Vol.12, Issue 13
Indian Institute of Journalism & New Media, Bangalore
Minister: State funds diverted to private business Manjusha Gandham
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Niranjan P. Naik, Director of Township Karnataka Housing Board, said: “Prior to 2009 we used to work with Karnataka Slum Clearance Board and together we implemented many schemes for the development of slums. But from last year we work separately. We don’t work with the slum development anymore because these uneducated officials are using the development fund to develop their own business. “These illegal private firms by KSCB officials are creating many problems for us. Youths are not taking any interest in employment schemes, moreover they are leaving their education just to get employment in these illegal private firms but these officials are making fake promises to them,” he added.
Chief Minister pledges new irrigation projects
Big tire manufacturing units at Malleshwaram operate under the guise of small enterprises. By Reshma Tarwani
Cops harass couples at Cubbon Park
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LGBT community seeks opportunities
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timber yards and tyre manufacturing outlets. Slum-dwellers also claim that over 100 lakh R’s has gone into these private ventures and they haven’t seen a penny of investment. “In the year 2010-2011 government has allotted 300 lakhs for the development of backward slums around the state. Officials mis-used that amount for their private small scale timber industry in Jayanagar,” said Nayanshekha, a resident of Jayanagar slum. Dev Mahadesh, Finance Manager at KSCB, confirmed the small scale outlets had been funded by the state and said: “Officials are using this money for the purpose of employment. They want to increase employment for the youth who
live in the slums.” He also confirmed that officials have at least one small scale industry in the slum itself, adding “with this we are generating the various sources of employment for the weaker sections.” But an official from the housing board said: “There is no point to use allotted amount for the employment. This money should have been used for the development of the more than 2000 backward slums in Karnataka.” Ashutosh, 20, a student from Chamrajpett slum, said: “Officials are not giving Slum dwellers have not gained any us any employment, we benefits from the allocated funds
ABVP threatens winter session at Suvarna Soudha By Sumit Students staged a state-wide protest on Monday over the setting up of guidelines for private universities in Karnataka. Mr. N. Ravikumar of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad had warned that the party would stage the protest on December 3 if their demands were not met. The student group laid down a list of demands which included the reservation of 50% of the seats in private universities for students of Karnataka. They also demanded the state government to set the fees of students belonging to the backward and the poor class. Apart from demanding the state government to set up proper guidelines for these private universities, ABVP had asked the government to award private status to only those institutions who have achieved
Sumit
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A State government minister has accused the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board of embezzlement. Minority Affairs Minister and Bijapura district MP Rehman Khan claims over 100 lakh R’s allotted to developing slums has disappeared into several private businesses run by officials of the KSCB. Mr Khan said: "The Government of Karnataka allotted 100lakh Rs in 2012 for the development of backward slums but officials from the Karnataka Slum Clearance Board used the money to start their own small businesses". A housing board director also claims money allotted to improving slums in the city has been spent by officials on small
are still searching for the job. They make many promises and use our land for this small scale industry but they give their industry to the private contractors and these contractors higher their own employees”:
Manjusha Gandham
Inside
December 5,2012
Students from Karnataka protest alongside the ABVP at Udupi. excellence either as autonomous institutions or a deemed university. On Monday the ABVP went ahead with their protests in various districts of Karnataka since their demands had still not been fulfilled. Mr. Raghu Poojar, State Secretary (ABVP) said, “The demands of ABVP have not been met. So we decided to go
ahead with protests throughout the State.” The ABVP staged protests in various districts of Karnataka. These included Udupi, Chikballapur, Bellary, Haveri, Kolar, and Mangalore. Balaji S., National Executive Council Member said, “We staged protests in 41 places across the state. More than 11, 000 students participated in
these protests.” Upon being asked whether other student parties are putting up the cause, he said, “We are the first Students party in the state to bring up this cause. However, Students federation of India (SFI) is also planning to go ahead with the disrupting of the winter session at the Suvarna Soudha on 6th December.” The protests held across the state saw the turnout of thousands of students. When enquired about the success of the protest, Mr.Raghu sad, “We are fighting for the rights of students and it is obvious that the students will support us. We will requst other students to come forward and openly support us for the cause.” The party members of the SFI were not availaible for any comments on their take on this entire issue.