Onam thanksgiving for migrants

August 24, 2012

Kasargod, August 24: At a time when people from the northeast have been fleeing cities like Pune, Bangalore and Chennai fearing reprisal over violence against Muslims in Assam, the Kerala government has taken a reassuring decision to thank migrants in a unique way, coinciding with the festival of Onam.

Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy has directed the state's labour department to distribute on Saturday what he calls an "Onam Kit" for free to every migrant worker, containing various food articles, in a gesture not just to assure them they were safe in his state, but also to thank them for their contributions.

"All migrants are our brothers and sisters. We have given a clear message that every migrant worker is safe in Kerala. We have also not allowed miscreants or anti-social element to create trouble for these people," Chandy said.

"Kerala needs their services in agriculture, construction, tourism, hotels and IT. So, as a gesture of goodwill, we have decided we will distribute Onam kits to all of them on Sturday. It will have everything for a good meal like rice, oil and sugar," Chandy told IANS here.

The move also comes just ahead of a global conclave called "Emerging Kerala" to be hosted in Kochi next month by the government to showcase the state as an investment destination with much potential during which officials want to remove the wrong perception about labour issues.

According to the chief minister, each Onam kit will cost the state exchequer around Rs.150 since the articles are being bought in bulk. Otherwise, it can cost around Rs.225-Rs.250 in the open market. Around Rs.10 crore has been already sanctioned for the scheme, which can serve 800,000 people.

Onam is Kerala's main festival, celebrated by all communities, marking the triumph of Lord Vishnu, who took the form of a short Brahmin, Vamana, to tame the ego and might of king Mahabali, who was otherwise loved by his subjects. Onam marks the yearly sojourn of Mahabali to the state.

Going beyond the Onam kit, Chief Minister Chandy said he has also asked the labour department to examine how the migrant workers to Kerala can also be given access to welfare schemes that are otherwise available to ordinary residents.

He said officers of the labour department are also being periodically sent to inspect the living conditions of migrant labourers, whom Kerala sees as important contributors to the state's growth and prosperity.

"During these inspections, there were some complaints like rooms are very small, the sanitation is poor, quality of food is not good and things like that on living conditions. We have taken action wherever required and these people are very happy," Chandy said.

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History-sheeter Slum Bharath killed in police encounter in Bengaluru

News Network

February 27,2020

Bengaluru, Feb 27: A notorious history-sheeter named Slum Bharath was killed in an encounter with the police here in the wee hours of Thursday.

According to police, Bharath's associates attacked the police vehicle carrying him at around 2 am and fired two rounds at officers and police officials.

Bharath managed to flee with his associates in a car.

He was later nabbed after the special team was informed at around 5 am that the accused's car was moving towards Hesaragatta near Soladevanahalli.

Bharath succumbed after he was shot by senior police officer Venkataramanappa who responded to his open firing. He was the prime accused in the murder of history-sheeter Srinivas alias Kulla Seena in 2006.

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Karnataka Board of Auqaf asks mosques to conclude Juma prayers in 15 minutes

News Network

March 19,2020

Bengaluru, Mar 19: As a precautionary measure to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf has issued an advisory to mosques, dargahs and other religious institutions, requesting them to conclude the Friday congregation in 15 minutes for the next three weeks.

"Respected head of masjids and imams (prayer leader) are requested to conclude the entire Juma congregation (including Juma khutbah, salah and dua) in 15 minutes for the next three weeks and avoid using the public mic for the khutbah and salah," read a statement from the Karnataka State Board of Auqaf.

It has advised to ensure cleanliness and good hygiene inside mosques and keep the carpets, prayer mats, floor mats etc clean.

Further, it stated that those coming for daily prayers should be instructed to perform wudhu (ablution) at their homes and avoid using prayer caps placed in masjids.

"Please remove the public towels and prayer caps from the masjids. Sunnah and nafil prayers should observed at home," the advisory read.

The advisory came as the number of coronavirus patients spiralled across the country. The governments are taking all precautionary measures to contain the spread of the virus that has claimed more than 7,500 lives across the globe since its outbreak in China in December last year.

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Doesn't this reflect upon our stupidity. They have lost the whole point of virus spread. Let's pray as per our so called Muslim religious leaders IQ level that the virus does not spread among the hundreds in that 15 minutes.This is exactly why we are losing it.

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Biggest single-day spike of over 5,000 Covid-19 cases in Karnataka

News Network

July 23,2020

Bengaluru, Jul 23: Karnataka on Thursday recorded a biggest single-day surge of over 5,000 cases and 97 related fatalities, taking the total number of people who tested positive for the virus to 80,863, the health department said.

The day also saw a record 2,071 patients getting discharged after recovery.

Out of 5,030 fresh cases reported, a whopping 2,207 cases were from Bengaluru urban alone.

As of July 23 evening, cumulatively 80,863 Covid-19 positive cases have been confirmed in the state, which includes 1,616 deaths and 29,310 discharges, the health department said in its bulletin.

It said, out of 49,931 active cases, 49,291 patients are in isolation at designated hospitals and are stable, while 640 are in ICU. Out of the 97 deaths reported on Thursday 48 are from Bengaluru urban, followed by Mysuru 8, Dakshina Kannada 7 and others.

Most of the dead are either with a history of Severe Acute Respiratory Infection (SARI) or Influenza-like illness (ILI).

Among the districts where the new cases were reported, Bengaluru urban accounts for 2,207, followed by Raichur 258, Kalaburagi 229, Dakshina Kannada 218, and others.

Bengaluru urban district tops the list of positive cases, with a total of 39,200 infections, followed by Dakshina Kannada 4,209 and Kalaburagi 3,370.

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