Temples in Karnataka lost Rs 600 cr during lockdown: Minister
Mangaluru: The temples coming under the Muzrai department in Karnataka suffered a loss of Rs 600 crore revenue during the lockdown period due to the pandemic, state Muzrai Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said Monday.
Addressing reporters here, he said the Kollur Sri Mookambika temple alone lost revenue of at least Rs 14 crore during April and May.
Around 300 A and B grade temples under Muzrai (Hindu religious institutions and charitable endowments) department in the state lost around 35 percent of their annual income, he said.
The state government had earlier allowed temples to reopen from Monday but later postponed it to June 8 in keeping with the new directions of the Centre.
The minister said the governments 'Saptapadi mass marriage program in temples, postponed due to the lockdown, will be held as per the new guidelines issued by the government.
Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa has given permission to hold the program.
The marriages are proposed to be held in batches with 50 people in attendance at different timings, he said.
The minister said around five lakh food packets were distributed from temples in Dakshina Kannada during the lockdown period.
Poojary, Dakshina Kannada district-in-charge, said all precautionary measures have been taken ahead of the monsoon to protect lives and property in the district in view of the forecast of a heavy downpour.
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AIITA welcomes Karnataka’s ban on obscene songs in school events
Bhatkal: The Karnataka unit of the All India Ideal Teachers Association (AIITA) has welcomed the Karnataka government’s decision to strictly ban school children from dancing to obscene songs during educational and cultural programmes in government, aided, and private schools across the state.
AIITA Karnataka State President M. R. Manvi congratulated the government for taking what he termed an important step to preserve the sanctity of education.
“Such decisions to safeguard the dignity of school children and uphold the values of education are the need of the hour. This rule should not be limited to government schools alone but must be strictly implemented in all private educational institutions as well,” he said.
He further urged the government to address other concerns within school programmes.
“The government should not only prohibit obscene dances in the name of school anniversaries, but also ensure that plays and dialogues that incite religious hatred are avoided. Schools should be centres of harmony, not platforms for spreading hatred,” he added.
According to a recent circular issued by the Department of School Education and Literacy, obscene dances are adversely affecting the mental health and moral values of students.
In this regard, schools have been advised to use songs that promote nationalism, positive thinking, the greatness of Kannada culture, and value-based traditions instead of inappropriate content during programmes.
The circular also emphasises that students should be dressed in decent attire.
AIITA also backed the department’s warning that disciplinary action would be taken against head teachers if such guidelines are violated. The association has further demanded that district Deputy Directors of Public Instruction strictly monitor the implementation of these rules.
