Mr.Chandru Kalro, Managing Director of TTK Prestige said: ‘’There were great expectations around this budget and I am pleased to say that it delivered. This was a positive investment oriented budget demonstrating fiscal responsibility. Investment in infrastructure and new labour codes are particularly noteworthy as it will result in more jobs. The affordable housing push will definitely see an increase in the consumption of kitchen appliances. We appreciate the measures announced by the Finance Minister to improve ease of doing business, re-invigorating improving human capital and focusing on innovation. It is commendable to see an increase in revenue without higher taxes.’’
“We see this budget as a positive step in the right direction for healthcare sector. The allocation for Aatmanirbhar Health Yojana with an outlay of Rs 64,180 crore over six years in addition to the National Health Mission, is a welcome move. The government’s focus on setting up Health Emergency Centres ,Urban Health and Wellness centres and Integrating public health labs will go a long way towards ensuring better healthcare and treatment options. I am also happy that the Government of India has announced Rs 35,000 crore for Covid-19 vaccine which will help lakhs of poor and middle class citizens. I am positive that all the measures taken in this budget to make healthcare available to all, will yield a positive impact on the economy. Lastly, let’s not forget the Mission Poshan 2.0 launch that will tackle the malnutrition problems in India especially with the underprivileged and migrant population. Overall, the health and nutrition has received the focus it deserves in the budget.”
Mr. Sandeep Singh, CII Karnataka Chairman, welcomed the budget stating it as a growth-oriented, consumption-oriented budget focusing on job creation. The budget has allocated funds to all key sectors while giving emphasis on infrastructure development. I think this is the right step towards reviewing the economy. Overall, the budget is focused on optimal usage of all the resources. He also said that recapitalization is a good step. Allocation of funds are at the right places however the timely implementation is required by the government.
Mr. Amit Kumar CII Zonal Chairman, Mysore & Mr. Prakash Kalbavi, CII Zonal Chairman, Mangalore welcomed the budget saying that the budget has everything for every citizen. There has been huge allocation for the sectors of power and infrastructure. Health & Vaccination is the major focus of the government. Focus on skills, training, innovation, R&D, simplification of GST, and announcement on contract labor will help the industries in tier-II cities
