Karnataka’s new cultural policy to curb immoral policing, communal intolerance

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August 8, 2017

Bengaluru: Aug 8: The Karnataka Cabinet on Monday gave its approval for implementation of a ‘cultural policy’ in the state which among others restricts ‘immoral policing’, decries ‘intolerance’ and promotes communal amity.

Karnataka is perhaps the first in India to have such a comprehensive policy, aimed at promoting Kannada culture and language.

The approval of the policy comes at a time when the state government has been portraying itself as a staunch advocate of the Kannada cause.

Briefing reporters after the Cabinet meeting, Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister T.B. Jayachandra said the cultural policy was drafted based on the recommendations of a six-member committee headed by writer Baragur Ramachandrappa.

The committee submitted a 68-page report with 44 recommendations as early as in June 2014. Interestingly, the Cabinet has cleared the policy in the backdrop of the State government’s strong stand on issues such as a separate State flag.

Amongst other things, the recommendations include measures such as setting up of committees on harmony to deal with communal tension in parts of the State and also makes it mandatory for a committee to be formed to consider a ban on any literary work.

Mr. Jayachandra said a grant of ₹59.68 crore would be given for implementing the policy in 2017-18.

The policy would also aim at formulating measures to curb the tendency of banning Kannada books for trivial reasons, decentralisation of the Department of Kannada and Culture, formation of search committees to select chairpersons to various academies and authorities to de-politicise appointments, establishment of art galleries in every district, formulation of separate programmes to help artistes in distress, establishment of separate Bayalata, Sugama Sangeeta and Nritya academies, and giving priority to local cinema culture.

Scholarships

The policy prescribes guidelines for appointments of various heads of academies, selecting personalities for awards, providing scholarships/fellowships, holding programmes at tourist places, construction of Kannada bhavans, and holding exhibitions.

The policy has been approved at a time when Chief Minister Siddaramaiah has been sparing no opportunity to project himself as a staunch advocate of the Kannada cause.

He has been in the news over the last couple of weeks for his vocal support to issues related to Kannada and culture such as having a separate State flag and removal of Hindi words from Namma Metro signage.

The plan to have a cultural policy was first envisaged during the Janata Dal government in 1996. A Cabinet sub-committee headed by H.K. Patil, Minister for Rural Development and Panchayat Raj, studied the recommendations, including the financial implications of implementing it. After the sub-committee showed the green signal, the Cabinet approved it.

Briefing reporters after the meeting, Law and Parliamentray Affairs Minister T B Jayachandra said a one-time grant of Rs 20 crore had been approved to implement the recommendations of the committee. The annual expenditure will be Rs 36.68 crore, he said.

Besides steps to curb moral policing, the policy provides for setting up of art galleries in each district, measures to curb the tendency of banning books for trivial reasons, paying honorarium to help artistes in distress and inclusion of Tulu in the 8th Schedule of the Constitution.

The committee had also asked the government not to ban a literary work unilaterally and suggested the formation of search committees to select chairpersons to various academies and authorities.

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News Network
September 9,2024

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New Delhi: A man who recently travelled from a country experiencing mpox transmission has tested positive for the disease, the Union Health Ministry said on Monday.

"The previously suspected case of mpox has been verified as a travel-related infection. Laboratory testing has confirmed the presence of mpox virus of the West African clade-2 in the patient," it said.

The ministry said that it is an isolated case, similar to the earlier 30 cases reported in India from July 2022 onwards. It is not a part of the current public health emergency reported by WHO which is regarding clade 1 of mpox, it underlined.

"The individual, a young male who recently travelled from a country experiencing ongoing mpox transmission, is currently isolated at a designated tertiary care isolation facility. The patient remains clinically stable and is without any systemic illness or comorbidities," the ministry said.

The case aligns with earlier risk assessments and continues to be managed according to established protocols, it said, adding that public health measures, including contact tracing and monitoring, are actively in place to ensure the situation is contained.

"There is no indication of any widespread risk to the public at this time," the health ministry stated.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) last month declared mpox a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) for the second time in view of its prevalence and spread across many parts of Africa.

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News Network
September 20,2024

Udupi: A vigilant Railway Protection Force (RPF) constable, Aparna K T, demonstrated remarkable presence of mind when she rescued a student who slipped while trying to board a moving train at Udupi Railway Station on Friday morning.

The incident occurred as passenger train number 06602 arrived at the station around 7:30 AM. The student, traveling from Mangaluru to Gokarna, had briefly alighted to purchase snacks. However, as the train began moving, she hurried back towards the carriage with the snacks in hand. In her rush, she lost her footing, slipping dangerously between the platform and the moving train.

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Woman constable Aparna K T was given a cash reward of Rs 5000.

 

Constable Aparna, who had been closely monitoring the passengers, immediately sprang into action. “I saw her running towards the train and alerted everyone by blowing my whistle. She slipped, and her legs were caught between the platform and the train. Without hesitation, I pulled her out with the help of others nearby,” she recalled.

Thanks to Aparna’s quick thinking and the swift response of the railway staff, the train was stopped in time. Railway personnel, including the guard and loco pilot, were immediately informed, and they acted promptly to halt the train using both flag signals and a walkie-talkie.

RPF Inspector Madhusoodhanan PV arrived at the scene shortly after to check on the passenger's condition. The shaken but uninjured student was given water and helped back onto the train to safely continue her journey.

In an added measure of care, the RPF post at Bhatkal was notified to follow up on the passenger’s well-being during her journey. The student, fortunately, reached her destination without further incident.

The heroic rescue was captured on CCTV and has since gone viral on social media, earning widespread praise. In recognition of her bravery, Regional Railway Manager (RRM) Karwar awarded Constable Aparna a cash reward of ₹5,000, commending her quick action that averted a potentially tragic accident.

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News Network
September 17,2024

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New Delhi, Sept 17: Atishi will be the new Chief Minister of Delhi. The decision came after a legislative party meeting was chaired by Arvind Kejriwal at his Delhi residence earlier today.

Kejriwal is expected to tender his resignation later today, and will also meet Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena at 4.30 pm.

On September 13, Arvind Kejriwal was released from Tihar Jail, where he had been lodged for his alleged involvement in the Delhi liquor policy case. Nearly two days after his release, on Sunday, Kejriwal said he would resign as the Chief Minister within 48 hours.

He also sought early polls in Delhi, and vowed not to sit in the chief minister’s chair until people gave him a “certificate of honesty”.

On Monday, the AAP held a series of meetings as Kejriwal sought feedback from members of the political affairs committee, the party’s highest decision-making body, on his successor in one-on-one meetings at his official residence.

Names of Delhi ministers Atishi, Gopal Rai, Kailash Gahlot and Saurabh Bharadwaj were making the rounds as contenders, news agency PTI had quoted party insiders as saying and added that Kejriwal’s wife Sunita Kejriwal and Assembly Speaker Ram Niwas Goel were also the probables.

Mangolpuri MLA Rakhi Birla, who is also the deputy speaker in the assembly, and Kondli legislator Kuldeep Kumar were also potential candidates, they added.

Earlier, sources with the AAP had told PTI that the surprise candidate could also be a member of the minority community as the party has witnessed its support among the community wavering since the 2020 Delhi riots.

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