Kolar: SC/ST students in Malur residential school made to clean septic tank
Kolar: In a shocking incident at Morarji Desai Residential School in Yaluvahalli, Malur taluk, students, all belonging to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities, were allegedly forced to clean a septic tank. The incident came to light through a viral video shot by a teacher on a mobile phone.
According to reports, five to six students in Classes 7 to 9 were made to enter and clean the septic tank, with the principal and a teacher present. In the video, the students can be seen sharing their distress, describing the harsh conditions they endure at the school. They allege being subjected to punishment, including kneeling outside the hostel at night, and physical abuse, as captured by CCTV footage.
"We are undergoing a lot of torture here and only wish to escape from here. At nights, we are made to switch the lights off and carry our bags outside the hostel, where we have to kneel down before facing the torture at their hands. Our appeals against such punishment, even if we say we are tired, are ignored." The children can be seen saying.
The school, hosting 250 students from Class 6 to Class 10, with residential staff, has faced severe criticism for the alleged violation of the Abolition of Manual Scavenging Act 1993, which prohibits employing Dalit children for such hazardous tasks.
Nagarathna, District Child Welfare Officer, conducted an immediate visit upon learning of the incident. She submitted a report recommending strict action against the responsible parties to the Joint Director of the Social Welfare Department.
R Srinivas, Joint Director of the Social Welfare Department, confirmed an inspection and instructed the school's principal and teacher not to involve children in such tasks. He has written to higher authorities to take stringent action against the implicated school staff members accused of both the septic tank incident and nighttime torture.
Public outrage has intensified, demanding justice for the students and accountability for the alleged violations.
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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.
