Karnataka Central Relief Committee pledges steps for empowerment of transgender community
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Bengaluru: In a landmark step towards inclusivity, the Central Relief Committee (CRC) of the Government of Karnataka held its first official meeting with representatives of the transgender community at the CRC office in Bengaluru. The meeting was chaired by Aga Sultan, the newly appointed Chairman of the Committee, and led by noted transgender rights activist Akkai Padmashali, Founder of Ondede.
The session aimed to promote equality, self-reliance, and social inclusion of transgender individuals while providing a platform to understand their concerns and aspirations. It was attended by Vijay Kumar, Secretary, Chandrappa B. Gokak, Joint Secretary, and several superintendents and officials from relief centres across the state.
Representatives from the transgender community, including Akkai Padmashali and other prominent activists, highlighted a range of key issues faced by the community. Their primary demands included the effective implementation of the Transgender Policy, 2017 Act, skill development and vocational training, employment opportunities, social inclusion, measures to prevent harassment, and provision of housing and shelter facilities.
Chairman Aga Sultan assured the participants that the CRC would convey their concerns to the state government and ensure regular dialogues with the community to address their issues on priority. He also urged the transgender community to join hands with the government’s initiatives aimed at building an inclusive and dignified society.
During the meeting, Aga Sultan requested Akkai Padmashali to encourage members of the community to refrain from begging at traffic signals and instead take part in the CRC’s “Bring Beauty Back to Bengaluru” campaign, which seeks to make the city begging-free through rehabilitation and livelihood programmes.
The meeting concluded with a focus on strategic measures to promote economic independence and social integration for transgender individuals. Officials described the session as a historic milestone in the CRC’s efforts to make Karnataka a more inclusive and equitable state.
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Power tariffs under BESCOM to rise from May 1
Bengaluru (PTI): Power bills for consumers under the Bangalore Electricity Supply Company Limited (BESCOM) will go up from May 1, following an order issued by the Karnataka Electricity Regulatory Commission (KERC) on Friday.
The hike comes after KERC allowed the BESCOM to recover a revenue deficit of Rs 2,068 crore incurred in 2024-25, from the consumers.
As a result, for every unit of electricity consumed in 2024-25, the customers will be charged an additional 56 paise, it said.
"BESCOM shall calculate, for each of the active consumers of FY2024-25 the amount to be recovered based on their actual energy consumption during FY2024-25. Such amount shall be recovered during FY 2026-27 in equal monthly instalments, to be called as 'FY25 True up Charges', commencing from the first meter reading date falling on or after 1 May 2026 and concluding with the reading date ending on 30 April 2027," the order said.
"It is further ordered that BESCOM shall maintain a separate head of account, allocated for the purpose, to record the adjustment of the said amount to ensure full recovery of the deficit," it added.
Similarly Chamundeshwari Electricity Supply Corporation Limited (CESC) has also recorded a revenue deficit of Rs 121.71 crore and can collect an additional 15 paisa per unit for consumption in 2024-25, official sources said.
