ABKS members end hunger strike for better ESI facilities

October 23, 2011

Mangalore, October 23: The Akhila Bharatha Karmika Sangha members on Saturday withdrew their fast-unto-death agitation, following the assurance from Deputy Speaker in the Legislative Assembly N Yogish Bhat, on the problems in ESI hospital being set right within a month.

ABSK general secretary Sudatta Jain, who had launched the hunger strike on October 18, withdrew the 103-hour-long agitation when Mr Bhat offered him orange juice.

Demands like appointment of doctors, providing infrastructure, provision of check-up facility for ESI card holders at all hospitals, were placed before the officials concerned.

Mr Bhat directed ESI superintendent Dr Ashok Kumar to initiate appropriate measures and set right all the problems. He also questioned why the X-ray machine was out of order, despite being given to the hospital a month ago.

He also directed to put it in running condition within a week. If the facilities are not provided to ESI card holders, the issue will be discussed in the cabinet, he said.

Mr Jain said that if the demands were not fulfilled within a month, they will stage a protest in front of Yogish Bhat's home.

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‘Nothing for Karnataka’: DKS slams Union Budget, flags Bengaluru neglect

News Network

February 1,2026

Bengaluru: Karnataka Deputy Chief Minister D K Shivakumar on Sunday criticised the Union Budget presented by Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, claiming it offered no tangible benefit to the state.

Though he said he was yet to study the budget in detail, Shivakumar asserted that Karnataka had gained little from it. “There is no benefit for our state from the central budget. I was observing it. They have now named a programme after Mahatma Gandhi, after repealing the MGNREGA Act that was named after him,” he said.

Speaking to reporters here, the Deputy Chief Minister demanded the restoration of MGNREGA, and made it clear that the newly enacted rural employment scheme — VB-G RAM G — which proposes a 60:40 fund-sharing formula between the Centre and the states, would not be implemented in Karnataka.

“I don’t see any major share for our state in this budget,” he added.

Shivakumar, who also holds charge of Bengaluru development, said there were high expectations for the city from the Union Budget. “The Prime Minister calls Bengaluru a ‘global city’, but what has the Centre done for it?” he asked.

He also drew attention to the problems faced by sugar factories, particularly those in the cooperative sector, alleging a lack of timely decisions and support from the central government.

Noting that the Centre has the authority to fix the minimum support price (MSP) for agricultural produce, Shivakumar said the Union government must take concrete steps to protect farmers’ interests.

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