Mangaluru: Children's Rights Commission expresses concern over conditions at Wenlock Hospital
Mangaluru: The Chairman of the State Children's Rights Protection Commission, Shashidhar Kosambe, visited the District Nutritional Rehabilitation Centre at Wenlock Hospital in Mangaluru on Friday, where he expressed his dissatisfaction over the poor conditions and mismanagement at the facility.
Kosambe personally sampled the food provided to the children at the centre and interacted with the parents of the children who were admitted. He raised concerns after finding that the newly increased rate of ₹370 per day for the caregivers was not reflected in the centre's records, which still showed the older rate of ₹100.
He was also critical of the poor management of child admissions at the centre, noting that no proper register was maintained. He reprimanded the centre’s supervisors for the lapse and issued a show-cause notice to the medical authorities, directing them to submit the required information to the Commission.
Kosambe also visited the emergency unit where severely malnourished infants are treated and then proceeded to inspect the Ladygoshen Hospital. During his visit, he noted several issues, including the malfunctioning of the air-conditioning systems in the critical care unit. According to Kosambe, a 24/7 air-conditioning system is mandatory in such units, but the system was found to be inoperative.
He also expressed concern over the inadequate CCTV surveillance at the hospital. In the wake of recent incidents of child abductions across the country, Kosambe stressed the need for a proper surveillance system to ensure the safety of the children.
Kosambe highlighted that although the district health officials had identified 28 severely malnourished children in the district, no rehabilitation efforts were being provided for them at the centre. Despite government funds being allocated for infrastructure, beds, and staff, no records were maintained, and no steps had been taken to provide adequate care.
He further criticized the dietician staff for handling financial records, nutritional food information, and government guidelines instead of ensuring proper care. Kosambe noted that the food for the children was being stored in a refrigerator, but it appeared to be improperly maintained.
"We believe that every child must be given the best nutritional care. However, due to the negligence of the authorities here, I have directed the hospital authorities and district health officials to take immediate action and provide a report to the Commission within three days. If no action is taken, the Commission will file a suo-motu case," he said.
Kosambe emphasized that a detailed report about the actions taken to address the issues raised during his visit must be submitted within three days. He warned that failure to submit the report would lead to the Commission taking legal action and referring the matter to the government for appropriate recommendations.
Present during the visit were District Health Officer Dr. Timmayya, Wenlock Hospital Superintendent Dr. Shivaprasad, and RCHO Dr. Rajesh.
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LoP Ashoka targets CM govt over corruption, says being 'shameless' in public life not forgivable
Bengaluru (PTI): Targeting Chief Minister Siddaramaiah and the Congress government in Karnataka on corruption, BJP leader R Ashoka on Friday said, being foolish was forgivable, but being "shameless" in public life was not.
The Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly claimed that in just 30 months of its tenure, the Congress administration has broken every previous record on corruption-related controversies.
He was responding to Siddaramaiah's post on 'X' on Thursday hitting back at the BJP, stating that Upa Lokayukta Justice Veerappa's claims of "63 per cent corruption" were based on his report in November 2019, when BJP's B S Yediyurappa was the CM.
"But Ashoka, without understanding the Upa Lokayukta's statement properly, has ended up tying the BJP's own bells of sins onto our heads and has effectively shot himself in the foot," the CM had said, as he accused Ashoka of foolishness for trying to twist Veerappa's statement to target the current government.
Responding, Ashoka said, "it is one thing to be called foolish in politics, that can be forgiven."
"But in public life, especially in the Chief Minister's chair, one must never become shameless," Ashoka posted on 'X' on Friday addressing Siddaramaiah.
Noting that the CM himself had admitted on the floor of the Assembly that a Rs 87 crore scam took place in the Valmiki Development Corporation, he said that when a CM acknowledges such a massive irregularity inside the floor of the House, the natural expectation is immediate action and accountability.
"But instead of taking responsibility, you continue in office as if nothing has happened. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
Pointing out that the CM's Economic Advisor and senior Congress MLA Basavaraja Rayareddy had publicly stated that under Congress rule, Karnataka has become No.1 in corruption, Ashoka said, "Yet, you still cling to the Chief Minister's chair without a moment of introspection. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness."
Senior Congress MLA C R Patil had exposed the "money for House" racket in the Housing Department and even warned that the government would collapse if the details he has were made public, Ashoka said.
"Despite such serious allegations from within your own party (Congress), you neither initiated an inquiry nor acted against the concerned minister. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," Ashoka asked the CM.
Highlighting the "40 percent commission" allegation Congress made against the previous BJP government, the opposition leader said, the commission that the Siddaramaiah government appointed concluded that the accusation was baseless.
"After your own panel demolished your own claim, what moral right do you have to continue repeating that allegation. What should the people of Karnataka call this, if not sheer shamelessness," he asked.
For the last two and a half years, Karnataka has been 'drowning' in corruption, scandals, irregularities and allegations across departments. Ashoka said, "If I begin listing every case that emerged under your government, even 24 hours would not be enough."
"And the most tragic aspect of your administration is this: the unbearable pressure, corruption demands and administrative harassment under your government pushed several officers and contractors into extreme distress - including the suicide of Chandrasekharan which exposed the Valmiki Development Corporation scam - a sign of how deeply broken the system has become under your watch," he said.
Instead of fixing this hopeless environment, the government has tried to bury every complaint and silence every voice, he charged.
"Being foolish is forgivable, but being shameless in public life is definitely not."
"When your own ministers admit scams, when your own advisors certify Karnataka as No.1 in corruption, and when your own MLAs expose rackets inside your departments - clinging to power without accountability is not leadership. It is shamelessness in its purest form." PTI KSU
Earlier on Thursday Ashoka had demanded that the corruption case and allegations in the state against the Congress government be handed over to a CBI investigation, citing a reported statement by Upalokaykta Justice Veerappa alleging "63 per cent corruption", following which Siddaramaiah hit back at the BJP leader.
