Vidyagama programme to resume in Karnataka as covid cases decrease

News Network
December 16, 2020

Chamarajanagar, Dec 16: Karnataka Minister for Primary and Secondary Education S Suresh Kumar on Wednesday said that Vidyagama programme, which was stopped, will be commenced again.

Speaking to media here on Wednesday, he clarified that the scheme was stopped on October 10 due to Covid-19 pandemic and now the positive rates have come down to about one per cent.

He said the department has undertaken a number of improvements, including the temporary implementation of a new form of security measures at the request of the Supreme Court.

The Vidyagama program is set to take place on the premises of government, aided and unaided schools. The online channels of Chandana will continue as usual.

Half-day children can come to school wearing a mask and sit down and learn a lesson. Parental consent is mandatory and children are checked through a thermal scanner at each school. Students with fever, cough, common cold and symptoms of Covid-19 may not come. Making sanitizer, soap and other sanitation systems.

Creating a team of 15-20 students based on the number of teachers available and the number of rooms available. There is an opportunity to cooperate with the local health department when necessary.

The classes are being conducted on the basis of the recommendation of a panel of experts and all kinds of standard operating procedures are carried out on an SOP basis. Not everyone is coming at once, as children attend classroom lessons.

Mentor teachers in the respective area list a few children in the neighbourhood closest to them. Parents should understand that this is not a school start, the minister said.

Vidyagama is very beneficial for rural students and on-line education for the deprived. The Compulsory Education Act treats the learning of any student. As the government is responsible for educating students in any environment, it is mandatory for children to be enrolled in schools and to ensure that their learning is sustained.

According to the government's guidelines, private schools in rural areas, especially budget schools, can start their own environment and engage their children in learning. It can be communicated to students through online circulars already issued or, if available, allowed.

The Minister said that the resources available to any school should be able to take responsibility for the learning of children as a whole and protect the interests of children.

"Overall, we need to encourage children's learning continuum from the best interests of our children,” he added.

Comments

Gauri P N
 - 
Thursday, 17 Dec 2020

Is it going to be compulsory for all students to attend? If the parents are not willing to send their children to school yet, is it possible to do so? When you mentioned PARENTAL CONSENT, does it mean that parents have a choice of sending their children? Kindly let me know.

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News Network
December 16,2025

Mangaluru, Dec 16: The Mangaluru City police have significantly escalated their campaign against drug trafficking, arresting 25 individuals and booking 12 cases under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act between November 30 and December 13. The crackdown resulted in the seizure of a substantial quantity of illicit substances, including 685.6 grams of MDMA and 1.5 kg of ganja.

The success of this recent drive has been significantly boosted by the city’s innovative, QR code-based anonymous reporting system.

"The anonymous reporting system has received an encouraging response. Several recent arrests were made based on inputs received through this system, helping police tighten the noose around drug peddlers," said the City Police Commissioner.

The latest arrests contribute to a robust year-to-date record, underscoring the police's relentless commitment to combating the drug menace.

Up to December 14 this year, the police have registered a total of 107 cases of drug peddling, leading to the arrest of 219 peddlers. Furthermore, they have booked 562 cases of drug consumption, resulting in the arrest of 671 individuals.

The scale of the seizure for the year reflects the magnitude of the problem being tackled: police have seized 320.6 kg of ganja worth ₹88.7 lakh and 1.4 kg of MDMA valued at ₹1.2 crore. Other significant seizures include hydro-weed ganja worth ₹94.7 lakh and cocaine worth ₹1.9 lakh, among others.

The Commissioner emphasized a policy of rigorous enforcement: "We ensure that peddlers are caught red-handed so that they cannot later dispute the case or claim innocence."

To counter the rising trend of substance abuse among youth, the Mangaluru City police have rolled out uniform guidelines for random drug testing across educational institutions.

As part of the drive, tests were conducted in approximately 100 institutions, screening an estimated 5,500 to 6,000 students in the first phase. 20 students tested positive for drug consumption during the initial screening.

Students who tested positive have been provided counselling and are scheduled for re-testing in the second quarter. The testing will also be expanded to students not covered in the first phase. In a move to ensure strict implementation, police personnel were deployed in mufti in some institutions. Reiterating a zero-tolerance stance, the Commissioner confirmed that random testing will continue, and colleges have also been instructed to conduct drug tests at the time of admission to deter substance abuse from an early stage.

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News Network
December 15,2025

Mangaluru police have arrested a 27-year-old NRI on his return from Saudi Arabia in connection with an Instagram post allegedly containing derogatory and provocative remarks about the Hindu religion, officials said on Monday.

The accused, Abdul Khader Nehad, a resident of Ulaibettu in Mangaluru, was working in Saudi Arabia when the post was uploaded, police said.

A suo motu case was registered at the Bajpe police station on October 11 after an allegedly offensive post circulated from the Instagram account ‘team_sdpi_2025’. Police said the content was flagged for being provocative and derogatory in nature.

During the investigation, technical analysis traced the Instagram post to Nehad, who was residing abroad at the time, a senior police officer said. Based on these findings, a Look Out Circular (LOC) was issued against him.

On December 14, Nehad arrived from Saudi Arabia at Calicut International Airport in Kerala, where he was taken into custody on arrival. Police said further investigation is underway.

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News Network
December 4,2025

Mangaluru: Chaos erupted at Mangaluru International Airport (MIA) after IndiGo flight 6E 5150, bound for Mumbai, was repeatedly delayed and ultimately cancelled, leaving around 100 passengers stranded overnight. The incident highlights the ongoing country-wide operational disruptions affecting the airline, largely due to the implementation of new Flight Duty Time Limitations (FDTL) norms for crew.

The flight was initially scheduled for 9:25 PM on Tuesday but was first postponed to 11:40 PM, then midnight, before being cancelled around 3:00 AM. Passengers expressed frustration over last-minute communication and the lack of clarity, with elderly and ailing travellers particularly affected. “Though the airline arranged food, there was no proper communication, leaving us confused,” said one family member.

An IndiGo executive at MIA cited the FDTL rules, designed to prevent pilot fatigue by limiting crew working hours, as the cause of the cancellation. While alternative arrangements, including hotel stays, were offered, about 100 passengers chose to remain at the airport, creating tension. A replacement flight was arranged but also faced delays due to the same constraints, finally departing for Mumbai around 1:45 PM on Wednesday. Passengers either flew, requested refunds, or postponed their travel.

The Mangaluru delay is part of a broader crisis for IndiGo. The airline has been forced to make “calibrated schedule adjustments”—a euphemism for widespread cancellations and delays—after stricter FDTL norms came into effect on November 1.

While an IndiGo spokesperson acknowledged unavoidable flight disruptions due to technology issues, operational requirements, and the updated crew rostering rules, the DGCA has intervened, summoning senior airline officials to explain the chaos and outline corrective measures.

The ripple effect has been felt across the country, with major hubs like Bengaluru and Mumbai reporting numerous cancellations. The Mangaluru incident underscores the systemic operational strain currently confronting India’s largest carrier, leaving passengers nationwide grappling with uncertainty and delays.

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