Coronavirus: 743 workers of the Tirumala Tirupati temple trust test positive, three have died
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As many as 743 employees of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams tested positive for the coronavirus since the Tirumala Venkateswara temple in Andhra Pradesh was reopened on June 11, PTI reported on Sunday. Three employees of the temple have succumbed to Covid-19 so far, the trust’s Executive Officer Anil Kumar Singhal said.
Among those who contracted the infection were personnel of the special protection force, vigilance department, sanitation workers, outsourced as well as regular workers, Singhal said, according to The News Minute. “A total of 402 people have recovered so far,” he added.
Singhal said about 2.38 lakh pilgrims had visited the shrine in July. The temple has been allowing darshan to 12,000 devotees every day since it reopened on June 11.
The temple trust official also denied reports that it was reopened amid the coronavirus outbreak to make profit. “Initially everyone appreciated the move of TTD,” he was quoted as saying by The New Indian Express. Singhal added that the temple was blamed once the cases began to increase and suspected people with vested interests to be behind the rumours.
Singhal claimed the temple’s trust was spending more money in taking precautionary measures to contain the spread of Covid-19, than it was earning as revenue. “So far, devotees [have] expressed immense satisfaction over the arrangements of darshan, accommodation, Kalyana Katta, laddu, annaprasadam and other facilities made by TTD,” he added. “The cases have not increased in Tirupati alone, but the entire state as well [and] the country is facing a similar problem.”
A controversy had erupted last month over the decision of the temple trust to keep the Tirumala shrine open during the outbreak of the coronavirus, after several workers tested positive. The former head priest of Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanam Srinivasa Dikshitulu had died of the disease on July 17. An advisor of the trust, AV Ramana Dikshitulu, and many others urged the temple’s authorities to shut the shrine for some time to protect the priests.
However, YV Subba Reddy, the temple trust’s chairperson, had said the temple management was “monitoring the situation”, and that the shrine will remain open. He had added that around half of them had recovered, and that there was no evidence of pilgrims testing positive.
Andhra Pradesh has reported 1,38,712 coronavirus cases, including 2,036 deaths so far, according to the Union health ministry. India on Monday registered 62,064 new cases, taking the overall tally to 22,15,074. The toll for the first time rose by 1,007 to 44,386.
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Karnataka offers extensive incentives in its proposed IT policy
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka has proposed a new Information Technology Policy for 2025–2030, offering extensive financial and non-financial incentives aimed at accelerating investments, strengthening innovation and expanding the state's tech footprint beyond Bengaluru.
The Karnataka Cabinet gave its nod to the policy 2025–2030 with an outlay of Rs 445.50 crore on Thursday after the Finance Department accorded its approval.
The policy introduces 16 incentives across five enabler categories, nine of which are entirely new, with a distinctive push to support companies setting up or expanding in emerging cities.
Alongside financial support, the government is also offering labour-law relaxations, round-the-clock operational permissions and industry-ready human capital programmes to make Karnataka a globally competitive 'AI-native' destination.
According to the policy, units located outside Bengaluru will gain access to a wide suite of benefits, including research and development and IP creation incentives, internship reimbursements, talent relocation support and recruitment assistance.
The benefits also include EPF reimbursement, faculty development support, rental assistance, certification subsidies, electricity tariff rebates, property tax reimbursement, telecom infrastructure support, and assistance for events and conferences.
Bengaluru Urban will receive a focused set of six research and development and talent-oriented incentives, while Indian Global Capability Centres (GCCs) operating in the state will be brought under the incentive net.
Incentive caps and eligibility thresholds have been raised, and the policy prioritises growth-focused investments for both new and expanding units.
Beyond incentives, the government focuses on infrastructure and innovation interventions.
A flagship proposal in the policy is the creation of Techniverse -- integrated, technology-enabled enclaves developed through a public-private partnership model inside future Global Innovation Districts.
These campuses will offer plug-and-play facilities, artificial intelligence and machine learning and cybersecurity labs, advanced testbeds, experience centres, and disaster-resistant command centres.
There will also be a Statewide Digital Hub Grid and a Global Test Bed Infrastructure Network, linking public and private research and development, and innovation facilities across Karnataka.
The government has proposed a Women Global Tech Missions Fellowship for 1,000 mid-career women technologists, an IT Talent Return Programme to absorb experienced professionals returning from abroad, and broad-based skill and faculty development reimbursements.
Shared corporate transport routes in Bengaluru and tier-two cities will be designed with Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation and other transport entities to support worker mobility.
The government said the policy is the outcome of an extensive research and consultation process involving TCS, Infosys, Wipro, IBM, HCL, Tech Mahindra, Cognizant, HP, Google, Accenture and NASSCOM, along with sector experts and stakeholder groups.
It estimates an outlay of Rs 967.12 crore over five years, comprising Rs 754.62 crore for incentives and Rs 212.50 crore for interventions such as Techniverse campuses, digital grid development, global outreach missions and talent programmes.
