Dalit headmistress accuses upper-caste teachers of harassment

[email protected] (CD Network, Photos by Ahmed Anwar)
May 26, 2013

Mangalore, May 26: A case of a Dalit headmistress in a government school in Bantwal taluk being subjected to harassment by subordinate teachers belonging to a upper caste came to light at the monthly SC/ST grievance meet held at the Police Commissioner's office in Mangalore on Sunday.

Kamalakshi, headmistress of Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School in Panelabarike at Pajeer village, levelled allegations of caste-based discrimination, maltreatment and harassment on Ramakrishna G and his wife Rashmi, who were both teachers in the same school.

Resident of Sajipa in Bantwal taluk, Kamalakshi told City Police Commissioner Manish Kharbikar that she had filed a complaint against Ramakrishna at Konaje police station in the month of February, along with the School Development and Monitoring Committee (SDMC) president, who was witness to the discrimination and harassment.

“However, having failed to cite names of witnesses in the FIR, the police have filed a B report on her. This is wrong, and should not have been done,” a Dalit representative told the Commissioner who assured to look into the matter.

Speaking to reporters, she said that she had been facing discrimination and mental harassment from July last year. “I have been the headmistress of the school for six years. The teachers Ramakrishna and Rashmi joined the school as assistant teachers in 2011,” she said, adding that Rashmi spoke and treated her in a demeaning manner, and also bullied her into resigning as the headmistress.

“I have also filed a complaint against her with the Block Education Officer,” she said.

Illegal sand mining

Representative Srinivas Shetty said that a Dalit member of Kuppepadavu gram panchayat Hariyappa Muthoor was abused using foul language and threatened by president of the gram panchayat Chandrahas Shetty last week, for his role in protesting against rampant illegal sand mining in the region.

“The struggle against illegal sand mining was even recorded and telecast on a Kannada news channel. Following the telecast, Chandrahas Shetty along with Dinesh Moolya, barged into his house late at night, and used foul language against Hariyappa and his mother. He even threatened to kill Hariyappa on the occasion. A complaint was filed at Bajpe police station along with details of the accused and his vehicle including registration no. However, the police did not take action against the accused, inspite of all details. Moreover, information was received that the accused was taken halfway to the police station and then let go,” he said, accusing the police personnel of not doing their duty.

He urged the Police Commissioner to take strict legal action against the accused. In reply, the Commissioner told him to clarify all aspects with the police officers at the station and assured him of a detailed probe into the issue.

'Increasing B reports filed on Dalit cases'

Dalit leader S P Anand pointed out to the Commissioner that several B reports were being filed on complaints registered by Dalits, mainly in Kavoor, Bajpe and Panambur police stations, and urged action.

The Commissioner clarified that only after scrutiny and notice to the complainant, were B reports filed, and assured him that the case would be subjected to re-investigation.

D Dharmaiah, DCP (Crime and Traffic) and M Muthuraya, DCP (Law and Order) were present.

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News Network
December 17,2024

Bengaluru: In response to the rising number of Caesarean deliveries in Karnataka, Minister for Health and Family Welfare, Dinesh Gundu Rao, announced on Monday that the state government would introduce a dedicated programme next month to address this issue.

Replying to MLC Jagadev Guthedar's question in the Legislative Council, the minister revealed that Caesarean deliveries now account for 46% of total births in the state. He noted that private hospitals conduct 61% of these procedures, while government hospitals perform 36%.

The minister emphasized the necessity of preventing unnecessary Caesarean deliveries. He highlighted that some private hospitals perform Caesarean sections in 80% to 90% of cases primarily for financial gain, finding it easier compared to normal deliveries. To counteract this, the Health Department plans to launch a separate programme in January aimed at reducing such procedures.

Gundu Rao underscored the importance of mentally preparing pregnant women for normal deliveries. "We are already conducting an audit of Caesarean deliveries at every hospital to understand the necessity and rationale behind the doctors' decisions," he added.

Additionally, the minister mentioned the government's intention to provide round-the-clock maternity services at taluk hospitals to further discourage unnecessary Caesarean deliveries.

Regarding foeticide cases, the minister informed the House that in 2023-24 and 2024-25, 45 individuals were arrested for violating the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. Cases were registered in Belagavi, Kolar, Mandya, and Bengaluru Rural.

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News Network
December 16,2024

hajabba.jpg

In a significant milestone, the Dakshina Kannada Zilla Panchayat Higher Primary School in Newpadpu, Harekala, has introduced a bilingual Kannada-English medium this academic year, a move spearheaded by Padma Shri awardee Harekala Hajabba. The school has so far received 13 admissions for its Class 1 bilingual program.

This initiative is part of a broader effort by the state government, which approved 38 schools across the district to launch bilingual mediums. Expressing his delight, Hajabba shared that he had been advocating for a bilingual school for years. "The bilingual medium will greatly benefit students in this region who otherwise rely on private schools. However, we currently face a shortage of classrooms. Construction of two additional classrooms is underway, and once completed, we expect higher admissions," he said.

The school had previously been permitted to introduce LKG and UKG classes in the last academic year. According to the school’s headmistress, Rajeshwari, while the pre-primary sections have seen good enrolment, the bilingual Class 1 faced challenges, securing only 13 students. She attributed this to the late notification of permission, which arrived a month after the academic year began, leading many children to enroll elsewhere.

Rajeshwari remains optimistic about the future. "We expect better admissions next academic year as awareness about bilingual education at this government school grows," she said, adding that the classroom shortage will soon be addressed.

Deputy Director of Public Instruction (DDPI) Venkatesha Subraya Patagara noted that bilingual schools across Dakshina Kannada have generally received a positive response, with some schools enrolling more than 100 students. The effort to offer bilingual education in government schools marks a step forward in providing affordable, quality education to underserved regions.

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News Network
December 11,2024

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Udupi: The police have booked a case against the office-bearers of the Social Democratic Party of India (SDPI) for holding 'Chalo Belagavi - Ambedkar Jatha’ without permission and thereby disrupting the movement of vehicles on national highway at Hejmadi.

The SDPI held a jatha on December 10 from 2:30 pm to 3:30 pm. According to the police, the group had unlawfully gathered near the National Highway toll gate in Hejmadi. Despite instructions from the PSI to disperse, they failed to act and disrupted the traffic on the national highway.

The police have booked case against SDPI state secretary Riyaz Kadumbu, leaders Haneef Muloor, Nooruddin Mallaru, Firoz Kanchinadka, Thoufeeq Uchila, Majeed Uchila, Ibrahim Kanchinadka and others under Sections 57, 189(2), 189(3), 281, 285 and 190 of the BNS.

About 75 to 100 people commenced a procession --without obtaining permission -- in cars and two-wheelers shouting slogans. They caused inconvenience to the vehicles moving on the national highway, police said. 

The jatha, which was launched in Udupi on December 10, is expected to cover Dakshina Kannada, Chikkamagaluru, Shivamogga, Davanagere, Haveri, Koppal, Bagalkote, Hubballi, Dharwad and reach Belagavi on December 16.

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