Karnataka: 55-year-old woman's efforts to build well for Anganwadi children bear fruit
Sirsi, Feb 13: An initiative of a 55-year-old woman to dig an open well to ensure drinking water supply to the children of an Anganwadi in a scarcity-hit locality here has caused a flutter.
Gouri Naik, an areca nut seller, whose effort won praise from locals, was stopped by officials of the Women and Child Welfare department after she dug up 12 feet and warned her of action.
"I started digging this well daily from January 30. I have previously dug a 70-foot open well at home to support my areca trees. This time I am digging an open well for the children, " Gouri said.
The official action was opposed by hundreds of people who gathered in front of the Anganwadi on Monday and refused to close the well at any cost.
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"We all stand by Gauri. Authorities should stop harassment. Instead of supporting Gauri who is doing good work, action should be taken against the officials who are coming in her way," the protesters said.
Facing public backlash, officials backtracked and gave a verbal permission after citizen group "Sirsi Jeeva Jala task force" president Srinivas Hebbar visited the place and announced that they would construct a compound wall for the Anganwadi, a ring for the well to cover it, and install a pump and overhead tank.
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Another North Goa nightclub sealed; Kejriwal says corruption led to fire tragedy
Panaji (PTI): As part of a crackdown against tourist establishments violating laws and safety norms in the aftermath of the Arpora fire tragedy, Goa authorities on Saturday sealed a renowned club at Vagator and revoked the fire department NOC of another club.
Cafe CO2 Goa, located on a cliff overlooking the Arabian Sea at Vagator beach in North Goa, was sealed. The move came two days after Goya Club, also in Vagator, was shut down for alleged violations of rules.
Elsewhere, campaigning for local body polls, AAP leader Arvind Kejriwal said the fire incident at Birch by Romeo Lane nightclub at Arpora, which claimed 25 lives on December 6, happened because the BJP government in the state was corrupt.
An inspection of Cafe CO2 Goa by a state government-appointed team revealed that the establishment, with a seating capacity of 250, did not possess a no-objection certificate (NOC) of the Fire and Emergency Services Department. The club, which sits atop Ozrant Cliff, also did not have structural stability, the team found.
The Fire and Emergency Services on Saturday also revoked the NOC issued to Diaz Pool Club and Bar at Anjuna as the fire extinguishers installed in the establishment were found to be inadequate, said divisional fire officer Shripad Gawas.
A notice was issued to Nitin Wadhwa, the partner of the club, he said in the order.
Campaigning at Chimbel village near Panaji in support of his party's Zilla Panchayat election candidate, Aam Aadmi Party leader Kejriwal said the nightclub fire at Arpora happened because of the "corruption of the Pramod Sawant-led state government."
"Why this fire incident happened? I read in the newspapers that the nightclub had no occupancy certificate, no building licence, no excise licence, no construction licence or trade licence. The entire club was illegal but still it was going on," he said.
"How could it go on? Couldn't Pramod Sawant or anyone else see it? I was told that hafta (bribe) was being paid," the former Delhi chief minister said.
A person can not work without bribing officials in the coastal state, Kejriwal said, alleging that officers, MLAs and even ministers are accepting bribes.
