properties  or  assets  except  as  notified in the RBI Direction dated February 18, 2021 a copy of which is displayed on the  bank's  premises  for  perusal  by  interested  members  of  the  public," read the release. The decisions by the RBI are set to remain in effect for six months from February 19. They are subject to a review, the release added. The bank will continue with business with the restrictions in place until its financial condition improves. 

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PFI Gen Secy booked for hate speech over remarks on Ram Temple: Karnataka Home Min

Politics

In Mangaluru, PFI general secretary Anis Ahmed asked Muslims to boycott those collecting money for Ram temple as it was "RSS Mandir and not that of Ram."

PTI

Terming a Popular Front of India (PFI)leader's speech as "anti-national" and one with "hate", Karnataka Home Minister Basavaraj Bommai on Friday said he has asked police to take necessary action. He was reacting to a speech by PFI General Secretary Anis Ahmed on "Popular Front Day" at Ullal near the coastal city of Mangaluru on Thursday, during which he hit out at the BJP government at the Centre and RSS. "He has spoken against the country, against the nation, against the Constitution. It is an anti-national speech, hate speech, which is trying to create division among people of this country. Especially, he has talked about RSS, which is one of the most patriotic organisations in the country," Bommai said. Alleging that PFI would continue to be targeted while terming its arrested workers as "heroes", Ahmed called on followers and Muslims to boycott those collecting money for Ram Mandir, like they did for NRC, as it was "RSS Mandir and not that of Ram." Speaking to reporters here, he said the PFI leader had talked about the Ram Mandir, despite the Supreme Court giving permission for its construction. "PFI has shown its true colours so many times. It is the most anti-national and irresponsible statement. I have asked the local police to take cognisance of the whole thing and take action," the minister said. Ahmed said none of those coming to the homes and shops asking for money for construction of the temple should be given anything. "Don't give even a single paise because this is not the mandir of Ram, it is the mandir of RSS. Not even a single brick will go into the Ram Mandir from Muslims' money," he said. Stating that RSS was without any doubt India's "real enemy", Ahmed even termed it more dangerous than cancer and COVID. "RSS is such a virus for which there is no vaccine yet. We will get that vaccine and administer it at various places," he said. Noting that there was no Hindu-Muslim problem in India and the only one was that of RSS, the PFI leader called on the people to know who was from RSS in their district or Mandal. "Know who is from RSS in your district and Mandal, just try to know, just recognise. They are your real enemies," he said. Ahmed alleged that riots and attacks were taking place against Muslims in various parts of the country despite the Muslims "giving away" the Babri Masjid land for construction of the temple and hit out at the community's intellectual leaders who had advocated giving it away and called them "bewakoofs (fools)".

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Kerala Crime Branch arrests gangster Ravi Pujari in Kochi parlour shooting case

Crime

The extradited gangster, who is lodged in a Bengaluru jail, faces over 100 cases in Karnataka alone under charges of murder and extortion of money.

TNM Staff

PTI

The Crime Branch (CB) in Kerala on Friday arrested gangster Ravi Pujari in connection with the Kochi beauty parlour shooting case. The arrest was recorded at the Parappana Agrahara Central Prison in Bengaluru where he is currently lodged after he was extradited from South Africa. The shooting case pertains to 2018 when Pujari had allegedly hired two contract shooters to open fire outside a parlour owned by actor Leena Maria Paul in Panampilly Nagar of Kochi. The other accused in the beauty parlour case are Bilal, Vipin, Ajas, and Monai (Nisam). The police had earlier arrested two youth who had committed the crime acting upon his directions. They even recovered a 0.32 automatic pistol and bullets from them. The Bengaluru Sessions Court had permitted the Crime Branch team to arrest Pujari and interrogate him. According to a report in Manorama, the gangster confessed to a team of investigators led by Kerala Crime Branch chief Tomin Thachankary, who visited Bengaluru, that he planned the shooting. According to the police, Pujari masterminded the incident to intimidate the actor and extort money from her. After rumours spread among the underworld that Leena Maria Paul had allegedly amassed a large amount of black money, Pujari made calls threatening her. When she did not pay heed, he reportedly ordered the shooting to intimidate her which was carried out on December 15, 2018. During his interrogation, he also made startling revelations about his connections with police personnel in Kerala. The Kerala Police high-command has reportedly launched an internal investigation drive based on his revelations. Ravi Pujari, born in Karnataka’s Udupi, was in his teens when he was inducted into the world of crime and later became Chhota Rajan’s protegee. He was infamous for extorting money from builders, films stars and other famous personalities, including activist Shehla Rashid and Bollywood singer Arijit Singh in Mumbai. He is also accused of murders of people like another dreaded don of Mumbai, Bala Zalte. Pujari has 39 cases registered against him in Bengaluru, 36 cases in Mangaluru, 11 in Udupi, and one each in Mysuru, Hubballi-Dharwad, Kolar and Shivamogga. The Maharashtra Police has 49 cases registered against Ravi Pujari and 26 of them are under the stringent MCOCA (Maharashtra Control of Organised Crime Act).  The feud with Chhota Rajan had led Ravi Pujari to set up his own gang. Pujari’s operations spanned across Mumbai, Bengaluru, Mangaluru and Udupi. Ravi Pujari began identifying himself as a warrior for the "Hindu cause.” TNM had earlier reported. Pujari was living in Senegal, South Africa under the alias Anthony Fernandez; attempted to convince the Supreme Court of Senegal that he is not the gangster the police claim him to be. However, on February 19, 2020, the court ruled in favour of the Karnataka police and allowed Ravi Pujari’s extradition to India after he remained a fugitive for 15 years.  Also read: Who is Ravi Pujari? The dreaded underworld don brought back to India

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