Latest news with #Hijab
Indian Express
5 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Karnataka to impose slab-based cess fee on aggregators
The Karnataka labour department is likely to introduce a slab-based structure to collect welfare funds from aggregators to support the Karnataka Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund. According to government officials, the labour department is considering a welfare fee levy of 1-5 per cent based on the payouts made to gig workers and the commission structures of platforms. The Karnataka Platform-Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance, 2025, which got its assent from Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday, mandates the state government to set the cess percentage for aggregators within six months (November 2025) of the ordinance coming into force. The ordinance extends to aggregators, including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Ola, and Uber, among others. Dr Manjunath, Additional Labour Commissioner, Karnataka, told The Indian Express, 'We are consulting all the platforms and considering their inputs. The draft rules for setting the cess percentage will be finalised by Monday. We will be inviting public and stakeholder feedback before formalising the rule.' The government is studying the financial modalities the aggregators have with gig workers in services like ride sharing, food and grocery delivery, logistics, e-marketplace for wholesale/retail sale of goods and services, healthcare, travel and hospitality, and content and media services. Meanwhile, industry body Internet and Mobile Association of India (IAMAI) will also hold a key meeting with its members, including the leading aggregator platforms, over Karnataka's gig workers ordinance on Monday. During last year's consultations on the draft bill, industry voiced concerns over a uniform fee structure, citing its unsuitability for varied platform business models. The proposed slab-based approach appears to address these concerns by tailoring the welfare fee to different platform types. For instance, SaaS (Software-as-a-Service) platforms like Namma Yatri that operate on subscription fees rather than transaction commissions could be subject to lower welfare fee rates of 1-2 per cent. In contrast, commission-based aggregators such as Swiggy, Zomato, Zepto, Ola, Uber, Amazon, and Flipkart may face higher fees, potentially scaling up to 5 per cent, depending on their revenue models and transaction volumes. Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Indian Express
24-05-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
Rapido doesn't engage in tipping, but pricing flexibility: Co-founder Aravind Sanka
A day after Union Consumer Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi pulled up ride-hailing apps over the advance tipping feature, Aravind Sanka, co-founder of Rapido, told The Indian Express on Friday that the bike taxi aggregator does not engage in tipping but allows pricing flexibility as a feature. 'Unlike other apps, Rapido is a SaaS based company, and we do not charge commissions, but subscription fees. We are a legion model where pricing is transparent, negotiated between consumers and drivers, and not influenced by us. It is not tipping—tipping implies a positive amount post-service, but here customers can increase or decrease the price before the ride, and drivers can accept or reject,' he said. Rapido also told The Indian Express that no notice has been served by the Central Consumer Protection Authority (CCPA), which has currently served notice only to Uber over advance tipping. Joshi has directed the CCPA to also probe other ride-hailing apps, terming advance tipping as 'unethical and exploitative' following multiple complaints from users. 'The app immediately offers customers the option to adjust the price—up or down—upon booking. It is not a nudge to pay more for quicker service, but a feature for pricing flexibility. It is not about tipping but about giving customers control over the fare, which drivers can accept or reject,' Sanka argued. The Rapido co-founder also stated that the option to adjust pricing is a feature and not a mandate. 'Customers can stick to the displayed price, increase it, decrease it, or cancel. It is about transparency and choice in a SaaS model, where the entire fare goes to the driver,' he said. Saravanan, a customer, said, 'When using Rapido, if the offered tip is declined, the app prompts users to increase it a second time. This shift from bargaining to persistent haggling creates a frustrating experience, pressuring users to pay more than initially intended.' Prajna Hebbar, another customer, said, 'Tipping before the trip is definitely exploitative. If the driver can take me for Rs 50, why should I pay extra Rs 20 to get a ride? This is nothing but arm-twisting the consumer, which is unethical.' Niranjanaradhya N, CEO of Brand Pride Mobility Pvt Ltd, that operates Nagara, another SaaS based platform that offers auto and cab services, said, 'Tip Before Trip is not just unethical — it is unfair. A ride should not begin with an extra charge or an invisible obligation. Yet today's urban mobility systems often burden the customer and disrespect the dignity of professional drivers.' Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Indian Express
23-05-2025
- Indian Express
Alert Bengaluru Metro home guard reunites passenger with lost bag of valuables in just 30 minutes
A Bengaluru Metro passenger who lost her bag containing gold, cash, and personal belongings at a station on the Green Line received it back within 30 minutes on Friday, thanks to a home guard's quick action. As per the Bengaluru Metro Rail Corporation Limited (BMRCL), Nivedita Bhat, who boarded a train towards Silk Institute from platform 2 of Mahakavi Kuvempu Road Metro station, inadvertently left her bag on a chair at the station. Manjulamma, a 40-year-old home guard with BMRCL who was stationed at the platform, noticed the unattended bag around 12.45 pm and secured it while promptly alerting assistant security officer Dhruvacharya, who escalated the matter to station controller Gavaskar Naik. On inspecting the bag, BMRCL officials discovered valuable items, including a nuptial chain worth approximately Rs 2 lakh, over Rs 2,000 in cash, an Aadhaar card, a feature phone without a SIM card, and credit and debit cards. 