Coronavirus Scare: Gulf Kannadigas' never-ending woes
Ban on international flights becomes hurdle for non-resident Karavalites eager to return home
Mangaluru: Non-resident Kannadigas, especially those from the coastal region, are in a fix as central and state governments and district administrations have closed down inter-district, inter-state and international borders to contain the spread of coronavirus.
On the one hand, there is no job, on the other hand, there is no salary. Also, there is no food and accommodation and room rent is also not paid... With such problems, hundreds of Kannadigas are stranded in the Gulf countries. They can neither live there nor come here. Though the Gulf countries have announced: 'Call back your people immediately', the central government has failed to make a definitive decision. So, there are no signs of Gulf Kannadigas problems coming to an end.
While there are stories of thousands of people who are in despair as they have gone on a Visiting Visa, on the other side, there are tragedies of those who have gone to perform Umrah a few months ago and could not return. Many of them are sick, pregnant, and little children. Amid this, workers in small stores, and drivers are passing through a tough time as flight services have been suspended due to lockdown. Many job holders are not getting paid on time, and some are facing a pay cut. A few others are unable to send money to homes forcing their family members back home to take hand loans.
In the meantime, companies are sending staff on unpaid holidays to minimize the losses caused by the lockdown. Those who are working on hourly basis are also facing pay cuts.
Hundreds of people are in tears after losing their jobs as they have brought their families on visiting visas and are unable to handle the situation.
Millions of non-resident Kannadigas were working in the various Gulf countries like UAE, Saudi Arabia, Kuwait, Oman, Bahrain, and Qatar. Most of them lost their jobs and are unable to afford their daily expenses.
Lockdown has also down-turned industries in the Gulf countries. Due to this, thousands of people have lost their jobs. Irrespective of their job status, many Kannadigas want to return to their homes. Various organizations are appealing to the heads of departments and representatives of the government for making arrangements to send back the non-resident Kannadigas to home. However, as of now, there are no indications of union Government paying heed to the concerns of non-resident Kannadigas.
Central-State Governments are not showing interest: Allegation
There are allegations the central government has not shown any interest in bringing back the non-resident Gulf Indians. Meanwhile, non-resident Kannadigas are making similar allegations. The Karnataka government should build pressure on the center. Coastal Kannadigas are more among the non-resident Kannadigas. Therefore, the MPs, MLAs, and ministers from this area, must build pressure on the Chief Minister so that he can put pressure on the Central Government.
The efforts are on
I have understood the problems of non-resident Kannadigas, especially the non-resident Karavali Kannadigas. I had a discussion with the Chief Minister about this. I have also drawn the attention of the central government. At present, it will be made sure that food and accommodation be provided to them. An attempt is being made to bring them home.
Nalin Kumar Kateel
MP, Dakshina Kannada
The government is intent on bringing coastal Kannadigas home. But now, closure of the border is a problem. The inter-district, inter-state, and international borders have been closed down due to the lockdown. The district administration has put restrictions on bringing back people from one district to another. Therefore, it is not reasonable to bring the non-resident Kannadigas from Gulf countries at present. This problem is not only with the Gulf Kannadigas but also with the large number of Mumbai Kannadigas. They are also facing the same problem. There are some technical difficulties to bring in Kannadigas from other states and abroad. But still, efforts will continue. As of now, non-resident Kannadigas will be provided with food and accommodation in the Gulf countries and there will not be any problem.
Kota Shrinivas Pujari
District in-charge Minister, Dakshina Kannada
The State Government must exhibit willpower: Dr. Aarati Krishna
The state government must exhibit its willpower to bring back the non-resident Kannadigas who are in distress. However, the government has not yet taken a proper decision. Most importantly, the non-resident Kannadigas do not even know whom to communicate with to put pressure on the state government at this time of distress. Because no specific person was given the responsibility for this issue. Regrettably, no separate committee was formed to respond to the problems of non-resident Kannadigas despite creating different task force committees.
Dr. Aarati Krishna
Former Vice President, Non-Resident Indians Committee, Karnataka Government
The government should make arrangements to bring back the non-resident Kannadigas who wish to return home. Special flights must be arranged and it should be made sure that after lock down ends, the flight charges should not be increased for any reason. Most people here are mentally depressed. So if the government does not arrange to bring back non-resident Kannadigas as soon as possible, the situation could be even worse.
Ibrahim Kannangar
Convenor, NRI Congress Cell, Eastern Province , KSA
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Karnataka Lokayukta to register case, probe Bowring wall collapse
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Lokayukta Justice B S Patil on Thursday took serious note of the compound wall collapse at Bowring and Lady Curzon Hospital in the city that killed seven people, and announced registration of a case on its own while warning of action against officials found responsible.
The Lokayukta, who visited the site and conducted an inspection, expressed strong displeasure over the incident and questioned the inaction of authorities, even as police and emergency teams had earlier rushed to the spot to rescue victims trapped under the debris following heavy rain, strong winds and a hailstorm on Wednesday evening.
“I will now register a suo motu case. This is not just about this one incident — such incidents must not occur anywhere in the state or the city in the future,” Justice Patil told reporters.
Seven people, including a six-year-old girl, were killed and seven others injured when the compound wall collapsed as rain-battered victims had taken shelter near it, according to police. The victims included people from Kerala who were in the city on a study tour.
Calling for systemic accountability, the Lokayukta said, “Dilapidated buildings and weakened compound walls, especially in areas with public access, must first be identified. They must either be repaired, demolished, or rebuilt.”
He added that responsibility would be fixed on officials of the BBMP and the concerned departments.
Justice Patil said that hearings would be conducted and preventive action initiated, while also probing those responsible for it, how the incident could have been prevented, and why it was not prevented.
A Scene of Crime Officers (SOCO) team and a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) team also inspected the site, while police cordoned off Kovil Street to facilitate the probe.
Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar said the government had initiated measures following the rain-related incidents and stressed preparedness.
“Since last night we have initiated measures regarding the rains. When it rains heavily, we must be prepared, and we are working towards that,” he told reporters here.
On the wall collapse, Shivakumar said, “I will not directly blame any officials. It was an old wall, and trees had grown alongside it. Due to that pressure, it collapsed.”
The Deputy CM said instructions had been issued to identify such vulnerable structures and clear areas around them, including relocating street vendors.
Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said a technical assessment had been ordered.
“This is a very serious matter. Innocent people have been affected. We are issuing directions to the engineers to find out why this compound wall collapsed and to assess its structural strength,” he told reporters after inspecting the spot.
The Minister noted that the wall was ‘very old’ and required thorough examination to prevent recurrence.
Speaking to reporters, Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge asked the Karnataka government to take precautions to ensure that incidents like the collapse of the Bengaluru government hospital compound wall, which caused loss of life, should not repeat.
Meanwhile, addressing a press conference, Shivajinagar MLA Rizwan Arshad said the collapse raised questions about construction and maintenance practices.
“If a wall collapses within 25 years of its construction, it needs to be examined -- whether there was any technical issue, or if anything was altered inside, weakening it. All this can only come out through a technical investigation,” he said.
The Congress MLA also called for wider structural audits across the city, stating that all such structures, whether private or government, must be audited.
He urged citizens to support victims, saying it was a collective responsibility in times of crisis.
