Govt school students in Bengaluru forced to clean toilets, headmistress suspended
Bengaluru, Dec 22: Close on the heels of an incident in Kolar where school students were 'forced' to clean the soakpit, another incident of pupils being allegedly asked to clean toilets at a government school here has come to light.
In a viral video, some of the students were purportedly seen cleaning the toilet at Andrahalli in the city. Following the incident, parents of students expressed outrage and staged a protest outside the school campus demanding strict action against its administration.
Acting swiftly, the education department suspended the headmistress of the school, officials said.
Reacting to the incident, Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar told reporters here that he has called a meeting at 3 pm to inquire about the incident and assured strict action in the matter.
"I have called for a meeting at 3pm. I will inquire about it and get the actual report. There was another similar incident in the past and we have taken legal action against it," he said.
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Noting that children should be raised properly and made strong, Shivakumar said there are arrangements to clean toilets in schools.
"We shouldn't misuse the children. Earlier NSS, Seva Dal camps use to give training for kids to clean the garden, planting the saplings but we haven't given anyone permission to rope in children for cleaning the toilets," he pointed out.
Karnataka Primary and Secondary Education Minister Madhu Bangarappa condemned the incident and termed it 'shocking' and 'deplorable'.
"... there is no doubt that we will take the strictest action as per law. Further, I will ensure that such incidents don't repeat and will ensure that all action is taken by our department," he said.
Earlier this month, the principal and two staff members of a school in Kolar district were suspended over allegations that some students were made to clean the soak pit on its premises.
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KSDL invites innovative technology to check sandalwood theft
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has invited farmers, scientists and organisations to come up with innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft in the state.
The state-owned Karnataka Soaps and Detergents Limited (KSDL), which manufactures Mysuru Sandal Soap has also planned sandalwood cultivation, state Large and Medium Industries Minister M B Patil said on Thursday.
"In a bid to promote sandalwood cultivation, the KSDL has planned a major initiative. As part of it, farmers, scientists, and organisations possessing information on advanced equipment or innovative technologies to prevent sandalwood theft have been invited to approach KSDL and share the details," Patil said in a statement.
Those interested in this initiative will be given an opportunity to demonstrate such technologies before the organisation, the minister said, adding if the proposed solutions are found suitable and effective, steps will be taken for consideration and implementation.
Patil stated that the cost involved in deploying technologies aimed at preventing sandalwood theft would be borne by KSDL.
Further, with a view to encouraging sandalwood cultivation, four farmers who have supplied the highest quantity of sandalwood to KSDL will be honoured with awards on the occasion of the birth anniversary of Nalwadi Krishnaraja Wadiyar on June 4, he said.
On the same occasion, police personnel and forest officials who have made notable progress in apprehending sandalwood thieves and registering cases, along with members of the public who have provided credible information leading to such action, will also be recognised and rewarded, the minister added.
Patil observed that farmers cultivating sandalwood trees on their lands have been facing increasing threats due to theft in recent years. Illegal felling and theft of sandalwood trees have continued for decades.
Although stringent laws are in place to curb such activities, the number of cases resulting in convictions remains very low, he noted.
"In this context, it becomes the responsibility of the organisation to extend both legal and technical support to farmers and encourage them to take up sandalwood cultivation on a larger scale," he said.
According to him, over the past three years, KSDL has procured 174.5 metric tonne of sandalwood directly from farmers across the state and transferred Rs 6.08 crore to their respective accounts.
