Siddaramaiah downplays rift in Congress

Bengaluru, June 10: The Department of Primary and Secondary Education of Government of Karnataka today ordered a ban on online classes for children from KG to class 5.

The decision was taken following a report based on the report submitted by director NIMHANS, recommending online classes only above the age of 6 years and also following the complaints from several parents about online classes conducted by private schools even for kindergarten kids.

Briefing the media soon after the meeting with department officials, S Suresh Kumar, primary and secondary education minister said, "We have taken two major decisions today. The online classes for LKG, UKG and primary classes should be stopped immediately."

Even collecting fees in the name of online classes should be stopped, said the minister. "We have already issued a circular about it insisting that schools not collect fees in the name of online classes and also requesting schools not to increase fees for the 2020-21 academic year considering financial constraints of several people due to the COVID-19 pandemic," said the minister.

The department, however, also discussed how to engage children during this period as there was no clarity over the reopening of schools for the 2020-21 academic year. "We have constituted a committee to prepare guidelines on how to engage students and increase their knowledge. The committee is headed by Prof. MK Sridhar," he said.

Before taking this decision, the department had three rounds of discussions with various experts, including Prof. MK Sridhar, Prof. VP Niranjanaradhya, Dr John Vijay Sagar and other departments, including the home and health departments.

Mysuru, Feb 23: A Quarantine station for rescued wild animals for rehabilitation will soon come up at Chamundi Animal Conservation, Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre at Koorgalli, an independent facility developed by the Mysuru Zoo on the outskirts of the City of Palaces and it complies with the recommended quarantine procedures followed globally by Zoological gardens.

The work on the construction was expected to start soon as the tender process had been under progress.

The Zoo was using its own funds to develop the facility for multiple animal species and to ensure that no infections from the wild animals were spread to the healthy animals already in captivity since many years.

Mangaluru, Apr 6: City Police Commissioner Dr P S Harsha has directed coastal security personnel to block the boat service near Talapady after reports of Kasarogod people using boats to cross over to Dakshina Kannada via Talapady river emerged, Dakshina Kannada District in-charge Minister Kota Srinivas Poojary said here on Monday.

Following the rise in Coronavirus cases in the neighbouring Kasargod district, District Commissioner Sindhu Roopesh ordered closure of borders with Kerala and totally suspended vehicular movement, including for medical emergencies.

However, now the people living in Talapady and surrounding areas allege that the government has failed to monitor people using boats to cross over to Dakshina Kannada via Talapady river.