From Our Special Correspondent
Daijiworld Media Network
Bengaluru, Jan 1: Higher Education Minister Dr C N Ashwath Narayan asserted that the State Government was sympathetic to the cause of guest lecturers and promised to consider their demands after the expert panel’s report.
Speaking to reporters in Bengaluru on Saturday, the minister mentioned that the State Government has always stood by guest lecturers and assured that all possibilities to redress their woes.
The minister said a committee has been constituted to look into the issue and it has been asked to submit the report within the prescribed timeline. The government will take all the possible measures to address the demands of guest lecturers, he stated.
‘Guest lecturers cannot be recruited on a direct basis in view of the legal hurdle (Umadevi case). Despite this, the government has always been sympathetic towards guest lecturers. We have released payments for them even during Covid lockdown’ he explained.
He felt it was not right on the part of guest lecturers to protest against the government even without intimating through a notice.
Answering questions on the Congress party’s plans to take out a padayatra demanding implementation of the Mekedatu project, he said the Congress party is exhibiting a political drama.
“The government has clarified its stand on the floor of the house itself. The congress which did nothing relating to this when it was in power is now creating unnecessary rumbles,’’ he said.
The government will certainly take necessary measures to implement the project which is beneficial for the drinking water needs of Bengaluru, Dr Narayan said.
Augmenting affordable Health Services
Several initiations to augment affordable health services in Malleswaram 2 PHCs and a 24/7 vaccination center were inaugurated by Dr Ashwath Narayan at Subramanyanagara and Vyalikaval extensions on Saturday.
He also launched a 24/7 Covid vaccination center and performed the stone laying ceremony to build a new building for Primary Health Centre at Subramanayanaga.
He said the work for PHC would commence soon and a 75-bed hi-tech hospital would be built at Rajamahal Guttahalli in a speedy manner.
These PHCs will have facilities of modern labs, digital x-ray, eye and dental tests at affordable prices. With regard to providing treatment for eyes, the collaboration will be established with the Minto Eye hospital, he said.
A discount of 50% will be given for those who are referred to go for higher government hospitals from these centers. The facility at KCG General Hospital will be augmented by adding 60 bed pediatric unit and a 100-bed unit of Jayadeva Heart Hospital would also come in April.
The maternity wing at the hospital would be expanded by adding 100 more beds to the existing 100-bed facility. Digital Health Services to citizens by collaborating with Manipal Hospitals, Dr Narayan said.
The 24/7 Vaccination Center which has been set up at Government school premises is equipped with facilities to ensure hassle-free vaccination for senior citizens, girls, and youth. Senior citizens who come to the center in car/auto can get jabbed while sitting in their vehicles. For those aged above 60 years and frontline workers, a booster dose will be administered from January 10. A separate booth will be set up for girls between the ages of 15-18, for whom the vaccine administration begins on January 3.
Dr K V Trilokchandra, BBMP Special Commissioner (Health), Dr Deepak, BBMP West Zone, Shivaswamy, Joint Commissioner, Raghavendra Shetty Beluru, Chairman, State Handicrafts Corporation, Dr Balasubramanya, Dr Manoranjan Hegde and Dr Suchet were present.