Latest news with #Hubballi


Time of India
a day ago
- Politics
- Time of India
7k govt primary schools may lose land due to poor records; dept launches drive
Hubballi: While 7,000 govt primary schools in state have fewer than 10 students and face the threat of closure, as many as 17,356 were at risk of losing land in Jan. The total number of govt primary schools in the state is 43,564. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Now, the department of school education (DSE) has launched a special three-month drive to officially register land in the names of govt schools. Prof Purushottam Bilimale, chairman of Kannada Development Authority, Bengaluru, told TOI he was informed about this issue during his visits to Bidar and Yadgir six months ago. "We were surprised to learn about an incident in Devanahalli, where a govt primary school was demolished overnight. We started addressing this issue in district review meetings and instructing all deputy commissioners. In turn, DCs started insisting DDPIs prioritise it. Now it is a good move that DSE has launched a special drive," he welcomed. KV Trilok Chandra, commissioner of DSE, stated that the number of such primary schools with poor land records was over 20,000 last year. "It stood at 17,356 six months ago. As our officials are working in this regard, it has now reduced to about 13,000. We have launched a special drive to get the land records of the remaining 7,000 schools registered in the next three months," he stated. He further said, "Many schools were built on donated plots, not registered under their names. There is a possibility of facing suits in courts. To address this, we have instructed DDPIs and BEOs to ensure all govt schools in their jurisdiction are equipped with land records. If there are any encroachments, we have insisted they coordinate with the district administration, revenue department, and other necessary departments. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Once the land records are registered, they will be uploaded on the department's SATS software." Sources in DSE said that the drive was launched following the instruction of V Rashmi Mahesh, principal secretary to the govt, department of school education and literacy. Chandrashekhar Nuggali, president of the Karnataka State Primary School Teachers Association, Bengaluru, noted that primary schools are threatened by land mafia, especially in urban and semi-urban areas, where land prices have skyrocketed. "Misusing the situation, successors of land donors started reclaiming their land rights, and cases are piling up in courts. Now the department's move is expected to save schools and students at large," he commented.


Deccan Herald
2 days ago
- Business
- Deccan Herald
Visitors to Chitradurga fort find digital hurdle difficult to breach
Hubballi: A section of visitors to the historical Chitradurga fort either return without seeing the legendary 'Obavvana kindi' or argue with guards at the gate to gain free entry as self-ticketing (by scanning QR code) fails to issue tickets due to poor internet connectivity and lengthy process of uploading details on the ASI-pay ministry of culture, under which the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) protected monument comes, has launched self-ticketing only system across India to minimise deployment of human resources at ticket counters, reduce operation cost (purchase of ticket rolls and vending machines) and reduce queue fort is one of the 25 monuments across India to pilot this initiative. However, forget the benefits, visitors to the fort are facing hardships..A security guard at Chitradurga fort said seven out of 10 attempts fail due to poor takes at least 8-10 minutes for each transaction to complete as visitors have to fill in their details along with uploading identity proof and mobile numbers on the ASI-pay app..'Many visitors don't carry smart-phones or do not have phone-pay/G-pay. The network coverage at the fort is poor. So, it becomes very difficult to manage the crowd,' said another many as 16 centrally protected monuments in Karnataka have entry them, two monuments — Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace in Bengaluru — allow visitors only under self-ticketing have to scan a QR code placed at the entry gate via digital payment apps and buy the 25 monuments selected by ASI across India for this pilot project, two are in ASI intends to implement self-ticketing system across all 250 centrally protected ticketed monuments in the country..A senior ASI official said the key main intention of the Ministry of Culture to implement ASI-pay app is to give Indian visitors Rs 5 discount and foreign visitors Rs 50 multiple ASI officials and guides at Hampi and Vijayapura informed DH that the app, instead of helping visitors, was resulting in hardships..'Earlier, we used to deploy two staff to issue tickets at Vijayapura monuments. Now, with the government insisting on self-ticketing, we are deploying five staff on weekends to help tourists,' said a Dharwad circle officer of app has also reduced mass booking of tickets. Only five persons can book a ticket per a guide at Hampi, says visitors are facing problems while booking tickets at Lotus Mahal and Vittala temple complex due to poor network coverage..'A majority of visitors buy tickets at the counter though they are a bit costlier than booking through QR scanning method,' he says and adds the process should have been as simple as making a digital ASI officer at Hampi circle said the complaint had been brought to the notice of higher-ups..'The network issue wasn't brought to our notice, we will look into it,' he says..A senior officer in Bengaluru circle, under which Chitradurga fort and Tipu Sultan palace come, says they are just following orders from the ministry of culture..'We have been asked to issue tickets at these monuments only via QR code scanning. Officials in Delhi or regional directors can take a call on reactivating booking counters,' he says.