ವಾರಸುದಾರರಿಲ್ಲದ ಅನಾಥ ಶವಗಳನ್ನು ಬಿಡದೆ ಕದಿಯುವ ಕಿರಾತಕರು ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್.ವೈ.ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರರವರೆ , ಈ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆಯ ಕಿರಾತಕ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥನೊಂದಿಗೆ ( ತಪೋವನ , ಮಲ್ಟಿ ಸ್ಪೆಷಲಿಟಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ) ನಿಮಗಿರುವ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧವನ್ನು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರ ಮುಂದೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗ ಗೊಳಿಸಿ ” ಕದ್ದವರೆ ಕಳ್ಳರಲ್ಲಾ ಕದಿಯಲು ಸಹಕರಿಸಿದವರು ಸಹ ಕಾನೂನಿನ ದೃಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಕಳ್ಳರು ” ಸತ್ಯ ಹೊರಬರಬೇಕಾದರೆ ಸರ್ಕಾರವು ಸಿ.ಬಿ.ಐ. ತನಿಖೆಗೆ ನೀಡಲಿ . ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಸಚಿವರು ಮತ್ತು ಗೃಹ ಸಚಿವರ ವಿರುದ್ಧ ದೂರು ದಾಖಲು . ವಾಸ್ತವ ವಿಷಯ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಪೋಲಿಸ್ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ವಾರಸುದಾರರು ಇಲ್ಲದೆ ಇರುವ ಶವಗಳ ಶವಸಂಸ್ಕಾರಗಳ ಸಂಖ್ಯೆ ಸರಿ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ . ಆದರೆ ಇದರ ನಿಜ ವಾಸ್ತವವೇ ಬೇರೆ ಇರುತ್ತದೆ . ಇದರ ಮೊದಲ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಈ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ಖಾಸಗಿ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ರಿಸರ್ಚ್ ಸೆಂಟರಗಳು ತಮ್ಮಲ್ಲಿ ವಿದ್ಯಾಭ್ಯಾಸ ಮಾಡುವ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ವಿದ್ಯಾರ್ಥಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಮನುಷನ ನರಕೋಶ ಮತ್ತು ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳ ಪರಿಚಯ ಮತ್ತು ಪರೀಕ್ಷಾ ವಿಧಾನಗಳನ್ನು ತಿಳಿಸಲು ಕಾಲೇಜಿನ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರು ಕೆಲ ಖಾಸಗಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಇಲಾಖಾವಾರು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ , ಕಾನೂನು ಬಾಹಿರವಾಗಿ ಕದ್ದು ( ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅನಾಟಮಿ ಆಕ್ಟ್ ೧೯೫೭ ) ಉಲ್ಲಂಘಿಸಿ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ರಿಸರ್ಚ್ ಸೆಂಟರಗಳಲ್ಲಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಳ್ಳುವ ಪ್ರವೃತ್ತಿ ಅತಿ ಜಾಣತನದಿಂದ ನಡೆದು ಬಂದಿರುತ್ತದೆ . ಇದು ಕೆಲ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿ ವರ್ಗಕ್ಕೆ ತಿಳಿದರೂ ಸಹ ಕೆಲ ಗಣ್ಯ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳ ಕಾಣದ ಕೈಗಳ ಒತ್ತಡಕ್ಕೆ ಮಣಿದು ಮೂಕ ಪ್ರೇಕ್ಷಕರಂತೆ ವರ್ತಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ . ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಒಂದು ಉತ್ತಮ ತಾಜಾ ಉದಾಹರಣೆ ಮತ್ತು ಸಾಕ್ಷಿಯನ್ನು ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾಗೋಷ್ಠಿ ಮೂಲಕ ತಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಬಯಲಿಗೆ ಇಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದೇವೆ . ಸಂಸದರಾದ ಮಾನ್ಯ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್.ವೈ.ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರರವರೆ ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಜಿಲ್ಲೆಯ ತಪೋವನ ಮಲ್ಲಿ ಸ್ಪೆಷಾಲಿಟಿ ಆಸ್ಪತ್ರೆ ಮತ್ತು ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ವಿದ್ಯಾಲಯದ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರಾದ ” ಶಶಿಕುಮಾರ್ ಮೆಹರವಾಡಿ ವಸುದೇವ ರೊಂದಿಗೆ ನಿಮ್ಮ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಬಂಧವು ಯಾವ ರೀತಿ ಮತ್ತು ರೂಪವೆಂಬುವದನ್ನು ಸಾರ್ವನಿಕರ ಮುಂದ ನೇರವಾಗಿ ಬಹಿರಂಗಪಡಿಸಿ . ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಕಾರಣವಿಷ್ಟೆ.
