Mangaluru: Gerosa School teacher suspended over alleged derogatory remarks on Hindu Gods
Mangaluru: Sister Prabha, a teacher at Gerosa School in Mangaluru, has been suspended by the school board following allegations of making derogatory remarks about Hindu gods during a classroom session. The school's management board took this decision in response to public outrage, and the Education Department is set to conduct an internal investigation into the incident.
The controversy began on February 8 when a complaint was lodged at the Mangaluru South Police Station, accusing Sister Prabha of insulting the Ayodhya Sri Ram Mandir and Lord Rama while teaching the subject 'Work is Worship' at Prabha School.
DK Deputy Commissioner Mullai Muhilan visited the school on Monday evening to conduct an inquiry into the matter. Education officers and police officials were present during the investigation.
Amid growing tensions, MLA Vedavyasa Kamath from the South Constituency of Mangaluru visited the school on Monday, demanding appropriate legal action against the teacher. Under his leadership, hundreds of parents and activists attempted to lay siege to the school. However, the police intervened, preventing MLA Kamath and parents from approaching the school gate.
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In response to the incident, the headmistress of the school issued a statement, announcing Sister Prabha's suspension and assuring parents that another teacher would be appointed in her place. The headmistress emphasized the school's commitment to constitutional principles, religious tolerance, and equal respect for all beliefs. She acknowledged the temporary mistrust created by the incident and called for cooperation to rebuild trust for the better future of the students.
The decision to suspend Sister Prabha has been made to ensure transparency in the ongoing investigation by district authorities. The school expects cooperation from parents and stakeholders throughout the inquiry process, she added.
St. Gerosa School, with a history of 60 years, has not witnessed such an incident before, and the administration is keen on maintaining a positive educational environment. She added while appealing parents for collective efforts to work towards the students' brighter future.
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Maharashtra government considers tweaks to Ladki Bahin scheme amid fiscal strain: Reports
Mumbai: A day after the Mahayuti coalition secured a landslide victory in the Maharashtra Assembly elections, attention has turned to the Ladki Bahin Yojana, a flagship welfare scheme that played a pivotal role in attracting women voters.
The scheme, launched in July 2024, offers ₹1,500 per month to economically disadvantaged women aged 18 to 65. The Mahayuti, in its election manifesto, pledged to increase the amount to ₹2,100 per month, a promise now under scrutiny due to fiscal concerns. With the scheme projected to cost the exchequer ₹33,300 crore from July 2024 to March 2025, bureaucrats are exploring ways to revise its provisions to prevent a financial imbalance.
Finance Minister and NCP leader Ajit Pawar hinted at the challenges, stressing the need for "financial discipline." A senior bureaucrat confirmed that plans are underway to prune the list of beneficiaries, citing the inclusion of ineligible individuals due to incomplete Aadhaar seeding and lack of required ration cards. According to the finance department, nearly one crore women out of the 2.43 crore registered beneficiaries may not qualify for the scheme.
The state’s debt burden is already projected to reach ₹7.82 lakh crore for the fiscal year 2024-25. Officials warn that continuing the scheme in its current form could impact the government’s ability to pay salaries by January. Despite these concerns, the ruling coalition is hesitant to reduce the beneficiary list, likely due to the upcoming civic elections.
Chief Secretary Sujata Saunik is expected to present renegotiation proposals to the new chief minister soon. Meanwhile, Shiv Sena spokesperson Krishna Hegde credited the scheme for increasing the number of women voters and boosting the coalition’s vote share. NCP (SP) leader Sharad Pawar also acknowledged the scheme’s role in mobilising women voters.
Other welfare measures introduced by the government include an electricity bill waiver for farmers and three free LPG cylinders annually for six million households. However, the financial viability of such initiatives remains a pressing concern.
