Udupi: Baavali Kudru residents demand bridge to the mainland

February 16, 2011

Udupi, Feb 16: As many as 30 Christian families, living in Baavali Kudru, an island, spread across 100 acres since six generations have demanded for a permanent bridge connecting the Kudru to the mainland Neelavar, near Brahmavar.

During rainy seasons River Sita inundates many parts of the island. In the year 1969 floods made the residents to shift from their houses, to the safer places. In the absence of a bridge, residents have resorted to small boats as a means of transport.

Many families of `Baavali Kudru' (Bats' Island) near Brahmavar in Udupi taluk have already abandoned the island and students from many other families have been staying in their relatives house outside the island, fearing to cross the river during rainy season. These families have been struggling since 30 years to get a bridge connecting the island sanctioned by the government.

Though the Zilla Panchayath has prepared an estimate of Rs 33 lakhs for constructing a bridge, the process has not taken the momentum, for the short of funds. Prashanth Neelavara, a resident of Baavali Kudru said that Rajyasabha member Oscar Fernandies has allotted Rs 15 lakhs from his MP's Local Area Development Fund and Udupi MLA Raghupathi Bhat has agreed to give Rs 5 lakhs from his MLA fund. Still they need another Rs 13 lakhs to start the work.

According to Silvia, "Now I have learnt pulling the boat. Can you imagine we peddling the boat during rainy season?''. She said that she had not admitted her six year old boy to the school, as he is scared of crossing the river in a boat.

Apolin, another resident of Baavali Kudru, recalls two of her sons luckily surviving a boat tragedy, while crossing the River Seeta. Apolin's son doing his diploma resides in his relatives house in Brahmavar, to avoid the hassles. According her newly married daughters in law hesitate to live in the Island and ultimately vacate the island to live in rented houses in the mainland.

One Joseph D'souza takes the residents from one riverbank to another. According to him many of the residents of the island take the boat themselves. Will their dream to have a bridge come true soon?

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No more agency jobs? Karnataka panel pushes for end to job outsourcing by 2028

News Network

November 21,2025

Bengaluru, Nov 21: The Karnataka government is facing pressure to overhaul its employment system after a high-level Cabinet sub-committee recommended the complete phase-out of job outsourcing in government offices, boards, and corporations by March 2028. The move is aimed at tackling a systemic issue that has led to the potential violation of constitutional reservation policies and the exploitation of workers.

The Call for Systemic Change

With over three lakh vacant posts currently being filled through private agencies on an outsource, insource, or daily wage basis, the sub-committee highlighted a significant lapse. "As a result, reservations are not being followed as per the Constitution and state laws. It’s an urgent need to take serious steps to change the system. It has been recommended to completely stop the system of outsourcing by March 2028," the panel stated in a document.

The practice of outsourcing involves private companies hiring workers to perform duties for a government agency. Critics argue this model results in lesser salaries, a lack of social security benefits (otherwise available to permanent government employees), and a failure to adhere to the provisions of Articles 14 and 15 of the Constitution, which guarantee equality before the law and prohibit discrimination.

The 'Bidar Model' as a Stop-Gap Solution

To regulate the current mode of employment and reduce worker exploitation until the 2028 deadline, the government plans to establish workers’ services multi-purpose cooperative societies across all districts, following the successful "Bidar Model."

The Bidar District Services of Labour Multi-purpose Cooperative Society Ltd., which operates under the District Commissioner, is cited as a successful example of providing a measure of social security to outsourced staff. Labour Department officials argue this society ensures workers receive their due wages and statutory facilities like ESI (Employees' State Insurance) and PF (Provident Fund), in exchange for a 1% service fee collected from the employees.

legislative push and Priority Insourcing

The recommendations, led by the sub-committee headed by Law and Parliamentary Affairs Minister H K Patil, are set to be discussed at the next Cabinet meeting. The committee has proposed the introduction of the Karnataka Outsourced Employees (Regulation, Placement and Welfare) Bill 2025.

In a move addressing immediate concerns, Labour Minister Santosh Lad, a member of the sub-committee, has reportedly assured that steps will be taken over the next 2-3 years to insource workers in "life-threatening services" on a priority basis. This includes essential personnel like pourakarmikas (sanitation workers), drivers, electrical staff in the Energy Department, and Health Department staff handling contagious diseases. The transition aims to grant these workers the long-term security and benefits they currently lack under the outsourcing system.

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