ಈ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥನು , ದಾವಣಗೆರೆ ಗಾಂಧಿನಗರದ ರುದ್ರಭೂಮಿಯಿಂದ ದಿನಾಂಕ ೨೯.೫.೨೦೧೯ ರಂದು ವಾರಸುದಾರರು ಇಲ್ಲದ ಅನಾಥ ಶವ ಮತ್ತು ಶವದ ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳನ್ನು ಖಾಸಗಿ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ಸೇರಿ ಕಾನೂನು ಬಾಹಿರವಾಗಿ ಕದ್ದು ತನ್ನ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತಾರೆ . ಕರ್ನಾಟಕ ಅನಾಟಮಿ ಕಾಯ್ದೆಯನ್ವಯ ೫ ಇಲಾಖೆಯ ಪೂರ್ವ ನಿರಾಕ್ಷೇಪಣ ಪ್ರಮಾಣಪತ್ರ ಪಡೆಯದೆ ಅಕ್ರಮವಾಗಿ ಕದ್ದು ಇಟ್ಟುಕೊಂಡಿರುತ್ತಾರೆಂದು ಸಾಕ್ಷಿ ಸಮೇತ ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿದ ದೂರು ಇದುವರೆಗೂ ಸೂಕ್ತ ರೀತಿ ತನಿಖೆ ನಡೆಸದೆ ಹಿಂಬರಹಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡಿರುವುದು ಬಹುದೊಡ್ಡ ಅನುಮಾನಕ್ಕೆ ಆಸ್ಪದವಾಗಿರುತ್ತದೆ . ಇಲಾಖಾವಾರು ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳು ದ್ವಂದ್ವ ನಿಲುವಿನ ದೃಢೀಕೃತ ದಾಖಲೆಗಳನ್ನು ನೀಡುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ . ಮಾನ್ಯ ಬಿ.ಎಸ್.ವೈ. ರಾಘವೇಂದ್ರರವರೆ , ಮೇಲ್ಕಂಡ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥರು ತಮ್ಮ ಹೆಸರನ್ನು ಬಳಸಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ . ಮತ್ತು ಒತ್ತಡ ಹೇರುತ್ತಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎನ್ನುವ ನೇರ ಆರೋಪಗಳು ಕೇಳಿ ಬರುತ್ತಿದ್ದು ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ಪೂರಕವೆಂಬಂತೆ ಘಟನಾವಳಿಗಳೂ ಸಹ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತಿರುವುದು ವಾಸ್ತವ ವಿಷಯಕ್ಕೆ ಪುಷ್ಟಿ ನೀಡಿದಂತಿರುತ್ತದೆ . ದಿನಾಂಕ ೨೦/೦೧/೨೦೨೧ ರಂದು ಮೇಲ್ಕಂಡ ವಿಷಯಕ್ಕೆ ಸಂಬಂಧಿಸಿದಂತೆ ಸಿ.ಬಿ.ಐ.ರವರಿಗೆ ದೂರು ಸಲ್ಲಿಸಿರುತ್ತೇವೆ . ಇದರ ಮರುದಿನವೆ ದಿನಾಂಕ ೨೩/೦೧/೨೦೨೧ ರಂದು ತಾವುಗಳು ಶಿವಮೊಗ್ಗದ ಖಾಸಗಿ ಜಾಗ ಒದರಲ್ಲಿ ಗಂಟೆಗಟ್ಟಲೆ ನಿರಂತರವಾಗಿ ಸಂಸದರೆಂಬುವುದನ್ನು ಮರೆತು ಮೇಲ್ಕಡ ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಆರೋಪ ಹೊತ್ತ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥನೊಂದಿಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆಯಲ್ಲಿ ಭಾಗಿದಾರರಾಗಿರುತ್ತೀರಿ . ಇದಕ್ಕೆ ತಾವುಗಳು ಸ್ಪಷ್ಟನೆಯನ್ನು ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕವಾಗಿ ಮತ್ತು ಸಂಸ್ಥೆಯ ಮುಖ್ಯಸ್ಥನ ವಿಶ್ವಾಸ ಹಾಗೂ ಸಂಬಂಧದ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗವಾಗಿ ಸಾರ್ವಜನಿಕರ ಮುಂದೆ ಹೇಳಿಕೆ ನೀಡುವಂತೆ ಆಗ್ರಹಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ . ಈ ಪತ್ರಿಕಾ ಮತ್ತು ಮಾಧ್ಯಮಗೋಷ್ಟಿಯಲ್ಲಿ ಮೊದಲ ಭಾಗವಾಗಿ ಅನಾಥ ಶವಗಳನ್ನು ಮತ್ತು ಅಂಗಾಂಗಗಳನ್ನು ಯಾವ ರೀತಿ ಕಳ್ಳ ಮಾರ್ಗದಲ್ಲಿ ಸಾಗಾಣಿಕೆ ನಡೆಯುತ್ತದೆ ಎಂಬುವುದರ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ವಿಸ್ಕೃತ ಹೇಳಿಕೆಯನ್ನು ನೀಡುವುದರ ಜೊತೆಗೆ ಕೆಲ ದಾಖಲಾತಿಗಳನು ( ಇಲಾಖಾವಾರು ನೀಡಿರುವ ದಾಖಲಾತಿಗಳು ) ತಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಇಡುತ್ತಾ , ಮುಂದುವರೆದು ಹೇಳುವುದೇನೆಂದರೆ ಬಹುತೇಕ ಕರ್ನಾಟಕದ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ರಿಸರ್ಚ್ ಸೆಂಟರ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಯಾವ ಯಾವ ಅಧಿಕಾರಿಗಳ ಮತ್ತು ರಾಜಕಾರಣಿಗಳ ಮತ್ತು ಕಾಣದ ಕೈಗಳು ಕಾಣದ ರೀತಿ ಕಾನೂನು ನಿಯಮವಾಳಿಗಳನ್ನು ಉಲ್ಲಂಘಿಸಿ ವೈದ್ಯಕೀಯ ಕಾಲೇಜುಗಳಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ರಿಸರ್ಚ್ ಸೆಂಟರ್ಗಳಿಗೆ ಪರವಾನಿಗೆ ಮತ್ತು ಪರವಾನಿಗೆ ನವೀಕರಣಕ್ಕೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಕೃಪಾ ಕಟಾಕ್ಷವಿದೆ ಎಂಬುವುದನ್ನು ದಾಖಲೆ ಸಮೇತ ಮುಂದಿನ ಭಾಗದಲ್ಲಿ ದೃಡೀಕೃತ ದಾಖಲಾತಿಗಳೊಂದಿಗೆ ತಮ್ಮ ಮುಂದೆ ಬಹಿರಂಗಗೊಳಿಸುತ್ತೇವೆ ಎಂದು ಹೇಳಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇವೆ .
– ವೀರಾಚಾರ್ ಬಿ.ಯು-ಅಧ್ಯಕ್ಷರು ವಿ.ಕೆ.ಎಸ್.ಎಸ್.ಹರೀಶ್ಹಳ್ಳಿ – ಸಮಾಜ ಕಾರ್ಯಕರ್ತರು, ಪವನರಾಜ್ ಪವರ್,
FRAI Karnataka appeals to the Prime Minister to order recall of proposed amendments in the COTPA law as they attack the livelihoods of petty retailers selling tobacco products across India
· Small retailers are already reeling under the aftermaths of the COVID pandemic and this fresh attack will be devastating for their families
· Around 2 lakh micro and petty retailers to lose substantial incomes and suffer harassment in the state of Karnataka
· India already has the toughest tobacco regulations in the world and an overkill in the pandemic period is very insensitive
Bengaluru, 29thJanuary2021: Federation of Retailer Association of India(FRAI), a representative body of about 4 crore micro, small and medium retailersfrom across the country with membership of 34 Retail Associations from Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western part of the country, today appealed to the Prime Minister Shri Narendra Modi Ji, to intervene and order a recall of the proposed 2020 amendments in the COTPA law which threaten to further attack the livelihoods of petty retailers selling tobacco and related products across India.
FRAI Karnataka Chapter today staged a protest and has also appealed to Sh. B. S. Yediyurappa, Hon’ble Chief Minister of Karnataka to save the interests and livelihoods of around 2 lakh micro retailers and 10 lakhs dependants in the state who sell multiple products to earn a meagre sum to look after their families and save them from the potential harassment.
FRAI represents the interests of the poorest of the poor in the country and raise issues which impact their employment opportunities and also render help to such people who are unable to express their views.FRAImembers sustain their livelihood by selling goods of daily needs which are demanded by general public like biscuits, soft drinks, mineral water, cigarettes, bidi, pan etc. in the neighbourhood. The profit of these micro retailers in selling these essential products works out to about Rs 15,000 per month which is barely adequate to feed two square meals a day to their family members.
