Latest news with #ThaawarchandGehlot
The Hindu
3 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Equipping youth with practical skills essential for building self-reliant, capable India: Governor
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Saturday inaugurated the Indian Institute of Future Skills at the Karnataka State Open University (KSOU) in Mysuru. In his inaugural address, Mr. Gehlot said that equipping youth with practical skills is essential for building a self-reliant and capable India. He said that skill-based education is a powerful catalyst for the social and economic empowerment of rural, underprivileged, and marginalised communities. 'Only when every youth is equipped with both knowledge and practical skills can the vision of a 'Skilled and Capable India' be realised,' he said. The Governor noted that various government initiatives—both at the Centre and in States—are helping India move towards becoming the 'Skill Capital of the World' and highlighted flagship schemes such as the Pradhan Mantri Kaushal Vikas Yojana, National Skill Development Mission, National Apprenticeship Promotion Scheme, and the Skill India Mission. These schemes were instrumental in enhancing youth employability and meeting industry demands. 'India has a demographic advantage with around 65% of the population under the age of 35. By providing this youth population with proper training and guidance, India can achieve economic, social, and technological strength on the global stage,' he remarked. Mr. Gehlot stressed the growing importance of emerging fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, cybersecurity, and digital marketing, describing them as vital areas that are transforming economies and creating new avenues for employment and innovation. Praising the collaboration behind the launch of the new skill centre, the Governor lauded the joint efforts of KSOU, the National Skill Development Corporation, Skill India, and the Ethnotech Group in establishing the Indian Institute of Future Skills at KSOU. He also commended KSOU for its NAAC A+ accreditation. Sharing a personal anecdote, the Governor recalled his early days working at the Birla company in Madhya Pradesh, where he took on multiple roles despite being appointed as a supervisor. 'Doing every kind of job helps one build comprehensive skills,' he said. Nirmalanandanatha Swami of Sri Adichunchanagiri Math, Prakashanath Swami, managing director of SJB and BGS Group of Institutions and Hospitals, Sharanappa V. Halse, Vice-Chancellor of KSOU, Nagaraja N.M., managing director of Karnataka Skill Development Corporation, and other dignitaries were present.
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
India Today
5 days ago
- Politics
- India Today
Karnataka Governor stands firm on sending 4% Muslim quota bill to President
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot has refused to reconsider his decision to send the 4% Muslim quota bill to the President of India, despite the state government's bill in question, the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025, aims to provide 4% reservation for Muslims in government contracts of under Rs 2 crore. After returning it twice, the Governor confirmed on May 22 that he has already forwarded the bill for the President's 'kind consideration' under Article state government had urged Governor Gehlot to approve the bill, especially in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling that criticised excessive delays by Governors in similar situations. But Gehlot stood his ground, citing the same judgment to justify his move. The Governor referred to the Supreme Court's observations in the State of Tamil Nadu vs Governor of Tamil Nadu case, which noted that Governors do not have a way to seek legal advice from courts directly. 'This is all the more necessary as there is no mechanism at the state level for the Governor to refer bills to the constitutional courts for their advice or opinion thereupon,' he said. 'Under the scheme of the Constitution as we see it, there is only one possible way for the Governor to ascertain the palpable constitutionality of a bill, which is by way of reserving it for the consideration of the President who in turn is then expected to invoke Article 143.'advertisementAccording to the Supreme Court judgment, the only way to address constitutional doubts about a bill is to send it to the President, who can then consult the Supreme Court under Article 143 of the Governor Gehlot had sent the bill back, as he believed it looked like religion-based reservation. He had pointed to Articles 15 and 16 of the Constitution, which say the government can't give special treatment just based on state had argued that the government meant to help Muslims as a socially and economically backward group, not just based on religion. Muslims are already listed under Category II(B) of Backward Classes in Gehlot had noticed that Category II(B) only includes Muslims, no other groups, which made the reservation appear to be religion-specific, even if it presented the group as backward Watch
Time of India
6 days ago
- Business
- Time of India
Muslim Reservation Bill: Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot declines to reconsider his decision
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Wednesday declined to reconsider his decision of reserving the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for the consideration of the President of India. The Bill has provision to give four per cent reservation to Muslims in government contracts. The governor on April 16 reserved the Bill for presidential assent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Why Seniors Are Snapping Up This TV Box, We Explain! Techno Mag Learn More Undo The Karnataka government made a fresh attempt recently to get Gehlot's nod to the Bill, which was turned down. "The State Government has re-submitted the KTPP (Amendment) Bill, 2025 making reference to the Hon'ble Supreme Court in State of Tamilnadu Vs Governor of Tamilnadu in 1239 of 2023 seeking my assent," the order said. Live Events Gehlot said the state government has referred to the observations of the Supreme Court in respect to the reservation of Bills by the governor. Referring to a recent judgement, Gehlot said the Supreme Court has emphasised that Articles 15 and 16 prohibit reservations on the basis of religion and any affirmative action must be rather based on the socio-economic factors. "I am constrained to not reconsider the decision for reservation of the Karnataka Transparency in Public Procurements (Amendment) Bill, 2025 for kind consideration of Hon'ble President of India. Return the Government file for further necessary action as directed earlier on 15-04-2025," the order said.
Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- Indian Express
Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot approves Karnataka gig workers' welfare ordinance, here's what it says
Karnataka Governor Thaawarchand Gehlot on Tuesday gave his assent to an ordinance that aims to protect the rights of platform-based gig workers in the state. The Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers (Social Security and Welfare) Ordinance, 2025, extends to aggregators, including Swiggy, Zomato, Amazon, Ola and Uber, among others. The ordinance mandates platforms to pay a gig workers' welfare fee, set at 1 per cent to 5 per cent of the payout to gig workers per transaction. The state government will notify the exact fee structure for different categories of platforms within six months. The welfare fee must be collected by aggregators and deposited quarterly into the Karnataka Gig Workers Social Security and Welfare Fund. The state government will prescribe the collection method. The ordinance states that failure to deposit the welfare fee on time incurs a 12 per cent per annum simple interest penalty from the due date until payment. Additional non-compliance may result in fines of up to Rs 5,000 for the first violation, and Rs 1 lakh for subsequent violations. Payments into the fund, including the welfare fee, will support social security benefits such as income security during unemployment, sickness, maternity, or work-related injuries. The Board is restricted to using no more than 5 per cent of the fund for administrative costs, ensuring maximum allocation for worker welfare. All payments to gig workers and corresponding welfare fee deductions will be recorded in the soon-to-be-formed, state-administered Payment and Welfare Fee Verification System, monitored by the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board. As per the ordinance, aggregators must make payouts to gig workers as per the contract, with mandatory cycles of daily, weekly, bi-weekly, or monthly payments. The ordinance prohibits arbitrary termination of gig workers, requiring aggregators to provide written reasons and a 14-day notice, except in cases of bodily harm, where immediate action is allowed with a right to appeal. Aggregators and platforms must also register with the board within 45 days of the ordinance's commencement and provide transparent contracts with fair terms, including the right to refuse tasks. The ordinance mandates the establishment of the Karnataka Platform Based Gig Workers Welfare Board, headquartered in Bengaluru. The board will oversee the registration of gig workers and aggregators, monitor welfare fee collection, and implement social security schemes. It will also engage with workers' associations, ensure transparency, and provide recommendations to the state government for tailored schemes, especially for women and persons with disabilities. The board will be chaired by the minister in charge of the labour department, serving as the ex-officio chairperson. Other ex-officio members will include the additional chief secretary or principal secretary, or secretary to government from the labour department, and the information and technology department, or their nominees not below the rank of joint secretary. The commissioner of the commercial taxes department or a nominee not below the rank of joint commissioner is also an ex-officio member. Additionally, a chief executive officer appointed by the state government will act as the executive in charge of day-to-day functions and serve as the ex-officio member secretary of the board. The board will also have four representatives of gig workers and four representatives of aggregator platforms, all nominated by the state government. Furthermore, two members from civil society with experience in the gig economy or subject matter expertise will be nominated. A technical expert in data collection and IT systems may also be invited as a special invitee to provide inputs when necessary.
