Raita Gharjane rally in Delhi

Hubballi: Bharatiya Kisan Sangh-Karnataka Pradesh will stage Delhi Chalo to participate in Raita Gharjane Rally at Ramlila Maidan in Delhi on December 19. Sangh state president B M Kokare told reporters here on Wednesday the rally is to highlight the injustice faced by the farmers due to price fixation and other issues. “Despite a mega protest at Ramlila Maidan in 2013, farmers’ issues have not been addressed. More than three lakh farmers from across the country will participate in on December 19 rally,” he said, adding of the protesters, more than 2,000 farmers will be from Karnataka — 1,000 each from north and south Karnataka. GST of 5-15% is being levied on agricultural implements sprinklers, and the government should withdraw this, he said. Grants given to farmers to purchase seeds and fertilizers should be directly transferred to their accounts through DBT.
Astronomy and Space Lab
Hubballi: The Himalayan Space Centre, an Isro-accredited private space education institute here, will launch ‘Astronomy and Space Lab’. Veeresh Patil, co-founder of the centre, told reporters here on Wednesday the first-of-its kind facility will be inaugurated at BM Plaza building in Deshpande Nagar on December 10. “Our main offering is astronomy and space lab at schools in line with NEP-2020 curriculum. The idea is to make the topic available to every kid so they can make careers in space ventures,” he added. Here, students get exposure to solar system, constellations, star clusters and their life cycle, celestial sphere, et al, he said. “Our primary objective is to support and have more leaders in space projects from India,” said Shreedevi Roogi.
Pourakarmikas stage stir
Hubballi: The members of Dharwad district SC/ST Poura Karmika-Naukarara Sangha staged a protest demanding fulfilment of various demands, including a room for the associations’ office at HDMC, near the HDMC office premises here on Wednesday. “For the last 20 years, we have been seeking fulfilment of our long-standing demands. But the HDMC, following an anti-Dalit policy, has not made any efforts to heed our demands. Officials have not followed many written and verbal instructions given by Safai Karmachari Commission,” they said. They also alleged that a contractor has been harassing pourakarmikas working at ward 70 by keeping their documents like passbook, ATM card, ESI smart card, service letter and other documents with him. “HDMC officers should look into this,” they demanded. Compensation should be given to the family of Mareppa Halkeri, a contract civic worker who died on duty at ward 69, they said. Association president Vijay Guntral led the protest.
Jogathi shares plans for janapada academy
Vijayanagara (Hosapete): I should have been allowed to continue as the chairperson of Karnataka Janapada Academy, said its former chief Manjamma Jogathi. Jogathi, a Padma Shri awardee transgender, told reporters here on Wednesday that she had planned to implement a big project, “but I could as my tenure ended in October”. “The project was about getting the nod of Kannada and culture minister for funds. I had planned to organise a national-level women’s convention, Akhila Karnataka Sahitya Sammelana and Transgenders’ Convention. But the pandemic put the spanner in the works. The academy was getting a grant of Rs 1 crore annually. But the same has not been released after the pandemic. The chairpersons’ post is lying vacant for two months. The government should fill it so my plans are implemented,” Jogathi said, adding: “I never aspired for any award or power. But when I got power, I tried my best to serve artistes and the state.”
Specially challenged boy sent back to Telangana
Hubballi: Panati Babu, a specially challenged boy, who was admitted to Govt Children’s Orphanage in Unakal on May 13, was reunited with his parents from Telangana on Wednesday. He was at the orphanage through the Railway Children’s Helpline on the orders of the Child Welfare Committee. A government press release has said that there was a delay in finding the boy’s parents as he was unable to share his contacts — home address or telephone number. “But sustained efforts of the officials helped in finding his address in Telangana, after which his parents were contacted,” the release added. Police personnel B S Neladurga and SC Patil took the boy to his village, Pochammagalli in Nizamabad district of Telangana state, from Hubballi on Wednesday. District child protection officer R M Kanteppagoudar, district child welfare committee member Shubha Parita, superintendent Manjunath Kumbar, inspector V Radhika, teacher S S Hadagali, counsellor Vishala Kanpeta, housekeeper Basavaraja Gokavi and the staff of the orphanage bid farewell to the boy.
Mock drill at HPCL
Dharwad: Hindustan Petroleum Corporation Ltd (HPCL) on Wednesday conducted a mock drill of emergency evacuation at its unit located at Belur Industrial Area on the outskirts of Dharwad. The drill was organised in association with the district administration and District Disaster Management Authority. The joint off-site mock drill involved emergency response to possible chemical leak from pipelines, and the steps to be taken in such a situation. Additional deputy commissioner Shivanand Bhajantri said HPCL was fully equipped to handle any emergency owing to leakage of chemicals, thanks to its state-of-the-art equipment and gadgets. With incidents like short-circuit and accidental fire in buildings and at oil depots, the fire and emergency services department and Home Guards conduct mock drill to check the preparedness of fire attendees. On the occasion, calendars with instructions in Kannada and toll-free number were distributed. HPCL plant in-charge Lokesh also spoke.