Karnataka govt proposes 2% cess on movie tickets, TV channels
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has proposed levying a 2 per cent cess on movie tickets and subscription fee of television entertainment channels to fund welfare schemes for cine and cultural activists, according to draft rules notified by the Labour Department.
The draft rules have been framed under the Karnataka Cine and Cultural Activists (Welfare) Act, 2024, enacted by the state legislature.
The Act provides for constituting a welfare board and establishing a fund to finance schemes for the social security and welfare of cine and cultural activists in the state.
The Act further provides for a 1-2 per cent cess on movie tickets and subscription fees to generate funds. The draft rules finalise the cess rate at 2 per cent, a notification dated September 24 stated.
"Two per cent cess on cinema tickets of all theatres, including multiplex theatres. Two per cent cess on total transaction of television entertainment channels operating in the State of Karnataka," the draft rules state.
Under the Act, cine and cultural activists in the age group of 18 to 60 years, belonging to certain categories, will have to register with the government.
According to the Act, a "Cine and Cultural Activist" means any person employed in the field of cinema to work as an artist (including actor, musician, or dancer) or to perform any work — skilled, unskilled, manual, supervisory, technical, artistic, or otherwise — or any person engaged in other activities as declared by the government.
Registered cine and cultural activists will be eligible for accident benefits in case of death or disability, medical reimbursement, natural death assistance to the nominee of the deceased (including funeral expenses), education assistance for children, maternity benefits, and pensions.
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Leopard that killed 8-year-old boy caught after weeks in Thane
Thane (PTI): Forest officials on Sunday captured a leopard that mauled an eight-year-old child to death nearly a month ago in Shahapur of Maharashtra’s Thane district.
The predator walked into one of the cages set up in the area late Saturday night, ending weeks of panic in several villages in the region, an official from the Dolkhamb division of the forest department said.
"The captured leopard will undergo a thorough medical examination before any further decision is taken regarding its relocation or release," he said.
Senior inspector Suresh Gavit from the Kasara police station confirmed the development, stating that the forest department had successfully secured the animal.
Following the news of the capture, a video surfaced on social media showing a large crowd of villagers, including children, cheering and following the vehicle carrying the caged leopard.
The capture comes as a major relief to the area, which had been on edge since April 16, when the big cat killed an eight-year-old boy.
Krishna Bhaga Agiwale, a resident of Kalbhonde in the Kasara range, had ventured into a forest patch near his house to collect wild fruits when the leopard pounced on him, dragged him into the thicket and killed him on the spot.
