Karnataka Govt to prevent overcharging by cable TV operators

March 21, 2017

Bengaluru, Mar 21: The Karnataka government will ensure implementation of the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India’s recent order capping the monthly cable television bill for households at Rs 130 for a basic package. Home Minister G?Parameshwara made the announcement in the Legislative Council on Monday after members cutting across party lines said cable operators have been fleecing subscribers by charging exorbitantly.

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Parameshwara said the government will direct the state and district level committees constituted to monitor implementation of Cable Television Regulation?Act to ensure the TRAI?order is followed. The government will also come out with new legislation to ensure local cable television operators follow guidelines proposed by TRAI on subscription fees among others.

TRAI on March 3 put a cap to the monthly cable television bill for households at Rs 130 (plus taxes) for the first 100 free-to-air (FTA) channels. Beyond that, the channels can be subscribed in slabs of 25 and an amount of Rs 20 will be charged per slab.

The minister admitted that at present, the state government had no control over the functioning of cable TV?operators and the time had come to rein them in. To start with, the government will take steps to ensure that the state and district level committees meet regularly and address consumers’ complaints. The district-level committees are headed by deputy commissioners, while the state level committee is headed by the principal secretary to the Information Department.

Earlier, Puttanna (JD-S)?said cable TV?operators were charging between Rs 300 and Rs 600 as subscription rates per month. Besides, they forced consumers to buy set-top boxes of their specification at exorbitant rates. He also asked the government to start its own cable and provide connections to people at a lower rate. “You are providing many bhagyas, why not provide cable bhagya,” he said.

H?M?Revanna (Cong) said operators were charging double the subscription fees in households with two televisions sets. “I have three TVs in my house and I have to shell out Rs 900 per month just for parallel cable connections,” he said. Besides, most of the cable TV businesses are run by rowdy elements, he added.

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May 10,2024

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Madikeri: A 15-year-old was bludgeoned to death and the accused fled with her severed head at Mutlu village in Somwarpet of Kodagu district on Thursday late night, hours after her SSLC examination result was declared.  

The victim has been identified as US Meena, a 10th grade student of Surlabbi High School. She had passed the SSLC examination and her school attained 100% results. 

However, she was brutally murdered by accused Prakash (32), a resident of the village. The police have launched a search operation to find the suspect, said Kodagu SP K Ramarajan 

It is said that the minor girl's engagement with the suspect was thwarted by officials from Women and Child Development department on May 9, and later officials had even convinced her parents of not to marry the minor girl.

However, the suspect barged into her house in the night and allegedly kidnapped her. Later, he took her to an area near the periphery of the forest and murdered her after which he fled with her severed head.

Victim's mother too has suffered injuries and is admitted to a hospital for treatment. The reason for the murder will be known after the probing officials have inquired the victim's mother, said the SP. 

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May 19,2024

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Naturals Ice Cream founder Raghunandan Kamath passed away following a brief illness. Born to a mango vendor in a village in Mangaluru, Kamath went on to establish Naturals, an ice cream parlour estimated to be worth Rs 400 crore today. 

"Our thoughts on the sad demise of our patron and founder of Naturals Ice Cream, Late Raghunandan Kamath. Indeed a very sad and unfortunate day for us," the company said.

Mr Kamath grew up helping his father in selling mangoes in a village Karnataka's Mangaluru. This was when he learned the art of picking the ripe fruit, plucking it, sorting it, and preserving it.

As the legend goes, a young 14-year-old Kamath boarded a train from Mangaluru and came to Mumbai (then Bombay). 

After working at his brother’s restaurant, Kamath had an idea — if ice creams have fruit flavours, why can’t they have real fruits. He decided to fill this void in the market. But unsure of whether customers would come, he began his business with serving pav-bhaji as the main dish and the ice cream as an add on.

His first ice cream parlour was launched in 1984 in Juhu, with the initial menu featuring around 12 flavours, each being a testament to the knowledge he acquired during the time he assisted his father in Mangaluru.

The demand kept growing and he opened five more outlets in 1994. Currently, it has over 165 outlets across 15 cities.
 
His story was captured expansively in ‘Intelligent Fanatics of India’, a book co-authored by Mumbai-based journalist Pooja Bhula.

Inspired by his mother's techniques, Kamath also developed innovative machines to streamline production and ensure consistency, notes the company website.

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May 11,2024

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Karnataka: BJP leader and advocate G Devaraje Gowda was arrested in connection with a sex abuse video allegedly belonging to Hassan JD(S) MP Prajwal Revanna.

According to police, Devaraje Gowda was arrested at Gulihal tollgate by the Hiriyur police in this district on Friday night for leaking the video in a pen drive.

He was arrested on a tip-off received by the Hassan police, which wanted his presence for the case.

Several explicit videos involving Prajwal started making the rounds ahead of the first phase of Lok Sabha elections in Karnataka, which took place on April 26.

The MP, a grandson of former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, is absconding and a 'blue corner' notice has been issued against him by Interpol.

Three FIRs, including charges of rape, molestation, intimidation, blackmailing and threatening, have been registered against Prajwal.

Devaraje Gowda is accused of leaking these videos, which he has categorically rejected.

He contested in the 2023 Assembly elections against JD(S) MLA from Holenarasipura H D Revanna.

H D Revanna, father of Prajwal, is at present in jail on charges of kidnapping a woman, a mother of three.

Ahead of polls, Devaraje Gowda had warned BJP’s central leadership against backing Prajwal Revanna and brought his sex scandal to light.

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