Super-specialty hospital for Karwar is government’s responsibility: D.K. Shivakumar
Karwar: Deputy Chief Minister D.K. Shivakumar on Sunday said that setting up a super-specialty hospital in Karwar was the state government’s responsibility, responding to a long-pending demand of the people of the region.
Speaking at the Karavali Utsava held at Ravindranath Tagore Beach in Karwar on Sunday night, Shivakumar said local MLA Satish Sail had repeatedly pointed out that residents were forced to travel to Goa, Udupi, or Mangaluru for advanced medical treatment. “We are with you, and we will work to ensure the people here get quality healthcare,” he said.
He said the people of Uttara Kannada had strengthened the government by electing five MLAs and that the government had delivered on its promises, including the implementation of five guarantees. “Your support has strengthened our hands, and we have stood by the commitments we made,” he said.
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The Deputy Chief Minister also announced that the government would frame a separate tourism policy for the coastal region to generate employment and curb youth migration. “Our aim is to create jobs at people’s doorsteps. A meeting in this regard will be held in Mangaluru on January 10,” he said.
Describing Uttara Kannada as a unique region, Shivakumar highlighted its Western Ghats, coastline, rich culture, literature, languages, traditions, and environment. He said the sea symbolised strength, livelihood for fisherfolk, and a major attraction for tourists.
Referring to the Karavali Utsava, he said the festival had not been held for the past seven years and that MLA Satish Sail and district in-charge minister Mankal S. Vaidya had insisted on reviving it this year. He credited the organisers for creating opportunities for local artists and others through the event.
Shivakumar said that while programmes often attract criticism, meaningful work endures. “Criticism fades, but work remains,” he said, adding that he had come to Karwar to stand with the people. He urged voters to strengthen the government further by electing more legislators in the future.
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Rupee hits all-time low for second time in a week
Mumbai (PTI): The rupee depreciated 31 paise to settle at 91.99 against the US dollar on Wednesday, touching the lowest closing level for the second time in less than a week, amid increased month-end demand for the greenback.
Forex traders said the rupee opened higher as the US dollar index softened and a long-awaited trade breakthrough with Europe offered quiet reassurance. However, increased month-end demand for the American currency as well as the ongoing geopolitical tensions dented investors' sentiments.
At the interbank foreign exchange, the rupee opened at 91.60 and touched an early high of 91.50, but pared all the gains to touch an intra-day low of 91.99 against the greenback.
The domestic unit settled 31 paise down, revisiting its lowest-ever closing level of 91.99 against the greenback. The Indian currency previously ended at this level on January 23 when it also hit its all-time intraday low of 92 against the US dollar.
On Tuesday, the rupee rebounded from its all-time low levels and gained 22 paise to close at 91.68 against the US dollar.
Analysts said the rupee opened higher as the US dollar index softened and a long-awaited trade breakthrough with Europe bolstered investor sentiment.
India and the European Union on Tuesday announced the conclusion of negotiations for the free trade agreement (FTA), under which a number of domestic sectors such as apparel, chemicals and footwear will get duty-free entry into the 27-nation bloc, while the EU will get access to the Indian market at concessional duty for cars and wines, an official said.
The deal has been dubbed the "mother of all deals" as it will create a market of about 2 billion people.
Meanwhile, the dollar index, which gauges the greenback's strength against a basket of six currencies, was trading 0.07 per cent lower at 96.14.
Brent crude, the global oil benchmark, was trading 0.43 per cent lower at USD 67.28 per barrel in futures trade.
On the domestic equity market front, Sensex jumped 487.20 points to settle at 82,344.68, while Nifty surged 167.35 points to 25,342.75.
Foreign Institutional Investors turned net buyers and purchased equities worth Rs 480.26 crore on Wednesday, according to exchange data.