'Demonstrating quick thinking, the officials accessed the phone, which was in active mode, and retrieved the contact number of Bhat's friend. The officials contacted the friend, who informed Bhat to return to the…station,' a BMRCL official explained. Manjulamma, who hails from a town called Turuvukere in Tumkur district, has been associated with BMRCL as a home guard for the last four years, officials added. In 2023, BMRCL had auctioned 6,354 unclaimed items from 2018 to 2023, generating Rs 7.4 lakh. These included water bottles, helmets, lunch boxes, bags, and umbrellas, with 1,402 items from the Purple Line and 4,952 from the Green Line. Electronic gadgets, like phones, were handed over to the police for safety. BMRCL's lost-and-found process is systematic. Items are held at stations for 24 hours before being transferred to Yeshwanthpur or Baiyappanahalli stations. Passengers can report losses via the 'Grievance' section on BMRCL's website, providing item details and contact information. Unclaimed items are auctioned every six months, with details posted online for transparency. Frequently lost items include bags, jewellery, phones, and laptops, officials said. Sanath Prasad is a senior sub-editor and reporter with the Bengaluru bureau of Indian Express. He covers education, transport, infrastructure and trends and issues integral to Bengaluru. He holds more than two years of reporting experience in Karnataka. His major works include the impact of Hijab ban on Muslim girls in Karnataka, tracing the lives of the victims of Kerala cannibalism, exploring the trends in dairy market of Karnataka in the aftermath of Amul-Nandini controversy, and Karnataka State Elections among others. If he is not writing, he keeps himself engaged with badminton, swimming, and loves exploring. ... Read More
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Yahoo
Pennsylvania Attorney General pushes for criminals to have religious freedom
PENNSYLVANIA (WTAJ) — Attorney General Dave Sunday announced that the Allegheny County Bureau of Corrections has updated its policy concerning religious accommodations. The change comes after collaboration between the Office of Attorney General's Civil Rights Enforcement Section and Allegheny County officials to ensure respectful treatment of individuals wearing religious head coverings during the jail booking process. Under the new policy, the county will permit anyone to wear a religious head covering during their booking photos as long as their face and profile are not covered. Head coverings include, but are not limited to, a Hijab, Tarmulke or Turban. Additionally, head covering searches must now happen without individuals of the opposite sex present. The policy changes stem from an incident reported in October 2024. A Muslim woman was forced to remove her Hijab during her booking process, as the County had a policy allowing inmates to wear religious headgear, but with no formal written policy for the booking process. The woman had filed a complaint with the Civil Rights Enforcement section, which then worked with the County to address the issue. The matter was handled by Deputy Attorney General Kevin Bendesky. 'This policy update is about upholding basic dignity while preserving religious freedoms for individuals,' Attorney General Sunday said. 'Many people wear religious head garments as a sincere tenet of their religious faith and no one should have to choose between their faith and their rights. I commend Allegheny County for working closely with my office to craft a policy that balances institutional safety with constitutional protections.' Get the latest news, weather forecasts and sports stories delivered straight to your inbox! Sign up for our newsletters. The policy now includes clear procedures for correctional staff to follow when an arrestee enters the facility with religious attire, with mandated communication with the chain of command and consultation with chaplaincy services in cases of uncertainty. Staff must file a report and notify supervisors immediately if a person feels as though their religious rights have been violated during the booking process. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to WTAJ -
Hans India
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Why did BJP label Suhas Shetty a rowdy then and calls him martyr now, asks K'taka Cong
Responding to criticism by BJP leaders over the killing of Hindu activist Suhas Shetty in Mangaluru, the Karnataka Congress-led government chided the Opposition party and asked "if he was a noble soul, why did the previous BJP government open a rowdy sheet against him?" Minister for Health, Dinesh Gundu Rao, who is also the Mangaluru District incharge Minister said on Tuesday, "The intoxication of fanaticism has been forcefully imposed on the innocent." Mentioning the copy of the police department's order to open a rowdy sheet against Suhas Shetty, who was recently murdered, Minister Rao charged, 'The rowdy sheet against Suhas Shetty was opened in 2020 — when the BJP government was in power and the revered Basavaraj Bommai was the Home Minister. Today, the BJP is portraying Suhas Shetty as a martyr and a great soul.' 'But if he was such a noble person, why did the BJP government at that time classify him as a rowdy?' Minister Rao questioned. 'While in power, they open rowdy sheets against criminals and when those very criminals die, they glorify them as martyrs and depict them as saints,' Rao slammed. 'Can they say whether their own children were ever beaten up for religion? It is always the children of the poor who end up as corpses on the streets. Isn't this the truth?' Minister Rao stated. "The people of Mangaluru are aware and alert. Now, more than ever, the people of the coastal region must recognise the conspiracy. If not, this rotten politics will destroy the peace of the district," he appealed. Suhas Shetty, a former Bajrang Dal activist, was killed on May 1. He was the prime accused in the murder of Mohammad Fazil, a resident of Surathkal. Shetty and his associates had allegedly killed Fazil in a public place on July 28, 2022, reportedly in retaliation for the murder of BJP youth worker Praveen Kumar Nettaru. Nettaru, a BJP activist, was hacked to death during the height of the Hijab row. His murder had triggered a series of revenge killings and multiple stabbing incidents across Karnataka. Shetty had been released on bail at the time of his death. Following the murder of Suhas Shetty recently, multiple stabbing incidents have been reported from Mangaluru and Udupi regions. The BJP and Hindu activists have alleged the role of the police department in the murder and are demanding an investigation by the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The police have arrested 8 people till now and have stated that Suhas Shetty was murdered to avenge Fazil's killing.
