1. By August 2020, Bengaluru to Get Over 4K Free WiFi Hotspots
If all goes according to plan, citizens of Bengaluru will soon be able to access free, high speed internet at over 4,000 wifi hotspots set up the state government in collaboration with ACT, the third largest broadband service provider in the country.
Making the announcement at Bangalore Tech Summit being held at Bangalore Palace grounds, Deputy CM CN Ashwath Narayan said the state government was fulfilling a “consistent demand” by citizens, tourists and other stakeholders.
The Rs 100-crore project will be fully funded by ACT, with no investment from the government and will be operational in the next nine months. The hotspots will be located in high-density regions and public places like hospitals, bus stops, public institutions and citizens will get to use the service for up to one hour.
Read the full report here
2. Equal Opportunity: Women Can Now Work in Factory Night Shift
The state government on Wednesday issued a notification allowing female employees of factories to work in night shifts, 7pm to 6am, correcting a staffing policy which was tilted in favour of male workers.
But the government clarified women cannot be forced to toil till late hours and night shift will be allowed only with their express written consent. There is another important rider: factories must ensure their safety during the extended period.
The policy revision is linked to a decision by the Madras high court, which had declared Section 66(1)(b) of the Factories Act, 1948, as unconstitutional, saying it violated the Constitution’s Articles 14, 15 and 16 on equality. The said section barred women from working in night shift.
(Source: The Times of India)
3. JD(S) Will Support BJP in Karnataka if Needed, Says Senior Leader
A senior Janata Dal Secular (JD(S)) leader’s statement that his party will support the Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) if the bypolls didn’t give the saffron party a majority has indicated a new political equation in poll-bound Karnataka.
Senior JD(S) leader and former legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti on Tuesday, 19 November, said there are “all chances” of the JD(S) supporting BS Yediyurappa government to stay in power.
Horatti’s statements came after a meeting with Chief Minister Yediyurappa along with a group of disgruntled JD(S) MLCs. Horatti is the only Lingayat leader from the JD(S), which is the CM’s community as well.
Read the full report here
4. BSY Apologises to Kuruba Community
In a damage control exercise, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa on Wednesday tendered an apology to the Kuruba community for controversial remarks allegedly made by cabinet colleague and law and parliamentary affairs minister JC Madhuswamy.
The community is miffed with Madhuswamy for reportedly trying to rename Kanakadasa Circle in Huliyar, Chikkanayakanahalli, the minister’s constituency in Tumakuru district, after late Shivakumar Swami of Siddaganga Mutt. Kanakadasa, a 15th century saint and philosopher, is revered by the Kuruba community.
Adding fuel to fire, a video of Madhuswamy abusing Sri Eshwarananda Puri Swami of Hosadurga Mutt, a prominent religious leader of the community, at a recent meeting further angered the community. The video was widely shared on social media platforms. The hashtag #removefromcabinetjcmadhuswamy trended, with furious netizens threatening to launch a state-wide protest against the minister.
(Source: The Times of India)
5. Palike Officials Told to Work From 6 am to 9 pm
In a concerted effort to keep the city roads clean and garbage-free, the BBMP has asked its zonal officials to inspect all civic works between 6 am and 9 pm.
Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) commissioner BH Anil Kumar issued a circular to this effect on 18 November; days after Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa met top Palike officials to discuss solid waste management.
“In the view of Bengaluru city’s aesthetics and health, Solid Waste Management (SWM) needs to be done sophisticatedly. All the zonal officials are directed to commence the work from 6 am to 9 pm,” the circular read.
(Source: Deccan Herald)
