The Observer
An IIJNM publication
Beware, second-hand smoke at hookah bars is dangerous | P 2
Vol 19, Issue 19
Thursday, February 27, 2020
Schools just do not bother, says top cop
Aarthi N
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Learn Kannada on WhatsApp Now, it’s easy for non-Kannadigas to learn the local language through WhatsApp. Kannada teaching groups are using the mobile app to teach their members the basics of the language, reports Shoby Krishna.
One can learn swiming only by getting into the pool. Learning a language can become efficient only if it is practised outside the group - Charan C.S. Members of these groups say they find the platform useful. They have mentors — volunteers who are interested in teaching the language. P 2
Parents accuse school authorities for not ensuring the safety of their children in school buses | Courtesy: Latha R Shanmugan G, a parent of a 12-year-old said: “When there is a rule, school vehicles should definitely have them. The department concerned should take action against schools that do not provide these safety measures to children.” Various agencies responsible for checking implementation blame others for the situation. Additional commissioner of police K Ajay Kumar conceded
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Shops not allotted by APMC, traders unhappy and sell on streets | P 3
Schoolbuses lack CCTV, GPS; safety of children put at risk lmost five years after the traffic police ordered fixing of CCTV cameras and GPS systems on schoolbuses, most of these vehicles do not have them. A reality check by The Observer at schools in Majestic, Seshadri Road, Cubbon Park, Vijayanagar and Shivajinagar revealed that most of these vehicles don’t have them. Students and drivers from these schools confirmed this. Parents accuse school authorities of not ensuring the safety of their children. Srinidhi N, parent of a class 2 student of the New Oxford English School, near Seshadri Nagar, said: “Here, only expensive schools have them; the others don’t. This shouldn’t be the case.”
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that schools do not follow the rules. “Even after repeatedly informing the schools about the safety of children, not all have these facilities.” Many parents send their children in private vans. “We do not have separate schoolbuses for children. So private vans drop the children home. These vans do not have CCTV cameras,” said Pradhap R, a security guard at a private school on
Seshadri Road. Private van drivers have a different point to make. Keshava S, who drives an Omni to ferry private schoolchildren informed The Observer: “We drive the vehicle not only to drop children but also use it for other personal use. We were not asked to install cameras or GPS in our vehicles. We drop the children in front of their homes or their parents wait for them.” Admitting that schools are responsible for the safety of students, Former Child Welfare Committee officer Vasu Sharma said: “The Child Protection Policy has guidelines for the physical safety of schoolchildren. Schools should have verified drivers and assistants along with CCTV camera and GPS system.” About private school vehicles, he said: “If they ferry the children, school authorities should take the responsibility. One problem with private vehicles is that they do not run on behalf of the school.” August 2014: Deadline for installing CCTV, GPS , P 3
News Briefs
Priyanka slams govt over judge’s transfer Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra on Thursday attacked the Modi government over the transfer of Delhi High Court Judge S Muralidhar, saying the Centre’s attempts to “muzzle” justice and “break people’s faith in an upright judiciary are deplorable”. US, S. Korea postpone drills The US and South Korea postponed joint military drills on Thursday to limit the spread of coronavirus as the number of infections inside China, the source of the outbreak, was for the first time overtaken by fresh cases elsewhere. Virus risk in US low: Trump President Donald Trump has told Americans that the risk from coronavirus remains “very low”, and placed Vice-President Mike Pence in charge of the US response to the looming global health crisis. Pakistan banking sector faces credit risk Pakistan’s banking system faces a credit risk from the country’s continued inclusion on an international “grey list” of nations falling short of global money laundering rules, rating agency Moody’s said on Thursday.
Pet owners furious at BBMP bylaw banning ‘ferocious’ dogs from flats Adilin Beatrice C
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et lovers are unhappy over the BBMP’s proposed Pet Dog Licensing Bylaws 2020. They are particularly riled over the proposals to ban “ferocious” breeds like German shepherds, Rottweilers, Dobermans and hounds from apartment buildings, and to limit the number of dogs a resident can have. Apoorva Kulkarni, owner of a five-year-old German Shepherd, informed The Observer: “I don’t know on what basis the BBMP has called these dogs ferocious. Bringing up a dog is like bringing up a baby. Dogs can even
BBMP’ s plan regarding dog licensing has not gone well with dog lovers who consider it as invasion of their privacy | Courtesy: Pexels turn 15, but by behaviour they act like two- or three-year-old babies. If you bring them up in a good manner with good food, they behave well with people.”
Hemanth Kumar, who owns a Rottweiler and a Golden Retriever, sees no difference in their behaviour. He laughed at the statement that Rottweil-
ers are ferocious. “I was quite surprised when I came to know about the proposed bylaws. It is a little funny when someone calls a dog ferocious with no reason. Both my dogs are same to me, and I treat them similarly . They both are affectionate.” Aruna N, who lives in an apartment and owns a Cocker Spaniel, hates the idea of having one dog per house in an apartment. “Who are they to say this? In a country where we have the right to speak and write as per our wish, why has BBMP planned to put a cap on the number of dogs a pet owner can have.” BBMP has misconception on some breeds: activist, P 3