The Hindu : Karnataka / Bangalore News : 35 people given financial aid at `Janata Darshan'

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Sunday, Sep 17, 2006
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Karnataka

Karnataka - Bangalore

35 people given financial aid at `Janata Darshan'

Staff Reporter

Beneficiaries had submitted petitions to the Chief Minister earlier

HELPING HAND: Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy distributing financial aid for self-employment to a group of women during the `Janata Darshan' programme in Bangalore on Saturday. — Photo: V. Sreenivasa Murthy

Bangalore: Thirty-five people from the backward classes were given financial assistance totalling Rs. 8,93,550 by the Devaraj Urs Backward Classes Development Corporation at the Chief Minister's `Janata Darshan' programme here on Saturday.

The beneficiaries had submitted petitions to Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy for financial assistance at earlier Janata Darshans. As a symbolic gesture, the Chief Minister presented a cheque for Rs. 33,250 to Ashok Neelakantappa Arkasali, a sculptor who was among the prisoners released on Independence Day.

A total of 126 prisoners from the backward classes, who were released on August 15, would be provided financial assistance, said Vijay Bhaskar, Managing Director of the corporation.

Speaking to presspersons during the `Janata Darshan' at the Chief Minister's residence, Mr. Bhaskar said that district managers of the corporation had been asked to submit proposals for financial assistance to the 126 prisoners.

Appointment letters

The Karnataka Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Development Corporation gave appointment letters to two Scheduled Caste persons on the spot after Mr. Kumaraswamy directed them to do so.

Prakash Govind Patroot from Belgaum district and Cheluvaraju Bin Shivaramulu from Mandya district were given jobs as assistants at the offices of the corporation in their respective districts.

The `Janata Darshan' saw some drama when a woman, overcome by fatigue and excitement over the Chief Minister granting her request, fainted.

Vidyamani from Nagamangala, who has been deserted by her husband, requested Mr. Kumaraswamy for money to tide over her financial crisis and a house to live in. When he granted the request and gave her a cheque for Rs. 19,000, Ms. Vidyamani fainted.

On a routine day of more requests for houses and money, children as young as three years giving handwritten pleas and roses to the Chief Minister was an endearing sight.

Marching up to Mr. Kumaraswamy, ushered by their teachers, the tiny tots presented a memorandum asking the Chief Minister to give a permit for their school.

The teachers claimed that a gunman of a Minister had influenced the Education Department to not grant a permit to the school run by Shanthiniketan Educational, Social and Charitable Trust at Agrahara Dasarahalli.

Mr. Kumaraswamy said he would speak to the Block Education Officer and sort out the matter.

The Chief Minister had directed officials of the Health and Family Welfare Department in Bidar district to appoint Ganapathi Bin Madavalappa as a Group D employee in the department at an earlier Janata Darshan.

Mr. Madavalappa was back on Saturday and complained to Mr. Kumaraswamy that the director had been asking for a bribe of Rs. 60,000. The Chief Minister asked the officials standing around him to call the director, but no sign of any action was witnessed till the end of the nine-hour-long `Janata Darshan.'

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