The Coronavirus triggered lockdowns and economic destruction has further damaged the economic condition of small retailers and any further adverse policy which destabilizes their business activity will be devastating. FRAI and its member organizations from all over the country are disturbed by the undemocratic amendment of CoTPA bill 2020 proposed by the Ministry of Health, which disallows retail sale of loose sticks of cigarettes, prohibits sale of tobacco products persons below 21 years, put controls on in-shop advertising and promotion amongst others, as they seemed to be aimed at destroying the business for the smaller retailers without impacting large retailers.
Speaking on the issue, ShriMurali Krishna, Member Federation of Retailers Association of India, and President, Karnataka State Small Beedi Cigarette Retailer Association, said “We humbly appeal for the Hon’ble Prime Minister’s empathy and request him to instruct the designated ministry to immediately roll back the proposed COTPA amendments as they are extremely harsh. By making age old trade practices like selling loose cigarettes a cognizable offence and an imprisonment of 7 years for small violations makes small traders look like heinous criminals. Compared to a 2-year imprisonment for extortion or for dangerous driving that can cause death, this is the extreme of the extremes. This puts paan, bidi and cigarette sellers in the same crime list category as a person voluntarily throwing acid on someone or causing death by negligence etc. How can anybody be so insensitive while drafting the amendment towards poor, marginalized people who are struggling to earn their daily living?”
“Already India has the toughest tobacco control laws in the world which has led to degrowth in legal tobacco consumption. Current laws have only helped illicit and smuggled cigarettes to grow benefiting anti-social elements. Then why these extra harsh tobacco control measures have become more important than other health issues like fighting deadly diseases such as coronavirus, diabetes, obesity, mental health, and diseases caused by rising air pollution etc. Unlike Coronavirus, policy changes like these are totally in the hands of our policy makers and should be given a serious human consideration. Today, we feel victimized and targeted as a community and plead for the mercy of Modi Ji”, he added.
Increase of area within which tobacco products cannot be sold from 100 yards of an educational institution to 100 metres of an educational institution. Refuting the proposal, ShriMurali, said, “Our members provide various products to consumers based on the necessities. The tobacco products such as cigarettes and bidis are also included in the products offered by our members. As per law, we do not sell tobacco products to minors. In a congested and heavily populated cities, such a restriction is impractical. Petty retailers will have to vacate their place without any means to support their livelihoods. Moreover, if a new educational institution will come up within 100 metres of the retailer’s location and he will again be asked to move”.
The suggested amendment prohibits sale of tobacco products persons below 21 years (earlier this was 18 years). In India, an 18-year-old person can cast his / her vote to elect government of choice, get a driving license. But it is draconian, that same person cannot exercise their choice when it to comes to buying a tobacco product, which is sold legally. The existing law already prohibits sale of cigarettes to minors, so there is no cause for concern that persons who do not understand implications are buying tobacco products.
The petty retailers also request exemption for any such licencing requirement under the proposed amendment. A poor and uneducated small shopkeeper which barely manages two square meal a day, will have to struggle to get a license, and not only that, will also have to struggle to renew it every year. Perpetual harassment will increase under the guise of administrative control. This will not only increase the cost of doing business, but at the same time it will lead to corruption & harassment of the millions of small shopkeepers in the country.
FRAI believes that few NGOs who work for foreign companies are constantly pressurizing the government to enforce unfair and unimplementable laws against small shopkeepers. These policies are helping big foreign and ecommerce companies at the cost of business of petty retailers.
FRAI and its members requests the Government of India to be practical and equitable, especially for the lowest socio-economic strata of society who are already struggling to make two ends meet and not impose such harsh, arbitrary and unreasonable restrictions on our right to trade and livelihood.
City Today News 
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