BELAGAVI: The chief minister
B S Yediyurappa deferring implementation of guidelines reducing seat occupancy to 50% in theaters to facilitate
Puneeth Rajkumar starrer Kannada movie Yuvaratna earn sufficient revenue has now drawn sharp reactions from various quarters.
Education activists, private school owners, parents of school children who have been demanding reopening of primary classes have termed the decision biased for CM bending norms for an influential celebrity. These sections are upset over Yediyurappa and education minister Suresh Kumar' reluctance to listen to the demands of the
unprivileged.
It may be recalled that the
state government passed fresh guidelines for theaters that resumed operations fully to cut seat occupancy to 50% from Saturday. Following this decision, Puneeth personally called on CM to reconsider the decision. In neck breaking speed state government rolled back the decision overriding advice of the
Technical Advisory Committee (TAC).
Dr Niranjanaradhya VP, a noted education expert who has been batting for reopening of all the classes in the state said for the rich rules can be bent. In democracy no one is above law and constitution and so does Puneeth. "The parents, teachers, education activists, and private school owners have been meeting various ministers including CM to make their voices heard. Thousands of parents have also urged the state to resume classes to put unprivileged children back on track. But the government said it cannot overrule the advice of TAC. Then how in the case of Puneeth it was ignored?" he asked. He added that powerful individuals are more influential than poor people.
Recognised Unaided Private Schools' Association (Rupsa) president Lokesh Talikatte talking to TOI said private schools in rural areas do not have money to pay to teachers. The state is now mulling to cancel even exams. If exams are cancelled parents won't pay any fees. Many owners of small private schools are already reeling under debts. In case of Puneeth, the CM comes to his rescue to protect his/producers investments. This shows how the state is biased towards wealthy and bulldoze hopes of children.
Srinivas Kakkilaya, a general physician expressed surprise over CM overriding TAC. For schools the state was citing TAC and for influential cinema stars it ignored it. The TAC at the same time which failed to manage the pandemic has to resign. The children's future are at stake here yet the government is not ready to make amends to reopen classes.