Time of India
4 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
CAs make valuable contributions to economic development : Horatti
Hubballi: Chartered Accountants (CAs) are involved in the fair presentation management of taxpayers' accounts and advise them to pay correct taxes to the govt's exchequer. They played a key role in systematic revenue collection by providing appropriate guidance on the tax payments that should be made to the treasury, said Karnataka legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti. Inaugurating the 38th Auditors' Conference here on Friday, Horatti explained how the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI) played a vital role in maintaining the country's financial discipline over the past 75 years. "No businessman can be successful without proper accounting," he opined. Madhukar Hiregange, member, ICAI New Delhi, focused on the poor condition of Kannada primary and secondary schools in Karnataka. "It is not known how the funds announced in the budget by the govt to provide good primary education to children are being spent," he added. Aniket Talati, a CA from Mumbai, said that the ICAI incorporated digital technologies into the CA curriculum and is providing guidance on how to implement artificial intelligence in business enterprises successfully. Central Council member CA Purushottam Lal Khandelwala stressed the need for a peer review of the audit work and a comprehensive review of documents and collection of evidence. CAs Akshaykumar Singhi, Manjunath Meti, Pramod Hegde, SB Shetty, K Raghu, Rishabh Upadhyay, Subhas Patil, and others were present on the occasion.


Time of India
20-07-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Legislative council chairman Basavaraj Horatti felicitated
Hubballi: Legislative council chairman, Basavaraj Horatti, stated that 99% of the reccommendations of Vaidyanath report on teacher issues was implemented, and that steps were being taken to implement the reccomendations of the report in its entirety. He was speaking after being felicitated by the Dharwad district unit of the State Physical Education Teachers' Association on Sunday. Horatti said, "I have written a letter to the govt strongly condemning the unscientific order issued by the govt to identify education and painting teachers as additional teachers, and transfer them to schools with more than 240 children. It was stopped for now, and everyone will suffer if someone makes a mistake. This was also brought to the attention of the govt." Horatti continued, "I was an elected representative from the Teachers' constituency for the last 45 years and worked for them. I solved many problems, but some more problems need to be solved. The main demand of the teachers is that the amendment to the Staff and Recruitment (C&R) Rules, 2017, and promotion should be given on the basis of seniority. Legal efforts are under way to find a solution," he added. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Use an AI Writing Tool That Actually Understands Your Voice Grammarly Install Now Undo "The officials mislead the elected representatives. If they have no knowledge of administration and law, they do whatever they want. They were about to identify special teachers as additional and transfer them. The transfer was stopped for now because I wrote a letter to the govt questioning on what basis this decision was taken, and whether it is allowed in the law. I also warned the officials of the education department," he said. Former MLC Arun Shapur was present.


Time of India
18-07-2025
- Time of India
Railways implements CCTV cameras at level crossings
Hubballi: Indian railways is enhancing safety and efficiency across its network with the mandatory installation of CCTV cameras at all manned non-interlocked level crossing gates. Mukul Saran Marhur, general manager, SWR, told TOI that this nationwide deployment follows a highly successful pilot project by SWR. "Initial implementation in the high-traffic Hosapete area of Hubballi division proved the system's viability and immediate benefits. All CCTV equipment meets the stringent specifications of the Research Design and Standards Organisation of the railway ministry. The system also includes remote access capabilities for authorised personnel," he stated. Hubballi divisional railway manager Bela Meena said each manned non-interlocked LC gate will now feature a minimum of two IP-enabled CCTV cameras, one on each side, along with essential infrastructure like Network Video Recorders (NVR), Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS) systems and solar panels. "Real-time video feeds will be accessible to Station Masters and Engineering Control, ensuring continuous monitoring. It can be a game-changer, giving Station Masters invaluable direct monitoring of gate operations and ensuring hassle-free movements of trains. This is a win-win situation for both road and rail users," she said. Mahendra Singhi, member of the Zonal Railway Users' Consultative Committee, Hubballi, appreciated SWR for taking up such an initiative on a pilot basis and making it successful to adopt across the nation.