Bengaluru; Hostel outsourcing workers’ protest continues, 16 women workers admitted to hospital
Bengaluru, July 1: The government residential schools outsourcing workers protest condemning their removal from the schools entered the sixth day on Sunday and 16 women were admitted to the hospital after fainting. All the 16 women were getting treatment at the KC General Hospital in the city.
Because of the rain in the city, the agitators fall sick and were suffering from fever, cold, cough and weakness and fainted. An ambulance was stationed at the place where they were staging protest and treating them.
No safety
The hundreds of women workers who were staging protest at the Freedom Park do not have safety and security during night. They do not have drinking water and toilet facility. There are no sufficient women constables, the agitators alleged.
Demands
Chief Minister HD Kumaraswamy has already held one round of discussion with the agitators and assured of directing the minister concerned and officials to stop removal of the outsourcing workers from the service. But the agitators said that they want order instead of promise. So, they continued their protest, it is said.
Outsourcing Workers Association assistant secretary K Hanume Gowda said that the workers are coming under the Social Welfare and Backward Classes departments. Till now, no minister has come and listened to their grievances. So, they want order instead of just promise, he said.
Give order copy
It is not fair to remove the outsourcing workers in government residential schools unilaterally. So, the department concerned should give them the order copy. Till then, they would continue their protest peacefully.
-K Hanume Gowda
Steps would be taken shortly to solve the problem of the government residential schools outsourcing workers.
-Priyank Kharge, Social Welfare Department Minister
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Karnataka govt directs municipal corps to regulate, prohibit pigeon feeding
Bengaluru (PTI): The Karnataka government has issued directions to municipal corporations across the state to regulate and prohibit feeding pigeons in public places, citing serious public health concerns.
Deputy Secretary to Government V Lakshmikanth has written to the Urban Development Department requesting it to issue directions to the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) and all municipal corporations to take immediate steps to implement the measures.
In an official note dated December 16 issued by the Health and Family Welfare Department and released to the media on Wednesday, the department said uncontrolled feeding of pigeons in public places has resulted in large congregations of birds, excessive droppings and serious health concerns, particularly respiratory illnesses linked to prolonged exposure to pigeon droppings and feathers such as hypersensitivity pneumonitis and other lung diseases.
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"The commissioner, the Greater Bengaluru Authority and the Commissioners and chief officers of other municipal corporations shall take necessary action to mitigate the causes of dangerous disease spread by pigeon and enforce specified guidelines in their respective jurisdiction," the note said.
According to the department, these include a prohibition on feeding pigeons or causing pigeons to be fed in areas where it may cause nuisance or pose a health hazard to the public. Pigeon feeding shall be permitted only in designated areas in a controlled manner, subject to certain conditions.
"The designated areas may be selected in consultation with stakeholders. The responsibility for upkeep of the designated areas and compliance to the directions shall be taken up by some charitable organisation or an NGO. The feeding in designated areas shall be permitted only for some limited hours in the day," it said.
The note further stated that authorised officers of local authorities shall issue on-the-spot warnings and may impose fines for violation of the order, or lodge complaints to prosecute offenders under Sections 271 (Negligent act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) and 272 (Malignant act likely to spread infection of disease dangerous to life) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.
It also directed local authorities to conduct public awareness campaigns, including the display of signboards, banners and digital messages, explaining the health hazards associated with pigeon droppings and feathers, the content of the regulatory directions and penalties for violations, and alternative humane methods of bird conservation that do not endanger public health.
