Karnataka govt forms panel to rejuvenate 17 polluted river stretches

Bengaluru, Feb 4: Congress MLA UT Khader on Tuesday alleged that B.S. Yediyurappa-led government has stopped providing free food to poor families under 'Anna Bhagya' scheme from last two months which was started by the Congress in the state.

"Former Chief Minister Siddaramaiah had started a scheme 'Anna Bhagya' under which free rice and wheat to 494 education institutions, NGOs, and old age homes were provided and the present government has stopped providing benefits to the poor people," said the MLA.

Alleging that the present government has stopped with the scheme Khadar said, "From last two months the government has stopped providing free food to the institutes and NGOs."

Khadar further demanded to restart the scheme to help the poor students.

"They should restart the scheme which supports poor students and old age houses, or congress will protest if the scheme is not restarted."

Last year in August, Karnataka Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa had said that his government has no plans to stop any "pro-people schemes" including Anna Bhagya.

"Our government has no plans to scrap any of the pro-people schemes. Our Government is a pro-people Government. I have already signed the file to release grants to continue the "Anna Bhagya scheme" the twitter handle of Karnataka Chief Minister's Office had quoted him as saying.

Shivamogga, Feb 4: Students of a government primary school which is built especially for the children of manual scavengers, have been facing tough times during classes as the filthy drainage passing through the school premises excrete human excreta and sludge.

The drainage passes through GSPL Scavenger's Colony School in Shivamogga city, located behind the state road transport corporation's bus stand (KSRTC).

According to the locals here, students studying in this school often fall sick due to the waste flowing from the drainage.

Penchelayya, the father of a child who studies in the same school said, "Human excreta floats in the drainage as it is connected to two toilets. The school stinks and students often fall sick due to the drainage."

The students studying here are unable to bear the foul smell emanating from the drainage which flows at the school's premises.

He added that waste from private bus stands is dumped in this drainage which ultimately flows here creating an extremely unhygienic environment for the people living here and students studying in this school.

He further claimed that the government is not ready to listen to their grievances.

Bengaluru, Jun 8: The Janata Dal (Secular) on Monday announced that former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has decided to contest the forthcoming Rajya Sabha elections.

"Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda has decided to contest the Rajya Sabha elections at the request of our party legislators, Congress President Sonia Gandhi and many other leaders of the country. Tomorrow, he will be filing nomination for the election. Thanks to the former PM for agreeing to everyone's consensus," JDS leader HD Kumaraswamy said.

The elections to fill the vacant 18 Rajya Sabha seats from seven states are scheduled to be held on June 19.

Four Rajya Sabha seats are up for grabs in the state, Congress has already nominated senior leader Mallikarjun Kharge as its candidate.

The ruling BJP will field candidates for two seats.