Monuments opened, but life of tourist guides in Karnataka still locked
Vijayapura: On June 7 when the Union Government reopened monument for public viewing in the second phase of the lifting of lockdown, Jahangir Kudgi was happy and hopeful of returning to the historic Gol Gumbaz which is the source of his earning.
Working as a tourist guide along with seven other guides, Jahangir is one of the 1050 tourist guides of the State who are working at different ASI protected monuments for several years.
These guides who only get a license from the Tourism Department and no other benefits, essentially depend on the tourists to pay them, as the government doesn’t provide any financial aid.
“We are jobless since mid-March when the ASI closed all their monuments due to the COVID pandemic in the country”, Jahangir said who turned into a tourist guide after completing graduation and undergoing guide training by the Tourism Department.
During the lockdown, the administration offered food kits which remains the only benefit they received from the government, Jahangir said.
He said that after lifting of lockdown in the second phase, the guides were hopeful that they would receive some tourists, but asserted that nothing has changed even after the lockdown was lifted as they continue to hunt for tourists.
Vijaykumar Bandi who is also a tourist guide said the tourists from Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, and other states of North India, usually hire guides. “Only a few guides who are good at English, are hired by the foreign tourists,” he said.
“Even as the lockdown has been lifted and monuments are open for visitors. But except some locals, there are no tourists coming from other parts of the country, forget about foreigners. These locals come here only for recreation”, Vijaykumar said.
Ashok Mayachari, State president, Tourist Guides’ Union said that the state has around 1,050 registered guides who have undergone training and obtained licenses from the Department of Tourism to work as guides. He said that each guide earns between Rs. 10,000 to Rs 15,000 a month depending on the places they live in. Guides working in Bengaluru and Mysuru earn little more than their counterparts of Vijayapura or Bagalkot or Hampi.
He said that since the guides get neither salary nor any incentive from the government, only the tourists meet their both ends meet. “But for nearly five months, we have no earnings. Life has become miserable. Several of us have borrowed money from friends and relatives for family expenses”, he said.
Mayachari said that for the last several years, the guides have been urging successive governments to pay a minimum remuneration to the guides which will help them sustain during the crisis “But to date, our demands have not been met,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jahangir is planning to start a road-side eatery with his limited savings. “I had undergone cookery training from RUDSET. I am now planning to open a small eatery. I waited for too long for the tourists to arrive. But now, I am losing my patience and saving also. Before I run out of the remaining saving, I will have to do something. That is why, I am now planning to start an eatery”, he said.
Amid this, the Tourism Department officials said that they have received a memorandum from the association seeking financial aid from the government. “Since we can’t take any decision on it, we have forwarded the memorandum to the Tourism Ministry”, the officials said.
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Kharge has put 'full stop' to leadership speculation in Karnataka: Minister Parameshwara
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Home Minister G Parameshwara on Friday said AICC chief Mallikarjun Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue of leadership change in the state.
Kharge's statement has a lot of significance and there ends the matter for now. Everyone in the party should respect and accept this, he said.
Parameshwara was referring to Kharge's statement on Thursday that there was no chief minister change in Karnataka "for now" and that the leadership issue in the state will be resolved soon.
Kharge's statement came amid speculation within the party and political circles about a possible decision on leadership change and cabinet reshuffle after May 4, once the results for assembly elections in four states and one union territory, along with bypolls to two assembly segments in Karnataka, are announced.
"Mallikarjun Kharge is our party's national president. He has a lot of experience. Several people, including me, have said that in the case of change (in leadership), if he (Kharge) comes (as CM), no one could speak in front of his experience and everyone would accept it. While replying to it, Kharge said that there is a chief minister now, and there is no question of change as of now," Parameshwara said.
Speaking to reporters here, he said, "I welcome his (Kharge) statement because I feel he has expressed his opinion after a discussion involving him, Rahul Gandhi, Sonia Gandhi, K C Venugopal and Randeep Singh Surjewala (both AICC general secretaries). I may be right or wrong. I feel that his statement has a lot of significance. So that matter ends there for now."
Responding to a question on repeated statements by several party leaders regarding leadership change, the home minister said, what the AICC chief has said on the matter is final. It should be respected and accepted by all in the party. There is no meaning in interpreting it further.
"I cannot respond to what others say, but I can say my opinion. In my opinion, the AICC chief is the supreme authority in the party. He, along with Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi, are our high command. If the high command has said something, we should both respect and accept it. There ends the matter," he said.
Kharge has put a "full stop" on the issue, he further said, adding that, "When he has said there is no change. It is a full stop."
Responding to a question on Parameshwara's recent statement about Kharge becoming chief minister, the AICC chief on Thursday said, "You (media), he (Parameshwara), and people at the top say that it is better if I become CM. But more than fate, as per my ideology and my service to the party so far, Sonia Gandhi makes decisions regarding me."
He had further said, "But that question does not arise now. There is already a CM here. If Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and I together have to take any decision in that direction, it will take some time. Let's wait and see."
Kharge on Friday too said no date has been fixed yet to discuss a possible leadership change in Karnataka.
Supporters of Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar have been insisting on his elevation in line with a reported power-sharing agreement with Chief Minister Siddaramaiah when the party won the 2023 Assembly elections. Some have even claimed that "sweet news" is expected by May 15, which is Shivakumar's birthday.
The leadership tussle within the ruling party has intensified amid speculation about a possible change of chief minister after the Congress government completed the halfway mark of its five-year term on November 20, 2025.
The speculation has been fuelled by a reported "power-sharing" arrangement between Siddaramaiah and Shivakumar at the time of government formation in 2023.
