Over 3,580 govt schools in Kʼtaka lack functional loos: Report
Bengaluru: More than 3,580 government schools in Karnataka are without functional toilets, while nearly 4,000 schools lack hand wash facilities, highlighting a significant gap in basic infrastructure.
This glaring situation was highlighted in the recently released Unified District Information System for Education (UDISE) 2023-24 report, which underscores the neglect of essential facilities within the state’s education system. The report revealed a lack of functional toilets in 2,648 boys' or co-educational schools, and 937 girls' or co-educational schools.
Experts argue that the government must halt its focus on promoting modern practices in schools and universities until it fixes these critical infrastructure issues in government schools.
Development Educationist Professor Niranjanaradhya mentioned that the figures are ‘underestimated’ and fail to represent the ground reality. “The availability of toilet facilities is far worse than what the report indicates. The actual numbers are likely three to four times more,” he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express.
He remarked that providing basic facilities such as functional toilets and drinking water are essential development rights. However, he pointed out that these rights require adequate funding, which the state government appears unwilling to prioritise.
Prof. Niranjanaradhya emphasised that the Right to Education (RTE) Act, which mandates these basic facilities, has been in effect since 2010. "Fifteen years later, in 2025, if the government still fails to meet these basic standards, what hope do we have of achieving anything beyond this?" he questioned.
Child rights activist Vasudev Sharma highlighted the poor state of washrooms, especially in rural areas, noting issues like lack of running water, broken latches, and inconvenient locations, making them unsafe and inaccessible for children. He also questioned why the government focuses improvements only on urban areas.
He described this as a severe violation of the RTE Act and a betrayal of every child in government schools, pointing out that despite the reports exposing the truth, the government continues to ignore them.
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Kannada actress Ranya Rao, jeweller linked to Rs 40 cr gold smuggling: DRI
Bengaluru, Apr 03 (PTI): The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence said jeweller Sahil Sakariya Jain played a key role in assisting Kannada actress Harshavardhini Ranya, also known as Ranya Rao, in disposing of 49.6 kg of smuggled gold worth ₹40.14 crore.
According to the DRI’s remand note, Jain not only helped facilitate the illegal transaction but also abetted Ranya in hawala money transfers linked to the smuggling operation.
Jain, a jeweller by profession, was arrested on March 26 for assisting Ranya in the gold smuggling case.
He has been remanded to judicial custody until April 7.
Jain not only helped Ranya in allegedly disposing of the gold but also appeared to have facilitated Hawala money transactions.
"It appears that he assisted and abetted Accused No. 1 in disposing of approximately 49.6 kg of gold worth ₹40,13,59,374. He has also admitted to aiding A1 in transferring Hawala money amounting to around ₹38,39,97,000 to Dubai and ₹1,73,61,787 to A1 in Bengaluru," the DRI stated.
The agency further noted that the unaccounted cash of ₹2.67 crore seized from Ranya’s residence on March 4, as per the ‘Mahazar’ , was likely Hawala money she received as profit from purchasing gold in Dubai and selling it in Bengaluru.
The DRI added that Jain admitted to receiving a commission of ₹55,000 for each transaction.
"The voluminous evidence extracted from two mobile phones and a laptop belonging to Sahil Sakariya Jain further establishes his role in the smuggling of large quantities of gold into India by A1 ," the DRI stated.
According to the agency, in January 2025, Jain helped Ranya dispose of 14.568 kg of gold worth ₹11.56 crore and facilitated the transfer of ₹11.01 crore in Hawala transactions to Dubai.
Additionally, he admitted to transferring ₹55 lakh in Bengaluru.
In February, Jain allegedly assisted Ranya in disposing of 13.433 kg of gold worth ₹11.81 crore.
During the same month, he helped transfer ₹11.25 crore in Hawala funds to Dubai and ₹55.81 lakh to Ranya in Bengaluru.
Ranya, the stepdaughter of a DGP-rank officer in Karnataka, was arrested on March 3, shortly after returning from Dubai at Kempegowda International Airport.
The DRI officials seized 14.7 kg of gold from her possession.
