Media failed Indian farmers, poor by suppressing real issues: Sainath

[email protected] (CD Network)
February 21, 2011

p_sainath

Manipal, February 21: Newspapers should reflect the dichotomies in the society. But it is unfortunate that Indian media has been following US corporate media model of having a largest media and least informed public, said development journalist P Sainath.

He was delivering a lecture, as part of Article-19, a communication fest of Manipal Institute of Communication (MIC), here.

“When it comes to mass media V/s mass reality fundamental features of Indian media are being disconnected. Corporatization of media has resulted in structural compulsion to lie,” he said.

“A good writer should be a good reader. The piece of writing should bring perspectives. Journalists are accountable to the society. He has the choice before him to b a journalist or a stenographer. His writings should reflect the shortcomings in the society. We do need writers like Mahatma Gandhi and Dr B R Ambedkar who had insightful approach towards castes and communal issues,'' Sainath said.

“Over 141 farmers committed suicide in three days and over 800 attempted suicide. Over 6,600 farmers quit agriculture in three days. According to the National Crime Record Bureau 47 farmers commit suicide every day. About 4,000 died of malnutrition. In this scenario government of India writes off 4000 crore of taxes for the richest people in three days. It is unfortunate that media fails to focus on those issues,'' the Magsaysay award-winning writer added.

He said that it has become difficult to differentiate between real estate and fourth estate.

Honorary Director of MIC MV Kamath, Director of MIC Prof Vardesh Hiregange and others were present.

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News Network
February 4,2020

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.

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News Network
June 10,2020

Puttur, June 10: Passengers of a KSRTC bus had a miraculous escape while driver and conductor suffered minor injuries after it fell on a house below 25ft.

Police said that except for some minor injuries to the driver and conductor none of the 21 passengers were hurt.

The bus was bound for Ishwaramangala from Puttur when the mishap took place as the driver lost control over the steering.

The roof and walls of the house on which the bus fell was partially damaged.

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News Network
March 26,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 26: In a second coronavirus related death in Karnataka, COVID-19 test results of a 75- year-old woman who had died on Wednesday has come out as positive, Medical Education Minister K Sudhakar said.

"I regret to inform that the COVID-19 test result has come out as positive for patient, who had succumbed to death yesterday. The govt stands committed to curb the spread of Corona Virus in the state. Please stay home, stay safe," Sudhakar tweeted on Thursday.

Health and Family Welfare Minister B Sriramulu too said the lab reports regarding the death on Wednesday have come and it has come out as positive, and death was due to COVID-19.

The exact cause of her death would be known only after the final report comes, both Minister had said on Wednesday.

The woman from Gauribidanur in Chikkaballapura district, had returned from Mecca in Saudi Arabia recently.

Sharing details about the woman, Sriramulu in a tweet on Wednesday had said, she died at Bowring hospital here at 1 am, and was suffering from diabetes, chest pain and hip fracture.

The patient was undergoing treatment in isolation ward at a hospital in Gauribidanur, later for more treatment she was shifted to Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Chest Diseases in Bengaluru, from where she was shifted to Bowring hospital on Tuesday," he had said.

This is the second coronavirus fatality in the state.

Earlier this month, a 76-year old Kalaburagi man died "due to co-morbidity and was also tested positive for COVID- 19", becoming the country's first coronavirus death.

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