Believing rumours of Rs. 2000 being deposited in accounts; hundreds of labourers violate lockdown
Mangaluru: Violating all the regulations and norms of the country-wide lockdown due to the spread of Corona Virus, hundreds of daily wage labourers gathered outside a private building in the city on Wednesday afternoon. The move by the labourers was prompted by a rumor that spread like a wildfire adding that Rs. 2000 were being deposited into their account.
The labourers also reportedly violated the regulations of social distancing. At least 750 labourers gathered outside the building in a queue with their bank passbooks.
Stunned by the gathering, when local enquired as to why the labourers had gathered at the place, a few of them informed that they had come to collect their Rs. 2000 that was being deposited in the bank accounts. When asked who informed them about the depositing of money, they had no clear answer.
They were holding bank passbooks, Aadhaar cards till 3:30 pm. Later, labor officials arrived at the spot but could not find any clear information. In the meantime, youths who were collecting information about the labourers also fled the scene.
Neither police department, local corporator, nor the MCC Commissioner had any information about this. It was finally understood that someone forced the labourers to stand under the scorching sun and violate the lockdown.
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Minister Patil chairs industry meetings to chart growth for key sectors in Karnataka
Bengaluru (PTI): Karnataka Minister M B Patil on Tuesday chaired meetings with industry representatives from the aerospace and defence, machine tools, auto/EV, and green energy sectors to discuss sector growth and government support measures.
The meetings were attended by leading industrialists and their representatives, with some participating virtually.
Speaking on the occasion, the minister for Large and Medium Industries said Karnataka is at the forefront of the country’s aerospace and defence sectors.
He noted that Suzuki and Toyota plan to launch aerial taxi services in Japan by 2028, with Bengaluru-based Sasmos supplying electrical equipment for the project.
Industrialists suggested introducing similar “fly-taxi” services in Karnataka through an appropriate policy, which Patil said would be examined seriously.
The minister highlighted the need to establish testing centres and Common Facility Centres for the aerospace and defence industries and assured that these facilities would be provided.
Suggestions were also made to prepare a comprehensive roadmap for sector growth.
Karnataka has urged the Central Government to approve Defence Corridor projects in the Bengaluru North–Kolar–Chikkaballapur and Dharawada–Vijayapura–Belagavi regions.
Industrialists also suggested a corridor between Bengaluru and Mysuru, Patil said.
He said Karnataka aims to become a hub for defence electronics manufacturing, with plans to establish a 200-acre Defence Electronics Park and a 100-acre Avionics and Sensor Park.
These projects will be implemented once the Special Investment Region is operational, and land availability will not be an issue.
On the machine tools sector, Patil said the industry has recorded an annual turnover of Rs 36,500 crore and is witnessing steady growth.
Large-scale exhibitions have increased demand, and the state must strengthen its capabilities to develop control systems for heavy machinery. One testing unit is already operational in Bengaluru, with another planned for Tumakuru. Expansion of vocational training institutes in industrial areas is also underway.
In the Auto and EV sector, Vision Group members highlighted the need for a network of dry ports and more EV charging stations across the state.
Patil noted that the Tata Group is manufacturing EV buses in Dharawada for nationwide supply. Plans for mini excavator production and export facilitation were also discussed, along with the establishment of a testing facility for two-wheeler EVs.
For the Green Energy sector, the group emphasised the need for a suitable policy on battery-based energy storage and the establishment of data centres.
Patil assured that the government will seriously consider all suggestions and respond positively.
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