COVID-19: Karnataka ministers, legislators to take 30% pay cut for a year
Bengaluru: Ministers and Members of Legislature in Karnataka will take a 30 per cent cut each in their salaries and allowances to fund the fight against coronavirus in the state, for a year.
An ordinance to reduce the salaries of Ministers and legislators by 30 per cent for one year to meet the exigencies arising out of COVID-19 pandemic was approved by the state cabinet headed by Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa on Thursday.
"... we have cut by 30 per cent salaries and allowances of all Ministers, MLAs, MLCs, also Speaker, Deputy Speaker, Chief Whip every one for one year from April 1, amounting to Rs 15.36 crore," Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister J C Madhuswamy said.
Speaking to reporters after the cabinet meeting, he said, we have the consent from all the political parties for this, so we have passed the ordinance today.
The Union Cabinet on Monday had approved a 30 per cent cut in salaries of all Members of Parliament and a two-year suspension of the MP Local Area Development (MPLAD) scheme.
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Belagavi: Hotel owner dies by suicide due to severe financial distress
Belagavi (Karnataka) (PTI): A 65-year-old hotel owner allegedly died by suicide at his eatery in this district on Tuesday morning owing to severe financial distress, police said.
The deceased was identified as Ramachandra Shankar Halluri, a resident of Hukkeri town. He had been running 'Hanuman Hotel' near the old bus stand for the past 16 years, they said.
According to police, Halluri had been grappling with sustained business losses over the past four to five years, which had significantly strained his financial condition. It is being learnt that he was under a debt burden of approximately Rs 11 lakh, and was reportedly finding it increasingly difficult to meet routine expenses, including rent and loan repayments.
On Tuesday morning, Halluri is said to have opened his hotel as usual around 6 am. However, he was later found hanging inside the premises.
Police personnel from Hukkeri Police Station rushed to the spot upon receiving information, conducted a preliminary inspection, and shifted the body for post-mortem examination.
Preliminary investigation indicates that the primary reason for the suicide was the financial burden arising from loans taken for the hotel business, a senior police officer said.
The police denied rumours that the suicide was due to disruption in gas cylinder supply affecting the hotel business.
"A filled gas cylinder was available at the hotel and was verified to be functional. It has been confirmed that financial stress due to inability to repay debts was the direct cause," the officer said.
Ruling out suspicion of any foul play, police said neither the family members nor others have expressed any suspicion regarding the death.
(Assistance for overcoming suicidal thoughts is available on the state’s health helpline 104, Tele-MANAS 14416.)
