Karnataka raises wages of convicts in jails by up to 200%

In a step towards ushering reforms in prison administration, the government has hiked salaries of convicts in prisons across the state. The salary hikes range between 165% and 200%.

Seeking to reform prison administration, the government had set up theKarnatakaPrisons Development Board a few months ago. After the first-ever meeting of the six-member board in July, Home minister Araga Jnanendra submitted a proposal to the finance department, seeking a hike in salaries of convicted inmates.

The idea was to bring salaries on par with minimum wage rules issued by the government. The proposal required an additional outlay of Rs 7 crore.

In a big relief to lakhs of students in classes 6 to 10 in government and state-aided private schools, the education department has decided to resume the midday meal scheme soon.

Because of the pandemic and fearing the spread of the virus, the department of public instruction (DPI) had suspended the scheme. However, the demand to resume serving the meal has grown louder with all stakeholders including students, parents, midday meal workers, teachers, and experts joining in. Currently, students are given dry rations instead of a cooked meal.

Centre approves nearly Rs 700 cr for NH widening project in Karnataka

The Centre has approved a sum of Rs 698.08 crore for the widening of the Belur to Hassan section ofNH373, with the addition ofpaved shoulders, inKarnataka, Road Transport and Highways MinisterNitin Gadkarisaid.

“This project, executed under the NH(O) Annual Plan 2022-23 (Package-II), will be carried out in the Engineering, Procurement, and Construction (EPC) mode,

50 schools in Karnataka will get KV-like facilities

Fifty public schools inKarnatakawill be equipped with additional to allow quality Education on the lines of theKendriya Vidyalayas. The State Government has allocated Rs 100 crore for the technological upgrade of these schools.

So far, infrastructure in three public schools in the district has been upgraded. Construction of new school buildings is being carried out by the Public Works Department.

Under the project, renovation of the public school at Karadigudda in Dharwad has been completed at a cost of Rs 2 crore. Work for the upgrade had started in 2021 and new infrastructure includes a library, science room, laboratories and a Sports room.

No merger of Amul & Nandini: Karnataka CM Basavaraj Bommai

Chief minister Basavaraj Bommai on Sunday clarified that there was no proposal to merge Amul and Nandini brands and that Union cooperation minister Amit Shah’s statement was being misinterpreted.

There is no merger of brands. Amul will remain as Amul and Nandini will continue as Nandini. There was absolute clarity in his statement that Amul and Nandini can have an exchange of ideas that will help grow both the brands,” said Bommai.

The CM, however, said the only cooperation between the two brands proposed by Shah was an exchange of technical and Marketing models.

Anti-conversion bill: Karnataka may take ordinance route

After the government failed to get the anti-conversion bill passed in the legislative council in the recently concluded Belagavi session, it is now exploring the option of promulgating an ordinance to bring in the law.

Home minister Araga Jnanendra, who is piloting The KarnatakaProtection of Right to Freedom of Religion Bill, 2021, said, We will bring the ordinance to the cabinet next week. We are planning to promulgate it in early January after getting the governors assent.

However, law ministerJC Madhuswamysaid the government will consider the timing of the joint session before pushing for the ordinance. However, law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy said it will also consider the timing of the Karnataka joint legislature session before pushing for the ordinance.

According to parliamentary rules, the government can promulgate an ordinance of the pending bill if it is not rejected in any one of the two houses. But it must get the approval of the legislature for the bill in the immediate next session after promulgating the ordinance.

Karnataka: Scheme to train youths for jobs takes off in Dharwad

Amrutha Munnade, a scheme announced in the 2022 budget, is being implemented inDharwaddistrict to provide Skill development training for students to increase EMPLOYMENT opportunities. Various free courses are being given to candidates belonging to the backward classes through Amrutha Munnade.

Training will be provided by theKarnatakaGerman Technical Training Institute (KGTTI), Government Tool Room and Training Centre and Industrial training institutes (ITI).

Calls for joint efforts between Goa, Maharashtra, Ktaka for tiger conservation in Wester Ghats region

Camera traps inside the Mhadei Wildlife Sanctuary have revealed that the maletiger, which has been repeatedly captured on camera, also moves in the neighbouring forested areas ofMaharashtraandKarnataka.

A year-long occupancy study in the Sahyadri Konkan corridor conducted by the Wildlife Conservation Trust Pune has indicated that tigers travel from Maharashtras Sahyadri Tiger Reserve into Goa and Karnataka and vice versa. It also highlighted the need for improved protection efforts in corridor areas.

Karnatakawill renew its efforts to convince the Centre to continue granting compensation for the loss of revenue due to implementation of Goods and Services Tax (GST) beyond June 2022 even as the states tax collection is slowly emerging out of the Covid-hit slowdown.Finance department officials said Karnataka has joined other states seeking continuation of GST compensation at least for two more years. Chief ministerBasavaraj Bommai, who holds the finance portfolio and represents the state in the GST Council, will pursue the matter with the Centre. We have already sought for it and further correspondence with the Centre will be done, said ISN Prasad, additional chief secretary, finance department.

While the state claims Rs 2,500 crore per month on Average, the Centre has released Rs 8,542 crore so far, which includes both general compensation and that for Covid losses for this year, and Rs 11,059 crore is due. The commercial tax department has collected Rs 2,351 crore GST and Rs 1,794 crore sales tax levied on petrol and diesel in September till date, while the state has got Rs 2,000 crore compensation in the month.

Postal department plans to bring out special covers on GI products in Karnataka

India Post has planned to introduce special covers on Geographical Indication (GI) products in Karnataka. Initially, it will choose 10 products having GI tags, includingByadagi chilli. In this regard, the authorities have already conducted a meeting with Byadagi APMC authorities and others.

According to the department, special covers have philately value. The other products in the pipeline are Dharwad pedha, Sirsi supari, Huvinahadagali jasmine, Kinanal toys, Kalaburagi bark, Navalagunda dhurries, Sandur lambani embroidery and others.

The project will be launched underAtma Nirbhar Scheme, and print at least 1,000 special covers. We recently conducted a meeting with Byadagi APMC authorities and traders association and collected details about the produce.