Doctors advise HDK to cut poll tours, focus on health

Bengaluru, May 29: Seven out of ten (72 per cent) workers in Karnataka reported having lost their employment during the COVID-19-induced lockdown, according to findings of a survey by Azim Premji University, in collaboration with ten civil society organisations.

The university said in a statement it conducted "a detailed" phone survey of 5,000 workers across 12 states in the country, to gauge the impact of the COVID-19 lockdown on employment, livelihoods, and access to government relief schemes.

The survey covered self-employed, casual, and regular wage and salaried workers and it released the findings for Karnataka on Thursday.

Seventy-six per cent of urban workers and 66 per cent of rural workers lost their employment, the survey findings said.

For non-agricultural self-employed workers and wage workers, who were still employed, average weekly earnings fell by two-third.

More than four in ten salaried workers (44 per cent) saw either a reduction in their salary or received no salary during the lockdown.

Six out of ten households reported that they did not have enough money to buy even a weeks worth of essential items, according to the survey.

Eight out ten households reported a reduction in food intake, while less than three in ten vulnerable households (27 per cent) in urban Karnataka received any form of cash transfer from the government, it said.

In summary, the disruption in the Karnatakas economy and labour markets is enormous. Livelihoods have been devastated at unprecedented levels during the lockdown.

The recovery from this could be slow and very painful, the statement said.

As a response to the findings of this survey, the team which has conducted the survey suggested a universalisation of the PDS to expand its reach and implementation of expanded rations for at least the next six months.

It suggested cash transfers equal to at least Rs.7000 per month for two months, and proactive steps like expansion of MGNREGA, introduction of urban employment guarantee, and investment in universal basic services, among others.

Bengaluru, May 9: Dubai NRI Kannadigaru president and entrepreneur Naveed Magundi in a video message thanked government of India for helping stranded Indians in Arab countries to return home. 

The video was shared by Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister C N Ashwath Narayan on Friday on Twitter. 

"Kannadigas, who are in trouble in the Arab countries and wanting to return home, have got the central government's rapid response. Prime Minister Narendra Modi gratitude video on behalf of Dubai President Kannadigas," Narayan said in the tweet.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has prepared a chart for the first phase evacuation of over 14,000 Indian nationals stranded in 13 foreign countries by 64 flights in week one of the operation.

ಅರಬ್‌ ರಾಷ್ಟ್ರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಸಂಕಷ್ಟಕ್ಕೆ ಸಿಲುಕಿ ದೇಶಕ್ಕೆ ವಾಪಸಾಗಲು ಬಯಸಿರುವ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗರಿಗೆ ವಿಮಾನದ ವ್ಯವಸ್ಥೆ ಮಾಡುವಂತೆ ಕೇಂದ್ರ ಸರ್ಕಾರದ ಕ್ಷಿಪ್ರ ಸ್ಪಂದನೆ ದೊರಕಿದೆ.

ಪ್ರಧಾನಿ ಶ್ರೀ @narendramodi ಸರ್ಕಾರಕ್ಕೆ ಹಾಗೂ ಎಲ್ಲಾ ರೀತಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಸಹಕರಿಸಿದ ಪ್ರತಿಯೊಬ್ಬರಿಗೂ ದುಬೈ ಅನಿವಾಸಿ ಕನ್ನಡಿಗ ಬಾಂಧವರ ಪರವಾಗಿ ಕೃತಜ್ಞತಾ ವೀಡಿಯೊ - pic.twitter.com/BUcFZ3VuKj

— Dr. Ashwathnarayan C. N. (@drashwathcn) May 8, 2020

Byndoor, Jul 16: Byndoor Police Station in Kundapur taluk of Udupi District, has been sealed for the second time in a month, after three personnel including an ASI were tested positive for Covid-19 on Thursday.

All the three including a lady Home Guard have been admitted to the designated Covid Hospital.

Last month the Station was sealed after staff had tested positive.